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History scrapbookThe Wieting Was a WonderCharles Dickens amongthe names that appearedon its stage over the yearsBy Dick CaseStaff writerWby not do something about The Wieting? a reader suggested. Whynot?The name has faded with time hut back in the day, Syracuse had a long-term iove affair with the various Wietings in the 100 block of West Water Street downtown. The first Wieting was raised by Dr. John Wieting, a city physician and former surveyor, in 1852. The last of the blocks was demolished in the late 1960s.Most of the big names of show business played Wieting stages, from Edwin Booth to Ellen Terry to Helen Modjeska.in 1868, Charles Dickens read for two hours from “The Christmas Carol” and “Pickwick Papers.” in i 887, Charles Dickens Jr. returned to Syracuse to read from his father's works.The successive Wieting halls and opera houses also served the city as arenas tor local talent, from speeches to dance recitals.As these vintage theater programs suggest, the Wieting1 s main role in Syracuse over the years was as a theater and convention center in an era when live theater on the circuits thrived in our community'. At the end, through 1932, the WietingHistorian Franklin Chase mentions that “Syracuse, as the Convention City of the state, had epoch-making meetings, of which many were held in the Wieting of its time.11The program for the 1925-26 season points out another contribution to American culture: the Wieting was one of the theaters managed by the local Shubert brothers — Sam, Lee and J.J. — on their way to places in showCourtesy of Dick CaseTHIS SCENE of Clinton Square shows the Wieting Block (misspelled as Weiting) at right.In 1972, a new E.W. Edwards department store rose on the old Wieting lot on the south side ofClinton Square. The property is the modem Atrium.±Krrrr:'V'TIHistory Scrapbook highlights historic photos and graphic. Readers may share their images with Neighbors. Contact Dick Case at 470-2254, or by e-mail.ifs p i,SC*4” ./illftHUttfttr 1HKAIRICAL UjMFANY
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Post Standard
Syracuse, New York, US
Thu, Jul 28, 2005
Page 101
Full Page
Clipped by
Edward E.
NA, 19 Jan 2022
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