The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 15, 1899, Page 25

THE SUNDAY CALL. b From Bass-Drum Player in a Circus to Jheatrical Manager The Prince of All Vaudeville Managers Who Has Played More Varied Parts and Had a Greater Number of Nrmi\sing and Thrilling Experiences Than Probably Any Other Man in the ' Theatrical Profession. person who has ige. Was it men or writhing to the : rehearsa The Venzeance forgot to unchain the She fled, can take our time about remarked John. SRR G Y t seven vears of all Morr- ere the following years spent canvas. He passed from circus ng that time. but it was al- E ark. Most of the amped for and it was up every midnight e at night was breakfast time, and the journey followed. The morning hours that men call night were spent on the road, and the usual bed was a blanket spread on the pole wagon. A night in the 1 wagon was a now-and-t luxur:; Sometimes the rain sneaked {n under mt crable covers and somatimes it didn't trouble itself to sneak at all, but lashed his poor little body when there was no wagon cover. \4 THE TIME THE BASKET TRICK FAILED - ttle tame for gave ov S Httniore that under old Ben “The at to the have frightened tened for the might that he mads atl, where fick of r is a e guar- stand between The play 1t in the stepped e bullet that e ended his milk- last night was to draw the crowd arri the drummers d fell over on Mor enseless, to the up: ating b 4 the band retired and hefr dress- f heir parts in the play. The balcony 1 low over the street and was w of the crowd. John w; th timé to improve o result was a flirtation that lasted during the company’s engagement The voung lady of the case knew John as the player of the big bass drum, uch the That is to ed to position in the com- T PHOTO ® &' 2D JohN [MorRISEY cooVEQ‘NagAsmubfiiN- il e e o 0 much applause befors the veteran. manager, , for it was @ N nees that st perform In the morning there were animals to a deadly hate that he could only relieve :are for and tents to put up. There was by pummeling it. When the show would usually a cross ringmaster or a cross lion- draw near to a large town it would halt keeper or a cross elephant to please. The in the outskirts, touch up its furbelows life was too hard for its livers to be good- and make a grand entrace in the fore- her natured all the time. There were two noon with the band in merry accord. Mr. P elephants with one of th ows—a big Morrisey relates that when he had begged e af Bi= ppened ihat she tried th he represer s his inglorious acky. T don't think vou oucht to be one and a little ook all the dozens of times to be relieved from drum ashamed of your work Y. you tact that John w: ster of to get the ve up all hope of mercy and are much more fmport actor voungster fed. The big elephant would s So while in the com t ac- was too through pance one or the other of reach a s little one’ by way knowledge it. I've seen them aky trunk stealthily over the the parade was entering Albany head and snatch away a bite of a stecp hill he deliberately isn’t one who can act wort malice aforethought fell out of the band He never was very, susce) 2t wagon and rolled with his drum down the fright. but now and then stumbling came to the deli nill. It wasn't good for the drum—it was from too much or too liftle preparation simply dra €0 bad for it, in fact. that the drummer He tells of playing in the old Bowe was put at other work with Mrs. Paul Falk and sin The seven years of circus life led Mor- Laurie” under her direction—or tr risey through our ow and Canada forshe had made him rehearse so steadi besides. ds of adven- that when he came on the stage he could “In the last scene. whers, Jack comes tures, dowp on rough mnot remember a line. But for the most i and fn the exuberance of roads to smuggling liquor over the United part a manager could count on his being orders his dog admitted to Btates line. The wages paid were so poor clever in emergencies. that it was as'much as he could do t6 He was once with a company which ing that reluctant keep body and soul together, and In spite was playing the “Black Crook.” It was beast along he dug of this there was an outlay for each new the scene when 5 Black Crook sum- obstinate nalls into the carpet, the while she said admiringly, ‘See how he lov his master! There mu very sweet in your n a poor animal c s where he with much alacrf shed roof slopes temptingly toward a The con- the box of tights and John mounted 1ms now- ride on in softly > Orpheum and come there to ask his advice climb. The alr and the n were low against 1. Besides, there were 8o beaches that nobody would ever was one person awake. She ! nough under but she It takes him less than talk to decide. People from 5 years old to 60 come te him. If the applicant is a woman and ig determined to be heard takes her downstairs to the big empty theater soms morning and lets her show him what she can do. -If the applicant is a man he does not grant him a trial unless he gives real promise. “You can talk to a man, but you can*{ refuse a woman,” he says. “Every vaudeville business goes by fads. If we have a child per- forming here mothers from all over town WilL bring their own darlings to me to ughty, bad boy,” she ng away a Rolla book. glar at last,” she you must kill n’t have a single added him all & bone for your supper.” Bhe started toward the chalr. John saw ty 1s 1 at a glance that she and the dog were other line of work, and he can n v frien He also saw that manager because he doesn't understand the dog was & person to command re- 1l sides of the matter,” Mr. Morrisey will gpect. He measured distances and he tell you. His curr m was made Up gaw that there was nothing for it but of courses in juggling, clowning, singing, strategy. THE DROM v ov of he end man in a ; playing end doing the en He rose majestic upon the shed roof beg for an engagement. When Mrs. Shaw traveling minstrel company. He was very dirty, but his dignity was ras here I had calls from more than & The small Johnny was shifted from & wonder. turned and beckoned to Wentworth, who before you could twinkle. turn. He took part in what was called mons Zamuel. Zamuel appeared, stepped hundred whistlers.” ran;i to hand faster than a juggler’s ball, “Wait!” he commanded in the voice of had started along. There was np end to the demands made .- The Batber Shop Act,” whereln he was through a trap hole in the stage and ;. Morrisey has great faith in Cali- After the basket trick with Ray came a & prophet. “If you stir one step to re- “I am attacked. Come and frighten upon Morrisey’s versatility. Besides the the victim of the shaving, half drowned was picked up in the lower regions un- gornia talent, e y that of the chil- tour with Walter Wentworth, the contor- lease that dog I will conjure up my away this wicked female,” he continued. at each performance in the generous conscious. There was no understudy for gren. Little Arnold Grazer is his newest work that the “hands” about a show do 3 i) e Mt digrasagen s ) ; t sudsing of the clown barber. The same him so he had to be revived; meanwhile very in this line. The youngster’ et This same Wentworth has seen dev e s man and he pow, he was required to play in the band, < SaovERp Y R e e e g s language was born of his profession, Buessed enough to come in at the cus. The to Velwn 1t and. 10 loe and Sence i Sult was made to bear this dally ducking there was an Interval to fill In and the smateur work caught the manager's eye, ettt T ek e bl S e e b e e e Bt o ot st o Thpe years: stage manager grabbed Morrisey, Who and Armold is now falrly started on his jointed body to physicians. The two The sunbonneted vengeance stopped, #lEht upon the shed roof. keep vour seats after the show or youwll Circus life Very nearly wore out the Was loafing in'ithe wings, | placed & career. traveled afoot on their route, and the doubtful. He followed up an advantage. Then began a serles of the most dia- miss, etc. The clown work he liked well little fellow’s strength, and while still in gnome’s mask over his head and a cloak To protect Mr. Morrisey, let me add lttle back eched many & weery ache un- ‘“Come hithen devil” he gried. Jg holical contortions that ever took place encugh, but he hated the bass drum with his teens he gave it up for work in & 8t, on his shoulders, “Get out there and that all infants are not Arnolds, X