The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 16, 1901, Page 11

THE SUNDAY CALL 11 ELLEN COMMINS cast of of M appear Howsons here was given one rtainments ever o e “Moses Tay- fclan en route to cast included Charles nd wife (Louise and Mr. and rtist, who was many ard Harrigan, w the th - of the com be best remen: ater goers of to- ny playing the Califor- membs Home" at n narrowly escaped de- in the adjoining 1, 1866. Bianchi’s Opera was compelled by the dampne: ) 1ay off for a week. Man- eri had just joined among singers from the East. be remembered that at this re was brisk competition in opera, than four companies having ap- red at about the same time, and’ that he records it appears that perform- s were offered at reasonable prices by f -class artists with excellent accessories. Some of the operas then presented have been given here within a few years by inferior organizations under the bold announcements that they were first praductions on this coast. ditable and Francisco has a reputation in regard to patronage of operatic mest appre enter many eminent theatrics rriva are found in the diaries of it brought to this coast many play- ers atively unknown, some of whom b favorites he: Te- ceiving and encouragement reat value to tlhiem in after day e prime indorsement few accidents of a serious s cast over the poor Dan Set- There were ature and no deep shado stage for some time after chell, the comedian, sailed for Austr; 3 1866, on the good ship Trieste, which was never heatrd from thereafter. fa nuary 20, One of the great favorites of that day was Harry Jackson, the ve tile comed- fan, who distinguished himself by play- ing in grand and light opera, all lines of dramatic work and as the leading clown with Lee & Ryland's circus, all inside of twelye months. His son, Harry Jackson Jr., who opened the Dewey Theater in Oakland a few years ago, is a successful dramatist, com- edian and manager now playing his own clever sketches in the vaudeville Houses. The younger Jackson made his first ap- pearance on the stage January 2, 1566, as a child, playing Emmeline in "lThe oid Corporal” at Maguire's Opera-house. Harry Edwards, the favorite actor, who for many years remained in S8an Fran- cisco, came here with Julia and Mary Cor- coran, Heine, the blind violinist, and his clever wife, and the dashing Lady Don, all the way from Australla, about the came time that¥Madame Celeste, the great French actress, made a short stay here, en route to the same country. This was in the fall of 66, and Mr, Bd- wards made a splendid Impression as Mer- cutio in “Romeo and Jullet,” at Maguire's Opera-house, for his opening performance. Early in February following Kate Denin returned to San Francisco, after a long absence, bringing with her John Wilson, the handdome actor who played heavy. roles ibsequently at the old California. v opened February 13 at the Academy he Pearl of Savoy,” with Amy Stone and H. F. Stone, who were new-comers, February 2. Kate Denin, who was much admired in d been married to Sam Ryan, n theatrical man, during her absence ahd, the union being an un- happy one, she brought her two daugh- ters here and became Mrs. John Wilson. The girls were bright and intellectual. and were great favorites when they were at the old California in the seventies. It is something of a pardonable error for California to claim Alice Kingsbury, the talented little actress who came as “The Elfin Star” and made her debut as Fanchon at Maguire's Opera-house, Octo- ber 10, 1566. The lady had made her debut on the legitimate stage in Cincinnatl seven years before her first appearance in San Francisco. Her success here 'was so de- cided that she was immediately engaged to play leads in starring tours with John McCullough through the interior. She went Bast, however, in less than a year, and in '69 became the wife of Colonel Frank M. Cooley, U. S. A. The bright little lady, who now resides in this city, devoted several years to SlGHor BLAMCHE + =\ bleReyY o S -~ o Be s LENGARD sculpture and literary work, several of her novels and plays heving been recelv- ed with marked favor. H Cocley, r son, Frank was playing with hi pany on this coast last season. It was in 1866 that Jenny Landsman made her appearance as a vocallst and a representative of California talent. Her debut as Maffeo Orsinl in “Lucrezia Bor- gla” occurred at the Metropolitan, and she appeared at Stelnway Hall, New York, in December, 1867. own com- Half a dozen new halls for musical and variety entertainment were brought into notice in '67, and there were so many ama- teur socleties of various kinds that there wa mething going on at nearfy all of them. . At both Platt’s and Union halls there were smaller halls or parlors for the use of minor organizations, which were con- tinually glving entertainments. Among those most noted was Congress Hall, lo- cated on Bush street, Where The Standard afterward was built. The name was changed to Temple of Music on October 2, 1867, Legion Hall, used for all kinds of shows by the Temperance Leglon, was first heard of at Market and Second streets, but soon after at Post and Kearny. Ly- ceum Hall, on Kearny strcet, between Clay and Merchant, was opened February 15 by a variety company. The success of the gardens and parks stimulated competition, and The City Gardens were thrown open to the public July 20, ‘67, on Howard and Folsom streets. The Odeum, a Mission resort; was de- stroyed by fire August 24. / Notable arrivals this year were Helen Western and James A. Herne, the now eminent author-actor, who opened in that pecullar adaptation from the French, “Satan in Paris,” at Maguire's Opera- house on April 30, Mr. Herne playing Vanille. People who can remember this comedy and others of its class may have been astcnished to see Mr. Herne exploited as the writer of extremely clean and moral plays, and occasionaily occupying the pulpits of orthodox churches for the purpose of delivering moral lectures; but his warmest friends among the re- formers would be still more surprised could they but read the manusecript or see the plays alluded to as they were presented in the early days. There is “an auld and ower true tale" that John B. Gough, the great tem- perance orator, sometimes furnished the frightful example for his own lec- tures. For many years after this first visit to San Francisco Mr. Herne was a prom- inent figure in local theatricals, and made many friends here. He was ever a Jollv dog and a great practical joker, but he was then, as he is to-day, one of the best character actors on earth. The most amusing stories told of any player on the American stage are those describing the pranks of Jim Herne and his fun-loving contemporaries in San Francisco a quarter of a century ago. .When he and his more sedate and Twelfth, el earnest young collaborator, David Rel- asco, undertook the serious and profit- able work of adapting old plays, it was the making of two brilllantly successtul playwrights, whose work has surprised and delighted the theater-goers of two worlds. In returning to the list of players who came to this st in the sixties, the name of Ottille Genee presents itself as a very imporiant one, made familiar in various ways in Germany, as well as America. This lady, a fascinating actress in her Francis took a £ atrical She was the sister of Robert Genece, the celebrated opara writer and colleague of Von Suppe, the famous composer. It was related of the handsome Ottilie that in her early triumphs on the stage ed a strong competition for her mong the young officers at the court, and that on one unfor- tunate gecasion their admiration reached such a high temperature that they sisted upon furnishing a bath of cham- pagne for the fascinating actress, and ordered it at once. The affair naturally reached the ears of the good old Kaise who did not like frivolity. There was a remark that a trip to America wou be beneficial to the health of the lady, and that a bunch of youthful officers needed service on the fromtier. it was reported that somebody—prob- ably Prince Bismarck—said something t..at sounded like “Rous mit 'em,” and there were no more champagne baths at court that season. Mme. Genee Fritsch, as she was known, when she was directress of the first- class German companies appearing/ at the ola California every Sunday night, gave Ban Franeilsco some notably artis- tic presentations of the best German plays, and it was through her that Managers Barton Hill, General Barton and Frank Lawlor obtained the original manuscript, in Genee's own handwriting, of “Fatinitza,” and gave the first English production of that celebrated opera at e California in the winter of 1878-79. veror of Japan, of whom it y yvears ago that he would ermit a native troupe of acrobats never to :a, changed his mind so therou he last half of the six- s that no less than half a dozen or- izations of that character came to country in a bunch. Manager Tom Maguire got in early, and after taxing them all around for a complimentary tes- timonial, sent a company on tour. E. Y. Bert also took a particularly good company East, and John Marshall of Lee & Marshall's cire fa and sequently manager of Woodward's was also interested in the gymnasts all over the civilized wi Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Bates were among the popular players who came in ‘6. They appeared first at the Metropolitan In “Camille,” which at that time was the favorite role of almost all the legiti- mate actresses. The many vi after by Mrs. ts to this coast there- ates and her connection with stock organizations here within the past decade have made her a familiar and favorite artiste, and it is pleasa: note the great success of her accompl ed daughter, Blanche Bates, who has reflected great cre upon California as a producer of exceptionally brilliant dra- matic talent sh- who is still in active ser- a long and honorable record as a sterling actre Other important acquisitions to 16nks of the players in San Franc the that time were Mr. and Mrs. Poole and Helen rac the leading woman, who appeared ginia at aguire’s Opera-house Nc ber 12, 1% Helene Dingeon, then Mrs. came into prominence as a pub by making her first appearance ing a complimentary benefit at Hall November 20, the same year. The fair Helene appeared thereaiter from time to time, and over twenty later was singing at the Tivoli, where she created many light opera roles and did exc=llent service in the heavier com- positions. She is now in New York, her last husband, a fencing master, having opened a studio there several years ago. at the period when the artists mentioned were first exploiting their talent on this coast that Edwin Adams, the gifted young tragedian and emotional actor, came to San Francisco. He was not a mative of this State, as bas_been erronecusly stated, but was born in Medford, Mass., in 1334, and made s first appearance in Boston. His tic ability was at once recognized i licrnia, and he was sreatly beloved in this ecity, where, ten years later, just before his retirement from the stags a3 victim of consumption, he was given « benefit, which netted over $3000. He lived seven months at San Rafael, where he seemed to improve for a shoct time, but on the advice of his physic he went to Fhiladgjphia, where he di c¢n October 28, . The times were ripe for the exploitz- tion of new theaters and the spread of the gospel of the stage. Early in 156, there was the greatest boom In theatri- cals ever known on this coast. There was a Season of excitement on Bush street, whi¢h then became th: the- atrical center of the vity. The California, the Alhambra aud the Standard, the last two known by various names thereafter, came into prominence in 1363, and the dawn of a brilliant the- atrical season was seen in the winter of 1867-68. The events of the following spring wera of special importance to the lovers of first-class dramatic entertainment. ar-