Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-12
FIRST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE In
MEMPHIS.

EDITORS APPEAL-To redeem a
promise Imade you propose to give
you my early r~eeolleetions of Memphis,
over forty years ago. ASH have seen
nothing said on the subject of the
drama, 1 will eOnfine myself to that
subject, and ask your good nature to
overlook my imp~erfections as a chroni-
cler of events in which I took part. In
1880 Or 1881 we organized a Thespian
company, in which NJ. B. Winchester,
Thomas Wood, Samuel Mosby, Joseph
G. Easton, Phil. S. White, George Wat
son, Wesley TOncray, Charles B. Muir
ray, Donald J.. Aud and my Brother
William and myself were the acting
members and by a provision of our "by
lawsn were either compelled to perform
the part cast to US or TO pay a fine.
Being of q fair complexion, my parts
were always a female character.
Whether 1 acquitted myself well or not
is a matter of indifference at this late
day, but there are some old friends yet
living in your city, and to their partial
Judgment 1 submit. 1 remember
playing @'Miss Hardcastie'' to
Major Winchester's .'Young Mar
low" Phil. White played "roney
Lumpkin,U and Sam AIOsby
"Gregory,u but Sam would laugh
when old Hardcastle told the yarn of
"oId Grouse in the gun-room." Our
t6oo%or mn n lar0o eranoa bufI6iunOD tbo
west side of Chickasaw street, and north
of Auction street, nearly opposite the IA
nous Bell tavern of those days, and
kept by Isaac Hook, whose motto was,
al Hook for cash only" The building
was the property of Henry Dougherty.
We engaged the services of a Mr.. Pal
mer and his wife, stock actors, to get up
our wardrobe and scenery. They acquit-
ted themselves to u entire satisfaction,
and we employed them for some time
to learn US the ropes. We had three or
four pet plays which we repeated during
the winter months; such as Douglass,
O the Noble Shepherd" a. She Scoops TO
Conquer" and "PizdrrO;r with the af-
terpieces of Raising the Wind"
20 Floating Beacon" etc, which made
tremendous runs. We repeated them
for weeks by request, Tom Wood as
young NOrval," and to excite our Wis
ible faculties to INSTRUMENTATION and de-
mo%ralization, Phil White was the very
im~persOnation of Jeremy Didler" him
self. DR.. Aud personated HMargurite'' to
perfection, and Sam Mostly was even
greatertha Gregory himself; but the
browning glory of our company wa the
comic singing of Charles B. Murray,
particularly so in the song of "POOr
Miss Bailey" which was nightly called
for and encored. My mother and two
lady friends lone of the latter now liy-
ing in your city, overlooked my decora-
tons, and saw that / was becomingly
dressed, lectured me how to hold my
fan, and drilled me in the length of my
Such was the advent of the
drama into Memphis. Old Sol Smith,
in making his syearly visits South, al
stopped and played in Memphis.
Our temple was always at his service,
and, if needed, any of US would take a
part in his performances. A more high
toned, genial, charitable gentleman
never graced the profession than "Old {
SoI.B Hook beck to the scenes of my j
youth with a mournful pleasure. OF all
who were members of that company, / /;
of but two survivOrs-Sam MOsby |
dlAu mN6CAl-dlNu III AhC last u lily
and although / enjoy the most
perfect health, my time will soon come.
Let it come; it shall not keep me from :
he enjoyment Of the latter days I
my life in the innocent
pleasures of my younger years. !
The thoughts of death 20 shall not
the greennes Of my three-score !
Years. / fear 1 cannot interest you for /;
he trouble of reading this. IcOuld not,
airly, write what l wished to say, with !
,ut introducing myself; but l hope it
nay fill some vacuum no other could {
upply. / should like to be with the I
odd Folks at their next anniversary; !
nut whether there o. not, my heart is !
With them. Memphis, next to my ma I
State, Kentucky, is nearest my J
leart, and the "Old Folks" who know [
ne, are my Oldest friends. 9
THOS. p. YOUNG. !