New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-19
OUR AMATEUR CLUBS.
Variety Dramatic Club.

S0IlCSy Ob0Aue4C SEoVs
have long thought it would be of inter
est to your readers to have presented to
them, through the columns Of your paper,
short sketch of the history Of the amateur
dramatic clubs of our city, and SO propose,
with your approval, TO write such sketches.
Possibly j. would b more u reggie to
begin with the oldest club. but as there
seems to he some difference as to which is
the oldest, and IS we have just witnessed
very meri:orious performance, for an object
of interest TO u all, by tho club whose
name heads this article, propose begin
ming with it, although i. 10 one OF our young
est dramatic clubs.
One evening ia the month Of June, 1872,
eoterie Of young men were INDUCING in =
general conversation after q game OF bill
lizards in the Crescen. Billiard Saloon, when
the tide Of discussion turned on the subject
of dramstics. It being q matter of interest
to them, tho scussion became very ear
nest, and one Of the party suggested the
idea Of themselves organizing an amateur
club. The idea seemed to be favorable to
tkem all, and they agreed to meet at the
office of Mr.. Belden lone Of their number
in few days. After mentioning the mat
ter 70 . few chosen friends the meeting was
held. 1t being an informal one but little
was done save coming to determination 20
carry out fully tho idea suggested, and to
choose from among their friends such Is
they wsuld prefer being associated with in
such IN enterprise, and 70 engage their in
terest. This was done. and the first forna!
meeting Of the party was held Oh the eight
een.h of July, 1872, at the office Of Mr.. Bel
den, on Sc. Charles street. A: this time a
permanent organization was effected, and
the following officers were chosen: B. W.
Belden. president; p. x. Angelovich, vice
president; A. =. Michel. secretary; J.
Macheca, treasurer.
The roll of members rapidly increased,
and not long after their organization they
invited their friends 70 their first entertain
mert. which was given at the Varieties
Theatre. The play chosen was the drama
of "Michael Erie, the Maniac Lover" and
the light comedy of "Raising the Wind. y
At this performance, Mr.. J. H. Soery as
eumed the leading role in the first play,
and Mr.. Llanbias in tho last. 1t was on
this occasion that our talented lady actors,
Misses King and Blumcnthal, first appeared
on the boards Of . regular theatre, and to
this club is due the honor Of having intro
duced these ladies to the public.
The next time this club was called on 20
appear before the public was for the pur-
pose OF assisting one OF their members to
launch into the arena Of dramatic strife.
Mr.. James II. soery ~ Harry Siddons)
having determined to adopt the stage as a
profession, his club volunteered to lend
their efforts 10 aid him in his debut. The
great success OF this gentleman in his per-
sonation of Michae' Earle LED his friends
and the public to expect much from him;
but owing in a measure to a great nervous
ness which seized him on that eventfu!
night, and to the immense calls made by
the play chosen l"The Marble Hearty on
the talent of even an old professional, this
gentleman's effort was not crowned with
that success which his friends had reason
to believe would be the result of his even.
ing's performance. Mr.. 3. Onorato. who
had before been introduced to the public
as a member of the Shakespeare Club. but
who had lately joined the new aspirants for
histrionic excellence. made a great hit in
his acting of the part of Foliage.
Excepting for the benefits of Mrs. Pearce,
then playing with our dramatic clubs, and
al Sauy hr1aonc xio1iuScr
the Variety Club gave no performance until
the summer season jus: closed. In the
meantime the club had been holding its
meetings successfully at No. l24 Carondelet
street Davidson Court, and in the rooms
of the clubs benevolent association, No. 5
club now meets on Tuesday evening OF
each week.
The programme of this summers enter
ta;nment opened with 1.-The Pride of the
Market" and LEND Me Five Shillings." In
the frat play Miss Lulu King was quite
successful in ner Jmpevsonation Of Iorton.
MIR. Liambias as !Nr. Goiigh.ly was very
happy. On this occasion the club formally
initiated Misses King and Blumenthai as
members Of their organization by present.
ing each OF them with badge Of the club.
The presentation speech made by their
president, Mr.. Belden. was both graceful
and complimentary.
Their next performance consisted Of the
drama Of "Eustache Baudin' and the farce
of Tho Unfinished Gentleman" Messrs.
Llambas and Dalsheimer gained quite an
amount of applause in the first piece, and
Messrs. Hart and Hisgue IA new and valu
able acquisitionl were quite successful! in
the afterpiece.
The next and final complimentary per-
Torrance Of the summer consisted Of tho
sensational drama of THE Dream Spectre
aud the farce ITO Paris and Back
for Five Pounds In the drama
Mr.. Llambias. assumed the leading
male part, and Miss Louise Hawthorne,
who was specially engaged for the
occasion. assumed the leading lady. roe.
The play was of itself poor selection. and
the ladies and gentlemen Of the cast de.
serve praise for making it even presentable.
The farce was quite productive of laughter
from the audience, and caused many pro.
testations Of approval TO the actors. Mr..
Belden in the leading part, although not
near SO successful as he had hitherto beer.
We. gave general satisfaction. The club
thus closed their summer entertainments,
and concluded 20 rest until the next anna.