, 1874-08-30

| Chicago pleasant place for popular actresses
| Two Of Mr. Hooloy's company OF last season
| hare made good beginning. Perhaps three or
| four more will Ind . permanent home In
| Chicago.
| MARCUS SMITH.
| Tho announcement Of tho sudden death OF
Mark Smith, the actor, was received with unaf-
fected sorrow among theatrical people In Clica-
70. 1lr. Smiths death occurred in Paris under
| the following circumstances: ue had been tray
cling and reached Paris eh route for the States.
| three days before his death. As lie descended
from the railway carriage he waa seized With ap-
oplexy, and carried to the hospital. Ho fingered
| three days, and died Aug. H. having remained
unconscious the whole time. His remains we're
deposited In the American Chapel, Tue du Derri,
and will be forwarded to st. Louis by an car]y
steamer. Mt. Smiths business IN Europe was to
attend to the musical education Of his daughtot,
who is studying for the cperatic stage. He was
to have opened Ben De Bars season at st. Louis,
| Marcus Smith was the son OF well-known
actor: ''Old Sol Smith, and vas born in New
0slehns Jan. 7, 1899. Hi. first appearance in
public Was at the age OF II years. when he played
the Sun-God in spectacular piece "T1e Ice
the St Charles Theatre ~ Dsq9ory in - Family
Jars." He afterward CHAINED an engagement
! o: Wa1acks Theatre, in New York, and by his
earnest efforts TO Improve gained hold upon
tho affections Of our c!tlzens which he never lost
| that most tickle Of frionds-tho public. 1u 1857,
Aug. 81, he began Lis first engagement at Phila-
| de]phia at the National Theatre, as Robert
Bram6h, IN Tho Poor Gentleman" From
Smith starred through tho principal cities OF
| the Union, winning goljen opinions and taking
high rank ns q comedian. He opened the
Winter Garden Theatre New York, IN July. 1863,
" TAorne. added fresh laurcls to those he had
already achieved at home aud abroad. In 1866
! he became joint lessee Of tho New York Theatre,
| With Lewis Baker, sud it may be said with JUS
tica that under this management the house was
better known and patronized than it has been
for many day since. In tho spring OF 1863 3Ir.
Smith went to England and crept into popular
esteem there as carefui and accomplished &C.
| tor. Els reputation for these qualifications Was
such that Ar. Edwin Booth hastened to secure
hun es stage-manager OF the new theatre corner
OF Tweuty-thir1 street and Sixth avenue,
and On the opening night. 3fr. Smith,
besides managing the remarkable stage
setting Of the grand production Of ko-
meo aud Juliet" played part in the drama with
commendable skill. In 1870 AIr. Smith returned
to England to fulfill an engagement at the St.
James Theatre, London, under Mrs. John Woods
management. About this time his engagements
were divided bet~ccn New York and London
principally He WAS Gen. Ginke, in Douclcaults
Irish drama Of 1.-The Rapparee," which was pro-
duced ut NibioB, and in lo72 became member
OF tue Union Square company He will be re-
membered By most people on account OF his
prominence during this the first comedy season
Of the theatre. He played With MISS Ethel in
"Agnes "a small part, perhaps but with as
much care and attention az h8 afterward be-
slowed upon the more important part Of Jacques
Fduce{ in "One Hundred Years DID,, in which
ho appeared at lis last visit to Chicago.
----l---
THE DRAMA
How bright dramatic affairs becoming in
the city. Promises fof the eeason are brilliant.
Managers arc becoming snnguire. By Tuesday
every theatre in the city will be open, and, We
hope, doing well. The great event OF the season
III Chicago, tho reopening Of the stock theatre Of
the West will occur tomorrow, while an addi-
tional house Of amusement will fling open its
doors at the samo time We shall have four
legitimate theatres and minstrel-ha1l, and lack
but one thing neodful for the satis-
faction Of the general publio-n varieties
theatre. Perhaps it is just as we'll that Mr..
Growers plans are not get ulatured- Let all
the other theatres have q fair start aud
SHOW tho public what they can do before tho
marvcls Of nauzc1e or feats OF skill In tie varie-
ties business call away public attention from the
legitimate. What the season is going to be no
body is bold enough to predict. There ia one
consoling thought: that it cannot conveniently
be less profitable thnn last SEASON. It would bs
unkind to throw cold wntor npon any enterprise
but there ia no doubt that the public ut largo il
already expressing doubt whether Chicago eau
support three legitimate theatres, museu,n-
theatre, and minstrel company. It is quea-
tion which will be answered practically in few
weeks at most. |
uooLEy's THEATRE.
We are nt last to have our model stock theatre |
with company SURPRISING any resident in the, |
West superior to any but those Of three New
York theatres, with prospect of eventually ex-
ceiling even these. We have waited patiently |!
tor this, snd hope for the very best Az men |
toned above Hooloy's new company is made up I
of young peop1e--the flower Of the rising gen
erntion Of actors. Tho men arc al noted AZ |
capable OF great things in the near future. They
nov their opportunity has come for making |
record. Tho ladies' ara voung, elaato, their rela-
tire ability yet TO be decided, and, like the ga1-
tIemen, they are all on their mettle. In addition
to this, they feel the utmost confidence IN their
stage-manager, whose success IN Boston gives
them every Invitation to perfect reliance upon |
his sacacity, fair,ess and hrmness Of char
actcr. At the same time the public must
bear this fact in mind. This company has not
yet played together, and has not adapted itself
Individually. The Daily Company VAS here
month or two ago, and showed Chicago audiences
what could be reached By years OF labor and CO
operation under judicious management. buch
perfect mechanism cannot be expected IN Mr.
Hooiey's new company. 1t will be matter OF
half season before they work together in the
manner OF the Fifth Avenue company. The
public must be content at first to examine the
material Of Which it is composed, watch its
growth, and then render q verdict. It must,
epoye all th1ngu, make many allowances for the
ttrapgeness Of the opening night, the nervous
ness Thich all must feel who are. unable 20 e1~
actly measure their support. aud must venture
Lo give encouragement to those who deserve it.
Tie drama with which Mr. Hoolcy has decided
10 open is lied Astray," which nm for 20 many
months in New York, and enjoyed . run OF pine
weeks at the Boston Museum At the same time.
We hare not he'd the piece there ret The Lin
zard Combination played literal translation Of
he drama from which Il Led AstraT ~ was taken,