The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-05-13
A DRAMATIC HISTORY.

| A DRAMATIC HISTORY.
Mrs. James A. Oates Deserts Her Illus.
band. Mr.. Titus, and Applies for a
Divorce..The Oates operate Conn
| pany Split i'm TWo~.Riv0l TH0upes
to be Organized--A M0theF-in.Law,
| A Sieter-im.Law, and an IaE0 I'm the
Box.OTfice Cause the Trouble.
From the San F, ancisco Chronicle, April 3d.
Mrs. James A. Oates, otherwise Mrs.
Tracy Titus. has had a domestic differ
ence with her husband, who has been for
many years the manager of the Oates
opera troupe, has assisted in bringing it
up to its present standard Of excellence,
and held an equal share in its earnings.
The trouble has ended in the splitting Of
the troupe into two fragments, which
will be formed into separate organiza-
tons as soon as the engagement here
ends, and will very probably eliminate
in suit for divorce, with fat fees for two
or three lawyers, and scandalous episodes
for the newspapers. There will be seen
next season the curious spectacle of a
husband and wife perambulating the coun-
try at the head of separate opera troupes,
rival candidates for public fame.
Alice Oreencia Merritt, afterward Mrs.
Oates, now Mrs. Titus, was born in Nash
vile, Tenn, in 1849, which makes an es-
innate Of her age easy to her California
admirers. The beginning of her public
career has little rosy tinge of romance.
Her first marriage, in 1865, just after the
cruel war was over, was the finale of
boarding school Irritation. She was then
just sixteen. James A. Oates was q
young. handsome and talented actor, lead
ing man at the old theatre at Nashville,
whose glory was waning when the rebel
lion began, but which had seen on its
boards at various periods all the great
actors of the last half century. She was
then at school at Edgefeld, suburb of
Nashville, just across the Cumberland
river. She had seen her beau ideal be-
mind the footlights in velvet, tinsel, and
bright tin armor, and sighed that heaven
had made her SUCH man.
The handsome actor wOoed her secret
ly, married her in Gretna Green fashion,
then returned to the buskin, while she
renewed her studies in the school room
more diligently than ever. A year later
he was engaged as leading man Of Woods
theatre, Cincinnati. and left for his new
post, taking his young wife with him.
Mr.. Oates played one year success
fully in Cincinnati. After that ILL.,
health compelled him to leave the
stage entirely, and he was thereafter a
great sufferer until his death from con-
sumption in July, 1871. Those were sad
times for the young wife which followed.
Except for the necessity induced by such
untoward circumstances, it is quite prob
able that the stage would lack one Of its
brightest ornaments. After Mr.. Oates
had been incapacitated by long sickness,
Mrs. Oates joined the company of Woods
theatre as soubrette, making successful
! first appearance in the "Pet Of the Petit
coats" aud playing afterward in such
chance parts as the manager deemed
suited to her abilities. During the season
G. D. Hess visited Cincinnati with that
then famous extravaganza, the Field of
the Cloth of Gold" taking with him the
company from Crosby's opera-house. The
lady who impersonated Earl Donely fall
ing sick, Mrs. Oates was called upon to
assume the character. which she did to
such popular acceptation that she was en-
gagged by Mr.. Hess, and returned with
his company to Chicago, her husband also
going in the capacity of stage manager.
Mr.. Titus was at that time treasurer of
Crosby's opera-house.
ORIGIN OF THE OATES OPERA TRoUPE.
During the vacation of the following
season, Mr.. Oates took party of theatre
cal people into the rural districts Of ILL.,
nois, intending to 60 through . course Of
country tragedy; in other words, to
''storm the barns of the farming locaii-
ties which he penetrated. Their first
point Of attack was Rockford. Here Mrs.
Oates Joined them not long afterward,
and the company, which was made up Of
unique theatrical odds and ends, labored
with such light dramatic material rs ''Po-
chahontas," ''Formosa,' and few other
trifles of similar character. This organi.
cation was the germ from which the splen-
did Cakes opera troupe has since grown.
Still under Mr.. Gate management it went
to st. Paul. then moved southwark once
more through the small towns Of Illinois
and Indiana. through Cincinnati and
Kentucky to the extreme south. where
the following winter was passed doing
much the same class Of theatrical work
and earning an extremely moderate
amount Of money. Returning northward
Mr.. Oates Was taken sick ~ Rene, Ca,
and sent for Mr.. Titus to join the troupe
| IS its manager. This was in the winter
| Of 1S60-70. From that time to this, Mr..
Titus, who had considerable previous ex-
perience in Chicago with Gran and Strak-
osch, has controlled
| THE FORTUNES OF TIE TROUPE,
and largely helped it to achieve its great
successes. He brought them north to
Philadelphia, where successful engage
ment was played It the Chestnut street
theatre, then under Laura Keenefs man
agement, May Howard and Nose Fish
having been added to the company. From
Philadelphia to New York the transition
Was easy. Here the troupe played bur.
lesque to : profitable business for four
weeks, the managers beginning to feel BY
this time that their future was pretty