The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-09-07
An Actors Astounding "Back FALL

But the fall that have been safely ac,
compIishcd again and again, says Wal.
singham, treating of theatrical Mllings
and dyingS, are all Of minor importance
compared with one great effort which
most leading actors and actresses would
give great deal to he able to count
among the mechanical portions of their
art, This is the "back fall, an achieve
mrnt of such tremendous effect on an
audience, that | have more than orrc
heard a iamons "star" say that she
would give $4,000 to be able to accom-
plish it, and yet be sure of not breaking
her neck in the perilous operation
The "back fall' is ON the same prin-
ciple as the fall which is ordinarily made
upon the stage, that is, the weight of the
actor or actress who attempts it must all
90 on the hands.
But the only man who could, or who
can, execute the great "back fall" was
an actor named Joseph Naglc, who was,
and may still be, great iavorte in the
west, and who has appeared in this city
before such audiences MS those of Wood s
museum and the Bowery. This excel
lent melodramatic performer was blessed
with this great accomplishment, which,
it may be said, sometimes threatened to
bring down the house" literally. The
effect on the audience of seeing his i'm
mense form-he was full six feet in
hcight-falling backward towards them
~ Ia la, Ia,
only to introduce this feat to wakcn the
most phlegmatic audience into enthusi-
asm, He would stiflGn himself until
perfectly rigid and then come down like
an avalanche. On one occasion, when
he was pl"ying star engagement in the
Cleveland thcatcr where Clara Morris
underwent her novitiate, some caprice
overlook him, and clasping the hands Of
that actress firmly as she Gas his daugh-
ter in the play) was preparing to with
draw from him prior to his "back fall,
he bore her with him in Il decent that
seemed to her terrified imagination like
II lean from some lofty prccipicc. 1t
was usual, and, indeed, necessary for
him TO fall alone as he had to use his
hands to receive his whole weight. He
was mcrcilully spared from disaster in
the rash attempt Just noted, but at an
other time he was less fortunate
Soapprchensivc were the actors when
they used to see him try the fall at re-
hcarSaIs-as he would occasionally, to
accustom them to it--that they would
rush forward or hold out their
hands, involuntarily seeking to break
his descent. Upon one occasion Frank
Murdoch Ga young actor, now dead, who
became 20 well known as the author of
" Davy Crockett" the romantic drama
in which Frank Mayo has been so sue
ccsstuD seemed particularly nervous at
Naglc's great fall, and that acrobatic, Ia
telt compelled to warn him against any
demonstration on his part in the evening
that would tend disturb him ut that
point, warningt him that it might prov
fatal. When Murdoch saw him falling,
his fears, however, mastered his discrc-
ton, and he sprang forward and touched
him, breaking the fall. NagIc received
,eycre injuries-inyced it was wonder
hat his neck was not brOkcn-and lay
in cxcruciating agony for days. He re-
'ovcrcd, however and did the "back |
all" to the admiration Of all bcholdcrs .
many times afterwards.