Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-04-25
DEATH 0FJosEPH C. FOSTER
THE EvENTFuL LIFE OF AN OLD PLAY
WRIGHT, ACTOR AND MANAGER.

Mr.. Joseph G. Foster, the dramatic
author, actor and manager after a
very eventful career in this country
and IN England, died on Monday even.
ing, April 9th, 1877, in New York.
lie was born in Edinburg on Janu-
ary 81, 1904 In England he was as
sociated with such men as the elder
and younger Charles Matthews, 7. p.
Cook, and Dncrow, the famous circus
manager. He managed the private
theatricale Of the Duke of Wellington,
in which the great Dukes favorte role
was Jimmy Starting in the Wreck
Ashore As II machinist, be made the
original three dragons fol- "St. George
and the Dragon" At the Adelphia
Theatre, London, he produced the
original ineantations in the drama OF
"Der Freischutz," adapted from the
opera of the same name. He appeared
as a pantomimist at the Haymarket
Theatre.
In 1882 he came TO this country
with Cook, of circus renown, and ap-
peared ut the Vauxhall Garden, corner
Of the Bowery and Eighth street, New
York, in "St, George and the Dragon T"
and " Mazeppa." After year he went
to Baltimore with Cook, where, in
1888, he was burned out. With John
Robinson he then went with a travel
ing troupe from Cincinnati to New
Orleans. While there he bought ont
Sam Stickney. Charlie Rogers, the
circus proprietor, and Frank Whitta-
ker, now with 2. Il. Barnum, were in
his company. Soon aftcrward he lost
all his money, and came back 10 Phila.
delphla, where he produced his spec
tacular pieces, the "Naiad Queen and
Enchantress." Miss Charlotte Cush-
man, Peter and Caroline Richings, and
VIM. e. Burton acted in these plays.
Afterwards Foster was with General
Rufus Welch IN the National Circus,
where Continental Hotel, Philadelphia,
now stands, In lS49 he took the old
Chestnut Street Theatre for year. In
1850 he went by the old canal to Pitts.
burg, where nc received the name of
"Old Governor FOSTER He built the
New National Theatre in Pitisburg in
1856. He spent a year in Cincinnati,
and failed in the panic of 1857, after
which he travelled with company
through Pennsylvania and Ohio for
two years. He then went TO New
York, about 1861, and at the Bowery
Theatre produced the spectacle of
"Tippoo Sahib." Here Tony Pastor
appeared us the clown in his "Mon-
strous st. Michael" The Cremorne
Garden was built, near the corner of
Sixth avenue and Fourteenth street,
under his supervision. Spalding and
Rogers Circus he then fitted out for
South America. He was one Of the
last managers of the old Chatham
Street Theatre. He then fitted out the
Hernandez Pantomime Troupe in Bal.
timore and travelled with IL two years.
After managing for time the Chest
nut Street Theatre at Philadelphia, he
produced his "Seven Dwarfs" at the
Bowcry Theatre IN 1868. After the
building Of the Grand Opera House,
Eighth avenucan Twcnty.third street,
he produced there bis spectacle "The
Twelve Temptations" This was fol-
lowed by "Lalla Rookh."
Mr.. Foster was a very busy man. lie
has been n musician, scene painter,
maker, modelcr, costumer,
pantomimist, actor, manager, and au-
thor HIS forte was the preparation
of spectacular dramas. He made large
sums of money repeatedly, and as often
lost everything. After devoting his
life to his profession he died q poor
man. His last sickness--apoplexy-
overlook him while he was engaged In
writing plays. lie had been married
three times, and was the father Of
seventeen children-most of whom he
brought up to his profession. His re-
mains were taken to Philadelphia and
buried in Woodland Cemetery, where
bis three wives now rest.