The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-26
lMTSE EN- FNTS.


hN'Th. ana BOnemldnS uhOut inc uOOFS. saw |
that Billy Florence was buuonholcd by a re-
porter and was being interviewed on the innu-
cnce of the Elzabcthan drama upon the civilza-
ton Of Europe. Somebody said il was going to
appear in Sunday morning newspaper, and
that set me thinking. Why should not inter-
view somebody | looked about me. There was
the delicate blond face of Sothcrn. No couldn't
got anything out Of hm-hc'd smell Il practical
joke. lie never talks for fear somebody will
get square, with him. Besides he was lust
about to appear in public. and all actors dislike
IN he interviewed at such times.
There was the English champion who plays
the old man in Blue Beard" There was John
Raymond looking wildlyup and down the street
NJ il in search of Il now play. There was tho
opulcni Grover. the Skye Mars den. the vcncra-
hlc Stuart. the Jovian Gaylcr. BY George Id
Interview Gaylcr. He had been writing plays
over since WIS u schoobov. His white hairs
had not chilled with their frosts the perennial
summer of his countcnancc. He would proba-
bly, say something that would be worth hearing.
Experience IL sometimes another name for
clogucncc.
lie looked down At me out Of his bcnignant
amplitude, and said Fire away. my boy"
" The American drama is at this moment n
theme for discussion" remarked.
At this II omcnt - he cIaculatcd why not
at all other momonts2 Did you ever know
time when the press was not bowling or whining
over II Z"
80. we'll. there must have been paliny days
when the American playwright was apprr-
catcd."
YES says Gaycr. Il presume you refer to
the good old times when MAJOR Noah wrote The
Plains of chippewa. and Nat Bannistcr wrotc
The Iron Son OF '7G and Ben Baker wrote
Mos. Those were palmy days for play
Sold his play for the same money. Why in 1853
Mr. J. W. Wallack thought hcdtry an American
play wright and he produced my Magic Mar
riagc 1t had run II ten weeks Mrs Hoy
and John Lester Waack appeared in it. twas
/ revived aiirrward and ran sin weeks. For the
| entire two scasons Mr.. WallaoA paid me ;iOO."
How much did he makc?'
well. taking the average ~ Tho business he
must have made about i2OoOO | wrote for him
| aitcrwarl comedy called Lost and Won.'
which ran four weeks. and for which | also
received 800 The Poor OF New York
which was produced some time after was
written by the Star club. II which Ned wilkins.
/ Fitz james OBricn. and Dion Bourirauit were
| leading spirits. This coalition was made for
| the Purpose " managing tn" press. Eou'i-
cauli'~ collab'ratour- controlled the principal
! papers. and wcre not likely 'o a~~ail the work
/ IN which tucy had "a hand II was shortly after
| TIA" American Copyright act WIS pa~-ri that
| Don Buu icaut mad" his appearance in this
country and destroyed the hopes Of all calow
dramaii-i- by occupying tn" only ~tngos then
open 90 them. namely Wallatks and the Win
ter Garden. H. filled the gap with his own
/ pieces Jessie Brown Thu o tDroon.'
The Vampire Colleen Bawn &. Laura
Koenc shortly aftorwarl rrop"nod the doors to
the native paywrgh,z hy op"uin.; her theatre.
She prndu''da pieon OF mine called \ Love
of Prince. and two or three plays ~ De-
Waldron's. notably the seven Sisters which
| had "a long run. and for which De Muldruu re-
ceived s. night got 81 night Tor The
Low" Of a Prince. MIR LcL2. the manager.
thought this WIS too much. lie a.trrward took
the piece 10 Philadelphia. aud played ii there
without paying me cent
Did you not at one time have several plays
running simultaneously in this city,"
In 1851 had the Magic Marriage running
at Walln"k's. The Love OF a Prince at Laura
kccnc's The Son Of the Night at the Old
Broadway. The Creole Wife at the Old Bow
cry. and Bull Run at the New Bowery. Now.
let me see get from Mr.. Wallack 800. From
Laura Kecne got ~ a night. - a night from
I'll" Broadway. nothing from the Bowcry. and
$50 from the New Bowrry paid ia Install
meui~."
These were the good old times that you
refer to-
No; don't think we've quite come 10 them. "
well. ! then wrote the Female American
Cousin Tor Julia Daily in 1856. She made a
great deal Of money with ~ took 1t To- England
and played IN nights in London. AiIgut for
il was sl9j ais, did the American Cousin
at Home FIR Sothorn for which | received 800
II MAS played successfully in all the " 81 ru
cities. and WAS then produced AT til" Winter
Garden with a strong east, Rufus Blake playing