Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-05
FOOT-LIGHT MEMORIES

FOOT-LIGHT MEMORIES.
Some of the Curiosities Of the Mimic Stane
- Who Some of Oar Great Actors Were
and What They Hare Risen From.
There is no profession in which genius or
even ability will assert itself in spite of all
opposition more than on the stage. Adven
tltlous circumstances can do but little for
actors. They are the public's servants, and
their rank is fixed by public opinion. Most
OF them have risen from low estate, and the
following recollections of the origin of some
of them will be interesting:
Honor and fame from no condition rise.
ACT Well your part, there all the honor lies
Edwin Booth gave his first public performs
ance IN Baltimore. He did not play ..Ham
let,' on this occasion, but in conjunction
with John G. Sleeper, or as he is known now.
John S. Clarke, the famous comedian and
brother-in-law of Booth, made his appear,
ance in negro minstrel show; admission.
twelve and half cents. Clarke was on one
end and Booth on the other. The latter was
then fine banjo-player.
David Garrick was in the liquor business.
He sold wines and liquors in London, but he
was not successful merchant. He failed,
and then went on the stage, and became the
greatest actor and manager of his day.
Nell Gwynne, the beautiful Nell, who after
her trlumphs on the stage ruled the court of
Charles H., began life as an orange girl in
the theater.
Tyrone Power, the great English actor.
was ballad-singer on the streets before he
went on the stage.
The elder Matthew'S oppoorod =, ,,I,l;, =,
stage coachman, and stood with his cab on
the stand near old Drury, where he amused
the boys with his wonderful power of MIN
lcry. He became one of the greatest actors
| of the English stage, and was the first man
that ever gave an entire entertainment alone.
Edmund kean was the greatest of English
actors. his right name was Carey. The
klng of tragedians made his first bow to the
public as pantomimist and dancer.
Edwin Forrest, the greatest of American
actors, was once leaper and tumbler in a
circus When young man he started out
with dramatic company that broke up
somewhere in the South, and he Joined a
circus to get through
| n. M. Ludlow, an actor and manager. now
eighty three years of age. was dry-goods
merchant. He is engaged now in writing
his "reminiscences of the American stage.
John Mccullough, one of the greatest of
our living actors. began life as gas-ftter.
John Lester Wallack was an officer in the
British army, although born in New York in
| 1918. AT sixty years of age he still plays
| youngmen's characters.
Lawrence p. Barrett, known then as Larry
Brannigan, began life as bell-boy at hotel
in Detroit.
Frank Mayo, whose right name is Mcguire,
| Jr1aQ tow
San Francisco.
James s. Hackett, the great "Falstaff, -
kept dry good store at Utica, in New York
State, where he failed in business. He then
married an actress named Miss LIE Sugg and
went on the stage. He made his first repu-
tatlon in Yankee characters.
DR.. q. K. Spaulding was pharmaceutist
at Albany, New York. He went into the
circus business with Charles Rogers. After
making money at that he became a very sue
cessful theatrical manager.
Dolly Davenport, whose real name was A.
ID. Hoyt, was once clerk in jewelry store
/ Mexican Buchanan, fine actor, was 8
sugar broker in New Orleans.
Barney Williams, or Bernard O'Flaherty
was regular gutter-snipe in New York when
a boy. His principal occupation was set
ting up ten-pins in an alley near the East
river.
| John Brougham was drawing master be-
fore he drew audiences as an actor.
Ben De Bar once earned his living by
singing ballads and dancing in Dublin.
Lolita, or Charlotte Crabtree, made he1
first appearance before the public at a con
cert show in cellar, known as a dive, il
San Francisco
John Vandenhoff was educated for Cath
Ole priest.
Gabriel Ravel performed in the streets an6
gardens of Paris, and passed around his ha
for coppers.
Mckee Rankin was at one time a clerk IL
a dry goods store.
George Jameson was cameo cutter be
fore he became AN actor
Harry Palmer was an usher at the New
York academy of music, and Harry Placidt
was in the clothing trade.
Dan Bry,nt, whose proper name wa.
O'Brien, when boy, danced for nickles OF
the docks.
Billy Emerson's name is Redmond. he be
gan life as newspaper boy.
John L. Ford, the successful manager. wal
at one time bill-poster for Kunkle's negro
ministries.
Joe Emmett was house-painter and 10,
Eagle sign painter.
Harry Mccarthy, known as the Arkansas
comedian, was an upholsterer before he wen
on the stage. He wrote the words and musi,
of the "Bonny Blue Flag
Dion Boucicault began his career as ,
strolling actor in the small towns of Grea
Britain.
Sol Smith went no the show business
with telescope, and gave the people of New
York peep at the moon for five cents
John Collins, the Irish comedian, was :
cook.
w. B. Leake was boiler maker.
Tom Mcguire, the well-known California
manager, was hack-driver.
w. B. Florence, 'sBardwell Slote,'' O.
Mighty Dollar fame, was once cigar manu-
facturer. His name is Confess.
Joe Wheelock was sailor. Edmond S
Conner and James Scott were both tailors.
George Wilkes first studied law. He wa:
admitted to the bar, but afterward became {
local reporter. He is now editor and pro
prietor of Wilkes Spirit Of the Times.
Charles Eaton studied law with Dan Web
ster.
w. F. Burton and James Murdoch. were
both printers. ~
The stage has furnished the pulpit with
some eloquent preachers.
Rev SIDNEY Carev uaa an actor