New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-29
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
JOHN GiLBERT,

The completion of half century of life on
the stage by John Gilbert is TO be celebrated on Deem
Der at Walacks Theatre and sketch OF the veteran
actors career WILL therefore, possess Immediate interest
for the public.
John Gibbs Gilbertis native born February
81, 1910, and consequently in his sixty-nnth year
His birth occurred In a house Richmondst next door
to that which Charlotte Cushman born and these
twO-afterward famous actOrs-were playmates In
childhood. Gilbert went OH the stage in his
nineteenth year, making his first appearance,
November %, 1928, at the old fremont
Theatre. in Boston The play Otway's fine tragedy
Of "Vence Preserved" and in this GILBERT acted
Jager. The Belriderd upon this occasion was Mary Duff
Of the greatest actresses that have ever adorned
the stage-a woman as eminent in her day - Cush-
man and RstOri have been in time, and worthy to
be remembered with the most iustrious of Dramatic
artists. Gilberts success was uuequVoca, and both
press and public at accepted him as genuine ac-
tor His next characters were Ser Edrord Mortimer In
The Iron Chest" and Shasespeare's Syiock He con-
tinued for the rest OF the season VI 1873
to at the fremont Theatre taking all parts that were
him bat in the Fall OF that year he joined the
company. at the Camp Street Theatre. New-Orleans,
under Cadwel's management; and, during The ensuing
five he acted with that troupe, sometimes IN New
Orleans, sometimes III the towns on the Mississippi
RIver-pay ny all sorts Of parts but gradually drifting
into the line OF Ola Men
On his return to Boston. in 1884, he again came
The Road Ruin" The was that of bene-
fiji to George BarTett-the fayorte comedian of tDat
epoch. The fremont was then managed Dy IhohaS
BarvsO recently full OF aud nOnors borne 10 MS
rest. Gilbert at engaged there, ana there he
remained for five His line of parts at
that tme cOmprehended tragedy well rs comedy Out
his tendency always toward the specially OF frst
Old Men-n which for many years he has had scarcely
"a rival The versatility OF his talents. ana the variety VI
his efforts this time, strkingy denoted by me st
of parts which he acted during the first season WIN
Barry This includes Master Walter Isaac OF York Sir
Peter Tease Pi-arro. JagO. Sir EdiCdrd Mortimer
Admiral Kingston, Lieutenant WOrthngton. Sir Robert
Brdmble Iotgnius Uncle John Tom N0ddg MdedHg, OFT
DoTntou S1eers Henry the SiIth, Addm, Mdtec, Kent
aud R0ldntO. Barry relnqmshed the fremont Theatre
! after couple Of seasons. and DR.. Jones-the Old
dramatst. author Of Soon Single aud many Othet
pieces. aud long well known ana popular IN Boston,
where recently he died-became IFS lessee and Gil
bert was engaged sagemaDageI and 10 act the same
round OF r Two later The theatre passed INTO
| the hands OF George IL. Andrews. the COMEDIAN FOR
term but Dr.. Jones resumed Its management III
! the next year. and wound up its affairs. Gilbert re-
naiBed III till the last and ts final night as thea
| ire acted SIR Robert Brambe and pronounced fare
well address, SO that he the last actor that spoke
upon the stage Of the old fremont The building was
purchased by church society and rented for lectures
with theatrical scenery anr 1t thereafter custom
airy TO introduce these illustrated entertainments at the
somed walls rejOice"
little while previous 10 the disruption OF the IRE
mont Gilbert acted the Bowery Theatre, IN this city
| under Hambn's manasement-haying been e1-
! pressy engaged to personate the seXton' ider
Bradlra in Rookwoodr He made his first appearance
there however, Sir Edtcdrd Mortimer His next en-
gagement was at Pelby's National in BOston-the ouy
theatre then opeh In that city From there be went To
the old Federal Street Theatre when that once famous
hOuse-Ons since swept away-was re-opened by OlVer
c. wymap and on that occasion he spoke the opening
address, written by Fanny Sargent OsgOod The season
was disastrous ana closed in March 1S46. In April
Gilbert went to London pleasure trip; but being
asked t. act he appeared at the Prncess Theatre as
| Sir Robert BrGmJle, and CORDIALLY received
by the public and the Press OF the British capital;
whereupon accepted engagement at the Princess
Theatre for the next season. The interim be passed In
Paris where he end studied the great artists Of the
Theatre Francase-Rachel. Rose Cheri, Lafont Frede-
rick Lematre, Bocage, Fechter. and others Then he
acted for one season. the Pnncesss In London and
| then returned home.
He is next found at the Old Park Theatre in This city,
where he came forward as Sr anthony Absointe, and
where he remained TIL the destruction of that house by
hre,-December 10, 1SiS. He spoke the last words
that were over that acting Admiral
! Kingston. in naval Engagements" Hamblin then en-
gagged him at the Bowery, which In those days was
theatre Of the best class, and possessed capital dram
| attic company including Mr. and Mrs. James W Wal
lack ir Lester Walack, Miss Wemyss Mary Taylor ana
others OF local renOwn Here nc remained some time
but he is presently found at the Howard Athenaum III
Boston, and later at the old Chestnut street Theatre
Philadelphia At the latter he remained TIL tho opening
| OF the Boston Theatre. in 1854, when he was
| again engaged by Barry. On the opening night
OF that theatre he spoke the address, written by
! that excellent poet. L. W. Parsons, and acted
Sr anthony Absolute. -Four consecutive seasons found
him constant in his duties at TIPS theatre, and growing
more in the accuounte respect OF the Boston
public He played the Old Men at this time. almost ex
| clusively: yet he was in two OF the most
widely cOntrasted and difficult characters In the whole
! range OF the drama-B0tOn. and CdiibGR.
1.-THE humOr Of GIlOerts performance OF Bottom says
a critical authority OF the time Twas exquisite. The
egregOus vanity in the casting Of the play-thc bottom
less vanity and BottOmsh ignorance-were more
faithfully denoted II had the true ShakesDearean flavor
Another critical writer says "Gilberts Caban Is great
personaOn OfitseH and by itself 1t lust good IN It's
way as any Thing Forest Brooke Wallack
plsh 1t IS a finished and elaborate yet very vigorous
exhibition Of dramatic aby and those who have not
seen IL are not Of what John Gilbert Is capable
although they be thoroughly cOnversant with his
Pk,lp SobOs Roldnio, Sir Peter Tea-ls, SIR AnthOny
Absolute and half hundred other parts that be gives
so dehcaIely and 50 naturally" Al one OF his
benefits in Boston, during this fertile and bril-.
liant period Of his professional life, Gilbert
received public gift OF very costly and handsome
service Of silver patewhch 10 sti preserved amongst
| his theatrical treasures and relics
From the Boston Theatre, in 1853, the comedian
went TO the Arch In Philadelphia and there he
remained til engaged by Walack-;he veteran
| for his new theatre in this city, opened where
it still remains in 1860 Gilbert forward In SIR
Peter Ted=e and at established himself in the adj
miraton the New public. He has been attached
to Waack's Theatre since, and that in import
ant and intimate manner that the place would not he
itself without him. From him the present generation of
playgoers has received its knowledge OF the ira
ditions Of the stage, associated with the greatest