, 1880-04-11
Where You'll Find Them the Coming Week
-Ganeral Theatrical News.

!
Palmer had done was indignant Robson
didn't know of Abbey's action. wasn't
going to play Eteut&tor. because the character
had been played by an old man. Gtlltpod
had the fat of the piece, and went to my
lawyer. lie said my contract was good.
After the legal man had explained all my
rights in the matter, however, I reflected be-
fore taking any steps, and the result was that
| I accepted the part of Elevator under pro-
test. ! explained the situation to Robson.
| We consulted and altered the lines so that
| the parts would play better together, and the
result was q big success. OF course /
| abandoned the legal business, much to my
lawyers disgust, suppose. After playing
together for five weeks we formed the idea
| of partnership, and John Mccullough
offered US time in San Francisco. In the
meantime Len Grover had made arrange
ments to play his piece in the large cities. He
! had made big terms and wanted us to go
| with him. The firm Of Robson & Crane,
| however, had been founded, and we wouldn't
go unless Grover put our names at the head
| of the bills.''
"You can see our object in this, }" remarked
| Robson, "a purely financial one" -:
"Grover was in terrible state. He kicked
vigorously it would never do, old fel;
| Our Boarding House, must be the feature,
| laddie and SO on. We decided not to go. He
| found then that the managers didn't want
| the play, and ultimately accepted our terms
We offered him $4,000 for the piece, but he
wouldn't have it, and we engaged for some
/ $500 4 week for both." : -
"You started out with pretty strong COM
panv?"
"Yes," replied Robson. "W. d. Sheridan
and Maud Granger were in it, and I'll never
forget their expression Of deep disgust
when, on reaching Washington at 6 O'Clock
one morning they saw the walls covered with
| three-sheet posters at the head of which
I were the names Of Robson and Crane In
large letters, supported by. the rest:
There was threatened revolt. They
talked of leaving the company, and Old
Eel might have been torn in Shreds had he
not fled from the town by the next train. I
believe lie turned up two or three days after
wards with another three-sheet bill headed
with the names of Maud and ". Fl. He
stuck it in the green-room of the theatre, and
that for time restored harmony. When we
reached Chicago, where Mckee Rankin
was engaged to enact FIoretti, the war
broke out afresh. RANKIN was appeased by
another bill. Then another objected, and
Len had to come out with another poster.
The affair eventnated, believe, in. Len sup
tie troupe down to the little chap who spoke
three lines; in fact, think the entire profits
Of Our BOarding-House' were dissipated in
posters, Grover being thankful for peace at
Robson's veracity has never been ques-
toned before. :
.sNeary six months we played in Our
Boarding House. and the engagement gave
lis a fine start" Crane went on to say. "We
den den Frait,' Which, we played in San Fran.
cisco, Chicago, and Boston. Our Bache10rS'<
followed, Previous to this we had arranged
for play from Boucicault. We have one
act Ct i now' and believe the other Two are
"Talking Of Boucicau1t," said Robson, 81
remember on the day previous to the produc-.
ton Of The Comedy Of Errors dropped
into his ROOMS to see what he thought Of the
s,'ifs yentnre' +, lie smiled upon ME with sekly
":seen Booth this weekq' he quietly re-
matESe a:Yes.,
..sHow was the house?'
"tQueer-rather.'
"tAh!' ejaculated Boucicault, with
meaning look. 'Mr. Booth is not playing
very good engagement, eh?'
"-What DO you think Of our chancesp
and said very sternly and paternally; Well,
sir, between you two boys and Booth next
week it will be nip and tuck who will play
to the most empty benches
body said HptfS' to ths'mseives @ M % now VII he 1 pab
lie want old comedy, Well give 1t 'em.'
Actors came from all quarters. John Clarke,
then on his farm at Towsontown, Nd,
packed his earpet-bag, made for for NeW York,
then picking oranges on his plantation, ex-
claimed, Odds Gods head and cookie sauce,