Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-05
"CHISPA.
. II III n
A Short Sketch of Marion ElmOre


1t is generally believed that Miss Marion
Elmore is a native of England, and that
! her training has been especially in the di-
rectiOn of burlesque. This is not so. She
was born amid a rougher civilization, and
her theatrical training has been as thor
Ough as her experience has been varied.
She is native of Australia. where twenty
two years ago in tent in the gold fields of
Sandhurst she was born. Sandhurst was
then as it is now one of the largest mining
camps in Victoria, and her father con-
nected with theatrical affairs in the col
onies, while her mother occupied quite a
prominent position as a singer. Three
years later, Miss Marion Gilmore, with Mr..
Joseph Jefferson, played an engagement
in Adelaide. Her father was manager of
the theatre at the time. Some difficulty
was experienced in securing child to
play Meenie in rip Van Winkle," but
Mr.. jefferson finally selected little Marion,
who in this part and with this distin-
guished actor, made her first appearance
ON any stage.
From this time until she was nearly ten
wears of age she travelled with her father
and mother, playing not only in the lead
ing towns of Australia and New Zealand,
but in nearly every mining camp where
there was a theatre. She was the pet of
".
created as great furOre there in her day
as any infant prodigy ever did in any
country. Among those who took particu-
lar interest in the child's early career may
be mentioned Billy O'Neill. the great Irish
comedian, who brought out Lolita in San
Francisco; he was one of her earlier in
structOrs-he taught her dancing, singing
and Irish dialect. One night he was I'M
able to play, and Miss Gilmore went on
N
pleased the comedian that he became her
fast friend. and gave her such instructions
as materially assisted in laying a solid
foundation for her future dramatic sue
cess.
In 1870 her parents determined to leave
Australia, and they came upon sailing
vessel, touching at number of the islands
in the route, where she and her sister,
Lima Merville, excited the admiration of
the Europeans. In San Francisco she
went to school for year and then trav-
eled with her parents through Oregon and
in some of the mining towns in Nevada,
then East on their way to England, the
native country of her parents.
For over year after her arrival in Eng
land. Miss Gilmore attended school, and
finally she was secured by Mr.. Chatter
ton, the London manager, who then con-
trolled the Adelphi, Princess and Drury
keen a scent for talent as any connected
with the dramatic business in England.
She was engaged to play sOubrette roles
and be understudy for Miss Lydia Foote,
one of the best known actresses in Eng
land. From time to time she appeared at
these different theatres, sometimes play
ing in the opening farces at the Princess,
and then appearing in the closing farces
at Drury Lane. She was then between
fvt~o ND
Miss Gilmore had had the advantage of
three years schooling in England, when,
in 1878. she accepted an offer of an en-
gagement with company then organizing
in London for America. Since that time
She has appeared in nearly every impOr-
tant city in this country, and no matter
what character she has been called on to
play, she has won the plaqdits of the pub
iic' AS "Chispa," in which she will ap-
near this week at the Theatre, she has
received the highest Endorsement of the