Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-03

L
lar Dramatic Organization.
IT'S VARIOUS OFFICERS AND MEMBERSHIPS
NUMBER AND VARIETY og THE PLAYS PRE-
sENTED-ITs PERFORMANCES FOR WORTHY
CHARITIES AND IN TESTIMONIALS TO INpI.
vfDUAL PERroRMKRs-MEMBEKsk Row UPON
THE PROFESSIONAL STAGE.
In September, 1888, q preliminary meeting
was held at the rooms of Miss Meline, for the
purpose OF organizing . dramatic association.
| A number of ladies and gentlemen who had
attained some prominence as amateurs were
present. and after full and free discussion ol
| the subject committee consisting OF Miss
Meline, Mrs. Mcconnell and Col. ]. Ad Thorn
son, was appointed to prepare rules and regu-
| lations for the government Of the proposed asso-
citation. and to report at q meeting to be held at
the residence Of Mrs. Mcconnell on the evening
OF October !: On that evening the COMMITTEES
known as
THE JOE JEFFERSON cLUB,
| and series Of articles providing for officers
and their duties. an arrangement for the seec-
ton Of plays, their casting, rehearsal and pres
entation, was presented, all of which were
adopted and the formation was perfected by
the election Of the following officers: President,
Col. J; Ad. Thomson; vice president, Mr.. John
treasurer, Mrs. II. A. Mcdonnell. Plays for
reading were at once selected, and after dis
cussion it was DECIDED to give the first public
be Who is She: or Peggy Green, and the farce
place at Willard hall and was highly successful
the members showing more general talent than
Of b amy Which had
Thomas as 1Sena. 7yppins; g. v. Keen I'd.
a Gse Miss xnnle wars
Peggy Green; Miss Hattie Mcconnell, Jane
Turner; Mrs. Hart, Kate Smith; and Miss Eve
was quite favorite with the late Caroline Rich
and whose delightful assumption Of Peggy
Green is we'll remembered by old playgoers,
was capitally rendered, all the characters being
effectively presented. In the farce Mr.. Leslie
Bi5cs, Mr. geweil D Peter Parker' Mr. disburn Ds
Grumpy, Miss Maurer Afrs. Benjamin Bibbs, Miss
Ware Mrs: BG,r ,. Btobs. Miss Townley Selma
SonaeTs, and Miss Mcconnell Sndrley.
IT'S FIRST SEASONS WORK.
This entertainment at once established the
Joe Jefersons in popular favor, and during their
first season they presented to the public 'Still
Waters Run Deep" and "More Blunders Than
49, R sadg for the Best
the National Theater, "a Quiet Family" Dur
and complimentary entertainments the comedy
scene rom :Lasretia borgia" and "My Neigh.
National Theater for the benefit Of the poor Of
the city, when the comedy of 'Everybody's
Friend" and the farce, ITO Oblige Benson"
were the attractions.
At the commencement of the second
season the following change was made in the
Wyeth; vice president, John r. Gisburne; sec
rotary, Chas: p. Miller and treasurer Mr.. Thad
oces of and ws eTea
dated, and Mr.. James B. Philip was elected TO
perform the dual duties: This year the club
Woods" and leap Year" or the Ladies' Priv
ilege;' the drama, "a Husband to Order;;'' the
ha and and the
At the election Of officers in October, 1875,
former positions, Mr.. G. II. hewitt was made
secretary, Mr.. ]. b. Philip treasurer Mr.. Thad.
Saiier stage manager and Prof. Pistorio leader
OF the orchestra. The plays presented this sea-
son by the Jetfersons were the dramas, CAN
That Glitters is Not Gold" and pride Of the
ertsans coth Of which were given twice Rob-
BaSes in the Wood the frees ssR Tar HIM
out" "A Cup Of Tea" and an original CONNIE
Ruth, of the U. S. navy, making seven perform
ances, exclusive Of
THE FINAL PERFORMANCE.
At Ford's opera house on May 23d, 1876
when the program consisted of II. T. era ven's
drama entitled "Meg's Diversion" and ]. NJ.
Morton's two act comedy farce, "Woodcock' 8
Little Game" This may be said to have been
the last regular performance OF the Joe Jeffer-
son club, for though an attempt was made to
reorganize about two years later only one per
formance was then given. This last entertain
ment was SO successful in every particular that
In the drama Jeremy Cro,O was sustained by Mr.
H. b.h n: Rabbit; ASntey Merton Esq, by L. J. Har;
GDraelia, Miss Lottie Swallow; Margaret, Minnie
Frye; Mrs; Ne.,eelt, Mrs. J. NJ; BaIbitt In the
pea DT W Shas " pen
:S,cansdO,Sn: !: 3; Philip, David: Miss May
ton, Mrs Woodcock: Mrs. Kate Brandon, Mrs.
Ldrkins, and Miss Alice Burnett, Susan.
In the attempted reorganization but one per-
lows Hall, Faint Heart Never Won Fair
Lady," and 'Out to Nurse" being presented,
Bangs, W. 8. Window, F.D. Maltby,J j. B. Philip P
II. G hewitt. Misses Louise Lemon, Mary Ne.
line, Amy Philip and little Eva Henderson,
being the participants.
AMONG THE MEMBERS
of the Joe Jeffersons were some of the best
known amateurs, among whom may be men,
toned the following: Gen. Allan Rutherford,
Col. J. Ad. Thomson, John Tweedale. ]. B. Ran.
Jewell, E. G. Fernold, ". /. Argue L. E. Can m:
non, ; flames F. Joyce, Walker & DENNIS, Chas.
3. Philip, Dr Charles Warren, Prof. L. &. CO.. CO..
Chase I, J. Harbaash ln Il Ba6bit ase Gha IS
II. a. Mcdonnell. Mrs !. B. Philip, Mrs. Emily i
$. Hart, Mrs: Allan Rutherford, Mrs. c. r Mil
Ter. Misses Hattie Mcconnell Minnie FRYE An.
ME .. Ware. MN. Meline, Fannie d. Nort,rop.
NJ. T. Maurer Bessie L. Everts, Sallie E. Town.
ley, Mae Cooper, Alice NJ. Sailer, Miranda i.u-
cas-, Amy Il. Philip, Carrie Wilmington, Ada
Moxon, Hattie TOwnley, Alice Burnett, Flor
ence Wells and Lottie Swallow.
WHO ARE NOW PROFESSIONALS
Perhaps Some Of the most successful profess
sionals who have graduated from the Washing.
ton amateur stage were members of the Joe JEFF
1erson cluD. Miss Annie Ware is now one ofthe
most reliable and effective actresses in old
women parts, and Miss Minnie Frye's success
the ITALIAN club. Miss Hattie Mcconnell is a
successful leading lady, and reflects credit upon
the club In which her early efforts were first re-
cOgn1zed as showing genuine merit Walter
Dennis mas already made his mark as leading
man, ana has now gone to Chicago to create the
principal character in John Freund's new play
of True Nobility" James F. Joyce was snc
cessful actor until he became the MANAGE Of f0a
Murphy, with whom he has been associated for
many years. -0-
In connection with the plays already men.
TONED, II may be said that the Joe Jeffersons
were Always ready to respond to the call of
char1ty, ana among the objects for which thew
gave performances were the poor of East Wash
gton, the washington monument fund the
ing and printing, National Medical college dis
pensary, the centennial exhibit of the Dublic
schools. and the widow and children Of Cant
Fry, OF the V1rsinius. Some notable BENEFITS to
!no!ViouAS were also projected and carried out
by this club. such as that to Miss Annie Ware.
when the irish drama of kathleen MayOur.
neen" was given, the beneficiary playine Knsh-
II