The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-22

Scenic Artist, to the Present Grade.
William Paul Bown, the uproariously
funny comedian and admirable stage man.
ager now officiating at Jackson Mound
park, has enjoyed a very eventful career,
favored with considerable variety. Mr..
Down, and in fact all the members OF the
opera company performing with him,
spends most OF his time on or near the
park grounds. The place seems to be
revelation to them, and holds them will
ing captves. They have to work pretty
hard rehearsing every day in order to pro-
duce a new opera each week, but they do
not appear to mind it in the least, as they
say Manager Davis "makes it so pleasant
for us that it leaves nothing for one to wish
for"
A congenial party sat around one OF
the tables at the park yesterday afternoon,
reveling in the delights Of exhilerating
beverages and interesting conversation.
An APrEAL man was one OF them. Mr..
Bown was by common consent allowed to
lead OH all the subjects, for the reason that
in this capacity he was particularly happy
and entertaining. After an hours time
spent in this way. during which a wide
range Of topics incident to the theatrical
profession were discussed, the popular
comedian was drawn out with biography
OF his life. lie complied, relating the fol-
lowing points OF
AN EvRSTruL CAREER.
az was born in New York October 2, 1854.
At the age OF ten years my voice was tried
by DIR. Cutler, then organist OF Trinity
church, that city, who had organized
concert series under the name OF The Ce-
Gillian Vcspers." We sang Mt Steinway
hail, on Fourteenth street, which had just
been completed and opened. At the con-
| clusion OF these concerts l was engaged by
Mr.. w. /. Williams, who was organist OF
| st. Georges church, ut Sixteenth street
and Stuyvcstant place, but managed the
choirs Of several other churches, between
which | was occasionally transferred. Mr.
| Williams also had contracts to furnish
| bows for theatcrs.
"Mv first appearance on the stage was in
a piece called no Thoroughiarc, at the
old Broadway theater, one door from the
corner Of Broom street. | remember poor
old Barney Williams, who was in the same
east. | remained in the employ Of Mr..
| Williams for several years. After the
Broadway engagement | was sent, with
several others, and billed as the 'Madrigal
Boys (which, think, were about the
first in this country, at Tammany hall, on
Fourteenth street, which had just been
built, and was opened under the manage.
ment OF Jarrett & Palmer, who also had
control Of Niblo's garden. on Broadway.
"Ab ut the time my voice changed ] was
employed at the Olympic theater on
Broadway, as super, property boy ana
generally useful hand. That was during
the run Of George l.. Fox in 'llumpty
Dumpty.' In some OF the pieces that
succeeded the pantomiIne, | was entrusted
with small parts, which gave me consider.
able stage confidence. On leaving tue
Olympic ! took an engagement With tho
Kinliy's at Niblo's, in Eighty DAyS
Around the World furnished a male
quartet, in which sang myself and played
enc or two small parts. / was next em-
ploycd rs property man Tor q circus,
which travelled by boat in the still water
around New York. That enterprise was
under the management OF Dean x Peil,
and started from Jersey City.
"fhe following ,ason varied my career
by acting as middle man and bass singer
for a minstrel company, also doing what
We term the straight business, aud
managing the stage which line followed
for two OF thrcc seasons In the year oil
1878, | went TO the West Indies. Kings
ton, Jamaica, with an opera company,
under the management OF Holland & Ellis,
the daughter OF the latter, Miss Florence
Ellis, being the prima donna. This was
most disastrous affair. We broke up
about the third week. nearly 1900 miles
from home, and without money or friends.
lost everything had, trunks, clothes,
watch and all. Was taken sick with
yellow fever, and, after lapse
Of about five months, living the
! Lord only knows how. I was obliged TO
work my way home on the steamer Clarl'
belle, OF the Atlas line, under Capt Fur.
gcson. then followed opera Tor several
. years; was one Of. the originals in Pima.
fore, rs Dcadcyc. under the management
OF poor BARLEY Campbell. That was before
! he made his reputation ~ playwright We
opened at the Fourteenth Street thcater,
played abou, two weeks, and then toured
the country for about three months On
my return in 1879, my handsome makeup
NJ Dcadeyc captured the lady who Is a!
/, present Mm. Bown. She was not then 10
, the business, but she always travelled with
me. and finally dritted into H. She nov
, plays quite round OF character and sou
breite parts. later filled very pleasant
, season as a member Of Days stock com
pany, in New York, which experience did
me q great deal OF good. When l finished
there went 10 the Bijou, under the man
agcmcnt Of John McCaull, and appeared
In 'Mascotte' as the original Rocco IN
!. New York. Following that ] played
couple OF seasons OF opera In Chicago
! doing the comedy parts and stage manage
nent.
last year my timc was mostly devoted
!, 10 farce comedy In pieces like ON the
Stage Charlotte Russo, 'Donnybrook
and several others, none Of which, an
sorry TO say, were particularly successful
At various times | have had turn a
, ticket taking, selling, playing a piano ia
! an orchestra, and have even worked as m
assistant with q scenic artist on pain
. frame. In fact, have done most every
! thing except actually own a show, though
. II ever do some Of this knowledge vii
come in very handy TO me. | have 10
Gently closed a very pleasant engagement
as the Admiral In 'Pinaiore, ut Kcnsing
}. ton gardens, II. Louis, aud was there en-
, gagged by McSrs. Davis and Fischer u
como here and act In my usual capacity NJ
!. stage manager and. comedian. | am On
joying myself first rate here. roughing In
I ! flannel shirt, without coat or vest canvas.