New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-07
AID WA1IACK,S CAREER.

7, Is so short a time since the public press anu
public tongue were busy day after day with 'emlnis
ccnccS OF the long years-more than forty-ourlhg
which the sunshine of Lester Wallacks genialiy
urltened the cares and strengthened the hearts Of
uttudcs so brief space since his CHEEKY voice was
heard at the Metropolitan Opera House by thousands
gathered to pay him such a tribute OF ahecuoha'e
respect and admiration as never an actor received
here before HIM. protesting that he was not saving
final farewell bat hoped soon 10 reduce rebellious
leg 70 subsection and resume active duty, that in
srlte OF Yesterdays warning the fact OF his death IS
hard to comprehend. Can it be that soon he Will
Hnrcr only a. a memory in the minds Of the young
ravgoeis OF this generation and that the grayoeards
WHO have been wont to reeale Us with talk OF the
actors youth viii themselves have followed him out
If This Nfe7 Must Wo talk Of him hereafter only as
4 traditions tradition al of style and man
the like Of which tas departed from the American
stage II seems and the fact adds poignancy
70 the sorrow which every lover OF the theatre VIII
feel In contemplating his death. II is easy TO say
fat Nj Wauack han rounded out a life Of loveler
activity and greater dimensions than falls 10 man
ordinarily that having carly recognized his mission
lie fulfilled IL completely and then went over 10 me
majority easily and painessy, as to his reward such
thoughts are generally comforting but they lose some
Of their efficacy when a. In this instance tNey are
brought into association with observations OF the
present tendency on the part of paywrights and
rlayers II IS for this reason that Mr.. Walacks
death though It came after the cessation OF his active
iabors must be sci down as a great misfortune 10
at in addition to the private loss which those feel
Who enjoyed the happiness that flowed out to all VINO
verc PRIVILEGED 10 come IN contact with his buoyant
courlv ard aspirtng personality Mr. "aHacAs
work i, done. but not that OF his influence
lester WaIlack WAS profess onally we'll born His
father James William Wallack, a great actor in
both tragedy and comedy. His mothers father was
Jack tombstone. ar Irshman educated lilo his
grandson 70 he a soldier hut also like him turning TO
fqrun
His patcrna grandmother, Elizabeth Field was 80 good
a. actress that in her day She played leading business
with Garrlck tombstone was singer a. well as an
actor and mich Of his celebrity he won 10 the musical
comedies which popular here as well as In Eng
land In the early decades of this century They had
their ori-n in The Bcgears Opera by Gay, and 1t
was as Captain Machcath in this most ingenious satire
that Jack Johnstone effected his debut. He had
career in London OF forty years, which to preserve the
parallel was Just as long the career Of bis amented
grandson on the stage Of NewYOrk He was favor
e in the theatre and Mr.. Winter said IN review
Of lester Walack's life work four years ago. during
the wild days Of the Regency he also favore In
tho circle Of the Princes companions. His residence
in Covent Garden. over against the Market and
for place his partially great; he was often
heard to say that the cahbages gave sweet and whole
some odor the morning air In that region He was
thrifty TOO and when his daughter married James Will
lam walack n 1917 he gave her a dowry Of { 900
Inherited the sensitive, sprghtly temperament, the
romantic fancy, the tender heart and the personal
ac;eristc Of the Of Celtic nature on the
pa'crnal side his Inheritance richer all the
and brilliant. commanding mind and noble person
James William wallack made his first visit TO
America IN 1918. appearing here for The GSt time on
September OF that year Macbeth at the old Park
Theatre. lie visited New-York repeatedly before be
finally settled here. and IN 1852 established Wallacks
Theatre on the ruins OF Rrougham's Lyceum. While
on one of these visits. January l. 1920 bis first SON.
~ Lost Natl agH IQ n gHefnh
born 10 a house in yarck-st
England, where be carefully educated. The
profession chosen for him was the army but, after
fitting himself for military duties and rcce wing
commission, he determined, at his mothers earnest
request to rel nqush military life and he then re
theatrical family reared among theatrical associations
and Influences and accustomed to the stage from boy
age Of twenty-five be came ou in Dublin and during
Edinburgh Liverpool Manchester and other Br tish
towns Once while playing In stock company at
Manchester he acted Mcrcutio the Romeo Of
Charlotte Cushman, and attracted the COMMUNICATION
Of that great actress. Al length Mr. Ben jamn
Webster engaged him for the London IIaymark I and
on November rs, is46 he made his first app@arance
IN the capital In the following year he recrossed
n was IN he Old Broadway Theatre and on inc
Thcsire stood in broadway on he east side between
was AIvah Mann, The acting manager George II.
Barlctt. II opened on september -, ls47, with
Tho school for scandal and Used Up In the
company were Henry Wallack G.esters famous uncle
tsfber Of James " wallack. jr.l, George Barrett
Rose TcIbln Fanny Nallack, Mrs winsianey,
Mrs watts Mr. Vache, Mr.. Lynne and Mr. Dawson
together with others Of excellence and worthy IS
tt6ction. Blake joined II later and was the stage
manager II a remarkable COMPANY pr
WsiIaek then and for long time sftervard, acted
under The name Of Mr.. Lester" The first Character
mat he represented here Sir Charles Coldst!ean
IN Used Upa MS second was The vIscouni de
iignv n The Captain of the Watch" They never
have had a better representative -, No.,
Prior 10 the establishment OF wallacSs lneatrs
NJ, Wauact acted ir the Broadway Theatre me
Bowery Teafr Rurons Theatre Ho1 ts,h ca' bed
founded TaIiack's Theatre he. OF course a,soriach
bis fortunes dnaily ard for lie wh VA Iss,sd
from September g. 1852. til September -. IN
when the new theatre Al Broadway ana Iht'ceeTrbn e
st. was opened with Tom Taylor's play OIL Inc
New President in which Lester acted he Ia range;
On Christmas Day 1864. the elder Wallack dlea, Ana
Lester allack Inherited the theatre. Years paAseu