Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22

raging few feet away; and IN the midst
his explanation the new manager receives
his cue, politely excused himself and dashet
away into the thick of the fight which wa
| going on on the deck OF a ship behind TN
footlights.
For few intense moments he carried
on furious cutlass contest with the plrat'
chieftain of the play. Finally the pirat'
| fell stark dead at the feet of the virtuoul
victor, who Immediately dragged him OIL
the stage by the ankles and dropped him IL
| front of the startled visitor. The instant
! his head was we'll hidden from the audience
the dead pirate sprang to his feet and took
chew of tobacco. And at the same instan,
Mr.. Leake calmly resumed his interrupted
talk. From that day that reporter has fell
on more or less intimate terms with piraSes'
A NOTABLE LEADING MAN.
One OF the leading men whom Pittsburp
greatly jiked-and greatly likes yet-was
Oliver Doud Byron. He is rich now, and
star for these many years, and is known
from one corner of the continent to all the
other corners thereof. But in those earlier
days he was not rich, and was known only
as good, capable, conscientious and always
satisfactory stock actor. / wonder II ne
would mind my recalling the fact that ne
was also known as Oliver B. Doud, instead
OF by his stellar name of Byron.
He was leading man at the Opera House,
and was known to be one OF the most am
bilious of stock actors. But, oddly enough,
his ambition lay in the direction OF the
highest walks of his profession. He de-
sired, of all things, to excel in the legltl-
mate drama, and had little tolerance for
things sensational. He was thoroughly good
natured, but now and then he did protest
against being cast in some part which he
considered below the standard of true dra-
matte art. Altogether he was the last man
his acquaintance would have expected to
see in blaze of red fire, shining luridly as
first magnitude star in mildly sensational
piece. He went quietly away at the end of
the season, and the very next winter q be-
lieve it was) came back to Pittsburg and
fred himself off in that most tempestuous
of sensations, Across the Continent" He
is not the first man-and will not be the last
TO discover that high art and fortune are
not always intimately related.
A later leading man who found great
favor in Pittsburg, and who deserved it all,
was j. Newton Gotthold. Like Byron he
was we'll balanced and well equipped, ac-
cording to the more exacting standards Of
he was better in strong tragedy parts than
in comedy; and in many characters he was
much more than merely good. On more
than one occasion he clipped more laurel
leaves from the wreath of the star he sup
ported than the star liked to part with. l
believe he travelled as star himself.
at a later time. And years since he
made his final exit behind the dark curtain
that was to hide him from the eyes of all
mortals.
A LEADING LADY
of far more than ordinary power and ability
Pittsburg possessed for time in the person
of Miss Augusta Dargon, who played for
more than one season, 1 think, at the Opera
House. She was an accomplished woman
socially as well as artistically, and was well
coined in the homes of many people who
did not take very kindly to player people
in general.
She made some tours as a public reader
after leaving the Opera House company,
and won very considerable success. Some
years ago it was said that she was settled
permanently in Australia, where she was a
favorite, with scarcely rival, in the chief
cities of the island continent.
Before she went to Australia. however,
she played a somewhat sensational part in
the Chicago fire. She had arrived at the
fremont House the day before the great
catastrophe, and had with her in her room
two heavy trunks, holding much of value in
the way OF expensive wardrobe As the
fire came nearer and nearer to the hotel, and
the guests began to flee, she sought help to
move her trunks to safe place. No help
could be found "for love or money" The
whole city was in state of fierce panic, and
only himself and those belonging to him
would any man look out for. In such
time woman is a conquering host. This
ordinarily a strong one
and then dragged them both along the pave
ment and across the river to a place that
seemed safe. Then she sat down on one of
them, and tainted comfortably away.
MANAGERS AND OTHERS.
William Henderson, of the "Old Drury."
was a veteran of Pittsburg managers. His
experience here gave him a good start to-
ward fortune. He served his patrons in the
City of Smoke long snd we'll, giving them
much that was good. Then he went to
New York and got still better acquainted |
with fortune. He bought him a home at |
theatrical people have their abiding places, |
and Jared exceedingly we'll, I believe.
Matt Canning was another name without |
which any mention of Pittsburg theatricals |
would be but weak apology. Long is the |
list of goodly dramatic dishes he set before
the public. Later he was travelling man.
ager, with his home at Long Branch. near
mis- friend Henderson's.
And John Ellsler-his name recalls itself
without any reminder, to the memory of
every lover of good managing or good act
ng. For John Ellsler was an actor as good
Is the best he ever had on his salary list.
Not often would he indulge his admirers in
lis older days, but when he did they had
;ause to remember it very pleasantly.
For time, also, G. d. Hess was the man
ger of theater in Pittsburg, and that time
vas one which discriminating people like
low to remember Whether Mr.. Hess finds
o much pleasure in the recollection is an
ther matter. There is room for the sus-
icion that he made money in the wrong
is to say, that he lost money
y the enterprise. But he gave us the SER
ices of as well-balanced and capable stock
ompany and of as fine list of stars as we
eed ever wish to see.
Among the company were two low come
ians. cannot recollect the name of either,
ut both were born funny. They were
omIcal just to look at when they were in
ertect repose; and when they acted to-
ether upon the stage the audience always
ad convulsions.
With Mr. Hess at the Academy of Music
as Major John Burke. He was not a
Iajor then, and was known to everybody as
lat good fellow, johnny Burke. There
ere few more popular men than Johnny at
ched to any Of the theaters at any time,
nd the sight OF his waving curls was always
gladdening spectacle. I
After leaving the Academy 1 believe be
arried Morlacchi, the dancer, and travelled
her agent and manager. And when ,
olonel Cody, known to fame as Buffalo !
i'll, took the country captive, behold. there 1
as Johnny Burke helping him and making !
ore fame and more friends for himself than !
had known even in Pittsburg. But for