Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-10-03
THE DRAMA OF LIFE.
VICIssITUDEs OF A PIONEER THEATRE
CAL MANAGER.
Wesley Venua's Early Experiences in
Sacramento-A Wanderer, A Her
init and Now Wreck.

a Telegram from New \ 4ork, publishe
in yesterdays RECORD UNION, related the
fact of an old and decrepit man having pre-.
sented himself at police headquarters for
aid, representing that he was many years
| ago the owner of theater in Sacramento
and person of means. The telegram also
stated that he left the stage at the breaking
out of the war, and fought under Farragut
being wounded in the left leg, which left
him cripple and lncapacitated him from
performing on the stage. He had, how
ever, amassed some money, which kept
him for years.
The person referred to was Wesley
Venua. He was Frenchman, and came
to Sacramento early in the fifties. A
REcoRD-UNIoN reporter yesterday called
on II. s. Beals, the veteran theatri-
cal manager, and asked if he remembered
Venui.
" Remember him ~ he exclaimed; well.
l should say l do. 1 knew the old man
well. he was always a little eccentric. but
was the soul of honor. Venua made his
nrst appearance as an actor in the old
Bowery Theater in New York, and on ar.
irving in Sacramento became member of
company playing at the old Eagle Thea
ter on Front street. About 1854 he and
man named Charley King built the Sacra-
mento Theater, on Third street, between
and j. He afterward bought out Kings
interest and ran the place alone, being
himself member of his company. Later
on King and George Ryer became inter-
ested with him in the theater. 1t was there
that Edwin Booth began 10 win fame,
playing in The Marble Heart Mrs.
Sinclair was the leading lady there, also,
and the little old theater had quite boom.
But, after few years, everything changed
Other and better places of amusement
sprang up, and Venua's theater failed to
make money. The price Of admission was
then two dollars, and at this rate have
seen the curtain go up before an eight
dollar audience. Sam. Colville had COM
pany there, and one night, when there
were only two men in the dress circle, the
actors all got drunk and the audience
Missed them. There was great confusion,
and Veuua wanted me to go and put the
audience out. 1t is true, the Job wasn't
very big one, still declined it,
" And what became of Fenua?"
Well he got disgusted after few wears
settled up all his debts and left the city.
Before going away he made an absolute
deed of the property to Judge Hartley, so
that the latter might come into possession of
itin case Of his (Venua' 81 death. rented the
theater afterward of Hartley, for Tom Ma.
gulre, who ran 1t few years, and after he
gave it up Frank Rhoads leased it and ran
it as variety theater.
1t was about 1864 when Venua left
here, and instead cf entering the army, he
went to some of the South Sea Islands, and
nothing was heard of him for several wears.
Surprising him to be dead, Judge Hartley
sold the old theater property to John
Mason, the carriage maker But il
seems that Venua, unknown to any,
body here, made his way to France,
and was bottled up in Paris during the
siege by the German troops Some ten
years ago met queerly-dressed man on
the streets here, whom l soon recognized as
the old actor end manager himself. He
was clad in buckskin from head to foot,
his long hair hung down on his shoulders
and he looked like veritable Rip Van
Wrinkle. | stepped up to the old maa,
and he then recognized me. l learned
from him that he had been living
the life of hermit in the
wilds of northern Oregon. Somehow
he had learned of the sale of the old
theater, and came here to see if he could
recover anything. / knew how much
TeutdI money naQ Deen collected, and after
| taking steps to secure its repayment, the
old man went back to his lonely mountain
hut.
Something over two years ago he re-
turned here and succeeded in collecting
about 81 800 from the rents that had been
paid to Hartley. The latter having sold
the property, and then died, it could not
be recovered, as the title he conveyed was
absolute. After getting this money the old
man again left for Oregon, and that was
the last l had heard of him until l read
the dispatch in the RECORD. UNION yester-
day. think the poor old man mind has
been affected more or less for some time
past, and hope his declining years may
be made as comfortable as possible"
HE is EVIDENTLY INSANE
Another telegram was received from
New York last evening, as follows: Ben
Baker, Secretary of the Actors Fund, has
taken charge of Wesley Venua, the old
actor, formerly Sacramento manager,
pending the Trustees meeting. Venua
seems to have plenty of money, although
he is just out of the asylum