San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-18
T. W. MULLALY.
A SHORT SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
And a Brief Description of the Grand
Opera House which He
Manages.

The subject of this sketch, Mr.. Thomas
w. Mullaly. was born in Macon, Georgia,
just twenty years ago. For so
young a man his career has been phe-
nomenally successful one. Arriving in
San Antonio the 22nd of April, 1884, Mr..
Mullaly engaged with his present part
| ner, Mr.. Carter in the stage coach bust
ness, continuing in that until the
coming of the railroad, February
12th, 1887, when he engaged as
checker, at SOS per month on the
Southern Pacific-'"Twas the happiest
day of my life," said Mr.. Mullaly, land /
thought owned the earth, when l real
lied that / could ride on the cars for
nothing and get paid for it to boot We
ran two omnibusses (the first ever seen in
| this part of Texas to meet the first train
| that arrived. The excitement was in
| tense, and people turned out en- masSe to
see the cars. Mr.. Mullaly continued as
| checker until 1881 when the present part
nership of Carter Il Mullaly was formed.
That they have been wonderfully sue
| day, the last of Juue, 1883, when the
| question of raising the rent of the
| opera house was being agitated,
prominent gentleman approached Mr..
| M. and said ''Tom, why don't you take
the Grand?" If you are half so success
full in managing that; as You are your
own business, you will make it not only a
good thing for the amusement lovers of
| San Antonio, but for yourself. After
| twenty-four hours elaboration he decided
| t, undertake it and contracted for two
years lease. The high character
of the attractions he secured, and liberal
| patronage afforded by the people to show
| their apprecia ton of his efforts to secure
| them tirst-class amusement caterers
| made his success instantaneous. AT the
expiration of his two years, fascinated by
| the business, (as all are who once embark in
| it,. Mr.. Mullaly renewed his lease. and we
may consider him the Thespian Alladin of
the Alamo city henceforth. Mr.. M:
| city few days. On his return
he presented to his friends and relatives,
| Ito their vast establishment, for never
word had he said aboutiD-M Mullaly.
Said he, II shall never forget Henry
Browders look of astonishment when /
CITY," why, Tom, you can't have done
it and not told me word about It, said
Browder." The marriage took place in
Galveston, the home of Mrs. Mullaly.
| In January of this year, at the COM
mencement of the big boom in real estate
Mr.. Mullaly formed partnership with
his brother in the real estate business
deals made in the city. He is giving
special attention to this branch of his
| business, and has large property interests
in both the city and suburbs. He Is
also managing, with the assistance of his
former assistant managerG the opera
house at Little Rock. The first season at
the Grand under his management might
beginning with James Wallick
in the Bandit King, who played
| to house packed to the doors. Then
came celebrities whose names are famil-
lar household words in this country.
Peek-a-boO Sea nlan-Lulaby Emmett,
whose beautiful songs are sung In every
modern language, that erratic genius, so
unfortunately clouded at timeS-but
whose very faults are so human that the
people love him for them; Kate ClaXton,
the only Louise" in THE Two Or
phans," the heroine ofmany hair breadth
escapes from death by the most horrible
of all agencies, fire; Clara Morris, the
most powerful emotional actress in
America; w. j. Florence, who has
| a host of friends in San Antonio, espec-
ially among army officers, who gave him
on his appearance here a royal reception.
Jim, the Penman, (Which is here again to-
night, Palmer's greatest success, in q
house known for the success Of all
comedy dramas they put on; Madame
Januscheck, (who will appear here again
this season.; Little Lolita, Miss Crab
| tree), bright, chatty and a favorite every
where; A Night OFF. Fred Ward; who
was banquetted by the Pythians here,
and in whose honor he gave special per-
Torrance of his masterpiece, Damon
and Pythias; oliver Doud Byron,
Carleton Opera company, with those
| queens of song and burles9ue,
| Lille Post and Fanny Rice. What
a constellation? Asked what form
| of entertainment seemed most popular
here. Mr. Mullaly said: I'm all my ex-
| perience, opera seems to be most popular
| as San Antonians are music-lov-
ing people and great critics besides, and
! nothing will go that is not strictly first
class. Melodrama and spectacular plays
are also very popular. The coming sea-
son promises, from the attractions
| offered, to be a very brilliant one, for
| November, in the order named, Lillian
| Lewis Gn her new peice so successful in
| the east) Blue Beard, Jr. with ITO people
| in the cast, GeorgeW Wilson's Great Minstrels
'Still Alarm" The Great Metropolis,
| 'Dalys' Under the Gas Light, Kiralfy's
| Opera Co., and later, Emma Juch, Pearl
of Pekin Qfrom Sims Brooklyn Park
theatre,) The Spider and the Fly, Held by
| the Enemy, Milton Mobiles in The Phenix,
and From Sire to Son, Tom Keene; San
Antonios' favorite soubrette Patti Rosa
Hahlon's Phantasma, and second to Miss
Ward, and Mrs. d. P. Bowers,
The stoaway' Marie Wainwright
and following Miss Wainwright, Duncan
Harrison with John l.. Sullivan, who will
appear as the blacksmith in new piece
-. 4 q Q 1..IN