The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-06-24
JOHN L. SULLIVAN, ACTOR.
The Champion of the World Be-
comes a Star Next Season.

John L. Sullivan, the peer of FL
pugilists, will next season become ;
real star in a drama which Duncan B
Harrison is writing for him. The biz
fellow has for six weeks past been q
feature of Harris ms play, 1.-The Pay
master" and the latter considers bin
grea: drawing card. Except the
speeches which he occasionally make.
behind the footlights, John has never
done any taking on the stage, but
his hands have always been eloquent.
The play is as vet incomplet., but
Harrison expects 20 finish it up dur.
ing August, SD thst it can be properly
b oked and mounted on an elab Irate
scale. AS to the litho graphs which
are 10 be hung on the ou.er
walls they will be simply gorgeous,
and if under these circumstances the
piece should net be a tremendous
success the author says he will give up
the business. There isn't much ro-
nance in Sullivan, to be sure, tut he
is clever in many things, quick to
grasp a situation and his chances for
success in his new venture are Certainly
good. He will have a good many
Zines to speak, and among other things
be will have to make love to a pretty
girl, which. il is natural to assume,
he VIII do after the most approved
fashion. His drama will be replete
with interesting situations, exci.-
ing climaxes and special features,
among which will be the shoeing of n
live horse b fore real forge in full
view of the audience. This piece of
realism is not new, having been done
for years by Joe Murphy ia the 'Ker-
ry Cow, but at the same time it will
no doubt please The audience which
will gather 10 hear the actor pugilist,
for he was blacksmith himself years
ng, and has not forgotten all he knew
about the trade.
John will as ume the role of a
black,mitn's helper and Harrison will
appe.r IS the "smithy." Both OF
them fall in 1--we with a sweet, pretty
girl, and the blacksmith, who thinks
be has the upper hand in the matter,
is naturally driven almost to freely
wnen he discovers that the girls heart
leans trihe iowa d his handsome
assistant. He then challenges the
favored one to fisiic encounter and
both agree that the victor shall marry
the fair damsel who has caused all the
trouble. Duncan B. Harrison is a
pretty big man and be can box lit
tie, but of 'urse he will make poor
showing with the big fellow, so when
the time comes for the men to fight,
by one of those lightning changes Joe
Lsnnon is substituted for the black.
smith and, after a fierce
conflict, in which both men
disp ay thorough knowledge of the
manly art, The substitute of the black
smith is knocked out, and the black
smiths helper walks triumphantly of
with the coveted prize. This is moi
an absolutely correct outline of tbs
play, but it gives an idea of just whs
the champion will have to do in tn,
way of acting. Harrison has made
money out OF "The Paymaster," but
he expects TO live in luxury for the
remainder of his days after next sea
son, for the new play, he says, is ,
"sure winner" He is an ex-newspa
per man, and has exhibited not a Lit
lie ingenuity in the construction
of his previous dramatic eff
forts. In his new piece he
tends to lay himself out" Sullivan
himself rather likes the idea of BEN
a legimaie actor, and while he has no
said anything about retiring perma
nently from the ring he AYERS he viii
not engage in any more fistic en-
C ,un,ers If he makes enough money
at his new profession. He leaves Oh
Tuesday in company with Jack Bar
NIT and Mr.. Harrison for Mississippi
II is not likely that he will be IN
dicted, but if he is there is hardly &
probability that his punishment vii
be more severe than that melted out