Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-05
THE BUSKINED STAGE
Death Of the Actor Walter
N. Leman.
Notes on Plays and Players Far
and Near.
Emma Abbott's Opening of the New
Theatre at Ogden.
Fanny Davenport's Cleopatra-Som
About Jeffreys Lewis-Some New
Plays in Preparation Here
and There.

and There.
Tonight at the Grand Gillett's famous
Private Secretary will be presented by
= very competent cast. The play is so
well known that comment is utterly un-
necessary. 3
The San Francisco Chronicle OF last
Wednesday had this to say upon the oc-
casion Of the death of the veteran actor,
Walter NJ. Leman:
Walter M. Leman, the veteran actor,
died yesterday at his residence on Hill
street, in the eighty-first year Of his
age. On the occasion of his last birth
day he was given public reception and
caught a cold, which his advanced age
caused to result fatally.
As schoolboy Walter M. Leman had
thirst for theatricals. He used to read
with lads of his own age in the garret
and cellar melodramas always so fasci-
mating to youth. Mr.. Leman was born
on November 80, 1910, and, after leaving
school, went to work as store boy. In
those days he lived in realm of dreams
bright with anticipations of great
future, when he should cast his shell
and be an actor. He used to go to the
theater so much that it displeased his
employer, and when he engaged in a
tragic bout with singlesticks with a boy
friend in the store, the proprietor
thought it was time to part company
,sr, onI co tho VOrun mon soon
had plenty of leisure to pursue his
chosen vocation. He was first a call
boy in the fremont theater in Boston,
and his first appearance was as Nicholas,
one of the mob of menials in the Tanning
of the Shrew.
For many years Mr.. Leman remained
attached to the Boston stage, gradually
rising in his profession. In 1S42-43 he
was engaged at the old Chestnut and
Walnut-street theaters in Philadelphia.
It was there that he first essayed au-
thorship, producing several pieces,
among them being the five-act comedy
of The Millionaire, at which the season
of 1848 at the Walnut-street was opened.
Actors did not travel about so much
in those days as they do now, and it
was big undertaking for him to pull
up stakes and 90 to St. Louis and New
Orleans, as he did in 1S49. He made
profound impression in both cities,
playing for two successive seasons the
leading characters in comedy and trag
edy with Julia Dean Hayne and Mrs.
Farren, who was then in the height OF
her fame as tragic actress.
In 1854 Barney Williams induced Mr..
Leman to accompany him to California.
Ia 1ofk poI xuh a
playing to large audiences as popular
favorite, and came to this coast. From
that year up to 1880 Mr.. Leman was
before the California public, with the
exception of an occasional season in the
east. In the earliest days of the drama
on this coast he was general favorite.
Virginia, New, honored him by grand
complimentary testimonial in May,
1854, and like tribute in Sacramento
in 1872 was a perfect ovation, in which
the general public combined with the
municipal and state officials to do him
honor.
Californians first knew him in the
prime OF life, capable of faithfully illus
trating the nervous and energetic char
acteristics of Laertes, Macdutf or Ingo-
mar. In later years they saw how we'll
he could depict the loving spirit of Jesse
Rural, the garrulousnesso of Polonius and
the obstinacy of Farmer Allen. By
those who knew MIN in the olden days
he was regarded as an admirable actor,
an accomplished poet, and he was highly
valued in private life.
The actor played with many in his
profession who are of worldwide fame,
among them being Thomas A.. Cooper,
J. B. Booth, Edwin Forrest, John How
ard Pain, Charles and Fanny Kemble,
Jsmes Sheridan Knowles, Anna Bishop,
Charlotte Cushman, Fanny Elsler, ]. +.
Murdoch, the Seguins, Macready, Kean.
Mrs. Sinclair, Mrs. Judah, Lola Montez,
Sophie Edwin, Frank Mayo, Barton
Hill, Edwin Booth, Mexican Buchanan,
the Florencea, Julia Dean Hayne, Agnes
Booth, the Maudville sisters, Lotta,
Adah Isaacs Menken, the Thornes, J. K.
Owens and John Mccullough.
spoke with much feeling of the old days
when the California theater was the
scene OF so much genuine dramatic
effort-the DAYS when its famous stock
company used to delight the public with
its careful and artistic performances.
Mr.. Leman has had longer career as
s1ll dN'COI VI
He was on the stage for over fifty years,
and afterward occasionally reverted to
it. The spectacle of a man 80 years OF
age appearing as Sir Peter in the School
for Scandal, as Mr.. Leman did on the
night of December l, 1890, may be re-
garded as unique.
Mr.. Leman served as public admins
traitor in 1881 and 1882. He was very
patriotic, and he yielded to no narrow
prejudices OF birth or creed in his inter-
course with his fellowmen. He was
painstaking and accomplished actor,
an estimable citizen, a kind husband
and father, scholar and a courteous
gentleman.
Sprightly, kindly. honest Emma Abb
bott is reported to be dying at Salt Lake.
She opened the new theater at Ogden
December 29th, and this is what was
said on the occasion:
With the drop of the curtain in the
new opera house tonight closed the first
real theatrical performance Ogden ever
had. The occasion was the opening of
the Grand, begun last January, and
opened to the world by Emma Abbott
as the Rose of CASTLE.
The event was a brilliant and inspir-
ing one. The wealth, beauty and fash
ion of the city and territory were assem-
bled, and notable citizens from Denver,
Kansas City, Cheyenne, Boise and Butte
graced the occasion.
Emma Abbott made little speech on