Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-05
THE OWLS.
A Review of Those FavOrite
Amateur Actors.
The Clubs First Performance
Nineteen Years Ago.
Its Annals History of Amateur
Acting in Los Angeles.
The First Dramatic Performance in Los
Angeles in English. = What Has
Been Done Since-Members
of the Different Casts.
BY E. W. MANSFIELD.

From time to time we have had great
pleasure in witnessing the dramatic rep
RESERVATIONS of the Owl club of this city.
1t will be seen the club was formed a
number of years ago, from the stranded
section of the Turn Verein Germania,
which disbanded about 1879. We now
propose to give short resume of the
plays performed, together with the roles
enacted by the several members.
We are sure that the existence OF a
dramatic club must be of great benefit
to any community, and if we encourage
any of its members to persevere in the
culture of their dramatic powers, our
mission will have been partly if not
entirely accomplished. We find from
its records that a great many pieces,
consisting of comedies, farces and
dramas, have been performed, and in
some cases repeated.
The first English dramatic entertain
ment given in this city was presented by
the dramatic section of the Turnverein
Germania, at their hall on Spring street,
on Thursday evening, November IA,
1872. The performance commenced
with farce entitled, A Close Shave or,
an Easy Way to Get a Wife. The char
acters were taken by d. Levy, H.
Scharberg, G. Lindner, E.. A. Preuss,
jr., Dan Ullaman and Martin Lehman,
the latter gentleman appearing in the
role of Zeb, colored boot black. The
farce was followed by some daring evo-
lutions on the double trapeze, by E. A.
Preuss, jr., and p. G. Stoll. The perfor-
nance concluded with comic panto-
mime called, The Cobbler's Apprentice,
after which the hall was cleared for
dancing.
Their next appearance was on Decem-
ber 14th, when they presented comedy
entitled. The Dead Shot, and which
served to introduce, in addition to those
named above, Mr.. H. Roster, Mrs. G..
Roster and Miss L. Roehner. The per-
formance on this occasion concluded
with the well-known farce, Box and
Cox, in which Dan Ullman, M. Lehman,
and Miss L. Roehner appeared.
The programmes for this entertainment
announced that good supper would be
served in restaurant style" by one of
the most popular restaurant men in the
city.
On Monday, February 3, 1873, the
same club presented the comedy, A
Rough Diamond, and the farce, Slasher
and Crasher, Mr.. Preuss appearing in
the part of Captain Blenheim in the
former and Lieutenant Brown in the
latter; Mr.. Lehman playing the part OF
Cousin Joe in the Rough Diamond and
Sampson Slasher in the farce. The EX-
press of the following day in comment
ing upon the performance said that "Mr.
H. Roster as John and P. G. Stoll as
Tom each filled their parts without
prompting. Doubtless the whole club
was made little nervous by the pres
ence OF the Wilton troupe, company of
professionals, who had been invited to
witness the performance.
On Tuesday, April 1, 1873, they pre-
sented An April Fool and Kiss Me in the
Dark, with no change in the roster OF
the club, except the introduction of
Miss M. Grape. In this, as in their first
performance, Messrs. Preuss and Stoll
appeared in their daring feats on the
flying trapeze.
On Saturday, May 31st, they presented
All That Glitters is not Gold, and re-
peated A Dead Shot for the afterpiece.
On July 4th, Meg's Diversion was given
and the papers on the following day
criticised them so severely that they de-
cided to return to farce comedy. and on
September I'd they presented, A
Bull in China Shop and the Prosecuted
Dutchman. The programmes, in very
heavy type, announced the first appear
ance OF the great eccentric comedian,
Mr.. E. E. Fisher. Great credit was due
to DR.. Kurtz, who acted in the position
of stage manager.
On November 10Th they repeated
Meg's Diversion.> On June 20, 1874,
they presented combination bill-part
in English and part in German. For
the English part they put in Anthony
and Cleopatra; Mr.. Lehman playing
Anthony and Mrs. Roster Cleopatra.
On July 4, 1874, they produced Mistaken
Identity, with Miss E. Lansing, Mrs.
L. Rogers, Miss M. Archer, G. M. Wat
son and Ben Edelman in the cast. On
December IL, 1874, A Winning Hazard
with Mrs. M. G. Holden in the
caste.
About this time the club passed
out of existence and there
was no regular dramatic club in the city
until the organization of the Owl club
about January 1, 1880. Prior to this
however, there were several pieces
given, but not as regularly organized
club. Mr.. Lehman was at the time in
terested in a local minstrel company
playing tambo and singing such old
time favorites as Shine On, Keep de Arl
a Movin', The Little Dickey Birds, etc
Those who heard Mr.. Lehman in those
days, singing beautiful ballad, claim
that they were unable to recognize hi
silver-toned tenor in the selections HI
sang in the late production of Casie.
The Owls made their initial bow be
fore the public on May 20, 1880. at th,
Turn Verien hall, when they presented
Byron's comedy, Our Boys. with the fol
lowing cast of characters
Sir Godfrey Champneys ...G. A. Dobinsol
Talbot Champneys, (his SOM ...... :orrin Peel
Perkyn Midd1ewick ............... M. Lehman
Charles Middlewick (dis sonl.... H. L 6ewart
Kempster. Observation-Disclosures J.F. Henness.
Poddles ..................W.M NJ. Jane
Violet Melrose. Miss A. F. Georg