Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30

~A-@tAiAAS 4hAAlLh -. Bu0Cn OF Keys
The above are the theatrical attractions
this week
Il cannot be said thst the theatrical season
mas developed anything of striking char
Hcter as yet, but the theaters have been do
ing nice business considering the weather
ana the quality of the attractioSs. As far as
the weather is concerned, indeed, the man
ayers could hardly ask for better.
Harry Williams Academy had the best
performance il town in the shape of the
May Russell Burlesque Company, and large
houses we're Manager Williams reward,
very few variety companies can boast such
an original comedian as Bob Slavin, or so
many really pretty girls as the Russell Com
pany. Slavin's powers as q quiet humorlst
are immense.
In connection with the present visit to
PittsbuTg Of Mr.. John T. Ford the veteran
manager, whose English Comedy Company
begins the season at the Grand Opera House
tomorrow evening, it is pleasant to note the
1act that his career as a manager covers, and
has had to do with all the great rcelebreties
of the stage during the past 40 years. He is
full of interesting "reminiscences of the
elder Booth, Edwin Forrest, Charlotte
Cushman, Charles Kean, Gabriel Ravel and
others, including Adelina Patti, Sontag
Jenny Lind Christine Nillson, the immortal
queens of song, ETC. He is fond of referring
parable in Shakespearean drama, and to
Julia Marlowe as her undoubted successor.
MISS Marlowe- publicly expressed a wish
70 make her return to the stage, after her
illness, under his management, saying that
she regarded his methods both with the
profession and the public, those most
likely to advance the interests of all.
Mr.. Ford was in Pittsburg and sought pub.
lie attention to his attraction through adj
Nerusement in The DISPATCH 80 wears ago in
1872 He managed Maggie Mitchell during
Che first year she starred paid Lotta as low
Rs $50 and as high as 50 600 a week and at one
time had IN his stock company such talented
people as Joseph Jefferson, John L. Ray
mond, Stuart Robson, the lamented c. b.
Bishop and John McCullough He first sue
cessfully managed Mary Anderson and was
the first to star Edwin Booth. He began
very early in life and though now but in his
prime has oUtlasted all his contemporaries.
In Baltimore he is prominent in political
lie, has been a valued citizen. and as Presi-
dent of the Council years ago aided much in
that city's taking an interest in building the
Pltusburg and Connellsville Railroad
Manager John W. Norton, of the Duouesne
TheateT, has been in the city for several |
days. 1t is hardly necessary to say that Mr.. |
Norton is a manager of large experience in |
St Louis. He has been studying Pittsburg |
ana her environs, very wise proceeding,
which managers of other theaters here will |
do well to copy, and now he has a much bet |
ter idea of the size and opulence of this |
community than he had before. The Du- |
quesne Iheater was built at the right time, !
for the indications are, so most authorities /
think, that Pittsburg is about to enjoy a |
greater access of prosperity and population |
than has ever been known before
Some account of the improvements in the |
Grand Opera House will be found in the
local columns of this issue.
Manager Davis, of the Alvin Theater, said
to me yesterday: you may say that my the
ater will open September 81 without fail,
with Pauline Hall in comic opera The the
Rter viii be a revelation to Pittsburgers
and am confident that the many speciai
novelties to be introduced will be appre-
clated." HEPBURN JOHNS,