The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-04-24
WRITER OF POPULAR PLAYS
A Hoosier Whose Initial Effort Here Did
Not Promise the Success ofLater Years.
After sCheckered Career Joseph Arthur Finds
Fame and Fortune in Dramatic Produc-
tions-Attrartion at the Theaters.

Joseph Arthur, the successful play wright.
whose "Stiil Alarm" and blue Jeans"
have brought him both fame and fortune,
is in the city for weeks visit. As In
diana is Mr. Artbur's native State and In
dianspolis his home for many years. he
has been engaged much of the
time since arriving here yesterday
in recalling the old daya Mr.. Arthur's
first essay in the field of stage literature
was border drama of the suggestive name
Colorado" which was produced at tho
Academy here eighteen years ago. 1t was
received with some favor. though it's sue
cess was not overwhelming. subsequently
he wrote drama entitled "a Great En-
counter" which failed to leave
much Of an impression upon the
stage annals. "A Still Alarm" however,
produced a few years ago. met with imme-
date favor, and made the author great
deal of money. .'Blue Jeansn his latest
pay, will do much better for him even than
its predecessor. its success being one of the
features of the New York season of 1S90-9l.
MIR. Arthur is f0rty-tw0 years old. but
scarcely looks it. though his close-cut hair
shows an inclination In two or three places
to forsake it's original color for the gray
that. however, is not always indicative of
age. He il a delightful conversationalist.
and. having been great and an Observant
traveller, is we'll supplied with fund of in
formation and anecdote. He was ex-
changing "reminiscences with q number
of old friends last evening when one of
them asked HIM how he happened
anxious to see what Icould do away from
home" replied the playwright. land so
wentto New York. where i soon made up
my mind that my forte was hurdle riding.
and secured an engagement with Lent's
die fell and broke both knees, SO my cir
Gus career ended very suddenly.
1 was afterwards stage manager of
Brooklyn theater. In 1876 |
took mipstr rel troupe to Scotland. the first
invade that country. We arrived at Glas-
gov, ten people in all, with just $1S5, and
the venture never appeared to me SO doubt
full as the night We opened. Our success
body could have been more sur
prised at il than ] was. / had
in the company some young fellows with
voices of marvellous sweetness. and one
audiences beyond description. 1t was
when the Corn ID Waving. Annie Dear"
Why, that song was encored half dozen
times nightly. After staying four weeks in
Glasgow we went to Dubli1, where we re-
equally as successful, Meanwhile,
the news of our success having reached
London. PONY" Moore, of the Moore and
Burgess minstrels. came over to Dublin and
gradually. by offering them more money. in
duced all my troupe to desert me but one
man. One night after the audience had
assembled found that this faithful ad
herent and myself were the only portion of
the show left. and there was some
That was the last of my minstrel venture.
drifted east, after spending several years
in London. and did some sketching and cor
respondence in Afghanistan, Cashmere and
in Japan for some time. Returning to this
country. after living over six years in for
eign lands, I became a resident of New
York. or as much SO as my business would
permit: Sang In an opera troupe. and when
my voice gave cut attached myself to the
business department of the company. "A
Still Alarm was the first dramatic produc-
tion TO bring me substantial returns, and it
looks now as though Blue Jeans would do
After the Indianapolis engagement. next
week. Blue jeans goes to McVicker's
new theater, Chicago. for nine
weeks, and then back to the
Fourteenth-street Theater. New York,
produced there Oct. last, and ran until
early in March, when it had to give way to
other companies which had prior claims on
the theater. Next fall a new. play. by
Is r also Ar'n laia IN i indisna will Se
produced at the Fourteenth street
Immediately following the Blue Jeans'
run. The company will rehearse it during
the summer. aud be all ready for the fall
seasons opening in the metropolis The
stay of the Indiana playwrights attrac-
tions at the Fourteenth-street Theater will
therefore be indefinite, as. if the new play
is as successful as Blue Jeans" it will run
straight through the season. 1t 10 COM
| plete, even to the name. which, however,
| Mr.. Arthur will keep secret for the present.
| Some of his friends are endeavoring to in
| duce him to christen it Broad Ripple"
it has been decided. az matter of absolute
necessity, to transfer Blue jeans from
| the Grand to English's. the stage of the
| former is too small to admit of Its adequate
| production. The entire production here is
| to be the same as employed in New York,
| and the stage at English's alone is large
enough for it. There are forty three peo-
| pie in the company. The play will be
| given all of next week, with matinees
Wednesday and Saturday.
PARK THEATRR-"THE DEVILS NINE"
1.-THE DEVILS Nine" which was seen for
the first time here at the Park yesterday. is
q better play than it's title indicates. While
| it is Western drama. il is not entirely
| founded on sensation. but has various nat
ural scenes and much comedy that 10 anus
| ing, while the introduction of specialties
adds to the interest of the performance.
| The leading parts in the cast are assumed
| by William Stafford "a well-known actor;
| j. X. Mortimer, Mr.. Ogden. Mr.. Murphy,
Mr. Byrne and Miss Mabel Florence. who is
clever both in her acting and specialties.
| The play will be repeated at both perform
| ances to-day and tomorrow and Is likely
| to draw large audiences.
NOTES.
| The Liliputians will give o change OF
bill at the Grand tonight, presenting the
musical burlesque "The Burgomaster OF
| Pinneberg," which affords them excellent
opportunities to show their abilities. 1t il
particularly strong in its musical features
| 1t will also be given at both performances
tomorrow. The Liliputians deserve large
audiences.
III. Grattan Donnelly's new farce-comedy,
| "A Pair of jacks" which Is said to be par
| ticularly bright and amusing. will be given
| at English's to night and at both perform
| ances tomorrow. The company includes,
| among others. the well-known comedians,
| Mr.. r. G.. Knowles, George A. Booker flor.
merly of Garfield and Bookerl, Miss Winl-
| fred johnson, clever Coincidence and
banjo-player: Misses Melville and Stctson,
sketch artists; Harry C. Stanley, Mise Maud
| Leigh and Miss Ada Castleton.
\ CUrn Mans