The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-16
THE ELDER cRIsPs.
Mr.. J. @. cornelI's "reminiscences of
the Speakers Parents.

| $3.50 N-]-. N%~-oAo .
Mr.. J. G. cornelrs "Reminiscences O
the Speakers Parents
The election Of Mr.. Crisp to the speaker.
ship has revived many recollection
OF the elder Crisps, bis parents. who wert
residents OF this city for several years
In the files OF the MORNING NEWS, in the
issue Of Friday, Dec. ?, 1888, is an adver,
tissment, which is the first introduction Of
tho CrispS TO the southern public.
The advertisement reads:
ATHENAEUH.
Mr.. and Mrs william H. Crisp have the honor
OF announcing 10 the patrons OF rsfnsd ana
| intellectual amusements, that the above estab
lishment will be opened for q limited period fol
l the representation OF the legitimate drdna
with all It's varied attractions, on Monday even
ing, Dec 3. 1883 Several new members have
| been added 10 the corps. who will appear in due
| succession. The performance on the present
| occasion VIII commence with the satirical
eoIne1y, 10 three acts, entitled the "Serious
/ Family with a variety of other entertain
ments, concluding with "NdDolsOn's Old
/ Guard in which Mr. William H. Crisp will
sustain his distinguished character Of Corporal
| HdUsrsdck."
Previous TO that time, Mr.. Crisp had
visited Savannah as an actor with other
companies. He supported Mrs. Mowatt in
her famous characters, and in her auto
biography she mentions Mr.. Crisp as a fine
actor.
The theater, or athenaeum, was In quite
dilapidated condition when Mr.. Crisp took
charge OF it The basement was used as a
place for boys to play hide and seek in, and
apparently il was not considered a very
valuable property. Whenever there was
prospect of a performance, the building was
cleaned up for the occasion.
The addition in the rear now used as
dressing rooms was then an open yard That
part of the building was erected a year or
50 previous to Mr.. Crisp's taking charge of
the theater. and was used as a dwelling
house by the party who had charge of the
building. Mr.. Crisp also occupied il as a
residence.
Mr.. Crisp was not only an actor Of more
than ordinary merit, but was recognized as
gentleman of education and refinement by
the people of Savannah. He continued Ia
charge OF the theater until 1858, when be re-
moved from this city.
Speaking Of the Crisps, Mr.. Joseph C.
Cornell OF this city, who, in his younger
days, was an actor. gives some interesting
"reminiscences Of them. Mr.. Cornell PLAYED
in Charleston, Augusta. Atlanta and other
southern cities in the ''stockn companies of
those days; he was also a member of the
TheSpians, an amateur association which
| nourished in the sos the latter part of that
decadel. Among those who were members
OF the 'Thespiansn now living, besides Mr..
Cornell. are Messrs L. A. Mccarthy and
+. H. Thomson. n
81 think it was during the winter of 1862
or 90. " said Mr.. Cornell, that Mr.. w. II.
Crisp brought out a stock company and
| soon afterward became lessee of what was
then called the Athenaeum. The residence
portion was vacated by the family Of Mr.. w.
w. Oates, who had charge of the building,
and occupied by the family of Mr.. Crisp /;
she members of the company securing
board at private boarding houses. The
Crisp family consisted of Mr.. and Mrs
William H. Crisp, Miss Jessca Crisp, Miss
Cioely Crisp, Harry Crisp and Charlie
Crisp. Jessica, or Jessie, as she was
called, was quite a pleasing actress of
light characters. Cicely or Cissie was quite
young then aud did not go on the stage
until after the family had lived here several
years; when she did go on, however, she
gave promise of becoming q good actress
Harry and Charlie were very smaT chill.
dren, and have no recollection of having
seen them, or heariag OF their appearance
on the stage during their fathers stay in
Savannah.
''Mr. W. H. Crisp was also lessee of sew
eral other theRters at the same time. He
had the Charleston thsater under his control
and also those in Augusta, Macon and
Columbus. He was what might truly be
| called fine actor. in fact as good general
actor as any that has ever trod the boards
He could play many leading parts well, and
was as painstaking in the character of a
servant as he was In that of king.
| He was at his best in such parts
as James Fitz James, in Lady Of the
Lake, Rob Roy McGregor,' Master
Walter in the 'Hunchback,' the
'Gamester,' Fazio,' Don Caesar de
Bazan,' The Stranger Dazzle in Lon
| don Assurance and as a support to a star
| he was without equal Mrs. Crisp was
very much the actress as he was the actor,
and in such characters as Lady Gay
| Spanker' IN London Assurance and
| Mrs. Haller' in The Stranger
| Blanca in 'FarMo' was without equal.
In their presentations Of a plaJ there was
such evident care aud attention to details
and pains taken TO please. TO hold as
'twere the mirror up to nature that every
| presentation was indeed pleasure to the
beholder, and one never tired of witnessing
the same people in their nightly perform
ences.
II can only recall some of the people
that composed the troupe or company
among them w. Fl. Croker, an excsllent
player of second parts. or as it is termed
| Juvenile; Mckenzie, the heavy parts
| Buxton, comedian; old Tom Kemble, Gomez
dian; Fuller, comedian; Toler c. Wolfe,
old man; W. H. Allen, Tom Baker, Gem
oble IA Savannah boy. or the ladies Of
the company can recall only Miss Jessica
Crisp and her cousin, whose name have
forgotten. Me-. Crisp brought out great
many stars. Maggie Mitchell. Mr.. and Mrs
Barney Williams, Agnes Robertson and F.
Chanfrau, Jamison and Bennett and many
| others.
"Mr. Crisp and his wife were handsome
couple"