Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-18


In 1875, the dramatic section of the
Turnverein Germania was further en-.
couraged by the addition of Otto Mail
and his wife, both formerly professional
actors, and their two daughters. The
Schroeders and Mails themselves thus
formed a strong dramatic company, but
the stock was further strengthened by
the persons of sMiss Herberger and Mr..
and Mrs. Henry A. Stuhr, besides thu
ladies of DIR. Kurtz's company, and
Messrs. Herberger and Reinecke. Now
came the production of standard come
dies, such as Heirathsantrag auf Helgo-
land "a Helgoland ProposaD, Herr Dunst
oder Der arme Millionar IN. Vapor,
or the Poor Millionaire) and Endlich
hat er's doch gut gemacht, (He has
hit it right at Ulast), riel Acosta, and
Lumpaci Vagabundus.
In 1876 Madame Fabri, with the as
sistance of the dramatic and choral Sec
tions of the Turnverein, produced sew
eral operas, among others Martha. In
the meantime the dramatic section con-
tinued strong, and grew stronger as
immigration increased. Theodore Friese
and Mr.. Steeb appeared on the scene at
this time, and the class of plays put on
the stage became better and better as
the resources improved. Thus the de-
cade passed away with a normal degree
of evolution.
The early eighties marked the first
visit of professionals in the persons OF
Miss Bartholdi and Messrs. Engels and
Pfann, who have since then been seen
here several times to greater or lesser
advantage. The first era of the local
German drama eliminated, however,
with the boom, in 1885. It was then
that the most finished performance ever
rendered here by amateurs was given in
Turner hall. 1t was the opera Preciosa,
and was produced with full orchestra
and choruses, new scenery and cos
tunes, under the direction of Prof. N.
Schanz, of the choral section. 1t was
also great financial success, and is
talked of even today by the Germans OF
Los Angeles with pride and satisfaction.
There was a. temporary decline in the
work after the new Turner hall was
built, from which the German stage did
not make a sign of recovering until with
in the last two or three years. Under
different managers, the last being Mr..
Matuszkiewiez, the dramatic section ex-
listed and to some extent improved. The
old members of the stock company grad
ually retired, and new and younger tai
ent occupied the vacancy. Such pop
ular actors came to the front as
Mrs. Julia Axt, late of the Oriental
opera company, Mr.. and Mrs. E. @.
Schnabel, now OF Ascher's German
comedy company, and Bernhard Loewy,
at present manager for Mr.. Ascher.
Within the last few months Mr..
Matuszkiewiz's company has received
additions in the persons OF August
Henry, Mr.. and Mrs. Valid and Mrs.
Jenny Halmer, the last-named clever
soubrette.
During all these years, which have
been here reviewed, Los Angeles has
grown to be the metropolis OF Southern
California. The reaction of the boom
has been overcome, and the city is
prosperous in certainty of healthy
growth. The German element shares
the general prosperity, and it has re-
Gently shown that it is willing and able
to support as strong German dramatic
company as is seen at the Baldwin, in
San Francisco, or at Amberg's, in New
York. The last step in the development
which has been recounted, is the lorna
ton OF Julius Ascher's German Comedy
company. Mr.. Ascher is one of the
leading German comedians OF the world,
and has here gathered about him
number of professionals and amateurs
into a stock company, which plays
at the New Los Angeles theater.
OF the dramatic section of the
Turnverein, Mr.. and Mrs. Schnabel and
Mr.. Loewy have been secured Mr.. and
Mrs. Kolf are accessions from Milwaukee
theaters, and the rest are newly re-
cruited forces from the city, number Of
whom promise to develop into able
actors and actresses. 1t is particularly
encouraging, and entirely in accordance
with the metropolitan tendency of the
city, that the first play at the Los An
geles, given two weeks ago, was greatly
patronized by citizens who call English
their mother tongue.