New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-05
THE LATE CHARLES GAYLER
A LONG AND PROLIFIC DRAMATIC CAREER

A LONG AND PROLIFIC DRAMATIC CAREER
Charles Gayler who died in Brooklyn May %,
hod heep , writer for the stage during nearly fifty
years His first piece. The Heir Of Glen Avon,"
was produced in 1880 at the franklin Theatre Mr..
Gavler was then a law student In New-fork, with
Alexander Bradford but in 1s41 he went Into the
West and into politics. After the defeat Of Henry
Clay In whose cause he had lnbored, he became as
socatcd In the editorial management OF The Cncin'
natl DISPATCH" when the California gold fever broke
out, Mr.. Gnyler took advantage Of the prevalent ex
element and produced a drama called The Buckeye
Gold Hunters" which had run Of ten weeks at tho
Cincinnati Athenaeum. That popular success wm
duly followed by the production, at the National
Thentrp Of an opcretta called The Frightened Flend
burIesque called The Clement County snake ana
several local pieces for the Yankee comedian, Josh
silsbee In 1850 Mr.. Gayler returned to New-iorK'
and FOR n time laborcd In Journalism. lie was at
various times connected with The New-fork Couner'
The Day Book" and The Express"; and he was
tho managing editor Of 1.-The National Democrat"
Besides those Iabors he performed miscellaneous WORK
for the soee as seen I'm divers local sketches and bur-
esoue operas which were successfully produced at
various places Of amusement. In 1855 he wrote me
comedy Of Taking the Chances" In when ). IL.
McVcker, the Chicago manager. played the chef par"
Peter Peabody. The peculiar merit OF that play -
that II was the first to discard the conventional
image Of rational human being. Taking the
Chances, was performed all over the country ana IL
NAV be set down as the basis OF Mr.. McElckcrs SUD-
seauent success AS the part OF Peter had oeen
written expressly for him. and happily fitted to
his temperament, Mr.. Mcvicker played 1t admirably
we'll The piece represented at Burton's Theatre
I'm Chambers-st and as late as 1872 Mr.. McVicker re-
yivsd II at Edwin Booths Theatre, where he then
filed an engagement. Mr. Gayler's next EFFORT
sas a bnr,esaue called "Olympinnna.' written
for F. S. Chanfrau, and produced at the French
Theatre, then 10 Broadway. This was followed
by The Love Of Prince" which was Drought ous
by Laura Kecne and made a marked impression.
Laura Keene enacted Sergeant Frederic, and J. IT,
Burnett appeared as Frederick William the First Mrs.
John Wood subsequently "assimilated' this piece, and
acted In IL with great throughout California MISS
Mngge Mitchell seized upon IL, also, ana had Two
act version OF IL made for her use BY j. Pgrin' wheh
until stayed by the authors injunction-she every
where produced under the title Of The Young Prince
The next popular hit made by Mr.. Gaylcr was In an
ADAPTATION from the French OF Victor sejour. called
THE sun Of the Night" This was acted at the old
Broadway Theatre, under Marshalrs management
with F.. T.. Davenport. Mrs. Davenport. Mrs. Ponsi
and Lizzie Weston In the cast. During several sea-
sons that drama prominent feature in the Broad
way bills. In Philadelphia at the Walnut. 1t was
acted for several weeks before crowded houses with
Mrs Bowers Caroline Richings and Mr.. and Mrs.
F. b. Conway In the cast. That drama indeed. has
been acted in most Of the chief cities Of the country,
and has been often prated-whch Is certain KIND OF
reco ,nitlon OF It's merit Mr. Gayler next ~rote
burlesoue for the rlorcnces called The Robbers OF
the Rhine" which played for NIFTY nights NJ wal
lacks old theatre, and burlesque called 1.-The Ro'
nance OF a Very Poor Young Man. which was played
nj Mrs Charles Towards (" Boudor." In Broadway.
Mr. sotlern subsequently took that piece ana played
II FAR and wide In the states. Mr. Magic Is said TO
have made hit in II. by capital imitation OF lr'er
Wallack Several local sketches anonymously pro-
duced. succeeded those burlesques; and then Mr.
Gayler wrote for Julia DAILY, the Female Amerosn
Cousin" which was first produced at Burtons Theatre
,afterwari the Winter Garden. and had prosperous
run. Julia DAILY made reputation In that play Az
| the London Adelph she acted il 100 nights, ana
she subsequently produced II at IN" chlef 'hentres
I'm the United Kingdom. Celebrating the sams
Idea Mr. Gaylcr next wrote. for Mr.. sothern, the
American Cousin at Home" In which he introduced
| tho character OF sam, which original with him.
That play was first acted at Buffalo, aferward -
Philadelphia. and then In Western cities. II hnaly
| found its way New York, and was acted at the
Winter Garden. under stuar's management. Blake
played Binney. but failed TO make IL effective oothern
afterward took the piece - England an dthere mahs
n hit in Sam. Mr. ChnnfGau played the part and
made II remunerive. one OF the best OF Mr.. cay
lers pieces fol0wed-a partial adaptation from the
French. entitled The Magic Marriage" This vas
acted at Wallacks and gave occasion for an eAcee'
piece Of acung IN oual CHARACTER Dy MIS- ii"0''
.The Magic Marriage" done In Philadelphia and In
Chicago II Is one OF the neaest, most graceful ana
most refined comedies OF local origin. Lost ana
won," three-act comedy by Mr. Gayler, was pro-
duced at Walack's during the same season that VIII
messed the advent Of 1.-THE Magic Marriage
At about the same time s6l Mr.. Gayer wrote Buu
Run" for the Bowery where II had prosperous sea-
son OF ten weeks In a time Of public depression. The
purpose OF the piece to encourage patriotic ardor
turning defeat into victory. No similar success had
been achieved In the Bowery since Banister's Put
man," which made the fortunes OF many Managers
and for which llamtln apid tn, author S25. B'nl'tH
IS said to have died Of starvation. Among Mr. Gay
lers other plays may be mentioned melodnma caned
society,"" from the French which brought out NJ
the Old Bowcry under Drougham; The Wizards
Tempest" produced nj the Winter Garden In 1851 BY
Professor Anderson: Z" Aurora Floyd" fvcact drma'
| based Miss Braddons novel, written for Mauiaa
Heron and produced ut Nibo's Garden; "Aspasia'
a fyeact tragedy also for Miss Heron, produced AZ
| the walnut street Theatre In Philadelphia, ms
Connie soogah" written for Mr.. and Mrs Barney
Williams. and first played at Nblos; "9e, owned oy
Mr.. Williams and " The Mountain Bell" which was
acted at Mrs. Conway's Park Theatre. Brooklyn
complete list OF Mr.. Gaylcr's pieces would show MN
to be the author OF upward Of hundred and nf@
plays Many Of his pieces works for the hour.
which having served their purpose were thrown aslde
| hut he exhibited. In his long and labo1ous career;
OF fancy and OF hearty good feeling tha
testified to wealth and energy Of mind and goodhess "
heart. Personally he was genial, cheerful nmiay'o
man. aud greatly liked by many friends for tnS
| his manners. WILLIAM WINTER