The sun., 1893-09-10
ms CIR sAr srAoHtHrrs.
Tho "Bnck Fail" or the Late doe N.ei,
Which Crowned HE Fnme ne an Aetor.

/ hfc u" tHI 6IA6GIhlJh
|
| Tho "Bnck Fail" or the Late Joe N.e,,
Which Crowned HE PANE ne an Actor.
None OF the newspaper notices OF the death
| OF tho old-time actor Joseph Il. Naele, the
other day. mention one great piece OF busi-
moss thnt he prided himself on. which made
him famous in the days OF his prime. gaining
him the nickname OF Back fall Nagle. by which
ho was familiarly known in tho profession
everywhere" said n contemporary OF the dead
actor. In tho days whom legitimate
actors wore not expected to be aero
bats ns well. tho business OF the
stage known as tho back fall had more terror
to the actor, and was ATTEMPTED with more ap-
prohension by him, than any other physical
accessory OF the art Few could do II. and
fewer still attempted 1t. as the danger. appar-
ont ut least. OF broken neck or back was too
great to risk. even for any amount OF much.
coveted applause that was sure to follow 10.
Thcro was one man on the stage though. and
the only ono over saw. who could do the back
fall to perfection and who was not only not
afraid TO do 1t. but who insisted on work
ing 1t In on about every part he
played. and that was Joe Nagle. Aet I
remember him at his best he was nah over
six feet tall. and his gigantic frame was splen-
didy proportioned to his height. His principal
stamping ground was in the untamed West.
but he was also years ago favorite at the Old
Bowery Theatre and at Woods Museum on
Broadway. in the robust plays that generally,
held the boards at those houses OF q past aud
gone generation. He was an excellent repre-.
sentative OF that school OF the drama. and.
with his effective bnck fall to help him. his
climaxes never failed to bring down the house.
Joe was as straight as an Indian. and to
see that gr eat form OF his topplinR over and
falling backward. as stiff as falling tree. aud
with no more apparent resistance to the. com !
sciousn ess Of the fall than tree would have,
was something so startlingly realistic that nc
never failed to drive even the coldest audiences
to applause He would come down with thud
that showed plainly there was no nonsense
about the fall but at the same time he caught
all Of his weight on his hands the same as any
actor docs in doing an ordinary. every day fall.
Whenever Nagle was to play with strange
company he always rehearsed this baolfall to
the members. 80 that they might become FAM
iliar with 1t. for he knew II he sprang II on
them without warning 1t would moro than
likely break them up for the whole perform.
ance. But even after the perilous acrobatio
feat had been done before the company time
aud ratified when Nagle came to do his fall, /
Voluntarily with outstretohed hands, as il To- I
catch H. him, % SO real and % unstaRy was the act.
got and s0of 81 sss
,,Payy .Groeketai', which he wrote for Frank
IN the performance @ Of the act. Joe had noticed
several occasions to control @ M Himself. n''n -
.l,ye got TO do this fall all alone. he said.
i Il snt I'm 10 more s likely tx to break ' ny N nesf
'""G one m' nisht ,h. Joe stirened himself for .h.
great fall under particularly exciting circum-.
stances Franks business was to be near
n tie S a Sa; he hsS hxfsd s
the hero that was to cause the mighty fall,
Th had rsnt 9eI nued tb.R ice
' srsst ooSnn: @ the u9S sight 0'sa ". e ess
out SHp under Se the falling actor before he kaeW
Instead Of Coming down on the stage Rigid and
ss ss Rs ssas a1 t IL
ried of the stage. He was unable to get around,
Sa snf a III sRa sPf ssw @
!: ss! !ss
Miss Morris became great and she was learn.
nT as ss 9ohn hS Ss syns %
ass psspS ss snoW Ssssee e y:
ssas s;ss 5s sss. S 4: s,::
Although his hands played a very Important
part in his fall. Joe caught Miss Morris's hands.
through some strange whim. and took ,her.
Ing to the story. Miss Morris Rfterward said
that 1t seemed to her as II she was falling from >
grand sweep with the gigantic form OF the actor.
Joe had not the support OF his hands In this
stage withoutth relax alton OF muscle. and.
as the astonished and frightened daughter dis-
entanged herself safe and unhurt from the =
awful wreck OF her father. the audience went
wild with enthusiasm. and Back-fall Nagle
never received such recognition OF his over.
topping genius as he received on that OCCASION :