Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24


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<A more county, and the
G2&QENMl suddenness of his de-
,EklEAI WM mise added to the grief
W MIEk,W the sad tidings con-
kA|A AVE- veyed to many hearts
RN N~lr TlM \ on both sides of the
IWB vial( J Atlantic. He had en-
liz I'm ny deared himself to all
AlN. who knew him, to
whom he was a delight
full companion, and to many whose memory Of
his goodness in their hours of need made
doubly painful the loss Of kind and generous
friend. had known and enjoyed the friend
ship Of John E. Owens for many years. and
can speak of him only with fearful regret. for
it was a personal loss felt most deeply. The
stage lost one Of its most talented and versatile
actors, who more nearly than any actor can
recall succeeded Charley Burke in humor and
pathos. The broadest humor and the deepest
pathos found in those two ornaments of the
American stage most successful delIneators.
MIR. Owens range of characters exceeded Mr..
Burke's When l think Of Owens Caleb Plum
n,er l recall Charles Burkes Grandfather
Whitehead, and can call to mind no other
representation which bears comparison with
either of them.
Mrs. Owens has published delightful volume
of memories Of her husband, and, in looking
over it, it takes me back to the time when the
theater was to me the acme Of enjoyment-when
l was in my seat before the call OF the orchestra
and never left the theater until the last word OF
the farce, then 80 important part Of the even
ing's performance. had been spoken; nor did
the enjoyment end then; the wit and humor was
prolonged over the supper table, and in those
social hours 1t was my good fortune to meet
the bright galaxy of "stars' and ''stock" which
shed luster on the American stage The sole
of hat hri0 IaGa
son, is. am panied to hear, very i'll. trust
his recovery will leave upon the stage almost
the last of those bright particular stars Of
whom retain so many delightful memories.
Some weeks ago was in Baltimore while Jeffer-
son was playing an engagement, and Mr.. John
7. Ford told me he was not at all we'll. and
most deeply depressed by the loss of his home
at Buzzards Bay and the treasures it con-
tanned, paintings, library, correspondence and
valuable manuscripts,
BEGAN UNDER BURTON.
To return to Mr.. Owens. He began his theat-
rcal career under the management of Mr. Wm
Z. Burton at the National Theater, Philade-
phia. in 1871, and under Mr.. Burton's manage
ment he remained until 1874, playing in Phila-
delphia most of that time but occasionally
visiting Baltimore. During that period he was
associated with many brilliant actors as
stars and in the stock company at that
theater. He gave cast of "Hamlet" De ,ember
l6. TS41 which was never surpassed. Hamlet,
Edwin Forres.; Ghost John r. Scott; Laertes,
James W. Wallack; Hordti0. E. S. Connor;
Cidudius. J. b. Roberts; PoIonius, W. Jones:
First Grare Digger, W. E. Burton; Second
Craze Digger, John E. Owens; First Actor,
Dave P. Bowers; Gertrude, Mrs. Malinda
Jones; Ophelid. Josephine Clifton; Player
Queen. Mrs. A. Knight.
In 1874 Owens commenced an engagement at
the Baltimore Museum. and there our acquaint-
ance began. 1t under the management Of
Josh Sisbee and Hamm. Josh Silsbee was some
what famed as Yankee comedian and Hamm
was the business manager. Jack Owens Sc
cured the liberal salary of S14 week. then
very LIBERAL and on the little stage at the top
OF the museum most OF the famed actors and
actresses OF that period appeared Mrs. Russell
(Mrs. John Hoey), Mary Cannon, Mary Devlin.
Mrs. ID. p. Bowers. Miss ST. Clair E. L. Daven-
port and J. W. Albaush here won their first
laurels. The stars who filed the
little theater we're Murdoch. Booth (the
elder. of course), Jas. W. Wallack, Joe Cowell.
famed comedian: John Il. Scott. Charley
Burke. Charlotte Cushman, Fanny Wallack.
Mrs. Farren, Julia Dean, Eliza Logan, Mr. and
Mrs. Barney Williams. Mrs. Sinclair Forrest and
others. How few remember these admirable
actors and actresses. and yet the stage today.
with all its glare and glitter, can produce no
comparison to Mrs. Farren. Eliza Logan and
Julia Dean.
InSeptember Of that year the museum opened
with vaudeville, and Mr.. and Mrs. II. Hunt
Mrs. John Drew played ''star" engagement.
One of the attractions of that period was the
burlesque of Beauty and the Beast" with Mrs.
j. B. Booth as Beauty James l.. Gallagher as
tho Beast, John +. Owens as John quill, John
Seton Sir Aldydte Pump, and Mrs. Russell
(Mrs. Hoey) rs DresSdiindd. | will digress n
moment to say that when the National Theater
was burnt here in 1875 the same burlesque was
on the bills. and Burton as Sir Adgdte Pump,
Charley Burke as John quill and Mrs. Burke as
D., = hag t.,o
did not long remain in the stock. Burton then
managed the Chestnut Street Philadelphia, and
Owens was engaged there and remained under
Burton s engagement during the season. return
ing to play a star engage ment at the Baltimore
Museum. After engagements at New Orleans
and elsewhere Owens returned to the museum,
with which he identified. and
eventually became its manager. One of the
great hits made by Owens in Philadelphia was
in yGkey, volunteer fireman, character
which has no existence now, but which made
the fortune OF Frank Chanfrau, whose Nose
drew crowded houses everywhere. Owens
Jdkey successful that it enabled Burton
to purchase the Chambers Street Theater and at
the close of the season Burton made the be-
ginning of his famed management in the city
of New York. Burton acknowledged his in
debtedness to Owens by the presentation to
him of massive silver vase, with appropriate
insc3ption.
MANAGING THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM.
Under Owens management at the Baltimore
Museum Dolly Davenport and George Jordan
made their first appearance. Jordan came
here soon after and played at the little theater
over Joe ShilinytOns book store, and rose
very rapidly. and in the very strong COM
pany with Burton at the Chambers Street
Iheater He was an admirable actor and one
of the handsomest men on the stage in his day.
He played in England from 1861 and returned
here to support Kate Bateman and played an
engagement with Laura Kecne. He was with
Owens at the La Variete" Theater. New
Orleans. when the troubles began in 1860. and
with Owens and Dolly Davenport joined the
Cocktail Guards. it was said for service in
the confederacy. This rumor whether true or
false, BODIED trouble when he appeared on his
return from England, but his friends rallied to
his support and he was greeted with great en-
thusiasm.
Owens made his debu. in New York at Broug-
hams Lyceum in January. 1851. David Cop
perfeld' was produced at Burton's Chambers
Street at the same time. The cast will. am
sure, be of interest to the readers of THE STAR.
The cast at Brougham's Lyceam: Dacid Cop
perfeld. David Palmer; Uriah Heep, John T.
Owens; wilkins Micdrber. John Brougham;
Daniel pp1JOffU II Tvnna. y1n,oe Gtoorfnrfb