Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-03-02

/ efa1 plays Which had zlarked success
Soon after this Mackaye wrote Won
at Last, which popularity's kindly
brand has placed among stock plays.
In London straining for the highest
knowledge and power in his adopted
profession, Mackaye studied elocution
at the lofty rate of $50 4 lesson
| His studies We're not in vain Sup
ported by a splendid cast he played
Hamlet at the crystal palace in a way
| that won him the warm applause of
the beading English critics.
Returning to America he opened in
New York a school of elocution, which
had immediate and remarkable sue
cess. Defying the awful and conserva-
tive traditions of the stage as he found
it he announced that he would teach
the art of acting without the Old-time
and weMestablished necessity of ap-
premiership to the powe.. behind the
footights; and accordingly he pro-
ceedeu to teach it.
This was dynamite bomb thrown
into the greenroOm. The profession
ais rose up as a man and fired volley
of stage artillery upon the daring young
man who aimed at making such au-
daciOus innovations and breaking
down the barriers of centuries. A
fierce controversy ragged in the papers.
but Mackaye went on teaching aspiring
young men and young women how to
act.
At length he wrote Hazel Kirke, Just
to show his critics, as he said that he
knew what he was doing and what
he was talking about. 1t was his first
play to be given an American produc-
ton, and it was a success.
Hazel Kirke was written in 1880. 1t
opened the Madison street theater with
a cast made up partly of professional
actors and partly of Mr. Mackaye's
pupils. 1t presented some Strikingly
rev mechanical features. Chief of
these was the double stage. which ea-
allied the showers of scenery to have
the setting Oe an act perfect and ready
for presentation just as soon as the
previous act was concluded. doing
away with all necessity for waits be-
tW cen the acts. Then the orchestra
was removed to the top Of the pro-
scenium. Then the conventional vii
lain, familiar on the stage up to that
date, was conspicuous by his absence.
Despite all these innovations the play
ran $50 nights; and it furthermore paid
the penalty of success by being pirated
more than any other drama that ever
was written. Hazel Kirke has been
played constantly upon the road ever
since. 1t holds the record of being
the most successful drama in the his
tory of American theatrictlls.
With the proceeds of this play Mr..
Mackaye built the I,yceum theater.
New York, which he proceeded to run
oa ideal lines. But the Gotham public
Was not educated up to this point, and
eventually the property drifted out of
his hands.
Since then Mr.. Mackaye has produced
Money Mad, A Noble Rogue, Paul
kauvar and Colonel Tom, the latter
written for Nat Goodwin. Among his
other plays are Rose Michel, Queen and
Woman, Won at Last, Through the
Dark, An Iron Will, A FOOLS Errand,
Dakolar, In Spite of All, RienZo (recon-
st:uoted and rewritten for Lawrence
BarretO, The Drama of Civilization,
Anarchy, and All Arrant Enave.
For no less than twelve Years Mr.
Mackaye Iabored at the plans and i'll
ventions connected with the Inflated
Spectacular. The use of the story
of Columbus was only incidental to the
fact that Columbus was the central
figure of the Worlds Fair year and the
Columbian celebration. 1t was hoped
at the time that the great building
would be completed in due time to sub
stantially share in the triumphs of
the fair, but the speculation ended in
dire disaster.
Mr. George Nj. Pullman was ever the
rstanch friend of Mr. Mackaye. At the
time of the failure of the project at
the worlds fair grounds Mr.. Pullman
lost $4,000 that he had put into It.
When it was decided to abandon the
enterprise, and Mr.. Mackaye found
himself in debt to ballet girls and
others, Mr.. Pullman generously came
to the rescue and paid off those debts.
Later, at the opening of the Scenitor
ium on Michigan avenue, when it was
seen that Mr.. Mackaye was deathly
sick, Mr.. Pullman came and gave his
friend his kindest attention and solici-
tude.
Mr. Mackaye's estate consists en-
tirely of his manuscript plays, many of
which are as yet unproduced, and his
notable inventions in stage mechanism.
He lost over $4,000 Of his own money
on the spectato1'um, the failure of
which left him practically penniless,
with the necessity of coping empty
handed with the world and 'commenc-
ing the fight all over again. 1t is we'll
supposed that these harsh conditions
preyed so on his nervous mind and
sensitive organism as to hasten the
final catastrophe. He dies keenly
lapnented by his numerous fellow
professionals, many Of whom can bear
practical testimony to his oren-handed,
big hearted generosity.
MACKAYE'S PRIDE FAILS.
Chicago, Feb. 26.-The Mackaye
scenitorium has failed and will go into
the hands of receiver.