Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-26
suEagcH, WEBSTER ! COMPANY.

out says that there is but one that is los
ing money. Another told me that he hac
held off a little for fear of hard times
throughout the country. He now has five
shows on the road and will shortly send
out u sixth, SO satisfactory have been his
other ventures. A prominent firm which
has seven companies out declares that not
enc of them has so far had single losing
week. AS far as the thcaters in New York
city arc concerned, know from personal
experience that the managers have been
surprised and delighted with the open
ings. The police department has recently
caused to be enforced the regulation
against permitting the crowding OF the
aislos and Hobbies. Ordinarily this would
entail no hardship upon the proprietors OF
thcatcrs, but this season at least three
houses have been obliged to turn away
hundreds of dollars each week. This is
the most convincing sort of evidence, cou-
pied as it is with the fact that the man
ayers propose to make vigorous fight
against the Ito them) obnoxious rcgula-
ton.
A correspondent writing from Cleveland
conveys the sad intelligence that John A.
Ellsler is destitute and adds: Nearly
everybody in Cleveland remembers John
Ellsler, the pioneer theatrical manager of
this city, who has done so much to devel-
OPP taste for the drama here At one
time he was prosperous and ON the high
road to wealth, but he was overtaken in
the race by tho younger and more progress
i've element. He lost a fortune, and no
arnoupt of bnr1 yvorl- ~, hic mart oopl6
prevent tho inevitable, which was moth
ing short Of financial ruin.
Today ''Unclc John" is q candidate for
admission to the Homo For Aged Actors
at Holmcsburg, Pa, which was founded
by Edwin Forrest, the tragedian. The
home is able to accommodate ~ inmates.
Tho deaths of Mrs. Ben de Bar and Mr..
Parl.cs created two vacancies, and Uncle
John is anxious to fill one of them. At
least he has made formal application, with
strong backing in the way of indorse-
mcnts, and the chances arc that he will be
successful.
John Ellsler is about rs years of age.
Early in the iiftics he came to Cleveland
to take charge of the theatcr on Frankfort
street which was aftcrward converted into
q variety house. His next venture was
the Academy of Music on Bank street.
He prospcrcd in that house and remained
at its helm as manager and actor until
the opening of the Euclid Opera House in
1875, which finally proved his financial
ruin. He retired to the academy, but it was
too late and after number of other ven
lures in this city and elsewhere he finally
joined his daughter Eflie's company. He
had been cstranged from her for q long
time on account of her marriage to Frank
Weston. He also tried u season of man
agement of the Lyccum thcater, this city,
but that venture was also q failure, and
now the indications are that he will end
his days in an institute of charity.
The Roscnfeld brothers arc presenting at
tho Fifth Avenue theater a spectacular
farce, 'Humpty Dumpty Up to Date, !"
with their famous Lilliputans in the prin-
cipal roles. These little people a,e all
real artists and arc so well known that
comment on their work would be useless.
Their piece this year is, 1 think, less suit
ed to their peculiar abilities than anything
in which they have yet been seen. Hump
ty Dumpty Up to Date" is very little like
the old pantomime with which we are all
so familiar. 1t has several very ingenious
mechanical devices, and there arc a couple
of ballets, notably the ballet Of the jewels,
which have never been surpassed in this
country for brilliancy and magnificencc,
but the whole play is jcrky and disconnect-
cd and gives one mental discomfort SIM
liar to the physical feeling engendered
while riding i'll spring wagon over q cor
duroy road. There is entirely too much of
it-in very great and very small way.
The contrasts are too marked. There are
too many abrupt goings up and comings
down. 1t is, however, worth seeing for the
several excellent spectacular features and
will be sure to delight the children. Tho
incidental music, such of it as is not bod
lily appropriated, is principally the work
of Charles II. Hoffman, who has composed
some very pretty and characteristic melo-
dies. OCTAvUS COHEN.
New York.