New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19
OBITUARY.
JOHN STETSON.

John stetson. who died In Boston Friday night
was for many years OF the best-known and
wealthiest theatrical managers in the country.
Boston was the uSal centre OF his operations, but
they extended all over the land. and there was no
place where there theatre where he was not
known.
Mr.. Stetsons father came from Maine. and he him-
self was born in Boston. He about sixty years
old. He had little education. and many stories
were told OF his ridiculous plumbers. the most OF
them wholly false. doubt But NOBODY ever
said that he not shrewd. far-seeing and thor
oughy skilful In the conduct OF the theatrical pus'
ness or any other that he chose to try. He was an
athlete In his youth. and In 1866 he was member
OF Sheppard & Cushings Circus Company. He was
then q champion runner and challenge was
Issued for him TO run against any rival VINO w'shea
TO try conclusions with him. He managed the
Olympic Theatre. In Boston. and then the Adeiphi'
which he left for the Howard Athen@um IN N'o.
Here Isaac Is. Rich his partner. They engaged
a company and the house on popular plan
and made tremendous success OF It. Mr. Stetson
left the Howard In 1880, and he was then said 10
have a fortune OF about $4,000
In the mean time. In 1876. he assumed the man.
agement OF a theatre In this city, and In 1871 ne
took Booths Theatre and kept 1t for about TWO
years He managed the Fifth Avenue Theatre Tor
a time, and It there that the firates vi
Penzance" was first produced. W. g. Gilbert ana
Arthur Sullivan coming to this country to attend
to the performance personally Mr.. Stetson Also
had the management in America OF several OF the
other Gilbert and Sullivan operas. as Tor instance
The Mikado." "Ruddygore" and The Gondollers
1t was reported a few weeks ago that he was also
to have the American rights to the latest one Inc
Grand Duke" Mr.. Stetson was for many years
the manager OF the Globe Theatre, In Boston pc
ing in charge Of it up to the time Ms had Also
burned. some two years or 80 ago. ne ,nnI,Snv
managed many travelling companies, ihcIuuhs
those OF James O'Neill, whom he started on n,s
Crta
jeska. 49, l.. .,.. T., a.. r,ous
other lines of business At the very pesihhinis y.
in Boston. and afterward, wheh ne Deca a rnvs
generally prosperous ne owned interests IN news
papers brokers' offices and various med sha same
fablishments In all OF these he showed tne s ni
business ability and gained the same sues; :, Ras
a short time ago he built the hotei SAVOY III '''
ton. , ~. c,oLos Che be-
,onned to a kentucky family. but was born IN
Rrooklyn Her father was circus maIhs ,dr w hs
time and the daughter became an exper. luz, 80 o
s en-. Uent on the stage Joined Augustn Daly
cnmnanv then went to one of Mr. StslsoH 'p S,
panes and was married to MN IN ISL since She
id r,,b Robert Mantell In Tangled Lives ana
~, 49, vears ago she played the part OF 'lis.
Eastlake Chapel in The crust OIL 'oe'e'' "
"a VI Statson had been in poor health ior t nn
,,,na 10 had n serious sickness ABOUT "a Se na ani
He had also had two strokes " ~ death he was
Two y ea n, the Park Theatre. In Boston guy
~ had nrac.ically given up other pusiens' onened
h,s hotel already referred 10, WHICH was '
hq1 'r hsaih was due to pneumonia ne na ~ bs
ntiv been busy experimenting the ere re-, md had
IN ibotel on the old Globe Theatre i1' nd iast
new nuse b's strength He caught coid anu ,n1.
Tuesday was obliged to g give up Sataliy
developed rapidly. and resulted ia'a''