The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-05
JENNIE KIMBALL'S BoYS.
Many Comedians that Were Graduated
from Her Juvenile Company.

cENNIh nj NH LIS bO1D.
Many Comedians that Were Graduated
from Her Juvenile Company.
Tho death Of Jennie Kimball recalls the fact
that the burlespue stage Of to-day owes her
some of its brightest stars as well as the
Infant" prtma donna Corinne. 1t was from
Miss Kimbsll's first Juvenile company, the
Corinne Merrymakers. that the DAILY brothers,
Bob and Dan, took their start. Dan Is now
leading comedian at the New York Casino.
THE Great Crowley" who has been successful
In London. was also one Of her early Juveniles.
Harry Conor. who made a hit az Wclldnd Strong
in Hoyt's "A Trip to Chinatown" and Charles
A. Bigelow, the O'Hooltgdn of Little Chris
topher." are others of Jennie Kimball's boys.
Miss Kimball's school was OF the best for
would-be burlesque artists. and 1t was a mis-
fortune for that branch Of the profession when
she decided, about three years after Corinno
began, to surround the baby star with adult
support. Miss Kimball was well fitted for her
task of making burlesque artists, having been
O burlesque actress for many years at the old
Howard Atheneum in Boston, along In the
'T0s. She took to tho profession OF managing
after her meeting with Corinne. Corinne has
often been spoken of az Jennie Kimball's child.
She Is. in fact, the daughter of poor Italians,
and attracted the attention of the burlesque
4 " AUh III 49, hbS ShA~SN's
Miss Kimball offered to teach the b-ycnr-old
child. and found her not only apt and bright,
but also n natural actress. She soon adopted
Corinne, and in 'Pinafore" tho tot made her
first bow to the public at the Boston Museum
in 1870. Juvenile opera companies were
then just beginning. Haverley's and Miles's
juvenile opera companies being the first
Miss Kimball gathered all the child singers
che could in the city, getting many from
music teachers, and when. two years later.
after a couple Of weeks run at the old Gaiety
Theatre, she started the Merrymakers on the
road with cinderella" the little company
numbered thirty five, ranging In age from the
prima donna's 7 years to some 15-year-old
chorus girls.
The only adult besides Thomas F1aherty, .
Boston piano dealer, who backed tho show,
and whom Miss Kimball married and was d.
vorced from about two years ago. was 1o-year-
old Frank Hayden, the tenor, who always re-
NAMED with her and is now general manager
OF the company. In the chorus. besides Leah
Farrell, the belle OF the company. and now mar
ried to a wealthy husband, Aida Miner and
Bessie Louise King. were the Daily boys, young
Crowley, Joe C~ouGhman. Tony Williams. and
Charley Bigelow. Bigelow led the chorus. and.
though only IA, was property man.
Miss Kimball was very strict with her youth
full company, and not only watched over their
stage business, but also looked after their
habits. and the budding choristers ard comedi-
ans frequently led their guardian a pretty chase,
as each mother had given her tho strictest
orders. A salutary lesson to one boy made a
great impression on the rest of the boys. 1t
was In st. Louis. The curtain was about to
ring up when Buttoni was reported missing.
Scurrylng about town Hayden finally brought
the small low comedian in a sad condition into
The awful presence OF the head OF the company,
n~l bald bar kniTftnU Nyltln h mi ~ N
him. She GrsI demanded where Buttont's
very tlpsy. So Miss Kimbali,' who was rather
%n,hletic. and had get the dtsgraced Bnttont
l ,ileiy a f f1snsr, cs se x. ni h,s safs i0u himy, f Ser 8S I'm:
him the while. Being quite, Irresponsible the
boy stood on his dignity, and refused to prom
charged. and started on his homeward journey
In the hour.
awaited a train In the Minnenpolis station.
Miss Kimball esped q small.sihed tramp sit
ting 'h nStarnT t back 6n of d tsH sto with T ;" m sym,
children welled up in her bosom. Stalking
up to the stove she dragged the tramp out into
OF the assembled company the luckless But
toni. with trousers that scarce held together,
as this youl' she thundered. holding the
shiyering morsel with two fingers.
mitting patiently to be soundly shaken. lie
knew that the shake meant forgiveness and. a
NEW k Sq1s IF s sEss, inf for he tH %ns %srs efHri tn
vow that he would never got tipsy; nor neg
lect his part, nor s9uander his earnings again,
gal son. He Lept his word while he was with
Miss Kimbell, and his friends wish he had al
way" KS Might Might be- E't SUPPOSED %s's Miss Kimban kent an
eagle eve on her favorite; ,Sweetie,' as she
called s,sae oo fb n sil,p Msny 4 prI lne'GGt "nna 'S Sna s some
youthful masculine ,member OF the company
was nipped in the bud: The first was when
Jack Kingsley Brocolini's SOM. n handsome
chorister, a few years Corinnc's senior, The
first overt act OF the love affair whs C%Orinnc's
absenting herself from rehearsal, and high
crime and misdemennor being tardy for a cue
that might. Miss kimeaii set Sh9 VII nndinG
for that was the OF era on the boards seated on
a barrel behind the scenes, ENJOYING Ito most
The iuckless c~norister was summarily pitched
out OF the stage door, and 'Sweetio" was
sSd heart. Jack never came back, and after a
clandestine correspondence through n chorus
girl. which was ALWAYS going astray, he was
dropped In sheer despair.
one of Miss Kimbal's most onerous duties
was returning boys discharged and sent home
easy matter. for, while She always sought to
have them travel comfortably, sleeper and all.
NJ her debt could not easlly be overlooked. This
Indebtedness was caused by the fact that the
chorus salary sggrsH wSs Ss a T T6is' G MhitIS tGe c nnff
readily be adjusted "hile en- route, with, the
company, as three small boys 'oull no luhgth
i'm one double berth, hut other means had TO be
resOrted 10 where the little fellows were Jour
neying homeward In disgrace, and the neces,
sary trouble and expense often won a culprlts
pardon when nothing else would,
Miss Kimball probably gave more female I'm
can manager living. from sister Frank
MIR. HAYDEN, who delighted In donning fats
n blond wig, and tights, and going on In the
girls march, to Joe C0ughman and COnor
who preferred feminine parts. Even ther
Irowley. with his falsettO voice, was giyinE
pr1miss of Inc ability which has made him d
leading female Impersonator. Miss kimhall al
WAYS lad several hurlesquers OF this style II
1t has often been said that nobody could ge
away from Miss kimball under three years !
once they engaged with her; certainly IA splen
ala certificate of character for the manager
even though las one young comedian Remarked
when lie heard that his old teacher and man
ageress was gone the way OF all teshl, Ssh
dld lick the stunln's out OF them"