New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-28
A LIFE ON THE STAGE.
]. H. sTODDART's LONG CAREER.
WHERE AND HOW HE HAS SPENT sIxTY-THRrH
OF HIS sIxTY-EIGHr YEARS.

OF HIS sIXTY-EIGHT YEARS
An expression often spoken loosely among the
people Of the stage is, Listen ard VIII tell you
the story OF my life" To listen to the story OF an
others life, when one has a life OF ones own 70
attend to- is commonly regarded as bore YET
when a life has been long and busy and useful It's
story may become interesting and prohtaoie ana
good for anybody to hear read. II was with this
thought a Tribune reporter asked ]. H. Stoddare
for the story Of his life IT is appropriate TOO al
this time because Thursday MT. Stodoart WI"
celebrate his sixty-third anniversary as an actor.
He was born in Barnsey, England on OCTOBER 10.
1927. and a simple arithmetical calculation VIII
show that his stage career began while ne was
still young.
The reporter found Mr. stoddart in his DRESSING
room at the Academy Of Music waiting for his turn
TO 60 on the stage in OF the scenes OF Tho
Snorting Duchess" There Is nothing for me TO
tell" was his first to the reporters question.
II have spent all my life in going from the stage
door to my home and from my home back to the
stage door and have not been where there were
many amusing scenes or incidents. But walt till I
finish these next two scenes and then snail nave
time to talk with you. and will tell you anything
can My life has had much variety; have
simply been acting here in Eew-York ever since
1854 except for years when tried TO star
SMALL. TRIALS OF A SMALL ACTOR.
Then the call to the sage came. the call which for
an actor takes precedence OF all the other calls ana
duties OF lsfe He back in the dressing-room
in few minutes. There an amusing incl
dent" he said connected with that first appear
ance of mine sixty-three years ago. That was In
Glasgow at the Theatre Royal Ny father had been
an actor there for many years. He did not get
very large salary. and all used to go on when
any children were needed BY we mean myseIr
and my five brothers. ali dead now We got shi-
ling each when we had any lines to speak, ard SIX
pence when had none This first appearance OF
.r1oI rha pans T1qy
father played the part Of the cruel landlord and
was one OF the children OF the poor tenant. My
father stood on side Of the stage demanding
his rent and threatening TO turn the poor tenant
out OF doors. stood the other size or the stage
holding by the hand OF my stage father, the tenant
lie was begging for mercy and the landlord was
threatening him, till ! got confused with the
whole scene that walked across the stage to my
own father looked w In his face and set up loud
crying which, OF course. spoiled the scene Sc, YOU
see. my debut was no; great success
BROADENING THE FIELD OF ACTION
well. we acted chdren's parts for e long time,
the appartions in Macbeth ard such things. Up
there In Glasgow managed topick up pretty GOOD
Scotch dialect and remember once when some actor
from London going to play Macbeth ana was
to be of the apparitions came up
through the trap at OF The rehesrsals and began
in good broad Scotch Macbeth Macbeth. Maac-
BETH 'D-n H. the actor shouted, can't YOU say
Mae?
Il went on acting from time to time in this way
a. the Glasgow Theatre Royal till was perhap.
seventeen years old or so. ard then my brother
Robert and | went to Aberdeen. We acted there
| through the season AID then made a tour OF the
smaller towns In the North of Scotland ana this We
did for three o. four years After tsat Wen
! Theatre Royal ana the Amphitheatre. | ai1ays
realized that was no intended 70 pay yons ,oVg ~
began playing then, when was very YOUNG ran.
That Is the way with some act3r' you Knom siI
about their ages. What" they say. Is that man nan
he playing old men then
BEGINNING ALI. OVER AGAIN
~, was IN 1854 tina. came 70 America, and then
| Joined James Wallack's company. Well, such mag
| nifcent company that was | had never SEEN
Rlake was in H. and Lester Waack and Ms lioey
! and Miss Stevens and other fne actors. Mrs. Con-
over. whom married white was here. was merit
Der of the company. too James Walack used 10 star
! I'm the English provinces and my Liverpool mana
ger Mr Copeland. whc had charge OF both ne Royai
| and the Amphtheatrc where had acted gave me
letter OF Introduction to him. 1t was in inat way 'hat
got into the Waach company. Wa!.acK sa'a 70
me: You see | have very fine company here, ara
YOU will not be able at first 70 play such parts IN
as YOU nave bee n playing. but YOU can ny ana II
see that YOU are worthy OF advancement, OF course
viii ADVANCE YOU When there Is any opportunity
I Well | was anxious TO remain N New Io.k :
AHd 50 had to beg n all over again and play ser
wants parts al hrst ana work my way up. 800 AZ
! but theatre and Went there JEFFERSON ana
sohe-n were both members o. th1 Ss rs linear
! ance in New-York DR.. Pang.oss In Ine HsI
Law Another pay Tie spectre hT n b5tS o.
th"mt | stayed there till Bouccau.i opened ths
Raips x p9eS in &choas Nckleby and nuney
Gus other parts Ion 59e-g Ms Wood ard it
was here that made ne srsatss: success so rad
mo III [
None penny soddal went from ION s tae O Hnrlns
| TO aack's Theatre now called me star opening
| In 4 New Way to Pay Old DEBTS.
IN A. NJ PALMERs COMPANY.
Then tried starring for two seasons. Paying
The Long Strike but was NOT very SUCCESSFUL
NJ Palmer was manasing the Union Square
! Theatre then He asked re If had had enough
Of starring. / SAID had and he answered; 'ihen
! YOU are just the man want. SO joined ms
compary ana stsyAG IN it as long as it existed.
began at the Union Square as Pierre Aichei IN
Rose Michel After few years we went up 70
The Madison Square Theatre, opening In SAINTS anu
| sinners and then finally We went TO Palmer
Theatre and you know the rest"
or course every New-York theatre-goer Enows
what Mr. stoddart has done in the last few years.
| in Partners: Marshal. IN captain sWHs "a
1och in "A Pair OF Spectacles"; William Penn
| Holder in zone Touch q Nature" Colonel PIes-
S Son N Mr. Merriweit her. IN Two o:d Boys; Aus
Tin, in THE Fatal Card" and Joe :Aylmer IN The
s~oo,tinp Ducress" Re has travelled everywhere
OF course. with the Palmer company, and though
! he has ALWAYS wished be much al meme AZ
poss.be he is a good traveller. ana he fnds himself
fresh and ready for work he says a, me ena Of a
| tourney that has completely fatigued and used up
! some OF the younger members OF the company.
| For some years Mr.. Stoddart owned and occupied a
| farm In Railway \. where he made some horti-
cultural efforts which were by no means cot.,-
parable with his successes on the stage lie ex'
changed the farm a few years ago for a mouse IN
MS CIV in WHICH ne still lives Those VINO Know
him best him as one having me GEMS s nv
k'ndllcst of natures and Il IL no fattery 10 say
that he is always held in the afecuSn5,e resara
tho actors of any company in when ne piays.
those with whom he is associated just now are
lootinp forward 10 the reception on THURSDAY ~ n.
as one of The pleasanest incidents or the season vi
OF any season