The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-06-02
HERE TO PAINT
THEATRE SCENERY.
Continued fro -rst Page)

had painted in the border / turn d
again and saw the light was brighter
A moment afterward the call boy, who
was on the stage shouted Fire! and
before + could reach the stage the ropes
holding I'D the wings had caught and
the scenery began TO fall / made my
y-a.- 10 p door under the stage leading
ont into an alley, but it had not been
Cr-ued for wear and was immOyable
Theu / started for another door and
found myself surrounded by fire. l ran
ND the stairway to a window some dis
lance from the ground and dropped out.
When / recovered, three weeks later,
I learned that the farewell card had not
been used.
When the Pike Opera House in Gin
ciunati was being built l was engaged
TO paint the scenery for that place. /
was there for fourteen years; painted
the scenery for the grand ball given in
honor OF the Prince Of Wales.
And | remember that ball very well, .
said Mr. Porter Three or four of us
were up in the flies when one of the
party proposed some beer. A carpenter
went out and got jug filled and on
his return poured it in jugs which we
use for mixing cOlOrs. Just before the
dance DtSdn one u the DOE > IdlScO JuC
jug to his lips and said, in a voice
louder than he intended, Here's your
health. Prince and drank it down.
The Prince and Mr.. Pike heard him
and looked up. That was enough. The
carpenters made their way out of the
theater and l took my toaster up over
the 'gridirOn. After the set was over
Mr. Pike came to the flies and looked
for us, but we were up above looking
at him. l heard afterward that he had
convinced the Prince and Mrs. Pike
that they were mistaken. | never told
the story until after I'M. Pike was dead.
The fellow that gave the toast died in
an insane asylum three months after
the ball. He was 'nutty' when he gave
the toast but | was not aware of it,
During the years I was located in
Cincinnati | visited all the principal
towns throughout Ohio and fitted up
theaters. Then [ visited Kentucky and
Louisiana and painted more scenery for
new and old places of amusement.
I'm 1869 the old California Theater
was in course of construction and Will
liam G. RalstOn sent for me. l painted
all of the scenery for the opening and
was engaged as the regular scenic art
list, remaining through the manage
ment of Lawrence Barrett, and after
wards Mccullough and Barrett, and
when they retired, through Barton
Hills term of office. My engagement
finished after nine years of service.
Since then / have painted drop curtains
and what not from Victoria to National
City, and as far back as the Rocky
Mountains.
The drop for Pixies Opera House,
referred to a little while ago, was
burned with the theater. 1t was in
sured for $4,000 Mr.. Pixies loss was a
million dollars, but the total insurance
was only $4,000"
When you are painting, Mr.. Porter,
do you confine yourself to any particu-
lar hours, or do you paint when the
fancy strikes yOu?"
My hours are from $50 in the morn
ing until at night, and l work steadi-
~, taking no time for lunch. | will be
here four or five months. A young man,
Richard WestOby, of this place, will be
my assistant and we will work at it
until we get through. The facilities
for painting are all that could be wish
ed for, thanks TO Mr.. Abrams, the stage
carpenter"