The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-19
A FAMOUS PLAYER.
Agnes Booth Made Her First Appearance
Here 81 Years Ago.

Agnes Booth is suffering from . bad
cold and she does not care TO talk much
today. The famous actress seems to he
almost as young as she was 81 years ago
when she first appeared In this city. TO
be sure she does not feel 80 much like
standing on her head az in the early days
of her career when she used to play Ol-
iver Twist In the drama OF that title or
Sam willoughby In "Ths Ticket of
Leave Man" many years ago. She seems
to be just as sprightly in heart, however,
and appears to relish recollections OF the
happy and more or less struggling days
doing hard work as leading woman Of
the Boston Theater Company, in as
sociation with Charles X. Thorne, Frank
Harden berg, Walter Leighman. James
Lewis, Rachel Noah, Dan Maginnis, and
the otner favorites OF long ago. Times
were different, and methods too, in those
days. 1t was the training, however, that
developed Agres Booth into the most
versatile actress on the American stage.
The hundreds of patrons OF the Provi-
dence Opera House this week who have
seen her fine Interpretation of the Ouch
ess. may be interested to know that Agnes
Booth first appeared in this city when she
was % years old. That was 81 years ago,
conseq uentiy she is now in the 54th year
of her age. September 2s, 1866, she played
q character in "Arrah Ma Pogue," a
then popular Irish drama. It was its
first presentation in this city, and 1t had
q remarkable cast. On her second visit
the now famous player was one of the
principals In support OF Americas great
est tragedian, Edwin Forrest. The en-
gsgement OF three nights began Nov. 8,
1865. She was then Agnes Perry as she
played in company with the lase John
Mccullough and j. W. Collier. Her
character was the faithful daughter. The
plays included "Richilieu," "Hamlet"
and "King Lekr."
Curiously enough Fanny Davenport,
since become one of the foremost OF
American players also made her first ap-
pearance in this city this same season.
Agnes Booths maiden name was..Agnes
Land Rockies and she was born in Aus
| tralia. With her. sister, Belle she arrived
| at San Francisco, Cal, in 1858 and short
ly after her arrival she married Harry
Perry. She remained in San Francisco
until 1861, when her husband died. She
then came East and was recognized as
| q star.
She was the leading woman In the Bos-
ton Thester Stock. Company shortly after
this, and 1t was while thus occupie
that she married j. Is. Booth, then
lessee and manager of the Boston Thea
| ter. After that she acted In a desultory
way until Mr.. Booth died. He lefF her
| his entire fortune of aboutSo00 900. After
widowhood OF one year she married John
| Schoeffel, manager of the fremont Thea
| ter in Boston. She never reiinquished
her stage name. Agnes Booth first acted
| in this city under the name, curiously
| enough, in exactly the same play she was
| first seen in, Arrah Ma Pogue. That wa,
also In the old Academy nf Music, Dec.
25, 1869. Leslie Allen, father of the now
popular Miss Viola Allen was q member
| OF the company. Previous to tins as
Agnes Perry, she played with Charlie
| Thorue and other favcrites In the
sThree Guardsmen" and other pieces In
the repertory of the company. She wal
O frequent visitor to these plan tations
and always a prime favorite.
Agnes Booth was in the big cast o
ssSardanapalus" with Francis Bangs ant
Louis Aldrich and other well known
players, late in the season of '76. Ter
years nave, therefore, elapsed since Agnes
Booth was in this city before.