The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-02
QUEEN OF THE STAGE.
Miss Amelia Bingham Gets the Host
Votes.

Her Many Portland Friends VIII BE Glad
Sketch OF the ACTRESSES Life.
The expression of popular opinion as
to the proper Queen Of the American
stage, Instituted something over two
weeks ago by the New Y ork World, has
resulted i'll rather large plurality for
Miss Amelia Bingham. Out Of totnl
number Of volts approximating ao,Ooo,
Miss Bingham received 9,119.
Miss Bingham, SO we'll and popularity
known 20 Portland people from her posi-
Peaks Island summer sheatrs, and from
her appearance in this city with many
leading theatrical attractions.
Her Portland friends will he in
terested in the lady's general popularity
and will read with interest this inter-
view from the World:
s'I fully appreciate the honor conferred
upon NE. though l little dreamed IL was
in store for me. There are so many VINO
are more fitted to wear the croWn-sc-
tresses who have labored long ana well
| for the, profession. To my sorrow, have
not been able to do much for the stage.
But ani young, and the future is be-
| fore me. People may ask now, VINO Is
this Amelia Bingham WHO has been
| voted worthy to be Queen OF the sta9er
| within snort time, l hope, every poay
will know. | am ambitious and study
ms and the stage is my idaaA. WIN
proper opportunities ! believe Eli bound
| to succeeu. have not quite seGtled In
my mind whether I prefer comedy to
serious roles. Sometimes think tnat as
laughter ia what the people demand,
comedy is more to my taste. On ehe
other hand, there is 80 much satisfaction
In holding the mirror up to nature
that seem to prefer the serious roles.
| However, the future must decide for me.
| To the kind friends who have expressed
| their desire to crown me, l can express
only my sincere thanks and Will Try hafd
and earnestly to prove worthy OF the
HONOR
| Miss Bingham's appearance on the
stage was due to an accident. Born
| Amelia Swilley, she was educated IN
seminary nsar her native city OF Toledo,
| O., and was graduated when scarcely
out OF short drssses. Her father was an
artist, of German parentaae, aud her
mother an American. Shortly after leav-
ing school, about eight years ago, Amelia
| wah wooed and won alter Drlef court
ship by Lloyd Bingham, q handsome
young actor who with bis company
visited Toledo. Their marriage was In
the naturesof an elopement, rs the BRIDES
parents were sternly opposed to the
match. The young wifsatravelled with
her husband and i'll that way gained
deep insight into life behind:the scenes.
six years ago while her husbanE WAS
playing in q stock company in Chicago
the leading woman of PASSIONS Slave"
was taken auddenly i'll. No understudy
had been provided, and 1t would be some
time before proper substitute could be
| secured. The stage manager appealsd to
Mrs. Bingham 10 help him out Of his
dilemma. Would hshe essay the part
pending the arrival OF new leading
woman2 1t was a severe test, but Mrs.
| Bingham reluctantly consented. She
studied the part all thatssnight, rehearsed
| it thesnext morning and played that
night. So successful was she that the
| manager after consultation with her,
telearephed the substitute not to come,
for Mrs. Bingham was then formally in
stalled In the stock company, and her
stage career began.
| Since that time Mrs. Bingham has
played upward of $50 parts and has trav-
ellea all over the United States and
Canada. Once she played Camille In
| Winnipeg without having seen any other
actress in the part. Last year she made
| lE u DOiHe UU HoC OLdEa 1AOlIlS ehI1u 0oI hit
Bernhardt in the same role, and was
pleased and gratifed TO find that she had
in many respects formed the same idsas
az those two great artists in much Of the
business of tie part. For time she
played In stock company in Philadel-
phia with the Holland brothers. She
was with Aubrey Buucicault in his re-
cent revival Of his fathers plays, was
the heroine in Jerome Eddy's play, "The
Village Postmaster last yenr. and
played this season with Bob Hilliard in
1.-THE Mummy She is now doing
comedy work in Captain Impotence !"
at the American theatSe.
| 1t was tbesintsntionofaaMiss Bingham 8
parents to make her an artist and in
| hsritiug her fathers talent, she is an ex-
! pert with brush and oils. Thoroughly
| up to date in all things her fayorite
| diversions are sailing, wheeling and
swim ming, and she is an expert In each
sport In person she is blonde of the
pureft type, with hair of that peculiar
golden hue that poets like to sing about.
Her features are perfect. teeth even and
| white, and q chin that betrays firm ness
beneath it's delicate moulding. Long
may she reign!
WIT AND WISD ON