The record-union., 1897-06-27

the opening of summer and the warm,
balmy nights, the roof gardens and
burlesque reviews are beginning their
short lease of life. 1t has been pros
porous year for some managers, has
crushed others and encouraged still
others to more energetic action. Old IA
yorites have won new triumphs, nov
elites by the score have been paraded
before the public, and importations of
foreign entertainers at enormous sal
aries have become a commonplace oc-
currence.
But what interests us is the success
which a number of our own California
girls have gained in the East. How
many ambitious and stage-struck girls
have been swallowed up in the great
dramatic vortex and not a word heard
from theml When an obscure amateur
plunges into the trials and yicissitudes
Of stage life and comes out prosperous
and smiling it is a feat worth record
ing. In these days of overproduction
in every walk of life it is almost i'm
possible for beginner to keep his head
above the water, particularly in the
theatrical profession. Tragedians, lead
ing ladies, character actors and SOU
brettes are as countless as the sands
on the seaShore, and many a talented
Thespian has been seeking profitable
engagements or taking minor roles in
order to be acquiring some revenue.
Californians, however have been par
ticularly fortunate. 1t is not uninter-
esting to make a resume of the past
season and see what they have been
doing in the East.
Foremost of them all is Alice Mel
SON For several years she served her
apprenticeship at the Tivoli in San
Francisco, playing small parts, but lay
ing the foundation for good future.
She studied assiduously, but was kept
in the background by the buxom Tillie
Sallinger Carrie Roma, Laura Millard
and others, and was only allowed an
opportunity when one Of these singers
was indispOsed. However, she had pa
tience and was rewarded. One night
her fairy godfather not mother) ap-
peared in the form of the comedian Bar
nabee of the famous Bostonians. He
CHANGED to attend the Tivon when she
was singing the role of Marguerite in
Faust; was pleased with her voice
and stage presence, and engaged her
to create the role of Anita in THE
Wedding Day" which he was about to
bring out. She made a good impression
and was favorably received by the
lenient critics. When Helen Bertram,
who was the leading soprano of the
company, resigned her roles were as
signed to Miss Nelson. who alternated
in the parts with Hilda Clark, another
soprano of the organization. She sang
in The Bohemian Girl and Prince
-Ananias." Under the supervision of
the veteran Barnabee. and through her
association with such excellent artists
as Jessie Bartlett Davis and Eugene
Cowles. she soon polished up her work
and became a faVorite wherever the
company appeared. 1t remained for her
to make a real hit in New York, when
the initial production of The Serenade'
was given. In the character of Yvonee
she sang with such chic, and her bear
ing was so entirely devoid of affecta-
ton, that she carried the audience by
storm. and all the critics declared she
was the star of the company-a very
fine compliment, considering the high
standard of that delightful organiza
tion known as the Bostonians.
Following in the footsteps of Miss
Nelson. but in an entirely different
branch of theatricals, came the sue
cess of Miss Josephine Gassmann. She
has risen in the vaudeville line and
become a favorite in New York music
halls. Her struggle for recognition is
worthy of notice because she had many
obstacles 10 overcome. She appeared
in Sacramento with the DAILY company
at the Old Pavilion when a benefit was
given for the American Railway Union
during the strike Many Sacramentans
will remember that performance on ac-
count of the hastily improvised stage
and the dearth of scenery. The Galley
Slave" was the bill, and the plump,
black-eyed little maiden who took
the soubrette character was Josephine.
For months she accepted engagements
anywhere appearing at the Clunie In
Sacramento and in San Francisco at
the Alcazar Morosco's, the Columbia
(then Stockwelps). and finally at the
Tivoli Suddenly she disappeared. Then
came the success and great hit of Alice
Nelson. Presently we heard of jose
phine GaSsmann doing q turn in
Chicago music hall. She is a shrewd
little woman and soon appeared before
the gates of New York, announcing
herself "as a graduate of the Tivoh,
from which Miss Nelson had also
hailed" To make a long story short,
she came, saw and conquered. She ap-
peared at Hammerstein' Olympia, the
greatest vaudeville showhouse in this
country. and completely won over the
huge audiences with her tough girl
specialty' and her coon songs.
Two other variety artists who have
left their mark on the vaudeville stage
of New York are Lady Sholto Douglas,
who star has already set in the the
atrical armament, and Truly Shattuck
She. too. rose from obscurity, but in a
different manner from that pursued by
Josephine Gassmann. The latter had
her talent to depend upon entirely,
while Truly Shattuck received an i'm
peitus through the notoriety she gained
by the killing of young Poole by her
mother. She had met him while
in the chorus Of the Tivoli. She toured
E. the State in an operatic melange, drlIl-
ed into the music halls, and one shuo-
ders to think what would have become
of her had she not been hurried out OF
the State when her mothers second
trial came off. Her mothers counsel
did not want her to be called as wit
ness, and hence her sudden disappear
ance She journyed East, appearing
in all the large cities She is at pres
ent singing at the ST. Nicholas Music
Hall, where she is a great favorite, and
entered this week on her four week $
engagement.
This record speaks well of the Tivoli.
Here are three former members of that
theater who have won fame and ducats
3, tho East although the goals which