The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-08
JEFFERSON is REMINISCENT.
HE TALKS OF HIS MANAGEMENT OF
THE THEATER IN 1851.

John A. EIIsler, and Rented the
Savannah Theater From Mr.. Pad
elford-Sir. William Don one OF His
Stars-He Sees Many Changes in
SaVRnnah-Ten Years Since He Has
Appeared before Savannah Au-
dience.
No actor on the American stage could
have been given a warmer greeting than
that which was given last night to Mr..
Joseph Jefferson, in Rip Van Wrinkle Il
may be said that Mr.. Jefferson is a Sa-
MAMMALIAN. not by birth. but from the fact
that at one time he lived here and man
aged the Savannah theater.
There is no doubt that Mr.. jefferson en-
joyed his visit to Savannah He arrived
in the city yesterday about o'clock, and
after his luncheon and nap visited differ
ent parts of the city which have been IA
miliar to him in former years. The first
spot that he sought was. of course, the old
theater, Of which he was once manager
with MIR. John A. Ellsler, the father of
Miss Etfie Ellsler, one of the favorites of
the American stage of to-day.
Il don't know what l can say except
what you can get from my autoblogra-
ply" Mr.. Jefferson said. when approach
ed by a representative of the Morning
News In that l discussed fully my as
ISOLATION with the Savannah theater.
managed 1t with Mr.. Ellsler in 1851, forty
six years ago, and l recognize at least
its old walls, though there has been a
change in the other part of the building
The old walls around the stage are in as
good and solid a condition to-day as they
were at that time, and they are in a good
state of preservation.
John A. Ellsler and were partners in
the rental of the theater at that time We
rented 1t from a Mr. Padeford, who was
partner in business of Mr.. Joseph Fay,
who is now neighbor of mine, living at
Woods Holl. and / az Buzzards' Bay"
Mr.. Jefferson, while talking, was seated
on the stage of the old theater, and he ap-
peared in a reminiscent mood. He re-
called to mind the scenes and events of
years gone by, years before the war, and
as he was interested in the subject ne
spoke Interestingly of It.
Sir William Don, an English baronet
acted with me at that time as a star on
this very stage" he said. land we were
playing then many of the old legitimate
plays, those from Shakespeare and me
old English comedies. / was Just about
q years old then, and it was just prior to
the birth of my oldest son, Charles T.
JEFFERSON, who was born in Macon after
we left here. We had the theater for the
season. and we played here with our COM
pany for six or seven weeks
This old stage Is a very historic one.
1t has been trod by Forrest. Booth, Char
lotte Cushman, Burton, and many others
whom 1 cannot call to memory now. and
it is one with which 1 have most pleasant
associations. / loved the old Savannah
theater, but feel that the new one IS an
Improvement The audience has Deen
considered in it's construction, and It is
better adapted to the wants of the people
] see the same old walls on the stage, and
the same old green room, and in fact |
find very little change in It, except in the
front where the audience belongs. ! am
glad to be here. 1t brings back the men,
DRY of other days, which were pleasant
ones, when / know and feel that am sit
ting on the same old stage that / appear
ed on so long ago.
There have been changes all around
here since that time. but / am glad to see
that the city has its same character and
its same old glory, the beautiful architec-
ture of its streets, and its lovely spread
ing shade trees. / have always been at
tracted by the singular beauty of both
of these features, and feel that Savan-
nah is one of the most attractive places
in the country. 1t has the beauty of the
olden time architecture, the houses set in
the squares like the old Italian villas, and
its original construction has been main
tanned since it was founded by Gen. Ogle-
thorpe"
Mr.. Jefferson is accompanied by his son,
Mr.. William w. Jefferson, who is a guest
n fIhnnanG 1T No GntA
during his stay in the city. Mr.. Joseph
Jefferson's last appearance here was about
eight or ten years ago when he was with
Billy Florence and Mrs. Drew playing
1.-THE Rivals" There is no doubt that Mr.
Jefferson enjoys his visit to Savannah
where he spent about two months in his
boyhood days on the stage of the Oldest
theater in the United States
Mr.. Padelford, who at one time owned
the Savannah theater, before it went to
the Arkwrights, at one time equipped IL
as an art gallery, and place for the en-
tertainment Of his friends. He filled Il
with pictures and works of art, and mu-
steal and other classes of entertainment
were given there. on one occasion a
young lady, a Savannahian, played so
beautifully on the piano that on the fol-
lowing day Mr.. Padelford sent the piano
to her house, making her a present Of IT,
This story is told by Mr.. William Neville
and who on many occasions enjoyed his
hospitality.
The audience before which Mr. Jefferson
appeared last night was one of the larg-
est that has been in the theater this sea-
son. Every seat in the lower part of the
house was taken, and people lined the
aisles. 1t was an audience which proba-
bly, no other actor than jefferson could
have drawn. Rip Van Wrinkle, the veteran
actors favorite play, in which he has been
seen for over thirty years, was presented, |
with the following cast:
Rip Van Wrinkle. ..........Joseph Jefferson |
Derrick Won Beekman ....Mr. John Jack
CockelS ..........-...........M w. Winter |
Nick Vedder ...........Mr. Walter Howard |
Stein ....................Mr Dudley Mccain |
Clavsen .................Mr. Charles Duval |
Gretchen, Rips wife,. Miss Mary Shaw |
Little Meenle Little Virgie |
Little Hendrch ................L Lola Dryden |
Marguerite ..............M Miss Florence Hall |
Kathleen Miss Florence Robertson |
Mr.. Jefferson Is supported by a capable |
company. While he Is the central figure |
the other members Of the cast shared the /
honors with him. Mr. Jefferson was |