Evening star., 1897-05-29

the Columbia Stock Company, is one actor
who has resisted all the invitations of
hangers to go into vaudeville. Owing to
his reputation a creator of character
bits as well as his ability as stage mana
ger, he was in great demand. and had sew
eral excellent offers from New York mana
gers Of music halls and vaudeville cir
cults But Mr. Bergman's heart is wrapped
up in the legitimate. and he takes far-
sighted view of the situation.
Il am willing to concede that many better
and more famous actors than 1 have gone
into vaudeville, some of them with sue
cess. But I have yet to see any of them
return to their former rank as regular
PLAYERS Furthermore, / am inclined to be-
lieve that when they try to do so they Will
find the step they have taken easier to
make than to retrace. OF course, to a
young and comparatively unknown actor
IT dces not matter. and he stands chance
of making name in a new i:ne But L
am talking about the big cards, such as
Maurice Barrymore, for instance. noted
leading man, and an cx-star. Not that MS
appearing in vaudeville will degrade him
personally or -artistically; 1t Is simply
financial matter. People VINO nave seen
BARRYMORE for "A quarter will not put up
NJ0 to him as a star again: II Is an
axiom in theatrical matters that Whe2
so it must remain. The public memory is
very tenacious on this point, as many VINO
have tried the experiment OF lowering an.
then raising prices know Accordingly as
I saw / am waiting to see how some Oh
these vaudeville stars succeed when tney
try to return to the regular stage, anu
until some one is successful, this Is good
enough for me-.
II have been twenty-five years door
keeper at the National Theater SAID MI;
VIM II. Romaine the other night anu L
think that is the longest record OF any
doorkeeper at one house in this city
commenced my Work in that line al What
is now the Bijou TheateT. when II was
opened by the late John T. Ford. under
the name of Ford's Opera House. III you
remember" continued Mr.. Roma.ne. that
house was used as variety theater our
ing the war. and then IL was taken by 1ts
owner the late WIN. Wall. and run under
the name of Walls Opera House Then
the building was burned down, and When
the Isesent structure was erected IL was
first leased by Mr.. Ford There were some
notable performances at that old house
Salvini made his first appearance IN TINS
CITY there and Laura Keene and John T..
Owens did their last work mere on that
stage. Gerster first heard In opera
there and so was Gianini, the tenor. Mr.
Ford opened with Joseph Jefferson. VINO
did big business Later John sleeper
Clarke played an engagement there. anu
1t was at that house that Gilbert and Sui
Hvan's operas, fPinafore, Pirates and
Patience first saw the light In TINS city.
After leaving the Opera House L went In
1872 to the National Theater, where nave
remained ever since-'
Manager Luckett of the Columbia Thea
ter is not afraid of hot weather; neither
are any of his patrons who were present
at the opening of ''Niobe' last Monday
night 1t will be remembered that the day
was excessively sultry, and Mr.. Luckett,
ar ticipating hot, sitting night. thought
1t a good time to inaugurate the new cool
ing apparatus which he has provided Tor
the summer season
Accordingly he ordered several tons of
ice and stored them in the basement reser-
weir through which all the air that Is
pumped into the auditorium by the electric
fans first passes The engineer was IN
structed to put the fans to work two hours
before the time for opening the doors. and
Mr.. Luckett went home to dinner, calmly
confident that he would have the house
ocol and comfortable.
But at 6 O'Clock the rain came down, and
Sc did the mercury. The result was a
chilly evening outside and no need of arti-
fetal means to cool any house. Mr.. Luck
EFT hurried back to the theater. and when
he poked his nose into the auditorium he
nearly had it frostbitten- The theater had
the temperature of a cold storage plant.
Then Mr. Luckett had TO shut off the fans
and start the steam heaters before he
could get the house back to normal tenn
WINGED him that his cooling plant is sue
cess, and he fears no hot spells this sum-
nler.
Al Lipman. leading man of the Columbia
Stock Company. was a member of the orig
inal American cast of The Private Secre-
tary at the Madison Square Theater. New
fork, nearly ten years ago He played the
part of Douglas Cattermore, with Mr. LIE
Moyne as his choleric East Indian uncle.
Little Thornton was the first and to my
mind the best Rev. Robert Spaulding In
this country" says Mr.. Lipman, "and the
way he used TO say DO you know would
Set me to laughing long after the novelty
OF the thing had worn Off Gillette couldn't t
touch him..
Mr. Bert Riddle is in the city, having
successfully piloted Mrs. Robert Downing
(Eugenie Blair) in her starring tour. 1t is
not impossible that he may organize a
summer stock company. Last year his
venture of that kind was a paying one
Little Sadie Lee. who did the Bat dance
at Professor Caruanas recent exhibit
showed remarkable proficiency for one SO
young Her costume was rich and appro-
PIRATE, and all her movements were exc
euted gracefully.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
Paul Jones', with a most attractive
cast and Eew and gorgeous scenery vii
be given at the Lafayette next week by
the Castle Square Opera Company. Lizzie
Macnlchol takes the title role, and as the
famous naval revolutionary hero she will
undoubtedly be warmly greeted. Miss
Macnichol is said by many to rival Agne:
Huntington as Paul Jones' and since Mis-:
Huntington retired some years ago M
artist has attempted 10 assume that diff
cult part until Miss Macnichol appeared II
II IN Philadelphia some months ago where
the piece as revived by the Castle Squar.
Company. Joseph Shechan. who has beer
playing NanktP Poo in The Mikado' thi.
week. will take the part of the Spanish
wal officer. Rufino de Martinez in Pau
Jones' Miss Alice LIGHTER, who ha
proved decided favorlte here will b.
Yvonre- Don Trocadero. the Spanish gov
ernor. will be Mr.. Maurice Able. He 4
well equipped to prove very popular a
the eccentric Spanish nobleman. Bouilla
baise. the hard-drinking and funny oil,
smuggler. will be presented by Mr.. Viii
liam Wolf. and the smuggler's rantin
wife, Chopinette. will be played by Mis-
Bessie Fairbairn, who made a great sue
cess in this character in the production o
the opera in Philadelphia. Mr.. William
Schuster will be the ST. Malo ship chandler
Biscoquet. and Mr.. Arthur Lieblee til
Yankee skipper They are both excellen
artists. and good work may be expected O
them Petit Pierre, the fisher lad. will b
taken by Mr.. Arthur Wooley. Miss Ciar;
Selton. who has proven herself goo
actress and excellent singer. will appea