Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06
SQUIRE LoNNIE GRAVES.

i.F So years or age, ne hIst PuN -
.--sarance at the stage door OF the hlch-
rror5 Theatre. passed beyond the porlals'
- ,,o3e his acquaintance with that por-
zion 90 "a playhouse when can appear
t..r.,frl al night when the stage is set
"a ,re footnghts are up. but which, I'M
e. ,ba light OF day. is but dreary
49, showing the implanted side OF the
i.. d., strong contrast with that turned
toward the front
rus. FIRST DAYS EXPERIENCE.
r. was almost with a feeling OF awe
~ the lad walked about the great Darh-
Ike place on this bis first DAY "heh nc
go, .ctrallv one of those who was TO
assist in carrying out the performance u
us evening. 1t was not q very RESPONSE
ne rosition ne held, IL is true-ohS as
s.stert property boy-but, then, he was
,-s m The 'stage hands" and he felt
,.r, important as he mingled with the
men often endangering his life by walk
,,- beneath a rapidly descending drop
curtain or barely escaping beng causn0
between the fats IL was the most con-
4.s.nr place he had ever been In. voices
cam. from everywhere, ropes oahsIeu
st.rt him. scenes few past him, curtains
.-,ore3 ON him. and he only lodged one
y, -.t in the way Of another. a Few
ssvs however. and he began to feel more
b.. home and could stand in one spot
Liner than q minute without being COM
PEELED to dodge something. -
Id the DAYS went by young Graves
s,,,rs himself more and more at home IN
tt. new position. He stuck 10 the WORK.
and "a few wears found him occupying the
POSITION Of property nan. lie gave up
handling props" to assume the uuueS
a. stage carpenter. and as the natter ne
served al the Richmond Theatre rom
N3 TO lSs2. with the exception OF Tour
years. when he was on the roao III
similar capacity. Mr. Graves came "
the Academy of Music as stage IhaHasei
ln ls9. and has ever since occupleu 'n@'
position. .,.o.
end anecdotes of life behind the scenes
al b. v,itnessed many interesting little
incidents in which some or the eIeS'e
sotors this country has known nave Deeh
rart,clpants. and which only those De-
hind tine footlights have had the oppor-
t1n.ty Of seeing.
,rps POWELI,s STOCK COMPANY.
Dispatch man found Squire Graves
among his flats and drops on the ACADEMY
stage the other day, and the stage man.
ager greeted the scribe with pieasan'
nod as he concluded some Instructions "
bis sub0Idinates. and then goihso sio
rsWs-ratherer in the wings. The squire
v,s I'm a communicative mood, and the
conversation drifted TO his varied eXpe-
r'aroas behind the scenes. Mr.. Graves
fa1 he first became connected with the
Richmond Theatre in the days wheh TINS
city was not considered such goou
stand" and onlg struggling companies
put IN an appearance from time 10 time.
Ms Powell took charge OF the play
house I'm 1871. and1her stock company was
formed In that year. In this company
were. among others, Mr.. and Mrs. FRANK
Moves Mr.. and Mrs Eberle. Mrs. Brown-
ing. j. y. Brown, William GilDert' anu
Mrs Davenport. The stock company va
Continued during that season, and was
assisted in many OF their productions py
Some OF the leading stars or tnat uay'
among whom were Frank Chahirau' Eu-
win Adams. lane Hosmer, Mrs. ChanfIau'
y J.. Davenport, +. A. Sothern' Robert
NcWade. Charlotte Thompson, and ADA
Gray.
RAYMOND's SUPERSTITION.
Speaking Of the superstitions Of some
O. the well-known actors, Mr.. Graves
said that he remembered distinctly one
night when the comedian. John 4. nay
mond. opened an engagement at the
tchmond Theatre In The woman
Hater" When Mr. Raymond came on
The stage that evening just before tiine
70 ring I'D the curtain. he stopped SUD
denly. and. pointing TO man stanolhs
81 the opposite wing, exclaimed: MY Gou,
cross-eyed man; put him out, quick
Graves 20 whom the remark We du-
dressed, looked in the direction lhuica.ou'
and saw that the actor referred to- the |
scenic artist OF the house. He went oNe'
70 that functiOnary. however, ana Dut-
ting 10 as gently as possible, asked MN
y he would mind stepping or the stage
for awhile as Mr. Raymond was very |
nervous that evening, and could not pear
70 see any one on tho boards other than
he members Of his company. me Scenic
trlist accommodated the comedian py re-
moving himself from his sight put ne
mumbleo that IT was id funhy 10
orive the scenic artist .of the house OH
ne stage"
HURRIED FOR THE BIER"
The stage manager told good one
On himself, the incident having occurFeu
when he was working props In his cary
Gays Kate Fisher was playing "Mazep-
pa and just before the scene IN whicn
hhe Is discovered PROSTATE after pei
perilous rioe, and IL carried or the stage,
Graves was ordered to hurry up anu
get that bier" what beer?" he asked.
haven't got any beer on my piot
That's all right; you had better be se
ing II mighty quick" was the commane'
graves rushed 20 the property-roon,
grabbed pitcher. and the next minute
sAs out Of the stage dooss sovn 'he