The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-07
TO BEGIN HIS NEW CAREER.
Brock BeclSwith to Leave for New
York ON Aug. IL.


Mr.. J. F. Brockenborough Reclvitb Of
savannah, but well known all over the
state, will leave here the first of next
week for New York to begin his career
before the footlights, in which his first
Introduction will be before a New York
audience
His father was known in New York and
in many Southern states as a great ora
tor it is the ambition of Mr. Beckwith.
upon whom much of his fathers talent in
TINS direction is conferred, 10 become
known as a great actor. Mr. Beckwith
as has been announced. is to have leading
roles with the James HI jder-W arde com
olnaton, new and promising venture of
MeSsrs Wagenhalls and Kemper, an ag-
sregation OF stars with whom he was for
tunate i'm securing an engagement He
goes TO New York thus early in the sea-
son Tor the purpose Of getting in shape
a costly wardrobe for Shakespearean char
acters, and for some of the Old school
comedies, as Lady of Lyons" school for
Scandal" and other of that class which
Will be in the repertoire of that comb
nation. Mr.. Beckwith has already had
= several of his parts ASSIGNED him, and
will be ready for the rehearsals which
will begin in New York within a few
days.
The manner in which Mr.. Reckwith Sc
cured his engagement, being assigned i'm
portant parts at the outset of his theatri-
cal career, is an interesting one. His ora
torical talent and powers of expression,
he did Not keep hid under a bushel, but
cheerfully complied with all requests of
his friends here and elsewhere to take
part in entertainments, both public and
private. A few months ago, Jim Shaw,
who knows more actors aud theatrical
managers than any man in the South,
and who is, so to speak, more at home
on the Rialto than in his own town, in
troduced Brock" as he is Familiarity
known, to Mr.. Colin ]. Kemper, who was
then passing through Savannah in charge
of one of his companies. Mr. Beckwith,
then collector of customs of the port of
Savannah took Mr.. Kemper to his Office
in the custom house and at the latter's
request read for him for several hours.
Mr.. Kemper spoke most highly of his
work, and the result was a partial en-
gagement then and there. and on Mr..
Kemper's return to New York he wrote
making Mr.. Beckwith an out and out
offer, which was promptly accepted.
The combination with which Mr.. Beck
with begins his career is composed of
Louis James and Fred Warde, the we'll
known dramatic actors, and Kathryn Kid
der, substituted for Nine. Rhea, who has
left the stage, and whose powers are said
to surpass even those of Rhea. Miss Kid
der is said to have spent more money
upon her wardrobe than any other woman
in the profession. The repertoire will in
clude besides the plays mentioned, "Othel-
To-" Julius Caesar" Hamlet" MAC
BETH" "The Marble Heart" and perhaps
others. Some of Mr. Beckwith's friends
have suggested that it would be a draw
ing card in the South to append his name
and let the posters in blue, red and green,
read James Kidder- Warde-Beckwith COM
bination." They all predict his success,
and trust that the combination and
Brock" may soon be seen in the South.