The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19
AMERICAN <CrORs IN ENGLAND
The "Invesion" Began More Than . Cen
tury AEo-Its Triumphs and Failures.

Tho Invasion" Began More Than q Cen
tury AEo-Its Triumphs and Failures.
John Sleeper Clark. who died rcce ntly In Epr-
land left q fortune OF more than $500 600 Of
which the greater part was earned in the country
Of his adoption. This incident came as timely
proof Of the assertion that American actors have
made money in England and gained there some
thing besides artistic renown. Sir Henry Irving,
on the day Of his arrival here. named Edwin
Booth, Mary Anderson and Nat Goodwin as act
ors who had really made their visits to London
profitable The charge that many American
actors had met with only artistic success came
from tho ll-advised boasts made Of the profits
Of some plays and actors that have recently gone
from this country 10 London. II IL doubtless
true that many Of them did not appeal strongly
TO the popular taste OF London audienoes and
not all OF them could have been expected 10 TO
ocivc patronage equal 10 that given 70 the plays
acted by local favohtcs
Not all OF the American productions In England
have made money nor have all OF them lost IL
Is usually safe 10 Judge from the length Of tine
an actor remains in a place whether he and his
managers nnd II profitable Sometimes the run
| Of play may be prolonged after the performances
cca'c To pay cash. for business purposes, but a.
rule. this criterion Ia a. good as any 70 Judge By.
The question Of American actors profits In Eng
land Is not 70 b settled entirely by the export
enoes Of the few who have been going there dur.
Ing the past few years; William Gillette. Annie
o osir.i; MIS- d hss Y Sar,ser MT and Mn Ma
abroad. .bl, followed IN the footsteps q long
two countries interchsneed their talent long Be.
forc the American invasion was heard OF.
wntet In the uncera,n nod OF stage sts y. s.
been seen on ,he London stage He think. tbss
he -hf ola Dax-
John Howard Payne acted In London. nrst q
Finn Bibby and a Mira Young, ali Of whom
made favorable impression. u there yas no
y. vas with The sdven, Of James H. Haekes
IN England that attention was attracted 70 The
q lis scissE%a. shs %oshs! e County, Hssgs
went 10 London In 1927 and ono feature OF his
EnsS T One h y hs 81 p:
that Of koan. which was so effective that DO afteS-
ward ID ssvc sp eri9w ma Of an entire trasSdy
almost unprecedented dramatic experiment, IL said
70 hsy. INC, with a success which ought. 70 en-.
@ s " n, LONDON
i've years later and represented the nrst type q
This was 10 e Ensiish farce called iss' who ' want:
Guinea modified n suit his purposca Hack
ct, returned !. TO England in 1850 and 1875, and
He was the Gr.s man % aet rip Van WinElel h
England
/, u Rice, who wen, there In November 1854
made great success with his lin Grow dance
but soon went TO the Adephi, whero for twenty
ono weeks he acted in "A Flight 70 America or
Twelve Hours in New York. His profits for
this engagement amounted Ia moro than 800.
which was larger sum throo scoro years ago
than u II now He came back " London two
years later and resumed his success Imitators
o! Hnckcti AMI Rico followed them later but
none OF these men cnioved the same success
Edwin Forrest attn buted his unaattering ~
cep'ion. on bis second visit TO the inirigues OF
Macready. John Owen. with his Soior Shfucie
and barrel. al apple sauce, did not appeal
10 English taste Neither did Lolita Crabtree
when she visited there some years later. Min
ME Palmer; who was an imin'lr OF her style.
had preceded her. and a. usual the public 40
original. Her failure was also attributed TO in
trig 80 against her by some Of her compatriots
IN London. Joseph Jefferson was successful in
London from every viewpoint and might return
now with equally gratifying results II he cared
Ia. Charles Thorre, In a lesser grade. WAS liked
and patroniyed there. even II John T RAYMOND
and Henry f. DlNcy were ton national in their
methods 10 appeal 10 London taste Probably
they would meet with different reception to-
day they returned
Tho relations between London and New York
are much closer now, and the fun of the two cities
In more readily understood. The advantage in
profits is much more ON the side Of the English
American actors, in London To- equaliZe that diff
ference But tho list mentioned here. while il
does not include all the American actors Of disnc
ton who have sought success in England, goes
10 show that some have found their artistic and
financial success TO considerable extent