The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-01
ALL KNOW HIM.
Pop Siddons Is Popular Among
Vaudeville Performers.
He's The Stage Door Keeper at Kslth's,
and Has Had Varied Experience.

ABOUT the llnle the various performers
in the new weeks bill at Keiths are en-
tering for rehearsal, you are sure 10
hear as you pass the stage door the
words, why, hello, Pom"
And II you remain until all have
passed I'm. it's nine chances out OF ten
that you will hear that same saluta-
tion, in one form or another from six
out of every seven performers who en-
ter the house.
Pop" is character. and "A very good
one at that: and he is known by that
familiar title far and wide throughout
the country. From Maine 10 California
and Canada TO Texas there is scarcely
theatre, ana there are very few pro
fessionals," 10 which or TO. whom his
name and face are unknown; and when,
i'm the eyer-changing round of con-
tinuance performance vaudeville pro-
grams, one after another performer
comes TO Providence, Pops" face. one
of the earliest 10 greet them, is always
n welcome sight, and one that never
falls 10 revive pleasant memories, for
no one has aught but a good word, and
very hearty one at that, to say for
Pop" Siddons, the stage doorkeeper at
Keith's.
Many a performer who grasps his
hand as he enters has played i'm COM
pany or which he was manager or pro-
proprietor, or perhaps stage manager,
or props" or advance" and all agree
that he was always the same dear old
Pop, generous straightforward,
shrewd, genial and true. AS an advance
agent Of the old school, in which hard
work, pluck, untiring energy and
'smartness," combined with tact and
genialty, were the requisites, rather
than the modern requirements of wear
ing good clothes, smoking fine cigars
and putting on a front" Pop Sid
dons has for many years been known as
able to give cards and spades 10 the
best OF them and Beat them out easily
at that.
"Oh. / tell you they used to have TO
work in the old days" said he. Some
OF the vaudeville people OF today COM
plain Of their hard work. but they don't
know what work is Why, at the old
Bowery theatre in New York, back in
the sos, the stock company used 10
have a change OF bill every night in
the week, and they used TO play from
two 10 four or five different pieces each
night the shows often not letting out
till 1880 or 2, and even 2:30, in the
morning.
And think of it. in order 10 do that.
those actors had to learn not less than
twenty-one different parts each week
and rehearse them and play them. That
was work worth talking about, / tell
you"
Pop" began his professional career 55
years ago, when in Sands A. Lants cir
Gus, on the site OF the old Bowery the
atre, he was the boy who rode standing
on the shoulders OF Dan Gardner the
most famous clown OF those halcyon
days, and from his experience in that
line he became a most expert horseman,
and today is still accounted one of the
very best drivers OF tandems and one
of the best managers OF horses general
ly i'm the show business.
From that early start he climbed up
the ladder and, as he describes it, fell
down on the other side and climbed
back again a good many times filling
i'm turn every possible position in con-
nection with the show business general
ly; and now, after all these years of
hard work, of joys and sorrows, of sue
cess and disappontments, feeling that
he has done his share and had his
share, he has settled down TO the more
quiet perhaps less remunerative but
thoroughly congenial and comfortable
position to which many old actors sue
Ceed, of stage doorkeeper, the Cerberus
who stands between the public and the
mysterious realms of deceptive enchant-
ments.
And his experience has fitted him ad-
mrably for the responsible post. He
must be smart and clever indeed who,
unknown 10 him as an employe or per-
former entitled TO admittance. can pass
Pop" Siddons at the stage door OF
Keiths. A short time ago a we'll
dressed gentleman appeared at the
stage door, slid it open and was about
To enter. when he was stopped by q
respectful but firm touch on his arm
and the question, What did you wish
sir?"
II have business inside" was the re-
ply.
What business is IL, sir?"
"Oh l have business on the stage and
in this part of the house"
"Well. sir, | don't know you nor your
business and you can't go I'm here, sir
If you have business i'm the house, you
would better go round 10 the front.
where you will find some one TO attend
to you
Just at this moment another gentle
man, well known To pop" stepped up
and, extending his hand to the gentle
man with business i'm the house." said:
How do you do Mr.. Keith"
The picture may easily be imagined.
but can hardly be described Pop" at
first taken aback recovered himself,
and was about TO offer an apology,
when his employer. whom he had not |
previously met, checked him with the
remark: You were quite right. sir,
and no apologies are needed for SO
faithful and proper performance OF
duty"
The merits and virtues, some authen-
tic, some debatable and many apoch-
ryphal. OF the stage doorkeeper" have
been sung in song and story. and even
depicted on the stage. and invariably
in uncouth, crusty irritable exterior.
sometimes tempered by a benevolent |
nature beneath this crust is the strik-
ing feature; but in the case OF Pop"
Siddons this description does not apply. |
He knows how 90 be severe and court
eous In the same breath. how to be
firm and kindly i'm combination. and
above all how always 10 De the gentle |
man under all circumstances and cv-
cry kind Of provocation. and a warmer
or more generous heart not only for
tho profession" but far all humanity
does not beat than that OF dear old
Pop
1t Is probably safe 10 say that not
elsewhere I'm New England at least Is
there a stage doorkeeper whose mind Is
so richly stored with "reminiscences of
the stage. OF famous actors and plays,