The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-19
COMEDIAN FOX.
He Talks About The Opening Of Mr..
Keith's Theatre Here.
Many Well Known Actors and Actresses
Among Those Who Attended


times TO be working again i'm Mr..
Kelth's beautiful theatre in Provi-
dence," said John c. Fox, the come
dian, this morning. IL well remember
the time when Mr.. Keith first opened
his theatre i'm this city. IL was called
the Gaiety then. believe; and IL wasn't
then one of the most beautiful play
houses i'm the world. as it is today. For
those days, however, IL was very
pretty house; and from the time when
il first passed into Mr.. Keith's control
IL has been a pleasure that has actually
been sought by actors everywhere To
play i'm il.
Il shall never forget the opening per-
formance under Mr. Keiths manage
ment. / was there. and | could name
you long string OF actors and actress
es, either then famous or who have
since become so. who were i'm the au-
dience. In fact, the audience was made
up altogether OF professional people.
And don't believe that this theatre or
any other in Providence has ever con-
tanned such an appreciative audience /
had never seen its like before and hard
ly expect TO again. Why, they nearly
took the roof off. 1t wasn't like a
.hoodlum- audience -aFiTes--you
nearly crazy by its tumultuous evil
dences OF enjoyment and delight Oh,
no, that audience knew it's business, l
tell you. Those professionals knew their
man too well TO indulge i'm anything
but the most decorous manifestations
OF unalloyed happiness and satisfaction;
but they were terribly in earnest and
vigorous to a degree.
Those were the days when variety
or vaudeville as Il has now become
through Mr.. Keith's elcvating and re-
fining policy, was about all there was
in a theatrical way ia Providence; and
Of that opening audience of about a
hundred persons, more than sixty were
variety performers all Of whom had. OF
course. worked their names for free
admission. It's an old saying that dead
heads are always the most sparing in
applause and the most savage i'm criti-
cism; but NOT SO i'm that case. We per-
formers knew our business, tell you.
Lottie ellison clapped her hands until
her kid gloves were little more than
rags. while Sam Bernard raised blistcrs
on his broad palms and Dick Knowles
removed his two diamond rings because
they hurt his fingers when he tried 10
outdo me in the Vigor OF his applause
Little things like that didn't count
though, for we were looking further
ahead than the discomforts of a few
days. Some of them, though, couldn't
hold out on the hand-clapping as well
as the rest of us; and Kittie Allyne,
Al Reeves. Fred Ruber, Charlie Nc
Donald, who is here this week i'm the
team Of Conroy and Mcdonald. and
Milt Aborn devoted their attention TO
laughter. Such uproarious laughter
you never heard. IL woke the echoes,
as they say tell yeH.-aHd- between
the applause and the laughter the thea
tire walls must have Vibrated, while the
performers on the stage were almost
cfE oil n fsac h., fakar
ments of quiet that were permitted
them in which to speak their lines.
AT the end of one of the acts OF the
opera which formed a part OF the per-
formance. we united i'm a most insistent
call for Mr.. Keith; and finally he re-
sponGed with one of the neatest little
speeches imaginable. addressed to the
public. as he supposed we were, know
ing nothing of our presence at the time.
not being able readily to recognize us
from the stage. Then we all filed ont,
and, well knowing that he would soon
learn who we were, adjourned to the
City Hotel. where we held a council of
war. on motion of Lottie ellison. II
was voted unanimously, after a ringing
speech by Sam Bernard, that hence
forth every one OF us should insist upon
a raise OF ten dollars i'm our salary
whenever we worked for Mr.. Keith, as
we all felt shat we had fully earned il
by the send-off' we had given his new
venture.
"Of course, he knew nothing Of the
conspiracy; and if this ever happens TO
come to his ears now, I'll wager IL will
be a revelation TO him. As a matter
of fact. however, | believe the conspir-
acy worked 10 a charm, every one OF
US standing by the agreement and get
ting the extra ten. I'm really kind Of
ashamed of IL now, though, for there
ic n " hot
formers and public owe go noe
Mr. Keith, who has created pVssibili-
ties FOR both that no other manager ev-
er dreamed of. or, dreaming Of had the
courage or ability to conceive and exc
cute.
II never come 60 Providence though
without thinking OF that time and per-
haps the fun that is associated with
the recollection explains 10 some extent
my fondness for Providence, which is
one of my favorite Cries, and which
always gives my wife and myself so
cordial a reception and such generous
treatment OF our efforts 10 amuse and
any cucty rJrrtt CTtt PT0vT TTnCe audi
ences cold And. by the way. perhaps
YOU didn't know that il was i'm Provi-
deuce. and by myself at the San Suuci
garden. that for the first time on any
stage the so-called Chestnut bell was
introduced. Since then. IL has been
rung a good many times with signi-
icant effect and perhaps as frequently
on the stories OF actresses lost Jewels
as on anything.
And that reminds me that both my
wife ond myself lost some golden op-
portunities OF that kind. Before our
marriage. when she vas Katie Allen
In private as we'll as in public she was
in a railroad hOldup i'm Texas and yet
saved all her belongings There was a
good advertising opportunity lost, you
see. Less than two years ago we were
both in that daring train robbery on
the Chicago ana Alton road six miles
east OF Kansas city, and though We
were prosperous enough TO really have
some diamonds, watches and jewelry OF
considerable value. we didn't lose
cents worth. so there was another
great chance lost for lot OF free ad-
vertiSing.
I'VE had quite an experience. though.
had tust returned 90 my wife from
the smoker when the holdup occurred
Quick as a fash | put all our money
in our valise while my wife concealed