The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-12
JAMES B. ROBERTS,
The Oldest American
Actor, Now Long
Retired.
HE is A SPRIGHTLY old MAN.
The Modern School Does
Not Compare With
the Old"

In these days, when New York is
recognized as the centre of the Amer
lean theatrical world, it is hard to real
ice that less than half century ago
that city occupied the second, if not
the third, place in the business of the
theatre
philadelphia at that time was reck-
oned the Mecca Of the engagementless
actor, as well as the goal to which the
successful members of the profession
Journeyed in order to gain if possible,
the stamp of approval from the most
critical American audiences. Reputa-
tions were made there, new plays We're
produced there, and in the offices of
the quiet old city the plans were form
ulated for all of the important pro-
auctions of the time, The most famous
stars OF the period played at the Ma
tlonal, the Arch Street and the Walnut
street theatres, supported by the stock
companies, in which organizations
We're many noVices who, in later years,
became noted men and women in the
arfstocracy of the stage This epoch
or Philadelphia'S dramatic empery was
an important one in the history of the
American theatre, and the effect of the
training received there by the younger
players may be traced down almost to
the present day With the passing
however, of such oldtime players as
Joseph Alfred Smith and Sarah A.
Baker, the traditions of that period are
rapidly disappearing from the STAGE
and now there are but half dozen
men and women living who are quail
fed to pass down to the younger gem
Grafton the manners and customs of
what may be termed the PHILADELPHIA
school of the drama.
One of the foremost of this little
coterie of survivors is James Booth
Roberts, who is the oldest American
actor. He has long been retired from
active work on the stage, and the audi
ences of today might not recognize his
name if 1t appeared on a program, but
among the members of the profession
in Philadelphia and New York he is
admired for his brilliant past career
and venerated for his years. He is a
sprightly old man, with gray-blue,
tWinkling eyes, and although time has
set its seal upon his face it has spared
the mind and heart of the aged actor
the many Ills that it too frequently be-
slows. He is Still far more energetic
than many persons of half his years,
and at the age of 81 he employs every
hour of the day in teaching to others
the art that he pursued himself with
honor and distinction He is the in
structor in elocution at the theological
seminary of Saint Charles Borromeo
in Philadelphia, giving to The church
the benefit of the theatres training,
and, in his little home in one of Phila-
delphia's quiet streets. he instructs
many aspirants for stage honors in the
etchnique of the actors art
He was born on Sept. o. 1918, at the
town of Newcastle, Del. MY child
hood" said he, was passed there and
in the academy of my native town [
began my education. l say began adj
visedly, because although 1 have stud
led for nearly four score years 1 will
not yet declare that I have completed
my education. At the age of twelve
became chemists assistant in Phila-
delphia and for the next five years I
lived in company with bottles, tubes,
drugs and odors. During my leisure
moments I used to stand, as was the
custom then, in the doorway of the
shop. From that point of vantage I
watched the world go by, and to me the
most interesting figure In it then was
Joseph Alfred Smith. He used to pass
along blithely with mysterious bundle
done up in newspapers under his arm
He used also to humble to himself as
he walked. l surmised that the bundle
contained his costume and that the
words that he muttered belonged in the
play of the evening. envied him as
only one boy may envy another; but he
was FIVE years my senior, and the social
ethics of boyhood prevented me from
counting friendship with him. However,
though we did not exchange a word
ct salutation, Joe Smith was daily
incentive to me [ dreamed of the thea
tire while occupied with my routine
duties; and as best l might, l pre-
pared myself for a dramatic career.
I'm 1896, when / was sixteen years old,
had an opportunity to appear in pub
lie for the first time, at the Walnut