The Anaconda standard., 1899-06-05
BUTTE NEWS.
GOSSIP OF THE THEATERS
Walsh Mcdowell Engagement at
the Grand.
1T CLOSES THE SEASON
A Few Attractions Booked for the Sum-
mer Mon ths-One of Roland Reeds
Unique Experiences in
st. Louis.
1T CLOSES THE SEASON

The Walsh -MacDowell engagement,
which will begin at the Grand next Thurs
day, will practically close the Butte sea-
son. A few other attractions are booked
and will appear during the summer, but
after this week the house will be da' X
for some time.
The sale of seats for the Walsh-Mac-
Dowell engagement will begin this morn
ing and there will be a rush for them.
The engagement is for four nights and
Saturday matinee and the indications are
that the opera house will be crowded at
each performance. For Thursday and
Sunday nights and the Saturday matinee
the play will be LA Tosca," and Friday
and Saturday nights Fedora
During one of my visits to st. Louis"
said Roland Reed yesterday, 81 expert
enced that unusual and creepy sensation
of hearing my own death discussed. After
the performance at the opera house went
with a friend or two to cafe near by to
get a drink--a cup of coffee. While stand
ing at the bar overheard a conversation
between two other men.
"'Where have you been to-night?' asked
one.
"'What was on?'
Roland Reed
You saw Roland Reed!' exclaimed the
first man.
Yes, certainly
Why, Roland Reed has been dead for
10 years! You saw some rank fake
at made me feel uncomfortable" said
Mr.. Reed in relating the circumstance
land 1 went straight to the hotel and to
bed.
DO you wish to leave calls? asked
the clerk.
No. SIR ! said; L am dead, and you
can send my bill to the executor of my es-
tate.'"
Mr.. Reed also tells a good story on him
self about playing to one-man audience
in Chicago years ago.
1.-The audience occupied a seat on the
aisle in the third row from the front and
I must say that l never played to a more
appreciative audience than he was. Like
a good citizen of Chicago, he went out
between every act. Finally, just before
the last act the doorkeeper stopped him
and told him he could not go in again.
'Wynot? he demanded, with a hic-
cough.
g Well said the door man, you had
better go home now, you are intoxicated.
'Me-hic-tox' 'cated?'
Yes, sir; you are drunk
'Course-hic-I' m dhrunk. Think-hic
If l was sober rd-hic-want go in?'
1.-The doorkeeper allowed him to see the
rest of the show
I. is seldom nowadays that one finds an
actor of sterling abilities who combines
with this trait a faculty for successful
business AS rule, the two qualities are
widely divorced, and when brought to-
gether generally conflict. Yet this is not
the case with Melbourne MacDowell who
a Sta with
Blanche Walsh in repertoire of Sardou
dramas. When it was decided that Miss
Fanny Davenport, through failing health
would be unable to carry out the present
season, Mr.. MacDowell conceived the idea
of reorganizing the company which was
to have supported Miss Davenport secur-
ing new leading woman and placing the
pieces once more before the public.
This was no easy task, for, with the
high reputation attained by the late Miss
Davenport as the only American expo
nent Of the Sardou drama. the possbili-
ties of failure were many and obvious
But this did not daunt Mr.. MacDowell.
He was fully aware of the high place in
the public esteem held by the plays in
question, and realized that with strong
company and a good leading lady back
ed by his long experience and training in
this line of the drama. there were good
prospects of success. So, under the most
trying circumstances, ne mbafked in the
enterprise.
He displayed his first evidence of good,
sound judgment by securing the services
of Blanche Walsh, an actress who
through her own unaided efforts, had made
fol herself high position on the Ameri-
can stage. This selection was made from
a large number of people, the majority of
whom had written earnest applications
for the position.
Then Mr.. MacDowell engaged the differ
ent members of the company with the
greatest care, choosing each for the parts
to be required of them, and then when
the organization was completed, brought
all his knowledge, which was quite extern
sive, to bear at the rehearsals. No one
will ever be able to realize the difficulties
he encountered while bringing this COM
pany to its present high degree of train
ing There are many things regarding the
inner life of professional people which
the public never fathoms, and Mr.. Mac
Dowell had more than his share of trials
But he persevered, as he has all through
his public career, and can now view his
work with no small degree of satisfac-
ton.
Perhaps he does not himself appreciate
all that he has accomplished. He has
maintained the popularity of the Sardou
drama he has given to the theater-going
public productions of a high grade. pre-
sented in a thoroughly competent manner
and his wise selection of Miss Walsh has