The San Francisco call., 1899-06-25

less prove of great benefit and interest
to the theatrically inclined of our young
Californians.
GRACIE PLA1STED.
Why did l go on the stage? Because it
was necessary for me 10 do something. |
was educated at Mills College, and had
for my vocal teacher Alfred Kelleher OF
this city. He always said L had a good
voice, and after my father failed in busi-
ness suggested the srage as a means of
supporting myself l made my first ap-
pearance with the old California stock
company in a fantastical play called A
Trip to the Moon playing the part OF
the girl to Alice Harrisons Prince Cap
rice l married soon after that. and gave
up the profession. v hen my little girl
was year old my husbands failing
health made it necessary for me to again
go on the stage and 1t was not until then
that I fully made up my mind to adopt
the stage 1t was then that | appeared
with Emile Melville.
EDWIN STEVENS.
Like great many ether people. I turn
ed to the stage when everything else
seemed to have failed. | was at one time
superintendent of a mine in Arizona. but
the Indians drove us cut of the country,
and / came to the city without cent.
1 was supposed to possess a good voice,
and so some of my friends secured me
position with the Alice Oates Opera Gem
pany at salary per month haTdly equal
to my former one per week. However, l
stuck to it, and after q year or hard luck
struck paying gravel.
WILLIAM WOLF.
Mr. Wolf made his first public appear
ance in the identical part which he is now
Ed bmes of of SSsPaTad the s TIsf Of
all" said Mr. Wolf, Il was church sing
er and appeared in opera with an amateur
company that was giving 4 Deneht Tor the
gave me a recommendation TO the Holmes
Opera Company. and made my debut
with them as Alexis in 'Sonnambula. l
had no intention of making the stage a
professionals was in a way forced upon
me- Ny opportunities were so good that
It would have been folly to refuse them.
hundred and twenty operas. The first
comedy part | ever p!ayed was lha' oI
Dick Deadeye.'
EDWARD MORGAN.
Mr.. Morgan is an exception to the, gen
eral rule He didn't fall in love with the
in so many other things. Said he: Il
decided to go on the stage after falling,
or thinking | had failed in SO many other
things Ny first part was with Mr.. Froh-
mans original Shenondoah company some
nine years ago. Mr. Miller played the
leading part. l was the man who brought
the morse on ana my OWL me went
thing like this. L was instructed to show
them through the lines. and [ was cheeky
enough to ask Mr.. Miller what he thought
of my performance We often laugh over
it now" 1t is a long step from the man
who brought on the horse to the crea-
tor of the part of John Storms in The
Christian"
FRED NIBLO.
How did l come to go on the stage?
Well. ever since | can remember | have
wanted to act. You see it happened in
this wise. ! was for a long time an eX-
pert accountant with the New York Life
Insurance Company. l belonged to sew
eral large clubs in that city, among others
the Century Wheelmen. One evening
they gave a stag smoker and engaged
very prominent minstrel to entertain the
members. For some reason he did not
arrive, and the boys begged me to blacken
up and take the place, which | did.
suppose | must have made success, for
] was besieged by all the clubs in town.
| gave up my position and became what
is known as a society entertainer. From
that 1 drifted into the vaudeville.
DENNIS O'SULLIVAN.
Originally I had no intention of adopting
the stage After my fathers estate was
settled went to Europe to study. When
had worked for a while | began to ap-
pear at "at homes" and concerts. On one
occasion Mr.. Rosa of the Carl Rosa Com