Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-07

Win the opening month OF the year tho
theatrical season reaches its height and
regular play-g oers who have for months
been awaiting the coming OF the big" at
fractions with anxious expectancy are on
the verge Of having their desires for meri-
torious amusement gratiGed. During the
last week a noticeable Improvement in the
quality OF attractions was evident at both
theaters and the week opening today prom
Uses several more good things.
or course, the engagement OF the Bos-
tonians was the notable event OF the last
week. For as much as twenty years the
visit Of this splendid organization to Omaha
has been an annual affair and is always
anticipated with a great deal OF pleasure
not only by the play-going public. but by
those as well who rarely ever attend the
theater, unless II be to see the Bostonlans,
Sol Smith Russell or some others OF the
good old-timcrs who have by dint Of per-
sistent efforts and honest dealing with the
public gained a confidence never to he
shaken and a place in the hearts Of all
amusement lovers.
with the intention OF beginning the now
year Alright, the dramatic editor spent the
greater part Of its first day In "tidying up"
his den Old cabinets needed cleaning
put, their contents having long since served
their days OF usefulness, piles Of papers
which had found a resting place on top Of
them for years were awaiting consignment
10 the waste basket and different shelves
within, filled with books and pamphlets.
were ready to be relieved of their ancient
burdens. 1t was from one Of the latter that
n roll of papers, yellow with age, acciden-
tally fell to the floor, while others were be-
ing removed; the rubber band encircling the
bundle crumbled away and allowed its con-
tents to spread over the floor. The writer
started to gather them up with the inten-
ton OF giving them a final resting place in
the wastepaper basket, when the following.
printed in bold-face type across the front
of one of them, caught his eye: Engage
ment of the Boston Ideal Opera Company
December 4, 8, 6 and Z, 1882"
1t proved to be a program used at the
old Boyd's opera house eighteen years ago.
Further inspection revealed the fact that the
entire roll of papers consisted of a collection
OF ancient theatrical programs probably
slowed away and forgotten by some one Of
The Bees former dramatic editors.
The program referred to proved to be that
of The Pirates of Penzance,' which was
at that time included in the repertoire OF
the Boston Ideals, long since called the Bos-
tonians. The engagement was for six per
formances and the programs for the other
five performances when sorted from the lot
proved to be those Of 9TH Musketeers,' -
1.-The Bohemian Girl" "Fatinitza' and THE
Marriage of Figaro" two performances hav-
ing been given of the latter. Prominent in
the cast OF each of the above now old-time
favorite operas were the following names:
Henry Clay Barnabee, Tom Karl, w. II.
Macdonald, George rockingham, II. w.
Whitney, Marie Stone, Mary Beebe, Geral-
dine Ulmer, Mathilda Phillips, Lizzie Bur
ton, Fanny Rice, Herndou Morsell, A, F.
Nichols, Louise LeBlanche and others, the
majority Of whom would only be remem-
bered by theater-goers of those, the first OF
Omaha's theatrical days, who are still alive,