The age-herald., 1901-05-19
NaNs and NaNers
BY RlcHAR D NEVILLE.

New York. May 1S.-The work of de-
 molishing Of one of the oldest and best
 known theaters in the city, the Star. has begun, and the famous old playhouse
 will pass out of existence. It was built
 in the early sixties for J. W. Wallack,
 and was known as Wallacks theater for
 generation. It's stock company in It's
 hey day was the greatest in the country,
 and could compare favorably with any
 of the great stock companies abroad. It's founder was proud of the house of Wal
 lack, and with good reason. The organ
 ization of players he formed has never
 been excelled here, and this statement is
 made with a full appreciation of the
 magnificent stock companies formed un-
 der the management of such men as A
 M. Palmer and Augustin Daly.
 A Wallacx production, or a Wallack
 first night, in the old house, was always
 an event in which one might see goodly representation of men and women dis
 tinguished in literature science art,
 business, society, great enterprises and religion. And while the great and the
 rich paid their tribute to the stage from
 the boxes and in the lower part of the
 house, the gallery was as well patronized
 by an equally intelligent and appreciative
 audience.
 When the elder Wallack passed away, his son, John Lester Wallack, took the
 helm. Under his careful management the theater maintained It's well establish ed reputation. What group of players
 memory bring to mind of those who ap- peared before the footlghts of the old Wall w. R. Blake John Gilbert, Harry Mon
 tague, Mrs. John Hoey, 4dadaleine Hen riques, Mime. Ponisi Mrs. Vernon, Mary
 Cannon, Sothern the elder, John Broug- ham, Walcot the elder, W. R. Floyd,
 Jeffreys Lewis Charles and Rose Cogh-
 Ian, Osmond Tearle, Gerald Eyre, Fred Robinson, and-but why continue the list. It is a long one, and the names of those
 that could be added were worthy of as-
 sociation with this magnificent aggrega- tion of players.
 It was in this old Wailack theater that Sir Henry Irving made his first bow to an American audience as Matthias in "The Bells" Here Lester Wallack pro- duced "Rosedale" Here Dion Boucicault introduced "Conn, The Shaughraum." and played the most noted engagement of his wonderful career Here the scholarly Laurence Barrett first pre- scented Francesca al Rimini." Here. if I am not mistaken. Joseph Jefferson first
 brought out his Rip Van Winkle.' Here
 Adelina Patti appeared under Henry Abbeys management after her misera- ble failure in Steinway Hall under her own; and here, too. was produced ''The World"-the first of those stage carpen- ter trumpery plays, with raft scene for a grea. sensation. It would take up too much space to enumerate the many inter- act fpU apig in history Of famous old playhouse, which will be wiped out of existence in a few days.
 
 By the way, see by Paris dispatch. that M. Edmond Rostand, one of the most accomplished of the French play | rights, has cabled his congratulations to | Charles Frohman on the magnificent pro- | duction of 'L'Aiglon.'' and Maud Adams presentation of the role stamps the great | Frenchmans cable utterance to the great | American manager with an indepen- | dence, liberality and generosity of in dorsement which those who have seen | and judged the presentation might have
 hesitated to express. Sarah Bernhardt | also played 'L'Aiglon" here, with M. | Coquelin in the cast. It was presented in ! French. and the scenery was good
 enough to merit the praise of Parisian 1 play-goers. It was naturally a good pre-
 sentation, but Maud Adams played | t <1iBioh iihlitciy uloho tinlcS lHdi Mime. Sarah. and. and-and-that, of | course, makes a difference.
 | sss
 | Elita Proctor Otis. one of the best | actresses in the country, has been star | ring In Nancy Sikes with the stock com
 pany of the Murray Hill theater. Elita | Otis is as well acquainted with the role | of Nancy Sikes as Richard Mansfield is with Dr. Jekyl and MT. Hyde, and she plays her role as well as he does his. know few actresses better equipped than | Miss Otis for certain line of parts and | 1t Is a pity she has not yet been able to | secure play that might afford her the opportunity of advancing closer to the | front rank.
 The revival of "Diplomacy' at the Elm pire afforded experienced play-goers an