The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-02
BEGAN III St. PAUL
SUCCESSFUL CAREER OF GIN OLD
KENTUCKY" LAUNCHED IN
THIS CITY
FAILURE FEARED AT FIRST
Jacob Lift Persisted Until MeIO-
drama Made "a Hit-PopuIarity
Undiminished in Ninth
Year on Road.

OF the hundreds who witnessed the pro-
duction OF In Old Kentucky at the
Grand last night, possibly few were
aware that the play first saw the light
of day in st. Paul. 1t did, and it is no
more than appropriate that the attrac-
ton should again open its season in the
SANITY City, for this is truly the home
of it's birth. 4,,....,.f
Ten years ago Jacob Lift had the best
and most complete stock company that
the Twin Cities has ever seen playing at
the Grand. Business was not any too
good, and toward the fag end of the sea-
son he decided to experiment with several
new plays that had been submitted 10
him. Among them was che by c.. T.
I)asey a drama that dealt with simple
life in the mountains of Kentucky. 1t
was nameless then, with few of the hair
breadth escapes ana climaxes that since
have made it a favorite with lovers of
genuine melodFama. There was no race
track scene or leap for life. Col. San
dusky RoolittIe, instead of climbing
tree, simply stood on chair and pie
tured in words the exciting race which
Queen Bess has since Won many thou
sands of times.
Mr.. Lit was Impressed with the play
and the opportunities it afforded for his
fertile brain, hut hisspartner, Tom Davis,
was not 50 enthusiastic and told him so
In fact, he 'eInphatieally refused to have
anything to do with producing It, Moth
ing daunted Mr.. Lit Informed Dasey, its
author. that he would take the play, and
Immediately set to work on it's produc-
ton, the rellearsGls being held in the old
Grand opera house on Wabasha street
Somewhat crude, it was inflicted on
st. Paul audience. but it's reception was
net cordial. This fact only increased
Mr. Lifts partners dislike for the play.
SECURED COLoRED, BOYS.
1t happened at that time that a band
OF. colored boys came (trooping through
the Northwest, and the idea occurred to
some one that they would make q profit
ahle addition to the attraction. They. We're
iLLneQlately secured, and from this grew
the picaninnY band
A ace trick scene with real horses,
was decided upon, and by the time for
the real presentation of the plav in flhe
fall at Pittsburg came, Mr. Lift found
that his pocketbook had been touched
heavily, and he was up against an ex-
penslve proposition Mr.. Davis, his part
1eI' sun refused to go halves, but this
d1d not deter Mr. Lift, and he played the
hand alone. No expense was spared the
piece was spiendfdly staged, and a
strong company secured, the cast includ-
ing BettIna Girard, as Madge:. Burt
Clark as the Kentucky colonel, and Chas
/. French as Uncle Neb. That it was q
success, and that Mr.. Lifts "hunch'' was
Thousands focked to see it. and demands
lof time" came from al over the coun-
Try.
Plays have made hits before but .Tn
Old kentucky scored a tTiuInnh that
! has not begun to even show the signs Of
wear ana tear after nine seasons It's
! drawing qualities now are almost as
great as the early days.
LIT MADE A FORTUNE.
The play has made for Mr.. Lift $5G0.e0O
or
dld not have money enough to afford a
trip from New York to Pittsburg TO see
the initial production, has become a
| wealthy man through the percentage of
earnings received as his royalty. AS soon
as the value of the play became apparent
Mt Lift made him a. cash offer for his
i me put Dasey refused and has prof
it60 rlenly as the result of his wisdom
Inc play has been an immense success
wherever played, except in Kentucky
%nere the natives never took kindly to
Inc f,biosLsl sort OF dialect ascribed to
Inc charaeters as the vernacula of the
Blue Grass state. One season II was
piayed by three companies for forty
o %seks, ana Tor several seasons by two
companies. 1t has been played in Eng
lana and Australia, but fieve& achieved
Innch success in foreign countries.
of B thI Giark the only original member
u the company left, played Colonel Sam
dusky Dooittie for Ave seasons stra iyilt
ana then quit because he Thought he
Mouid lose his mind and never be able
&c pay ahyuhing else. He rested coupe
81 seasons and then came back to his
, oIet OF tissue paper, mint juieps and
| property cigars. 1.-The part is second ma
| ture to me now" he said last night '.and
INK nke It because it comes easy. 1 sup
pose should be more ambitious but re.
ally l must confess that I prefer com
| I3rt :, and a sure thing to a strenuous
! Mr.. Lift two seasons ago attennted IN
| 4saln obtain control of the play. but Mr.
Dasey, the author, would not part with
It, Tom Davis, his old partner. seeing
the success Of the production, wanted to
| ME- Lit has since continued to Ego it