The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-01

uudc his bebut rs an infant in the
Walnut Street Theatre. .PhfIadeI
phia-HiS Great Variety CT stage
RoIes-Tried Shakespearean Parts.
PHILADELPHIA April Poland
Lewis Reed. the celebrated light come
dian. who died al his home in New York
SATURDAY, was much liked in the theatre
cs+4- profession, ana Will he mourned by
hundreds of thousands Of theatregoers
vino have seen him in his many parts
Mr. Reed was comedian of the true
American type-quaint quizzical. sharp.
nervous. and thoroughly effective. being
possessed of a large fund of natural HUI
NOR. and familiar with every trick and
device OF the stage in its execution
Mr.. Reed was born in Philadelphia in
1892. md made his debut a year later al
the Walnut Street Theatre as the baby in
Mr. and Mrs Peter White" a comedy
in which Tom Placide, then famous
comedian. took the leading character
PIacjdc had appeared in the part many
times and on each occasion insisted upon
having one Of Pop Reeds babies in the
cast. 1t is a matter Of record that vii
lem II. Reed. George W Reed. and RO-
land Reed all appeared in this play, and
each bawled at the right cue-a pinch
As soon as Roland had est; blished the
fact that he would not attenG school he
was given d place at the stage door of
the Walnut Street Theatre at the z,rince
" salary OF $50 q week. George W.
Reed had succeeded William II. Reed in
the position, II having been created by
their father, whose muititudinous duties
about the old playhouse were growing
more and more exacting.
Promotions were slow at the Walnut,
so Roland gladly accepted the post of
call boy at the Arch Street Theatre,
which was then at the height of its old
time glory. William H Reed had III the
meantime become one of the best prompt
ers in the country. and held that respon-
sibIe position at the Walnut, and George
w Reed had become the property man
Pop Reed was the king of the supers.
and really held a far more responsible
post than his title suggests.
The first speaking part ever played by
Roland Reed was that Of Tom. in The
Jealous Wife but i was in 1870 that his
| chance came. Robert Craig. the leading
comedian Of the Arch Street Company.
was taken suddenly H. lie vas on the
bill to play Rake, IN ''Firehy, and. for
! tunateIy for Reed, had no Understudy.
| The audience was in the house, and II
was past the time for the curtain. The
company was called in council and sug-
sestions by the dozen were listened TO
| and rejected. The situation was becom-
ing desperate The audience was impa-
tIent and boisterously. emphasizing that
fact The manager. in a fit Of prodigious
liberaIity. said, Il viii give any man
500 TO play that part tonight"
l will play it for nothing" said Reed.
md he Is L. rr MA I he
that night but throughout the week His
success was instantaneous, and il result
| I'd in a permanent engagement at the
Walnut Street Theatre where his father.
/ two brothers. and three sisters were then
! employed. From the Walnut Street The
aJre he went to New Orleans, and from
/ there TO Memphis
In lS72 Roland Reed reached Port HUI
| ron. Mich, as one of Lizzie 3. Prices
/ company. which was presenting '.Lucrs-
/ tia BOrsia-" 8Ir- Reed was Cieppo. and
| r. r Ham WAS GuEette- Mr.. Hams
costume was genaIiza biz affair. He
wore an old pair % cotton tights. darned
/ at the knees. d pair Of old russet shoes.
/ and q wig minus al but four cltrls-
/ Thee audience -Jund Gubette's Custurne
almost more than 1t could stand How
/ ever, the banquet scene IN Lucretia Ror-
! gas palace was reached. The cavaliers
We're seated at the table. and the fatal
/ liquid was poured out Mr. Ham, whose
sense of smell was somewhat defective
/ because OF old age, raised his goblet TO
/ his lips and drank
! He flung the goblet from him Ills
! eyes fairly stuck out Of his head He
! chOked and sputtered and hnallyy gasped
Coal oil. The audience shrieked with
| laughter. and that ended the perform
I aucn- The next day Miss Price and her
| manager left the company stranded
| There We're twelve actors in the party.
and they organized the Roland Reed
! Comedy Company and went over the Dor
| der into Canada. After q few weeks they
/ returned in sore financial straits. and Mr.
Reed reached Detroit on a freight train.
| he became A book agent Tor Il while and
made money by selling an Illustrated
music book
among his roles were slsch characters
as Doctor OuapOd in The Poor Gentle
man DIT. PangiOss in The Heir at
Law. Bob Acres In The Rivals Cob
DO IN The Merchant OF Venice Picard
IN The Two Orphans" O'ROurke, the
Irish Sergeant. in a Celebrated Case
the leading comedy part in Bulwer Lyt-
tons Money" and the leading parts j.
An Arabian Girl. Lend Ne Your
Wife. The Club Friend innocent as
He returned to Philadelphia and ap-
pcared at the Philadelphia Museum
CWoOd'sI, md later with Simmons and
SiOcum-s MinstTeis. These experiences
equipped him for better work, and an
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