The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-08
TALK OF THE THEATRE.
fyyritten for The Sunday Times

(Wrtten for The. Sunday Tinhes.)
Otis Harlan is gifted with g. peculiar
quality ct humof that cannot be analysed.
IT is without rule or method and it
CAUSES laughter bcca1se it appeals de
! ectly TO the natural fun-lovins procltTi-
ties of the American people. 1t Is infec-
:tious because it is spontaneous. His Sue
cess is due to personal magnetism and
<temnerament. He is the jester. the nler.
ry1naker md art is unnecessary to him.
Otis Harlan first met Charles Is. Hoyt
in 1857 and has been best known as
Eoyt;an comedian ever since Ills first
1ele was in ~ Hole i'll tho GROUND. but
his-,first great success was IN ~ Brass
Monkey" He then snaue several incur
sions into the field of comic opera and
III .'Tohasco' rs is said to have nearly
overshadowed Seabrookc, the star. Soon
aftarward came his big hit at lot Stuff
in "A Black Sleep and then he created
the leading roles in "A Stranger In New
York. and in "a Day and a Night: Fie
was the favortee comedian OF ehavley
Hoy-t, and no one knew that gifted play
wright better than lie. Mr. Harlan can
tell stories OF Hovt's peculiarttes By the
hour, and during last weeks engagement
at the Bijoi rs told two~new ones.
';fIpyt had q habit" he said. or trying
his now pieces Oh the dog for Eeverai
weeks eacI, spring. and he T'clld intro
d,lce so many changes during that period
that it was difficult to keep track OF
them. So when the rellearsals would start
for tho full season no would often ask
me what such and such a change was.
Fortunately / had a. very retenuve MEM
Org and J could usually recall these
changes from the original prompt book.
One day ct rehearsal he suddenly sur
rriscd nls with Il query Of this sort. To
tell tho truth I had my mind on soma
frolic and | ilazarded an answer without
any coherent idea of what I was say
ing.
mo, no. he raspcd out with his never
to-be- forgotten metallic voice: THAT
amt right. You haven't got q memory
as long as
But I interrupted. 81 Intended
Yes. l1new you intended. have
heard that the lower regions were paved
with good Intentions anu / believe you've
got the contract.
That was the last word said. =
On another occasion had introduced
friend from my native home 20 Mr.. Hoyt.
AS it happened I had introduced a num-
Der of people to him from that town at
various times and finally HoEt became
rather accustomed to meeting Mr.. Brown,
Jones or Smith. OF Jonesvillc, o..
So on the day referred to-, after meeting
my friend. he said to me: "Otis, I think
that if all the people who have lived i'll
Jonesville. Ohio. had stayed there. it.
would be a bigger town than New 4 orlS
-. y
Paul Gilmore. who played the leading
role in Lost River last week. has
had many exciting experiences on the
stage. On one occasion. through some
mistake loaded cartridges were, purchased
and a. fuslade of shots ridded the seen
cry. Clipped a piece off. of the: leading
wolnan's ear gave Mr.. Gilmore a trouble
some wound in the leg and killed the man
who purchased the cartridges. III the
third act OF Lost River he opens the
TOLL gate to allow the horse ridden by the
heroine to ride through. Not long ago
the horse became frightened :asEd- before
he had half opened the gate-tl1e horse
struck-it in its wild career and sGilmore
was flung Heavily to- the floor with a
broken Thumb. 1t is needless to say that
he is now a trifle shy Of the horses iii
this act. -.-,--- G. 41T .- Z
Mr.. Gilmore has been principally iden-
tilted with romantic roles during his stage
career ami next season he Will return to
his first love. Arrangements have been
practically completed FOR him tor star in
Victor Mapes version Of "Don4aesar dc
Bazan." entitler don Caesars Returu''
This is tho version being used this sea-
son by James *. Hackett and next fall
the production in it's entirety WILDE turn
CT over to Mr.. Gilmore. He will make a
tour OF the South in this play next fall
and Richmond will be one of the first
towns visited.