The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-10-03
THE PLAYER FOLK

Frank n Drew, who plays Mr.. Stitch,
the lawyer in BARLEY Campbelrs The
White Slave" has been on the stage
longer than any other American actor
His first appearance occurred in 1888
at MitehelTs Olympia, New York city,
when he was boy of seven, so in
cIuCinE this season he viii have seen
sixty l5uT years of service when spring
time comes again
Mr.. Drew's "reminiscences would fill
volumes, for in his time he-has been as
ISOLATED with almost every actor that
has appeared on the stage in America.
His experience has also led him to
England and Australia, where for years
he was an acknowledged star in comedy
roles The young actor Of today would
stand aghast if the same hard work were
eXacted Of him that MIR Drew had to
undergo in the old days Three gener-
ations OF stage players has Mr.. Drew
been connected with, and an sour's talk
with him on theatrical topics Is decided
ly interesting.
New York, Washington Cleveland. San
Francisco. Boston, and Philadelphia
were M Drew's strcngholds in the old
days, and IN those cities he appeared in
every line of character imaginable. An
instance Of his versatility may be
CLEANED from the progTzm CT a bill at
the Grand, this city, when under the
management OF John W AIbaugh. in
1862. when Mr. Drew appeared as RIP
Van Wrinkle" in the play Of that name.
then gave his own version of Alexander
Dumas Camille" and concluded with
.Toctic" in Ny Fellow Clerk, in which
he gave limitations Of John Brougham.
his brother, John Drew. and Adelina
Patti
After this season Mr.. Drew contem-
plates retirement, as he feels that the
prestige OF the Drew family can well be
upheld by his nephew, John Drew, the
wel-known star, his grandnieces, Miss
Ethel Barrymore and Miss Louise Drew.
and his own son. John E Drew. the ec-
centric dancer and comedian. Another
7fty-year-old boy Of MS is Frank N.
Drew, jr-, for years interested in the
management Of Cleveland theaters.
Giuseppe C-eatore, the bandmaster.
who is but thtrty-one years OF age.
came to America less than three years
ago and played trombone solos with an
Italian band at Atlantic City and VIII
low Grove Park, Philadelphia.
He was the concert master of the or
ganizatiou, and when the conductor was
sick on one occasion, Creatore was given
the baton He welded it with such ef-
feet that he was at once looked upon
as the greatest possibility in that line.
IN fact, the band soon disbanded and
Creatore was made conductor of one sec
ton, aud played an engagement at the
Atlentic City Steel Pier from February
TO July. in 1901, following with an en-
gagement AT Willow Grove Park, in Phil
adeiphia, and tour Of over 5000 miles
in the Tar Western country.
His success was quite phenomenal ami
he was praised as one Of the greatest
band leaders ever seen. Last spring he
organized band Of his own. arranging
with Well-known band managers to han
die his business affairs They at once
took him to New York, where his sDc-
cess ~es instantaneous, and by all
means greater than anything known In
this country.
CrcatOre's opening night in New York
was such sensation as the metropolis
had not Witnessed before in a long tine.
From the opening night the theater in
which he played was packed to the doors
at every. concert
80
George Sydney, the Hebrew comedian
who for a number Of years was one Of
the features Of the Ward and Vokey
performances. has been favored by Man
ager E D. Stair with the stellar honors |