The Minneapolis journal., 1902-03-29
GROWN UP 'KlDDlES'
Pollard's Juvenile Opera Company
Is a Training School.
GO INTO. BIG CHORUS
Several ErstvyhiIe Riddles Are Now
Drawing Big Salaries as
Operatic Stars.

What becomes of Polar rd's Kiddies af-
ter they grow out of the Juvenile class!
The question was put to Mr.. Pollard yes
terday, and it developed the fact that the
juvenile company is merely a preparatory
school for the operate stage. When they
outgrow the juvenile division the young
sters are at once put to work in the
chorus of Pollard's adult company, now
touring Australia. No matter what her
position may be in the Juvenile company,
the girl who grows up must enter the
groWn-up chorus, after that her position
on the operate stage depends upon her
self. - - = .>.-.~. -
Miss Alice Pollard, the present prima
donna Of the "Kiddies,' - will provide
case in point. She is IA years old, and has
been on the stage five years. She will re-
main in the Juvenile company one more
season and will then enter the chorus Of
the adult organization, and will be ad-
vanced as she proves herself worthy. Un-
til eighteen months ago she had been in
the juvenile chorus, but was advanced to
the position of prima donna when her
predecessor left, to become chorus girl
again. -.
The juvenile company has been in. ex-
istence seventeen years and during that
period it's personnel has been complet ely
changed several times. Of it's former
members not a few have made successes
on the British stage. Lille Stewart,
former Juvenile, Is now getting $500
week in London. May Pollard, another
graduate, followed Edna May in the Lon
don production Of "The Belle Of New
York; and scored a great hit. Other ar
lists who we're formerly kiddies and who
are now drawing big salaries are Flora
Graupner, Violet Valley and Florie S.
Dale. |.-. s.. /.
Before they Join the Juvenile company
cr1U ny ina in.
struction in the Pollard school, located
at Melbourne. This is the, primary di-
vislon,: and is always crowded. They are
apprenticed by their parents, and are CIV
en- schooling in the common branches as
we'll as in stage craft. From the very
first the little tots are made to realize
that stage life means work, not play. The
stage has no glamor for them. They look
at, it seriously. Their future is assured.
Some day they will enter the chorus of
grown-up company and after that they
Will be given whatever parts they may be-
come competent to assume. They real
lie that advancement cam only be secured
by pa1nstaking work, and consequently
they never shirk. ....- - =
solid weeks of daily rehearsals. Just at
present the youngsters are rehearsing
'Pinafore," which they will produce in
Chicago. Yesterday morning they re-
hearsed the first act, and: many of the
lines sounded queerly from baby lips. For
instance. little Madge Woodson, tot OF
II, for whom. Mr.. Pollard predicts a.
bright future. sang "Conide in ME, for
Know That I'm a Mother" and sang it
in such a way that the incongruity almost
passed unnotfced. ~. -. -. >..-
The children now at the Metropolitan
have toured all through the orient. They
know China and Japan and escaped from
Kimberly on the last train which left
that city. before the SIEGE It is
unique experience to hear them speak Of
the things; they have seen in the far
awav lands vicifod