The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-25
James o'Neill's Career

The story of James O'NeilPs career, who is soon to be seen in Montgomery in a new and important role, Is an in- teresting one, and shows the struggles and trials of the patient beginner. His career dates back to the days of the old National Theatre in Cincinnati, where the young aspirant for dramatic honors was glad to secure the opportunity of carrying a spear in the performance and an occasional chance to say, what ho my Lord, the coach awaits you" or something equally as important. he was offered a position to play small parts in a road company. commonly called barn stormers in the olden days. Before the season was over, however, he got a chance to show his sproutlng ability and was advanced during the year until at its close he was entrusted with the parts usually allotted to the leading man.
 Like many of the strolling players of that time he had his share of ups and downs, with a preponderance of the lat ter. but after almost unlimited hard ships he returned to Cincinnati, where he was given a small part by Col. Bob Mics, at that time the big theatrical manager of the country. Mir. o Neiils ability landed him after the first week in the position of walking gent. a term which is obsolete now. O'Nelll remained with Colonel Miles but one season. and then accepted a position with John Ford of Baltimore. Here he remained two seasons and then joined John Ellslers company in Cleveland. He was shortly after engaged by McVicker of Chicago, who was running what as at that time a stock company that was ranked as tho very best. Hooley of Chicago engaged a rival company to compete with Me- Wicker and among the first engagements he made was MT. O'Neill.
 Associated with him in that organi- zatlon were a lot of players who have since attained widespread popularity, Among them Nate Salisbury. w. H. Crane, Nellie McHenry. H. A. Kennedy and numerous others. His work first at tracted the attention of A. H. Palmer. who as then organizing what became perhaps the most noted of all the old stock companies at the Union Square Theatre, New York, and Mir. O'Neill was engaged to share the leads with Charles R. Thorne. Here he remained two years He then received a hattering offer from Tom Mcguire, manager of the Baldwin Theatre, San Francisco, which he &C., cepted and for three seasons the people of the far West made him a favorite in company with Louis James, Lewis Nor rison. Thomas w. Keene, Jeffreys Lewis and Ed Buckley. In that company the prompter was David Belasco.
 During this engagement in San Fran cisco Mir. o'Neill appeared as the Sa- vior in the only performance ever given in this country of The Passion Play. He was engaged to come to New York in this play under contract to Henry E. Ab- bey, but public sentiment prevented the production of the play in that city. and gave MT. O'Neill one of the greatest dis appointments of his life. He entered on his first starring tour in a play called An American King by C. f. Dazian. The next year he opened in Monte Cristo at Booths Theatre. In New York. His success was instantaneous and continu- ous, and for eight consecutive seasons the Chateau D'lf was his nightly abid- ing place. Growing tired of the constant repetition, he followed this with several productions including ''The Dead Heart" and several Shakespearean plays, but al- ways retaining Monte Cristo in his reper- toire. Finally he was obliged to give the play rest for two seasons, during which time he was seen in Sydney Grundy's version of ''The Musketeers."
 This season he Is playing an intensely emotional role in Hall Gaines "The Manxman.' and it is. claimed to be one of the greatest pieces of acting ever giv- en by this artistic player Liebler & Co, the managers, have given MT. O'Neill a splendid equipment and fine supporting company.