The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-22
JAMES O'NEILL'S
STAGE CAREER
Man of Many Roles Though
Long an Actor of
One Role.

The story of James O'Nei1l's career
is an interesting one and shows the
struggles and trials of the patient be-
ginner. His career dates back to the
days of the old National theater in
Cincinnati. one of the best of it's time.
where the young aspfrant for dramatic
honors was glad to secure the oppor-
UNITY OF carrying spear in the per-
torrance of the great Edwin Forrest
After season of standing around and
an occasional chance to say, What no,
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 chance to show his sprout-
ing ability and was advanced during
the year until at its close he was in
trusted 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 latter, but after almost unlimited
hardships he returned to Cincinnati,
where he was given a small part by
Col. Bob Miles, at that time the big
theatrical manager of the country
Mr.. O'Neilrs ability landed him after
ing gent" term which is obsolete
now. ONeill remained with Col. Miles
but one season and then accepted DO
sition with John Ford, of Baltimore,
who is today one of the old-t time man
ayers who is still in harness, and is
now proprietor and manager of F'ord'S
opera house in that city. Here he re-
NAMED two seasons, and then Joined
John Ellsler'S company in Cleveland.
From this time on his rise was rapid
ana sure, and it was but d short time
when he was recognized and known
as the best leading man on the Ameri-
can stage. He was shortly after en-
gagged by McVicker, of Chicago, who
had come to the front and was running
what was at that time a stock COM
pany that was ranked as the very
best: Hooley, of Chicago. engaged a
rival company to compete with Nc
Wicker, and among the first engage
ments he made was Mr.. O'Nefll.
Associated with him in that organi-
cation We're a lot of players who have
since attained widespread popularity.
among them Nate Salisbury, w. H.
Crane, Nellie McHenry, NJ. A Kenne-
dy and numerous others. His work
nrSt attracted the attention Of A NJ
Palmer, who was then organizing what
became perhaps the most noted of all
the old stock companies at the Union
square tneater, New York, and Mr..
ONeill was engaged to share the leads
with the greatly lamented Charles r.
Thorne. Here he remained two years.
winning golden opinions from many
admirers. He then received a very
hattering and alluring offer from Tom
Mcguire, manager of the Baldwin the
alter, San Francisco, which he ac-
cepted, and for three seasons the DeO
pie of the far West made him a favor
lite In company with Louis James
Lewis Morrison, Thomas w. Keeene
Jeffreys Lewis and Ed Buckley. In
that company the prompter was Da-
yid Belasco.
During this engagement in San
francisco Mr.. O'Neill appeared as the
Savior In the only performance ever
gwen IN this country of The Passion
Play" He was engaged to come to
New York in this play, under contract
to Henry z. Abbey but public senti-
ment prevented the production of the
play in that city. and gave Mr.. O'Neiu
one of the greatest disappointments if
his life. He entered on his first star
ring tour in play called "An Ameri-
can King" by G. T. Dazian The fol-
lowing year he opened in Monte Girls
to" at Booths theater. in New York.
His success was instantaneous and
continuous, and for eight consecutive
seasons the Chateau DIFF was his
nightly abiding place. Growing tired
of the constant repetition he followed
this with several productions, includ-
ing The Dead Heart" and several
Shdkespearean plays. but always re-
tanning Monte CriSto" in. his roper
toire. Finally he was obliged to give