The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-30

burlesques. which gradually developed
into the great spectacles presented AT
Drury Lane Theater in London. ana
which, during the past four years. have
been brought to America by Klaw &
Granger. who will present the latest
Drury Lane success at the New Am
sterdam Theater in New York on Nov.
IL, called "Humpty Dumpty" After an
absence Of nearly thirty years from
the New York stage. the clown. harle-
gum. pantaloon and columbine will
again make their appearance
The mere mention of the name
Humpty Dumpty" in this country re-
calls memories of George L. Fox, Tony
Denier, Robert Butler, James S. Maf-
felt. Edwin Croueste, Charles I.auri
John Foster, Thomas E. Miaco, George
d. Melville. Fanny Herring, who ap-
peared as a female clown, George ca
ron, the Hanlons and George H. Ad-
ans, who styled himself "Grimaldi''
Adams. all of whom gained fame as
comiques in whitened face and motley
dress. Fox and Denier are undoubted-
~ the most famous clowns in American
stage history. especially the former
for time has not faded the memory of
MS genius, but rather has cast a halo
about it.
1t is a popular supposition that gen
uine pantomime was brought to this
country by the Ravel family. This is
not the fact. Long before their ad-
vent here a slack rope dancer and
posturist, calling himself I'll Antonio
Diavolo." attempted, with the aid of
his children. to introduce an italian
pantomime at Niblo's Garden in New
York. There was also a prior exhibit
ton of pantomime by Polichinelle.
Both proved failures.
n
The Ravels were not Italians, but
of French origin. They made their
first appearance in America at the
Park Theater in New York in 1882.
This troupe consisted of ten perform
ers and included Gabriel, Jerome and
lean Ravel, who afterward became
very famous in this country. They
were seen in Boston and
and made a tour of the
South and West. returning to Europe
IN 1884. They there divided into three
troupes and three of the brothers went
to London, where they appeared at
Drury Lane for the first time, Jan. s.
1885. In the following Sept ember they
returned to New York, where they
played from October, 1885, to July. 1887,
making a tremendous success at Nib
los Garden. Several of the family
who had remained abroad subsequently,
came to America, and from that time
up to 1850, some of the original Ravel
troupe were here. In 1S48, Francois
Ravel brought over the Martinetti
family. a noted troupe of pantomim-
lists. Gabriel and Francois returned to
France in 1860, and shortly after re-
tired from the stage.
The Ravels produced THE Magic
Trumpet" THE Red Gnome and White
Warrior" THE Magic Pills" 1.-The
Four Lovers" THE Golden AK" Mag
lc Hans and other short pieces which
met with favor. but the real vogue of
pantomime in America began with the
sntry of Fox into this field of enter
lalnment. He was the original
'Humpty Dumpty." Fox was a great
comedian and had made a wide repu-
-atlon as comic player. He was in
1uced to become a pantomimist by
Tony Denier, an old circus clown, who
made his first appearance as a jester
N "Harlequin's Santa Claus" a pam
tomime presented in Sands & Nathan's
circus IN Troy. N. Y. Denier had been
apprenticed to the Ravels and had
made a great repute as a pantomirnist.
The Fame of George Fox.
At first Fox would not listen to De-
1ier. but finally was induced to play
an arrangement of one or two of the
Did Ravel pieces made by him. These |
productions were presented at the old
Chatham Theater in New York in |
S58. The first was THE Golden Axe |
Ind later Magic Hans It was at |
he old Bowery Theater that Fox
made his greatest hit in pantomine |
w lille associated with J. w. Lingard |
n the management of this theater, he !
either new or reconstructed