The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-04
- WAGON THRoUGH KANSAS.
Experience Of the Early Day THEATRE
cal Companies.

An actor in Kansas City in 1868,
when he supported such stars as Ed
win Forest, Lolita and others, Frank
Curtis is here again after an absence
of & number of years says the Kansas
City Star.
when first landed here said Mr..
Curtis this morning, kansas City was
hills and a few roads cut through. My
first visit here was in s6e. The stock
company was playing with at Debar'
theater in St Louis was sent uo here
to make room for a two weeks stay
of a grand opera company.
I'VE played at Franks hall, about
Fifth and Main streets In those days
a stock company did everything from
farce to Macbeth and there was no
laying off just because you happened
to have part that wasn't in your line
of work. I was the comedian Of the
company You wouldn't think I was
a regular comic would you? I didn't
think I was. either. until 1 branched
into tragedy, and then the manager
found that was funny instead of
tragic.
Il guessed he gagged his opinion by
the laughter of the audiences I had
been playing in Chicago for four years
when went to St. Louis. l was am
bilious to become a tragedian. You
can imagine what a splendid one I
would have been with this counten-
ance of mine.
Il even went so far as to get my
Macbeth daggers made with my name
engraved on the handles. Tragedy
was mine for about a week, and then
1 was cast for the comedy parts
Edwin Forrest was one OF the tray
cling stars at that time and I appeared
in his support several times will
never forget my last appearance with
him in Kansas City. It was in the '1Os,
and at that time the great actor was
suffering with the govt In fact, he
could hardly lift his feet from the
floor. He was playing 'Wirginius, and
he dragged his feet when he walked.
I stood watching him Ike Il hawk all
the time he was on the stage. as IN
those days he represented everybody s
ideal.
His entrance was through a center
door and at the bottom OF the drop
was a strip of iron which held the two
sides together. This strip was about
quarter of an inch high. N1rglnluS
strutted forth in all his splendOr, but
stopped when he came to the little
ledge. Forest hesitated a moment,
made an attempt to lift his feet over,
but failed. He looked at the barrier
scornfully and then remarked, My
God! I wonder what they take me for
"a harlequin Then some one as
sisted him across.
In our stock company at one time
we had Barton Hill, who was the
stage manager; Augustus Pitou,
George Holland, and many others of
note We played all the small towns
about here. We put in week at
Boonville and Moberly, and Sedalia
we considered one of the best stands.
"a little incident occurred in sum
mer season in Kansas that ever left an
played Parsons and wanted to go to
There was no railroad
and we had to drive overland with all
our scenery and trunks We stopped
at Coffeyville for luncheon.
Ct get frightened every time I think
Of it for we ate at that same tavern
where all those Bender murders were
I remember it as if it was
yesterday, for I always felt that II
there had not been so many of us that
maybe we would have met the death
that came to others. The dining room
was of a fair size, but between the
tables as a separating wall were
sheets. These hung down from the
ceiling. When they wanted to rob
man one of the gang walked UP and
struck the intended victim from the
back. The discovery of the murders
was made a very few years after our
visit there, I believe.
st was in LeavenWorth when Jen-
nison shot Colonel Dan Anthony, who
died a few months ago In those days
IeavenwOrth was the town. 1t had
the start on all these other places
about here I went to Denver in 1872
and remained there for a few years
Joe Murphy was a member of our
company and while ne was playing an
Irish sergeant and I an Englishman
received a scar that still bear. He
chased me and I had to jump through
a. window as part of the business. I
did and struck a cleat on an upright
that gave me a cash under the left
II went east in 1878 and most of
nv time since I have been at the
managerial end of the theatrical bust
ness. Occasionally I jump in and do
l little acting just for old times sake.
Do YOU know, I really enjoy it and if
only had my voice I probably would
be at it yet. There is a certain fasci- !
nation about it which stays till death, |
guess. This is the first time I have
been in Kansas City in nine years"