The Washington times., 1906-05-20
(f lat
An Old School Actor.


Age has not withered w. II. Crompton,
the distinguished actor OF the old school
who is portraying the principal comedy
old man parts during the summer sea
son OF Guy Standing and the Columbia.
Theater company He is not only one
OF the few remaining personal land
marks Of the drama who Is stil, In ac-
tive harness in this country. but has so
interesting a personality. aside from his
rare and admittedly capable career on
the stage, that he would be taken for z
statesman, merchant prince. or A
clergyman if passed by a stranger on
the Avenue
He is one of the very few living play
ers whose career emanates from the
famous old Bowery Theater IN New
York. Two other noted players OF that
company now alive are Mrs W. G.
Jones. who is still playing the part Of
the nurse in Juliet" and whose rendi-
tion has long ago been classed as the
finest portrayal Of the role this side OF
the Atlantic. and venerable ". J. Stud
ley. another noted old Bowery Theater
actor who, although stili alive in New
York, is an infrm old gentleman.
Mr. CrOmptOn's hale and hearty con-
stttution which enables him 70 continue
in active stage work IS probably due TO
the fact that he cared for his health so
. scrupulousiy throughout his career. He
was born in Manchester, England, in
1s43. but had no idea Of going on the
stage until after he came 70 America.
He was an English merchant when he
came 70 New York IN 1866. and nothing
short OF financial reverses turned his at
tention toward the footIights. He owes
F,f- L. lei. IL
New York cOstumer and 10 his friend.
Mines Leviek, who as manager OF the
Barnum's Theater offered Mr.. Cromp-
ton an engagement as walking gentle
man" which the latter accepted in 1855
He was prompted 10 go on the stage be-
cause he was a fine reader and soon
gained distinction.
There are few players living today who
have had a more thorough and versatile
training such as was afforded by the old
: stock company system which was IN
vogue before, during and after the war
when only the stars Ike Booth, Barrett.
/ Macready, Forrest and players OF that
| character, Travelled from city 20 city 10
1 I'LL engagements at the head OF the
| permanent stock companies which every
/ city had IN those days. Fewer players
stu remain who have served so many
| noted stock companies as long as Mr
/ Crompton-
/ Long as his career has been II may
| easily be divided into periods each rep
| resentative Of some phase of evolution
| OF American theaterdom- After d season
/ al Barnum's Theater, when he made his
debut in 1867. in two old farces between
| which sandwiched an exhibition by Tom
Thumb. and his tiny wife. who consti-
I tuted Barnum's star stunt at that
period. Mt Crompton Joined the famous
old Bowery Theater stock company IN
I New York He served in that company
1 three years. In 1870 ne joined another
/ famous stock organization, that Of the
1 Pittsburg Opera House, where he de-
/ lighted audiences in the SMOKY City
! for eight years. He then served the
Madison Square Theater stock company
/ five years for Daniel Frohman. in New
| York. and in 1891 Joined Charles Froh-
mans Empire Theater stock company
/ the most famous organization of its kind
/ IN recent years, creating all Of the prin-
I cipal old man comedy character parts
with that company throughout its long
| existence. Since the day that he first
| signed with Charles Frohman. some six
! teen years ago. Mr.. CrOmpton has served
no other master and the balance OF his
stage career will probably be completed
under the auspices Of Mr.. Frohman-
/ The stage came near losing this
| famous actor several months ago For
the past few years he has been playing
! with the Sothern-Marlowe combination
| He opened the present season with them
| at Cleveland. but at Boston he was
stricken with pneumonia and for sixteen
weeks he fingered close to the last flick
er in a Boston hospital During the
| spring he convalesced and on April l
he was able TO return 10 the stage The
! regular season being over he was irnme-
diately sought by Messrs. Luckett and
Standing for the summer season at the
Columbia Theater and special arrange
ments were made with Mr. Frohman 10
I enable Mr.. Crompton to accept One
thing that has appealed strongly 70 Mr.
Crompton in connection with his en-
Eagement here was the fact that It
would afford him an opportunity 10 ap-
pear again as the quaint Old bookseller
in Liberty Hail." the part that he
created at the Empire Theater in
August, 1888. and in which he Will be
seen at the Columbia tomorrow evening
\ He regards this as one Of the most con-
genial and very best characterizations
OF his long career on the stage and
delights TO impersonate the role.