Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-08
RECALLS OLD DAYS
IN OLDEN THEATER

TAMES S. HUTTON, who was in Los
Angeles last week, first came here
- more than thirty years ago. Then,
as now. Mr.. Hutton was theatrical
entrepreneur. Today he represents the
interests of Henry w. Savage and, more
directly, The Prince of Pilsen." In
the olden time he piloted many famous
players thither and even then, as he
says, Los Angeles was good show
town"
Doubtless there are theater-goers
here theater-goers of the passing gen
GRAFTON whose memories of things
theatrical extend back to the days
when the city was a pueblo, boasting
but one theater and that a house so
small as to be scarcely worthy the
name This was the condition in 1873
when Mr.. Hutton first arrived in Los
Angeles.
In reminiscent mood the other day,
Just before he left for the north, Mr..
Hutton told of some of his early ex-
periences.
SIN these days" he said, ''and even
in many years to follow, you folk here
had only a sorry shack of theater;
bald of comfort, sans scenery, sans
everything that helped the poor stroll
ing player in his efforts to entertain
Yet poor as the house was it was
played oft and many times by some OF
the most notable of the great stars
that have passed up to the greater stage
the throne of the Almighty.
Many Famous Players
.I myself in those days helped bring
here such stars as John Mccullough,
Lawrence Barrett, Adelaide Nelson,
Charlotte Thompson, William E. Sher-
idan. the elder, or as he is better
known Lester Wallack, the elder Soth-
ern and John T. Raymond, and I well
remember the decided Shakespearean
taste of Los Angeles people. The town
in those days held many devotees OF
the immortal bard, and the beauties OF
Shakespearean blank verse were once
rolled forth here from the organ-like
throats of John Mccullough and Will
liam E. Sheridan to the supreme de-
light of the earlier Angeleno.
Now, few remember even their
names and the newer generation
seeks the sensuous pleasures of modern
problem plays, from which vortex the
thoughtful of our native dramatists
are now struggling to emerge, or else
enjoy the tinseled and tinkling musi-
cal comedies.
an those days the older California
theater of San Francisco. built by the
munificence of James Ralston, housed the
greatest organization of legitimate ac-
tors and actresses this country has ever
known; company headed by the illus
trious tragedians. Edwin Booth. John
Mccullough, Lawrence Barrett and Will
liam e. Sheridan who were supported
IN the lesser roles by the equally. great
Charlotte Thompson. Jean Lander, Mrs.
Judah and others. This company some
times visited Los Angeles, bringing with
IL all the magnificent trappings of the
most superbly appointed stage at that
time in the world. Then the people of
this city made each night an event.
II remember once we attempted to give
Shakespeare's 'King John" with all the
magnificent scenery prepared by the
great artist voegtIin.e Sand the priceless
costumes and armor built for the pro-
duction In Paris under the worlds two
most correct embellishers, Noonan of
the Grand opera and Planche of the
Porte St Martin theater. Much trouble
was experienced in finding cars suffi-
GENTLY large to handle the elaborate in
vestfture. When we arrived in Los An
geles the stage was found entirely too
small to take even the smaller scenes.