East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-03

Joseph jefferson, the third (repIe.
s.,nting the fourth generation). was born
in Philadelphia on Feb Goth, 1929, and
at the early age of three years, made
his theatrical debut.
His first appearance on the stage
was very unexpected affair, so far
as the audience was concerned. He
first really began in what was then
the rage, Living Statues. The boy
witnessed many of these entertain
ments, and won a juvenile reputation
for himself for his limitations of these
statues. In fact, young Jefferson was
initiating everything and everybody
that came to his notice. Genius began to
show its presence early in Joseph Jeffer-
son, the third.
Mimics.T. D. Rice.
It happened that eventually the
boy saw 7. d. Rice, a popular per-
former of that period, who was
creating a furore as a burnt cork
comedian. Mr.. Rice's performance was
filled with little mannerisms capable
of imitation and to the surprise of
everyone, our Joseph Jefferson-then
only three years old-began giving
limitations of Mr. Rice that were scream
ngly funny.
Mr. Rice himself saw them and
waXed enthusiastic. Much to the boys
delight. Rice helped him to perfect his
limitations, and it was but few weeks
until this mere baby could accomplish
nearly every move made by Rice him
self
Rice suggested the idea Of having
the boy appear on the stage with him
and the father, realizing that the
/ Thespian mantle was TO fall upon the
shoulders of his son, interposed no
objection and the stage career OF
Joseph Jefferson, the third, began.
Thrown on Stage.
1t had not been publicly announced
that young Jefferson would appear with
Mr.. Rice, and only few of the actors
| themselves knew that the boy was to
appear Those who did, however, We're
thrown into CONSERVATION when Rice,
in grotesque makeup, and carrying
his old carpet bag, appeared on the
stage without the boy.
Rice began his performance as usual
and after about three minutes, opened
the carpet bag to get, as he stated, his
handkerchief. Then came a gasp OF
feigned surprise and after Va severe
shaking Of the bag, out rolled young
| Joe Jefferson. = The audience fairly
shrieked its approval. 1t may be said
with all truth that the greatest actor
America has ever known was fairly
thrown on the stage"
Rice recognized in the boy a worthy
rival, for his work that evening was as
clear cut, as distinct, as much imbued
with personality, as that OF any pro-
fessional could have been.
Appears in Chicago.
In 1898, the boys father. after
negotiations with the manager of a
theatre in Chicago. then a town with
a population of a little more than
1000, journeyed to the city for which
such a brilliant history was just be.
ginning.
With him, over that memorable
journey by canal and on horseback,
he took his son, the family paying
for their passage by giving a number
Of entertainments on the old, slow
moving boat, the proceeds Of which
went to the captain.
In Chicago, the children were given
every advantage possible at that time
The father, with his great fondness
for drawing and painting, instilled his
knowledge into the mind Of his son, but
always the longing for the stage was
uppermost in the boys mind.
As Legitimate Actor.
During the awkward age, from l2
to l5, young Jefferson appeared but
seldom In the meantime, the first
theatre in Chicago burned and on its
site was erected a more modern play
house.
Is was in this temple Of amusement
that our Joseph Jefferson, whose name is
reverenced throughout all stageland,
first appeared as legitimate actor. 1t
was in Chicago, too, that he was given
the treasured manuscript Of The Rivals,
which the father had brought from
England.
The boy had often heard his father
talk Of the possibilities Of the part
of Bob Acres and he remembered
that his father, grandfather, and great
grandfather, had all achieved success
in the role. Then came the idea to
follow in the footsteps Of his ancestors
the ambition to again give the world |!
another Jefferson as Bob Acres.
Carefully he read the play and |
learned, with something akin to abso-
Lutte horror, that it was almost totally |
unfit for modern presentation.
When Sheridan wrote the play per- !
formances began at $50 and 6 O'Clock |
in the evening and lasted until mid
night. Long talky scenes we're, at
that time, prevailing marks OF dramatic
1t was on these anti
quated lines that Sheridan had con-
structed The Rivals The original
ending Of the comedy was not in ac-
cord with modern ideas, so young
Jefferson set TO work to revise the play /
and make it conform to the demands o.
the modern audiences.
The Graceful Epilogue.
With him, this work was a labor Of
love
Carefully he did his work and Won
derfully we'll, too. The abrupt ending
Of the old play he changed and, thanks
to his effort, The Rivals can now boast
Of graceful and beautiful epilogue
The All Star Cast.
This version Mr.. jefferson used for
upward of fifteen years, during which
time the possibilities Of the role of
Bob appealed to him to such an extent