Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-23
HARTFORD SKIPS OUT
PopnIsr NsiIDee Idol Gives Ney Tbealer Almost a Dealh Blow.

Evidently Dave Hartford saw the handwriting on the wall when the Eagles on Sunday quietly snuffed out the Hartford Stock company, that has been playing to a losing game down in the Eagles nest, and decided that they would run the venture tham- selves for the present. At any rate Dave will not be seen around his old haunts for some time at least and his boon companions and many friends will miss his kindly smile and friendly greeting and general good fellowship. Those who will miss him most, however, will be the members of the Empire stock com. Dany, which name was adopted when the Hartford stock company ceased to exist. Hartford was the whole life of that company. In fact he was the original promoter of the theate" and company, and he honestly be- lieved that he could make the new playhouse a success, He was ad- vised by some of his best friends that the location of the theater would not appeal to the theater-going public, but to all he paid deaf ear and he took a flyer into it, with disastrous results. Now he has gone and the little company which has been strug. gling to keep together, if only until after the holidays. has received the hardest blow of all
 When the company assembled for the regular matinee performance of Alabama" yesterday Hartford was not in sight. A search was made for him and finally Manager Morrison found him at the Hotel ConnecticuI. He was informed that it was time to begin the matinee and Hartford replied that he was through and vas not going back to the theater any more. Manager Morrison returned to the theater and explained that Mr Hartford was i'll and that he would read the lines of the part, which he did, and the performance went off fairly well. Before the afternoon Hartford had taken the train for New York, where he will join hls wife, who had gone on before him. From there he Is going to Los Au- geles, where he will be leading man in stock company now playing :n the Auditorium in that city. Mr Hartford left here practically broke, for he had invested something in the new theatrical venture. It is re- ported, to, that he owed a board bill of $500, that he had practically drawn no salary since the new com pany started and that the taking over of the theater by the Eagles was the last straw and Hartford threw up his hands and decided t3 quit. The other members of the company were surprised, for they believed he would stick with them until after the holidays, but he probably figured t out that if he did wait until then the position in the west that was offered to him might not be open. He has gone and another idol has been shat tered and another theatrical venture has been given a knockout blow.
 Messrs M. F. Greaney and Thomas Hallnan said last night that the Eagles would continue to run the theater, at least for week or two A new leading man would be on here to-day from New York and the per formance would continue as hereto fore. It was probable, though, that at the conclusion of next weeks en- tertainment the theater would cease to exist, as theater.
 There is some talk of reviving polo there and Manager Hanna has been sent word to come over here and tali; business. The Bridgeport team could be transferred here and 9s they are standing up fairly well they might be able to make things pay. At any rate, there are hundreds of people in the city who want polo.
 All of the claims against the com pany have not been filed, but it IS estimated they will amount to about $2,500. Incorporation of the com pany was never completed and there fore instead of the stockholders being responsible as a company for the claims they are individually re- sponsible for one and all of them. The Tracy Bros Co is owed about $450, the New York Seat Co $500, the players and the orchestra have not been paid, but the stage hands have been paid in full. One young woman has been with the company two weeks She was brought here on the representation that she world be paid $50 week, but she received in all only $15.