Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-08-28


musical business. Some of his com
positions are treasured vet by tn
mnslc-loving patrons of the old tim
variety theater. His best and mos
popular known song those days wa.
the pretty ballad, entitled: "On
Kiss for Me, Sweetheart.
Have you forgotten the Haiti,
Moore Comic Opera Company, whicl
used to make California. Oregon
Washington Territory, Idaho anC
L tab, then back to San Francisco,
OF course you havn't.. Both Haiti,
Moore and Harry Gates. her hus
banda tenor singer of ability-art
dead. Gates was editor and pro
prietOr of the Dramatic Rer;cu, OF
San Francisco, for a time.
Andy Mckee, worldly famous foi
his Essence Of Old Virginia. ,
grimace and grotesque work, is in
the express business in Seattle.
stuart Robson. the actor. and
Andy worked together in Lon
don. While in Seattle, one trip, Mr..
Robson hunted Mckee and rode all
afternoon on the wagon with Andy
while delivering trunks belonging to
members of the theatrical profession.
Paul Boulon and George Come.
the old-time musical artists, are dead.
Among early memories of Paul, was
his appearance in Portland, in the
3Os at the Methodist church, with a
table for Il stage, and a small violin
adapted to his age He was then a
mere lad. BOulon'S father, in the
early days, conducted a liquor house
at Walla Walla, and upon his death
Paul inherited a fortune but lost it
in theatrical ventures.
Many performers and musicians
bowed their heads in sorrow upon
the death of Jimmy Smith, the vet
eran variety manager and owner of
the famous old Bijou, in Seattle. Mr..
Smith, or Jimmy" as he was called.
kept the wolf" from many poor
performer who was struggling along
the Alpine paths of his profession.
Jimmy" was one of the first to
open a variety show in the Queen
City. Smith was his own worst
enemy, and repeat now, what | did
the day he was buried: MAY he
rest in peace, under the green of the
grass, under the blue of the sky"
Among the old-time favOrites of
Territorial days who toured the coast
and often visited Olympia during
annual sessions of the Legislature,
are the Robinson Jamily, with win
some Sue as the bright pecu-
liar star, and the Chapman family,
with the anomaly of the mother. Car
oline, performing the maidenly parts
and her daughter the generally less
exacting role of the "old woman. -"
Fannie Morgan Phelps, and her
week-stand company, came on later,
in the Cos, and there was scarcely a
winter that she did not visit the
then most Important social, palitical
and business settlement on Puget
Sound.
Charley Ross was one of the best
clar;onet-pla yers on the Coast, those
days, and he was known in eyery
town where variety show shop op-
Grated, and by every orchestra lead
er and performer. He was the best
dressed musician of EN- all. His
hobby was clothes, and in his palmy
days he was known as the Beau
Brummel of musicians. At one time
he was leader of p. T. Barnum's
circus band, and came to the Pacific
Coast with the first circus ever COM
ing to Where rolls the Oregon
Montgomery Quean circus. Ross
was an invalid during the last few
years OF his life, and he died in Sc
attic. He was buried by the Elks of
which order he was a member.
Andy Mckee, whose Essence of
Old Virginia was world wide, and
who toured the world with Haverly's
Minstrels. 70-count- EN- strong
long ago retired from the business.
and drives an express. wagon in Sc.
attle. Himself. and wife billed as
Flora Franks, played all the variety
theaters on the Coast during the
reign of the box variety" Mckee
has had a standing offer for wears
from many of the best-known min
strel managers to join them, and be
featured, but he refuses all such Of
fers, prefering to remain in Seattle
with his daughter and grand-child.
happy and contented. Mckee is the
author of the old-time famous song
and dance, which rang from coast to
coast, Dancing in the Barn."
Bessie Louise King, with flute
like voice, vivacious, bewitching.
charming and pretty, was q big fay.
orlte with all theater-goers. She
first came to the Territory with a
musical extravaganza company play
ing The Magic DOLL" After a
time she joined the Jennie Winston
Opera Company, then fulfilling an
engagement in Portland. She was
with that organization for a time.
then she signed with Baird's Min
strels. Mr.. Baird billed this show,
.....,.,