The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27

but finally relented. 1T was so
years ago" said he. and I was just
IA years old, when I played In the
original production OF Gilbert and Sui
livan's 'Pinafore' In Boston" He told
me this in answer to my query whether
he had ever played in comic opera or
musical comedy
Guilty" said he Il have even
doubled in brass and played on the
street in the afternoon parade. Joined
in with the concert artists in front Of
the theater until time for the show
and then put on black face Yes In
deed, l have played musical comedy
and comic opera. Ny first experience
was this one of which I speak in Bos-
ton. when. 80 years ago. Pinafore
first saw itself in America. That was
at the Boston museum and there were
some people in the chorus whose names
You will recognize. William Morris
was one. Melbourne Mcdowell an
other Then there were George Schil-
fler. and finally +. III. Sothsru. who then
called himself Z. Dee because he
didn't want the world to know that
the son OF his great father was getting
his ground falls in theatrical art.
Marie Wainwright was Josephine and
Lizzie Harold was Little Buttercup
But if I really start on a reminiscent
tour we will be here till the curtain
goes up on tonight's performance"
So Mr.. Holt closed the turn and we
the artist and regretted that in
/ vaudeville there are no two act per-
fornsnces. for apparently Edwin Holt
had only started
The Story of a Song
4 When theatrical people say Merry
/ Christmas they mean it. The senti
ment comes with sincerity and is not
unassociated with sorrow. Aside from
+ sentimental concerns and the absence
that their work entails from the family
roof tree. the season OF good viii TO
men means, frequently, a week OF en-
forced idleness-seven days OF doing
nothing on no pay for players.
Some scribe, with the tendency OF an
accountant. figured up over 200 com
panies which were laid off throughout
the country during Christmas week
this year. Folks are too busy buying
presents and too much perturbed over
paying for the same to have much time
or money TO devote to play going. so
wise manage are wont to fix their
bookings so as TO permit their players
to rest during the holiday and gift buy
Ing season which precedes December 25-
'The Alaskan company Is one OF the
many attractions which is enjoying q
rest. and many OF the members of the
comic opera show are spending their
II
manager Of the company, and Edward
Martindel, the barytone who sings
about the Totem Pole" are two OF the
organization now IN San francisco.
s1T0litor told me about a visit he had
a few weeks ago in Denver with the
popular song writer. Edward North
rup, who is affectlonately called Teddy
} by a thousand friends
Northrup is dying in Denver. He
knows that he has but a few months
: to live, but he is working away for
dear life to finish his opera. which he
: thinks will be better even than his
Casino Girl
!. He told me-" said Molitor. "that he
Z knew he would never hear his work
, played, but that he was determined TO
> complete theIscore to leave behind him
, when the summons comes. He is work
, ing with a feverish haste that is pit
, ifuf to witness. and is displaying the
same sort of courage that a soldier
Spectacularly shows on the. battle Held.
/ He asked to see Martindel and myself
! for an afternoon. We went TO his
studio intending to stay half hour.
: We remained with him until the lights
were lit. He had just completed song.
For I dream OF You. which he gave
to Martindel asking that IL be inter-
1 polated in the second act OF The
:. Alaskan.
Il promised him that it would be
/. done and would have kept my word
1 whether the song was good or not. but
when he sang il FOR rs. I found we had
been given a gem. The ballad has not
been published. but I would like the
people who have applauded the song 70
2 know that it was written by Northrnp
1 in Denver while the shadows of his last
hours were approaching.
0 "sRe sure NOrthrup said to me.
I that nobody tinkers with my orches-
tration. Let II be played as I have
; scored it. The song is my pet. it is the
t last. perhaps. that will a0er do. for
+ I am going 10 complete my opera be-
fore 1 die
I There's herOIsm for xOu..,.