Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-02
BY Eugene Paul Jefferson.

WON'T count this one-for this will go
Is down NIT mine prayer-I will take my glass
und my pipe und tell my strange story TO all
my friends, und win drink your goot health
und your families, und may you all live long
und prosber"
The first time Joseph Jefferson spoke these famous
lines of Rip Van Wrinkle the stage was on Sep
ember s. 1865 the theatre being the Adelphi in Lon
don. The last time was in Paterson, N. j.. on May
2, 1901
1t is interesting in recalling these two perform
of Jefferson to know that its first produc-
ton in London rip Van Wrinkle" for one hun
dred and seventy nights, to the great surprise of
almost especially that of Dion Boucicault who,
at the request of Mr.. Jefferson, had written
version of the old play in which, however, he had
no faith saying
''They will never stand for man sleeping for
twenty years"
Boucicault did not like the play and would fire.
quently stop work upon it, but Jefferson would insist
upon his finishing it, saying he would take all the
risk. When it finished he asked the author
whether he would accept royalties cash.
Cash for me- the reply. 1T will never CO."
Had he decided to receive royalties his heirs would
now be receiving income from the play.
The story of how Joseph Jefferson became inspired
with the dramatic possibilities of Washington Irvngs
story is well known The old barn in Pennsylvania
is less familiar picture to the mind of the
public, but the fact is not well known that the
old play had been acted for years AS early as 1922
at the Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia, is
corded the Kerr version of rip Van Wrinkle" 1t
produced for the first time in New York by the
elder Hackett in $780, An old play bill of the Park
Theatre in New York, announces performance of
RIP Van Wrinkle" in 1881 as an afterpiece ALTERED
by Mr.. Hackett from a piece written and produced
in London and founded upon Washington Irvings
well known tale of the same name"
Other versions given by John II. Hewitt in
Baltimore, 1888, and Flynn (who appeared to be the
original performer of the parD also played at the
Richmond Hill Theatre. in New York, in 1888.
Charles Burke, Mr.. Jeferson's half brother played
the part at the New National Theatre, in New York
Tor the New Chatham), January 7, 1850. This YER
sion held closely to the lines of Irving's legend
When the vagabond returns, from the mountains
after the twenty years sleep Gretchen is dead.
In March of 1861 Joseph Jefferson left New York
for California and from there he took sailing
sci to Australia He spent about four years playing
successful engagements in this comparatively new
country at the end of which time he began to long
for home. This was In 1866. and the ocean not
dotted with steamships as it is to-day so he found
1t necessary to take guano boat for Peru expecting
to catch sailing vessel there bound for the United
States He was disappointed, and from South Amer
lea he went to Jamaica to catch ship called the
Evening STAR about to sail for New York. upon which
he had booked passage for himself and his young
Charles who had accompanied his father upon this
trip. They arrived in Jamaica too late-the vessel
had sailed-most fortunately for them, as two days
out the Evening Star, with every living soul
board, went down.
Missing that boat gave the American public Grip
Van Wrinkle"
Mr.. Jefferson decided to return home by way of
England, and it was there he met Dion Boucicault
gave him the old version of the play to revise or
rather reereate. When it complete Mr.. Jeffer-
arranged for its production at the Adephi Thea
ire, and before beginning rehearsals he called the
company together for a reading of the play.
Hurrying to the theatre on the day which he Had
set the actor met with great disappointment neither
the author the manager of the theatre pres
ent-there was GOODNESS between them, and, each
expecting the other to be present. both stayed away
He cast the play and began the reading. Paul