The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-24


81 there is much of interest in
a resume of theatrical events
of that time. Particularly is this true
when the amateurs are considered.
Men and women who are looked upon
in these days of commercialism as too
staid and stately to tackle the sock
and buskin were, thirty years ago, and
even since then, very active on the
stage at the Hawaiian Opera House.
Reference to the files of The Adver-
tiser between the years of 1881 and
1891 discloses programs of casts in
which many prominent people of to-
@hay are mentioned, and they are men
stioned in way that must have been
gratifying to them at the time.
For the past fifteen years Major
Potter has played many roles on the
{. amateur stage, but he tells ME his last
was his final appearance on any stage,
That was in ''The Men of the Hour"
"a good play by a clever company APP
pearing before an unappreciative audi
ence for the benefit of the yacht club.
Perhaps the lack of appreciation was
due to the fact that the public was
being reminded daily that there was
still big sum to raise, and it matter
ed little how big a benefit, or how
big donation had been given, the
same sum stood to be raised.
OF course. there were charitable OBJ
iects needing help thirty and even
fifty years ago, and performances were
gwen for their benefit, but it was left
for J. F. Brown to take the initiative
in the matter of promoting an anna
teur theatrical club that would give
performances and raise money. Mr..
Brown is still here, and though I have
known him long time, / do not re-
member ever hearing him say anything
of his stage experience prior to draw
ing him out at Nolte s the other day.
Even then it would not have been
possible to get anything from him had
I not mentioned the existence of the
programs in the files of The Adver-
tiser. Once started, he unfolded, but
unwillingly, and I am going to tell
the story as he told it to me, sitting
over his coffee, the other morning. The
narrative must awaken recollectlons IN
the men and women who took part IN
the performances, recollections that
will, perhaps, create desire for the
old DAYS. and the pleasure IN the
"reminiscences will be mingled with
feelings of regret that Time can not
turn backward
81 try to hide my connection with
the amateur theatricals,' he said,
"'not because I am ashamed of it, but
the more serious things in life occupy
nv attention. and / do not care to
have nv mind distracted. The flies of
the newspapers are great reminders,
and YOU owe it to their existence that
I am here telling you some OF the
things in theatricals that the neWspa-
pers did not record.
"Being caught with the goods 1t
would be foolish in me to do less than
plead guilty to the charge of having
fostered amateur drama in Honolulu
almost a generation ago. 1t began, L
think, in 1881, and continued, as far as
it concerned me, for the next twelve
years and let me tell you that in those
DAYS we had a mighty goodnatured
community. else I would not have es-
capped bodily harm during all those
wears. If the audience ever 'eussed'
they did it pianissimo and we never
heard it. This proves that we do not
always get our dues in this world.
FsThe visits of professionals IN those
DAYS were few and far between and
lucky thing it was, for the amateurs
ESCAPED odious comparisons. 1t was IN
'8l or possibly 1872, shortly after the
old opera house was built, that few
of us organized the Honolulu Dramatic
Club for such fun as we could get out
of it and I might say, incidentally,
quite incidentally, that assisting charlt-
able organizations was one OF our rea-
sons for existence. l can not recall at
this time all of the names of those
who aided and abetted the organ1za-
: tion,> but that of Godfrey Brown, now
Z a soiourner in London, stands ont proml-
nentIy in the galaxy Of stars. And
what a bright star he was. Then there
was Alatau T. Atkinson, now gone to
his fathers, J. NJ. Dowsett, Charles
Scarborough. E. Faxon Bishop. Ed.
Holdsworth-dead long ago--Edward
Purvis and Harry Won Holt. Mr.. Holds
worth was with Davies & Co, and 1t
was he who designed the stamps for
the Republic of Hawaii Those were
the principals; I have forgotten the
names of others for it is long while
ago.
"The LADIES' Oh. yes, we had assist
ance from them and most excellent ser
vice they rendered but should I men
ton them after all these years2 Most
of them are married, some of them gone
and Others widowed The names Of
Bernice Parke. now the widow of
Mr.. Walbridge, who was once manager
of plantation on Maui; Rose Makee,
better known to the newcomers as
Mrs. f. D. Tenney; Mrs. Frank Hast
ings. sister Of Mrs. Tenney; Miss Flor
ence Luce. Miss Ricke Nolte. now the
wife of James Mcclure, and Mrs. Carey
Rimond I remember there were others
but their names have slipped my mind
at this moment. II was in the musical
productions that these ladies were
prominent. Others were in the dra-
matte casts.
''With the exception of Godfrey
Brown who couldn t sing any better
than crow. the gentlemen I mentioned
also took part in the musical and
Iro,,o+Sa so1a.+forr +ba+ vr-ara vTvp1 II