Arizona republican., 1910-01-23
CURTAIN FALLS Oh
 THE. FINAL SCENE
Joe Wheelock, Actor, Friend and Be- hemian, Passes Into the Mysteries of Futurity.

Joseph Wheelpck, Ir. prince of good
 fellows. is dead. The end came last | evening at o'clock at the homo of
 Mrs. NJ. A. Ryan. 7O4 North Central
 avenue. which has been his abiding | place for several months past, or ! since his return from the east last ! fall. Ills mother, Mrs, Joseph Wheel | ock. ST, was with him during the | last weeks of his life, having come here from her home in New York about a month ago. The body is un-
 der the care Of Mohn X Driscol and will be taken by the bereaved mother 1 to Los Angeles for cremation, after which all that remains will be trans | ferred to the far away eastern home. It was some seven or eight years | ago that Joe Wheeiock. then d we'll | known actor. first came to Phoenix, | being stricken with dreaded affec- ! tion of the lungs while playing the | part of the lieutenant in the famous 1 drama Arizona" a role in which he
 won distinction. He spent the winter here, and one or two subsequent sea 1 sons. being materially benefited by the climate. alternating between Phoenix | for rest and the stage for action. He | was finally forced to desert stage | life and came here to reside perma- nently, so long as he might lengthen ' his days, about three years ago. Since
 that time he has belonged to and has been regarded as d part of Phoenix and her institutions.
 In his earlier visits he was one of
 d quite numerous colony of actor folk
 who sought this climate by reason of i'll health, and who did much in stimu- lating the amusement and social life
 of the city, always ready to lend hand
 and heart in that which made life more worth living. He was an inti- mate friend of Tom Oberle. whose ca
 reer had been quite similar and whose end was similarly sad and untimely. source of deep regret to Phoenix friends. ssH
 Since coming here the last time to
 be permanently identified with the city. he has enjoyed a constantly widening acquaintance until the pres
 ent winter, when physical infirmities confined him most of the time tO his
 home. though last summer he made a
 trip east and returned. apparently
 somewhat improved. After the ac-
 quirement of the local theater by the
 Elks. of which order he was q mem
 Der the management of the house
 was placed in his hands. and it was
 his ambition from the first to elevate
 the standard of attractions presented
 in Phoenix That he did much to that end is attested by all and during the single season during which he was in charge there were creditable shows or none at all. Moreover. he arranged bookings of many of the attractions that have made this season notable, though he was not permitted to pre- sent them under his own management on account of failing health.
 Joe Wheelock was born in Chicago in April. 1871. and was the son of the late Joseph Wheelock. ST. an actor of quite notable achievements on the eastern stage. who died very suddenly since the residence of the younger man in Phoenix. Joe early developed histrionic talent. and first appeared on the stage in professional | work at the age of 19. During his 1 career he has been associated with many of the leading lights of the ! stage. and has appeared in many | companies He was member of the | Lyceum and the Empire stock com | panies of New York and played also | with William H. Crane in that city | and with Ethel Barrymore in London. He also starred for d time in d play 1 of his own production. Just Out of | College" He leaves no family save i his widowed mother.
 During his residence here he has | haI in affair of an amusement nature that | conditions permitted him to participate | in. He was valuable aid to the | E,lks in their local productions. and | for season or two had charge of the | children's amusement features at the | territorial fair But, best of all, he | was a good fellow Everybody who ! knew him liked him In good spirits. he was the most genial of men and seldom did the irritability of illness prompt harsh words. But if they were uttered they were not meant. ana everybody knew it. 1t was Joe Wheel ock and no explanation was necessary. Whatever he undertook called for the best efforts of his enthusiastic ha- ture To him there was no failure possible after he had come to an op- timistic conclusion, and if he fretted it was only because others were less sanguine
 That he was held in high esteem by the members of his profession was 'attested by the almost universal in quiry after his well being by those who have visited the city in the progress of their tours. That he was known and loved by q large circle of Phoenix friends will be evident by the expressions of regret that will be exchanged on the streets of Phoenix today. Joe Wheelock is dead. Peace to his ashes and honor to his mem- ory.