The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-28
MISS CROsMAN'S
CAREER METE0R|C
BECAME FAMOUS IN NIGHT. BUT
ONLY AFTER YEARS OF
HARD WORK.
BUT STILL ENOUGH TO CAUSE
STAR TO REALIZE 1T TAKES
TINE TO BECOME THE
REAL THING.~

Usually considered meteorie, Hem
rietta Crosmans success has really
been won by work. Her tour last
season was In Catherine Chish Dim
Cushing's charming comedy The
Real Thing" and was invariably fol-
lowed by such unqualified praise from
both press and public that her man
Agement feels fully justified in using
the same vehicle for her this season.
Apropos of the aes,ion of hard work
being the price paid by almost every
successful star, and not overlooking
the fact that the triumph of Mis-
tress Nell was sensational nd made
Henrietta Crosman famous In a night,
everybody had forgotten the years of
hard work that had preceded that
eventfnl night; forgot that Henrietta
Crosman had served her apprentice
ship with Augustin DAILY; forgot that
she had been leading woman with
Charles Frohmaus comedians and
had played a round Of characters that
perhaps no other star had eoualed.
And so II is that public's intimate ac-
quaintance with Henrietta Crosman
began one night about nine years ago
when she began her starring career
In New York at the Bijou theater.
The Mistress Nell" engagement
was not her first appearance in New
York, however, no indeed part of
her apprenticeship was served in New
York az well as en- tour. Miss Cros-
mans first metropolitan appearance
was at Days theater on which oc-
casion she played Celia In las You
Like To- with Ada Rehan as Rosallnd.
John Drew as Orlando. James Lewis
NJ Touchstone, George Clark as Jac-
cues and a cast of other nota bles Be-
cause Of Miss Crosman's personal sue
cess In this play she was never allow
ed to again appear AT Dalv's although
was retained and paid n salary as
member of the company for over
year.
She was then transferred 10 Daniel
Frohman's Lyceum, where she ap.
peared with Herher' KELSEY Eff e
shannon, Nelson Wheatcrofi. Mrs.
Within, W. ], LeMoync. and other
well known stars in THE Dancing
Girl" THE Charity BAN and other
Lyceum theater successes From
there che went to Che les Frchman.
who Mt that time orsanized company
called Frohman's Comedians. Her
first great success IN this organization
was IN Mr.. Wilkinson's widow at
the old Twentv-thtrd street thester
In this companv were Joseph Hol-
land. Il, J. Henley and Mrs. Mckee
Rankin.
One Of Miss Crosman's most pro-
nounced successes in the metropolis
was In "GIorianna" Up to this time
this was ~ most notable success she
had achieved. but unfortunately dur
ing the height of the run, she was
taken III and forced to retire. On her
recovery and return to the stage she
continued with Charles Frohman, On
~ f. n a. tako
she played for two years IN stock. and
finally for brief time, headed a COM
pany of her own in Bronson Howard's
some or Our Girls" Shortly after
this Miss Crosrnan made her famous
production and appearance as Nell
Cwyne. the kings favorite in Mis-
tress Nell"
Bevond ell doubt. and IN every con-
ceivable department, Miss Crosman
was supremely equipped for the place
she was a. occupy In the world OF
art; place that the venerable critic.
William Winter, said had not been so
we'll filled in his recollection.
Miss Crosman was the niece OF the
late Stephen c. Foster. COMPOSER Of
MY Cd Kentucky Home" THE Swa-
nee River" and other famous South
ern melodies and II was through him
and this relation that she met Bart
ley Campbell who gave her her first
part. "a small one. in THE White .
Slave" For some time she played /
what she termed emotional parts.
These were the days when Herietta !
Crosman dreamed Of a broadway"
engagement and the mystic emblem. |
that means so much to the actor. on ,
the dressing room door--a star.
Charles Frohmau cast her for her
first comedy part and since that time /
she had been identified with comedy
aimos exclusively and today she Is
without doubt Americas representa-
tive conedienne
AS a star, after Mistress Nell"
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