Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

hit of the dav and carried aThe Little Cherub' to a
big Since that season Miss Williams has
tinued of the most popular musical comedy stars
the American stage.
WILLIAM GILLETTE and Otis Skinner are two
v" famous stars who their eninence in the world
of the theater the lost art of transforming The early
of both marked and marred by hard sled
ding and real privation.
Otis Skinner the verge of giving up the fight
afternoon at Winona, Minnesota, when the
ger of the company in which he doing the night
suggested the idea of starring the young actor Jo
Seph Buckley the manager, had saved little money,
and he willing to risk it starring venture The
plan discussed in the office of the Winona Theater.
and contract was drawn up That contract was re-
Spected for many years, and had to be assumed by
Charles Frohman when Mr. Skinner came under his
direction.
The first season disastrous for the odd part
nerShp Time and again the firm reduced to abso
lutte perjury. Each time Skinner doubled back to In
dianapos where he idolized by theatergoers and
each time he managed to earn new stake. Finally the
puCy fight began to bear fruit The young star found
several profitable plays notably Rosemary, which he
produced in the smaller cities, while John Drew
Chicago. Then Charles Frohman persuaded him to
come under his management, and agreed to take Buck
ley with him. Today both Skinner and Buckley
comfortably rich.
of Connecticut and 60 the stage he had to break
with his family. He fought to make good against big
part of the Rev. Job McCosh in @Digby's Secretary
farce that he adapted from Won Mosers "Der Bibio
thekar" and first acted at the New York Comedy The
alter on September 49, 1884: The play was an mmedi-
ate success. On the same night A. NJ Palmer produced
"The Private Secretary, an adaptation of the same
play by Charles Hawtrey at the Madison Square The
alter. After many threats of lawsuits compromise
effected, and Gillette starred for several
composite of the two versions
"The Private Secretary established Gillette the
best farceur of the day. and then, of moods that
he is, he Immediately set to work writing melo
drama that advanced him actor of powerful roles
as well as the possessor of farccal gifts: This play,
"Held by the Enemy, he acted at the Criterion The
alter in Brooklyn on February % 1885, launching him.
self star and playwright.
MAT C. GOODWIN worked his way to the posi-
ton of star; but his first theatrical experience
not auspicious He clerk in upholsterer's
shop when he heard the call of the footghts. His first
Providence Opera House. with William Henderson's
Stock Company, and he assigned to the role of Sir
George Hounslow in melodrama, "The Bottle.
When his cue the opening night he rushed the
stage raised his arm and opened his lips to speak, but
sound came from them. He was so overcome by
stage fright that he dropped unconscious and had to be
carried off.
WILLIAM COLLIER starred himself. His first
'" knowledge of the tIeater gained as calboy
at Augustin DAYS theater He managed to have him
self assigned small bits in the DAILY productions.
When Samson and Goliath was produced young Col
er given the character of dude to portray, and
without a line to speak, made such hit that John
Russell engaged him for "The City Directory in which
he doubled, playing the Elevator Boy and the Stage
Manager. He had just six lines to speak in the latter
part but he developed the character until it became
the star role of the play.
ALA NAZIMOVA was starred "over the teacups.'
Henry Miller found her in tiny East Side theater
in New York playing roles in Russian plays He does not
understand Russian but he does know the psychology
of audiences. He had Madam Nazmova taught the
English language and presented her in series of mat
ns performances of bsens plays at the little Princess
Theater. Tne combination of Ibsen and Nazimovas
quaint pronunciation of English caught the fancy of
tneatergoers for whom the bait prepared, and be-
fore the end of the first week everybody in New Works