The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-16
MRS. JOHN WOODS OLYMPIC.
4 Remark able Roster OF Players In
Famous Theatre.

about this house, and i trust the APP
pended chronological record may he Nof
interest to your leaders
Tho specific question whether Nat
Goodwin ever appeared at the Olympic
during its years of variety and spe-
Cialty" entertainment 7 cannot answer
positively. but 1t Is fairly probable he
aid, although a correspondent OF THE Bun
recently said that Nat Goodwin did rot
appear there, but In 1875 made his first
New York appearance at Tony Pastors,
ksj Broadway" saw Nat Goodwin
at the Howard AthenRum. Boston. year
or two earlier. give his limitations In
play In which Stuart Robson starred as
John Bcdt, the policeman II was called
Law In New York"
An Olympic Theatre antedated this one
1t was called Mitchells olympic. and was
at 4i4 Broadway. and afterward became
the Christy Minstrel Hall My father.
James Seymour. began his theatrical
career there in ls47. and played Sykesy
with Frank Chanfrau as Nose in IA
Glance at New York. "Sykesy, take the
butt" was the catch line, I remember.
But the Olympic Theatre Of Mrs. Wood
was situated at ga Broadway, between
Houston and Blocker streets Nearly
opposite was Maillards first chocolate
establishment II was opened as Laura
Keene's Varieties on November rs, 1856.
The performance began with THE star
company. followed by Shakespeare's
comedy as You Like IT. with Laura
Keene as Rosdiind, George Jordan AS
Orlando, Charles Wheatlegh as Touch
stone. !. II. Stoddart as CoriH. Mrs. j.
II. Stoddart as celia and an English actor
named MaclRae AZ Jd"ques The per
performance concluded with Ladies Re-
ware" The house was crowded. and the
receipts, at prices ranging from 81 to
IS cents. private boxes So were $3.50.
Charlotte Thompson Joined the company
In August, 1857. making her first APP
pearance as Caroline DOrmcr In The
Hcir-at-Law" our American Cousin"
was produced October rs, 1858. and ran
until the next spring. The Colleen Bawn"
was produced March 20. 1860. and ran
until May ~.
Laura Keens relinquished her man
aRement OF the theatre i'm the spring OF
1868. A short summer season was in
augurated by Mrs. W. u. tJane) Eng
ilsh, hut In October. 1858, It was re-
opened by Mrs. John Wood as Mrs. John
Woods Olympic Theatre. Charles Wynd-
ham was n member OF tho company, but
remained only one week lie Joined the
Union army as a surgeon and remained
in service until 1855
II is a singular coincidence that
while writing these words I read the
notice OF Mrs John Woods death in
England Mrs Wood was Matilda Vim
ing. OF the celebrated Vining family, and
a cousin Of Fanny Vining, who married
r. l.. Davenport
Mrs. Wood gave up the olympic in
June. 1868, and Leonard Grover assumed
the management, opening the theatre
September 3, 1866. with Joseph Jefferson
as Rim Van Wrinkle Mr.. Grover retired
August 81. 1857, and the following
month James E. Hayes and John A.
Duff became tho managers, with George
l.. Fox as stage manager. ! had the
honor OF appearing for the nrst time In
New York city, my birthplace, on
September Q. 1867. with Mr.. Jefferson,
playing Liftie Hendricks IN RIP Van
Wrinkle" II ran for eight weeks 10
crowded houses. on october 2s ~ Mid
summer Nights Dream" had splendid
production, and had the delightful
pleasure OF witnessing George L. Fox's
performance rs Bottom
\ magnificent panorama OF Athens by
Telbin. the celebrated London scene
painter was used with fine effect This
play ran until February 1858, and on
March 10 "Humpty Dumpty" was pro-
duoed.
II our little ones and our big ones
could see George Fox as Humpty
DunptU! BY many he Is remembered
only as Clown in the pantomime. but
George Fox was a wonderful comedian
and a splendid actor. 7 have seen all
the actors OF Bottom since ] saw him.
and ma remains at the head OF the list.
"Humpty Dumpty" ran until May 10,
1889. having been played 4s3 times
During the following season, 1901, I
was at Booths Theatre. acting with Mr..
Booth in his magnificent revivals OF the
Shakespcarlan tragedies. and saw
George Fox IN his inimtable perform
ances Of Hamlet. Macbeth and Richelieu.
His costumes and makeup were modelled
exactly after Mr.. Booths and the scenery
and appointments were absolutely cor
rect. The company was an excellent one
and Edwin Booth attended several
matinee performances and laughed inn
moderately at these burlesques OF him
self
In March. 1871, 7 saw Augustin Days
Western drama Horizon" with won
derful cast including George L. Fox as
senator SHndOUH Rouse and Agnes Ethel
Ms Med In 1874, under George II. Tyler
the Olympic became variety theatre, and
for several seasons was run by various
managers as speciality house. II was
during these years that Nat Goodwin
may have appeared there. hut know that
Sol Smith Russell did doing his special
ties under John L, Poole's management
Augustin DAILY managed here for a
brief period, and "L'Assommoir" Drink.
| adapted by him, was produced. but was
not success. William Hoferle assumed
the management in September, 1879. with
cheap prices, 30 cents. IS cents and 20
cents
The last manager OF tho Olympic was
Frank Mayo, who began season In
| January. 1880 and closed II April H.,
| 1880 with performance Of Richard
| III" Soon afterward the building was torn
down. oddly enough, the old playhouse
| opened with a Shakespearian comedy,
| AS You Like It," and closed with a
| Shakespearian tragedy, Richard III"
| Your correspondent asks: Was IL a
variety or dramatic house7"
append n partial list OF the actors and
actresses who appeared There from 1856
| TO 1880. and It is a roster to be proud or
| ! take the names hapha zard
Joseph Jefferson, u. A. Sothern. J. H.
| Stoddart. Mrs. u. +. Rowers, Laura
| Kcene. George Jordan, G. w. Coudock,
| William r. Blake, Mark Smith, Agnes
! Robertson. Dion BoucIcault. Charles
| Fisher, Mrs. T.. s. Chanfrau. owen Mar
| lowe Mr.. and Mrs, y. w. Waller, John
| y. Raymond Maggie Mitchell. James w.
| Collier, A. II, (Dollyl Davenport, Charles
| Walcot. Jr.. ]. X Mortimer, George
| Clarke, william Davidge, Matilda Heron,
| James Lewis, stuart Robson, Charles Bar
| ron. Mrs. q, II, Gilbert (making her first
| appearance in New York city in 1850, n.
| l.. Davenport who played Monte Cristo
| there In December. 1865: George Faw-
| cett Rnwe Who made hts first amman M %