Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-23
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n umn OF personal chat has been running for
- for than year, 1 wonder sti doubt
full as to how many readers Il may interest but the
number Of people who mention II, or chaff about
Il Ia rather encouraging. IL fattering It is hard
70 tell how much OF a ongfelt want any particular
newspaper feature fills except by the boosts and
knocks but 80 far the boosts have been in the
majority.
within the past few weeks have aroused recollec-
tons OF some famous actors and actresses The
passing OF Tomaso salvni. for example, has brought
out quite general encomiums In all the public prints
pronouncng him the greatest tragedan OF his day,
although almost wholly unknown to the present gen.
Grafton OF American theater-?oers. Salvni made
tour OF this country in 1886 playing engagement in
Omaha at the old Boyds opera house. where
member seeing him in portrayal OF Othelo. He
took the role Of the Moor, with dusly brown make
up and fiery defamation in his own Italian tongue
1 doubt II any in the audience knew enough
italian 20 follow him. but from his actions and facial
expression there mistalng what he was say
Ing. He was man Of powerful physique and in his
Jealous handled Viola Allen, who was playing
Desdemona, theoretically that the finish Of tho
performance left her completely exhausted and
scarcely able to respond to the curtain call. While
salvni gave his lines in italian. all the other mem
bers of the company spoke English. salvini was
accompanied that trip by his son. Alexander SAL
VIM, though am not sure that he appeared with
him in the cast Alexander salvini, whom I after
wards met himself became a popular actor starring
In romantic melodrama, like The 1hree Guards
men," playing II in English and was frequently seen
IN Omaha, although no died many years before his
nlustrious father.
Another popular stage fsvorite whose death has
been recently announced is Ada Rehsn the star and
mainstRy Of Augustin Days famous stock company.
The DAILY company. with Mise Rehan held the boards
here number of times before It disbanded.
DAILY confined himself almost exclusively TO produce
Ing light comedy with usually revival once year
OF at least one Of the old standard plays The bill at
the Daily theater in New York would be changed
three or four times year and, when at col
lege there. endeavored to TO Days every time
the bill changed In this way 1 witnessed many great
scenic productions. including School for Scandal"
Tho Tanning of the shrew" Midsummer Nights
Dream" and Tehnysons "Foresters." It is peculiar
coincidence that Mabel Eaton who was the daughter
Of family that used to be neighbors in omaha
and who answered call to the footlghts and whose
death has also Just been announced out with
the DAILY company and had minor part in 1.-THE
Foresters when It The truth Is. however, that
ala not know at the time that an Omaha girl was
in Miss Rehans support but learned It shortly after
only on meeting her quite accidentally while walking
on Fifth avenue. when she told how fortunate
she was In securing such opening for the fur
therance OF her stage ambitions
Revertlng to the Eatons. the father z. L Eaton,
was omnha's swell photographer in the early days,
with only competitor, Currier, who professed 10
turn out the high class work There were
two daughters in the family Mabel and Fannie Who
wholly opposite types OF beauty. one a blond and
the other brunette. When business was dull the old
man used to post the little girls for character studios
depicting them at play. using the photographs for
advertising purposes One series in particular at.
tractsd special attention showing the two girls with
their dolls going through the various household actv
ties of washing hanging out the Clothes ironing Dress
making. cooking etc Perhaps OF the old timers
here have preserved copies those photographs and
might dig them up from the archives.
here last week. he referred to another stage celebrity
Mile. Rhea. with whom he had been professionally
associated and who to him had spoken her friend
ship with my father and myself. and OF having en-
tertained US once at her home near Paris To Mr.
Hackett recalled vtvidy the incidents OF that visit
having been invited BY her 70 dine her villa in tho
little suburb OF Montmoreucy. Just short ride from
the French capital At the time she was entertaln
ing as her quests her sister and niece from Ant
werp and young American girl from Michigan ana
during the conversation which naturally turned to
drama she explained that in all the years of her act
Ing her sister had her In any performance
Mr.. Hackett stated that when Rhsa died few years
ago she was absolutely pennless and that she was
buried In the potters field end that he afterwards
raised $500 In contributions from her friends among
American players with which he had the body re,
moved to plot OF ground In cemetery and erected
a suitable monument TO her memory. 1 have In an
album Rhea's autograph with the motto inscribed
'Ftdes ct Labor" It would be an Appropriate in
scription for that monument