Evening star., 1917-01-14
OLGA
SAMAROFf
cORcERI

SalaZar, the Spanish tenor; Signor An
gelo Antola; the little baritone OF
Edvige Vaccari. Mary Kaestner. and
the two splendid bassos-Signors Pietro
de Biasi and Natalie Cervi. also will re-
turn.
A new and costly scenic investiture
for all eight performances will consti-
tute an interesting feature of the pro-
ductions. The repertoire, Manager
Taylor states will include Wagner's
spectacular and massive work. 'Lohen-
grim" and the charming and scenically
beautiful opera, La Giaconda," by Pom
chielli.
The usual scale of prices will pre-
vail.
How Gillette Won His Way.-William
Gillette has occupied a foremost place
on the American stage so long and he
has written so many successful plays
and, has such an air of authority and
power in the dramatic world that it
will be interesting to know how he had
to make beginning, just like any
other poor young actor or playwright.
Mr.. Gillette was still a student at
Yale when he made his first appearance
on the stage at New Orleans in Oliver
Doud Byron's Across the Continent"
He was only a boy at the time, and he
had been taken on as a utility man
without compensation. AS soon as he
had gained some experience he politely
suggested to the management that he
would like to have a place on the sal
ary list, and then he was informed
that his services would be dispensed
with entirely
Not discouraged by this experience,
he made another attempt in Boston.
and there, at last. he secured the part
of GuZman in Faint Heart Ne'er Won
Fair Lady, at the Globe Theater. Then,
through the influence of Mark Twain,
his neighbor at Hartford Conn., he got
a part In THE Gilded Age" at the Bos-
ton Museum. where he also appeared
In several ShakeSpearean roles. After
that he Joined Ben Macauley's stock
company at Louisville and Cincinnati,
and and In the spring of 1877 he made his
first appearance in New York at the
New Park Theater as the prosecuting
attorney ia The Gilded Age"
His first pronounced success came a
Few years later when he appeared at
the Madison Square Theater, New York.
in the title role of his own play, THE
Professor" In 1884 he produced "The
Private Secretary at the Comedy The
ater. New York, and two years later
ne ne. presented pre- his great war play. Held
ater, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Soon after this a serious illness forced
Mr.. Gfllette's retirement and he drop
ped out of sight for several seasons. In
1894 he resumed his activities and ap-
peared in his TOO Much Johnson" The
following year his secret Service" was
produced in Philadelphia. with Maurice
barrymore in the leading role. When
the piece was brought to New York.
however, in 1886, Mr.. Gillette himself
undertook the part of the Union spy
and scored an enormous success, both
as an actor and as a playwright. His
wonderful vivification of Conan Doyle's
great detective followed in 1893
Since then Mr.. Gillette has appeared
in Barrie's THE Admirable Crichton."
in his own play .'Clarice," and in
French. He has also made a tour in
repertory of five Of his greatest sue
cesses-"Sherlock Holmes" Secret
Service" Held by. the Enemy" The
Private Secretary" and TOO Much
Johnson Two seasons ago he Joined
with Blanche Bates and Marie Doro
in revival of Diplomacy" in which
Mr.. Gillette was last seen in Washing
ton.
distinguished pianist, who in private
life is Mrs. Leopold Stokowski, the wife
of the conductor of the Philadelphia
Orchestra. despite her Russian name,
which, by the way, was that of her
great grandmother. is an American and
the daughter of former army officer.
Her father was stationed at San An
tonic, Tex, when she was born. Her
mother Is a talented amateur and her
grandmother was favorite pianist in
Germany. In 1905 Nine. Samarof made
her debut with the New York symphony
Orchestra under Walter Damrosch.
Leaving America in May, 1908, Nine.
Samaroff went to London, where she
made her debut with the London
symphony Orchestra, under Nikisch, In
a Tschaikowsky program. she was
hailed Immediately as one of the most |
brilliant pianists of the season.
Jessie Bonstelle, though capable |
actress, does not play now, but deVotes
her energies to directing the tour of |
Little Women" and to the Municlpai
unique institution at North
ampton.
1t is said to have taken Miss Bon
stelle eight years to gain the consent OF
the heirs of Louisa M. Alcott TO the
of Little Women. The
story was written about their rela-
tives and they hesitated at stage
of the incidents.
Miss Bonstelle is the only woman
member of the Rotary Club in Amer
lea. She has been successful stock
nEVra