The New York herald., 1921-12-18
John Halliday Turned
From Mining to Stage

John Halliday, who portrays the con-
fdent young Englishman in "The
Circle" is generally supposed to be a
Scotsman, but as a matter Of fact he
is English, born in Brooklyn. and lived
there until he had passed his third
summer when he sailed away to Scot
land with his parents and received his
education in that country. Born of an
English father and a Scotch mother, the
actor also has strain Of Italian blood
IN his veins his paternal grandfather
having been italian.
After spending nineteen years in Scot
land John Halliday became the boon
companion of his artist father in the
latters itinerant life. Like pair Of
gypsies they wandered in every land.
where the elder Halliday sketched and
the son spent his days enjoying life and
the artists whom his father gathered
about him. Always interested in the
theatre the younger man did not give
it any serious consideration until after
the death Of his father and he had taken
up life In America.
His trst American residence was in
British Columbia, where he became in
terested in mining. During his stay in
Canada he gave rein to his theatrical
tendencies in a series of amateur theat-
ricals. This led to a professional en-
gagement in San Francisco. He spent
several seasons in stock, finally joining
the famous Alcazar Company when Nat
Goodwin was OF that organization
About this time the gold boom came to
Nevada. Taking his savings. about
$500, he started for Nevada. There he
organized a mining company and In
three years had made q fortune.
Whenever he could find the time amid
the gold excitement he staged entertain
ments for his appreciative companions,
the most pretentious of these being a
production Of "Pinafore." The only
professional actors in the performance
were Halliday and Arthur Cunningham.
Cunningham had just finished an en-
gagement at the Tivoli Theatre, San
Francisco, In when Johnny Comes
Marching Home" He suggested that
they inject into the second act of "Pipa-
fore" a portion of the third act of the
above mentioned musical comedy. So it
came about that when the performance
WAS given an American flag was run up
the ships dagpole and the entire COM
pany burst forth into the strains oil
my Own United States from the score
of the musical comedy. 1t added great
zest to the production and nobody
seemed aware that liberties had been
taken with Gilbert and Sullivan.
Anyway, Mr.. Halliday claims there
was no connection between his produc-
ton of "Pinafore" for the Reno Catholic
Church and his subsequent departure
for Honolulu. Just before leaving for
his vacation he put all his money into a
mine and upon his arrival at Honolulu
he received Il cable from his partner
announcing that the bottom had dropped
out of the boom and that both were
broke.
Returning to San Francisco Halliday
decided to give his entire attention
Lenceforth to the stage. After an en-
gagement on the Orpheum Circuit in
sketch by John Luther Long he Joined
a stock company in Cleveland as "a step
nearer his goal--Broadway. While
playing in THE Brute" Mr.. Halliday
attracted the attention of William A.
Brady, who engaged him for three years
and cast him for his forthcoming pro-
ductlon of The Whip"
Successes which followed were
achieved In "The Ware Case" The
Dancer Hit the Trail Halliday" and
Sealed Orders" Preliminary to his
present engagement In The Circle" Mr..
Halliday was Miss Margaret Anglin's
leading man in THE Woman of Bronze"
Then came Teddie Luton in THE
Circle"