Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-12-24
VOLUME xxx, NO. J
TIII0 NEGRO ON THE STAGE.

The recent announcement t's,t 4
Charles S. Gilpin, cc.orcd actor to be |
seen here Monday, Tuesday, and l
Wednesday nights and Monday and |
Wednesday matinccs at the Academy
OF Music in Eugene G. O'Ncin's drama
'"Thc Emperor JONES'" which The Fro. |
vincetown Payers arc presenting UNI
der the management Of Adolph II'aub
er, will appear in London next season
as Othello with Mrs. Patrick Camp
bell as Desdamona gives rise to some
interesting surmiSing as to just what
lies in store for the colorcd folks of
the stage. There seems to be Just now
a tendency toward their recognition.
New York has Trad It's Shuttle A'ong
It's Put and Take" and a season ago
Its Come Seven the latter however
done by white company. Mammies
and Buffers arc always On hand as
plot eXplainers In colonial and even
modern dramas. And Of course there
ts always Bert Williams.
1t was through n servant character
fzation, by the way, that Charles Gil
pin got his chance 10 play the title
role In the O'Neill play. He played
the role Of william Curtis in tho Drink
water pay abraham Lincoln" during
Tire New York run Of the piece. Ora
matte critics witnessini the perform
ance never failed to mention the eplenl
IL piece of work done by the man woh
played the servant. When the Province
town Players decided to produce o.
NeilPs extraordinary drama aiainss
the persuasions Of almost everyone
who had read the play, be II said.
some one suggested Gilpin.
He was found at his home near the
Lafayette Theatre, 132nd Street, Now
York, tho co'Orcd theatre in which Ire
Is greatly interested. One reading Of
the lines Impressed tho players with
the quality Of their "find." O'Neill
himself WINS SO taken with the voice
and personal magnetism of the man
that he agreed to do another plny aft
or he had finished Zones" However.
II "The Emperor Jones" is to be done
In London, followed by n season as the
moor, 1t VIII be year or two at least
hefore Gi.p." will have an opportunity
or taking up new play.
1t Is comforting to know THAT some
thing Is being planned for the fine net
or whose force and power practically
carry the eight scenes of "The Emper-
or Jones'" Such splendid talent should
be Kept In constant exercise. Gilpin IS
a lite past 40 in the prime of life.
He was born In Richmond Va, attend
ed parochial school until he was Ia.
He credits the "elocution" lessons
given him by the nuns at the Catholic
school for arousing the first stir Of
acting ambition. When he was Is no
got his first job in Richmond News
paper Office. Nights he went down to
the Music Hall and sang and danced
Tor trifl1ng bit Of change, more by
way Of recreation than anything o'se.
! His voice was so good that he finally
Joined minstrel troupe and thus his
Astag career began.
Gilpin made two tours of
Canada; the last in 1912 as
ne member Of band OF Jubilee
Singers. In the meantime ne worked
constantly in vaudeville, with minstrel
shows, occasionally in Corored stock.
PWlien Robert Mott organized the Pekin
Theatre in Chicago Gi.pin became an
important member Of the company re
naming there until Motifs death which
ended the career Of the Pekin. He
then Joined the Lafayette Theatre
Stock Company in New York and has
worked with these players and fire.
quently in moving pictures untD The
opportunity with "Abraham Lincoln"
came. or the stage Gilpin is quiet, u
nifty dresser and very unassumine in
manner and mode OF living. He enjoys
his own people and has q host Of
friends among them.
His greatest pride Is in the fact
that he was chosen one Of the ten
great st contributors of dramatic art
|a0f last season in New York, that he
NJ given the Spingarn medal by
Gown people and that he Is the only
red actor ever to have been receiy
yat the White House. Gipin met
chatted with President HARDING
twenty minutes last September in
$50 AebjOofop