Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-10-17

ferent intervals during his long ca
reer Rogers has conducted milk
delivery route. worked in drug
store. in a grain commission house.
Sandow. newspaper correspondent.
advance agent, business manager.
managing producer and as he says
himself. "a very bad actor"
First Joined Circus.
1t was more or less of an accident
Yours Merrily" entered the show
business. When a small boy in Gin
cinnati he applied for u job with the
John Robinson circus. got one and
started out. 1t was to carry water to
the elephants. for which he was to re-
ceive admission to the show. By the
time the elephants had enough water
the show was over. Undaunted. the
with the organization. riding in the
street parades. grand entry. etc, and
ended the year selling tickets.
The next year he went to school. but
was soon back at his first love. and the
time was not long when he ran across
Barney Macauley. who conducted a stock
theater in Porkopolis. At that time
there was a famous comedian named
Rogers. and Macauley thought Rogers
was that comedian. He offered the
youngster $40 a week and Rogers nearly
tainted, but accepted.
Made Good In First Play.
The first star to show at Macauley's
Theater. after the incident, was John B.
Owens. and the play was "Solon Shin
gle" Rogers was cast for the part of
the lawyer and he made good from that
moment.
His success was short-lived, however.
for falling miserably in a character
part In DIR. Pangloss." presented by
John S. Clarke. Macauley told the aspir-
he 10
business man than actor. and trans
ferred him to the box Office as assistant
treasurer.
That was virtually his start in the
managerial end Of the game. and his
rise was remarkable. for during the
lin in the business, and as advance man.
press agent and manager was greatly
responsible for the success Of such noted
performers as Mary Anderson. Minnie
Palmer. John Collins. the Irish comedian
Lew Dockstader and others.
Brought Out Havlin.
He was with Collins during the
out in 1859, when with the Macauley
Stock Company at Cincinnati. from
which he left in 1870 to cast his for
tune with J. K. Emmett. He stayed
with the famous comedian until 1875,
when he lavished forth with Hawley
anu Duisiey' d Nolou 1e"h VI thoSS
days.
1t was in the year 1878 that the
papers of two continents were full of
scandal in which Amy Louise
Woodward. wife of a Boston alb
sconder. and known on the stage as
OF her husbands money to advance her
theatrical aspirations. Rogers was
one of the many managers she
.dogged" for a trial Ito supplant
Lotta," the great Coincidence Of her
day. He finally undertook to direct
her tour, and was greatly embar-
raised by some of her actions, both
In this country and Australia After
threatening him on several occasions
he finally severed his connections
who subsequently died in poverty.
It Is said she squandered nearly ST.
100000 in her mad desire to become
an actress
1t was during the period from 1880
to 1890 that Yours Merrily" John R.
Rogers enjoyed his greatest success.
for then it was that he not only dis
covered one of the most popular ac-
treSses of her time, but the woman
who was afterward to bear his name.
Minnie Palmer. Space does not per-
init to detail the wonderful triumphs
achieved by the little favorite in MY
Sweetheart" and other plays of the sos.
From 1890 to 1893 the subject of this
sketch was with Wilson Barrett; in
1894 he managed King Kodak, the
Indian; 1861 found him with two
of the best London theaters. after
which he retired until the latter part
Of 1900. when he started afresh with
Mcintyre & Heath. remaining with
them until 1907. In 1908 he went
ahead and managed at times Eddie
Foy, remaining with the eccentric
one" throughout 1909, and In 1910 and
with the San Carlos Opera Company.
Owned Huge Diamond.
Rogers was an intimate friend of
famous 117-carat diamond worn by Mrs.
Grover Cleveland at her inaugural
ball. the theft Of which at the actors
fair in New York a short time after
ward caused a stir both in this coun-
try and Europe.
Mclean offered the actor-manager
100000 for the jewel, which, up to
the appearance Of the Hope diamond
In America, was the largest stone
ever brought to the United States.
The theft was never discovered. al
though Rogers spent large sums of
money in his efforts to run down the
thieves.
The genial globe-trotter was on in
Innate terms with all sporting celeb
rifles of the old days. was a crony
of Parson Davies. the noted fight
promoter. and was with him when
the older Commodore William H.
Vanderbilt gave him his sobriquet,
declaring that the silent Davies IRE
minded him of a preacher" and now
that he Is about to take another Of
his trips around the world he carries
with him the good wishes and love
of every prominent actor, manager
and newspaper man.