New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-19

occupied a place like that of the
American Legion today. Its mem
bership was large and composed of
younger men.
| The Union hall program follows:
Mary T. Scott Siddons.
READINGS AND REGULATIONS
Auspices
Stanley Post, No. II, G. A. r.
Union Hall.
/ Tuesday Evening, Nov. 4th.
Programme
! PART /.
/. Scenes from LAS You Like It."
! ...,........... Shakespeare.
/ 2. Lady Clare. ...... Tennyson.
8. A Chapter from The limo
cents Abroad" 80. Mark Twain.
4. The Maniac, ..... Monk Lewis.
Interval of 10 Minutes
PART II. 80. ...
5. Scenes from The Merchant
Of Venice" ....... Shakespeare
/ 6. John Burns of Gettsburg.
............ Bret. Harte.
I. Sir Peter and Lady Teazle
Among other things of note in the
old Turner hall was big minstrel
number known as "Hooley's Forties"
and billed as Twenty Black and
| Twenty White" This was a big
minstrel troupe for those days.
! Oliver Dowd Byron. who later be-
came a noted actor, played there IN
/ Across the Continent" and the
famous Hyler Sisters accompanied
by the then nationally known color
ed comedian Sam Lucas also played
there. The Hyler Sisters were So
cially prominent as well as stage
stars and at one time sang at pro-
gram in the old First Baptist church
which stood on the site Of the First
National bank. N. B. Leavitt's
MINISTRIES were another attraction
and the noted Tom Thumb likewise
appeared there.
But like old Union hall and Han
mas hall. Turner hall had its day
and progress demanded another pub
lie amusement building and then
came the first honest-to-goodacss
theater Hannas Opera House,
known as the New Britain Opera
House.
Opened With Faust
This theater was formally opened
with the opera Faust, presented by
Strackosh and Hess. Mary Anderson.
a world famous actress, came to the
old opera house, William Gillett of
Of Hartford was there in Held by
me Enemy and The Private Score
,ary," two of his greatest successes.
Gilbert and Sullivan. then coming
into prominence, brought Trial by
Jury" and later brought the famous
"Mikado." This opera established
what might well be record of pop
ularity in any city today for it played
in the Opera house four times in one
season and played to capacity houses
at each visit. The late w. w. Hanna
once laughingly recalled that the
first appearance of the Mikado was
on an eighty twenty split In favor of
Gilbert and Sullivan. The next time
the producers were satisfied with
twenty thirty split and on the third
time a sixty-forty. Convinced that a
fourth appearance would not be such
drawing card, they induced Mr..
Hanna to book them again on q
sixty-forty split. Mr.. Hanna taking
the large end. Again it was sell
out at each performance.
John Drew, Henry Miller some Of
Augustine Days plays and the IA
nous Joseph Jefferson himself in
his noted Rip Van Wrinkle we're some
OF the other big attractions, not for
getting the great Russian actress
prima donna Jauneschek.
But interspersed with these, were
travelling shows that offered variety
entertainment such as songs and
dances, pictures, bit of minstrelsy
etc. and these shows were the direct
advance guard of today's vaudeville.
And in passing the name OF Julie
Ackerstom, then one of the coun-
trys most popular actresses playing
repertoire, must not be forgotten.
And Charles Froman. who went
down on the Inflated Lusitania, used
to come here in the old days and
present his offerings.
Then came the Russwin Lyceum.
The history of this theater is more
popularity known and the high class
of plays offered there are still hap
py memory with many citizens. Suf-
flee it TO say that the country's best
and ablest played there, including
John Drew, Maude Adams, Forbes
Robertson and host of others who
became world known.
Hamlet in Street Clothes
While Edwin Booth, the great
Shakespearean actor, never played in
this city, an interesting incident of
one night when he played in Water
bury is recalled. Booth was slated to
appear in one of his great roles, that
of Hamlet. There was a train delay
and the baggage car with his cos
tunes failed to arrive. Rather than
disappoint the large audience, Booth
went to the theater and began the
presentation of Hamlet in his street
clothes. Before the show was over
the baggage arrived and he then
changed to costume.
Within the past year or two much
comment was made when John
Barrymore played the role Of Ham,
let In evening clothes, but Booth.
years and years before, had gone
him one better by playing the role in
ordinary street attire.
Polite Vaudeville Enters
In the interim however, the New
Britain Opera house again was de-
stroyed by fire and between twenty
and twenty-five years ago was taken
over by Frank keeney who opened
it as a vaudeville house and billed
his acts as polite vaudeville" This
was the first presentation Of real
vaudeville as 1t is now know. in this
city and 1t was distinct hit, Several
years later the late p. S. Mcmahon
went into partnership with Keeney.