Evening star., 1932-02-07
BY II. II. Landu0igt~'

Mather and Rowland Blackstone, fine
actors, but rarely recalled now. Louis
Mann, a famous comedian, and Clara
Lipman, an actress Of great accomplish
ment, also at this time were delight
ing their audiences with The Red
Kloof." a South African play at the Co.
lumbia Theater in this city. over al
Albaugh's Grand Opera House cater
ward Chase's) Henrietta Crossman, VINO
happily has not yet commenced to be
forgotten, was winning hearts IN
Mistress Nell" a new play by George
C. Hazleton, a washington boy from
Capitol Hill who also wrote the eXqul-
site Chinese fantasy THE Yellow TICK
et," William Herbert and Geonrey
Stein, both fine and versatile players,
played in her support. Mr.. Stein was
brother of Ned" Stein, and tor years
was the popular treasurer OF tne olo
Columbia Theater here.
Frank Perleys singing comedians,
about this time, were winning plaudltS
in The Chaperons," book by Frederic
Rankin and music by Isidor WltmarK,
with a cast headed by delightful ana
amusing Digby Bell, one Of the tayorltc
musical comedians of the day Marie
Cahiu. whom old timers will never for
get; Eva Tanguay, just beginning 10 l
Don't Care; Louis Cunning and May
Boley, among a mighty host OF singing
ladies, and Joseph c. Miron and waiter
Jones, very popular but probably 1or-
gotten now, were in the excellent cast
brought here by George w. Lederer.
December u, at the National The
ater, David Belasco made his great
presentation. at a genuine premiere, OF
MRS. Leslie Carter in "Du Barry" Z. "A.
Stevenson, Hamilton Revelle, Frederic
Perry, Claude Gillinwater, Eleanor
Carev and Blanche Rice-names 10
coniure with in those days-Were IN the
famous cast. The critics OF tne Gay
thought the play very daring ana, Whlle
admitting its artistic excellence never
theless, were fearful that its tate mlghU
be dismal. Mrs. Carter then, proOaoiy
at the highest peak of her glory, LAID
their fears "Du Barry" is recorded as
one Of the classics of the American
stage But the do-and-dare spirit had
not then been cultivated by World War
effects nor had it been encouraged by
the later modern change in times, man
ners methods, moods and-Well, you
know.
Romance, a bit of the bizarre and
new onera rounded out the year l9Ol.
At the Lafayette Square opera house
(now the Belasco) we had An Enemy
to the King" a romantic drama by
Robert N. Stevens, while at the Ma
tional Klaw g. changers comedy com
pany was presenting Gus and Max
Rogers in THE Rogers Brothers IN
Washington" with lyrics by Harry b.
Smith and music by Maurice Levi. Fol-
lowing this came James K. Hackett, an
actor too good, too great, to be lost IN
memory. in Don Caesars Return" The
wear closed at the old Columbia with
Jerome Sykes and the Klaw & Erlanger
Opera Co., in Foxy Quiller," Harry B.
smith and Reginald de Kovens new
opera that fell short of becoming quite
famous.
The year 1902, like the one which
preceded it, opened with Francis Will
son. the unique comedian of the musical
stage. and again the star, in THE
Toreador," supported by Christie Mac
donald. the queen of them all in her
time, and with her Adele Rltchie,
Oueenie Vassar and Maud Raymond,
beautiful, brilliant singers of the starry
armament Of the theater, at the Ma
tionaI Theater, on New Year day. The
play story was the work Of James T.
Tanner and Harry Nichols, the lyrics
by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank,
| the music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel
Monkton-and all OF II Nixon zim-