The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-10-30
EDWARD /. SOTHERN,
NOTED ACTOR HALF A
CENTURY, SUcCUMBS
Death Of Shakespearian Thes.
plan Announced Day A.
ter Occurrence
PNEUMONIA PROVES FATAL
Last Rites for Traditional Thea.
ter Figure to Have No
Audience

etCeS 1OT r. II. SOLnern, WHO QeVOIeQ
y lifetime to audiences, viii be per-
formed without one.
After the news Of the 73-year-old
actors death from pneumonia on
was made public Sunday,
his wife announced the services would
be private, attended only by herself
and intimate friends. The body will
be- cremated.
When sothern retired In 1880 he
to a close stage career Of
half q century. He had started life
as q painter and became the best
known Shakespearian actor Of his
time.
sothern entered the ranks Of the
theatrical profession when he was 10
because Of his belief at that time that
anybody can make living on the
STAGE"
Married Julia Marlowe
For IL years Of that half century,
Sothern and Julia Marlowe, who be-
came his wife, co-starred almost ex-
clusively in Shakespearian repertoire.
The combination which they formed
was looked upon by critics Of both the
American and English stage as q
charming merger Of theatrical talent.
Both had considerable stage expert
ence when they began their venture
together in 1904. It was q success from
the start. Under the direction Of the
Shuberts. and later managing their
own companies. Sothern and Marlowe
toured virtually every important city
in the United States and became great
popular favorites as portrayers Of the
drama Of the Bard Of Avon.
To carry out their own elaborate
ideas as to how Shakespeare should
he staged, they acquired scenic equip
ment and costumes at cost of thou
sands of dollars and which required a
special train Of II cars to carry them
about the country. In 1911 in the
Greek Theater Of the University Of
California at Berkeley. Sothern and
Marlowe presented Macbeth" with
800 persons on the stage. one Of the
most spectacular presentations Of a
work Of Shakespeare in this country
Sothern and Miss Marlowe con-
tinued their co-star presentations UNI
IL the spring Of 1916 when, coincident
with the tercentenary Of Shakes
peare's death, they announced their
retirement because Of the Ill health OF
Miss Marlowe. At farewell dinner
given to the two stars In April Of that
year in New York. more than 400
prominent men and women paid tri-
butte to them. They we're presented
with an album Of signatures, leading
off with those Of President Woodrow
Wilson and former presidents, Theo.
dore Roosevelt and william Howard
Taft, and which declared they ''hac
adorned and uplifted the American
STAGE" and testified to the affection
which their friends felt for them.
Illness Forces Rest
The next year Sothern went on toul
in If Were King" but illness forcee
rim to abandon his work. subse.
quently. he toured In Shakespeare re-
I ertory until 1923, after which his ap
eparances were infrequent until h
went on an extended lecture tour II
1923. with which no concluded hi
career.
sothern was born at New Orleans
La, December 6, 1850. Of English par
ents. The latter at that time wer'
touring the country with compan!
playing "Our American Cousin" II
which sothern's father. Edward A
sothern, leading English comedian
was appearing Is Lord Dundreary
When their son was five years old
the Sotherns returned to England
where Edward was educated.
As q youth -Sothern showed an up
preciation Of color and line that be
spoke artistic talent and which le'
Ills father to believe that he could b
developed into an artist. With tina
object In view, Edward was placed 4
an art school and for = time Will
continuing his studies worked as
scene painter ct the Haymarket thea
ter
Later he sent one Of his drawings t
the Royal Academy with the hope q
keing admitted there Is : student
Its rejection convinced him that h
never had the talent to be an artis
It was then that sothern determine
% solve the problem Of earning liy
ing on the stage because, he said, Il
the theatef you get paid for KNOWN
nothing ct all" He was determine
ii his course despite the objections {
his father who regarded Edward IS
good boy. but hopeless . m actor.
| IN 1913, sothern married Virgint
il Harmed. who had been hts leadiu
lady. They were divorced il yea,
:ater and n 1911 he married JUL
\ Marlowe.
i W0ULDSWITHHOLD WHEAT
i Canberra. Australia. Oct. 30.-(H),
4 A conference Of the Australian Wines
Growers federation representing -
200 growers has decided 70 recon
mend that members withhold whel
i from market the current season u
H. A