The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-29

William Gillette brought forward his conception of Sir Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes" at time when realism was agitating the theater. But despite the vogue for problem plays the. highly improbable super detective managed to o,1tWit male" factors with minimum of criticism and a maximum of praise. This was due largely to the efforts of Gillette both histrionic and otherwise. It was his use of softening lights the fadeout - which diminished the shock of unreal happenings.
 So excellent was Gillette's char acterization that for many years he was synonymous with the character he created on the stage. Even to- day straight-nosed, lean-1awed, lanky actor is always called upon when Sherlock Holmes type IS required. The original play, one of the many that Gillette wrote and acted in his long career, opened at the Garrick theater in New York on November G., 1899, and played for B weeks.
 Gillette came of a Connecticut family. He was born in Hartford on July "A, 1855. His father, Francis, was U. S. senator for one term. He was educated at Yale and Har- yard universities and the Massa- chusetts Fine Arts Institute.
 Played Role as Student
 He first appeared on the stage while he was a student at Yale. His first professional appearance was in Boston, in 1875, at the Globe theater in Faint Heart Nicer Won Fair Lady" He later appeared in the Guided Age" part he got at the instance of Mark Twain. Later he became a member of a stock company in Louisville, Ky. As he was a tall studious looking young man he was given emotional and tragic roles.
 He made his first New York 1 appearance when 9 in the same Guided Age" Later, back in Bos- ton, he achieved his first success as an actor in Gilbert's Broken Hearts" Once, during walk on Philadelphia street with Daniel Frohman, Gillette confessed that his ambition was to become Suc- cessful actor playing the leading parts in plays written by himself. In his long career he did play lead- ing roles in many of his own plays. But in the early 1920s he found himself out of the swing of the drama of that date. Then he re-. sorted to playing in other peoples plays.
 Following the successful "The Professor" : began the dramatiza- ton of ''Esmeralda," at the Madl- son Square theater, New York, which established the fortune of the show house. The play ran year, holding the stage off and on until 1900. He was rehearsing his next play of im- portance, his adoption from the Ger. man of "The Private Secretary" !" which rival producers also were plan- ming when he discovered player m the company was spy. He sent i the actor back with his compn- mentS." Then he invited one of his competitors to attend the dress re- hearsal, and after the show asked what he thought of it. The rival, who thought the show pretty good" next day found his opinion in an advertisement for the show.
 Wrote Popular Play
 Held by the Enemy" one of the first Civil War dramas worthy of mention, was an original play which played for many. weeks. Other adap- tations followed, including one of H. Rider Eaggard's "She," and a best seller of the day, Robert Elsmere." And then Gillette wrote a play which was popular and important, Secret Service" Maurice Barrymore, hand some idol and father of Ethel. played the hero's part in Philadelphia in 1895, but 1t was moderate success. However, when the play came 70 New York at the Garrick theater' It's success was enormous.
 Many times during his long career on the American and English boards Gillette announced his permanent retirement from the stage. One such major farewell appearance was i'm the Finp'rs theater in 1911. when he p'aycG g 'Ive-hour performance, appet trlag in five different acts from Nv ot his most popular