Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-06

on very serious work, portraying
scenes from Julius Caesar" Ham,
let, Twelfth Night" and The Mer-
chant of Venice" later following this
up with the comedies, Still Waters
Run Deep" and Home produced
at the Institute Hall, and David
Garick," presented at the Lafayette
Square Opera House, with Bar
bara." dainty little sketch, as a
curtain raiser. Percy Winter was
then directing the stage.
To those VINO resided in Washing
ton during the days this club was
at it's best, and, perhaps saw some
of its excellent performances, some
of the names here given will have a
personal appeal, just as the name
Nora Cocker attracted the attention
of the writer, when he, himself. was
going over this magnificent group Of
local amateurs, many of whom be-
came professionals of considerable
merit. Miss Cocker took the leading
female roles in many of the plays
put on by this club, and was always
awarded by the press high praise for
her work. She is now. and has beer
for many years, Mrs William B.
Bagnam, and is one of the writer's
near neighbors. When she was asked
for an early picture of herself in
costume, she willingly complied.
A veteran Washington actress who
got her early experience here with
the Thralian Club, back in the 70s,
is Mrs. Minnie Frye Coleman, known
on the professional stage as Mar.
garet Lanner.
Mrs. Coleman. who was Minnie
Frye before her marriage to Thomas
l.. Coleman. ShakeSpearean actor
also from Washington, began her
theatrical career on February 10,
1877, in an amateur production at
Ford's Opera House, then at Ninth
and C streets NV. where is now
that branch of the Department of
Justice known as the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation.
| Born in Huntsville. Ala, Mrs.
Coleman came to Washington about
| 1872, when she was but Is years old,
but even at this early age, acting
was in her mind. and few years
after her arrival here she joined in
| forming the Thalian Club.
! OF course, as was then customary
with amateur organizations of this
character and may still be. there was
a list of contributing members of
this club. and 1t was very dis
tinguished one indeed, including
Gen. James A. Garfield, then living
at the northeast corner of Thir-
tenth and I streets; Gen. William
T. Sherman. Gen. J. H. Ketchum.
Gen. H. L. Pelouze, Gen. Green B.
Raum. Senator Lot M. Morrill,. for
mer Gov. Henry D. Cooke. POST
master Gen. D. M. Key. Samuel
Shallenbarger, o. H. Irish, j. M.
Wilson. A. D. Hazen. H. E. Paine.
H. A. Willard, Matthew G. Emery,
last Mayor of Washington; George
C. Gorham, J. K. Luttrell, Marquise
de Chambrun, R. B. Mohun, A. S.
Solomons, Simon Wolf and B. H.
Warner.
In the summer of 1879 Miss Frye
left Washington with letters of in
PRODUCTION and recommendation to
the principal theatrical managers
of New York, given her by the Irish
| dramatist and actor, Dion Bouci-
cault, and she soon secured employ
ment with Augustine Days stock
company, at whose theater she made
her debut September 80. 1879, which
she was encouraged to do by Gen.
Lew Wallace. The play was "Di-
vorce," and Mrs. Coleman took the
part of Grace. 1t was a notable
company and included such we'll
known stage favorites of that period,
and for many years later, as Harry
Lacey, John Drew, Ada Rehan and
others.
Soon we find Mrs. Coleman play
ing in "An Arabian Night" with
John Drew as leading man. and the
other members Of the DAILY stock
company.
After that she played leads at the
Boston Theater, then she went on !:
the road as leading lady with the
original Kit Carson''-F. S. Chan
frau, father Of Henry Chanfrau. She
was next a star in Woods Museum
stock company. After that she
travelled in the United States and
Canada, starring in Princess OF
Bagdad," East Lynne" THE New
Magdalen," Two Orphans" Ca.
MILE" and was co-star with Harry
Lacey In play called THE Planters
Wife" She preferred emotional
parts, and many Of her plays. as In.
dictated by those mentioned, were
melodramas.
After retiring from the stage in
1888. Mrs. Coleman returned to
Washington, where she has resided
ever since, for number OF years
making her home with her son in
Takoma Park. She is now 81 years
of age and is still very Charming
woman, growing old gracefully. Her
husband, Thomas l.. Coleman, died
in 1918, and is buried in Rock Greek
Cemetery.
Robert L. Downing, veteran TRACE.
dian. who at 78. two years ago took
a bride. still resides here, "A dos
John M. Kline, IT,, when not act-
Ing on Broadway.