Evening star., 1940-07-21

there are more people living To-Day
than there are who can hark back
to the 80s, and this, of course, IN
itself, may account for the larger
number of boosters for the more re-
cent decade All of which reminds
us of current motion picture shown
in Washington that has much to do
with Lillian Russell, who was prom
inent in both the 80s and COS and
who is still enthusiastically recalled
i. by the theater-g going public of that
period, since many, like the writer,
= saw this queen of the stage upon
many occasions, and particularly
when she opened the Lafayette
Square Opera House. now the Be-
lasco Theater, to the public on Mon
day, September 3d. 1895. Upon this
occasion the play was "Tzigane," by
De Koven and Smith, and was espe-
cially written for Miss Russell.
- Developed Talent.
Miss Russell was a great favorite
here and elsewhere, though her pop
ularity was. not gained entirely
through her good looks, but was due,
in part at least, to hard work and
study. At the age of 18 she went
into the chorus of variety at Tony
Pastors Theater, New York, at the
small salary of SIS week She
, soon married the conductor of the
orchestra, named Braham. who later
ceased to be attracted by her beauty
and obtained a divorce. Braham
was a capable musician and while
married to him Miss Russell took
every advantage of his knowledge
to improve her musical education.
Teddy Solomon proved to be her
next matrimonial venture. 1t was
he who wrote the music to Billy
Taylor" ana, like her former hus-
. band-once removed-also became
,Sher conductor. It is said this was
; q real love affair and soon daugh-
7 ter, Dorothy Lillian, appeared upon
fthe scene. Unfortunately for Solo
mon, according to reports, he re-
turned to his native country, Eng
land, and this marriage also was ter
minated. To Lillian this was indeed
. severe matrimonial trouble, but
: she bore up bravely and when she
later met John Chatterton, an op-
cratic tenor-otherwise known as
, Giovanni Perugini-she became Mrs.
Chatterton. During the World War
Miss Russell was assigned to foreign
service, which she performed with
credit to herself and her country,
having previously become the wife
OF Alexander P. Moore. Her maiden
, name was Leonard-Helen Leon
.ard-her mother being Mrs. Cynthia
Leonard, one of the original workers
81 the woman suffragists. Both
Alexander and Mrs. Moore are now
deceased.
- Had Washington Recruit.
Miss Russell's company wnen she
played 'Tzigane" here included Ed
Hoff, a Washington man whose
previous appearances with the Nc
Call and .Bostonian opera companies
40 doubt is still pleasantly remem-
.bered. Richie Ling, an excellent
tenor. also accompanied Miss Rus
sell, and later played in this city
In Faust" Carmen" The Grand
Duchess" "The Singing Girl" and
dolly Warden" The contralto in
:, the opera was Miss Flora Finlayson,
. graduate Of the Bostonians. Fred
Solomon, Charles Wayne and Joseph
Herbert were the three comedians
IN "Tzigane, and 1t Is probable
some will remember how the last
!, two convulsed the audience In q
:, drunken scene In this play.
,3s Marie Celeste, another favorite
some time back, was Of this COM
pany. At the end Of the second
act Miss Russell was called for by
: the audience and responded by max
ing some very pleasing remarks, Is
. also did Manager Albaugh.
Il Two years later Miss Russell, to-
gether with Della Fox and Jefferson
De Angels, were the star attractions
in "The Wedding Day" at the same
-theater. Also In this play were Will
liam Pruette and Tom Greene. The
former was q Seventh street boy
and the son of william F. Pruett.
4. William junior, no doubt, for theat-
: rical purposes, added an additional
n"e" to his family name, as will be
q, observed. Tom Greene married Katie
". Wilson Of this city and settled
6 here and both passed away some
years ago.
rs Later Miss Russell came here in
La Belle Helene" being accom-
! panied by some very entertaining
and talented people. among whom