Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
By John Clagett Proctor.

BY John Clagett Proctor.
Looking backward over period Of
30 years and more, one can recall many
things of a pleasant nature for which
today there seems no real counterpart.
Take, for instance, the many amateur
theatrical organizations of that period.
and even earlier, such as "The Johnnie
Juniors" the Lawrence Barrett ORA
matte Club, out OF which grew the
Carroll Institute Dramatic Club; the
Mask and Wig Club, the Players and
the ITALIAN Club of an earlier date.
The latter organization was effected at
the home Of Miss Annie Warren Story,
and beside Miss Story there were present
Mrs. Minnie Frye Coleman, John r.
Gisbourne, w. G. Murdoch, the actor,
who was made vice president, and Mr..
Winner secretary.
The first performance of the club
included q double bill, "Plot and Pas
sion," and farce, "The Two Bonny-
castles" Later the following plays were
put on by this organization: THE Mid
night Watch" Marriage a Lottery"
London Assurance" world and Stage"
A"How She Loves Him." "Ours," Secret
Service" "Sweethearts and Wars" 1.-THE
Swiss Cottage" "Still Waters Run Deep"
comedy of Errors" and Caste" On
April 10, 1877, the Irish drama, "Kath-
leen Mavourneen," was put on at Ford's
Opera House at benefit performance
given Miss Anna D. Ware, who was
clerk In the Land Office and one Of the
stars of the ITALIAN Club. Upon this
occasion Miss Ware took the part Of
Kathleen.
OF the early ITALIAN members there
were Edison B. Olds, Rachel Cordella
Levy, Carrie Bloss, India Woltz, Ralph
jefferson, Howard Nyman, Katie D.
Frye, Ida Tullock, Agnes Kennedy,
Mrs. Jennie Bryan True, Mrs. Kate
Bruce, James E. Bangs, A. B. Briggs,
Charles Hughes, Frank Smell, Israel
Kimball, Lottie Swallow, Clarence Story
and Hubbard Taylor Smith, or Hub
Smith," as we used to know him. No
doubt Hub" will still be remembered
by many as an unusually good enter
tainer and especially will he be recalled
for his singing of Samuel Minturn
Peck's lines, 1.-THE Grapevine SWING:
"Swinging In the grapevine suing,
LAUGHING ,Dhere the ,Dild birds sing,
I dream, and sigh for the days gone BY
Swinging in the grapevine suing"
Carroll Institute Club.
The Carroll Institute Dramatic Club,
which was founded In 1893, replaced in
a way the Lawrence Barrett Dramatic
Club, noted for its excellent work while
1t existed. When the Barrett Club was
about to expire the opportunity was
seized to form the Carroll Institute Club
BY Messrs. Edward j. Walsh, Percy
Leach, George H. OConnor, Edward j.
Walsh, Matthew F. Holleran, @. T. DAILY.
John S. Moran, J. Travis Cocker, John
j. Nolen, John F. Pearson, Mrs. Gay
Robertson, Miss Helen Lackaye, Miss
Nora Cocker and Vincent Lynch, who
served as stage director.
According to an account printed In
The Star In 1897, the Carroll Institute
Club also had its troubles when three
of the members went into the ranks OF
the profession, Miss Hendrie with Frank
Collyer, Miss Ann Hathaway with Au-
gustin DAILY and Travis Cocker" this
loss being somewhat offset by the intro
duction of two new members, Miss Alice
K. Irwin and Miss Irene Rowland.
Mask and Wig Club.
The Mask and Wig Club Of Columbian
University, now George Washington
University, had its inception during the
early months OF 1898, but q temporary
organization was not effected until the
summer of that year when Frank H
Hitchcock became president, S. Hazer
Bond secretary, and Walter r. Hensey
treasurer However, at this time OF the
year, since many of the students Of thu
university were absent from the city i
was not possible to make any consider
able progress in recruiting the necessar,
number of members to begin rehearsals
which originally were intended to b.
confined to the singing of glee club
but it was soon decided to broaden 1t
scope, and hence the Mask and VII
Club was decided upon.
About the time the college year a
the university opened, meeting OF a!
those who were in any way interested L
the organization was called, and per
manent organization effected, by mean
of the adoption of constitution an
the election Of the following Officers
President, Frank H. Hitchcock; vic
president, Alan o. Clephane; CORE
spending secretary S. Hazen Bond; RI