The mimic world and public exhibitions; their history, their morals, and effects

Front matter

h3

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

Preface

There is little need of a preface to such a book as this. It is such a big book — it holds so much — that T have been able to express mj-self pretty fully, and I do not find, in giving a last look at the pages as they lie before me, that I have forgotten to say anything I wanted to say.

And if I had, I should not drag it into the preface and half say it, for fear of never getting a chance to say it anywhere else.

I don't believe this book will be my last. I don't ex- .pect to get through writing on my favorite subjects for a good while yet — a statement which some of my critics will receive, I fear, with indescribable anguish.

The book is the result of many years of careful preparation, during which I have been gathering, from experience and from study, the material here presented. I have scorned no source from which reliable and worthy material could be derived — from the most ponderous volumes to the most ephemeral newspapers — from the reminiscences of the most cultivated and scholarly play-goers to the gossip of the humblest of the player-folk — from the experiences of the most celebrated actresses, actors and

managers, to the experiences of my humble self, from

4 PREFACE.

girlhood to womauhood, through a life which has been full of strange vicissitudes.

I give my work to the world in the sincere and earnest hope that it will do good. If it strips oft some of the " gauze and vanity " from tlie " show world," I hope it also exhibits that world in a fairer and juster light to many who have hitherto looked on it with ungenerous and unenlightened eyes.

OLIVE LOGAJS".

AuTHOBS' TJniok, 264 Pharl St., N Y.

Chapter I

Recollections of early life. — Cornelius A. Logan, Comedian, Critic and Poet. — Vicissitudes of a Strange Career. — How a Family of Gjrls Took to the Stage. — Reminiscenes of Cincinnati.

Chapter II

Residence in Philadelphia. — The Comedian as his Contemporaries saw Him. — The Critic and the Poet as his Works show Him. — His Defence of the Stage. — How the Theatre can be purged of Vice.

Chapter III

My First Visit Behind the Scenes, an Infant in Long Clothes. — My First Appearance Before an Audience, a Child of Five Years. — Children as Actors. — Bistori's Debut as a New-Born Babe. — Drilling Children in the Art of Acting. — My Early Distaste for the Life. — Precocious Dramatic Children.— The Bateman Sisters. — Amusing Anecdotes of Children on the Stage. — A Healthy Infant.

Chapter IV

Training for the stage. — False Notions about "Genius." — The Eoad to Suceess a Koad of Hard Work. — How Fanny Kemble Studied Walk, Gesture and Accent for Years before making a Public Appearance. — The Severe Training of Eachel the Tragedienne. — A Woman's Criticism of Eachel. — Her Wonderful Powers, her Serpent-like Movements, her Thrilling Intensity.— Briof Sketch of Her Life. — Kate Bateman's Training. — Anecdote of Julia Dean. — Mrs. Mowatt's Trai»ing. — Betterton, the great English Actor. — The Severe Di.scipline by which he Overcame the most "Extraordinary Disadvantages, an Ugly Face, a, Grotesque Figure, a Grumbling Vpioe and Great Awkwardness.

5'

b CONTENTS.

Chapter V

The Memory of Actors. — How the Memory Strengthens by Practice. — . How a Distinguished Actor Committed a Whole Play to Memory, by Simply Listening to it Once, as Played on the Stage. — Marvelous Peats of Memory. — " Winging" a Part. — Modes of Memorizing. — Learning a Whole Newspaper by Heart. — Treacherous Memories. — Instances of Parts being taken at Short Notice.

Chapter VI

Erroneous Ideas of the G-ayety and Ease of Life Behind the Scenes. — An Actor's Daily Duties. — Studying Parts, Attending Rehearsals, and Performing at Night. — The Mental Labor. — The Physical Labor. — The Mockery of Stage Glitter. — Ealse Jewels and Elaring Gaslight. — How Actors Go Astray. — The Stern Kules which Govern Life Behind the Scenes. — Waiting for the Cue. — A Curious Incident in the Life of a Celebrated Actress. — Asleep on the Stage.

Chapter VII

How Eehearsals are Conducted. — The Stage by Daylight. — Queens in Calico Dresses. — Kings in Threadbare Trowsers and CoatS out at Elbows.— Ball-room Belles in India- Rubber Overshoes. — Eairies in Thick Boots, and Demons in Stovepipe Hats. — The World Upside Down. — How to make a Crowd of Democrats Tell. — The Rehearsal a School. — Humorous Account of a Rehearsal in California.

Chapter VIII

stage Dresses. — Hair Dressers and the Like — The Exigencies of Attire.

The Art of Dressing a Part to Suit the Character "and the Period.

Ristori's Attention to such Details. — Mistaking Dress for the Chief Requirement of an Actor. — Absurd Anachroni.?m.^ by Ignorant or Careless Actors.— The Wardrobe Keeper.— Curious Instances of Effect

in Costume. — Exaggerated Idea of Talue of Stage Jewels. The

Mountain Robbers.— The Stofen Crown. — My Jewel Bag in a Western Town.

Chapter IX

Making up the Pace.- Ristori's Skill in this Subtle Art.— Paintino- Ao-e and Youth on the Same Pace. — Easier to Paint Old than to Paint Young. — Tracing the Lines of Suffering, Sorrow and Despair — Daubing with Chalk and Rouge.— A Lover's Disappointment. — How the Artist Rothermel changed Me from a Young Woman into an Old One in Five Minutes. — Instructions in the Art of Making Up r- Coloring for Indians, Negroes, etc.- Magic Effects produced by Actors through Removing Color while Playing a Part.

Chapter X

How Salaries are Paid. — The Etiquette of Actors regarding Salaries. — Exaggerated Ideas of the Pay of Actors. — The Truth in the Matter.-^ Salaries of Leading Performers, Walking People, Old People, Utility People and Supernumeraries. — Why the Pay of Actors seems Larger than it really is.— Their.-Expenses for Dress. — The Cost of Kunning a Theatre. — The Pay of Stars. — Salaries in Old Times.

Chapter XI

The Noble Array of " Supea." — Custom of Laughing at these People. — Kough Treatment by Managers. — A Frightened " Savage." — Utility People. — Fallen Fortunes. — Ups and Downs of Actors. — Making the Most of One's Opportunities. — Attention to Trifles. — How the Celebrated Comedian Robson made his First Hit. — " Villikins and His Dinah." — The Story of a Utility Man.— Green Ibid.— The Summons of Death.

CHAPTER Xn.

'Sticks" Behind the Scenes. — Bad Acting. — Murdering Parts. — The Woman who went Insane in a Theatre. — A "Scholarly" Fool Plays Paris.— h. "Gentlemanly" Style of Dying on the Stage. — The Man who Died into the Orchestra — A Lady's Hand throws an Actor into a Perspiration of Bewilderment. — " What will I do with It?" — Lack of Noble Incentives to the Stage Life. — Mountebanks vs. Artists.

CHAPTER Xni.

The Property Man and his Curious Duties. — His Singular Surroundings, The Abode of a Lunatic. — An Actress Drinks a Bottle of In.^ by Mis^ take. — Amusing Inventory of " Properties." — Quaint Picture of the Property Man and his Powers.

CHAPTER XIV.

The Scenic Artist. — His Strange Workshop in the Clouds. — Up in the Plies. — Magic Transformations. — Streets turn into Open Fields

Elvers into Dry Land. — The Stage Manager and his Duties. —

Curious Letters between two Old Managers. — Borrowing Assassins. — Lending Shepherds.— A Cupid who had to Find his own Wings.— The Piompter and his Duties.

CHAPTER X^^.

About Managers.- The Top of the Theatrical Heap. — New York Managers.— Speculators, Merchants and others as Theatre-Owners. — Actors and Dramatists as Managers. — How Expenses are Cut Down. — What Managers Should Be, and What, alas ! They Are.— Swindling •■Agents" Turned Managers.- The Sharks of the Profession.

CHAPTER XVI.

My Eeturn to the Stage in 'Womanhood. — The Dictate of Necessity.— An Unwelcome Duty. — Getting Acquainted with Life Behind the Scenes after a Long Absence. — ^My Debut at Wallack's. — Following the Advice of Friends.— The Eventful Night. — How it Went off. — The Morning After. — The Interesting Character of Debuts. — Beminiscences of the American Debuts of Ole Bull, Jennj' Lind, Alboni, Kachel, etc., by an Old Theatre-Goer. — The Story of Leopoldine, a French Debutante. — Exciting Time in the Theatre. — The Fickleness of a French Audience. — Bravery of the Actress. — Her Scornful Treatment of her Fickle Admirers.- — The Besult.

CHAPTER XVn.

The Story of Carrie Lee, an American Debutante. — Driven to the Stage for a Livelihood. — Secures an Engagement. — Horror of her Friends. — Cast for a Boy's Part. — The Eecreant Lover. — The Eventful Night.— "Charlie."— "Will you put out Mine Eyes ? "—The Denouement.

CHAPTER XVni.

Stage-Struck Youths.— The Victim of an Unhappy Fever.— A Pitiable Object. — His General Impecuniosity. — His Vanity and Presumption. False Ideas of the Stage Life.— Sticks and Stage-Drivers.— Worthy Industry.— Democratic Possibilities.— The Stage-Struck Heroes of the Midsummer Night's Dream.— Modern Stage-Struck Youths.- Queer Letters to Managers.— A Girl of " Sixteen Summers, and Some say Good-looking."— Two Smart Girls wish to " Act upon the Stage."— A Stage-Struck Bostonian. — A Pig with Five Legs.— A Stage-Struck Philadelphian. — He Appears und'er an A.ssumed Name at the Chestnut Street Theatre.— His Love of the Coulisses.— " The Most Delightful Place in the World." — A Species of Infatuation.— A Discontented Manager.— An Actress who "Married Well."— Her Yearnings for the Old Life. — A Letter and an Epithet.

CHAPTER XIX.

The Triie Story of Mr. Alfred Pennvweight.— The Elee;ant Young Society Beau.— Mr. Pennvweight Demoralized. —He is Stage Struck — Ho Wants to Play Macbeth.— Besieginc; the Managers.— An Eno-a<'ement Secured.— Oast for the Bleeding Soldier.— Pennyweight Frightened.—Procuring the Costume.— The Wardrobe Keeptr. — The Padmaker Visited. — Pennyweight's Legs. —The Fearful First Night.— The Curtain Rings Up, and the Play Opens. — Pennyweight's Debut Effect on the Galleries. — The Catastrophe. — Good Advice to the Stage-Struck.— The Cure for the Fever.- Eidicule. the Eemedv.

CHAPTER XX.

My Tour in the West as a Star Actress. — Prom Paris to Cincinnati. — ^ My Critics. — My First Benefit. — Generals and Poets in the Greenroom.— Down the Kivor to Louisville. — An Operatic Company. — My First "Soldier Audience. "^Military Necessity. — Southern Refugees.— Queer Gratitude for an Actress's Services. — Trouble in Getting to Nashville.,.^Cutting Down the Wardrobe. — Soldiers in the Cars. — The Mason.

CHAPTER XXI

Nashville Experience. — A Candid Critic. — A Model Hotel (" Over the Left.") — More Military Necessity. — -Two St. Clouds. — Hogshead Cheese. — A Slippery Actor. — Miss Griggs. — A Bellicose Official. — Mrs. Ackley's Sorrows. — The "Nasty." — Farewell to Nashville.

CHAPTER XXn.

The "Felon's Daughter." — Actresses' Cartes de Visite. — The Flowei Basket Nuisance. — Theatrical Critics in the West. — Dumb Waiters. — Ohio Legislators. — Western Hotels. — Andersonville ! — A High Private. — Trom the Shoe Shop to the Camp. — The Guide Book Nuisance. — Chicago. — Miltonian Tableaux. — Number 99. — On the Cars. — Flirts and Babies en Route. — The Newly Married Couple. — The Gum-Drop Merchants. — The New York Hurled. — A Walk in a Graveyard. — A Terrible Gymnast. — Indiana Loafers — Nomenclature.

CHAPTER XXni.

street Entertainments for the Million. — A Procession. — Juvenile Sufferings on Gala Days. — The Prominent Citizen in the Procession. — The Day of Gloom. — Theatricals under the Cloud of Death. — The Theatrical Grandaddy. — Girl Waiters. — Erring Women. — The Death of a Magdalen.— Doffing the Sock and Buskin — Homeward Bound — ^Travelers' Miseries — Funny Western Actors — The Balladist of the Parlor.

CHAPTER XXrV.

About Audiences. — A Sketch of a New York Audience. — Specimens from the Audience. — The Eights of Audiences. — The Eight to Hiss. — Carrying Dissent very Par. — An Ungrateful Pit. — A Furious Canadian

Audience. Eow in French Theatre. — Eestoring Good Humor. — An

Actor who was Hissed to Death. — The Eight of Free Applause.— The Claqueur Nuisance. — Putting Down an Honest Hiss. — The Bouquet Nuisance. — Curious Swindlers. — The Encore Nuisance. — Coming Before the Curtain. — Bad Habits of Audiences. — Curious Anecdotes.—The Audience that Had to be Told to Go. — A California Speci-

jjjen. " Won't you Light that Gas-burner ? " — An Unbiassed Wit-

ness.'—Jenny Lind and the Hoosier.— Mrs. Partington at the Play.

CHAPTER XXV.

About Menageries and their Tenants. — How the Animals are Obtained. — Dealers in "Wild Beasts. — Price,? of Hippopotami, Leopards, Tigers, Hyenas, etc. — Curious Freaks of Caged Animals. — The Trade in Snakes. — Cost of Boa Constrictors and Battlesnakes. — The Trade in Bare Birds. — Pheasants, Parrots and Cockatoos for Sale. — How Monkeys are Caught. — P right at a "Wild Beast Show. — "The Animals are Loose I " — Fire breaks out in the "Winter Quarters of a Menagerie. — • Terror of the Animals. — They escape into the Streets. — How they Behaved. — "Wild Beasts Frightened by a Storm. — Chloroforming a Tiger. — Elephant Stories. — Cracking a Cocoa Nut. — Protecting a Friend. — Afraid to Cross a Bridge. — Debarking an Elephant at the New York "Wharf — A Leopard attacks an Elephant and gets the worst of it. — An Elephant Attacks a Locomotive and gets the worst of it. — A Lion Loose in a Village in Mississippi. — He Eats a Horse and Escapes into the Open Country. — His Ultimate Fate.

CHAPTER XXVI.

About Jugglers and Gymnasts — Hazlitt and the Italian Juggler. — The Mountebanks of Paris. — Lively Scenes on the Champs Elysees. — Queer Juggling Tricks. — • Pompous Street Spouters. — The Seven Indian Brothers. — Chinese Street Jugglers. — Arab Miracles. — Conjurors' Perils. — Japanese Jugglers and Acrobats. — A Western Acrobat's Feat. — A Gymnast's Account of his Sensations in Falling from the Trapeze.

CHAPTER XXVn.

Accidents to So-called "Lion Tamers." — An Amateur Tamer torn to Pieces.— A Lion attacks its Keeper in "Wisconsin. — Narrow Escape of an English Keeper. — Almost a Tragedy at Barnum's. — A Lion Tamer's Story. — The Killing of Lucas, the Paris Lion Tamer. — "What it Costs to get up a Menagerie. — The Headless Booster. — The Gorilla which had a Tail. — How the Happy Family is kept Happy. — A Dog that wouldn't be Put on Exhibition.

CHAPTER XXVm.

About Circuses and Pantomimes. — Children as Acrobats. — Barbarous Treatment of a Little Girl by her Trainer. — Cruelty of a Father to his Two Performing Children. — Excitement in a Philadelphia

Variety Hall. — How Children are Driven to their Tasks in Circuses.

Death in the Eing. — The Clown's Dying "Wife. — Leaping through a Hoop into Matrimony. — The Cost of a Circus. — Behind the Scenes in the Circus. — How Engagements are Made. — Circus Clowns and Stage Clowns. — Pantomime. — An Evening of English Pantomime.

CHAPTER XXIX.

American and Foreign Theatres Contrasted.— Scenic Superiority in this Country. — Full Dress in London Theatres.— Curiosities of Accent. — The Pit and the Pea Nut.— The Dress of English and American Actresses. — Behind the Scenes. — Stage Banquets. — The Vanishing G-reen-room. — The New York Stage as seen by English Eyes. — Decorous Audiences. — Persistent Play-goers. — The Star System. — Poor Encouragement to Dramatists. — The English and French Stage Compared. — "The Cross of my Mother." — Decline of the British Stage. — The Dramatist's Power. — London Theatres. — The Most Celebrated Playhouses of Europe. — -Theatres in Germany.

CHAPTER XXX.

Literary Aspects of the Drama. — The King of Dramatists. — Shakespeare's Purity of Tone. — His Pictures of the Period — His Contribution to General Literature. — Amusing French Blunders in Translating from Shakespeare. — "Who wrote Shikspur ? " — An Amusing Travesty. — Shakespeare Beoonstructed — ^ Where Dramatists get their Plots. — High Art and Common Sense. — Patrick and the BuU.^Modern Comedy. — What it Needs. — -Woman in Comedy. — Decency and Merriment. — Women Dramatists Wanted. — The Pay of Dramatists. — An Old-time Letter. — American Managers and American Playwrights. — How a Philadelphia Manager fooled the Public. — The Gentleman who improved on my "Surf" scene. — The Actor who Improved on his Improvement.— A Ghoulish Boston Notion. — Sensational Plays. — The "Lady of Lyons" Laughed at.— The Traditional Stage Sailor.

CHAPTER XXXI.

Dramatic Critics, How They Grow. — An English Critic on Criticism. — Snarlers and Gentlemen. — Tristam Shandy'sViews. — Western Critics. — Macready's Boy Critic.

CHAPTER XXXn.

The Personal and Private Lives of Players. -Social Distinctions of the Green Boom. — Smoking and Drinking Behind the Scenes. — Curiosity of the Public about Actors' Private Lives. — The Wonderful Jones and Brown. — Clanniahness of Actors.— A Lively Green Boom Scene. — Admitting Visitors Behind the Scenes. — A Solitary Levee.— Actors' Private Habits their Own Concern. — Persecution of Actors in Former Days.— The Lesson of Charity. — Excusable Curiosity. — Actors' Ages. — Habits of French Actors — Love Letters of Actresses. — A Funny Specimen.

A Ludicrous French Lover. — Marriage of Actresses into High Life.

—General Good Health of Players.— An Actress who went Mad. — Players who Have Beached Great Age. — "Old Holland." — Dejazet.

Contents

CHAPTER XXXni.

Successful Actors. — George Frederick Cooke. — Success not always the G-uerdon of Merit. — B. L. Davenport and Miss Xiotta. — Jeflferson, Booth and Forrest, — Booth's Wealth. — Booth as Hamlet. — Forrest. — The Sock-and-Buskin View of Nature and Emotion — Forrest's Debut. — Jeflferson and Eistori. — Foreign and Native Actors.-^Jefferson and Eliza Logan. — Jeiferson'sHome. — Wealthy Actors. — CJps and Downs. — Macready. — The Great Eiot in 1848. — Julia Dean and Eliza Logan.

CHAPTER XXXIV.