History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 136

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

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" The new theater last evening was crowded with a large and delighted audience. Mrs. Hunt never played better. Dan Marble never gave greater satisfaction. The performance, and the good order preserved, was just what could be expected under the efficient manage- ment of Rice. The numbers that could not gain ad- mittance last evening will be pleased to see by the announcement that Mrs. Hunt and Mr. Marble ap- pear again this evening : and if they be not both complained of to-day, for the injuries occasioned by throwing last night's audience into convulsions, we ap- prehend the friends of the parties will be there to know the reason."

The inaugural exercises consisted of the delivery of an address, from the pen of G. W. Phillimore, by Mr. Harris, which is quoted :

485

EARLY AMUSEMENTS.

In early Greece, where Pæans, sweetly sung, Told a young world Art's lyre was newly strung; And Reason, starting from chaotic dreams, Threw o'er the classic land her sunny beams. Commercial enterprise next caught the ray And showed to Industry the golden way. Fleets rode the wave, while fabrics filled the loom, And sculpture decked the temple and the tomb. The muse is heard, Helicon radiant flows, And from the silvery fount the Drama rose. Handmaid to Science in the march of mind, Thalia moves free, lively, unconfined, Nor pauses she to bless a favored clime, But sheds on all an influence sublime. Sometimes she rears a wild, fantastic throne To soothe the savage of the torrid zone- Hushes the death-wail, breaks the blood-stained lance, Persuades to peace and leads the mazy dance. Amid the rigor of the Polar storm At times is seen her mirth-inspiring form, Lighting a northern winter's gloomy hours, And decking icebergs with her gayest flowers. Where the domed city rises o'er the plain There holds the Drama a distinguished reign. W'bere waved the prairie, now behold the town, See Art and Industry adventure crown. . Hither she comes, and in her gayest mood- A buskined Hamadryad of the wood. Of mental wealth the goddess ownes a mine, And unalloyed her golden numbers shine. Be it our task, as we dispense her treasures, To see instruction mingle with your pleasures.

(To the audience:)

Americans rejoice ! the time foretold has come, And you may glory in your fruitful home, Genius of History, inscribe thy page With the bright deeds that mark the passing age. Tell how a valiant few, a Spartan band, Scattered the myriads of a hostile land. How with one hand America scourged a foe, The other open at the cry of woe. South'ard her war ships thundered o'er the main, Northward they navigate with golden grain. See bow gaunt Europe, famished and opprest, Sued to the growing giant of the West; Nor sued in vain for freely was it given, Overplus bounty of benignant Heaven, Charity, * first of virtues, mild-eyed maid, T'by acts munificent are all self paid. And if some fell by battles' sweeping breath, Record the numbers snatched from wasting death.

(To the boxes:)

And now to you, to whom each rolling sun Brings the results of enterprise begun; Who see the fruits that bounteous heaven decrees Traverse the bosom of your inland seas, View growing ports adorn the flashing strand, Where takes the Tar the toil-brown Farmer's hand, Commerce and Agriculture, side by side, United stand, our country's glorious pride. Nature's true noblemen such union brings- Direct their patent from the King of Kings. Appreciate these gifts dispensed by you, And render thanks where all our praise is due.

(To the pit:)

From keel to truck, "a-taunto" for the trip, Our anchor's stowed, all clear for working ship. A skillful pilot in dramatic water, Our anxious skipper takes the weather quarter. On board of any craft beneath his care Safe is the passage, bountiful the fare. His crew, picked hands, all eager for the cause, Your smiles their bounty, wages your applanse. Then say "good time," and bid propitious gales l'ress in our wake and till our spreading -ails.

The Democrat of June 29 said:

" Last night our theater opened with a rush. Those who were late needed a pilot to get through the crowd. If Mr. Rice intends keeping his present company, the large new buikling so honorably and so enterprisingly

erected, will have to be enlarged. Our city is under great obligation to Mr. Rice for his enterprise. The dress circle was the most brilliant ever brought out by any entertainment in our city. Dan Marble is here, and everybody knows him. Mrs. Hunt made herself known last night, and will never be forgotten. Rice proved himself a splendid actor, as well as theater builder. In fine, Chicago can boast of being ahead of any city of twice its size in the theatrical line."

A nightly change of bill was made. On the evening succeeding the opening, Mr. Harris impersonated The Stranger, and Mrs. Hunt gave her fine rendering of Mrs. Haller. Mr. Marble, who had won much favor in the character of Sam Patch, presented that peculiar in- dividual as he was supposed to have appeared while in France. The local press assured its readers that both Mrs. Hunt and Mr. Marble " threw the audience in tears," though from very different reasons.

Mr. Marble's engagement lasted until July 10, dur- ing which he delighted the public with such plays as " The Backwoodsman," "Forest Rose," " Stage-struck Yankee," "Black-Eyed Susan," etc. On the roth, a benefit was given him. Commenting upon this event, the Democrat said:

" No person has been so solicitous of the welfare of the stage and has done more to build up the drama in Chicago than Dan Marble. Nearly ten years ago, en- tirely unsupported by other actors, and with every dis- advantage, he came here and played, and ever since has made his periodical visits, when other actors of his rank could not be induced to come here. He was the pioneer in giving character to the theater in the West, and deserves liberally of Western people. He is the first actor in the comic line, and was received with great eclat in the old country."

While Mr. Marble was deserving of commendation both as an actor of merit and a man of liberal instincts. we cannot but feel, that the award of highest distinction, as regards the founding of the drama in Chicago, should be bestowed upon Mckenzie & Jefferson, rather than on Mr. Marble, whose work was that of a transient " star," not a local manager.

Rice's stock company proved a very satisfactory one, and speedily overcame, to a degree, the prejudice against the theater as a means of diversion. The Journal of July 1, 1847, observed : " We notice a large number of ladies-the beauty and fashion of the city-in nightly attendance." Again, on the 10th of July, it said: " We are aware that many, and conscientiously we doubt not, utterly proscribe the theater; but we have to learn that this proscription may not be carried to an extreme. For we believe that many a sin has been unjustly charged to the stage, the result of association, which in itself proves nothing, save that a reform in society generally, is de- manded. In the case of the new theater, but few of these evils are attendant, and while we discountenance anything of an immoral tendency that may attach to the drama, we take pleasure in commending what is commendable."

T. D. Rice, the famous negro character imperson- ator, who gained notoriety in Europe and America as " Jim Crow," appeared July 12, as the special attraction at Rice's Theater. It should be remembered that this actor was not related to Manager J. B. Rice. The en- gagement of " Daddy" Rice, as he was popularly called. continued until July 17. The plays in which he ap- peared were " The Mummy," " Jumbo Jum." and a bur- lesque called " Otella."

The company received several valued addition- during July. On the 12th of that month Mr. and Mrs. Jerry

. Note .- Referring to the Smawas given that year by Chicago to the starving prople in scotland and Ireland.

486

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

Merrifield, comedian and vocalist. first appeared ; and on the 22d Mrs. J. B. Rice's name was placed upon the bills. The opening piece, in those days was usually of an emotional character, and the evening's performance concluded with a farce or two. Among the many plays were " The Wife," " The Youthful Queen," "Perfection," and similar standards, in which MIrs. Hunt sustained the leading roles. Christy's Minstrels were here July 22, and remained one week, as an after performance. Among the dramas in which Mrs. Hunt achieved suc- cess, was "Clari, the Maid of Milan." The Journal, which rarely noticed the theater editorially. said : "The domestic drama of 'Clari' was enthusiastically ap- plauded. Mrs. Hunt played with her usual grace and spirit. It seems to. us, however, that in all the charac- ters she has delineated. from the indignant Queen [Christine of Sweden] to the wronged and suffering maiden, there is a trace of something that belongs to no one of them, stamping them with a certain degree of similarity. This, doubtless, results from the variety of characters in which she appears. Mr. Phillemore's ac- tion and expression were well conceived and executed. Mr. Harris, as the Duke, evinced study." It would tax the mental and physical ability of any actress, we imag- ine, to present a new play every night.

On the 28th of July Mrs. Hunt played Claude Melnotte to Mrs. Rice's Pauline. One of the most popular of Mrs. Rice's characters was Nancy Scraggs, in the play of " Uncle Sam," and proved her versatility by supporting Mrs. Hunt in such dramas as " Jane Shore " and " The Hunchback," and then assuming the leading comedy lines in an eccentric farce. The Journal gave a flattering notice of Mrs. Hunt's Julia, which was said to be the finest work she had done.

James E. Murdoch first appeared in Chicago, at Rice's Theater, August 2, 1847, in " Hamlet." with Mrs. Hunt as Ophelia, Mrs. Rice as Queen, Mr. Harris as the Ghost, and Mr. Mossop as Laertes. The Journal said : " Murdoch's Hamlet was a grand and vivid con- ception, most powerfully embodied and realized in ac- tion, expression, tone. There was more than the resemblance of a soul in Murdoch's acting-the heart and soul itself. The performance of Mrs. Hunt, as Ophelia, was touchingly beautiful." The repertory in- cluded "Romeo and Juliet," " Macbeth," "Pizarro," and possibly other plays, though there is no mention of others. The Democrat of August 5, 1847, said : "The play of ' Macbeth' went off last evening, all parts being executed in the most splendid manner. The audience were well pleased, and they all speak of the play and players as excellent. *

* Mr. Murdoch and Mrs. Hunt executed their parts in the perfection of the art." The approval of "Macbeth," as "an excellent play," indicates an advancement in public taste ; and the exe- cution of the parts sustained by the leading actors was doubtless designed to have no concealed insinuation that the roles were "murdered."

E. S. Conner was the next addition to the company, in August. He played " Richelieu," with Mrs. Hunt as Julia de Mortimer. and Mrs. Rice as Francois.

George Ryer, the fashionable tailor at that time, left the bench for the stage in the summer of 1847, appear- ing in "Hamlet." A benefit was tendered him Sep- tember I, on which occasion he re-appeared in that character. September 20, Mr. Ryer playcd Iago to Mr. Harris's Othello.

Mrs. Rice assumed the part of Rachael, in ""The Jewess," which was put on the stage, according to the Journal, with more elaborateness than was ordinarily be- stowed on plays herc.

" Full of pageant-the imposing rites of oriental worship, the banner-bearing trains, the rich and george- ous costumes, the solemn chants, and withal the fearful punishment of that elder time-there is yet much of strongly marked character in the play. The rude nature of the Jew was brought out with startling distinctness and softly relieved by the truthful, proud, yet forgiving spirit of Rachael, which Mrs. Rice imper- sonates with grace, feeling and effect."

The Democrat was stricken with amazement at the presentation of " Jazeppa," September 22, and ex- claimed:

". No one but our enterprising Mr. Rice would ever have thought of playing ' Mazeppa' on the stage of Chi- cago. And then he does it so well as to attract the encomi- ums and wonder of all. To take a living horse, and one of our own ' sucker' horses, too, and make him run over a stage in the second story, is doing wonders for a new country."

Mrs. Hunt was absent from the company during a part of the summer. Her place as leading lady being filled by Mrs. Rice. She returned October 5.

Miss Julia Dean made her first appearance in Chi- cago, October 5, but the repertory cannot be given, owing to a hiatus in the newspaper files. This excellent actress was one of the most popular ladies on the stage, in standard emotional roles.

The season of 1847 terminated November 27. The several members of the company, in accordance with custom, received complimentary benefits during the last week or two; and on the final night, Mr. Rice was re- membered by his friends. The programme included Jerrold's drama, "The Rent Day," the farce " Used Up," and musical selections by Mossop, Merrifield and the entire company in the Star Spangled Banner. Throughout the season Miss Homer continued to re- ceive applause for her artistic dancing.

The first season at Rice's was, viewed in a modern light, moderately remunerative, and encouraged the manager to persevere in his efforts.

The incidental amusements of the year 1847 were concerts at the Saloon Building, during July, by the Antonio family; June & Turner's circus, September 23, and Rockwell & Co.'s circus during that month. Lit- tlewood & Robinson occupied the theater in the Rialto as a dancing hall, at this period.

A museum and theater was conducted by Dr. E. Mooney, at 71 Lake Street, during the winter of 1847- 48. Farces and light plays were given. The first amusement furnished in 1848 was by Winchell, who gave an entertainment at the court-house April 3.

Prior to the close of the season Mr. Rice visited Milwaukee, and arranged to take his company there for this winter. The venture proved a profitable one.

Mr. Rice re-opened his Chicago theater May 1. 1848. The company included Mrs. Rice, MIrs. Price, Miss Willis, Edwin Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Merrifield, James Carroll, Mr. Clifford, George Mossop, D. Sand- ford, William Taylor, C. H. Wilson, and J. W. Burgess. The orchestra was under the direction of C. Brookton; the scenery was painted by J. D. Beckwith, and M. Conklin was treasurer. Mr. Rice enlarged and im- proved his house during the winter. Dan Marble opened the season of 1848, on May 1, in "Sam Patch in France" and " The Wool Dealer." The farce of " Hunting a Turtle" was also given.

The evening of May 2, 1848, witnessed the first ap- pearance in Chicago of James H. McVicker, who im- personated Mr. Smith, in the farce of "My Neighbor's Wife;" and of Mrs. McVicker as Louisa, in the Yankee

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EARLY AMUSEMENTS.

comedy of "Hue and Cry," with Dan Marble as Lot Sap Sago. J. Greene also made his bow on this occa- sion. Mr. Marble concluded the bill with "All the World's a Stage." The next evening Mrs. J. Greene made her debut. Mr. Marble remained until May 13, appearing each evening in a different character.

Julia Dean began an engagement May 15, in " The Hunchback," and while here gave " Evadne," "Fazio," " The Wife," "Love's Sacrifice" and her round of im- personations. One of the strongest characters assumed by this lady was that of Lucretia Borgia.

Mrs. Hunt resumed her place as leading lady May 31. Edwin Forrest made his first appearance in Chicago Thursday, June 8, 1848, in "Othello," supported by Augustus W. Fenno, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Rice, Mr. Mc- Vicker and the stock company. This engagement was announced as his farewell to the Chicago stage, he hav- ing determined to retire permanently to private life. On Friday evening Mr. Forrest played "Hamlet," and on Saturday evening " Macbeth." The week beginning June 12 saw the great tragedian in " Richelieu," " Vir- ginius," " Lady of Lyons," "Jack Cade," " Damon and Pythias," with " Jack Cade " again on Saturday, the 17th. The latter play was one in which he was never equaled by any actor. The final week of this eventful period was devoted to "Metamora," "The Gladiator" and "King Lear," the engagement closing Friday night, June 23. The occasion was made memorable by the delivery of what afterward became known, among the enemies of this great man, as his "loop-hole speech." When called before the curtain, at the conclusion of the play, Mr. Forrest spoke nearly as follows:

" I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this mark of your approbation, and I cannot withhold the expres- sion of my gratification, that the Drama finds especial favor among you-long may it continue to do so. Wherever civilization has spread its humanizing influ- ence, the Drama has been upheld by the wise, and the good, and although from time to time, it has been bit- terly assailed by intolerance, bigotry and fanaticism-for it is much easier to condemn than to appreciate-and so scowling bigots still denounce the theater, as they once denounced the inspired teaching of Galileo; yet it has triumphantly withstood their attacks, and will continue so to do, so long as there is taste and refinement in the world to appreciate the genius of Shakspere, or, so long as man is composed of those elements, which the great bard of 'all time' has so truthfully depicted. The Drama then has an indestructible existence -for it is the offspring of immortal MIND. It is more impressive in its teachings than any other medium of instruction- for it speaks at once to the ear, the eye, the heart and to the understanding, with most persuasive and convinc- ing art. To say that the theater is liable to abuses, is to say nothing more than what is equally applicable to any other institution in the world, civil or religious. It is for you, therefore, to guard against such abuses, by indignantly frowning down any attempt to pervert the stage from its legitimate mission, the object of which is to show how peaceful and pleasant is the practice of virtue, how unhappy and hideous the practice of vice. And now, ladies and gentlemen, though I shall never again have the pleasure to appear before you in the dif- ficult art which I have so diligently pursued, yet my interest in the progress and success of the Drama will cease only with my life-and while from the loop-hole of my retirement I hope hereafter to survey the still in- creasing growth and prosperity of your lake-born, beau- tiful city, I shall look also to find that the Drama is hekl in corresponding estimation among you."

Mr. Forrest's intentions were honest. He expected at that time to leave the dramatic field forever, but cir- cumstances forced him to again return, after an absence of eighteen years. The final appearances of this mas- ter of tragic art will be found recorded in the subse- quent pages of this work, under the period of 1866 and 1868.

Mrs. Hunt was married to Mr. George Mossop June 25, 1848, and appeared in "Fortunio " and " The Happy Man " June 26.

The current of events flowed smoothly on, with no especially noteworthy incidents, until the summer was wellnigh gone.

Junius Brutus Booth for the first time graced the Chicago stage September 18, 1848. He remained here two weeks, playing meanwhile to audiences surpassing any before assembled in Rice's Theater, and portraying as he alone could do the marvelous subtleties of " Rich- ard III," " Shylock," and other Shaksperean charac- ters. Mr. Booth's complimentary benefit was given September 30, when he appeared as Shylock, and as John Dumps in a farce called " The Ways of Windsor."

Barney Williams began an engagement October 3, which was his first season in this city.

The principal actors of the stock company were given benefits, prior to the closing of the regular term. Mrs. Rice appeared as Meg Merrilies October 23, and Mrs. Mossop chose the comedy of " The Jealous Wife " for her own benefit. The season terminated November 25, and the company opened the new Milwaukee the- ater November 29, 1848.

The principal amusements during the year, besides the performances at Rice's, were Mabie's circus, which gave a three days' exhibition, beginning May 8; Win- ter's chemical dioramas at the Saloon, May 29; General Tom Thumb at the court-house, June 2; and the regu- lar exhibitions at Mooney's Museum, 73 Lake Street. Minstrelsy was introduced at this place by Prater's Genuine Virginia Minstrels and the "real-natured " Kentucky Minstrels, as they were called, during the summer. The manager of the museum was himself a curiosity. On the 8th of November, David Kennison, the sole surviving member of the Boston Tea Party, was installed as nominal manager. His advertisement read:

" I have taken the Museum in this city, which I was obliged to do in order to get a comfortable living, as my pension is so small it scarcely affords the comforts of life. If I live until the 17th of November, 1848, I shall be 112 years old, and I intend making a donation party on that day at the Museum. I have fought in several battles for my country. All I ask of the gener- ous public is to call at the Museum on the 17th of November, which is my birthday, and donate to me what they think I deserve."

It is unfortunate that no authentic account of the proceedings of the 17th can be found, for the amount donated might serve as a criterion of Chicago's estimate of a patriot's services.

The season of 1849, at Rice's Theater, began April 16. The auditorium was bright with fresh paint, and a new drop-curtain, by J. 1). Beckwith, representing Byron's " Dream," added to the attractiveness of the place. Mrs. Mossop was the leading lady for a brief time, but bade farewell to Chicago May 12, selecting for her last appearance " Agnes DeVere, or the Wife's Revenge," and "St. Patrick's Eve." The Democrat spoke of her departure with regret, and said, " When such ladies as Mesdames Mossop and Rice honor the stage, the prejudices of all reasonable persons will be

488

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

greatly mollified, and the drama become all that its best friends could wish it to be."

The death of Dan Marble, at Louisville, Ky., in the spring of 1849, from cholera, deprived the stage of one of its most popular comedians.

That terrible scourge, the cholera, swept over the country in 1849, and brought desolation to many a home in Chicago. The public mind became depressed with grief and fear, opening the way more surely to the ravages of the insidious invader. Melancholy was con- ducive to the fatal assaults of this disease, and many able writers at that time advised the employment of all available means to temper the mind in lighter vein. With this thought in view, the Democrat suggestively re- marked, under date of May 24:

" The only place of amusement we now have in the city is the theater, and, so far as talent and character are concerned, it is supported by better actors than any theater of twice its size in the United States. Mr. Rice has just engaged two very justly popular actresses. Mrs. M. Jones has been for several years the leading lady in the principal theaters of New York, New Or- leans, and other large cities. She is just from New Orleans, and is now on her way to fill a summer en- gagement in New York. She will appear to-night as Kate O'Brien, in the drama called 'Perfection.' Miss Julia Turnbull lacks only the merit of fashion of being a foreigner to be extolled as the best dancer upon the American boards. She appears to-night in no less than three dances, during the plays of ' Lola Montez ' and ' Spirit of the Fountain.""

Miss Turnbull soon became a favorite with the pub- lic here. The stock company was composed of nearly all of the people here in 1848, among whom Mrs. Rice, Mr. Harris, and Mr. McVicker were the most promi- inent. From time to time new faces were seen, for brief seasons. The conspicuous names were: N. B. Clarke, Mr. Holland, and Mr. Jamieson. Miss Julia Dean and Barney Williams returned, in their respective roles, and C. D. Pitt made his debut before a Chicago audience. The occasion of Mr. Pitt's benefit, August 3r, was rendered notable by the address of Stephen A. Douglas, Thomas Hoyne, P. Maxwell, and more than a hundred other leading citizens, who united in offering him a complimentary night. The plays selected were " Bertram," and " The Taming of the Shrew."

Mr. McVicker's benefit, September 17, furnished the opportunity to produce, for the first time here, W. E. Burton's drama, " Ellen Wareham." The evening's bill also included: " The Artful Dodger," and " Sweet- hearts and Wives," with the beneficiary in all the plays.

James E. Murdoch played an engagement termin- ating November 10, 1849, at Rice's. A fac-simile of the play-bill is here reproduced. This is the earliest copy of a bill which has come into our possession, and was furnished by A. H. Burley, who obtained it from Miss Harriet M. Gale, of Exeter, N. H.

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 136

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340