San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

November nth, 1899 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 1 George Lask — His Treasures and cMemories GEORGE LASK MR. LASK will write his stage reminiscences— when he has time. He told me so himself. So you may look for the publication about Feb. 30, in the year of honest politicians and flying pigs. But what reminiscences he could write, an he would ! Rummage through his hoarded treasures, look over his old photographs, read his old scrap-books and autograph albums, and you will know. Listen to his memories of the great and small of early days and question his history from him artlessly with the careful intentions of the interviewer and then you will surely know. He remembers things with astonishing exactitude, and his stage work covers such a wide range of experiences. "No," said Mr. Lask, "I was not exactly beckoned into the profession, neither did I drift in. Somehow, I just found myself there as call-boy in the glorious days of the old California." If we may have entire faith in our mother's j udgment, that was when it boasted the finest stock company San Francisco has ever known. To begin as call-boy is, I find, A good portrait of Edwin Forrest equivalent to a certificate of success — a patent right to achievement. Now, don't all rush into the call-boy business, because that is not the idea at all. It Jane Lennox, of the Mathews and Bulger Company, now at the Columbia Theater, is a daughter of that well-known actor, Walter Lennox, Sr., now playing in London with Broadhurst's What Happened to Jones Company, and a sister of Fred Lennox, the comic opera singer. She comes by her histrionic talent naturally. Following Eugenie Blair at the New Alhambra Theater, In Old Kentucky will open in this popular theater for a two weeks' run. The just has to happen naturally, like the measles and Puritan ancestors. In that capacity, he learned the theater from front to rear. He even made ''props" and helpel to paint scenery — and got himself and his skill invited over to the Hush Street Theater as assistant stage manager for Max Freeman. That meant a liberal education in plays. Then wisdom carried him over to F.urope. "For experience, Mr. Lask?" "O, no, just for a trip." It amounts to the same thing, for, in the intervals of sight-seeing, he found time to study costume designing and scenic environment. "Since then, I have stage managed for the Fay Templeton Opera Company, the New York Casino, the Grand Opera House, Osborne and Stockwell on the road, Gillette in the Private Secretary and put on summer comic opera in Philadelphia and Buffalo. Lillian Russell when she was youthfully beautiful Four busy years were spent with Charles Frohman at the 23d Street and the Empire, same male cast that has been seen here before in the piece will be seen again, but the feminine roles are taken by three charming ladies whose faces are new to San Franciscans. Skipped by the Light of the Moon will follow In Old Kentucky at the New Alhambra. Saints and Sinners will follow My Friend from India at the Alcazar. Jane Coombs who has made her name famous in connection with the play Bleak House, is in this city and will shortly start on a tour of the coast and a season with Mr. Frawley when he made his first San Francisco venture." His first and most successful, Mr. Lask, and remarkable for its good stage management. Mr. Lask's narrative was often interrupted to tell the histories of quaint old pipes and snuff-boxes and the like. "Then I have had three engagements with the Tivoli, the present one having lasted, so far, four years and a half." These are but the simple facts, but read between the lines add the starting of about forty-four road companies, and they serve to point the truth of my reminiscence statement. Subscribe now. ''Act? Oh, Yes, I have played boys' parts occasionally." That was not the whole truth, for as he talked I was reading a program where he was conspicuously billed as That .French Maid in The Froth of the Fringe of the Crust of Society. Mercy! that sounds worse than The Second Mrs. Tanqueray. "Bui," in answer to my accusing finger, "that was at the Lambs' Theater — their last gambol in the old Twenty-ninth street pasture." As though that were any excuse for a fib, told to conceal his connection with the problem play! Still, he was in pretty good company. Crane, Joseph Holland and Fritz Williams were of the cast. Clay Greene was the shepherd, and Sydney Rosenfeld the collie. "So you belong to the fold?" "Yes," said Mr. Lask, "and I'm very proud of the privilege to gambol with its lambs (not mentioning the pale-gray sheep). Mr. Booth proposed my name for membership, and Frank Aiken seconded it." And he said this quite simply. Well, if Edwin Booth had even spoken my name at random, and quite by accident, I would fly permanent flags from its capitals till the crack of doom. Mr. Lask is such a newsy man. His den is a precious register of dramatic goodfellowship. A tale of its treasures would fill cities under the management of her husband, Mr. Brown. Kknest Hastings, formerly of the Alcazar, this city, made his debut as leading man of the Dearborn Theater Stock Company in Chicago two weeks ago in The Ensign. My Friend from India will be most elaborately produced at the Alcazar next week. Eugene Ormond will play Erastus I'nderholt, and L R. Stockwell the barber. The suit of Chas. H. Hoyt against L. R. Stockwell for unpaid royalty A corner in his den the paper, and the editor won't have it the Goth! booking over his old photographs one learns what an actor really is. He is a poet. All those who are worthy the name have the deep introspective eye and the dreamy air of detachment from their surroundings. Of the young actors, Mr. Miller and Mr. Morgan express perfectly what I mean. Look at their photographs carefully and you will see. "Yes," said Mr. Lask, "you are right, and theie is many a good actor off the stage. Your preachers and your lawyers are the very best." I should say so. "God bless you, deir old George," is a frequent autograph, and the walls and shelves and chests are wonderful unwritten histories that end in a copy of Joe Jefferson's painting of "The Little Church Around the Corner" placed just where the light will strike it best "God bless The Little Church Around the Corner!" One feels a curious pull at the heart as he looks. If it be your privilege to see these treasures, with Mr. Lask as guide, do not neglect it. You, who are safely conservative, will go in, perhaps, knowing an actor as a driftless creature, in some way connected with frayed linen and run down morals. When I.otta is a name familiar in San Francisco you come out, he will be a noble fellow, intelligent, wise, generous, kind and faithful. Yet nothing will have altered but the light. Chari.ottk Thompson. seems to have been a misunderstand ing and was settled out of court. Holiday Delicacies. That enterprising firm, Rathjen Bros., is making special preparations to show their customers an exceedingly fine line of hob day delicacies. Visit them. WANTED Immediately ,9<x) second-hand opera chairs in good condition. I). H. B., this office. The Dramatic Review contains the all news. Subscribe now.