Theatrical and circus life; (1893) (14579791747)

Identifier: theatricalcircus00je (find matches)
Title: Theatrical and circus life;
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Jennings, John Joseph, 1853-1909. (from old catalog)
Subjects: Theater Circus
Publisher: Chicago, Laird & Lee
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress



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f the head. Hethen made his escape bv leaping from the box to thestage, and running thence through the stage entranceto the street, where he leaped on a horse in waiting forhim. As he sprang from the box, his foot caught inthe American flag which was draped around the railing,and he fell, spraining his ankle. Landing on the stage,he jumped up, and waving a dagger over his head,he shouted, tiic semper tyrannis He was subse-quently shot by Sergeant Corbett, while attempting toescape from a barn in which he had sought refuge. Said a veteran actor, referring back a score ofyears, to Wilkes Booths opening at Wallacks oldtheatre, on Broadway, near Broome Street: Thepiece to open in was « Richard III. Monday morn-ing came for rehearsal with the star, and the company (484) JOHN WILKES BOOTH. • 485 had all assembled awaiting him. Many were thestories told of his wonderful gifts and eccentricities.One old member of the company, who had playedwith him through Georgia, prophesied he would make
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JOHN WILKES BOOTH. a terrific hit. Said he : I am an old man at thebusiness and have seen and played with some of thegreatest tragedians the world has ever seen. Ive 48f) JOTIX WILKES BOOTH, played second to Macready. Ive divided the applause with Charles Kean. Ive acted often with Forrest,but in all my long years of professional experience thisyoung man Wilkes Booth (I might call him a boy),this boy is the first actor that ever (to use a profes-sional term) knocked me off my pins, upset and com-pletely left me without a word to sav ! Yes, sir, anold actor like me that yon would suppose an earth-quake could not move, was tongne-tied — unable tospeak his lines. 4 Perhaps yon never knew them,said our saucy soubrette. The old man smiled, andthen glaring at her said : * Not know Shakespeare? Heturned from her with a contemptuous smile. * Why,then, said Jim Collier, 4 were yon so much at sea ifyou were so well up in the lines? < Wait till you seehim yourself, then ask. I tell you, gen