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CHAPTER XII.

1829-1830.

The South Pearl Street Theatre-End of the North Pearl Street Circus.

MESSRS. Duffy & Forrest's stock company con

tinued to play from June 9th till the 24th, without the assistance of any extra attraction. On the 18th, Miss Greer made her first appearance, as Agnes in the drama of "William Tell." William C. Forbes had a most remarkable faculty of turning pale at will. He made his debut in this city; probably at the Thespian hotel, although we have no official record of it. He subsequently managed a theatre in Providence, Rhode Island, for ten years. His wife was a handsome woman, who could sing "Coming through the rye" with much effect. Harry Knight was the low comedian and used to sing "The Poachers." It is related of him that as opportunities to sing his favorite song did not occur frequently enough to satisfy him, he used to go up in the upper boxes and call for "Knight! Knight!" till the gallery took it up, and then scud around behind the scenes and answer to the call. He married Eliza, one of the Kent sisters, and finally died from having his leg cut off on the railroad, between Baltimore and Philadelphia, in 1839. His widow married George Mossop, was divorced, and marrying Mr. DeCosta, a merchant, retired from the stage. Mrs. LaForrest was formerly Miss Sophia Eberle, sister of the Eberles, of whom we have spoken, and aunt of Mr. E. A. Eberle, late of the Leland. In 1828, she had married Charles

LaForrest, a famous equestrian. Mr. Judah was, we think, the man by the same name who was drowned in 1839, in the Gulf of Mexico.

June 22d, the drama of "Blood for Blood," founded upon Scott's "Fair Maid of Perth," was produced, and is memorable, from the fact that its representation did not belie its sanguinary title. William Forrest, who was playing Sir John Ramorny, was struck in the breast by a dagger, which was supposed to be a spring one. It was not, however, and a wound was inflicted near the heart, which, for some days, was thought would prove mortal.

June 24th, Mr. William Pelby, the first star, appeared as Hamlet, and June 25th, his wife Rosalie, as Juliana, in "The Honeymoon.’ He was a favorite manager in Boston, and a tragedian of some repute, but lacked the necessary requisite of a good voice. He was born in New York, March 16th, 1793, and died in Boston, May 27th, 1850. Mrs. Pelby was noted for her beauty. She was born in Kinderhook, New York, March 17th, 1791, and made her debut in Boston, in 1813. Under her husband's management, she became a great favorite there, at the National. She died on board the steamer Northern Light, in June, 1855, while en route from California, where she had been visiting with her daughter Julia, also a favorite actress, who married Mr. J. W. Thoman, in July, 1858.

July 2d, Booth appeared as Richard, for one night, and Miss Emery, who had previously played as a star, became attached to the company. Her history is one of the saddest known to the stage. She was born in London, and made her first appearance at the Surrey theatre, in 1827. She was a very large woman - said to be the largest ever known to the stage in this country and played tragedy with grand effect. The English press called her "the actress of the day." She appeared first in this country at the Chestnut street theatre, in Philadelphia, October 31st, 1827, as Belvidera, in "Venice Preserved." She appeared March 17th, 1828, at the Chatham theatre, in New York, and

was recognized by the press, as an actress of great skill and power, but appearing at a declining theatre and at a time when the stage was crowded with favorites, she did not become popular. Finally, she was unable to obtain engagements; her home was taken from her, and her furniture sold at auction. She was obliged even to sell her valuable wardrobe and then to quit the stage. She became so poor that she was compelled to hire a room in a garret, in Anthony street, New York, and was frequently found in Theatre alley, back of the old Park theatre, begging a few shillings from the actors. She at last, in 1832, took up lodgings at the Five Points. One day, she had a quarrel with a drunken woman and shortly after, was assaulted while sleeping, by this woman and two other prostitutes. After being forced into the street, she staggered towards the market house and laid down and died. was procured and she was carried off to Bellevue hospital. Our readers who remember the sad end of Amy Fawsitt (December 26th, 1876), engaged as leading lady for Daly's theatre, will note the similarity between the two cases. The demon of strong drink spares

neither sex nor condition.

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A cart

On the 3d of July, Henry James Finn, of the Boston theatre, appeared as Paul Pry, and afterwards as Dr. Pangloss, Billy Black, Shylock, Dr. Ollapod, Bob Logic (in Tom and Jerry "), Maw-worm, and several other characters of a similar nature. This gentleman was celebrated as an actor, author. dramatist and artist. He was born in Cape Breton, between 1785 and 1790. He was, at one time, editor of a paper in Georgia, and published "Comic Annuals," which would not have disgraced Hood. He was, in every way, exemplary as a man, while as an actor, in the range of comedy he selected, he is said never to have been excelled in this country. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Powell. He was lost on board the steamer Lexington, burnt on Long Island Sound, in January, 1840, almost in sight of his own home, in Newport.

During the month of July, the Kents became attached

to the theatre. The sisters were fine dancers and good actresses. Their father, John, was a valuable accession. Herr Cline performed at this time, and July 20th took a benefit. He was the best rope dancer seen in this country till the advent of the Ravels. July 21st, we note the name of Hamilton, who played Tiptoe, in "Ways and Means." This unhappy man was the cause of the death of Manager Duffy, in 1836.

In August, Henry Southwell, a dashing and spirited actor from the London and Philadelphia theatres, appeared as Romeo; Mrs. Bernard, (formerly the favorite Miss Tilden) played a few nights, as did Mr. Placide, Miss Kelly, Messrs. Woodhull, Chapman, and others. (Brown's History of the Stage says that Miss Tilden, previous to her appearance in Albany in Gilfert's company, had married Walter Williams, a circus clown, but had been divorced from him. Her third husband was a Doctor Tucker, of Philadelphia, whom she married after her retirement from the stage.) The benefits followed, and the season closed September 16th, covering a period of fourteen weeks and three nights. Total number of performances, 81; total receipts, $5,750.311; average weekly receipts, $396.55; average nightly receipts, $66.

Although the management was nominally Duffy & Forrest's, we find from the original lease that the building at this time was let to William Duffy, singly. The term was originally for eight weeks, with the privilege of extension. The rent was $40 per week.

On the 28th of June, Mr. H. Eberle opened the circus as a summer theatre, and his sister, Mrs. LaForrest, followed him to that establishment. Farces, musical pieces, nautical dramas, comic songs, etc., were the features. David Eberle, Messrs. Davis, Goodenow, Taylor, Ball and Stammers were among the company.

After the season at the South Pearl street theatre had closed, the circus was again opened September 30th, this time by C. W. Taylor, as the Clinton theatre. The Kents and the Turnbulls were engaged with

Davis, Rodney, Miss Greer, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Wilt, and others. Performances were given till November 2d. Charley Taylor, the manager, was a resident of Albany for twenty-five years, and connected, for a long time, with the Museum. He was well educated, and the author of several plays. It must have been during this season that Turnbull's drama of "Valdemar" was produced, under the supervision of the author. "It had," says Stone, "a fine run of- one evening. From some cause or other the manager, on the next night was obliged, as he said, to dismiss the audience in consequence of some of the artists refusing to play. While the manager was making this moving speech, the ticket seller smelt a good sized rat, and there being just eighteen dollars due him, and there being just eighteen dollars in the box office, he blew out the lights, and taking all the funds, departed. The manager, not knowing of this, threw himself upon the kind indulgence of the audience, and informed them they could step to the box office and have their money refunded. The ticket seller was non est, and a free fight was the result. The chandelier was broken, as well as the manager, who made his escape through the sewer. The scene ended by old John Meigs, high constable, and his posse, capturing some dozen canallers and two soldiers.

On the 17th of December, the circus property was sold at auction, and used as a Methodist church, till June, 1851, when it was pulled down, and the present church edifice erected upon the site.

Messrs. Duffy & Forrest's second season opened Monday, November 9th, 1829. During the recess the projected improvements, which had been announced by Mr. Duffy a year previous, but which he was then unable to effect, were made. Mondelli, an Italian artist, was employed to ornament the interior of the theatre in several ways. Among other additions, Gordon painted a new drop scene, representing an Italian landscape, near the Lake Maggiore, and a view of the villa of Cardinal Borrome, with a distant view of that part of the Alps over which Hannibal passed