X Actors
Chapter XXXV
Edwin Booth
The elder Booth—His success as an actor—His sons—Birth of Edwin Booth—Early life—Brought up on the stage—Admiration for his father—Travels with him—First appearance—Appears frequently with his father—Plays Richard III. in New York—A bold venture—Learns the details of his profession—Visits Australia and the Sandwich Islands—Re-appearance in New York in 1857—Recollections of him at that time—His labors in his profession—Successful tours throughout the country—Visits England—Appears at the Haymarket Theater in London—Studies on the continent—Appearance at the Winter Garden—The Shakespearian revivals—Destruction of the Winter Garden by fire—Loss of Mr. Booth’s theatrical wardrobe—Popular sympathy—The new theater—Opening of the building—Description of Booth’s Theater—A magnificent establishment—A splendid stage—Novel mode of setting the scenes—Magnificent mounting of the plays produced there—Mr. Booth’s performances—Personal—Genius as an actor—Beneficial influence upon the drama.
Chapter XXXVI
Joseph Jefferson
The Jefferson family—A race of actors—Jefferson the first—“Old Jefferson”—Jefferson the third—Birth of Joseph Jefferson—Childhood—Brought up on the stage—Olive Logan’s reminiscence—First appearance in public—Early training—Career as a stock actor—Becomes a “star”—His success—Visits Australia, the player’s El Dorado—Pecuniary success of Jefferson in Australia—His merits as an actor—Visits England—First appearance at the Adelphi Theater—“Our American Cousin”—Production of Rip Van Winkle—Makes the part his specialty—Description of his performance of Rip Van Winkle—Personal characteristics—Devotion to his profession—Love of art—A capital sportsman—Buys a panorama—A visit to John Sefton—“The Golden Farmer”—Private life.