U\'\U: iiir THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES Pliolo l<y Tai'li liron. J . H. EMERY, Manager and 'I'reasurer. Six Years of Drama AT THE Castle Square Theatre With Portraits of the Members of the Company and Complete Programs of all Plays Produced MAY 3, 1897 — MAY 3, 1903 BOSTON CHARLES ELWELL FRENCH 1903 Copyright, 1903, By Chari.es Elwhi.i. ?"rknch, Boston, Mass. SIX YEARS OF DRAMA TO tup: many patrons whose LOVAI, SII'I'ORT HAS MADE POSSH^l.i: SIX YEARS OF DRAMA AT THE CASTLE SQUARE THEATRE The Castle Square Theatre " That Exemplary Theatre in Boston,'" William Dean Howklls successfully complete six years of continuous dramatic TOperformances, with twelve appearances for each of the three hundred and twelve weeks, is a record which has made the Castle Square Theatre Dramatic Stock Company known throughout America, and gained for the Castle Square Theatre a prominent place in the dramatic history of Boston. The patrons of this playhouse have always shown a peculiar personal interest in its achievements and the work of those who have from time to time been members of the stock com- the which has resulted in pany identified with it, and demand the present publication is typical of the fidelity and loyalty of the Boston amusement seeking public. One of the most noteworthy features of the Castle Square Theatre is the extreme liberality of the management. Everything is done for the convenience and comfort of the patrons, and great care is taken to remove all the objectionable features so common in public places. That part of the theatre technically known as the "front of the house," including ticket-sellers, ushers and the many other attaches who work for the convenience and comfort of that patrons, has been instructed to leave no stone unturned every patron be pleased, and in departing carry away good es- tidings of great joy. The immense audiences, including, pecially at the matinees, an unusually large number of women and children, are the best testimony to that appreciation which excellence begets. The list of regular subscribers Avho come without fail to every play, many enthusiasts coming twice a week, is a large one, guaranteeing a patronage' of be = ''"' which any theatre management might justly proud.' Six Years of Drama Individuals of the highest standing in the community not only patronize these productions from week to week, but also give the management the benefit of advice and encouragement, expressed both privately and in the public i)rints, some highly entlorsing the scheme as a great public educator wcnthy of CDUScientious support by all, including the most critical. Msitors from other cities, actors and dramatic managers, have come to see for themselves the enterprise of this theatre, and many have taken their cue from the Castle Scjuarc Theatre in similar undertakings. The management has reason to congratulate itself be- cause of words of praise from distinguished critics and other literary and artistic men and women of our own and other cities, who have shown their appreciation by many hearty words. The Boston newspapers have realized the character and significance of the work going on, and have been kind, heljjful and discriminating in their criticisms. At all times, the best obtainable talent in America has been secured and all plays have been staged with the best scenery, costumes and other accessories procurable. The completeness of the productions has been a matter of great surjjrise to those visiting the theatre from time to time and has been a source of great pleasure to the long list of regular patrons, wh(; have given in return a loyalty never before equalled in lioston. On the part of the company the results ha\-e been reached only by means of continuous study from morning until the fall of the curtain on the evening perform- ance. A few statistics will best show the extent of the Castle Square Theatre dramatic season of the last six years and the magnitude of the work accomplished in this time. The original intent in establishing the stock company was to pre- followed sent a new play every week, and this ]x>licy has been persistently except at limes when the continuation of an attraction was made imperative by the demands of the ])ublic. During the three hundred antl twelve weeks since the begin- ning of the career of the Castle Square Theatre Dramatic two Stock Company, May 3, 1S97, there have been produced Casti.k Suuake Thkatrk hundred and twelve different plays, and of these, forty-six have been repeated one or more times, and among the remark- able successes which have interrupted the following of the " policy of weekly productions may be named : The Prodigal " six consecutive weeks Bells of Ilasle- Daughter," given ; mere," "Heart of Maryland," "Great Ruby," and "A Tem- perance Town," given for four weeks each. With the exception of the two days' closing of the theatre at the time of the death of President McKinley, the stock company has been in continuous service, winter and summer, for six years and has therefore appeared 3,700 times since its original organization. Of these, one hundred and eight appearances of the company were made at Music Hall in the summer months of 1902, when the Castle Square Theatre was necessarily closed for structural repairs. It is interesting to know that it has been the Castle Square Theatre Stock Company and the continuous management of those at present directing the affairs of the Castle Square Theatre that have made this record, the public having accepted the inevitable changes in the organization from time to time with every evidence of confidence in the judgment of those in control. In the six years, besides the regular members of the company, there ha\'e appeared a large number of specially engaged actors, who have filled the places of those away on vacations or enjoying a much needed rest. In addition, hun- dreds of young people have gathered the rudiments of the theatrical profession by temporary identification with the organization. The book contains the pictures of nearly all who have been regular members of the compan\' during the six years. Among those who have appeared in principal parts and whose pictures are not found in the following pages may be mentioned : Susette Willey, Caroline P'rances Cook, Frances Drake, Toraine Dreux, May Buckley, Eva Westcott, Meta Maynard, Kate Ryan, Alice Davenport, Sadie Stringham, Lizzie Gale, Alberta Gallatin. Alethe Craig, Lisle Leigh, Lucy Spinnc}'. Therese Milford, Florence Baker, Mabel Spencer, Walter 10 Six ^|.\us OK Drama IVrkins. (ico. Richards, Arnold Reeves, Eugene Canfield, Richard Xcsmith, George Ober, George K. llenery, Warren Cook. Of the ''extra people" who have gained vakiable ex- perience at the Castle Square Theatre, many of whom are now playing principal parts in other companies, note is made of the following : Sadie II. Galloupe, Thyllis Ralston, Mabel Colcord, Marie Pettes. Margaret Dunn, Daisy E. Kirk, Sarah Kings- Frank G. Corliss B. F. le)-, Minzey, Giles, Duff}-, Geo. W. Sterling, Paul Linton, Charles D. Rice, Robt. Hall, John B. Walker, Louis Lytton, Roland Gillis, Horace L. Pierce, C. B. Geo. F. Carroll, W. Mason, C. Buswell, J. G Murphy, Louis Moskowitz, lulwin P. Does, Augustus Ungar, John F. Beck, W'm. W. DeW'olf, Philip Drew, T. W. Townsend, T. B. D iliaway. The editor has endeavored to make as complete a record of programs as possible, but takes no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from tempcjrary changes in the casts on account of illness or indisposition of the actors or from any other causes. The record is reprinted from the programs used in the theatre during the several weeks, and will be found to be sub- stantially correct. In the case of plays running more than one week the changes for each week ha\e been noted, and careful account has been taken of the musical programs. The short stories accompanying the pictures might have been extended indefinitely, but the individual recollections of the reader will prove far more satisfactory than any words that might have. been added by the editor. The book has been compiled and printed to supply the demand of many patrons of the house, who desire, a remem- brance of the pleasant hours spent with their friends across the footlights. I'lioto by Glines. JAMES R. PITMAN Mr. Pitman, the stage director of Castle Square Theatre, has acquired his great wisdom of stage affairs from his forty- five years' experience with plays and actors. For more than twenty-five years he superintended the productions at the " Boston Museum at a time when the " (^Id Museum was Six Years of Drama making stage history. From the knowledge derived from his personal acquaintance with the great stock actors and "stars" of the past half century he has framed a standard of excel- lence which he strives to reach in all his work. With the excej^tion of a half dozen plays he has directed ever)' production during the past six years. His success dur- ing these years has afforded pleasure to many thousands of patrons. Unremitting in his labor, he personally arranges every detail behind the curtain. His "plots" for the various heads of departments "back of the house" are marvels of com- pleteness. " " The plot for the stage carpenter shows what scenery is to be built or arranged. The "plot" for the scenic artist guides the scene painters in their work. The " property man is given a "plot showing the arrangement of all furni- ture and articles used on the stage. The electrician is given directions for all lighting effects, and so on through every department.