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Actors' Fund
The
Actors' Fund
was organized in 1882 by
Edwin Booth,
[Lawrence]
Barrett,
[Joseph]
Jefferson,
Wallack,
Daly
and
Palmer [Blum].
On April 18, 1887 a benefit for the Actors Fund performance of
Jim the Penman
by the Madison Square
Theatre troupe at the National Theater in Washington DC, before
President
Grover
Cleveland and other government officials raised $3,100. [Durham &
Odell]. AM Palmer was the third president of the Fund (1885-1897). The
retirement home for actors is now in Englewood NJ
1892 Actors' Fund Fair
Acting life as
reported by EJ Phillips
1886
Actor's Fund benefit performance of
Engaged The
Engaged production first described in these letters was the Feb. 1886
Actor's Fund benefit performance in New York.
Daly's
,
Wallack's
and the Madison Square
were the three leading New York theatre companies of that time. According to
the NY Times three plays were performed as an
Actor's Fund
benefit, each act traveling to a different theater. "Mrs. Phillips a capital
Mrs. MacFarlane in Engaged."
Tickets were $2
and good at any theatre. Act I of Engaged began at 2 PM at the
Madison Square Theatre, while Act II was played at 3 in Wallack's and
the last act at 4 in Daly's.
AM
Palmer addressed the audience at
Wallack's,
Wallack at
Daly's and
Daly at the
Madison Square.
1887
New York,
March 17th/87 Yes, we are going to Washington on 17th of April to play there
on 18th for The Actors Fund
benefit. It will be a change from the
monotony of playing
Jim [the Penman]
in one city so long. We go to
Boston for the 1st of May. As yet
I do not know what the programme is after Boston
Washington Post 1887 April 13
NATIONAL THEATRE-The week of April 18 at the New National promises to be one of
be most brilliant events of the season. Monday given April 18, "Jim the Penman,"
will be Tuesday the Madison Square Company. ...April
15 JIM THE PENMAN"S VISIT All the arrangements for the visit of the
Madison Square Theatre Company to Washington next Monday have been completed.
The company will leave at 1 o'clock on Sunday, and besides the regular cast Mr.
Palmer will take all the understudies. April 17 A.M. PALMER The two great
American stage managers of the day are A. M. Palmer and Augustin Daly. Daly is,
perhaps, the greater stage manager of the two, Palmer the better business man.
...
The Washington
Post of Apr. 18, 1887 advertised "One performance only.
MONDAY EVENING, April 18. A.M. PALMER'S NEW YORK COMPANY in
"JIM, THE PENMAN" with the following powerful cast:
Mr. Frederic Robinson,
Mr. H.M. Pitt,
Mr. Alexander
Salvini,
Mr. E.M.
Holland,
Mr.
L.F. Massen,
Mr. C.P.
Flockton,
Mr. Harry J. Holliday,
Mr.
William Davidge,
Mr. H. Millward,
Mr.
Walden Ramsey,
Miss
Maude Harrison,
Miss Agnes
Booth,
Miss
May Robson, Mrs. E.J. Phillips
There
was ample press coverage. An April 18 article announced
"JIM, THE PENMAN," COMES Manager Palmer brings his Company from New
York. A Pleasant Trip with a Congenial Party - A Dinner Last Night followed by
a Reception.
The trip was made
by a special train (parlor car, smoking car and baggage car), placed at the
disposal of the party by the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. In addition to the
actors, the group included Palmer's son and daughter, brother William,
Miss
May Robson,
GW Presbrey,
Alfred Hayman
and as guests, Mrs. Jennie June Croly, Adam Badeau, George Parsons Lathrop,
George Alfred Townsend (Gath), of the Cincinnati Enquirer, F.A. Duneka,
New York World, G.P. Brady,
New York Herald, F.A. Burr,
Boston
Herald and Philadelphia Times; H.J.W. Dam,
New York Times;
Horace Townsend, New York Tribune, and Mrs. Horace Townsend; W.F.G.
Shanks, Philadelphia News, and J. F. Magennis,
New York Journal.
The railroad
company provided an ample lunch. The party was met with coaches and carriages at
the depot and carried to the Arlington, where they were guests of Mr. Roessie,
the proprietor. The dinner in the banquet-room of the Reverdy Johnson House
annex. "one of the most complete given in Washington this season. The floral
decorations consisted of a huge bed of La France roses, six feet long by three
in width, in the centre of the table, and oval beds of Jacqueminot and Marimet
roses. Corsage bouquets of roses, violets and lilies of the valley were provided
for the ladies and boutonnieres of violets and lilies of the valley for the
gentlemen. After dinner Mr. Palmer received a number of callers in his parlor,
where he was assisted in receiving by the ladies of his company. Among the
callers were Chief Clerk Brown of the State Department and Chief Clerk Youmans
of the State Department. Commodore Harmony called while the party was at dinner
and left his card. "
To-day the
President will give Mr. Palmer and his party a special reception half an hour
before the regular reception. From there they will be escorted to the State
Department, where, in the Diplomatic Room, Assistant Secretary of State Adee
will present them to Secretary Bayard. They will then be taken in charge by
Chief Clerk Tweedale of the War Department who will escort them to Secretary
Endicott's office and make the presentation to him. Commodore Harmony, the
ranking officer of the Navy Department, will meet them there and introduce them
to the Secretary of the Navy. From this building they will take carriages to the
Treasury Department, escorted by Chief Clerk Youmans, who will introduce them to
Secretary Fairchild. When their round of Cabinet calls is done they will be
received informally by Gen. Sheridan in his office at the War Department. Every
seat for the performance of "Jim the Penman" for to-night, has been sold.
The Washington
Post of April 19, 1887 reported
"ACTORS TAKE THE TOWN" A GREAT DAY IN THE HISTORY OF MANAGER PALMER'S
COMPANY. They are received by the President and Cabinet Officers and present
"Jim the Penman" to a Distinguished Audience.
The friends of
Manager Palmer and his
Madison Square Company spared no pains yesterday to make the stay of the
party in Washington as pleasant as possible. The morning was spent in driving
about the city to various points of interest, and at half past one o'clock the
entire party visited the White House, where they were to be received by
President Cleveland. They first were shown through the Red, Blue and
Green Parlors, and then into the East Room, where they waited for the President.
Mr. Cleveland did not keep them waiting long, but soon entered the room through
the folding doors leading to the private parts of the house. Mr. Roessie
introduced Mr. Palmer, who in turn introduced his son and daughter, and then his
company beginning with
Mrs. Agnes
Booth. When the veteran
William Davidge
who, the day before, celebrated his seventh fifth birthday, advanced the
President recognized him at once and exclaimed "Why, how do you do, Mr. Davidge,
I remember seeing you play in New York ever so many years ago." When all the
company had shaken hands with the President, he and Mr. Palmer engaged in
conversation for a few minutes.
From the White
House the party drove over to the State Department, where they were shown into
the Diplomatic Reception Room. Here they were welcomed by Second Assistant
Secretary Adee. While waiting for the Secretary, Mrs.. Booth's eyes fell on the
picture of Daniel Webster. "Oh how much he looks like
Edwin" she
exclaimed. This called the attention of the entire party to the portrait which,
especially about the forehead and the eyes, might be passed for a portrait of
the great tragedian
Edwin Booth.
Commodore Harmony joined the party here, and when Secretary Bayard came into the
room, made the introductions. The War Department was next visited, and the
party was introduced to Secretary Endicott and to Secretary Lamar, who happened
to be in his office. Secretary Whitney was in when they called at the Navy
Department ... A call on General [Philip] Sheridan followed next.
"Why, how many
ladies you have!" he exclaimed when they had all been introduced by Mr..
Palmer.
"We can't very
well run a theatrical company without ladies" said Mr.. Palmer. They are just as
much a necessary part of the outfit as in any organization. You can't run
anything without the ladies. "
"They are not very
necessary in an army." laughed the General. The General regretted that a prior
engagement would prevent the attendance of himself and Mrs.. Sheridan at the
performance, but promised to see it soon in New York.
The Treasury
Department was the last place visited, and after an introduction to Secretary
Fairchild, Chief Clerk Youmanns ordered the vaults to be opened and the party
were shown the great stocks of silver stored behind iron bars. It had been
intended to visit the Interior and Postoffice departments, but the party was so
much fatigued by their jaunts about the city that they went to the hotel for a
few hours rest before the evening's performance.
AT THE THEATRE
It is the concurrent testimony of Messrs. Rapley and other local authorities
that the National Theatre never before held so brilliant an audience to see a
playas it did last night. All the boxes were full and the seats were packed to
the roof.
In the President's
box were the President, Col. and Mrs. Wilson, and Col. Lamont. In the box
adjoining were Secretary and Mrs. Whitney, and a richly dressed party. In other
boxes were Secretary Endicott and family, Secretary Fairchild and family, Mr.
and Miss Palmer, Mrs. W.W. and W.H. Rapley, Mrs. "Jennie June" Croly, Miss
Marie Burroughs,
and other ladies. Mrs. Hearst occupied the eighth box. Secretary Bayard and his
daughters were in the front row of chairs.
It would be easy
to fill half a column with names of well-known persons in the audience. It is
only to be added that the modern demand was complied with, and almost all the
ladies in the boxes, and nearly half of those in the orchestra and orchestra
circle removed their bonnets and left them in the dressing room. At h the end
of the second, much applause and amusement were created by an attempt to get a
nest of lovely and enormous bouquets to the ladies in the cast. Difficulty was
experienced in disentangling the ribbons which bound them together and every
rise of the curtain and every fresh revelation of discomfiture and embarrassment
caused a fresh outburst of playful raillery.
Souvenir card Lady D
Mrs. Phillips "Washington trip April 18, 1887
Here's rosemary for you - that's for remembrance -- Ophelia" compliments
of
[overleaf] The PenMen EJ Phillips played Lady Dunscombe
The card has a number of autographs including George Patrick Brady, Frank A.
Burr, HJW Dam, FA Duneka, George Parsons Lathrop, Wm. F.G. Shanks, Geo Alfred
Townsend, Horace Townsend, WG Whitney and Adam Badeau. Thanks to Howard
Rosenberg who looked up the Washington Post account of this trip. I now know who
these people were.
These bouquets
were intended for Mrs. Agnes Booth, Miss Maud Harrison, Mrs. Phillips and
Miss Robson, and they were accompanied by round robin cards, on which the
names of the ten donors were written -- the ten journalists present from New
York as guests of Mr. Palmer. These were Geo. Adam Badeau, George Alfred
Townsend, Mrs. Croly, George P. Lathrop, W.F.G. Shank and the other
correspondents. And in the center of the card was written "From the Penman."
The receipts
amounted to the superb sum of $3,100 for the Actor's Fund of America. No such
money has ever been realized before at any Washington theatre at the prices
charged last night.
As the curtain
rose on the beautiful and exquisitely arranged blue and gilt drawing room scene
in the first act of "Jim the Penman" it gladdened the eyes and brought
forth rounds of applause. The performance was, of course, an excellent and
brilliant one. As the actors severally entered they were in turn warmly greeted
, and as the curtain fell on the first act the applause broke forth in a storm
from every part of the house. The enthusiasm reached its height at the close of
the third act , when in response to loud calls and applause , Manager Palmer
appeared at the footlights and said
My company and
myself, ladies and gentlemen, deem it a high honor that we are permitted to
appear in this distinguished presence and before this representative American
audience. But when to that high honor and privilege is added the fact which
comes to us from the front of the house , that we shall carry home with us for
our Actors' Fund the sum of $3,100 as the result of your labors and generosity,
the measure of our gratification is complete. IN my own name and in that of my
company, and above all, in the name of that sweet charity whose ministers we
are, I thank you again and again for this magnificent result and I venture to
express the hope that this occasion may be the forerunner of similar ones when
my brother actors of New York shall appear here in behalf of the same sacred
cause. The party will return to New York this morning.
_small.jpg)
George
Alfred Townsend
`George
Parsons Lathrop Mrs. Croly
Adam Badeau
Matthew Brady,
US National Archives
Adam Badeau
(December 29, 1831 – March 19, 1895) was an American author, Union
Army officer,
and diplomat. He was most prominent for his service on the staff of Ulysses
S. Grant during
the American
Civil War and
his subsequent three-volume biography of Ulysses
S. Grant.
Wikipedia accessed 2018 Feb 14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Badeau He was also a theater critic
and friend of Edwin Booth.
Jennie June Croly
Jane Cunningham Croly (December
19, 1829 – December 23, 1901) was an American author and journalist, better
known by her pseudonym, Jennie
June.
She was a pioneer author and editor of women's columns in leading newspapers and
magazines in New York. She founded the Sorosis club for women in New York in
1868 and in 1889 expanded it nationwide to the General
Federation of Women's Clubs.
She also founded the Woman's
Press Club of New York City....
a pioneer feminist... Croly sympathized with the women's suffrage movement but
was not active in it. ... She told American women that financial
independence and economic equality was as or more important than the right to vote.[8]
Wikipedia accessed 2018 Feb 14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Cunningham_Croly
Henry J W "Harry" Dam: died
1906 Californian, journalist for New York times and then for the London edition
of the New York Herald. Dramatist New York and London Strand magazine 1896
https://books.google.com/books?id=2nhHAAAAYAAJ&dq=hjw+dam+new+york+times&source=gbs_navlinks_s
includes photo of
Frederick A Duneka (c1863-1919)
American journalist, New York World until 1900 and then at Harpers and edited
Samuel Clemens work. Mark Twain Encyclopedia 1993
https://books.google.com/books?id=zW1k-XS6XLEC&dq=frederick+a+duneka+harpers&source=gbs_navlinks_s
George Parsons Lathrop
(August 25, 1851 – April 19, 1898) was an American
poet and novelist. ...he was married in London,
September 11, 1871, to Rose
Hawthorne,
the second daughter and youngest child of Nathaniel
Hawthorne.
In 1875, he became associate editor of the Atlantic
Monthly,
and remained in that position two years, leaving it to edit the Boston
Courier in
1879. ...In 1883 he founded the American
Copyright League,
which assisted in securing an international
copyright law.
Wikipedia accessed 2018 Feb 14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Parsons_Lathrop
George Alfred Townsend
(January
30, 1841 – April 15, 1914), was a noted war
correspondent during
the American
Civil War,
and a later novelist. Townsend wrote under the pen name "Gath", which was
derived by adding an "H" to his initials, and inspired by the biblical passage II
Samuel 1:20,
"Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askalon." ...He
originally wrote for the Philadelphia
Inquirer,
and in 1861 he moved to the New
York Herald.
He is considered to have been the youngest correspondent of the war. In 1865,
Townsend was Washington correspondent for the New
York World,
covering the assassination
of Abraham Lincoln and
its aftermath. His daily reports filed between April 17 – May 17 were published
later in 1865 as a book, The
Life, Crime, and Capture of John Wilkes Booth,
reprinted in 1977,[2]
...By
1868, he had become one of the most quotable Washington correspondents, working
for the "Chicago Tribune," and, after 1874, for the "New York Graphic."
Wikipedia accessed 2108 Feb 14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Alfred_Townsend
Horace Townsend: author and
journalist for New York Tribune, wrote about fire safety in Frank Leslie's
Monthly in 1883 Richmond Theater Fire, LSU Press 2012
https://books.google.com/books?id=WFuc9Ak2f5oC&dq=%22horace+townsend%22+new+york+tribune+fire+safety&source=gbs_navlinks_s
For many years London correspondent New York Herald, and before going to London
was assistant to William Winter New York Tribune.
Fourth Estate: A weekly newspaper for publishers, advertisers, advertising
agents and allied interests, 1901
https://books.google.com/books?id=9eNHAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22horace+townsend%22+%22new+york%22+fire&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Washington Post 1887 April 19
April 19 FIFTY YEARS AN ACTOR
A TALK WITH WM. P. DAVIDGE, AGED SEVENTY-THREE. He Hopes For a Return to Stock
Companies and Says That There is More Mechanism Than Art on the Present Stage.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE. A TESTIMONIAL. A MATTER OF PURE ENGLISH. MECHANISM AND NOT
ART.
William P. Davidge, who is now a member of the Madison Square Theatre Company,
and played in "Jim, the Penman," at the National last night, is without doubt
the oldest actor now on the American stage.
An
April 20th letter from Hattie to Albert adds more information.
I read in last evening's paper of the gay time "Jim the Penman" has been having
& that the President wrote his autograph on the ladies souvenir cards with Mrs.
Phillips' pen. I suppose that was the pen John gave her for Christmas.
39
West 12th
New York
April 28th [1887]
My
dear Son.
Your
letter rec'd this morning. Too bad you are still kept in suspense about your
stock [printing press]. And I cannot help you. It is too bad! I Well perhaps
your next letter will bring better news -- I was and am pretty tired over my
journey. I do not know that I can give you any better accounts of the trip than
the papers have given. Everything was pleasant except the weather and even the
rain held up long enough for us to see the White House, Treasury and State
Department. buildings -- and then on our return to the hotel we had a
thunderstorm - but that cleared off about 5 PM and gave us clear weather for the
Evening. The President sat very quiet during the performance and seemed to
enjoy it. He is not a handsome man, but Bayard is. We had a splendid time and
I did not spend one cent going or returning. We did not stop at Phila going and
only 10 minutes at the Broad Street station returning, so of course I did not
see Hattie. Will send you an order for ten to-morrow. Wish it could be ten
times ten. I worry a great deal about you dear but I can do very little else
and that does not help you or me. God bless and help you out of your present
trouble and we may yet be able to weather the storm. Be patient -- and
hopeful. Glad you have written to your sister. Love and kisses from your loving
Mother.
A
similar (though not as festive) trip to Washington was made in March 1890 with
the cast of Aunt
Jack for an
Actors' Fund benefit. A special train took the actors
to Washington, arriving there at 11:47 am. The performance began at 1pm and they
started their return to New York at 3:15, reaching the theatre in time to appear
there at 9pm.
Actors Fund
Fair 1892
New York, Jan 24th 1892 I rehearse at 11 tomorrow and at 3 PM have to
attend a "tea & reception" at the
Holland
House [Hotel] 30th St & 5th Avenue given by the committee of "The
Actors Fund Fair" to be held in May at the
Madison Square Garden. I suppose the object to-morrow will be to see
what everybody concerned is willing to do, to make the affair a success.
Actors' Fund Fair Harpers Weekly May 1892
Stanford White's Madison Square Garden Theatre
in lower right hand corner, enveloped in greenery
The
Actor's
Fund Fair was held May 2-7, 1892 in Stanford White's new (opened 1890)
Madison Square Garden. "The entire floor was laid out as a miniature
village of one street in the midst of a plain. The buildings were models of
famous theatres of ancient London and older New York , and the architecture and
picturesque local color of several centuries and of places far distant from each
other were cleverly brought into harmony.
The
Garden
Theatre was a portion of Stanford White's Madison Square Garden structure,
but separately managed. The auditorium, eight boxes, a gallery and a balcony
seated about 1200. The bases of the box tiers and the heavy columns forming the
frame of the outer proscenium arch were of onyx and the wall hung with silk in
tints of light yellow and cream. [Kings
NYC]
I was trying to
get out of the affair, but last night as I was leaving the theatre the Call Boy
came with a message from Mr. Palmer to me and
Miss [Maud] Harrison
that he (Mr. Palmer) should consider it a personal favor to him if we would
attend the reception - which was a polite way of telling us, we must go. You
know receptions & teas are a great bore to yours truly.
The New York Times reported the reception was attended by 300 to 400 ladies and
speeches were made by Mrs. Kendal, Agnes Booth and Georgia Cayvan. "The
Actors Fund Fair: What the Ladies will do to make it a success" Jan 26 1892
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/01/26/archives/the-actors-fund-fair-what-the-ladies-will-do-to-make-it-a-success.html
New York, Feby 26th/92 I started out
in the Morning with two ladies to canvass Toy Stores for the donation of Toys
for the "Actors Fund Fair" which takes place the 1st week in May.
Yesterday we had donations of Toys given to us to the value of $60.
I will enclose
this with a business communication in a business envelope to show you the "part"
I am trying to act at present. I am a perfect novice, and wish I had you here
to give me a lesson on Committee work.
Without my desire
or consent, the Ladies Executive Committee made me chairman of Sub- Committee
no. 24 (There are 40 sub- Comm'ees.) And I know as much about it as a cat knows
how to play a fiddle. My only comfort being that there are many others just
like me. I have four ladies on the Committee with me.
Mrs. D.P. Bowers,
Mrs. [Percy]
Haswell, Misses [Julia]
Arthur &
Rockman. Had
Mrs.
Frank Mordaunt
but she and her husband leave the City next week with the "Lost
Paradise" and she cannot act on the Committee here.
New York, Feb 26th 1892
Mr. & Mrs. A.E. Nickinson
Middletown, N.Y.
Dear Sir & Madam,
The above named
Fair is to take place at the
Madison Square
Garden, beginning May 2nd for one week. The object of the Fund in
giving the Fair is to realize $100,000 to establish an orphanage for children of
deceased Actors - any contribution will be gladly accepted by yours -
Sincerely
Elizabeth J Phillips
Chairman
Committee No 24
Actors Fund Fair
On reverse of
this letter are a list of patrons including former
President and Mrs. Grover Cleveland, Mr. and Mrs.
Stamford [sic]
White, the John Jacob Astors and many others
New York, March 6th/92
Last night I
closed my appearances in New York for the present and do not know when I shall
appear here again.
I am still busy
with the Actors Fund Fair but hope to get through with my share this week. Have
collected written guarantees of toys from various stores to the amount of $75.
And promises from several others, but some I am afraid are doubtful. Eight
weeks from tomorrow the Fair is to begin. And should I have to go to Chicago I
shall not be "in it".
NY April 7, 1892 Since I arrived here
which was at 6 PM Sunday I have been very busy - having to travel to
Williamsburg [Brooklyn] every night and to Matinee yesterday - and having in the
meantime my own work and Fair work to attend to. The [Actors Fund] Fair is
progressing nicely - and when it is over Mr. Palmer may come down to Earth again
- and tell us what he has provided for us. Until then, I do not believe he
knows himself what he is going to do. Come when you can - if in the meantime I
am sent out to Oshkosh or the Sandwich Islands - I will telegraph in time for
you not to come.
New York, April 12th/92 With this I
send you the last "Fair Tokens" which will show you the
Fair is doing
well.
NY, April 22/92 That night we open
the Fair here. Fair opens May 2nd 7:30 PM. Mr. P[almer] told me he
expected to have some good plays next season and better parts for me -- "For"
said he "I have found that I cannot get anyone else to please the Public and
myself better than you do"! Now what do you think of your Maternal Mother! I am
tired. Fair is too much for me. Hope to see you all at the Fair.
"As Booth's health declined, Jefferson's stature increased. He began to move
into his role as "dean of the American theatre". On April 30, 1892, the producer
AM Palmer announced that
[Joseph] Jefferson had agreed to open the Actor's Fund Fair in
Madison Square Garden and had sent a $500 contribution. For the occasion, the
Garden was converted into a city street filled with theatrical reminiscences --
The Globe Theatre, Dicken's Old Curiosity Shop, and even the Chatham Street
Theatre in which Jefferson had made his New York debut in 1849. Within each
facade there was a boutique stocked with donated merchandise and staffed by
society matrons. The fair began at 8 PM with its officers mounting a set of
stairs into an overhanging box on the south side of the building. Jefferson
entered moving "lightly up the stairs" with Palmer and the much enfeebled Edwin
Booth, who was unable to speak publicly. Both actors were warmly applauded, and
Jefferson made a brief speech. Then Booth and Jefferson bowed, hand in hand, to
an applauding audience, while the band played The Star Spangled banner," and
Mrs. AM Palmer waved the American flag above them. It was a formal public
acknowledgement of their equality in tragedy and comedy."
Bloom, Arthur, Joseph Jefferson: Dean of the
American Theatre, Savannah, Frederic C. Beil, 2000
New York, May 1st 1892 No, Hattie has
decided not to come to the Fair. We begin tomorrow night and will feel
pretty tired I guess by the time 11 o'clock arrives. I expect to be there
tomorrow from 10 AM to 11 PM and perhaps later. Think there will not even be a
grease spot left of me at the end of the week. I cannot tell you yet when I
shall start for Chicago. May have to go earlier in the week than I want to, but
I do not think before Friday and I may have to go on Monday. There will be five
ladies to go. Mrs. [Agnes]
Booth, Mrs. [DP] Bowers, the Misses [Julia] Arthur and [Maud]
Harrison & self.
Mr. & Mrs.
[Frederic] Robinson
went with the Company last night, although he does
not play until I do. I shall have to be guided by the way the others go, or are
sent by the management. I do not think I shall be able to see you before going,
unless you all come to the Fair.
And I hope you
will be able to do so. I have a ticket to take you in. On Monday Fair begins
at 8 PM. All other days opens at 1:30 and closes 11 PM. Messrs
[Edwin] Booth
and
[Joseph] Jefferson open the Fair, Love and Kisses to my dear children
Albert, Edward and Penelope from their loving Mother
Yesterday --
Scharles Bro of 24th to 23rd St Toys raised their donation of $10 guaranteed in
March to $100. It is a child's theatre & they have it on exhibition in their
store window on 23rd St .
Actor's Fund Fair
Souvenir Programme, Madison Square Garden May 2nd 3rd
https://archive.org/details/souvenirprogramm00acto See the Agnes Booth
cigar on page 18.
NY, May 4 1892
All right. Hope to see
you. I have no time to write. In Fair from 12M to 11 PM. And all other time is
devoted to outside work. Have to
hustle I
tell you.
N.Y. May 12th 1892
Today I finished
selling and resigned my position as Toy seller to the
Actors Fund Fair.
On Saturday I leave for Chicago by the New York Central at 4:30 PM. So I
cannot pay you the visit I should have done tomorrow had we gone by the
Erie. On Saturday night the Fair closes by the awarding of the
Cleveland
Diamond. There is great speculation as to who will be the lucky one. Of course
my ticket will be the one to draw it! 750 is my number. So watch for it.
Cleveland Diamond
One of the earliest large diamonds to be cut in New York City (but not the first!)
was called the “Cleveland Gem” a 42¼ carat diamond that appeared in 1884 and
disappeared mysteriously in 1892. The rough diamond was discovered in
South Africa in 1873, and originally weighed 78 carats…. The cutting of the
diamond coincided with one of the most bitter partisan political battles for the
Presidency that the United States has ever experienced. Democratic candidate
Grover Cleveland, the former Mayor of Buffalo, New York and Governor of the
State of New York was pitted against Republican James G. Blaine, a former
Congressman from Maine, in a highly vitriolic campaign. …Dessau
would tell a New York Times reporter:
“Father and I had
a disturbance [argument]. He wanted to name it Cleveland before Cleveland was
elected. I desired to call it Blaine. At last I said ‘I’ll compromise with you,
and if Cleveland be elected we’ll call it the Cleveland gem.’
The Actors' Fund in New York City began laying plans for an enormous fair in
Manhattan to raise money for their charitable work. The Actors' Fund was created
in 1882 for the benefit of “suffering members of the dramatic profession …. In
its first decade, the Actors' Fund dispersed more than $136,000 to 2,571 theater
people, as well as saw to the proper burial of 509 men and women who would have
otherwise been relegated to a pauper's grave. As the organization grew, it
became painfully apparent that contributions from the public and the proceeds of
special matinée performances at theaters in Manhattan and Brooklyn were
inadequate. …
One of the most interesting propositions came from John R. Rogers. He offered to
allow the Actors' Fund to raffle off the Cleveland Diamond at the Fair, provided
they pay off the money he owed on the loan (which apparently amounted to about
$6,000) and that they split the proceeds of the auction equally (NY Times,
1901). With an estimated value of $20,00, the diamond would be one of the most
valuable items to be raffled at the Fair. The Board members of the Fund agreed
and the Cleveland Gem was soon ransomed from the bank.
One of the highlights of the Fair was to be an exhibition of diamonds, rubies
and precious stones, “the largest ever seen in a single collection.” Centerpiece
of the display would be the Cleveland Diamond itself, pronounced by the New York
Times as “a stone valued at $20,000 and regarded by jewelers as another
Koh-i-noor.” (NY Times 1892c) Stanford White designed a “Moorish booth” - which
echoed the Moorish style architecture of Madison Square Garden - in which the
Cleveland Diamond and other gems would be exhibited. The booth was under the
management of veteran actress Mrs. D P Bowers and Dora Goldthwaite, a relative
newcomer to the New York stage (NY Times 1892e) . The Actors’ Fund printed
20,000 tickets for the raffle of the Cleveland diamond, at $1 each, numbers
selected apparently based upon the gem’s estimated value. …
By the close of the Fair, the Actors’ Fund had raised the staggering amount of
$180,000.
Oddly, the raffle of the Cleveland Diamond failed to capture the public
imagination. Less than half of the chances for the raffle of the Cleveland
diamond were sold… by the estimates of the Actors’ Fund executives, only about
9,000 tickets. They continued to sell tickets on the gem for several days after
the close of the fair, but with limited success. (NY Times 1892k; NY Times
1892l)
When the drawing was held, on the 14th of May, the winning ticket was number
9,810, a ticket which had not been sold. (NY Times 1892m). By the terms of many
19th century raffles and lotteries, when an unsold ticket was pulled as winner
of the item, no second drawing was held for the item (which has become common
practice today). Instead, the item reverted back to the people who were raffling
it off.
Under the agreement that existed between Rogers and the Actors’ Fund, if the
diamond was not won as a prize, it was to be auctioned off and the proceeds
divided equally by Rogers and the Fund. Indeed, the Actors’ Fund reported in
early June, 1892 that the Cleveland diamond was still in their possession , and
that its disposal was to be “left in the hands of Messrs Sanger, Aldrich and
Knowles, to be sold as speedily as possible” (NY Times, 1892n). The three men
tasked with selling the diamond were all board members of the Actors’ Fund and
were from the ranks of the most respected theater management professionals in
New York City.
Nothing further was heard of the Cleveland Diamond for nine years. Then, in
April, 1901, Rogers prosecuted a suit against the Actors’ Fund in New York State
Supreme Court to recover the $6,500 which he claimed that they owed him for his
share of the proceeds from the auction/sale of the Cleveland diamond. (NY Times,
1901). He hired the law firm of Leventritt and Brennan to represent his cause.
While waiting for the case to reach trial, Rogers was treated to a brief
vacation at the Insane Pavilion at Bellevue Hospital …
Testifying before New York Supreme Court Justice Vernon Davis, Rogers recounted
the terms of the contract which the Actors' Fund had agreed to... that the
diamond would be raffled and the proceeds divided 50-50, and if the diamond was
not won at raffle, it was to be auctioned off and the proceeds divided equally
between Rogers and the Actors' Fund. The board members of the Actors' Fund did
not debate this point. But A. H. “Abe” Hummel, a prominent New York attorney
apparently representing the Actors' Fund, declared that “the diamond was
disposed of in accordance with the contract” and that the Actors' Fund had in
fact fully settled with Rogers. (NY Times 1903a) Hummel's role in the case was
somewhat nebulous... but there are hints that he had been a supporter of Minnie
Palmer both with respect to her divorce and to her career (in 1907, Rogers
identified Hummel as one of the chief mistakes that Palmer had made in managing
her career). If so, Rogers was probably much pleased a few years later when
Hummel was convicted of suborning perjury in 1907, disbarred, and sentenced to a
year in prison. Albert Palmer testified as the former President of the Actors'
Fund. Frank W Sanger, long-time treasurer of the Fund and former business
manager of the Metropolitan Opera House, took the stand and stated that the
diamond had, in fact, been consigned to an auctioneer, but inexplicably couldn't
seem to recall whether or not the diamond was sold (NY Times 1903b). The
auctioneer was never named, nor was he ever called to the stand to testify. It
is also odd that no reports of the actual auction have been found in period
newspaper accounts... certainly the sale of a 42 carat diamond with so prominent
and tumultuous a history would have received public notice!
In the end, the case
was dismissed without an effective resolution… the New York Times noted “there
was no evidence that there ever was an auction, and nothing to indicate what
became of the stone after the raffle.” (NY Times, 1903b). The author has found
no further mention of the Cleveland Diamond. A special benefit performance was
held at the Lyric Theatre for Rogers in mid-1904, suggesting that he was having
financial difficulties. (NY Times, 1904)
http://www.mindat.org/article.php/465/The+Mystery+of+the+Cleveland+Diamond
Georgia Cayvan got more votes than Agnes Booth as the most popular lady at the
Fair. Al Hayman, AM Palmer and Mrs. Palmer made speeches and the naphtha
[powered] launch [boat] was awarded to Agnes Booth NY Times May 8,
1892
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/05/08/archives/a-downpour-of-dollars-money-flowed-into-the-actors-fund-treasury.html
New York Times May 1 1892
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/05/01/archives/ready-for-the-actors-fund-fair.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/05/01/archives/beautifying-the-garden-making-it-ready-for-the-actors-fund-fair-a.html
New York Times May 2, 1892
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/05/02/archives/ready-for-the-fund-fair-madison-square-garden-in-the-hands-of.html
New York Times May 3 1892 Opened by Joe Jefferson
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/05/03/archives/opened-by-joe-jefferson-first-nighst-of-the-great-actors-fund-fair.html
New York Times May 9, 1892 Net Profit of at least $160,000
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/05/09/archives/a-net-profit-of-160000-at-least-that-sum-realized-at-the-actors.html
New York Times May 15 1892
Cleveland Diamond
https://www.nytimes.com/1892/05/15/archives/the-actors-fund-fair-closed-awards-of-the-cleveland-diamond-and.html
Actors' Fund plot at Evergreen Cemetery Brooklyn
About Stage Folks by William Ellis Horton
1902
http://books.google.com/books?id=tQQOAAAAYAAJ&dq=buried+%22May+brookyn%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s
says that May Brookyn, Henry Mader Pitt and more than a thousand stage folks are
buried in the Actors Fund plot which was dedicated in 1June 6, 887 with a speech by
Edwin Booth.
Evergreens Cemetery 1629 Bushwick Ave Brooklyn
http://www.theevergreenscemetery.com/ Tony Pastor and Blanche DeBar Booth are buried here.
Actors' Fund History
http://actorsfund.org/about-us/history
Although the theater business was booming, the theatrical
profession suffered a tremendous setback when President Lincoln was assassinated
by an actor, John Wilkes Booth. Prejudices against the profession existed prior
to that time, but Lincoln’s death rekindled the old hatreds and added more fuel
to the fire. Because of their low standing, members of the profession were
regularly denied charity from most institutions, including many religious
organizations. It was not unusual for them to be refused a decent burial.
In 1879, a new theatrical paper—the New
York Dramatic Mirror—arrived on the scene. A young NYU freshman,
Harrison Grey Fiske, submitted an article and soon after was writing regularly
for the paper. When one third of the Mirror’s
stock became available, his father bought it and Fiske became the paper’s
editor. Knowing the critical problems facing the profession he immediately began
a campaign for an “Actors Fund.” Thanks to Fiske’s persistence and foresight,
The Actors Fund was founded on June 8, 1882.
The first
Actors Fund home on Staten Island was dedicated in 1902. This was made possible
in part by the successful 1892 Fair held at Madison Square Garden, which raised
over $163,000. This was the first time that the profession was overwhelmingly
accepted by society. In attendance were President and Mrs. Grover Cleveland, Mr.
and Mrs. John Jacob Astor, Andrew Carnegie, J. Pierpont Morgan and Cornelius
Vanderbilt.
Bibliography
Actors' Fund
History
https://actorsfund.org/about-us/history
Actors;Fund of America, Souvenir and Programme of the Actors' Fund Fair, Madison
Square Garden, May 2d,3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 1892, Forgotten Books, London,
2018
Baker, Paul L, Stanny: The Gilded Life of Stanford White, New York: Free Press,
MacMillan, 1989.
Lowe, David Garrard, Stanford White's New York, New York: Doubleday, 1992.
Wikipedia, Actor's Fund
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actors%27_Fund_of_America
Last updated January 5, 2020
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