AND THE RIVAL JEFFER Wonderful and Authentic Theatrical Romance Which Extends HE SONS Through a Century and a Half. FIVE GENERATIONS HAVE APPEARED IN THE SAME COMEDY. oming to - The Jcffcrsons nnd The Rivals arc go . .... The TefToffiona nnd t he Rivnlsl For n inffinnr. i nr i .1.4 vnra t ma icHntrmahrff fnmilv r I hofliiinnn hnvn unrinfi nmvn iram ihliict lci Ron .na . . 1 f ft l pi an a mnflrurn m until nnw. with almost a part 01 tue jencreoa larnuy. The Play Itself. 11 VJIU 111 ilULlt. 1 I Wink IMUIUIU .wriiLV.Liiini vr.ii - wiih (hiiiiuik?iiiml:i i i.ii : t V Lilt: lllflllJLl-l. 1 KJL 1.111; llllllUtia U1U LULliy utwui.ii hicih; in uuiiuuii vu nw it cw minor scenes, young bhcridan una tf - - - A - ri wirii wiiii i ivir 11 1 11 uiiiii hmiiiiiii Despite his vouth. lie was a writer of considerable note, and, confident of Vtici fiKitUo nnil rrncT in fiin 1tnrw tm net to work. E.irlv In December of the same year, he delivered to the manuscript of The Rivals. A . ! I I 1 1 J HlllBbUl Ul lUllli;iiy llllll UVll UUIlt Ulllt nunuviiui OTUU tut- WltbUI VUltW ".V-n iwa w "it nuim I'uv iwi tut. sistcnce of its boyish author. First Time Failed. The plav was immediately . rut Into rehearsal '.and on Jan. 17th, 177G, it was produced for the first time on any stage, It was a dismal failure; a failure because of the wretched performance of tho actor to whom was allotted the role of Sir Lucius O'Trigger. His performance was so bad, and It marred tho work of the other nrtists . . . i . i. . . . .10 suca an cxitne. mac 1110 piuv wns utmost hooUd from the atag on the lining njiht. Vm.ni 1ib4 4itU In piny and insisted upon Ita being pre sented thei second nicht. It was nre- .'jntl nnrl fatlncr ntrnin. wn tlipn .!ii..l n .?t.A 1 1. t.l. '....,. . W1V11UIMTV1I, 1 IIO tlUlllUl Hft'ft. 1119 lllllllll- tiijii, muuy BcvurAi lnmur uiiuin;cn, secured another actor to portray Sir Jvuciua o Trigger ana prepared to try again. A Dramatic Triumph, Tho plnv. which had received tho erinnar nnmntv nn nrrnmit nf ita IllOb I1IKI1V Q I.IKIV.U, W,D IIUU1I1 I'llrOUIlVUU, ri 1! - L i.,t" a r Ai . . ino aunicncc atscmuica 11 1 mu nivuiru with the one idea of hooting the play ilif.u ,ng awtuu, uub iiubiiiiii; ui i-iiu - . -.1 Tt.:. ii." !.. ol vountr blicriuan was to be vindicated. The' new actor, in tho part of Sir Lucius, had fully grasped nil tho deli cacies or tlio rolo and added such finesse and artistic ntmosnhere to tho ' !r It il sat spell-bound. They left extolling Its rncrits nnd the talent of him who had created it. The plav became n fad. Tho best' t ruknnla rf l.rmrmtl nirfimrt nmimnrpd . rT. 1? to ciiri n n nvfnnr mat it wna notong untu tno tamo ot tho play .U. fTU 17 I..,.!. HAn i)M.,A into tno most astounainR comcuy success that London had ever known, , wi v vta. i .1 v iiitfiivi iii in 1 nn Kivnm nun iintin uuii. ni i cnnn. able something that is a combination of boyish charm, youthful under standing, boyhood philosophy, nnd a knoWlcdco of life that is totally different from that exploited by tho writers wjiose vouui, wiiu nn ujiiiimsin, in lost to them, and upon whom the pessim ism of ago is steadily encroaching. A Jefferson Enters. In 1774, while Sheridan wns working on the manuscript of Tho Rivals, Thoirins Jefferson, an actor who wus born in 1746 and who was tho first of the 'distinguished family to adopt n stnge career, became a member of the company iben under tho manage ment; of .David Garrick, who was, at that time, considered tho greatest actor of his day. Mr.- Tefferson was essentially n come. HAni t nirf nhrtllt 1 m . ITtlll 11 m nl- HUH 4JI,VV W kllW UVilllbl 'itylea of playing decided to refrain from, attoearinc. in nhv comedies. This WM the, qpportunity for Jefferson, wlio 'tit mice assumed tho principal comedv rple inBll of tho David Gnrrick pro ,'du'ctionsJ . ' . . ? ' It jw8 about 177U tliat Unrrick i mt... r. il... r. t. . ' 1 . . (liTie .UUlEm It. who uiiipr)tiiikbuiill (Warrick's principal comcdmnahould allotted tno part of Dob Acres. 't3m. It uraa 4liff tlia .'nnnllitnrll Inn fif n ;lefferon.portraying,thq part pf "Fight- Ins ,J30U ut-taii uiiu uvvi BIUV.U viiav 'mriorabWfght that combination has cohtinuwdr i m ?.;iA.J1Wpk Jefferspa 1 i . '- iJ 4 . T AMMfn r uo ft ret 1 (! Jto behiiwlyhlm a wife tWAMthtt'chUr.oC whom was maiim i inatnni . r ii it twau iaan u in iii n. Hde4:ta(ii' for th5 stajjcr.'and jn 1705, . trav4VBbBr.Acre8t 5mf cT.M nnl pngliah citi!'ylp. appeared i he pf rt the Keith for 60vcral ncrformarTcco and then, for Borne reason which is now unknown, abandoned the play. Comes to America He came to America in 1707, bringing with him a carefully constructed prompt-book of The Rivals. This he never personally used in America, yet he treasured it and gave it to his son, who was born in 1804, This young man was also named Joseph after his father. This makes im Joseph Jefferson the second al though he represented the third genera tion concerned in this narrative. This young man, at a very early nee. showed a decided talent for mint ing. This talent wns fostered by his A . 1 II 1. . aan M nnnrlv twentv Venn of nra thnt till! IIIIII11V LliLlL I LCu 1 LbLll 111 ti. V till 1 11111 l? for tj'e Bt,ni;c. throughout mo entire me, ne never i i i r. a , ! - abandoned his first love, painting. lie wns a disunguisucd artist and some of the most precious heirlooms now in tho possession of the Jefferson family arc specimens of the artistic handiwork of Joseph Jefferson, the second. While still a y younc mnn, he married Miss Cornelia Frances Thompson, at that time the most noted singer in America. There were four children born of this union, two of whom died in infancy, The other two were Joseph Jefferson, the third, our Joe JcTerson, and uornenu jcucrson. Tho Great Jefferson. Wo are now down to our cwn deaf old Joseph Jeftcrson, the best known JOSEPH JEFFEUS0N ot nil thnt talented tamltv ot Thespians. tha boloved actor whoso name has been written cn cverv heart. Joseph lefforson. tho third frenro- ovnting tho fourth generation), wus born In Philadelphia on Feb. 20th, 1820, nnd nt the early age of three years, mado his theatrical debut. His first appearance on the staeo was a vcrv unexpected nffnir.'so far lu tno audience was concerned, llo brat really began In what was then tho rage, Living Statues. The boy witnessed many oi tneso entertain ments, und won a iuvcnilo rcnutntion for himself for. llis imitations of these statues. In fact, young Jefferson was mnmuiig everyni ng nnu overj-uouy that caino to his notice, Genius began to snow its presence early in Joseph Jciler sou, the third. Mimics T. D. Rice. It happened that eventually tho pay saw r. u. kico, a popular per- mniicr oi tnac punod, wno was creating a furoro as a burnt cork COtlU'dian. Mr. Rice's1 ncrfnnnnnen wnn filled with little mannerisms capable of , imitation and to tho surprise of overyouo, our Joseph Jefferson .then only three years, old began giving imitations of Mr. Rico that "were scream ngly funny Mr.. Rico 4himsclf..8a tltfcrh.and IW-rpvi-. Tv :aiU 8"c" HIT. ' I Theatre waxed enthusiastic. "Much to the boy's ucu);iib, nitc umijuu nun w jviii.v.i. '" imitations, and it was but a few weeks until this mere baby could accomniisn pany tbat ever appeared in any ono nearly ovcry move made by Rice him- faf and tiie fun value of Mr. Jeffcr sclf. . . . onn'd version of The Rivals was in Rice suggested the idea of having the boy appear on the stage with him and the father, realizing that the Thespian;mantIo wns to fall upon the shoulders ' of his son, interposed no objection and the stage career of Joseph Jefferson, the third, began. Thrown on Stage. He claimed be found more pleasure in It had not been publicly announced portraying Bob than any other char that young Jefferson would appear with actcr in his entire repertoire. He played Mr. Ride, and only a few of the actors It more than one thousand times and in themselves knew that the boy was to each performance, found something of appear. Those who did, however, were new interest. thrown into consternation when Rice, When Mr. Jctfcrson and W. J. in grotesque make-up, and carrying Florence formed their famous com- his old carpet bag, appeared on the bination, Mr Florence found in the stago without tho boy. part of Sir Lucius just as many things Rice began his performance as usual to interest him as Mr. Jefferson found nnd after nbout three minutes, opened in Bob, tho carpet bag to get, as he Btated, his handkerchief. Then came a gasp of Tho Bys ollow- feigned surprise and after a severe And now comes the most peculiar shaking of the bag, out rolled young coincidence of the entire romance of Joe Jefferson. The audience fairly The Rivals and tho Jcffcrsons. shrieked its approval. It may be said Two of Mr. Jefferson's sons, Joseph with nil truth that tho greatest actor and William, each considered the play America has ever known was fairly the finest example of theatrical htcra- "thrown on tho stage." " ture in existence They have never Rice recognized in the boy n worthy abandoned this idea, and even to-day, rival, for his work that evening was as either of these two young actors ad clear cut, as distinct, as much imbued vance argument after argument in with personality, as that of any pro- support of their contention, fcssional could have been. When Jefferson and Florence were Appears in Chicago. ne: theatre onn'n 1 il i u u,v t- ,t,it. . .Ii:' J 1.1.. j.-i'i.-. Z " T T ,nP ' " -.--...L un nim, over anai ' WcmaraD o i - entertainments on tho old? slow! Itcir miwu UT Kivilli; n iiumuvi moving boat, the proceeds of whichl . i it ' ..I- ll Tn rh.Vnm W nWM.n vr-m nMiv 1 every advantage ppss b e nt that time.' ft.'-ii..i .Sin.' t.! 1. 1 1 . . - . . ,1 t- a 1 " i,n., t... l 1 ue litLiicr. Willi ma uruiiL luiiuiic&a.i lor urawinc anu nainiinir, insiiucu mi knowlcdgolnto tho mind of his son, but . IV . . ' I always no longing ior tne stage was 1 uppermost in Uie boy's mind. rA ' 1 . A' Ultimate Actor. I uunng tno awKwaru age, irom ;ian to 10, younij jcucrson nppcareu ,uut seldom. In the meantime, the first theatre in Chicatro burned and on its sito was erected a more modern play 4 is wns in this templo of amusement ....... . I Wkum jyinijciiui!ju, 10Suiui .,v ravcrenccd tJiroughout nil stagcland,' first appeared as a legitimate actor It .i in vmiMiKu, iw, ni.fc ,r.."".t;',V"1 tho treasured manusenpt ot lhoKivals. which the fnther had brought from EniMand. ?i.an, ' . t fi i , I iho boy had often heard his father : ... . ..... i talk of the possibilities of the part ? iB,0 Aiure9 nnd,AB, "i"cmbcrl that his father, grandfather, and great grandfather, had all achieved success In tho rolo. 1 hen came tho idea to ioiiow in uie lootsu-ps oi nia ancestors-- the ambition to again give the world another Jefferson as Bob Acres. Carefully ho read the play and I learned, with something akin to abso lute horror, that it was almost totally unui ior inouem presentation. Wncn bliendan wrote tho play per f ormanccs began nt 6.30 and fl o'clock in tho evening and lasted until mid- iiKiii.. wjk uwKy bccncit were, av that time, prevailing marks of dramatic I.U.BHU1, iu.1, n uji mtou nun- quatcd lines that Sheridan had con-; structed lho Rivals. Tho original ending of tho comedy was not in nc- cord with modern deas, so young Jefferson set to work to revise the piny uiiu iiiuhu n. wuiiiumi iu mu uKiiiuuua ui tho modem audiences. The Graceful Epilogue. With him, this work was a labor of lovo. Carefully he did his work and won- f..ll.. .....It T1. .. i: derfullv well. too. The abrupt endinc of the old play he changed and, thanks to his effort, The Rivals can now boast of a graceful and beautiful epilogue, The All Star Cast. . r t it j This version Mr. Jefferson used for upward of fifteen years, during which t nio tho possibilities of the role of Bob appealed to him to such an extent that he was continually making minor Improvements, nnd studying out nnd tiimiiiiiiji KiiLii.11 tuuiuiiuum m. t. 'r j 8 ' J "?i,,nn,iy tc0Juplete,d tft .m?.nu.8cr,P of I he Ri vals. In it, ho had eliminated every talky scene and everj . super- uuous worn, no cave tne ntav its most delightful ending, and it was this version that he used during the remain- derot niq mo, nnu. wiucn ne nanued down to hia son and namesake, Joseph Jefferson, the fourth. it was this version thnt the famous all star cast used during their memor oblc tour of this country in low Tr-rGoorm0!! W lMSYfitVi? In 1R3S the bov'n father ' nfter "ucuon- oi inc oiu piay. joscpn, me in leois, vne poy s iaincr, . auer . . . . f f. . . r. i Eotiauons witn tno mnnager..' o: n ms," -r -v . ' " in Chicaco. then n-'tosVri Vith --Y "ailul ?? umu'uo"'Z7 "lK Tuesday ian(i Robert Taber, Mrs. John Drew juiia Marlowe, ano rannic i.ice wai f a-it be admitted, the greatest com- eVery way worthy of their ability. ' . B0 Jwmou . During tho many years that Mr. Jefferson wns before tho public nl- though ho was well known for his rendition of several other parts, that at the height of their fame, the two young Jcffersons never missed a pro- O'Tdcffcrm his father's company The ituncer son had mst as ercat rimpitiohT oJaly.his dream was to" live rilit'liiTniti t ilfo of Bob Acres, as hia Tr - -n--- y - -.- - . n : J 'raiw,na Imh nn ... is ' ... . Atpr'Mr. Morcncc oicu, young joe Teffcrson was chosen to succeed him as Sir Luciu3. He claimed at that time, n n m nmnirinn nnri nnn WiU.fc. " ,uw real zed. for. nt last, he was 3ir LuciU3 . . ' - . . ' .... . Inw tlinrniiahlv artistic was ma . ----- ns -- - ai performance can be attested by , Mm rommiilniiit nvntinn hn received - . n. . on ,h's appearance. Both press and public, the country over, had gen fohly imbued with ideaUiat dicd with M r. Florence How erroneous t,ns idca can be npprcciated when the youn,,er Jefferson fairly electrified .t. ii,i formancc ofb that rolo in his father's L L 1 l,L 1 1 V ..,i,i i, fircf hintit n rid cu o the young Jefferson, to kill hJ b comiarisons of his work with that 0f Florence. Nothine awful hap- ncned. Those who were prepared to bulittle tho cCort3 ot tho young pinycr ciianRed their ridicule to praiso and ho ..i was uniimmniiHiv uiuuuuutuu uia- was unanimously pronounced 4: . .,1 Once again Tho Rivals had changed ridiculo to praise, ns it had done away back there in England, more than a ccntury fore. As long as the elder Tc(Tt;rson appeared upon the stnge, his g0tl waB prominent in his support and nnuRht but praiso has been showered nfln u:Q ,.fTnrt Willie Jefferson's Daring. Meanwhile tho vounccr son. Wil Ham, was begging for the opportunity to play Bob Acres, his father's role. IIe knv ovcry ,ine' evcry Ecsture, of tho cntirc pia He had faith in his Rb,uty nnd his fnther shared it with him. in ,18q8i wftCn tho father was ap- poaring in l'ittsburg, i'a., wuno Went to visit him. That trip to tho cmnW. Pitw ?a nn r.nr in the bov'a ifCi f he father was taken suddenly ill. It wa8 impossible for the old gentleman lo npnenr that evening, and, with every Icat jn tbe bouse sold, disaster seemed imminent. Willie begged for tho opportunity to play the part; to tako the placo of nim who stood foremost on the American staeo. It was the heicht of daring, but finally tho father, belicv I l" 1 .!. t . . 1 U! t.nm.'n fnitl. ng in his boy, and his boy's faith, onsentcd that vviuie snouiu appear A Pronounced Success, inat ilreama were his thnt nieht Willio Tefferson alone can tell. Ho dS(iJfor the part, and, with a vast aS,cnce wniiin thcre to sec the great i"" jeffcrson (for tho substitution was t a, nounm), i,e stepped out upon 't, Bta u& Acrcs.' llfor him 00, ambitiohn ha(i been realized. o ,nnSterlv wns Ids pertormance; so accurate was it in every detail; 'bo cbsey did it resemble tho wont of tho elder Jefferson; that few in tho audil.ncc wcr5 aware that a change had i..,,.. limdUi Voice. eves, ecsture, every i . r i..r.. Sr-niiu tho n The long years of waiting and t, t tudv j,Sd bonic fruit T,; ni.vt rfnv-the chanrc was . an nounced to the I'lttsourg papers nnu 'ith nno voice. the critics sounded thn tiralsn of nnothcr Tefferson. Willio Jefferson, playing in his father's very SSfficS So .faithful was'his performance ucsire to piay me pan oi air uucius Evening, Jan'y 5th. that from that nTght until Gear old Toe Jefferson closed his eyes forever, Willie always went with his father's company as his father's understudy. A Strange Contrast. Heredity, strange law that governs so much in this universe of ours, has played a wonderful part in the life atory of the Jcffcrsons. But the story is not yet complete, for, aside from this handing down of talent from father to son, of the passing of the play from generation to generation, there is another side, a side as intensely in teresting, if not even more so, than that which has been related.! The elder Jefferson was possessed of what might be called a dual per sonality, lo his intimate friends, he was more like a grown up schoolboy than anything else. Always fond of n practical joke and with a merry greeting and a joyful demeanor, he was the embodiment of nil. that ono would expect of the world's greatest comedian. To the stranger he would casually meet, he was the dignified and sincere gentleman, straightforward in all of his business dealings, and alwaya . . . . .4 i . I .1 . possessing an auuuuc inai ucinunucu i respect, In Other Ways. In a professional way, ho likewise possessed a dual personality. In pre paring for the presentation of a play, he would cold-bloodedly figure out every possibility. He was a thorough master of every bit of dramatic tech nique. He knew what was possible and how to obtain it and it was this sort of careful preparation that made him famous. e On tho other hand, when occasion demanded it he wns tho personifi cation of spontaneity. Almost uncon sciously, ho could grasp the possibilities of a situation And extract from it tha comedy element. This is, beyond a doubt, a wonderful talent, permitting, ns it docs, its possessor to do what he wants to do in an almost unconscious manner, The possession of this dual per sonality stamped Joseph Jefferson as n genius. He possessed those three greatest things nn actor can hope to attain: n thorough knowledge of all that can be attained in theatricals: a knowledge of just how they could be nttaincd, and the power of in stantaneously grasping a situation in order that none of the comedy points be lost The Young Joe Jefferson. These different talents nre tho price less heirlooms of the sons, nnd to one has been given that which was denied the other. Joseph has a most brilliant under standing of tho technique of the drama. In this line, ho was always a most pro found student, and in it, he was greatly helped by Jus father. WILLIAM W. JEFFERSON When ' tho old gentleman was .work ing on a play, young Joe was his con stant companion. It was nothing else than this close study of his father's methods that perfected him in his knowledge of theatricals and the drama. The elder Jefferson, too, was a most astute business man always upright in his dealings, never making a bar gain unless it was entirely satisfactqry to him, but, once that bargain was made, fulfilling it to the letter and de manding as much of him with whom it had been made. Young Joseph inherited too, this talent, and although business docs not appeal strongly to him, when he docs enter its realm, he is keen, shrewd and his father over again. Genial Willie Jefferson. The younger son, Willie, is tho personification of the characteristics of the father th.it were best known to the intimate friends of tho loved actor. In tho language of the day, if there was ever a little imp of merriment mischievous and prankish full of effervescent humor and an uncontroll- able and gigantic fondness for practical : 1 . 1 I I t T t T ' 1 1 ' . jukcs uiiu luuu icuowsmp, n is wune. In a professional way. ne is bubbling over with merriment and can grasp the comedy situations in an instant, Yet, when he endeavors to arrange things beforehand, to map out a campaign to be strictly followed, his plans al ways fail. Willio Jefferson is spontanicty it Gelf. His methods of procedure during a performance arc totally different from that of his brotacr, yet his results are as eminently satisfactory. Favored of Providence. For business, he has not the slight est desire and to enjoy himself is hia delight. Aftci his work-' in tho theatre h doae, and for a goodly portion of his time before it has commenced again, his entire idea of his private life ia to enjoy himself to the absolute limit. Willie Jefferson is one of those lucky individuals whose geniality, whole Bouledncss and nbsolute lovcableness, seems to have won the gods themselves, and Providence takes forethought for his welfare. Every business venture in which he embarks seems to turn out success fully and Joe insists that if Willio fell down in a well, Willio would probably find a half-peck or so of lost diamonds at tne bottom. Willie Jefferson is the happy-go-lucky side of his father, with all of the illustrious sire's catch-as-catch-can methods, while Joe is the busi ness man, th Vfeit. the planner, and the possessor" . 'ather's marvelous knowledge of "10 - These are the mental legacies inslj0 Id by the young men, men whose pmce on the stage is already amply secured and whose names will be long remembered. The Physical Resemblance. Tho physical resemblance of these two boys to their father is marked. Features are absolutely the same and one who has looked into the fnce of the lamented Joseph Jefferson sees the dear old features again in the faces of theloys. "in joe; there is less of the humor and the twinkle of the eyes which were so characteristic of his father. In Willie Jefferson, this is found to a marked degree, and though tho years have not yet been sufficient to work the familiar wrinkles nbout tho face, one knows of a certainty that will come there. ' In Willie, there is less of tho sterner sides of the father, and this, in ltd turn .a f...t ... r .. Vlal ... ...., .a .uuuu more iuuy develop ed in Joe. It is a fascinating study this study of portraits, with Its contrasts and resemblances, its likenesses and its opposites. The more one studies that Eiddentremre thCre that h 6cea This, in brief is the wonderful lifo story of the Jcffcrsons. This is a little insight into the romance of The Rivals and the Jcffersons and the more one thinks over the story, the more wonder ful it becomes. A plav and the names, of the. players inseparably connected tor i5j yearsf niJPfP11!? of ac,ors one fam ilyl That m itself is a wonderful record, and yet, how doubly wonderful is it when one remembers that each repre oentative oi each generation has ap peared in tho same role. down to the son a priceless leuacy of talents, genius and a knowledge of technique of the drama. Each has hooW h Vtn llkc;visc. his own prompt tt fi'i?'" pie.ce' The Rivals. the first Jefferson he with whom we began the story away back there ' wa,kcJ penniless into London and the second nnd third generation found it necessary to act as a means of livelihood. The fourth gcnerK was more favored with the goods of this world and the elder Jefferson, at the Thfa feV1' ,dt a goodly 'fortune. ihis the boys amoni whom nr Joe and Willie' have afl Xcd To Bood account. Yet one and ah insist that the most valued lecacv left th rntfaflcLthatithey Ca" ttoiSB