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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1904)
Nat Goodwin on the Golf Links How the. Popular Comedian Spends His Hours of Leisure kHE RECENT visit to Omaha ot Mr. N. C. Goodwin afforded fev eral of Ms looal acquaintances an I r-VJ5I opportunity to entertain him at m-tiJ Ma favorite paBtlme and inclden- tally a chance to test his much vaunted prowess as a golfer. Two seaaons ago Mr. Goodwin took up Rolf as u means of bene fiting, his health and there have been but few days In that time that he has rot spent an hour or so on the links. -Naturally, this constant playing has made hint an expert and he hud little difficulty In beating tho local champions last week, even though playing on strange links. During Mr. Goodwin's stay In Omaha last season he played over the entlro course at the Field club In a drizzling rain and seemod to enjoy It so much that at that time arrangements were made for a game during his visit here this season. He ar rived In Omaha early Monday morning a Week ago and was met at the depot by Messrs. Murray, Morrill and Sunderland and escorted Immediately to the Omaha Field club, where nearly the entire day Was spent on the golf links. As Mr. Good win put it. this was his "brarer" for tho evening performance of "A Gilded Fool" at the Boyd. Off the stage Mr. Goodwin Is quite rs much of a comedian as he Is when speak ing tho humorous linea of the playwright and his companions were treated to a run ning fire of his natural comedy all dny. Athletic exercise la his hobby, and when he Is not playing golf he Is punching the bng 01 having a sparring bout with his stage manager in the Goodwin private car, where he makes his home during the weeks of the theatrical season that he is en tour. "I am sorry that I did not take up ath letic exercise earlier In life," said Mr. Goodwin during a chat, "for I am sure it Is the oa sleet way there Is for one to keep In good health. Just at the present tine I am enjoying the best health of my whole professional career and I credit much of It to my athletic exercise. Some of my friends speak of golf as a game for sissies and children, but It's a life saver Just the same, end I am perfectly willing to be classed with either the rest of my days for the benefit an hour or so spent on the links each day brings me." Mr. Goodwin Is one of the great come dians of the American stage, and while much has been written about him, the his-' tory of his long and eventful career as an actor as told by himself In an Interview during his stay here will be of Interest. "Very few people are, I believe, familiar with the fact that the late Stuart Robson gave me my first opportunity to become an actor," said Mr. Goodwin, "and It Is to this splendid comedian and dear old fel low now gone that I owe much of my suc cess 01 the stage. It happened In this way: I had had a liking for the stage and Its people from early childhood. My parents were not averse to the Idea of my becom ing an actor, and at an early age placed . me under the Instruction of Wyzeman Mar shall, then manager of the old Boston theater. It was but a short time before I was able to accept engagements at club dinners and other entertainments, where I would give a series of imitations of the different actors of that time. At one of these entertainments I met an nctor named Bradford, who enjoyed an acquaintance with Stuart Robpon. Mr. Robson was at that time prominent In theatrical circles and was enjoying great success In New York with a play called 'Uw In New York.' Mr. Bradford sought an acquaint ance with me because of the fact that I so strongly resembled a friend of both he and Robson, an actor named Robert Oral?. Craig, who was quite prominent theatri- W. O. Sunderland. Harry Morrill. V. C. Oood-ln. V. II. Murray. NAT GOODWIN AND 1118 OMAHA ESCORT AFTER A ROUND OF THE FlEIiD Cl.Un LINKS. rhoto by a Bluff Artist f v -I 5 v.. rv V mm mm m '4 f ' - r . 5 ' ' -.' - ' i 1 -i '' , . . J . - . 'V ' ' 'l NAT GOODWIN AND IIT8 LKADINQ liADY. CRYSTAt. HERNS, CHATTING IN THE WINGS AT BOYD'S WH1L.K WAITING FOR TIIEIH CUES. Flushllght Photo by a Staff AiUst. r .1 i: y.Jr' 'r. r'. ! . t . ;-'-"Vf 1 X' '-i " " ADDRESSING TltE BALU Thoto by a Staff Artist, AFTER THE DRIVK.-Pfcuto by a Staff Artist. cally, had Just died, nnd after Mr. Brad ford learned that I winhexl to adopt the stage aa a profession he Insisted that 1 g to New York witli him to meet Robson. "Wo went the- next day, nnd that evening I was ushered Into Mr. Robson's dressing room. Bradford Introduced mo and usked Rolison who I reminded him of. I shall never forget tho expression on Robson's faeo or the peculiar squeak In his voice when, alter staring at 1110 a moment, ho answered: 'Ye gods, It's Robert Craig come to lifo again.' "Mr. Bradford told him I wished to be come an actor, and that I renlly had some ability, when Robson turned to me nnd said: 'Young man, I will give you a chance because of Bradford's recommendation and your great resemblance to my dear friend, Craig. When do you want to commence?' I told him as soon as It was possible, and the next night I went on to tho part of the bootblack in 'Ijiw In New York.' I was allowed to Interpolate my imitations of actors, and after I had been called back several times some, one In the gallery called for an Imitation of Robson and tho entire ; audience took it up. I vas naturally a Uttlo backward about Imitating my em ployer, both because of tho fact that I feared that I might loso my position, utid that I had seen Mr. Robson glvo but one performance. I was put at caso when Robson nodded from tho wings of the scenery, where ho was watching, for mo to ; give them the imitation. I gave it and It ' created an uproar of laughter. Riibson Wjis called upon to make a speech, nnd he ) told his auditors that ho must take u buck seat for that performance, at least, that Nat Goodwin was the star to whom the credit must go. I remained with Mr. Rob- eon for some time. Wo were ulwuys the very best of friends, and no one regretted ' Ills death moro than I, for I felt that he bad been my benefactor In more wuys than one. "After leaving Robson I iyed tho part of Captain Crosstreo In the burlesque of 'Black-Eyed Susan' nt Ilaverly's theater in New York. This piece ran for 150 nights, which was the record in New York up to ' that time. This wus In 1S77, my debut hav ing been made with Robson the previous year. I starred several seasons in Rice's 'Evangeline' and later took up straight comedy roles. "What are my future plans? Well, I havo a new play for next season, and of course I shall corns to Omaha, for Sunder land and I must havo another go ut Murray nnd Morrill on the Field club golf links, even If I don't get a chance to Jilay my new piece here. But I don't believe there is much of a possibility ot my not showing it to your people, for I feel sure that it's going to bo a big success. "Three years hence I will be 50 years old, nnd If I carry out my present Inten tions I wilt retire at that time. I like to read, like to write and like to play golf. At present I cannot devote as much time to any one of these as I should like, but if I retire I can devote us much time to each us I like. I flatter myself that I have some literary talent. I wrote a book a year ngo, but my wife would not nllow me to have It published, for fear of Its making me some enemies. It was made up of my reminiscences of great nu u I had met, and Mrs. Goodwin thought the truths I hud told might cut too deep for my own good. So I yielded to her Judgment. But I can't ce what harm there would b In telling the public what prtHldeut I had played Ioker witli In the White House, where I ouo time lost forty odd dollars, or what great statesman accompanied me to u prize fight one night and Kent m u note of thanks Uc next morning telling me bow jnucli he had enjoyed tho light."