Show C By JOHN BAUER General Manager Volley Valley Music Hall Holl Undoubtedly the most successful and a n d popular American play of the nine nine- nineteenth century n r was s Uncle ili ilis Toms Tom's Cabin the drama drama- dramatization of Harriet Boocher Beecher Stowe's famous story It was played uninterruptedly for fifty years after rt It was first produced There were actors who during the last quarter of o the t h he e nineteenth century played in nothing else Act Act- mg in sn this play became nn an industry for many actors art In the single summer of 1902 there were sixteen companies com in our country the piece under canvas The early performers in inthe inthe the play were not called Uncle lomers as they were at the turn of the century That name was given to them in en later years when the country became flooded with companies playing this piece and advertisements In the dramatic papers read Uncle Tamers Wanted The Howard family were the first actors to play Uncle Toms Tom's Cabin They staged the e adaptation which t had been made from Mrs s Stowe's book by George L Aiken They opened with it in Troy New York where it had a run of over three months From there they took it to the National Theatre in New York where they gave their first performance on July 18 1853 After the New York run they took the play on tour George C Howard acted St Clair and he made an ideal Southern planter On Onan an off the stage ho invariably ia J l wore a lack broad broad- broadcloth cloth cloth frock coat with brass buttons and he always had c cue u e d o e when he was around the hotels and on the streets of towns where Uncle Toms Tom's Cabin was playing people who had seen him at the theatre would recognize recognize him himat There at h once ego goes and dEv Evas Eva's would u th say 1 7 Mrs Howard was Topsy The of theatre critics is that there lies bas never her er c characterization been c cl anyone l t o to equal Cut Cut- delia Mrs Howards Howard's daugh daugh- daughter ter was a born actress who was noted for her portrayal of Little Eva Crowds would follow her when she was out outon outon on the streets or in the stores shopping with wills her mother They all wanted to get a 8 peep at Little Eva with her long golden hair |