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Mary Anderson
- The University Press of Kentucky
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George C. Wolfe 581 Mary Anderson from A Few Memories There is one area in American theater history to which Kentucky has made a significant contribution—actors for the stage, the radio, the big screen, and the little screen. Who doesn’t know these names: Patricia Neal, Victor Mature, Tom Cruise, Ned Beatty, Ashley Judd, Irene Dunne, Harry Dean Stanton, Una Merkel, Arthur Lake. Well, maybe you don’t know some of them, but they all belong to Kentuckyborn actors. Another actor who once called Kentucky home was Mary Anderson. Who was she? She was the most acclaimed and popular actor of her day. In fact, there used to be a theater in downtown Louisville named the Mary Anderson Theatre. She was born in Sacramento in 1859 but grew up in Louisville and considered it her hometown . She was sixteen when she made her debut as Juliet in 1875 at the old Macauley’s Theatre on Fourth Street, and within a few years she was the toast of the Englishspeaking stage, with her picture on the cover of Harper’s Weekly. In 1896, after she had retired and married and moved to England, she published her autobiography, A Few Memories. She died in England in 1940. In the excerpt below, she recalls how, after months of studying Shakespeare’s plays at home, she persuaded her stepfather to take her to see the owner of Macauley’s Theatre and ask him to give her a part in a play. That part happened to be Juliet, and she was on her way to almost instant stardom. h One morning, on returning from the old cathedral after my daily visit, I met Dr. Griffin in front of the manager’s house. Neither of us had seen Mr. Macauley since our introduction to him some months before. “Let us call and ask if he can give me a start,” said I; “something tells me there may be an opportunity for a first appearance.” He acceded. Mr. Macauley received us cordially, and seemed pleased and relieved when Dr. Griffin proposed his giving me a trial at his theatre. “Why,” said he, “this is luck! You have come to help me out of a difficulty. The star I have this week is playing to such poor ‘business’ that unless he gets one good house before the week is out he may be unable to leave the town. To-day is Thursday; now, if you could act something on the night after to-morrow! Of course I will pay you nothing. I will only give you the theatre, actors, music, etc., gratis. I am certain that in 581 582 The Kentucky Anthology my way of advertising I could crowd the house for that night. I will furnish you with appropriate costumes; but I fear it is very short notice. Could you act on Saturday night?” Could I? Here was my tide, and, with my mother’s consent, I meant to take it at the flood! That had to be gained before an answer could be given. Leaving Dr. Griffin to talk over the rehearsal, etc., I ran through the streets, and reached home panting for breath. Though startled at the suddenness of the offer, my mother gave her full permission. So it was all arranged in a wonderful way! That Thursday was one of the happiest days of my life, filled as it was with brightest hope and anticipation. Only one black cloud hung over it: the thought of Nonie and my grandparents, who were all very dear to me. Had I known then that I would never again see the face of the former— that he would die, my mother and I far away from him, and that almost until his death he would refuse to forgive or see me unless I abandoned the stage life which he thought so injurious, nay, sinful—I would even then have renounced what was within my grasp. This estrangement saddened many years of my life, and has cast a shadow over all the otherwise bright and happy memories of him who was the father, friend, and playmate of our childhood’s days. A rehearsal—the only one—was called for the next morning. On my way to the cathedral I was enchanted to see posters on the fences with the following announcement: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1875. AMUSEMENTS. MACAULEY’S THEATER. Saturday Evening—MISS MARY ANDERSON, a young lady of this city, will make her first appearance on any stage...