VARIETY CHATTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2167, 5 September 1895, Page 37

VARIETY CHATTER.

FROM MY SCRAPBOOK.

No. 11.-CHARLEY HORTON.

His baptismal appellation is W. J. Rodgers. He was born in the city of London on May 30, 1865; is a "cornp." by trade, but adopted the stage as a professiou, and charged his name. Many people think he is a brother to Amy Horton, but they are (or he is) very much "mistook. ' He was first taught bis business by that clever pair of comedians. Baker and Farren, with whom he appeared in " Liza Eccles " at the eld Queen a Theatre, Sydney. Other people with Baker and Farren at this time were Lancelot Le Booth, Charles Holloway, Harry Mortyne, and Harry Leston. Charley Horton appeared with The Court Minstrels at th« Academy of Music, Sydney, in June I^B3. M. Hegarty was lessee and pioprietir. Artists :— Johnny Cowan (ona of the original Court Minstrels which appeared at Sydney Lyceum in the sixties), Tom Buckley (of Buckley, Holly, and Hudson, of the United States Mitibtrcls, which included Ted Amery, Horkfeller, and the tenor Louis Braham, who died in Melbourne Hospital in January of this year), Shaw Cross, Kva Winnette. Latitia fcyley, Beatrice (Bella) Sutherlaud (afterwards The Vital Spark, who in 1836 was on tour with her own combination, which included Nellie Talbot, May Monssr, Frank Phillips, LiUle Harry Cowan (now in Adflaide), Leon Samwells (of Fryer'i Japanese VilUge), Charles Naylor ("the Cookoo." now in Wanganui, Maoriland), and Agent Wai Kirby, May Vivian, Lily Howard, Vesta Amor (Madame Scarcey), and Lizzie Morgan. Mr Horton afterwards joinedCottier's People's Weekly Concerts at Sydney Protestant Hall, 1883 84. R. O. Cottier was sole proprietor, Walter C. Cottier business manager, J. Herman Newton musical director, H. Royal pianist. Performers :— Harry, Wai, Lucy, and Master Ernest Cottier ; Masters Robert and Francis Lee (of the well-known Lee Family, of Charini's Circus) ; Marlon Saunders, AJce Johns, Charles Horton, J T. Gordon (basso), H. Montgomery (a concertina soloist), and Delohery, Craydon, and Holland (the'now well-known Australian team). After an 18 months' stay with the Cottiers, C. H. appeared at Sydney Gaiety in May 1886 in " Uncli Tom's Cabin " M*rks J. F. Sheridan George Harris « ... Alf Dampier St. Glair Alf Uoothman Uncle Tom ... „. ,M, M Charles H. Lewis Eliza ... Myro Kemble Topsy May Livingstone The piece ran six weeks. Charles H. Lewis, the Uncle Tom of the above production, came out witb Charles B. Hicks's Georgia Minstreli. Other number* of Sheridan's Company were Knifiht Aiton, the tenor (fWgar, in "The King's Dragoons " with Dunniug's Opera Company in Maoriland iv 1884) ; Sophie Harrias, Marty n HagaH, Walsh and King, and Alf Holland. The lastnamed three came out with Emerson's Minstrels. In 1886 the aubject of this notice organised Bovia, Horton, and Linden's People's Concert Company for the suburb*, which existed nine months, and iucludtd Will Eagleton, Jce St. C:Uir, Will Howard, Will and Charles Bovis, C. Horton, George Linden, A. Robinson, F. R. Pearce, Harry Alberto, Annie Lamont, and Amy Stevena. Charles Horton v/as afterwards a member of a company which included Joe Sorners (' Gimme the gun. cull"), W. L. Nunn, J. S. Whitworth, Alf M'Dermott, H»rry Gilbert (through Maoriland with Frank Clark's Alhambra Company in 1894), Sam Rowley, Lrzie Roselle, Annie Lamont, Lorrie St. George, and Maggie Coughlan. At tbe People's Popular Concerts at Sydney Proteßtant Hall were Rock Phillips, Frank York,

C. Horton, A. E. Rollinson, Harry Clay, Harrj Carroll, K*te Carey, Flora Murray, and Annie Lamout. Charlie Fanuing's Popubr Concert Company at the same hall included Harry Gilbert, C. Horton, C. Fanning, GtMigc Wilson, Bob Faust, Sam ltow» ley, B rtha Fauning, Lorrie St. George, Maud Fivnning, Violet Kingeley, und Mits Morrison. At Sjdnty Cuitcibury Music Hal! in 1888 wora John H Ta>lor, Billy Saunders, and Will Wesley (three members of Hicks-Sawyer's Coloured Minstrels), C. Horton, Alf M'Uermott, Will Parker, J. Elliot, Fr-nk Phillips (no relation to Sydney Fonton P.), Edwin aiid Minnie Shipp, George W. Gardner, George Smith, Trevo Brothers, .1. Ilich« ardson, tit. Sinclair Brother*, Victoi", Albert K. Biiley, Minnie Pullin, Elsio Clarke, Lizzie Ro* bt lie (no relation to Henri Rotelle, over your way), Cora Trevo, Annie Lamont, Harry Hastings (now in Amurka, whose right name is S"lly Israel), Jack Evans, E-sio Forbes, Johnny, Freddy, and Alice Higginbotham, the Williama Family of juvenile aciobats, Master Dixio("Re. memler that the poor man has to live"), Miss L. Mundy, Miss Kubig, and Miss Morrison. Lionel Leighton'a Variety and Specialty Company included J. S. Whitworlb, C. Horton, Annie Lamont, Alf M'Dojmott, Lizzio Roselle. little Maggie Ooughlan, Will Wesley, and Lorrie St George.

At Manly Aquarium, on October 28, 1858, were C. Ifoiton, Tom Kerns, Harry Montagu, E. Genge WiUon, Nellto Harland, Amy Davis, Kate Carey, Annie Lamout, and Harry Clay. Horton and Linden's People's Concert Combination included C. Horton, G. Linden, Ted Baker, Alice James, Lyla 'Ihompson, Annie Lamont, Will Parker, and others. Mr Horton took a xpcll at his trade, and while at the Government Punting Otiice, Sydney, was a member of the G.P.O. Dramatic Club.

In 1894 he joined Hiscocks's Federal Minstrels at Sydney School of Arts, among tbe performers being Billy Bent. Louis Braham, Levy Sisters, Alf Lawler, and Tessie Cleveland.

After a tour of the south coast with Shipp's Globe Minstrels in May 1895, ho joined Cosgrova and Stuart's Company at Sydney School of Arti, to do Hpccialtins in the concert scene of " Fun on the Bristol." Widow O'Brien William Cosgrove Norah O'Bret-on Maud Adrian. Dora M'Aliater Marie Dunnon Bella Thompson Maud Fanning C< not Mennßgio T. Edmund Leonard Captain Cranberry „. ,„ ...Herbert Ashtoik Tommy Cranberry ... <, .. Milford Havea Richard Sparks Horace St. Guor&a Jciry Thouipaon ... . ... ... W. G. Allan HawkAhaw Mr Tyudallw Other people besides the above In tho concert scene were : Miss Leclie, Kita I* ouch, Sisters Funniug, Miaa E. Hedges, Jack Hamilton, and Chailes Horton, who next joined Hoopor and, Hausomanu's Ausbuliun Merrymakers for their Maoriland tour.— Yours truly, BIS. Poverty Point.