Press Clippings for the week ending
Saturday, 18 October 2008

A random selection of clippings
from newspapers and magazines

Death of Matilda Heron,
7 March 1877

Bijou Heron

carte de visite photograph of
Bijou Heron (1862-1937),
American actress, daughter of Matilda Heron

(photo: Mora, New York, circa 1877)

'Matilda Heron, the celebrated actress, for a long time a resident of Philadelphia, where her family resided, died on the 7th instant, at her residence, in East Twenty-fifth street, New York, of weakness resulting from a surgical operation, performed for an insidious malady almost three weeks since, and general ill-heath superinduced by irregular habits. She was conscious up to a short time before her death, and conversed with a few of her friends. Miss Heron was born in Lubbyvale, Londonderry, Ireland, and came to the United States when very young. She became the pupil of Mr. Peter Richings, and made her first appearance on the stage February 17, 1851, at the Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia, as Bianca, in Fazio; or, The Italian Wife. In 1858 she left for California, in company with George W. Lewis, her agent, who died on the passage, leaving her to arrive in San Francisco a total stranger. She, however, soon found friends, and on December 26th made her debut at the American Theatre, San Francisco, as Blanca, supported by Mr. Lewis Baker as Fazio. In 1854 she left California, and arriving in New York, commenced a starring tour though the country, which proved highly successful. In 1857 she was married to Robert Stoepel, leader of the orchestra at Wallack's Theatre. She made her debut in London at the Lyceum Theatre in 1861 as Rosalie Lee in New Year's Eve. She returned to this country, and afterwards separated from her husband. Her greatest stage role was Camille, a part which she almost created, and in which she achieved her greatest stage triumph. Up to a recent period Miss Heron was engaged in training pupils for the stage, in which she was quite successful. She leaves one daughter, ''Bijou'' Heron, now playing at the Union Square Theatre, New York. Her age was about forty-eight.'
(Titusville Herald, Titusville, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, 14 March 1877, p. 1b)

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Lenton Brothers, acrobats, to appear at
Greene's Opera House, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, Friday, 21 May 1886

Lenton Brothers

carte de visite photograph of
Lenton Brothers, acrobats
'Wonders of the World'
(photo: James Sunderland, Birmingham, )

'GREENE'S OPERA HOUSE. The simple announcement that Barlow, Wilson & Rankin's minstrels are to be here Friday evening will be sufficient to fill the house. They always give a splendid performance, and on this occasion will introduce several new specialties, among which are the Lenton Brothers, a couple of English acrobats said to be unequaled in their line. Mr. Carl Rankin will also positively appear here. Reserved seats are now on sale a the opera house office.'
(The Cedar Rapids Times, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Thursday, 20 May 1886, p. 3e)

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Maud Hobson is remembered
in Hawaii, 1897

Maud Hobson

Maud Hobson (d. 1913),
English actress

(photo: unknown, probably London, early 1890s)

'Maud Hobson will be remembered here as Mrs. Haley and again as a member of the touring ''London Gaiety'' company. She is now in New York City, prominent in the caste of In Town, a great theatrical success. The paper Judge repeats an extremely fine likeness of Miss Hobson with these lines:
Yours, Maud, the grace of form and face

Less often found than sought;
And when at first your beauty burst
Upon my gaze, I thought:
How greatly would my heart rejoice,
If I were only Hobson's choice!'

(Hawaiian Gazette, Hawaii, Honolulu, Friday, 5 November 1897, p. 1c)

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© John Culme, 2008