Press Clippings for the week ending
Saturday, 20 February 2010

A random selection of clippings
from newspapers and magazines

The former Eleanor Calhoun a possible future Queen of Little Servia, 1906

Eleanor Calhoun (1862-1957), American actress,
who became Princess Lazarovich-Hrebelianovich of Servia

(photo: W. & D. Downey, London, circa 1885)

'THE FUTURE QUEEN OF LITTLE SERVIA 'May Be Daughter of a Former Paducahan. 'She Was Formerly Miss Eleanor Calhoun, Daughter of the late ''Zeke'' Calhoun. 'SHE NOW HAS RELATIVES HERE 'LONDON, Feb. 13 [1906]. - The threatening state of affairs existing in Servia which seems to indicate an early fall of the present government, has brought forth an army of claimants to the throne. One eligible candidate is Lazarovich Greblianovich, in whom Americans will be interested. He is married to an American woman, Miss Eleanor Calhoun, a member of the great southern family. Greblianovich, who is a direct descendant of the ancient Servian royal house of Doushan and Lazar, is not urging his claim, although he is known to be extremely popular among the Servians. He has been exiled from his native land by the present government. 'The Eleanor Calhoun mentioned is the daughter of the late Mr. ''Zeke'' Calhoun, formerly of Paducah, but who lived many years in Califormia. '---------- 'She was an actress of great talent and spent much of her time abroad before her marriage. 'Mrs. Louis M. Rieke, of this city, is a first cousin, her father, Mr. Jas. Calhoun, and Mr. ''Zeke'' Calhoun being brothers. Some of the older Paducahans remember Mr. Calhoun quite well as a boy. His daughter has never visited here, and California was her home previous to going abroad.' (The Paducah Evening Sun, Paducha, Kentucky, Tuesday, 13 February 1906, p. 6d) * * * * * * * * Ralph Rockway and Ada Conway at the Chutes, San Francisco, June 1908

Ralph Rockway (fl. 1906-1913),
American baritone and entertainer,
known as the Caruso of burlesque

(photo: unknown, Columbus, Ohio, circa 1912)

Julian Eltinge (1881-1941),
American female impersonator and actor manager

(photo: Sarony, New York, circa 1907)

'The Cohan & Harris minstrels are returning to New York for a short stay after a long tour through the South and West. Everywhere Julian Eltinge has been one of the greatest drawing cards of the organization. His is the first impersonation of a woman that the writer recalls having seen in which there was not some hint of vulgarity. Mr. Eltinge, however, is not the only man who has been remarked as having appeared in female role with the unstinted approbation of the public, though he is probably the only one that has been seen in this country whose impersonations are above criticism In the early days of the English drama, say between 1650 and 1660, Betterton, who was leading man at the Cockpit, in Drury Lane, played opposite Kynaston (all the roles, female as well as male, were mostly played by men in those days), of whom John Downes, a contemporary, remarked: ''It has been disputable among the judicious whether any woman that succeeded him in the said plays so sensibly touched the audience as he.'' 'It is publicly stated that Mr. Eltinge will be starred in a new play next year, and certainly no one is more worthy of the honor that such an advancement signifies. (Los Angeles Herald Sunday Magazine, Los Angeles, Sunday, 10 January 1909, p. 4) * * * * * * * *

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© John Culme, 2010