The Clinton County Historical Association’s portrait collection, of over 17,000 photos taken between 1890 and 1929, is a magnificent gallery of images reminding us of life ‘back in the day,’ putting faces to the many hundreds of people who lived in and visited our area — and some were professional actors from the Cliff Haven Stock Company.
‘Back in the Day’ newspaper reporters enthusiastically reported on the Cliff Haven Stock Company, a theater group presenting popular plays with nationally and internationally known actors.
The theater group formed sometime around 1908 and was also referred to as the Cliff Haven Theater Group and the Cliff Haven Dramatic Company. The company played at the auditorium at the Catholic Summer School of American at Cliff Haven for a number of summers, disappeared for a while, then resurfaced in 1938 when a Daily Press editorial described the company as an “innovation” and a “new theatrical group composed of Catholic University Players.”
‘SIDE SPLITTING’ COMEDY
The Cliff Haven Stock Players were even mentioned in 1951 as one of the organizations that Champlain College Student Robert Merkle belonged to.
A majority of the plays in the early years were comedies described as witty, even ‘side splitting’, with no forced efforts to create a laugh. and since they were at the Catholic Summer School, it might go without saying that there was no ‘coarseness’ either.
Stock companies were described as a “troupe of actors performing regularly in a particular theatre, presenting a different play nightly from a repertory of prepared productions.”
‘A COMPANY OF REAL ARTISTS’
The Cliff Haven Stock Company’s financers were not advertised but it was managed for years by Bernard Sullivan.
Bernard Sullivan might have given his first performance at the summer school on July 10, 1901, and would continue to be involved in some way for the next 15 years. First known for his baritone voice, he gave concerts both at the school and the Plattsburgh Theatre. Little else is known about him except for his management of the stock company and his photo is in the CCHA portrait collection.
The Summer School did have entertainment before the Cliff Haven Stock Company but not as steady or celebrated as after it was first introduced in the summer of 1908. The first company consisted of eight professional actors who received nothing but praise from local reporters.
Our “community is at last alive to the fact that a company of real artists is employed in giving these performances and only by a fortunate turn of events has such a company been secured.”
The series of one-act plays continued each Saturday night throughout the summer with double and triple bills, and the opening hours were delayed to wait for the trolley to arrive from Plattsburgh. Tickets were 25 and 50 cents each, the equivalent of $12 and $17 today.
Each play seemed to be well known to the reporters – “Barbara, Balm of Gilead” (a rollicking farce), “Sixes and Sevens”, “The Littlest Girl”, “Lend Me Five Shillings”, “Sunset”, “Cape Mail” (a melodrama), and “Dream Faces” (standing room only).
“The Violin Maker of Cremona” was described as beautifully costumed and would later come out as a silent film with Mary Pickford at the Star Theater on 10 Clinton Street.
When actor and director Frank Keenan was in town, he had received permission to stage “Orange and Green”, a play by Seamus McMann, apparently the first time it was allowed outside of a big city.
Mr. Keenan was described as having performed and proven himself to be a great artist. Later he would be identified as one of the first Broadway actors to appear in Hollywood.
The CCHA portrait collection has photos of his daughters Frances and Hilda which we assume were taken when he was in town. His daughter Frances starred in the “Balm of Gilead.” Daughter Hilda was the mother of actor Keenan Wynn, who took his stage name from his grandfather Frank.
CRITICS TAKE NOTICE
The year 1909 continued to offer regular plays by the Cliff Haven Stock Company. There were six in the company this time, and the actresses and actors from out of town were, Jane Ferrell, Sarah Lewis, Eugene Martin, Harry Sleight, a Mr. Lyons and the internationally known Harry Beresford described as a “comedian without peer.”
Plays were “Honor Bound” (gripping one act play), “Who’s Who”, “Mrs. Hilary Regrets” (a roaring Irish farce), “The Salt Cellar” (produced on site for the first time), “Who’s Your Friend” (a wholesome comedy), and “Sunshine” (side-splitting farce).
The offerings in 1909 would attract the attention of drama critics from the Dramatic Mirror and the New York Sun. Photos of Harry Beresford and Harry Sleight are in the CCHA portrait collection.
Harry Beresford and Harry Sleight would return with the Cliff Haven Stock Company in 1910. Beresford in “The Woman Hater” (“he’s a wonder”) and “Sleight in A Queen’s Message” (a compliment to officers from the barracks).
Other plays were “Bells” (a rollicking farce), “A Tale of Cape Cod Folks” (a lively sketch), “Capt. Walrus” and “Chalk and Cheese” (a rippling farce).
OVER THE YEARS
The space in the newspapers devoted to the Cliff Haven Stock Company lessened in later years. Harry Sleight returned but gave up the stage direction in 1912 to George Lund. Mr. Lund attracted the Canadian Knott actresses Rosela and daughter Viola. They returned for several seasons. Viola is in the CCHA portrait Collection.
In 1913, the Rev. John Talbot Smith, one of the Summer School Founders who would eventually found the Catholic Writer’s Guild, attended “The Servant in the House” starring Tyrone Power Sr. This play in 1908 had established Power as an exceptional stage actor and the repeat of the play at the Summer School was described by Rev. Smith as “far above in the long history of summer school dramatics.”
Power for his part complimented the audience for its appreciation of his art. Power went on to star in silent films the following year. Unfortunately, CCHA does not have a photo of Power in their portrait collection.
Through to 1916, plays were given regularly at the Catholic Summer school, although the name of the company may have changed to the Cliff Haven Dramatic Company. After that, there was more emphasis shown on recitals.
The legacy of the actors and actresses who were at the school is reflected in the Historical Association’s photo memories.
This same portrait collection is the basis for the new, soon to be opened, CCHA exhibit ‘The Honor of Your Presence’ and the soon to be published book of “Clinton County World War I Veterans.”
— Helen Nerska is the director and past president of the Clinton County Historical Society