Part 432: Thomas G. Moses and “Miss Bob White”
In 1902, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “We did one act in “Miss Bob White” and went to Philadelphia to put it on. It was a quaint musical comedy. Hitchcock starred in the leads.”
Moses was referring to Raymond Hitchcock, a comic opera comedian who was born in Auburn, New York. His theatrical career started as an amateur actor, with his debut in “Ingomar.” The reviews condemned his performance so badly that he was stranded in Philadelphia and ended up working behind the counter in Wanamaker’s store. Hitchcock recovered from this experience and became a chorus member in the Charleston Opera Company during 1891. For twelve years he played various roles, working for Dan Daly, George W. Monroe, Peter F. Dailey, Robert Hilliard, Mary Irwin and Henry W. Savage. His talents allowed him to perform either musical roles or straight acting. Savage offered Hitchcock a principal part with the Castle Square Opera Company. It was Savage who convinced Moses to be his lead scenic artist for the Castle Square Opera Company at the American Theatre, prompting Moses to move to New York in 1901. This is where Moses would have first encountered Hitchcock.
For the Castle Square Opera Company, Hitchcock played Sir Tobin Topax in “The Golden Wedding,” Uncle Hank in “We ‘Uns of Tennesee,” and David Tooke in “Three Little Lambs.” Other shows at this time included “The Belle of Bridgeport,” “A Dangerous Maid,” “Vienna Life,” “The Burgomaster,” “Miss Bob White,” and “King Dodo.”
During Hitchcock’s two years with the Castle Square Opera Company, he appeared in numerous shows, including “Miss Bob White.” It was the show that followed “Miss Bob White,” however, that would elevate Hitchcock to stardom under Savage’s management in the production of “King Dodo” at Daly’s Theatre in Chicago (1902).
“The American Stage of To-day: Biographies and photographs of one hundred leading actor and actresses” featured Hitchcock in 1910. The article reported, “Mr. Raymond Hitchcock furnishes a composite instance of a facile character actor who has swung back and forth between the two branches of his profession” (page 103).
Willard Spencer’s “Miss Bob White” premiered at the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia on April 15, 1901. Hitchcock was part of this production too. This three-act musical comedy involved two millionaires, Billy Van Million (John Slavin) and Artie Tre Billion (Raymond Hitchcock) who live as tramps for two months after losing an election bet. They head for a farm and are followed by an heiress, Clare Livington (Ethel Jackson). Livington disguises herself as a milkman, “Bob White.” By the end of the show, she wins the love of Artie. The show included twenty-six musical numbers and was a success in Philadelphia, completing a 136-performance run.
To be continued…
