'WOMEN OF THE WEST' -- Part 6

CRABTREE

Posted By: David (email)
Date: 3/7/2005 at 12:12:21

LOTTA CRABTREE (Con't)

'Fairy Star Of The Mother Lode'
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During the California years Lotta Crabtree had many successes, and her
reputation as a fine performer was growing. But her mother felt she should
expand to greater fields, so at 16 years of age, Lotta and Mary Ann set out
for New York City -- but not before a grand farewell benefit at Maguire's
Opera House was held, netting Lotta $1500. With this and the previous
earnings still intact, thanks to Mary Ann, the family headed for the East
Coast, again by way of Panama.

The elegant theatres of New York and their audiences, however, were used to
more sophisticated entertainment, and despite Lotta's efforts, her first
venture into the eastern city failed. Pulling up stakes, they went on to
Chicago, where crowds were more friendly, and as they traveled through
Pennsylvania and Ohio, Lotta's confidence soon returned.

Playing as many as six roles in a single play, the tiny redhead switched
easily from a character of saucy impertinence to one overflowing with
sentimentality. Topsy was always a success, but there were also "The
Captain with His Whiskers Gave a Sly Wink at Me," and patriotic numbers,
Rally Round the Flag Boys," and "Dear Mother, I'll Come Home Again." She
went easily from soldier's uniform to Indian paint and concluded the show in
Irish garb, invariably with her clogs thundering to banjo music. Lotta
burlesqued the famous Jenny Lind and Lola Montez. Her dances included
hornpipes, Scottish flings, shuffles, and polkas. Audiences responded
enthusiastically; their approval of the young actress was overwhelming. Yet
it was invariably the parody, the single kick, a dozen daring antics, and
her final bounce off the stage, which left one shapely ankle peeking out
from under the curtain, that brought the audience to their feet. Lotta was
a performer, and she knew how to excite her fans.

Rave reviews followed her now wherever she performed. One in Boston called
her "a burst of fresh air from the west," while other newspapers were
equally enthusiastic.

Her repertoire increased as the years rolled by, and Lotta participated in
legitimate plays as well as comic routines. She earned as much as $10,000
for several weeks' run in the eastern houses, and enjoyed the after-hours
parties and flirtations that accompanied such success.

The country in the 1860s was soon caught up in the Lotta Polka and the Lotta
Gallop, two popular dance crazes that swept the larger cities.

With Mary Ann minding the business interests and Lotta making more and more
money, her father and other relatives soon found ways to spend her
increasing earnings. The family had always stood together, and despite any
easy flow of funds, later losses, and poor ventures, they remained closely
knit. One exception was Lotta's father, who was later pensioned off to
England. Ironically, he told his English relatives he had "made it" in the
California gold fields.

Lotta had hundreds of admirers and young men eager to become friendlier.
Mary Ann, however, was not about to have her venture into some unfortunate
liaison, and so discouraged any close relationships. Lotta had come to
depend on her mother not only as a manager, but also as an advisor. Perhaps
it was for this reason that she never married.

Among her close companions was J. Bolton Hulme, scion of a wealthy
Philadelphia family. They became close friends, but the newspapers made
more of their relationship. Unfortunately, he liked to drink and gamble,
using Lotta's money. But she seems to have been sincerely in love with him,
and when he died suddenly a few years later, reporters said "something in
Lotta had died with him."

To Be Continued . . . She continued to receive gifts.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
February 7, 2005
iggy29@rnetinc.net