Eytinge, Rose (1838-1911)

Eytinge made her first professional appearance as Melanie in "The Old Guard" in a dramatic stock company in Syracuse, NY at the age of seventeen. She soon became "the leading juvenile woman" in the company but quickly moved on to her second professional acting engagement as the leading lady at the Green Street Theatre in Albany, NY (Eytinge 8).

In addition to her role as leading lady, Eytinge also supported visiting actresses Charlotte Crampton and Ada Clare at the Green Street Theater (19). In her memoir, Eytinge describes the development of a rivalry and friendship with Clare when the other actress came to Albany. Warned by her fellow cast members that she "had better go at once and obtain a willow wreath to wear in place of the crown which [she] had just lost," Eytinge comments that she responded with "a saucy assumption of indifference" to Clare's arrival (20). However, Eytinge also claims that later she gave Clare "my warmest admiration, my love and allegiance" (21).

Eytinge moved to New York and made her first appearance on the stage there in 1862 at the Olympic Theatre. Her friendship with Ada Clare, who had also moved to New York, continued and Eytinge frequented the Sunday evening parties Clare threw at her house on West 42nd Street. Eytinge describes how at these parties there "could be found a group of men and women, all of whom had distinguished themselves in various avenues,--in literature, art, music, drama, war, philanthropy. The women were beautiful and brilliant, the men clever and distinguished" (21). Eytinge also remembers that the visitors to Clare's house included John Clancey, Stephen Fiske, William Winter and his wife Lizzie Campbell, Peter B. Sweeney, Mary Freeman Goldbeck, Fanny Brown, Walt Whitman, Henry Clapp, William Stuart, Ed H. House and others (21-2). She says of these gatherings, "This was Bohemia, and our fairy-like, beautiful young hostess was its queen. A veritable queen she was, receiving from her subjects their love and loyalty, which she won by her quiet sincere and unpretentious, unconscious dignity, and drawing from each member of her court, by her gracious presence, all that was best in them of brilliancy, kindliness, courtesy, and wit" (22).

Eytinge originally met Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, while working in Albany, but it was later in New York that he offered her the part of Fiordilisa in "A Fool's Revenge." She was impressed by "his gentleness, his sweet temper, his unvarying, simple kindliness" to her and felt great sympathy for his suffering after his brother assassinated President Lincoln (28). She illustrates her closeness to the Booth family when she writes that "the body of John Wilkes Booth was secretly exhumed, conveyed to Baltimore, and given to his mother" (33).

Eytinge eagerly accepted an offer by Edgar Davenport and John Wallack to join their acting company and tour the east coast from Maine to Washington, D.C. She referred to the decision to join their company as "the best day's work I ever did for myself" (45). During an acclaimed stint at the Washington Theatre in Washington, D.C., Eytinge met President Lincoln. After attending several performances at the theater, Lincoln invited Davenport and Wallack to the White House and they brought Eytinge along for the visit. Eytinge records the experience of meeting the president in her memoir by explaining, "I was presented to the President, he took my hand, and, holding it while he looked down upon me from his great height, said: 'So this is the little lady that all us folks in Washington like so much?' Then, with a portentous shake of his head, but with a twinkle in his eye, he continued, 'Don't you ever come 'round here, asking me to do some of those impossible things you women always ask for, for I would have to do it, and then I'd get into trouble'(76-7).

After touring with Davenport and Wallack's company, Eytinge took the role as the leading lady at Wallack's Theatre in New York from 1868-9. Here she commanded a "three figure salary" and "was the first leading woman in this country . . . on the English-speaking stage, who had ever commanded a three-figure salary" (40).

Eytinge left the stage in 1869 to travel abroad. She records her experiences in the Orient including her observations about the treatment of women there. She claims a new appreciation for the status of women in America as a result (150).

Eytinge states that she had no intention to return to the stage after her time abroad. At the request of Lester Wallack and Augustin Daly, however, Eytinge resumed acting upon her return to New York, performing the "best dramatic work" of her stage career in parts such as Lady Macbeth, Cleopatra, Hermione, Rose Michel, Gabrielle Le Brun, Felicia, and Miss Multon (215).

Eytinge traveled abroad again in 1880, this time to England. Upon her return to the United States in 1884, she embarked on a successful acting tour of the Western states, performing as the leading lady in California, Nevada and Utah theaters.

Eytinge ends her memoir by regretting the changes in her profession, especially the loss of "mystery" surrounding actresses. "It used to be the custom for an actress of any prominence," she explains, "to surround herself with an atmosphere of exclusiveness and mystery. She was never to be seen, as she may be constantly, to-day, upon the ordinary promenade, or at the theatre, or shopping, or at teas, or receptions. She was known personally only to a few intimate friends. The public never saw her, except upon the stage" (307).

Eytinge is mentioned as part of the cast of the forthcoming Ticket-of-Leave Man at the Winter Garden in a benefit for Mr. Humphrey Bland (73).

Figaro recommends Eytinge's performance as "Florence Trenchard" in Our American Cousin at the Winter Garden (153).

Figaro reports that she will play the supporting role of "Florence Trenchard" in the Winter Garden's production of Our American Cousin starring Clarke (137).

Chronicles Rose Eytinge's acting career and mentions her three marriages.