Publicity Photos from The New Dominion

 

On April 30, 1903, an amateur production of the play The New Dominion was presented by the Joe Jefferson Club at the Neilsen Opera House in Sandusky. The play was written by Broadway playwright Clay Clement, Sr.  

A.J. Peters portrayed the Baron Franz Victor Von Hohenstauffen. Mr. Peters is pictured below with Adah Kunz, who played Miss Flora May Randolph in the play.

E.L. Marsh played the character of Mr. Marshall Boner. The part of Miss Martha Boland was played by Mrs. G.E. Wilder.

Local photographer W.A. Bishop played Mr. J. Charles McVeigh in the play.

The May 1, 1903 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that the performance was a “flawless production.” A.J. Peters gave a finished performance, and Mr. Bishop was humorous in his love scenes. The Register article stated that “The characters were well cast and showed to the best of their ability, the attention and interest they centered in their accredited parts.” Theodore Taubert’s ten piece orchestra played musical selections between acts. 

Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to view the complete collection of publicity photographs from “The New Dominion.”

Joe Jefferson Dramatic Club

The Joe Jefferson Club was a theatrical group formed in Sandusky in the late 19th century. It was probably named for a highly regarded actor of the time, who lived from 1829 to 1905. Between 1894 and 1895, members of the Joe Jefferson Club presented plays at the Nielson Opera House in Sandusky. The May 20, 1898 performance of "The Rivals" was given for the benefit of Company B., the local military unit which served in the Spanish American War.
Among the actors which performed in "The Rivals" were: local photographer W.A. Bishop, businessman A. J. Peters, local poet Charles Selkirk, and Miss Jessie Foster, the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oran Follett. On May 17, 1899 the proceeds from the Joe Jefferson Club's performance of "Between the Acts" went towards the purchase of books for the Free Library Association, now known as the Sandusky Library. The Sandusky Register of May 6, 1899 reported that the play was "made up of a combination of mistakes, errors and family troubles and the final dawn of peace. Each member of the cast is an artist and the interpretation they give their parts cannot be improved upon."