A circa 1917 flyer for a performance by the Jessie Colton Company.
The Jessie Colton Company consisted of nine members—all related—a sort of a “family” business. Jessie Colton, from whom the theatrical troupe received its name, was trained from an early age to be an actress. She eventually achieved many Broadway triumphs. Bert Richardson, her third husband, was a local [Orion, Illinois] boy, son of the village blacksmith, who quite by accident, became an actor. “Jessie” and “Bert,” as they were greeted by Orionites, met while performing in stock companies.
Bert is said to have made his initial appearance as a professional in this manner. About 1890, a traveling show was in Orion for a week’s stand. For some unknown reason, their pianist without warning suddenly left the company. In desperation, the troupe manager inquired about town in hope of locating a suitable substitute. It seemed that Bert Richardson, then but a mere lad, had the reputation of being able to play a certain tune on the piano immediately after it was “hummed” or “whistled.” Bert was persuaded to audition and so impressed the manager with his musical ability that he was promptly hired. When the company left town, Bert was asked to go with them. Had he decided not to go, there would never have been a Jessie Colton Company.
Bert and Jessie were married in 1895. In 1900 they returned to Orion and formed a traveling tent show whose performers were mostly family members. Occasionally, they would engage one or two actors or actresses, to act special parts in a play.
Jessie’s eldest daughter, Lottie Pearce, was a child by her first marriage. Isaac and Philena Chappie were the children of her second marriage. Bertha and George Richardson were the offspring of Jessie and Bert. Most of the children were equally at home in the orchestra or on the stage. Lottie Pearce married Bert’s brother, Ralph Richardson, and to them was born a daughter, Rosalie, who played childrens parts and sang between acts. When Bertha Richardson married the orchestra leader, Frank Bauer, the company gained a handsome actor which brought the membership to ten. The troupe was therefore well distributed in age groups and enabled them to produce almost any play.
From 1900 until the early 1930’s the Jessie Colton Company toured the midwest annually. It was their custom to begin rehearsals in the early spring. Practices would be held in the Orion opera house or in one of the local lodge halls.
Each year their first and last performances would be presented in Orion. If the weather was cold, they’d use the opera house. If the weather was warm, they might erect their spacious tent. Sometimes the company would travel during the winter months, playing in the many small-town opera houses so prevalent then but so sadly missed now.
Beginning in May and running through September, the company played a tent repertoire circuit throughout central Illinois. Cambridge and Woodhull, Illinois were among the local villages in which they would pitch their tent annually. “Tent-Rep” is derived from the players’ custom of staying a week in a town, offering a repertoire of six comedies or dramas, “with a different billing each and every night.” Admission at one time was ten and twenty cents with no reserved seats. There were usually three acts of about twenty minutes each with special vaudeville features between scenes. Candy, popcorn, peanuts and chewing gum were sold at every opportunity to the audience.
Their weekly repertoire included such plays as “Lightnin”, “East Lynne”, “Pygmalion”, “The Rail Splitter”, “Little Lord Fauntleroy”, and perhaps their most successful play—”Rip Van Winkle.”
Bert and Jessie built a Hollywood-style home in Orion and would reside there during the off-season. Adjacent to the home they owned a large lot on which they would erect their large tent. Performing “under canvas” presented many difficulties. The tent, scenery, seats, lighting equipment and instruments had to be transported from town to town every week. Actors and actresses were often called upon to aid in erecting the tent or to help hold it down during a wind storm. Thus they all played many parts.
Year after year, the Jessie Colton Company followed the same circuit. Their annual sojourn in a village had more the nature of a visit to old friends than of merely eking out a living. Many of their fans could call them by name. In May, 1931, the Country Gentleman magazine published an article about “tent shows” in which they gave Jessie Colton the credit of having one of the most successful shows on the road.
During off-season months, the members would find employment in various businesses. George, Philena and Isaac were professional musicians and readily found employment in bands, etc. Bert sold life insurance and later served several terms as village Mayor. Ralph always had a position waiting for him at the local poultry and feed store. Jessie, Lottie and Bert would often coach high school or home-talent plays and many declamatory winners attributed their triumphs to the expertise of their instructor.
Jessie and Bert Richardson retired from the Company in 1925 and the children then carried on the family tradition. The depression of the early 1930s, the arrival of “talking pictures”, and better highways made it unprofitable to operate the tent show. The company was forced to disband.
The Orion Fire Department sponsored a home-talent show at the Orion Opera house November 18 and 19, 1935. Jessie and Bert were persuaded to head the cast, with many local people participating, to produce that old favorite, “Rip Van Winkle”. The duo had presented this play many, many times during their career. An interesting fact concerning this, their last performance, was that both Jessie’s granddaughter, Rosalie, and great-granddaughter, Fanchon McCombs, were included in the cast. Bert’s brothers, Ralph and Floyd, were also on stage with him.
Fans from far and near, from many of the towns on their annual tour, came to see and hear the last grand appearance of these great performers who for almost two score years had delighted their audiences. It was rather sad in a way. There was standing room only at curtain time!
Bert Richardson died February 8, 1937. It was then that our opera house was made use of for a most unusual performance—the funeral services were held there. It seemed quite appropriate since the theatre had been Bert’s lifetime work. Business houses closed during the service and again every seat was filled with friends paying their last respects.
Jessie Colton died July 27, 1940 at age 73. Jessie and Bert are buried in the Western Cemetery, Orion. Quite fittingly, on their tombstone there is engraved “Life’s Drama Has Ended; the Curtain Has Fallen.” (via)
![A circa 1917 flyer for a performance by the Jessie Colton Company.
The Jessie Colton Company consisted of nine members—all related—a sort of a “family” business. Jessie Colton, from whom the theatrical troupe received its name, was trained from an early age to be an actress. She eventually achieved many Broadway triumphs. Bert Richardson, her third husband, was a local [Orion, Illinois] boy, son of the village blacksmith, who quite by accident, became an actor. “Jessie” and “Bert,” as they were greeted by Orionites, met while performing in stock companies. Bert is said to have made his initial appearance as a professional in this manner. About 1890, a traveling show was in Orion for a week’s stand. For some unknown reason, their pianist without warning suddenly left the company. In desperation, the troupe manager inquired about town in hope of locating a suitable substitute. It seemed that Bert Richardson, then but a mere lad, had the reputation of being able to play a certain tune on the piano immediately after it was “hummed” or “whistled.” Bert was persuaded to audition and so impressed the manager with his musical ability that he was promptly hired. When the company left town, Bert was asked to go with them. Had he decided not to go, there would never have been a Jessie Colton Company. Bert and Jessie were married in 1895. In 1900 they returned to Orion and formed a traveling tent show whose performers were mostly family members. Occasionally, they would engage one or two actors or actresses, to act special parts in a play. Jessie’s eldest daughter, Lottie Pearce, was a child by her first marriage. Isaac and Philena Chappie were the children of her second marriage. Bertha and George Richardson were the offspring of Jessie and Bert. Most of the children were equally at home in the orchestra or on the stage. Lottie Pearce married Bert’s brother, Ralph Richardson, and to them was born a daughter, Rosalie, who played childrens parts and sang between acts. When Bertha Richardson married the orchestra leader, Frank Bauer, the company gained a handsome actor which brought the membership to ten. The troupe was therefore well distributed in age groups and enabled them to produce almost any play. From 1900 until the early 1930’s the Jessie Colton Company toured the midwest annually. It was their custom to begin rehearsals in the early spring. Practices would be held in the Orion opera house or in one of the local lodge halls. Each year their first and last performances would be presented in Orion. If the weather was cold, they’d use the opera house. If the weather was warm, they might erect their spacious tent. Sometimes the company would travel during the winter months, playing in the many small-town opera houses so prevalent then but so sadly missed now. Beginning in May and running through September, the company played a tent repertoire circuit throughout central Illinois. Cambridge and Woodhull, Illinois were among the local villages in which they would pitch their tent annually. “Tent-Rep” is derived from the players’ custom of staying a week in a town, offering a repertoire of six comedies or dramas, “with a different billing each and every night.” Admission at one time was ten and twenty cents with no reserved seats. There were usually three acts of about twenty minutes each with special vaudeville features between scenes. Candy, popcorn, peanuts and chewing gum were sold at every opportunity to the audience. Their weekly repertoire included such plays as “Lightnin”, “East Lynne”, “Pygmalion”, “The Rail Splitter”, “Little Lord Fauntleroy”, and perhaps their most successful play—”Rip Van Winkle.” Bert and Jessie built a Hollywood-style home in Orion and would reside there during the off-season. Adjacent to the home they owned a large lot on which they would erect their large tent. Performing “under canvas” presented many difficulties. The tent, scenery, seats, lighting equipment and instruments had to be transported from town to town every week. Actors and actresses were often called upon to aid in erecting the tent or to help hold it down during a wind storm. Thus they all played many parts. Year after year, the Jessie Colton Company followed the same circuit. Their annual sojourn in a village had more the nature of a visit to old friends than of merely eking out a living. Many of their fans could call them by name. In May, 1931, the Country Gentleman magazine published an article about “tent shows” in which they gave Jessie Colton the credit of having one of the most successful shows on the road. During off-season months, the members would find employment in various businesses. George, Philena and Isaac were professional musicians and readily found employment in bands, etc. Bert sold life insurance and later served several terms as village Mayor. Ralph always had a position waiting for him at the local poultry and feed store. Jessie, Lottie and Bert would often coach high school or home-talent plays and many declamatory winners attributed their triumphs to the expertise of their instructor. Jessie and Bert Richardson retired from the Company in 1925 and the children then carried on the family tradition. The depression of the early 1930s, the arrival of “talking pictures”, and better highways made it unprofitable to operate the tent show. The company was forced to disband. The Orion Fire Department sponsored a home-talent show at the Orion Opera house November 18 and 19, 1935. Jessie and Bert were persuaded to head the cast, with many local people participating, to produce that old favorite, “Rip Van Winkle”. The duo had presented this play many, many times during their career. An interesting fact concerning this, their last performance, was that both Jessie’s granddaughter, Rosalie, and great-granddaughter, Fanchon McCombs, were included in the cast. Bert’s brothers, Ralph and Floyd, were also on stage with him. Fans from far and near, from many of the towns on their annual tour, came to see and hear the last grand appearance of these great performers who for almost two score years had delighted their audiences. It was rather sad in a way. There was standing room only at curtain time! Bert Richardson died February 8, 1937. It was then that our opera house was made use of for a most unusual performance—the funeral services were held there. It seemed quite appropriate since the theatre had been Bert’s lifetime work. Business houses closed during the service and again every seat was filled with friends paying their last respects. Jessie Colton died July 27, 1940 at age 73. Jessie and Bert are buried in the Western Cemetery, Orion. Quite fittingly, on their tombstone there is engraved “Life’s Drama Has Ended; the Curtain Has Fallen.” (via)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l28dyo9L941qb6rooo1_500.jpg)
