May 21, 1975 (8 pages)

a May 21, 1975 Wed., The Nev meteor ae i! After a difficult struggle to / ture and suffering severely / es, she died suddenly at the ns Hotel, Sacramento, on June — tar" she toured the California 9 parents in the fifties. Her cious talents with clog, banjo earts of the argonauts, who juggets and small bags of gold he California State Library. resses itself up in garments of respec. the nearby town of Nevada (City) as 1 by one who signed. himself ‘‘General May 12, 1854: Frisbie’s Restaurantn sustaining my exhausted frame, a aked potatoes, biscuit and cup-o-coffee, on of resting my gaze on Lola Montez, watched her expressive, childlike face, n I too, was guileless and inexperienced lent person seems apparent in the acret of her personality. She was most especially. those in need. The stories of ch as standing at the gate with bandage 1s the wounds of any injured miner, or \digent with a basket of food, are most espondent summed it yp in this manner. y doing generous things.”’ d from the memoirs of Mrs. Matilda er, who at the age of five attended Lola’s ‘There were only a few girls in Grass 1en Lola Montez gave us little ones a ne. We were all excited about it. If Lola say she was . our mothers never would » et us at the door as we arrived and gave ne; I don’t remember much about her ned to me the most beautiful woman in ree, remember that, and she had gifts s and had good things to eat. She had a e yard and we used to go by to look at it. d. Once my mother and I and my baby _ We took the stage. Lola was on board, r lap most of the way down, taking the One SR MRR ean SACRE REE go gy oa em — VIVACIOUS AND LOVABLE, Lotta Crabtree eclipsed her Grass Valley friends Lola Mantez and Sue Robinson in the field of entertainment. She attained wealth and world fame. Her death occurred in 1924 at the age of 77. (Photo courtesy of the California State Library, Sacramento) care of me completely off my mother. She talked to me and sang as the stage drove along. I believe she gave me some candy too. Mother was very grateful to her for her help on the trip. Yes, she was very kind to many people.” . , Two other little girls may have attended Lola’s Christmas party of 1853, one already known on the theatrical circuit of towns and mining camps and the other unknown, but destined for greater fame. They were Sue Robinson and Lotta Crabtree. Sue, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Robinson was billed in the early theaters as La Petite Susan or Black-Eyed Susan. The Robinson family (not Dr. D. G. Robinson, burlesque artist) were special favorites in Grass Valley; in fact they seemed to belong in the community and purchased a home at the corner of Neal and Church Streets for, a-winter residence. Grass Valley Telegraph, November 24, 1853: ‘‘The Robinson Family are favoring us with an occasional display of their talented genius. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s Irish jig was one of the best performances of the evening, but the very best . was the Styrien Dance of La Petite Susan and Master William. Both danced admirably well, but little Susan actually performed miracles in the way of dancing. She is only eight years old, and yet she appeared to understand all the fascinating qualities of her sex of a-more experienced age.” Grass Valley Telegraph, December 1, 1853: ‘Mrs. J. B. Robinson: We have the honor to tender to your talented child, La Petite Susan, a grand complimentary benefit on any night you may — please to appoint.” The invitation was signed by seventeen Grass . Valley residents. Lotta Crabtree, at the age of six, lived a few doors from the Montez cottage. Lola, it has been said, taught the little girl to dance and, being so pleased with her adept pupil, carried her en horseback to Rough and Ready, where the child danced on the anvil in the blacksmith shop. A check of the columns of the Rough and Ready correspondent to the Grass Valley and Nevada City papers of 53 and ’54 fails to turn up mention of the visit of the Countess and a little girl who danced for the miners. It may have seemed too insignificant an item to mention; however, the Countess inspir news wherever she went. There are some who doubt the story of . Montez teaching Lotta to dance, and when one considers that Lola’s — Spanish and Italian style was not Lotta’s technique, the story . becomes more tenuous. That the school was successful is evidenced by the following: Nevada Journal, December 16, 1853: ‘Mr. Robinson opened his dancing school in Nevada at the new hall, corner of Commercial and Pine Streets.” Lotta’s bid to fame began with an Irish jig (a Robinson specialty) in the summer of 1854 in the town of Rabbit Creek. La ada County Nugget 5 —_—_—_—_—_———__ eae = Pj . 9 = > aio = eget e EKecentric Petite Susan could easily have been the inspiration for Mary Anne : ‘Crabtree in promoting her daughter in her stage career as La Petite Lotta. At the time of Lotta’s debut, little Sue Robinson had been burned when she stepped too close to a stage side lamp while performing in the town of Johnsville, on June 8, 1854. Her parents received burns of the hands in the rescue. While the family. __recuperated, the citizens of Grass Valley gave a benefit in support _ of their favorite troupers on June 24 of that year. » (CONTINUED NEXT WEEK) —————— : PB Ma RT PG hy eS wR acy Te Pegg oe : —— pate, SPN AR 4k Cee aire tt Sr a iy °

a May 21, 1975 Wed., The Nev meteor ae i! After a difficult struggle to / ture and suffering severely / es, she died suddenly at the ns Hotel, Sacramento, on June — tar" she toured the California 9 parents in the fifties. Her cious talents with clog, banjo earts of the argonauts, who juggets and small bags of gold he California State Library. resses itself up in garments of respec. the nearby town of Nevada (City) as 1 by one who signed. himself ‘‘General May 12, 1854: Frisbie’s Restaurantn sustaining my exhausted frame, a aked potatoes, biscuit and cup-o-coffee, on of resting my gaze on Lola Montez, watched her expressive, childlike face, n I too, was guileless and inexperienced lent person seems apparent in the acret of her personality. She was most especially. those in need. The stories of ch as standing at the gate with bandage 1s the wounds of any injured miner, or \digent with a basket of food, are most espondent summed it yp in this manner. y doing generous things.”’ d from the memoirs of Mrs. Matilda er, who at the age of five attended Lola’s ‘There were only a few girls in Grass 1en Lola Montez gave us little ones a ne. We were all excited about it. If Lola say she was .. our mothers never would » et us at the door as we arrived and gave ne; I don’t remember much about her ned to me the most beautiful woman in ree, remember that, and she had gifts s and had good things to eat. She had a e yard and we used to go by to look at it. d. Once my mother and I and my baby _ We took the stage. Lola was on board, r lap most of the way down, taking the One SR MRR ean SACRE REE go gy oa em — VIVACIOUS AND LOVABLE, Lotta Crabtree eclipsed her Grass Valley friends Lola Mantez and Sue Robinson in the field of entertainment. She attained wealth and world fame. Her death occurred in 1924 at the age of 77. (Photo courtesy of the California State Library, Sacramento) care of me completely off my mother. She talked to me and sang as the stage drove along. I believe she gave me some candy too. Mother was very grateful to her for her help on the trip. Yes, she was very kind to many people.” . , Two other little girls may have attended Lola’s Christmas party of 1853, one already known on the theatrical circuit of towns and mining camps and the other unknown, but destined for greater fame. They were Sue Robinson and Lotta Crabtree. Sue, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Robinson was billed in the early

theaters as La Petite Susan or Black-Eyed Susan. The Robinson family (not Dr. D. G. Robinson, burlesque artist) were special favorites in Grass Valley; in fact they seemed to belong in the community and purchased a home at the corner of Neal and Church Streets for, a-winter residence. Grass Valley Telegraph, November 24, 1853: ‘‘The Robinson Family are favoring us with an occasional display of their talented genius. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s Irish jig was one of the best performances of the evening, but the very best .. was the Styrien Dance of La Petite Susan and Master William. Both danced admirably well, but little Susan actually performed miracles in the way of dancing. She is only eight years old, and yet she appeared to understand all the fascinating qualities of her sex of a-more experienced age.” Grass Valley Telegraph, December 1, 1853: ‘Mrs. J. B. Robinson: We have the honor to tender to your talented child, La Petite Susan, a grand complimentary benefit on any night you may — please to appoint.” The invitation was signed by seventeen Grass . Valley residents. Lotta Crabtree, at the age of six, lived a few doors from the Montez cottage. Lola, it has been said, taught the little girl to dance and, being so pleased with her adept pupil, carried her en horseback to Rough and Ready, where the child danced on the anvil in the blacksmith shop. A check of the columns of the Rough and Ready correspondent to the Grass Valley and Nevada City papers of 53 and ’54 fails to turn up mention of the visit of the Countess and a little girl who danced for the miners. It may have seemed too insignificant an item to mention; however, the Countess inspir news wherever she went. There are some who doubt the story of . Montez teaching Lotta to dance, and when one considers that Lola’s — Spanish and Italian style was not Lotta’s technique, the story . becomes more tenuous. That the school was successful is evidenced by the following: Nevada Journal, December 16, 1853: ‘Mr. Robinson opened his dancing school in Nevada at the new hall, corner of Commercial and Pine Streets.” Lotta’s bid to fame began with an Irish jig (a Robinson specialty) in the summer of 1854 in the town of Rabbit Creek. La ada County Nugget 5 —_—_—_—_—_———__ eae = Pj . 9 = > aio = eget e EKecentric Petite Susan could easily have been the inspiration for Mary Anne : ‘Crabtree in promoting her daughter in her stage career as La Petite Lotta. At the time of Lotta’s debut, little Sue Robinson had been burned when she stepped too close to a stage side lamp while performing in the town of Johnsville, on June 8, 1854. Her parents received burns of the hands in the rescue. While the family. __recuperated, the citizens of Grass Valley gave a benefit in support _ of their favorite troupers on June 24 of that year. » (CONTINUED NEXT WEEK) —————— : PB Ma RT PG hy eS wR acy Te Pegg oe : —— pate, SPN AR 4k Cee aire tt Sr a iy °