William Elton

William Elton (fl 1870s-1880s) was an actor and musician

At times simply referred to simply as Mr Elton

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

In 1875 he was a member of a company recruited in England by Frank Weston on behalf of Disney Roebuck,

As a bandleader he formed an “Ashantee Dance and Chorus” from “a band of coloured boys picked from the street” (also referred to as “street Arabs”) and participated in a performance entitled Brown and the Brahmins at the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town in 1875. This under the auspices of Disney Roebuck. (Fletcher, 1994)

November 15, 1876: Elton acted in Disney Roebuck's United Service Dramatic Company's production of Blow For Blow at the Theatre Royal in Port Elizabeth and played the part of Charlie Spraggs.

Eastern Province Herald's Theatre Critic, Henry J Vickers, charges Elton

On Friday, December 8, 1876, William Elton appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court before Regional Magistrate A C Wylde charged with contravening the 18th section of Ordinance 25, 1847, by wrongfully and unlawfully using threatening language against Henry J Vickers, the Eastern Province Herald's theatre critic, "in the public place, calculated to provoke a breach of the peace". Vickers stated: "About 12 o'clock on Tuesday I received a message saying Mr Elton wanted to see me at the Theatre.

"I replied that I was busy at the time, and he then said I was to go round to the theatre after rehearsal, as Mr Elton wanted to see me particularly.

"I replied I was always in the office, and should be happy to see him there at any time.

"About 1.30 I went down to the Phoenix (Hotel) to luncheon.

"As I was going down the avenue towards the door Mr Elton came up to me.

"I said,'Oh, Mr Elton, you want to see me. What can I do for you?'

"He said, 'I want to know whether you wrote that notice of the Dramatic Company in the paper this morning?'"

His Worship interjected at this point and said "The criticism?"

"Yes," replied Vickers.

"Did he say notice or what?" asked Magistrate Wylde.

"I forget the exact words used; I think it was notice," replied Vickers.

"Because there is a difference you see," said the Magistrate.

Vickers continued with his testimony; "I replied 'Pardon me, I can't answer any such question as that.'

"He then said, 'I am first going to give you a straight 'tip'; I warn you never to put my name or my wife's name in good, bad or indifferent terms in the Herald again.'

"I said, 'Oh you had better see Mr Impey about that; he is the editor of the paper, and attends to these things.'

"He said, 'I have had enough of your nonsense and I am not going to have any more of it. If my name is mentioned again I shall make it warm for you.'

"I said, 'You had better see your manager and get him to withdraw the press tickets if you object to criticism.'

"He said, 'I have already asked him to do it, but I won't put up with any more of your - - - nonsense.'

"I turned round and walked as far as the door, leaving him.

"He followed me.

"When we got to the door he said, 'I warn you that I shall warm you if my name appears again.'

"I said, 'You have let your temper get the better of your discretion' and turned away from him, and as I walked towards the dining room he shouted, 'You are a - - - snob.'"

(Under Construction)

Sources

Eastern Province Herald, December 1976.

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1923. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

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