Portraits of Celebrities at different times of their Lives.
JOHN LAWRENCE TOOLE.
HEREVER the English tongue is spoken the name of J. L. Toole is a household
word. After winning his spurs in Dublin, he made his first appearance in London at the St. James's Theatre, which was then under the management of Mrs. Seymour. This was in 1855. From the St. James's he migrated to the Lyceum, where he played, among other characters, Flip Flap to Charles Dillon's Belphegor, Mrs. Bancroft, then Marie Wilton, being in the cast. It was but a step from the Lyceum to the Adelphi; and his merry reign there, in conjunction with Paul Bedford, will be always remembered in connection with that theatre. It was during this period that our first two portraits were taken. The third portrait represents him at forty-five years of age, before which time he had produced Byron's "Dearer than Life" at the Queen's, Henry Irving playing Bob Gassett, and Lionel Brough Uncle Ben. The theatre he built for himself in King William-street was opened in 1879. Our fourth portrait was taken in Dunedin, New Zealand, about five months ago, in the course of his remarkably successful tour through the Australasian colonies.
For these portraits we are indebted to Mr. Toole's courtesy.
