By
JOSEPH o. c;kee\. Ill
The "Jome» Adams," shown heie, docked on Water Street in Elizabeth City. She would normally
spend the winter here, departing each March to give performances in some of the wotcrside towns of
northeastern North Carolina, thence heading northward to the Chesapeake Boy oreo. Following
publication of Edna Fcrbcr's book, the boot's nomc wos chongcd to "The Original Showboat." —
Photos courtesy of Fred Fearing. Reproductions by T. H. Peorec.l
Showboating In
the Albemarle
Memorable days on the floating
theatre immortalized by Edna Fer-
ber.
Many of Eastern North Carolina’s
older citizens have nostalgic memories
of hours spent, many years ago. on
board North Carolina’s own showboat,
the James Adams Floating Theatre.
The James Adams was built at
Washington, N. C. in 1913 at a cost of
S8.941.92. The owners, former trapeze
performers. James and Gertie Adams
never took part in the actual produc¬
tions but were instrumental in the tre¬
mendous success the Floating Theatre
enjoyed.
The “showboat" as it was called first
came to Elizabeth City around Thanks¬
giving in 1914 and docked at what is
now Water Street. Rehearsals started
in February every year; and, accord¬
ing to some high-ranking church mem¬
bers, it was "a hell-hole of iniquity
filled with backsliders, riffraff, and col¬
ored folk."
Despite these views, there is little
doubt that the arrival of the showboat
was the biggest single event the towns
experienced. It was a huge success
from the beginning and kept a very
busy schedule, with thirty-seven weeks
of entertaining the locals and surround¬
ing towns. The theater closed for the
season in November at Onancock, Vir¬
ginia on the eastern shore. Returning to
Elizabeth City, she would dock for
the winter and reopen in March of the
following year.
Sunk In the Canal
The James Adams was towed place
to place by a small gasoline-operated
tug appropriately named Trot/ per. Citi¬
zens from the Albemarle area (Hert¬
ford. Edenton, Plymouth. Columbia)
were enthralled as the showboat
stopped for a performance. After leav¬
ing North Carolina she would travel up
the Dismal Swamp Canal slopping at
South Mills. Deep Creek and continue
up the eastern shore via the Chesa¬
peake Bay.
On November 16. 1929, while trav¬
eling up the Dismal Swamp Canal, the
showboat struck a stump and ripped a
jagged hole in her hull, settling in the
canal. Through the efforts of the Eliza¬
beth City Iron Works, the mud-stained
lady was raised and repaired.
One performer refused to leave the
boat during the rescue as witnessed by
the following November 22, 1929
newspaper account: "Pop Neel, vet¬
eran trouper who has spent 60 of his
71 years in show business and has
made his home on the James Adams
for the past 14 years, set foot ashore
last night for the first time in nearly two
weeks. Pop stuck by the ship during
its stay on the canal bottom and re¬
fused to take a pessimistic view of its
future even when the situation seemed
most discouraging. Last season had
been the best in the showboat’s history
and ‘Pop’ expects to sec many more."
Edna Ecrber Aboard
Performances and performers were
versatile. Six different shows a week
were given, ranging from melodrama
to comedy with a little tragedy in be¬
tween. Some of the best known plays
were East Lynne. Trail of the Lone¬
some Fine, Saint Elmo, Tempest and
Sunshine, Rebecca of Sunnybrook
Farm. Thorn and Orange Blossoms.
After each performance a concert con¬
sisting entirely of vaudeville was given.
In 1923 or 1924. Edna Ferber
stayed on the showboat to collect ma¬
terial for her novel Showboat. She got
her ideas from Charles M. Hunter, one
of the actors, and the novel was written
from his interviews. After her book
was published. Mr. Adams changed the
boat's name to The Original Showboat.
Some interesting performers who
spent time on the James Adams were
the Canova family. Judy. Andy, and
Zckc who performed in the early 20’s.
THE STATE. FEBRUARY IS. 1972
