Vaudeville actor, working under the name "Percy Janis," son of John Eleazar and Jane Elizabeth "Josephine Janis" (Cockrell) Bierbower. Brother of actress Elsie Janet Bierbower ("Elsie Janis,"), "Sweetheart of the A. E. F.".
"Jan. 18, PERCY JANIS. By the unfortunate and lamentable death of Percy Janis, the stage has lost a young and most promising player, one who had a bright future before him, upon the threshold of which he was just entering and which promised to develop the ambitions and hopes that he had long cherished. Without warning, he disappeared on April 14, 1907, from the S. S. Minneapolis, on which he was sailing with the company to present "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" in London, the supposition being that he fell overboard during the night. No other theory can possibly be advanced, for the young man had everything to live for, youth and a happy temperament were his and he was just on the eve of achieving a cherished professional victory. It will ever remain an unfathomable, inexplicable mystery, and only the deepest sympathy can go out to his family and friends.
Mr. Janis was born in Indianapolis, Ind. In private life he was Percy John Bierbower, Jr., and a brother of Elsie Janis, the famed young comedienne. He spent his boyhood in Columbus, Ohio, and for a short time was engaged in mercantile pursuits there. But, like his sister, he always had a fondness for things theatrical, and when a youth of eighteen he determined to follow a stage career, making his debut in the chorus of Nixon and Zimmerman's production of "the Strollers." The season of 1905-06 he appeared with Miss Janis in a small part in "The Little Duchess," and when she blossomed forth as a Broadway star, he played the part of a waiter in "The Vanderbilt Cup" and assistant stage manager. The last three weeks he managed the entire performance of "The Vanderbilt Cup" company, and rehearsed and played the cripple in the Cabbage Patch, thus showing wonderful ability and strength of character. All of which was very creditable for so young a man, but Mr. Janis chafed under the restraint of small parts, his ambition crying out for a wider and bigger field.
And so it came about that when Liebler and Co. were making up the London cast for Mrs. Wiggs they had sufficient faith in his abilities to entrust him with the important part of Chris Hazy, the lame boy. He played the role at two trial performances at Troy and Poughkeepsie, made a most pronounced success, was complimented on all sides, and boarded the Minneapolis keen with the anticipation of the success that was to be his in London.
At last he was to become an actor in his own right and not only that, but play in London where his mother and sister were to meet him, June 20th, and tour the country. A great desire of his, he wanted a name for himself, and not be known merely as "Elsie Janis' brother." And then came the end, so full of pathos, so full of mystery, the answer no one will ever know." [The Actors' Birthday Book, Johnson Briscoe, pub. Moffat, Yard & Co., New York, 1907, p.29]
"Jan. 18, PERCY JANIS. By the unfortunate and lamentable death of Percy Janis, the stage has lost a young and most promising player, one who had a bright future before him, upon the threshold of which he was just entering and which promised to develop the ambitions and hopes that he had long cherished. Without warning, he disappeared on April 14, 1907, from the S. S. Minneapolis, on which he was sailing with the company to present "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" in London, the supposition being that he fell overboard during the night. No other theory can possibly be advanced, for the young man had everything to live for, youth and a happy temperament were his and he was just on the eve of achieving a cherished professional victory. It will ever remain an unfathomable, inexplicable mystery, and only the deepest sympathy can go out to his family and friends.
Mr. Janis was born in Indianapolis, Ind. In private life he was Percy John Bierbower, Jr., and a brother of Elsie Janis, the famed young comedienne. He spent his boyhood in Columbus, Ohio, and for a short time was engaged in mercantile pursuits there. But, like his sister, he always had a fondness for things theatrical, and when a youth of eighteen he determined to follow a stage career, making his debut in the chorus of Nixon and Zimmerman's production of "the Strollers." The season of 1905-06 he appeared with Miss Janis in a small part in "The Little Duchess," and when she blossomed forth as a Broadway star, he played the part of a waiter in "The Vanderbilt Cup" and assistant stage manager. The last three weeks he managed the entire performance of "The Vanderbilt Cup" company, and rehearsed and played the cripple in the Cabbage Patch, thus showing wonderful ability and strength of character. All of which was very creditable for so young a man, but Mr. Janis chafed under the restraint of small parts, his ambition crying out for a wider and bigger field.
And so it came about that when Liebler and Co. were making up the London cast for Mrs. Wiggs they had sufficient faith in his abilities to entrust him with the important part of Chris Hazy, the lame boy. He played the role at two trial performances at Troy and Poughkeepsie, made a most pronounced success, was complimented on all sides, and boarded the Minneapolis keen with the anticipation of the success that was to be his in London.
At last he was to become an actor in his own right and not only that, but play in London where his mother and sister were to meet him, June 20th, and tour the country. A great desire of his, he wanted a name for himself, and not be known merely as "Elsie Janis' brother." And then came the end, so full of pathos, so full of mystery, the answer no one will ever know." [The Actors' Birthday Book, Johnson Briscoe, pub. Moffat, Yard & Co., New York, 1907, p.29]
Vaudeville actor, working under the name "Percy Janis," son of John Eleazar and Jane Elizabeth "Josephine Janis" (Cockrell) Bierbower. Brother of actress Elsie Janet Bierbower ("Elsie Janis,"), "Sweetheart of the A. E. F.".
"Jan. 18, PERCY JANIS. By the unfortunate and lamentable death of Percy Janis, the stage has lost a young and most promising player, one who had a bright future before him, upon the threshold of which he was just entering and which promised to develop the ambitions and hopes that he had long cherished. Without warning, he disappeared on April 14, 1907, from the S. S. Minneapolis, on which he was sailing with the company to present "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" in London, the supposition being that he fell overboard during the night. No other theory can possibly be advanced, for the young man had everything to live for, youth and a happy temperament were his and he was just on the eve of achieving a cherished professional victory. It will ever remain an unfathomable, inexplicable mystery, and only the deepest sympathy can go out to his family and friends.
Mr. Janis was born in Indianapolis, Ind. In private life he was Percy John Bierbower, Jr., and a brother of Elsie Janis, the famed young comedienne. He spent his boyhood in Columbus, Ohio, and for a short time was engaged in mercantile pursuits there. But, like his sister, he always had a fondness for things theatrical, and when a youth of eighteen he determined to follow a stage career, making his debut in the chorus of Nixon and Zimmerman's production of "the Strollers." The season of 1905-06 he appeared with Miss Janis in a small part in "The Little Duchess," and when she blossomed forth as a Broadway star, he played the part of a waiter in "The Vanderbilt Cup" and assistant stage manager. The last three weeks he managed the entire performance of "The Vanderbilt Cup" company, and rehearsed and played the cripple in the Cabbage Patch, thus showing wonderful ability and strength of character. All of which was very creditable for so young a man, but Mr. Janis chafed under the restraint of small parts, his ambition crying out for a wider and bigger field.
And so it came about that when Liebler and Co. were making up the London cast for Mrs. Wiggs they had sufficient faith in his abilities to entrust him with the important part of Chris Hazy, the lame boy. He played the role at two trial performances at Troy and Poughkeepsie, made a most pronounced success, was complimented on all sides, and boarded the Minneapolis keen with the anticipation of the success that was to be his in London.
At last he was to become an actor in his own right and not only that, but play in London where his mother and sister were to meet him, June 20th, and tour the country. A great desire of his, he wanted a name for himself, and not be known merely as "Elsie Janis' brother." And then came the end, so full of pathos, so full of mystery, the answer no one will ever know." [The Actors' Birthday Book, Johnson Briscoe, pub. Moffat, Yard & Co., New York, 1907, p.29]
"Jan. 18, PERCY JANIS. By the unfortunate and lamentable death of Percy Janis, the stage has lost a young and most promising player, one who had a bright future before him, upon the threshold of which he was just entering and which promised to develop the ambitions and hopes that he had long cherished. Without warning, he disappeared on April 14, 1907, from the S. S. Minneapolis, on which he was sailing with the company to present "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" in London, the supposition being that he fell overboard during the night. No other theory can possibly be advanced, for the young man had everything to live for, youth and a happy temperament were his and he was just on the eve of achieving a cherished professional victory. It will ever remain an unfathomable, inexplicable mystery, and only the deepest sympathy can go out to his family and friends.
Mr. Janis was born in Indianapolis, Ind. In private life he was Percy John Bierbower, Jr., and a brother of Elsie Janis, the famed young comedienne. He spent his boyhood in Columbus, Ohio, and for a short time was engaged in mercantile pursuits there. But, like his sister, he always had a fondness for things theatrical, and when a youth of eighteen he determined to follow a stage career, making his debut in the chorus of Nixon and Zimmerman's production of "the Strollers." The season of 1905-06 he appeared with Miss Janis in a small part in "The Little Duchess," and when she blossomed forth as a Broadway star, he played the part of a waiter in "The Vanderbilt Cup" and assistant stage manager. The last three weeks he managed the entire performance of "The Vanderbilt Cup" company, and rehearsed and played the cripple in the Cabbage Patch, thus showing wonderful ability and strength of character. All of which was very creditable for so young a man, but Mr. Janis chafed under the restraint of small parts, his ambition crying out for a wider and bigger field.
And so it came about that when Liebler and Co. were making up the London cast for Mrs. Wiggs they had sufficient faith in his abilities to entrust him with the important part of Chris Hazy, the lame boy. He played the role at two trial performances at Troy and Poughkeepsie, made a most pronounced success, was complimented on all sides, and boarded the Minneapolis keen with the anticipation of the success that was to be his in London.
At last he was to become an actor in his own right and not only that, but play in London where his mother and sister were to meet him, June 20th, and tour the country. A great desire of his, he wanted a name for himself, and not be known merely as "Elsie Janis' brother." And then came the end, so full of pathos, so full of mystery, the answer no one will ever know." [The Actors' Birthday Book, Johnson Briscoe, pub. Moffat, Yard & Co., New York, 1907, p.29]
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