The New York Clipper (March 1903)

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DRAMATIC. VAUDEVILLE. CIRCUS. Copyrighted, 1903, by the Frank Queen Publishing Company (LtalhdJ Founded by FR ANK QUEEN, 1883. NEW YORK, MARCH 28, 1903. VOLUME Ll.-No. 8. PrloB 10 Cents M155 CIipper'5 Molts, Personalities aid Cornells, OONOBXNQtO STIGE FOLK and Sometimes OTHERS Bt JOSEPHINE ono. It sometimes happens that one of a the; «tre audience may receive more notice and let a bigger laugh Umn the legitimate fen maker on the stage has been able to gain through a whole performance. A case In point once happened while Sir Henry Irving was playing "Othello." In the gallery was an andltor who mani- fested bis sympathies for "Desdemona" on all occasions where, la the play, she seemed to be In need of them. The man, who was a warm hearted Irishman, made audible comment as the play proceeded, When Ir- ving, In the scene where "Othello" several times demands "Desdemona's" handkerchief, chorus, then, being somewhat unnerved at the tremendous applause that followed, be grasped the railing of the gallery and, eager for his next cue, he nervously swayed to and fro, keeping time with the music. A late comer, in the person of another email boy, crowded Into a seat back of the little alnger at that moment. Evidently annoyed at Artie's movements, and unaware that be was a part of the sketch, In fact, the whole chorus, he gave Artie a cruel kick In the back, at the same time telling him to keep still and let somebody else get ally taken to a matinee to see his parents act At one time, when about Ave years old, be, with .some relatives, occupied a stage box. During a turn and after a big encore bis father left the stage to make a quick change. The audience continued to applaud, and Artie, who for bis years was well up In, things theatrical, knew that ap- plause meant a call for a' return to the stage. Noting that the audience wanted his father back, and fearing they might think that actor bad made his final exit, the child leaned far out of the box and, should be opened, letting In the light front the outer entrance, On this occasion Wright was playing a "heavy" part. He was alone on the stage In a dark scene, at the end of which he walked off and was supposed to shoot him- self an Instant later. The old man had been warned to lock the door, and, on pain of dismissal, not to open It to any one during such a scene. During a short soliloquy In wblch Wright, as the villain, disclosed the fact tb|t ho was about to put an end to a wicked career, be was slightly disconcerted by a knock at the stage door. At a repetition of It the old doorman, In a voice that was heard by the audience, called out :— "Sure, ye can't come In till Mr, Wright shoots himself I" When the laughter thus provoked had ■•omewhat subsided those nearest the stage heard the manager reproving the old man. "Why In bades didn't you speak lower I" was the angry exclamation. "How In hades do you expect me to had asked three times for this missing ar- ticle of her toilet, the Irishman ruined the scene by rising la his seat and shouting across the auditorium:— "Don't you glvo it to him—don't you give It to him,—make him wipe his nose on his slajve,—the dirty naygur 1" 9 Prank Seenan relates an episode which happened some years ago, when he was with a repertory company playing tragedies. The Play at the time was also "Othello", and the scene was the same, where the Jealous Moor demands the handkerchief. To one of the audience It evidently seemed as though the play at this point wm being unnecessarily delayed, for, rolling ■ !'i« red bandanna handkerchief Into a Ml. he threw It straight at the head of l ™ * st °nlshed tra *«<"»>>. exclaiming: "ere, you I—take mine, and for Heaven's ■ass go on with the playl" ay Inmes B\ Dolan, of the vaudeville team, "Man and Lenhorr, sends the following story about their small son, who lor a few minutes made a greater hit with the audi- ekeub! m W " <Um * IM ' ^ • at • ,n th * ,r siJJ 18 ,?° D,l, » r •on* a* ths time was "The til? *' of New tt**". «*> «"■ «" e » >»• ^' tc - '* the sketch. As . special nev- 111 thelr b °r> *«!». then seven years of bS sL 4 ?' u,HtrM wIie » «** "•» <&X££"*** ■ at tb6 *•* Fn,n ' T oo boy ssng bravely through the drat a look ot the stage. Ths kick threw the small chorister against the railing, and for an Instant deprived blm of bis breath, so that when his cue came to take up the refrain he was unable to do so. Dolan beckoned blm to go on, and Anal- ly, when he could get a full breath, he called across the theatre, crying with both fright end anger: "Pop, my wind's gone. A fresh kid up here has broke up my voice 1" Dolan relates that at this reply both sketch and audience were as bsdly broken up as the boy. A body guard was thereafter appointed to prevent a repetition of an In- terruption. sa When Artie was younger be was occasion- ss»- frantlcolly waving bis small hands towards those nearest him, called out In shrill, child- ish treble: "Don't get worried—don't get worried— my I's/ii be back In just a little bit of a minute I" 9 Stephen Wright relates an Instance of bis scene being Irrevocably spoiled on one occa- sion by the seal of ths door tender at a theatre In Maine where he was playing a Summer engagement. As the stags door was close to ths first entrance it was especially necessary to keep It closed during a quiet scene, as any con- versation above s low tone could be heard by tboss In the front seats; besides, a dark scene would oe quite spoiled If the door wblspor through a shut door I" was tho excited answer. And the curtain was rung down to shut ofr the audience from further kaowledgo of tccnes behind the scenes. 9 A well known manager of a Western the- utre, being auddenly called to New York on Important bnsloew, was obliged to leave bis theatrical affairs In the bands of a friend who knew little about such matters. Be- fore leaving he Instructed this representa- tive to telegraph each night the receipts ot the house, being careful to "swell" tlm Amount by thres hundred dollars. The Arst telegram received by the absent manager read: "House tonight, fourteen hundred dollars; rememtar this Is swelled three hundred" At another time the nightly telegram con- tained tbs depressing news worded thus: "House tonight, three hundred and four- fifty; audience dismissed." Clyde Fitch, tho author of so many popu- lar plays at present drawing exceedingly large royalties, relates how at one time not so many years ago a month's Income then would not pay his dally perfume account now. Shortly before bis first success, "Beau Tlrummel", written for Itlchard Mansfield, Fitch was a young man Just out of Amherst College, fbough Ms father hud declared that If he undertook literature as a profession he would starve, the boy persisted In his chosen railing. Ho often needed money, but, being proud,