The Billboard 1922-05-06: Vol 34 Iss 18 (1922-05-06)

MAY 6, 1922 The Billboard 47 ——— HP stage of yes erday is perhaps to be con gratulated that it was not bored to death by what is known as “The Drama League”’ (pronounced “draymaleek’’). The intention of the members of this handshaking buffet brigade is doubtless a highly commendable one, but there ig no denying the fact that it is nothing more nor less than a nerve-racking, St. Vitus dance nuisance to members of the profession, who are almost forced by the local management to give up their time and sleep to attend luncheons and other nauseating indigestible functions merely to gratify the whim of people who, for the sum of two dollars per annum, are supposed to be entitled to meet actors and actresses off the stage, ask absurd gain admittance to the play for 50 cents less than the general public, and then tell the world that they have been LIFELONG FRIENDS of the thespian they never met for more than ten consecutive minutes. In the good old days an actor was permitted to choose his associates, but nowadays he has to mingle with every grapejuice-imbibing Tom, Dick and Harry fortunate enongh to be able to borrow two dollars and join the ‘‘Draymaleek”. As to the members of this so-called League ENDORSING a play, the very idea can not be regarded by sensible people as anything else than a ludicrous farce. Why should THEIR estimate of a performance be any more reliable than that of a patron who pays full fare and who has been a student of dramatics ever since his childhood? I am perfectly aware that mr remarks about this amateur conglomeration of ambitions but ambiguous near-society critics (7) will not meet with universal approval, but as one who has mingled with many of the bright lights of the theatrical world I can state positively that the Drama League is looked upon by most of them as a veritable bore and something they are most desirous to get away from as far as possible. 7 ° °° ° * In the lobby of one of our Cincinnati theaters recently the youthful manager posted a notice in the lobby that the play for that partienlar week had been diagnosed and duly endorsed by the !ocal members of the “D. L."’, which was a sufficient guarantee of its merit. Rosh! Absurd! Stupid! Asinine! The play was AWFUL and was “endorsed” by these two-dollar-a-yearists simply because the management was desirous of selling a few extra sents (at 50 cents cheaper than the tariff) to a dozen or more thespian torturers who had met the members of this company at a cold collation dished up for a dollar a throw at what is called in Western cities a ‘“Olud’— elsewhere ag ‘Merchants’ Lanch”. Were this “Draymaleek"’ made up of those whose {ndgment was worth anything I should not have tonched on the subject. but, in my humble opinion, it js a burlesque on the ability of actors of any reputation at all. Perhaps _on will say these statements are not ‘‘RecoOections’'—bnt they ARE—becanse I recollect the time when snch an absurdity would not have been tolerated under any circumstances. . o . s . There is no disputing the fact that some actors just love to be “‘entertained’’, but these ore generally the ones who fai! to entertain their andiences. Experience has proved that receptions, lunches and pink teas in reality actually “hort the house’. Seven out of ten who have met a celebrity at a private Rathering do not go near the theater at which he or she Is playing unless by way of a ‘pass’. Their time ts too much taken up in telling thelr friends how Mr. Blank, the renowned tragedian, has recommended them to go on ‘he stage at once, as, in his Inncheon belief, ‘hey were overflowing with dramatic ability, which It wonld be a sin not to display to the ‘ater populace at the earliest possible moment, and sooner if convenient. Speaking *s a lecturer who has been on the platform for over a quarter of a century I can truthfully say that 1 would take half of the customary fee could 1 be sure that 1 should not have to be at the beck and call of every gooda well-meaning individual whose chief mission in life is to try to over-feed and talk ‘Ne head off every lecturer and actor who anorfirately happens to be in his own fair city for the nonce, . ° ° . * Mel simost brings teare to my ancient eves ad “1 of James Neill, Edythe Chapman, Lois se Claire Windsor, Bebe Daniels, May aie. Walter Long, Tully Marshall, Otis — Will Carleton, Lionel Barrymore, Edwin fuss Wiliam H. Crane, Loutse Gunning, Keenan, Frederick Warde, Herbert questions, THESPIAN RECOLLECTIONS AND STAGE STORIES (Series No. 9) By HOWARD SAXBY Standing, WHerschell Mayall, TWonise Dresser and Hobart Bosworth being buried alive in a film factory at Hollywood. They are out of their true atmosphere. I have never yet seen a “movie” which appealed to my artistic temperament. It seems like kissing a deaf and dumb girl in the dark against her will after she has been eating onions. No good actor can ever convince me that he really looks upon this style of clowning as ART. It is pantomimical proletarianism, reminding the beholder of Prometheus doomed to be bound to Mount Caucasus and to have a vulture daily consume his liver, which grew again at night, until an jmmorta] should consent to renounce immortality in his favor. The only thing 1 am afraid of is that these sterling actors of the old school will become so beastly rich that they will retire from public gaze, ride in a Packard with wings, erect plaster of paris bungalows in some California clime, eat oft plates of tarnished gold, drink home-brew from silver tankards and absolutely refuse to associate with their fellow mortals. They may all tell me they are happy, but I'll bet that in their quiet moments they would all like to be back on the legitimate boards and hear themse!ves talk. Billy Crane may smile on the screen, but I will wager that he would give a great deal to be with his old partner, Stuart Robson, taking a drink at “Clayton's Drum" in Chicago. Call me a picture pessimist if you will, nevertheless I will take the ‘‘speaking part’’ in preference to the “dummy monolog’’ every time. . >. . . The love letters of George Bernard Shaw to Mre. Patrick Campbell are positive proof that “One science only will one genius fit. So vast is art, so narrow human wit.” The public seems not only to demand the mushiest of plays nowadays but ins'sts on the height of absurdity in so-called literature. Are we all getting nutty or is it that we have lost all sense of decency ard saneness since the war? About the best modern nightmare (true to life at that) is “Linda Lee—Incorporated"’, by Louis Joseph Vance, and published by E. P. Dutton & Company, of New York. It tells of a society woman, charming, wealthy, headed for Reno, who becomes infatuated with the movies: how she discovers all about studio life and screen stars, presenting a clever, colorful and captivating panorama of the California crazy world. If any of my readers have perused this work I wish they wonld write me at my expense, letting me know what they think of it. . . a s s Now that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in our midst I am reminded that it is over twelve years aco since his modern morality play, “The Fires of Fate’, was produced in America. In the cast were Hami'ton Ravelle, William Hawtrey, Edwin Brandt, Percy C. Waram, T. R. Mills, Hale Norcross, Ernest Perrin, Robert Reese, Lionel Barrrmore, Courtney Foote and Paul Pillington. By the way, why does not Sir Arthur write a “Spiritual’? play? It would reach a whole lot of unbelievers. Of one thing I am certain, no man was ever more sincere fn his belief than Doyle. I have met him on many occasions, both here and in London, and I can swear that he is as conscientions regarding his statements as were any of the Apostles. Conan Doyle is a man of conviction, honest ae the day fs long, and he conld not be anything else but supremely truthful and aboveboard try as hard as he might. o . . . Tt is quite astonishing how many actors and actresses have embraced Christian Science or Spiritualism of recent years. This may or may not be largely due to the Prohibition laws, the lack of erstwhile sociabilitr, but, nevertheless, a certain kind of new religion (or whatever one chooses to call it) HAS taken a very firm hold upon them. The idea is a commendable one in every way. Personally I could not find any consolation in the Spiritualistie belief, even if 1 were thoroly convinced of its truth. Heaven won'd hardly be a desirable place wherein to reside ff the inhabitants are to know of the sorrow and suffering which is always going on in the world. However. if it affords any consolation whatsoever and can alleviate the sting of death in the slightest degree by all means let those who are able to embrace it do go to the fullest extent. One thing is certain, Christian Science never did mortal man or woman any herm. In fact I have known many cases in which it has done an enormous amount of real good, In all my experience I never knew an actor whose religion was not governed by the Golden Rule in its strictest Sense. It is only a matter of time when church and etage will be one and inseparable. All hail the anspicious day! reeds are things of the woeful past. The man or woman of today has learned that conscience alone governs us all. Every year proves the betterment of everybody and everything, and in no profession or calling has there been a truer and greater advancement than among the history portrayers and merrymakers who journey from city to city to cheer up and instruct their fellow creatures and make them forget the trials and tribulations of this wearisome and worrying old globe. It does not matter at all what we BELIEVE—it is what we DO that counts in the long run. . . . _ e Talking of the old-time tragedians, a well known star once said to me: ‘It may be my lack of artistic appreciation, but Lawrence Barrett never appealed to me as a convincing actor. It always gave me ‘the b!ues’ (whatever those things are) to even look at him. He seemed to be suffering from some intestinal trouble which had been pronounced incurable. The dentist’s chair is said to have been his favorite lounge. ticular style better than any other character he portrayed. No one could ever imagine Barrett smiling. He undoubtedly was a student, but he invariably gave you the impression that ‘Hervey’s Meditations Among the Tombs’ was his favorite novel, and ‘Young’s Night Thoughts’ his idea of frivolity and literary mirth. Even an actor may he too dignified and a hearse driver too melancholy. Nevertheless his career was a financial success, so my persona! opinion in his case, as in the case of many others perhaps, is hardly worth taking into consideration.’ . s s _ . An English actor recently remarked in my presence: ‘‘Ellen Terry would be a much freater actress if she could warm up her blood just a little. On the stage she is brilliant, but in private life I regret to say she suffers from that terrible disease called se'ffishness. ‘Her book is clever (to a certain extent), but one cannot lose sight of the fact that she speaks of those who had done a good deal for her advancement in a somewhat sarcastic manner. Ingratitude is not a Christian virtue by any means. Mr. and Mrs. Kendal were a splendid team, still I donbt very much if they can be classed among the UASTING stage favorites. Ther just missed the top by a few inches, so they never had an opportunity to view the sublimity of the dizzy heights of fame. The same may perhaps be said of Mary Anderson. In my judgment Clara Morris was head and shoulders above any actress who trod the boards in the early ‘SOs, I do not ask you to agree with me, indeed I am fully aware that many of you wil! very likely NOT—but one is foolish to give the views of others, and to say that an actor is prejudiced is a poor way of trying to convert him to your way of thinking. 7 . . . a Our old college chum, Trixie Friganza, who made her debut in life as Delia O’Callahan, and once thought of adopting the cognomen of Delilah Callarewski in case of receiving offers for grand opera, said to me in the presence of Senator Robert O’Brien that she would never be able to die peacefully until she had made g hit ag ‘“‘Portia’’. There is no reason why she shonld not do well in “‘pictures’’ provided she can keep still long enough to give the camera man a chance. One thing is certain, Trixie will not take much back talk from the producer. 7 « e s * Frederick Warde is advertising the fact that he has lived with the same wife for fifty years. This doubtless accounts for his plaring the leading role in “Omar Khayyam”, which name I would rather write twenty times than try to pronounce once. I doubt if any man has worked harder than Fred Warde durine his entire lifetime. He has certainly “played many parts’? and has been a conscientious student from the start. Let us hope the rising generation will. give us more men like Warde. who is equally good as ‘Dr. Primrose’’ as he is as Richard the Third. s ° * ° a It js getting on to twenty years sirce Henry Miller gave us one of the treats of our lives with “The Servant in the House’’. The ‘“‘Persons in the Play’ were Arthur Lewis, Fdmund Rann Kennedy, Edith Wynne Matthison, Gwladys Wrnne, Tyrone Powers, Galwey Herbert and Walter Hampden. [ff heaven can boast of a Theater Royal this play should be produced there by all means. Such gems only appear once or twice in a lifetime, and those who were fortnnate enough to see it can rest assured they will never again get an opportunity to see its equal. Of course, the players had a great deal to do with its success, but even ‘Hamlet’? would not be an artistic success if rendered by Harry Lauder or Raymond Hitchcock. . . e e s Tet us go hack nearly a quarter of a century and see if our memory is still in good His ‘Cassius’ suited his par-: order. Weber and Protas are coming on the stage in a small wagon, which ig referred to as a moving peng FIELDS—I don’t Wke those moving sidewalks. You are lable to pass yourself mitont knowing it. WEBER—Never mind; are you glad you came to Paris to spend your vacation? FIELDS—Mebbe. as did dot fellow mean by giving us dot tip der horse vhich did not vin? WEBER—He didn’t know vot he meant; he meant nutting, and vot he meant ve got. FIELDS—But he gave us a guarantee der horse vould vin. WEBER—Yes, but ven a horse loses his guarantee runs oud. *E should like to get my money insured so dot ven I spend it I could get it back. (Enter Dave Wart as the Hebrew.) WARFIELD—I van@ to know if I lost ven I hetted someting. Do you know anpyting aboud military codes Vct must a man be before he can be bud mit military honors? A captain, a generalffor vot? WEBRER—Der first ng he must do is to be dead. (Warfield agrees to the other two.) Weber—Yon must be (sworn in. right hand. Swear. » WARFIELD—Go tg hell! (Loud applanse. The word “hell” on the stage is invariably a signal for beietesens, laughter.) Then John Kelly asks Weber: "What would you do for $10,0007" And Weber replies: ‘I’m ashamed to tell you.” (Terrifte laughter.) KPLLY—Are you a married man? FIELDS—No; I got dose scratches on my face from der cat. (Exit all amidst shrieks of applause.) into partnership with Raise your 7 « o a o Dialog (from memory) in the travesty on “Qno Vadis’: PETROLIUS—Admit him here in the torradorium. MARCUS FINISHUS—I am still in Rome. PETROLIUS—I thought you were frying Fenians in Farina. MARCTS—Yon are not alone. Someone tubbereth. PETROLIUS—’Tis my slave Spoonus. MARCUS—She is a beautus. PETROLIUS—I got her in an employmentus agentus. (Petrolius and Mareus fight, and then one of them remarks that the other has twice the b'ow of Thomas Sharkus, and that’s no facus either.) De Wolf Hopper always got a laugh by the manner in which he said: ‘Come, Marcus, to the boozorium, and let us quaff a Mamie Taylorus.”” s s * o s Two men, billed as “Smith and Campbell, Talking Comedians’, amused the audience with this sort of patter: “TI met your wife yesterdsy.” “Did you notice her teeth?’ “No; she didn’t open her mouth.”* “Then it wasn’t my wife.” “T understand you beat her like a carpet.” “That is the only way I can get any dust out of her.”’ “Say, do yon know I started in life as a bare-footed boy?’ “Well, I wasn’t born with any shoes on either." 7 s s oe «ss s Campbell and Starr used :to get into an argument: “T saw a deaf and dumb man run over this morning and he was knocked speechless. One of his hands was cut off. It's strange how people will get into the way of street cars and be killed so young. My father died at 96." “Mine died at 192. That’s so. He died at 192 Eighth avenne.”’ ” “I met a Dntchman yesterday who offered to make a bet that he coyid sing longer than T could. I took the bet and sang ‘Annie Laurie’ for two hours and a half, but he won by singing ‘The Stars and Stripes FOREVER’.” s o s le s T memtion these ‘jokes’? to prove that they will be revived from year to year, from one generation to another. Every day we come face to face with the stage jests of our youth, the stereotyped conundrums of the patent medicine mon‘’s almanac, or the stories we heard in the corner grocery days, and the revivification brings the smile or the laugh just as it did when we frst went to the circus on @ complimentary ticket. Loge mar they continne to give delight to the millions yet unborn, and even those sensible babes who posttiveiy refuse to be born alive. THE BRAZILIAN AMERICAN The Only American. Publication in Brazil. Tilustrated. Filled with news and pm a about the richest and most fascinating country ie two. continents SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $6.00 A YEAR. Send for Sample Copy BRAZILIAN AMERICAN Avenida Rie Branco 117, 2 Ander, Rio de Janelro, Brazil. TYPE AND ENGRAVED LETTERHEADS and Envelopes. Snappy. Ortatnel Distinctive. Send copy, we'll estimate, PRURD. of Sharpsburg, in Iowa. 4 4 Se ey ar a see ReLE Se aise, ae > magrengts