Variety (January 1916)

VARIETY 1XKIETY Tradt Mark Registered PoUtaM Weekly W VARIETY, Inc. SMI SILVERMAN. PreeMeat Imare New Yin CHICAGO Majestic Theatre Bid*. SAN FRANCISCO P«»i*t«» Theatre Bldg. LONDON H Charing Crow Road PARIS « hie Hue St. Did»er ADVERTISEMENTS Advertising copy for cnrrent Issue must reach New York office by Wednesday nine p. m. Advertisements by mail should be accom- panied by remittances. SUBSCRIPTION Annual *J Foreign 4 * Si ngle Copies, IS cents Entered ss second-class mstter st New York VoL XLL No - 7 Th« Evening Journal—that New York daily "Zit* made famous—is also famed for its editorials. Bright editor- ials they are, too. They must be since they have been widely copiel in style by editorial writers and advertisers . The Evening Journal may have changed the originator of its back page learned discourses and advice, but who- ever may turn out those Journal edit- orials keeps to the grounded theory of its first writer—make the people think. Or perhaps it should be—make the Evening Journal readers think. The style of the Journal editorials is to capitalize the vital words or points. Thus THINK, THOUGHT, REAL and other punch words are capitalized in this manner. The Journal has printed several edi- torials on the usefulness of thought advising its readers to think. The late Cliff Gordon's best story told in his monolog was about John D. Rockefel- ler's remark—any man should be able to live on $12 a week. "Why doesn't he tell us how to get the $12 r Mr. Gordon would add. And so, the Jour- nal tells its readers to THINK, but it doesn't tell them what to think about It might bt concluded the continual and persistent attempt of the Journal's editorial writers to make its readers think is a reflection upon the intelli- gence of those readers, and since the paper suggests no particular line of thought for them to follow or dwell upon, is it not permissible to presume the Journal does not want them to think too hard or have their brain de- veloping power expanded to too wide a degree* else they might think why they are reading the Journal? Still, naught may be said against the Journal's thinking editorials nor the ad- vice they contain, but why doesn't the Journal once in a while publish an edit- orial upon CONCENTRATION OF THOUGHT? Believing the male read- ers of the Journal are engage * in busi- ness of one nature or another, wouldn't the admonishment to concentrate their thoughts on their business or occupa- tion be of more actual value and benefit in the end than to insist that they think—about anything at all? Concentration of thought in connec- tion with the work a man may be en- gaged in will bring more 'results than to tell an ordinary reader of an ordinary newspaper to attempt to fall into line with men of science with their think- eries. Concentration will bring some- thing home that may be realized upon, if it does not realize in the concentra- tion process. A common belief prevails there are "natural money makers" and "non- nioney makers." To the non-monev maker the natural money maker will get gold out of almost anything he digs for. The non-money maker, having that belief ingrained, probably through not having made any important money, feels he is not a natural money maker, therefore he passes up the opportun- ities that may present themselves and which could be followed up, concentrat- ing his thought as well as attention upon less prosperous prospects, or the arts, or fame, glory, and other things there is not much money in. The natural money maker is forever concentrating his thought upon mak- ing money. It is his aim, it is the aim of nearly every American man. Some go after it stronger than others, some have more advantages, some see the op- portunity others cannot, and some are placed to make money of various amounts, by the way of salary, invest- ment, promotion, chance or hard work. An old adage, saying or quotation is to the effect that he who goes after something in earnestness and with suf- ficient application will attain his end— or should attain his end. Concentration, however applied, must, or should, avail, wholly or in a way. If tried experi- mentally, the first lesson might bring its results in a second or later trial. Concentration might be accepted as a motto by the actor or actress, more es- pecially the vaudevillian who has a business of his own in an act The legitimate, burlesque and stock player, the picture actor or the assistant in a vaudeville turn must be classified as a salaried worker. In that position or engagement they can but concentrate upon their role, part or work. But the vaudevillian with an act, two ot more vaudevillians who are partners in an act, the vaudeville proprietor of one or more acts can concentrate as a business man would or should. The partnership may be a mixed one of the sexes, perhaps man and wife (much the better if so) and concentration must do something for them, if they concen- trate their thoughts on how to im- prove and advance themselves, their po- sition, their salary and their act If they have the talent? Concentra- tion will not create talent nor can con- centration of thought evolve something substantial that inwardly does not ex- ist, any more than belief in Christian Science will pay the rent to the land- lord, but concentration of thought up- on an art in all its aspects, its sides, front and back, ail its possibilities will 1>ring something of moment to that act—or create a new one. Unless the concentration of thought is steered into such a narrow channel there is neither width nor curve for open thought that will admit of con- centration of value. That may be to say the vaudevillian might concentrate his thought upon himself rather than the act, and if he thinks only of him- self in the act. he is neglecting the act itself which might be improved by con- centration. Concentration upon him- self can only mean something when the thoughts of self are in conjunction with the present act, a future act or some other pursuit The salaried player can or may se- cure something out of concentration by steadfastly thinking what he or she may do that has not been done by them, by the wish to have an oppor- tunity presented that would prove they were there (in the theatrical sense) and to concentrate the thoughts until the mind will be in a receptive mood co recognize such an opportunity; also to be conditioned through concentration that a sacrifice monetary or otherwise will be agreeable for the gamble that recognition will follow—if the talent :s bthind it Iff extremely difficult to concentrate thought in a bar-room or in a dub, cabaret or with boon companions. Talking the act over in a restaurant, man and wife or partners, would how- ever be concentration of a kind, and relieve the tension of becoming too fully wrapped up in the subject, or concentration alone might bring about an end, for if the actor will concen- trate his thoughts he will be satisfied with his own company, or if the part- ners concentrate their thoughts when together (not for the benefit of others who are not interested in "the act") they may likewise be content to be by themselves, ofttimes. Nor is ; t required that all leisure time must be given to thought or concentration of thought. The actor may become a natural money maker by concentration. In connection with his thoughts to bet- ter his standing or position he might concentrate upon the saving of his money, in cash. It will be centuries before the good actor is a good busi- ness man. Concentrating thought up- on saving, accumulating money from his salary, earnings or profits will make the actor a natural money maker in his sphere, and when the concentration of thought upon the act, role, part or work may have brought something to mind that needs capital of greater or lesser amount to promote or finance, the natural money maker will have it on hand. This concentration of thought sug- gested by the Journal's able editorials is not meant by us as a moral preach- ment or advice to the actor, merely as a thing that could be done, that might be tried, that can do no harm, and if ir. the try it should teach the actor to think for himself in all ihings, the time spent at it will have been well spent. The Journal might try a CONCEN- TRATION EDITORIAL, not for the actor but for its readers, who, if they may be taught to become natural money makers will have a greater fond- ness for that paper than to wonder why Newton discovered gravitation, not to mention why the Moon is re- maining in its place. It's an active mind that belongs to a scientist. The Journal's editorial writer has an active mind. He thinks, has trained to think, and for thinking receives a large salary. Some are not paid so much for bricking up a wall, but that is their business as well. It will do more for the bricklayer to make him think through concentration of thought how to become the foreman on the job tKn to try to think how old the Earth must be. Concentration of thought, good habits and a clean life will improve any actor in the land. One is intertwined with the other. Good habits and a clean life must lead to concentration of thought for the betterment of one's business. I: is human nature for anybody to think for themselves if they think at all. And the actor like the layman may well be- lieve no one else will think for them. The Columbia burlesque shows, which are now playing one night each in Perth Amboy and Plainfield and three nights New Brunswick, are arranging to fill in the sixth night of a full week in Bridgeport. The Shattuck opera house at Hor- nell, N. Y., will again play pop vaude- ville, three acts on a split, booked by Bill Delaney in the United Booking Offices. The house is managed by M. Reis and C. S. Smith. June and Irene Melba and Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore were in a wreck on the M. K. & T. running from Parsons, Kas., to Bartlesville, Okla., last week. All were more or less injured. The wreck was caused by spreading rails. The company settled. Mrs. Gordon Eldrid, who has been appearing in vaudeville for the past 18 years with her husband, was seized with typhoid at Lafayette, I'nd., Dec. 9, and has been in the St. Elizabeth Hos- pital in that city ever since. She is slowly recovering, but won't be able to rejoin her husband for some time yet. Wil Morrisey (Morrisey and Hack- ctt) who (when in New York; is often the impromptu and ad lib piano accom- panist at the Friars, has his own parody on "The Friars' Song," perhaps in op- position to Felix Adler's (printed last week.) Both the parodists are on the Alhambra bill this week. Mr. Morri- scy's lyrics run: Here's to the lay-offs, Here's to them all- Laid off this summer, And again this fall. Send us some contracts— Send us some wires; We'll work three days For he who pays To make good our dues to The Friars.