W. C. Fields : his follies and fortunes (1949)

W. C. Fields In and out of the stage doors of these glittering palaces passed a continuous parade of gigantic trunks, boxes, crates and other luggage, plastered all around with names and labels that seemed to the crowd of ever-present stage struck in the street to be the very epitome of glamour. Fields' enthusiasm over the prospect of changing his employment was dampened only slightly by the knowledge that quite a few others bearing his last name were seen regularly on the bills, threatening possible confusions and detractions. Besides the famous Lew Fields, of "Weber and Fields," there were Ben Fields, a former newsboy from Pennsylvania, like himself; Harry Fields, a comedian dealing in Hebrew dialects; Mrs. Nat Fields, a singer and dancer; Joe Fields, a comedian and impersonator; and perhaps most popular, as her name suggests, "Happy Fanny" Fields, a well-molded dramatic star. It was a spangled company and a competitive world, but after thinking it all over, Fields stepped onto the colorful scene with optimism and nonchalance. He had been through too much to be fretful over failure. By now he knew he was good, and he protected his gift with hard layers of self-confidence. His first vaudeville booking came from Keith's, which operated the most successful existing circuit. A talent scout had seen Fields in the Irwin show on a night in Chicago when the audience had been especially stimulating. By a happy chance Irwin's tour was scheduled to end there several days later. The scout, who was also one of the owners of the circuit, called at Fields' dressing room. The boy juggler was removing his make-up, and the man was aghast at his youthful appearance. "Why, you're only a kid!" he said. "State your business, my friend," said Fields, carefully folding a putty nose into a handkerchief and placing it in a drawer. The Keith's man replied that he had watched Fields' turn and had found it (as Fields later reported) "a fair attraction." Gaining 68