The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30


tom.
MY dramatic training received from
David Belasco and, needless to say,
there never was greater Instructor
than he Mrs. Carter was a pupil of his
at the same time. That was some years
ago. It took me longer than it did her
to become a star. but was willing to
wait for my chance. Even then one
and all of Mr.. Belasco's pupils realized
his genius and the possibilities before
him. but it is q long road to success,
and none of US figured out just how he
would reach his goal. At the present
time he could receive any price he
would name if he would consent to give
even suggestions regarding dramatic
art. But, of course. he is too busy a
man to attend to anything but his
plays"
Miss Fischer. do tell me just how
you became star"
THAT story's nearly two seasons old
now, but 1t is always interesting to
me-" good naturally remarked the orig
inal Mrs. Jack. II will start from the
very beginning.
YOU know I was five years with
Charles Frohman, playing chiefly ad-
ventures roles. was Poppea, the
original in Quo Vadis.' and I played
the designing lady in The Sporting
Duchess Whenever a play was TO be
put on, knew without asking that the
adventures and Alice Fischer would be
one and the same. Mr.. Frohman never
dreamed that I could do ANYTHING else.
One day Rose CoghIan was leaving I'M
expectedly. and the leading role in The
White Heather had to be filled. Mr..
Frohman asked me to try 1t for one
week. I did so and was successful.
who was then manager for Mr.. Froh-
man, said, after seeing me play: ~ by,
Miss Fischer. YOU are more of a come
d1enne than an adventures. Then he
secured the right from Mr.. Frohman
to take The White Heather and my
self out on the road for a season OF
twelve weeks. One day he said to me-
| If ever I get rich shall put you out
! in play myself
Do hurry and get rich. Mr.. Harris.
1 answered. little dreaming that things
would ever happen as they have
| one day while chatting with my
| friend. Grace Furniss, the we'll known
writer I CHANGED to tell her a funny
story. She laughed until the tears ran
! down her cheeks. When she stopped
she said, Don't tell anybody that story,
Alice, and I will write you a play from
/ it kept my word and SO did she, and
not long after she handed me the play,
which took at once to Mr.. Harris.
After reading it. Mr.. Harris told me
| that If Robert Edeson, who was to ap-
pear in Soldiers of Fortune under Mr.
Harris management. was a success. he
would take me out next.
Needless to say, I was present on
Mr.. Edeson's opening night, and I was
Reinforced by large number of
friends. all determined to see that Mr.
Edeson got a good send-off. Well, you
know what a hit Soldiers OF Fortune
made.
'Mr. Harris kept his word He asked
me how I would like to become a star.
told him that preferred to wait and
see first whether the public would like
to have me as a star. I had visions of
my name being stuck around on ash
barrels and back fences when no one
wanted to read it.
After my successful opening NE.
Harris telephoned to me, 1T looks as If
the public intends to make a star of
you without my assistance On Thurs
day evening. when I got off the car, a
| block from the theater, I was dazzled
/ by my name in electric lights, Alice
Fischer in Mrs. Jack Then I knew I
had reached the position all actresses
strive for. But I was ashamed to go
by my own name. 1t was so glaring."
What is that green ornament on the
chain around your neck Miss Fischer?''
"Oh, pickles! You ought to know that
It is the badge Of the Twelfth Night
club, in New York, of which I am the
founder and the president. This club
had it's origin in funny way. I was
chatting with my husband civilian
Harcourt) about the Lambs club,
which is exclusively a mans club. !
mans club which would be equally
popular and have as firm a foundation
as the Lambs.
Mr.. Harcourt bet I could not. Well
did, and the Twelfth Night club is
still in existence. On the 9Th of Janu-
airy, twelve days after Christmas, we
hold our revel, to which men are ad-
mitted. They are never permitted to
enter on other occasions. with the ex-
ception of once a month, when we en-
tertain one man, generally some dis
ItinguiShed person. The club always at
tends the first night of any play in
which I appear, and on the opening
evening of Mrs. Jack was presented
with this beautiful green enameled ivy
leaf which I always wear, especially on
= first nights.
Although I can talk necessarily, and
my friends say I am very much of
the stage as I am on, isn't 1t an ode
thing that when I write 1 can't put
down a single funny or lively sentencei
Our press agent recently requested q
short article. Write just as you talk,
! he advised me.
II did the best I could, but when
handed It to him, he said. Heavens
: Miss Fischer; I asked you for some
thing chatty and interesting. This IL
an essay.
Perhaps it's because when I write
I invariably essay I answered.
He declared that no one would evel
believe I had written it. am so sorry
but when I put my thoughts on papel
they are very serious. This same pres
agent assured me that the next time
he wanted something from my pen, HI
would send a stenographer to taxi
down what I said.
II am ambitious" said Miss Fischer
ST am a star, but am not content
want to do better things. Farce com
edy is all right. but want to appear il
something of a higher order, say, 70
instance. roles such as Fanny Daven
port used to present"