Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-06

house"
CHUrEs- concert. Zoo.
TT is a fact that the man who was
chiefly instrumental In giving a
start to the theatrical career Of the
Cherry sisters lives right here in Los
Angeles and Furthermore he Is still
alive Harry Bell, who gives away the
cigars to the newspaper men on behalf
of the Behymer Lyceum bureau with
a view of promoting an interest in the
big attractions which that company
has booked for Los Angeles, believes
his sin far enough in the past to enable
him to confess the details without jeo-
pardizng himself. He has had several
experiences in his varied career and
some of the conversation with which
he endeavors to amuse the dramatic
editor has so we'll served its purpose
that It Is here passed on to add its
quota to the gayety of the nations.
1T noticed you gave Claude Gilling-
water good notice when he was here
at the Orpheum a few weeks ago."
said Mr.. Bell. Hes mighty clever
actor. He's been leading roles with
Mrs. Leslie Carter for six or seven
years, but it doesn't seem more than
half that long when he was doing prin-
cipal parts with my alleged comedy
company out in the towns of Iowa and
Nebraska that the cyclones hadn't con-
sidered worth blowing away. The last
season before Gillingwater Joined the
Belasco forces was almost as thrilling
as the 'meelo' dramas with which we
were entertaining along the Mississippi.
IT was manager, press agent, ad-
vance man and sometimes actor. 1 sold
tickets at the door and made every con-
scientious effort to keep the performers
encouraged by visions of what a salary
they would get at the next stopping
place. One week we were billed for
Rock Island with Cedar Rapids to
follow. The population was subscrib-
ing beautifully and 1 was beginning to
take an interest in my meals when at
the family matinee on Saturday the
leading man and the tragedy queen
struck and refused to assist Mr.. Gill
ingwater in speciality which required
that they walk across the stage dur
ing his song.
"I tried to point out to them the
advantages they were getting in be-
longing to such an organization as
mine but they were pig headed and
dense and told me / could go to blazes
before they would ruin their artistic
careers before the elite Of Rock ISL
and. Such people never do amount to
anything anyway and they probably
see now how they blighted their future
by being obstinate.
"They left me that afternoon and
took the character man along with
them. This was naturally bit dis
couraging at first but somebody told
me that the Cherry family had three
daughters and mortgage on the farm
and that the daughters were planning
an amateur performance with view
of keeping the old homestead. Being
kind hearted and touched by the mort
gage story went to the young women
and offered them three dollars apiece
to fill the vacant spaces in my little
band.
'iThat evening the Cherry sisters
made their professional debut. I was
out in front when they went on and for
a long time couldn't make out what
the sisters were endeavoring to do.
Then I looked at the audience and for
some reason it seemed vexed and dis
contented. There was a man about six
feet tall rose up down in front and
started up the aisle. He was mutter-
ing to himself and 1t was very prob
able that he wanted to meet the man
ager Of the show and shake him by the
hand and express his gratitude. I was
sorry that couldn't stay and see him
but hadn't written to my mother that
day and had to hurry away.
1--WE apparently were very popular
in that town. Some of the leading citi-
zens. including the constable and the
hotel keeper tried to induce us to stay
stay and settle-but with the aid of
an accommodating stage hand we
sneaked our baggage out of the back
door and down to the river front where
=
transferred across to the Iowa side
where we caught a midnight train for
Cedar Rapids and opened the next
night to packed house. 1 emphasize
the opened for they did not all stay
for the finish.
Nov, to show how luck will sud-
denly change at times for the poor
theatrical manager Through some
mistake in booking, Nat. Roth, man
ager for Della Fox, was booked for
Tuesday night of our week, while. we
had contract with the local manager
for the entire week. Tuesday morning
was called into the box office. expect
ing to be Cancelled the rest of the week
for springing such an imposition on the
unsuspecting public. You can imagine
my surprise to have the local manager