The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-11-06
p4uL ellMoaE ro.NIeHT.

att he Grand to,nlght rs lutte as en-
pertaining on the stage as on. In a
chat with him today he spoke most
thuaastlcally Of his new college
play and the way It has been received
BY the critics and the public. Mr..
Gilmore said:
II think I've been happiest in play.
ing AT Yale to the college boys and
girls in college towns. They have
treated me royalty and took the play
splendidly 1t is very thrilling to hear
them. out in,the auditorium, give their
yells with my name for the last cheer;
it quite overwhelms me sometimes,r
But" continued Mr.. Gilmore, "a
college play really appeals to every.
one. The young people love it, be-
cause it is Of and about them, and
the older people are given a temper
airy renewal Of spirit. and 1t takes
them back, for few moments. to the
time when they, too, were boys and
girls. Everyone is glad to find lost
illusion; the one who can retain illu-
sions never grows old.
college plays have been criticized
by some as being only representations
Of the frolicsome side of youth. This
is not altogether true, however. l be-
neye the American people go to the
theater to be amused and not to be
taught lessons and given serious
thoughts to reflect upon. Then, too,
If college plays were not approved Of
| by the public, they would not go
through so successfully as they have
for the past two seasons. Experience
has shown that nothing can puff into
success play or an actor unaccept'
able to the general public.
"Among the best reasons the col
lege play is SO popular is the fact
that 1t is so clean. 1t, therefore, at.
tracts the hest, that is to say, the larg-
est element in every community.
cat Yale besides being a clean,
sparkling comedy, is quite thrilling in
several of its situations. It is not
unusual for the ladies' in the audience
TO grow as enthusiastic as the boys
during our great racing scene, and
stand and cry out, Come on, Yale
and Good! Good' just as though it
were a real race"
When asked of Mr.. Gilmore what
part he enjoyed playing most, he
very quickly said, "Dlcls seeley in al
Yale, and 1t makes me happy at every
performance to be one of the boys.
By the way, I'm very proud of my
boys in this play. Most OF them are
college graduates and hence have all
the culture necessary, and besides,
they are good looking lot OF chaps
Most of them sing very well and I've
had many college men tell me that
10 hear our boys sing the old college
airs on the stage, has made the tears
come to their eyes, through the re-
membrance of the good old days My
part this year is the youngest I've ev
er played. began by playing old mel
character parts. My beginning was
rather amusing. was always inter
ested in this profession, ever since
can remember, but my people were
Straight laced old Scotch people al.
they of course opposed me at every
turn They were trying to make
LAWYER out Of me. When the day
came that saw my opportunity raj
of to Chicago and there | secured
rIace in the famous Jacob Lit Stool
Co., playing that summer in Minneap
oils Lolis James was the leadinf
man and Miss Julia Arthur the lead
ing woman. There were many othe
we'll known people in the company
ttIt was excellent training to b.
With those fine old actors The!
we're all so good to me and gave mt
4 store OF valuable information AM
In aiming. After that summer Of stool
plaged two seasons with Chaunc!
Olcott Then | was made leadinI
man in Charles Frohman's company
NAV The Wife Americans Abroad
and Charity Ball vas heralde'
the Youngest leading man in Amerl
ca I was but nineteen then. From
that became leading man for II
Old Kentucky and then for 'Henriel
IA Crosman. Just about this time tn
starring bee came TO me and sine
then without boasting, have starre'
most successfully in The Three Mus
coteers, Under the Red Robe, 'Th
Tyranny Of Tears The Mummy an
the Hummiug Bird Captain Debor
aire and last and best, at Yale i
which my part of poor, proud yoan
southerner pleases me better tina
any of my previous parts,