The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-23
If The Washington Herald.

Correspondents Of The Washington Herald.
London. Dec. I5.-If Z. II. Sothern sud
denly announced his intention of going
in seriously for politics It is probable
that something like a sensation would be
created among playgoers in America
It is not surprising, therefore, that the
announced intention Of George Alexander.
who if anything, is even a greater matt
nee idol here than Sothern is at home, to
stand for election TO the London county
council has stirred up considerable ex-
element.
The county council. London's parlia-
ment has members representative Of
every profession and trade excepting the
stage. Since the death years ago. of
Sir Augustus Harris, the theatrical inter
csts, amounting to many millions of dol
lars in the great city. have been very
largely neglected. Mr.. Alexander proposes
TO remedy this by being elected to a seat
in the council.
Interviewed, Mr. Alexander said j
have no political AK to grind. Ny politics
are my own affair I go on the council
if elected, TO serve London municipality,
not politically. 1 am looking no higher.
] find I can attend 20 my thester and
engagements, and yet regularly attend
TO council meetings. I could not attend
10 my business and Parliament too. and
have no ambition 10 become a member
Of the House Of Commons. merely want
to represent the stage in the council.
II is this body which controls the theaters
of London, and il is time that the theat-
Tical interests. involving capital Of a mil
lion or so OF dollars, should be looked
after by a practical man in the council"
Mr.. Alexander's candidacy is very popu-
lar among theatrical people, and it IS ex-
pected that large numbers Of actors and
actresses viii help in the canvass, and
that he viii be triumphantly elected.
4 Successful Career.
George Alexander has had a pecu-
liarly successful career. He has seldom
made a theatrical mistake. His present
play at his theater, the St. James, His
House in Order" has been running
nearly year-the most successful run
Of Il serious play In many moons. Mr..
Alexander is perhaps the most repre-
sentative actor-manager Of England
to-day. He is one of the best dressed
men on earth, and practically sets the
London fashions. lie has discovered"
many dramatists. notably the late Mrs
Craigie and stephen Phillips. He has
produced everything from rOllicking
farces up To spectacular Shakespearean
pieces. He first produced and acted in
such plays as Lady Windermere's
Fan" THE Second Mrs TanQueray,"
The Idler' THE Prisoner Of Zenda,"
old Heidelberg and host of others.
When he was twenty-one he entered
the profession, and now he is only
forty-eight.
George Alexander was born I'm Scot
land. his fun name is George Alex
ander Glib Samson His father was a
stern Presbyterian, who thought the
theater was the central den OF iniquity
The son was educated in Scotland, but
sent to finishing school at Ealing
From there he went into business in
London as a clerk. He Joined an
amateur theatrical club and studied
hard. His family were violently op-
posed to his being an actor. so he
waited until his twenty first birthday
and then Joined the ranks. In a years
time he was with Sir Henry Irving.
with whom he remained for eight
years, Sixteen years ago he became
his own manager at the Avenue
TheateT, but the following year Sc
cured the st. James, which has been
the Alexander Theater ever since.
Done Much for the Drama.
From his first appearance at his own
theater he became the matinee idol Of
London. No man has done more for the
modern drama in England, nor for the
uplifting Of the stage. His wife, nee
Florence Theleur. is a society woman.
and not of the theater at ALL The Alex
anders live in a charming house in Pont
street next door TO exclusive and ultra
aTistocratic Belgrave square.
As "a manager Mr. Alexander has been
quite as successful as an actor. He buys
play for its merits. rather than for any
great star part FOR himself. and is per
haps the only actOr-manager who does
this. Last year he was specially en-
gagged for the lead i'm Hall Gaines THE
Prodlgal Son, and received $3.50 per
week. the record salary for an actor in
London
In the annals Of England there are few
cases Of actors taking up politics In
the present Parliament there are several
dramatists, one of whom, a. f w. Ma
son, was once an actor Sir Augustus
Harris was on the London council: Ed
ward Terry was on q village council. In
olden days. Joe Miller, the clown was a
village councillor, Richard Brinslev Sher-
idan was a member of Parliament. and
Shakespeare was an alderman of STRAIT
ford-on-Ayon.