Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-16
NOTES BY THE
MATINEE MAN
x YELL. it's good-by to Mary Van

|XATEhh,.,. it's good, good,by It., to Mary Mar. Van
like to have seen her here for
some weeks to come. But when an
actress wants to play one thing and
manager wants her to play something
else. and she says "she won't, so there!"
Its up to the manager. Ollie Morosco
had his own troubles in New York just
about that time with 1.-The Judge and
the Jury" and he wasn't putting up
, with any whims of even a Mary Van
Buren,, 5000 miles away. Ollie didn't
waste any words; it was "23' In short
order. And even@when the fair Mary
relented and said she would do Janice
If she must. Ollie wired back that 1t was
TOO late; the new leading lady was even
then on the way. And that's the why
and the wherefore; don't let any one
tell you otherwise. New York offers of
tempting positions, disagreeable cli-
mate here, any old thing makes a good
excuse, but-there is the fact So it's so
long, Mary; take care o. yourself
There is popular superstition that
actresses and housekeeping are utter
strangers; that they haven't even a
bowling acquaintance. I know better:
In one case, at least. Flora Dorset. I
am willing to set up, is better house
keeper than any K. M. to whom I've
paid 50 per and found in years Actual
experience prompts me to asseverate
this; sampled it last week. Don't be
shocked; there were others in the party
-George Howard, and "Fent" Hamil-
ton for chaperon don't laugh) and
julie Hamilton and the best "better
hall" that a man ever had Out on
Magnolia avenue we sat down to as
fine a dinner of fried chicken in as
immaculate home as ever hungry
but observant man tackled. And
though our time there was brief. be-
cause of night performances after day
rehearsals it was wholly delightful.
And as for the house, its keeping, the
dinner and its cooking, 1 hope they'll
ask me again, and soon at that.
By the way, Blanche Halls another
whom l know of on the housekeeping
list But she wants to rent her pretty
bungalow Miss Hall is going away
till Christmas There's a bully chance
for home loving Thespian.
Margaret Wycherly is also house
keeping. She, poor soul, lives in a
trunk, being bird of passage, but
when she and her husband landed here
for three weeks, they Immediately
rented furnished fiat and established
their lares and penates; and there they
are. firmly established. Another dinner
I'm anticipating keenly.
Wonder what "The Judge and the
Jury" people are going to do next
Friends of Desmond. CHM, ct al. are
also wondering. The crash came so
suddenly; six weeks were promised in
New York, and then a tour The latter
may be carried out yet.
Speaking of critics-I wasn't. but
might have been-the gentleman of the
caustic pen on this sheet came to me
with tears in his voice a couple of days
ago and thrust letter at me-
'Read that" he exclaimed tragically.
read, 1t was most courteous little
note from Charles Balsar, the new
Belasco player, thanking him so cor
daily for his eonsiderate notice of the
aforesaid Balsar's first appearance
here.
We'll why kick?" 1 asked
I'm not" he said; I'm only over
come by emotion. It's the first of the
sort I've seen. I've received barrels of
letters from player folk whom I've
roasted they never fail to acknowl-
edge a burning up. But none OF 'em
ever seems to fall called upon to say
thank you for a decent word Do you
wonder critics don't praise? The usual
actor thinks commendation Is only his
due; the actress thinks it's never half
what she deserves. This man Balsar is
a rara avis. I'm going to buy him a
bowl"
Did he?
Lily Sutherland. Fischers former
cutup. and later a bright ray OF sun
shine In our double-barrel burlesque
season, is back with Rice and Cady in
San Francisco. though Harry James
e-actually-that he'd never play
her again. You can never tell.