The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-23
On His Way to New Mexico for
His Health.
FEW STAGE MANAGERS.
Thinks They Have Not Kept
Abreast of Times.
Result Is That the Productions
Suffer.

People interested in the stage and
actor folk are familiar with the name
at least of Mr.. Joseph Wheelock, Jr.,
of New York, for number of years a
leading man of recognized standing and
who last year starred with brilliant
success in George AIDES comedy, Just
Out of College" Some Topeka theater-
goers will recall his appearance here
a number of years ago with Mr.. Will
liam H. Crane, on the occasion of his
last appearance in Topeka However
he is known in the provinces chiefly by
reputation. as he has remained in New
York almost altogether since he came
into his own.
Mr. wheeIock has been the guest for
a few days of Mr.. and Mrs ]. D. NJ.
Hamilton, stopping in Topeka on his
way from New York to New Mexico.
He left yesterday for Deming near
where he expects to buy a ranch, build
him an adobe house and rough it for
a year or two.
Mr.. WheeIock is going to New Mex
leo for the benefit of his health.
For a number of years he has not
been well and his health broke COM
pletely last fall at the beginning of his
second season in Just Out of College,
1t had been intended to take the play
on tour of the principal cities from
New York to San Francisco but the
physical collapse of Mr.. Wheelock up
set all his plans. He was obliged to go
to the hospital, his company disbanded
and Just Out of College" was put in
cold storage to await the restoration of
his health After a number of months
in Roosevelt hospital where he sustain
ed operation after operation for tuber-
culosis. he recovered sufficiently to
take this trip to New Mexico where II
is expected an out of door life in that
climate will effect a complete cure.
The uncouth and irreverent would
probably describe this clever young
actor as Pink Tea Percy because he
has an English accent and is draw
ing room broke. 1t is true that Mr..
Wheelock is one of the few New York
actors who is persona grata in the
smart set of New York and that he has
many friends among the society head
liners of that city whose names are
known wherever the enlightening in
fluence of the Sunday supplement has
penetrated. His English accent will
perhaps tend at first to prejudice his
case with the Alkali Bills of the coun-
try where he is going, but Mr.. Vince
lock has compromising qualities which
would make graver offenseS- than these
pardonable and he is SO thoroughly
and easy in manner that he could not
fail to make good anywhere. He
talks enthusiastically of the outfit
chaps, sombrero. flannel shirt
with which he expects to make a noise
like forty bad" ranchman.
To use one of his own pet words,
Mr.. Wheelock is "corkin' good look
ing in spite of the ravages of illness.
He talks cleverly and is decidedly en-
tertaining and companionable. His
rare nobility of feature, and quiet ex-
pressiveness of gesture would make
teresting, but he INDUCES in few COM
Indeed, Gelett Burgess
would surely classify him as a mental
sulphite from whom the bromidiom
need not be especially dreaded.
Everybody who is interested in the
stage likes an actor to talk shop and
with the proper encouragement Mr..
Wheelock does this readily, frankly
and well. Unlike many people of his
profession he does not think that the
crying need of the American stage is
either plays or actors, but declares
that it is the services of competent
stage managers which the public
stands ready to repay with generous
patronage and enormous business. To
prove this he points. Of course, to the
success of David BelaSco,
whose forte is play producing. not
play writing nor even the making of
actresses. Every detail of a BelaSco
said Mr.. Wheelock, sis
perfect. He spares neither time nor
expense He presents one play at
time and he works at it necessarily |
until it is absolutely without a flaw as
far as the staging and performance
are concerned.
He has a genius for detail and no
man in the theatrical business is so
perfect a master of brilliant, unusual |
and telling effects. BY means of these
he covers up many weak places in his |
a wobbly scene in the |
Darling of the Gods, talky, impossible, !
rotten, in fact, which he saved by that |
terribly effective bit of business of |
dragging the dead body of a man all |
covered with slime and filth from a |
little lily pond into which it had been |