The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-23

when Nance O'NeilI was playing
The SOrcereSs at Ye Liberty, one OF
our extra people became very much ex-
cited about the mob. He had been re-
spectfvely a Russian pc lsant. a Ger
man student. a field hsnd-the usual
characters that are ass umed by the
mob. I was standing by the prompt
box when he rushed up with, Sayt
what are them Sor-cer~ ens-black or
whittier OF course he meant the sara
cen of old. Even George Webster was
for once in his life sturped to give an
answer. Speaking of Webster. George
denies Indignantly that he ever
suped; but anyway he vas playing at
the old Baldwin in -, doing small
parts. He and Theodore Roberts
shared the same dressing ROOM He
was one of the members OF che old
California theater stock company. They
opened In 'Coriolanus;' November IS,
1880. John Mccullough and Lawrence
Barrett were joint managers. and the
company practically an all star cast.
Tom Keene was their leading man.
Shakespearean lines predominated-
Think of the supers then-and today.
1t is safe.tO say that by far the greater
percentage OF successful artists have
served their time sUpin.
The old supers with Booth
They started TO name them will
Hubley-and Billie Crow-and-and-
Sneaks Wells-and Fatty Goldsmith
and Piker. OF course; Piker.-and-
and
where have they gomez They
deserted stage-silent. too. Vague
shapes and deep shadows were silhou-
cited against the walls.
Farjeon broke the silence. II tell
your he exclaimed: ITS in the man
that spirit of-what do you call IL?
will succeedr'
"That--and work. said Stallard
Read the press notices"
"A super does not have to remain
a super. 1 but thought aloud in
speaking.
Farjeon grinned cheerfulIy. Ger
tainly not. Any young man who is
supin' can easily rise to some fair
part It's work: OF course it's work.
but any well meaning. hard working
chump can make goodl Now. take
Brownie. for instance. See what he's
accomplished" He Indicated Stallard
affectionately.
And Farjeon.' added Stallard-
I did not enjoy playing the part OF
a super. I edged away from their I'M
mediate vicinity.
The house Waterman came elamplnS
down the iron steps from above All
OUT All out.' he called We crossed
the deserted stage. 1 turned anu
watched his figure in the doorway. At
his back faces peered out at me. some
of them were those OF unsuccessful
man. pain racked lined with sorrow
and care. disappointment and blasted
hopes And some were of a time OF
long ago, and there were those also
who stood erect. in youth. buoyancy
and hope. They. the spirits or pur-
pose work and success. are the
shadow people who have trod the
boards as supers in san Francisco.
And they of the present.? Call them
extra ladies and gentlemen" For
sooth. what's in a IA. -e2
We took the same car with a gilded
youth of is. You know him?~ I
asked.
That" said Farjeon. lis a super.
and the only part he ever knows is
the one in the center Of his head
Yes. and hem forget that before the
nights over" added Stallard.
Poor little supers. Poor manikins
OF the ferocious mob. They string EN-
on wires. make EN- march and counter
march. wear the clothes and ape tbs
manner of gentlefolk- They are peas
ants OF Brittany today, swashbuckling
buccaneers tomorrow. gentlemen and
ladies' in waiting the day after.
Gracious sirs, treat them not IN
kindly. True. the spark Of hope in
some be dead. but there are others
who have a purpose. who work and
shall reap success
And they are but children. some OF
them f6- and soma quite so.