The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21


in oT7arren street Glendin-
p; ming was saying. 4 walked
r.. lonesomely up TO the entrance
and there on the bllboards I read the
announcement Of the new play. II was
on Probation. The title of the drama
! struck me, for ]. too. was on proba-
tion- Nobody knew me here was
Just youngster in the business. and I
cont mind telling YOU that I felt very
lar away from hOme-like a baby in a
basket against a strangers door. had
an eight weeks contract with Belasco
4 Mayer in my pocket. but the man
agement didn't know it. and 1 had
drifted from the train 10 tell them that
they had a new Juvenile But coinci-
dences, II you take them seriously. are
cheering things and ] liked the play
which was on at the theater where
was due TO make good. on Probation
seemed, somehow. a very appropriate
play in the theater where was to be
placed on trial"
.Alcazar patrons know the rest Of
this. story. Ernest is still with US. and
4 the dresser beside his piano in the
apartments which lie calls home con
rained no visible letters-which I had
been given to suppose would be there
from fair admirers OF his fresh and
fne Juvenile talents. it was because
G}endinning takes these proofs Of his
Ropulsrity with much philosophy and
docs not conclude that he is a great
ss.ctor because few darlings OF the
n.Gtinee tell him so. And that is a
more unusual gift than an unthestri-
:.ca1 person would suppose. IT is. you
know, 50 easy TO accept as final the
accumulated protestatioEs of num-
her of Individual worshipers that few
p actors. in stock. subjected 10 the per-
Iumed bombardment OF many epistles
- -e-if t9e PLAYER happens to enjoy youth
~orid a fair share OF looks-escape the
:consciousness Of their own greatness
- B.ir Ernest is very earnest I found
t.ris out when ! made an appointment
TO talk to him about himself ii couldn't
= POSSIBLY be the next morning, because
Le had French lesson on, and II
couldn't be IN the afternoon because
be lad music lesson 10 prepare. When
j fTiTol0usIv inquired the name Of his
fair music teacher 7 was abashed with
rhe response that he with ? nice firm
cent on the "he") rs not fair al all"
20 we sandwiched the interview be-
tween the French lesson and the music
lesson. and 7 guess that made a busy
day for Ernest
Ny coming to san Francisco re-
sEmed Glendinning. taking the pose
thsts the artist suggested against the
piano. my coming 10 san Francisco
was Just an accident. Everything that
ever happened TO me, ii seems. has
been an accident. and that's why I'm
Ernest. I suppose. z ID. Price. then
IN NeW York. was organizing = com
-panE for Portland II was in 1905 and
7 .1nsnsged. somehow. TO persuade him
Ihat In spite Of my inexperience I was
the man he wanted FOR his Portland
juvenile roles 50 I signed a contract
With him. II was my first eastiron.
genuine contract. and / felt some pride
abo1t ii. That was on = Thursday af
ternoon when walked out Of Prices
oEice with my engagement sealed.
signed and ready 10 be delivered to the
unsuspecting public in Portland. 7 was
10 leave New York on the following
Msn5aT. J went in 10 see him again
on Saturday and got my ambitions
- do.gSed ia cold water BeIasco &
a. yer said Price. have wired me that
-lliey have filed the role OF juvenile
fdf the Portland thcater: they secured
s.:-I,1an on the coast
- ..''Thaf let me out, / could have de-
insQded p two weeks notice on pay.
= but 7 didn't know enough. so ] sadly
Il ore the contract into bits.
=: The tearing up OF the contract was
.lGfre unprofess sjOmsl. Is ] later learned.
lrgf it seemed To me the only thing to
90 You see that was another accident,
1foT when Price saw that 7 did not in
:teQd to penalize him on any OF the
terms II the agreement he felt sorry
FOR me, just as though 1 had been one
3oC- the babes of the wood. He told
! me 10 come back and see him again
--T'-dfd. lie told me TO come gain. end
l. aid. On the fourth call he said
a Tin going 10 give You a chance.
I.:lznow you've had no experience, but
j. know the stock you come from and
.iierl ought TO have the makings OF an
actor IN you I'll just change that
Contract 10 read Alcazar theater. san
Francisco. and you may 90 there in
stead OF to Portland. Now lets see
what you can do. III take a chance
and give you eight weeks there. on
stay. If Vou fail. you VIII come home
so that's how J landed in San Francisco
and went into the Aicazar cast. At
first though / have never been told so.
j was q failure. I feel that I was
Something was wrong about me or the
.Darts ] had. Either they were too big
-oi. too little. like an i'll fitting hat
,sidn't assume them easily. White Whit
.tIesev came ia The Fortunes Of the
gEinE.' and I was unhappy IN nay role.
The Heart Of the Geisha' served me no
better and ~ the end OF i've OF the
eight weeks. my probation period,
was uncomfortabiy certain chat eight
-r.eeks would finish my career in san
: Francisco. Then came oscar Wildes
.Ftlay. The Importance of Being Ernest
and I was assigned part that ! could
do. YOu bet J worked and Il saved
srv engagement. I felt ] had done
Justice to myself FOR the first time.
and that The eight weeks ia san Fran
cisco might easily run into months.
sfnich. as YOU know, they did
Then along came that fire. ! dra gged
p trunk from the foot OF O'Farrell
street 70 the Presidio. and when the
wires were working gain I used them
IL work my father for money enough
10 20 10 New York on. / left the
civ when the money came. Then
ran into another accident Z landed in