Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-18
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

constantly
and have never gotten sore," said
Jules Mendel, the Dutch comedian of
the Olympic theater company, the other
day while discussing his theatrical
past, present and future. In explana-
tion Mr.. Mendel added with SLY wink,
"You see I've always worn good thick
pad" Whether he meant the constant
kicking never hurt him physically or
that he never got "sore" mentally will
ever remain a mystery. Possibly he
meant both.
Though Mr.. Mendel looks like
juvenile when he removes his enlarged
frontispiece, he has been on the stage
so many years he is entitled to be
called a veteran. When David Wartield
was selling peanuts and passing pro-
grams at the old Standard theater, san
Francisco Jules Mendel was the envy
of all his associates because ne was
"doing bits" in regular productions.
AS a matter of fact it was the envy of
Jules that made Dave so anxious TO
go on the stage. Once on, David war
field struggled, and see where ne is To-
day?
Twentv-two or more years ago Jules
Mendel made his debut at the old Bella
Union music hall at Jackson and Kear-
ney streets, San Francisco working
with him on the bill were such men as
Junie McCree, one of the famous char
acter comedians of today; JeH de An
CELLS Johnnie Ray and ThonlaS
OLeary In those days the music haiis
were not as we'll organized nor OF as
high a class as the present vaudeville
theaters But it was from those music
halls, where drinks were served pc
tween acts and singers sent forth their
notes into a haze of tobacco SMOKE
that many of today's greatest variety
stars and comedians were recruited.
For four or five years Mr.. Mendel,
still a boy in years, did an Irish turn.
He was particularly adept at rolllhg
his tongue and initiating various ma
tfUnalities, so he was always sought TOT
by music hall managers. One day wnlle
he was making up" for his act at
''Bottle' Koenig's place in Montgomery
street Carl Ritter, now associated Win
the Orpheum circuit as one OF lts resi-
dent managers, sat talking with MI
Mendel.
Inquired Mr.. Ritter.
-''Do YOU think I could make IT goF
answered Mr.. Mendel. 80
"Sure thing" replied Mr.. Ritter.
''You look more German than irish,
and you could impersonate a German
better than an Irishman."
Acting on the suggestion that same
night Mr., Mendel began making hlm-
self a new stomach. He got pllloW
case. filed It with old clothes and any
thing he could find, made up his race
two or three times and ways, bought
wig, changed his dialect and got nolo
of some new stories. The next night
he appeared as German dlaiect
comedian in Koenig's place. koenls az
first refused to allow Mr.. Mendel 10 go
on the stage. After an hours pleaulIs'
Mendel stepped on tn the stage, mace
q tremendous hit and has been repeat
ing 1t in a greater or lesser degree ever
since. For years he had teamnate
who used to do the kicking. Ihe pair
went into vaudeville, played In ROAD
nroduction and always scored heavily.
Several years ago, however, they Spit
IN and Mendel has been going II aIohe
ever since However, there Is always
somebody on the stage who is reaoy 20
give him a friendly kick in the stomach
Just to keep him in trim and the auu-
ience in good humor.
Nearly a year ago Mr.. Mendel came
to Los Angeles to open with the Olyrn-
pic theater company. Louis JaCopS 10
responsible for this. When Charles Az
phin and Robert Fargo were organizing
their musicale comedy company, JACOBS
Who Is somewhat of a general Pooh
Rah of the OLYMPIC theater, was asked
az he knew where a good German come
dian could be found. AS JACOBS nao
known Mendel for many years ne men
toned MendePs name. IN a rev tyIs uays
MendeI had been engaged, and shortiy
Thereafter opened with the Olympic
comnnny From the date of his open
ing Mendel has made good Win OIyIn7
MIC patrons and has sustained MT. ia
cobs, recommendation. 1t may also pc
added that Mr.. Mendel is largely re-
sponsible for the wonderful success VI
the theater. And by this no reflection
;e cast upon other members or the
comnany nor the musical efforts OF
Charles Alphin, who writes the pur-
lettas for production at the olympic
The success of Alphin and Fargo IN
+be OLYMPIC enterprise is one OF tne
1yonders of the local theatrical world
rrha history of the Olympic before Al
nhin and Fargo got hold OF II was
series of disasters. Manager atter nlaIl-
Ger failed to make the mouse pay
IITSs'n,.,+hing was done to lift the hoo
-doo even to changing the name ire
ouentIv. Last october Charles Alphln'
who Ia more or less of q genius III
manv ways, happened to come TO Los
Angeles. He passed down Nam streel'
cow a s'For Rent" sign on the theater,
aT baoan TO think Like many geniuses
M Ainhin was not then possessed OF
honlr roll which would do serious IN
j,,rv to a cow If inserted In salu DO
yine's mouth. But Alphin, being
0aniuS. was a Dreamer Also ho "e.S =
schemer. He got into communication
WITH Robert Fargo, who was WILING
20 talxe a chance, and who happened TO
te AInhin's friend The result was tnat
Xiobin and Fargo put $1,000 in bank,
sao,,red q lease on the theater, engaged
q comnanv and opened it November To-
1oos as a musical comedy stock the
ater. ..,, T., 1ool, FOR
4ta receints of the first week shoWeo
a handsome profit. Today Charles Al
nhin and Robert Fargo ride IN auto5
rnohiles. wear diamonds when Woulu
make Tiffany gasp, apd have nank ac.
counts which insure them against
anv wolves prowling around tpe ooor
for the rest of their lives.
These two clever young men TOOK ae.
vantage of a situation and never iet
go their strangie hold on Opportunity
4hen she poked her head IN the door'
Xsa result they are rich and respected.
Which all goes to prove that an % the
GOOD fish have not been taken from the
sea.
Hamburgers Majestic theater will
be dark for two weeks, following
which Margaret Ellington who once
left the stage to darn socks, will ap-
pear for a week, beginning October 8,
in her new play adapted from the
French and entitled Until Eternity"
Miss Illingtons return to the stage
gives added support to the theory of
~. o5x a.,