The San Francisco call., 1910-11-17
FATHER CHECKS
BUDDING ACTOR
George Beban Tells How His
Parent Caused Boy to Be
"Fired" Often
By WALTER ANTHONY

George Beban's first appearance on
any stage was at Platts hall in this
city years ago He was then about s
primary school. that Mrs. Griffith used
to manage in Filbert street under Tele-
graph hill. 1t was big entertainment
at Platts, and all the school children
took part. George won the prize for
singing. His selections were: Mary
and john "A Flower From My Angel
Mothers Crave Warrior Bold" The
Picture That Is Turned Toward the
Wall and The Little Hero When the
audience gave him big applause, he tells
me that he lost his wits to the theater.
Now that he comes back to his old
home again and plays successfully at
the Orpheum in the pretty playlet he
wrote himself around a familiar poem,
"The Sign of the Rose he is entitled
to tell his story.
FATHER WAS PROUD
Tt seems that his father, Rocco Beban,
was was a pioneer, was opposed to
Georges going on the stage. He sat
out there in front at Platt's hail." sald
Beban in his dressing room yesterday,
land was a proud parent, you may be
sure but after the show was over he
wanted me to go home and forget it.
The theatric virus was in my blood,
however, and, once you're infected, you
can't be cured. I went to work at the
old Vienna gardens singing for 81 a
night and living with my elder brother,
Lewis When my father found out that
] was spending an hour night at that
old time playhouse he got me fired
The manager-I've forgotten his name
told me- mendaciously, that l was
very bad singer. Then 1 went to the
old California and got a job as juve-
nile with Mckee Rankin and George
Osbourne If couldn't sing, said TO
myself, at least could act Things
went we'll until my father found out
that l was there, and got me- fred
again. Later Osbourne opened at the
old Grand Opera house, and / went to
work in Hands Across the Sea- Father
discovered nay identity again and I
got fred once more.
.sFIREDv ONCE MORE
so then I went to Charlie Reed and
Billy Emerson at the old Standard
theater and blacked up. Nobody would
know me now | said under the cork.
1 was a madrigal boy. In an evil mo-
ment. however, L agreed to take part
in an afterpiece and sang a solo. My
voice identified me, and father got me
fired again. Then / ran away. John
Morrisey subsequently, found me in
Chicago and put me in musical COM
edy company, and after five years
landed in Broadway. That's the story
of my life, briefly" said the San Fran
cisco boy-swflo came back a great char
acter actor and who now, according to
the terms of contract which he
showed me, is engaged by Klaw & Err
LANCER to star under their manage
ment for two years, beginning next
April, at salary of-but that was con-
fidential.
The play in which Beban will ap-
pear next year is built upNfrop the
sketch he is now presenting at the Or
pheum, and Milton Royle is at work on
the piece. 1t will be called The Sici-
liam.
Barney Oldfeld, according to infor-
nation which l have received exclu-
sively, has offered to back Miss Nellie
Butler against the other wogan," who
ever she is, in an automobile race.
While the lady who plays frivolous Mrs.
Harriet Narnum in Blanche Walsh's
production of The Other Woman was
in Hot Springs, Ark, she was timed by
Barney In his machine and made mile
in 81 seconds. Barney squinted his eye
and looked at his watch. He thought
it must have stopped IF ever you
give UP the stage" Oldfield is reported
to have said. you may count on me
to back you against any woman racer
in the world"