The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-07

years and SucceESful endeaVor and le1t a memory that will be a monument to the theater as long as the world shall last. America cherishes with infinite love the remembrance of Joseph Jeffer- son, Sol Smith Russell, Edwin Booth, Lawrence Barrett, Tom Keene. Louis James, Roland Reed and John T. Ray tmond. The memory of their achieve ments in the mimic world will ever live as sweet and wholesome lesson to the profession for all time.
 Denman Thompson has just gone ahead of us Will he be forgotten? Not while the recollection of the beau tiful story of "The Old Homestead" can be recalled, a story that will be related to your children and their children's children, and the play will live and its sunshine and pathos will gladden. the hearts of many generations to come, proving to the future amusement seek ing multitude that our day was not given over entirely to indecency In stage portraiture, and that fair per- centage of us did not debase our call ing by descending to the debauchery of the drama in an eagerness to delude the dollars from debilitant public. Several managers who had planned to send out companies for short tours to end about June have changed their minds and disbanded the companies They say business conditions do not justify the risk.
 Tim McMahon, of McMahon & Chap belle, the vaudeville team, was telling of an experience he and his wife had in a small Pennsylvania town a few weeks ago. Their act is called Why They Missed the Train.'
 Miss Chappelle thought 1t would be a good time to try new opening for the d IT. L. on the stage at the opening, she sug- gested that he come through the audi ence after she had announced that she was sorry, but her partner had missed the train and could not appear that afternoon. At that point Tim came down the aisle, grip in hand, all out of breath. As he climbed up on the stage the curtain was rung down. They went to the manager to find out why.
 Wal" said the manager, q don't want no actors playin here who can't git her on time. That's all."
 They had to give him an argument to explain things. McMahon told the mal- ager that he ought to give up the show business.
 You are too serious for this busi- ness" said Tim; "a first class under taker was spoiled when you became a theatrical man."
 Because of the strain of overwork Blanche Walsh has been forced to put her tour in ''The Other Woman" to an abrupt termination.
 Miss Walsh's condition Is not serious but 1t is serious enough to justify her determina ton to take long rest Her physician advised her that continual tion of tour might result in prolonged illness.
 Miss Walsh succumbed in Fort Scott. Kan. Telegrams to her manager stated that her condition had not improved, and that she felt unable to continue. It was agreed, therefore, that the re- mainder of the route be cancelled. well known theatrical manager says the public who patronize theaters have no idea of what managers have to stand from some actors and employees holding responsible positions here or out on the road. Continuing, he said: Actors nowadays may work hard enough up to the first performance for the purpose of making individual hits. After that they begin to soldier Tn ere is the case of high-salaried comedian in a big musical production running here. Ie seems to be the fashion at pres ent for people to take their theaters in the last half of, the week In most cases Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are comparatively light This performer comes on, looks over tn 0 house, and if 1t isn't full he Kids the audience, jokes with the orchestra and gags his part without limit. As he has about as much intelligence as brindle bull, the effect of his independent opera tions is enough to make the manage ment sick. On Saturday nights when the theater is packed he gives good performance, the sort he is paid for but cheats his employers out of 1t other times"