Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10

i,g+on the coming week. The
,onnlar Columbia Players pass
from the stasas where they have
held the admiration or capacils auui
ences throughout even the warnesu uf,y
Of summer to conquer new anniH@is :"
baltimore So great 5s the eSlesii ~
which they are held by theatergoers mere
that the special car which -Msaisefs
Netzerott and Berger provided TO take
tho most enthusiastic OF their aomlrers
10 the first performance at Aioaush :
Theater in baltimore tomorrow evening
has simply had 10 be stretched INTO Two
cars. and A correspondence large NUMBER
of Neutrality-suspicious. Will 80 TO give the
co,unary n good send-off. 1t Is tribute
alike 70 the management and to the play
ers and well deserved at that.
The demonstration at the farewell per-
formance at the Columbia last evening
was simply Immense and showed In what
regard the company is held here. Hun
dreds had TO be turned away because the
theater's capacity was taxed to its utter
most limit The enthusiasm even ex-
ceeded the crowd.
Next week the always-open Columbia
Theater will he dark that needed repairs
and improvements may be made Tor the
opening OF the regular season week
hence Glen Echo Park and Chevy chase
lake announce the coming week as the
final one of their successful season. The
Eeiasco will open its regular season to-
morrow evening with Al Fl. Wilson In
IA German Prince The announce
nlent is sufficient to tax the house. for
Mr. Wilson is one of theswarm fayorites
bf Washington.
week hence the New National. after
long rest. will begin its: regular season
with Valeska Surratt in 'sThe Red Rose. .
production that is said to be Respondent
with costumes and settings riotous IN
their color scheme. 1t comes with a
strong Endorsement in every other re-
spect also from critics who have come
TO admire IT, At the same time the Co
lumbia will reopen its doors with THE
fop o tn World a musical comedy
That comes with good send-on from
those who have seen and heard Ii. This
will about complete the list Of the Wash
ington theaters entering upon their new
season. A little later, however. new
conner. in the Imperial, is promised.
: msanthrope. upon being chided for
.'haunting the theaters and moving pic
ture houses" retorted: why shouldn' {
!. They make me forget my own trou-
bles for the time being: they dispel de-
preston with laughter, indifference with
interest. gloom with merriment, stale
saws and worn-out sermons with sweet
philosophy, and If ones heart be dead
10 the finer emotions they help TO re-
kindle in it the fire of sentiment, without
which life is a waste and love an ignis
fatuus. Me for the theater all the time
And many who heard agreed wi. him.
MADE THEM HEAR HIM.-Al II,
Wilson. the German dialect comedian.
was born at Buffalo. n. Y. As a boy
he never wearied of singing. and from
time 10 time his voice enabled him to
ill many amateur engagements. Being
ambitious. he looked about for pro-
fessional engagement. and at the age of
fourteen Joined male quartet. In time
the quartet was engaged by a travelling
company, and each member was required
to play small part. In Chicago the
leading comedian fell i'll and Wilson was
assigned TO take his place. This he did.
and made a hit. He was later engaged
by vaudeville manager, and when he
made his New York debut he hit on a
plan of holding audience that was
little short OF an inspiration.
A comparatively little known perform
er, who went on after the big acts were
over, he made up his mind he would
change his status and play TO a full
house instead Of TO empty seats. As a
majority of the audience was rising one
evening Just as il was time for his act
Mr.. Wilson rushed on the stage. shout
ing: Wait, Is there man in the house
by the name of Baker? IL Mr.. Baker is
here he viii kindly step around TO the
stage door whore his starving wife and
child are waiting for him. If Mr.. Baker
is here let him go out. III your name
isn't Baker. then sit down.
BY the time this announcement had
been made the crowd began TO see the
joke, but. not wishing to risk the Josh
ing that marked the departure of ind-
viduals who tried TO beat a retreat, sat
down. And then Mr.. Wilson did his turn,
and they forgave him for the Baker in
cident.
Ii was this trick that brought him to
the attention of his present manager. Sid
ney r. Ellis. who was one Of the persons
who sat down" at his command to avoid
being mistaken for the erring Baker.
There's clever performer" said Mr..
Ellis. a man who can hold a crowd al
10 O'Clock has ability and when little
later comedian was wanted for one OF
Mr.. Ellis companies Mr.. Wilson was the
man selected.
BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
James Mcintyre of Mcintyre and Heath
loves 10 talk of the good old days" wher
minstrel 'troupes" were paramount and
the biaclface "afterpiece" brought tn,
curtain down amid roars OF laughter
II wish I could recall and put togethe
again some OF those farces." he saiG
yesterday There is nothing on tn,
stage today funny as many in which
played years ago. They were not thu
work OF any one author. Generally tn,
whole company collaborated them
Funny business and new lines wer
continually added 70 them. Many wer'
bur1esques on current topics ad events
Others were purely imaginative works
These were the funniest. 1t was seldom
that one was put into writing. General,
not even the parts were written out. /
IL became necessary To replace a membe
of the company there was always som,
one who would teach the new membe
he dialogue and stage business
Often on trains some comedian would
announce he had bright idea for a plot
After he stated II another would sugges
changes. Then they'd talk over the part
and before long the 'afterpiece' woult
assume definite form and eventual,
would be put into rehearsal and played il
the 'one-night stands The patching up
filling in and cutting out work was neve
ended BY the time We got into the bi:
cities we'd Lave laugh winner tina
would leave an audience GREATNESS.
" Guying was very prevalent then. ans
a comedian had 10 keep his wits abou
MIN II he did not wish to be broken up
in his lines. Some of the clevereSt jest
ously uttered while 'guying
he fytnn