New-York tribune., 1912-03-31
IAelynn.e
Bradford st the
Colonial Theatre
LOVES TIE STAGE
Jose Collins Tells About Her
First Attempts and Her
Future Plans.

Iosh collins. the daughter of Lottie col
Vns Of "Ta- Ra- Ra- Boom -De-Ay' fame.
and one Of the leading PLAYERS at the WIN
ter Garden. says that she went on the
stage directly in opposition 10 n" WlSnes
Of her mother. Though Lotue Collins was
without doubt one Of the greatest faVor''"s
Of her day with the theatreCoing public
here and in England, it was her ambition
and desire that her daughter should shine
in private life only.
Il was bonn iu London" says Miss col
Inns. and educated i'm an English convent
! was II have finished my education in
Brussels-hut ] went on the stage instead
When came out Of the convent | was nf-
ten years Of age. and a. that time my
mother was having great success IN
sketch called The Little Dres~maker'
kept urging her TO let me play the title
role. which Wa supposed 10 he pathetic. IN
distinction to her own comedy character
But she would not hear Of my appearing
~ all Finally, however. she thought that
the best way to cure me would he 10 let
me do as / wished. | already knew the
Part, and she r,h,drscd me again al"
asain When the night came ] fooled my
mother 10y making real hlt-only IN quite
an unexpected manner Instead OF bfhS
pathetic / made tho part comical, 50 tHat
the audience laughed and my mother had
10 laugh herself. I'm fact. the role was 80
funny that the whole spirit Of the sh,''h
was changed and that character was ai-
ways played as comedy thereafter
This debut occurred IN Manchester. where
II rains all the time After a little While
my mother took me off the stage aEdlh
because she said ] was altogether 600 pre-
Cocious I did not go to school. but ! had
eovernesses to teach me. and it Was iu that
fashion ! finished ny education. But my
little experience behind the footllghts haa
made me more determined than ever q"
follow IN my mothers own footsteps ana
he an actress in spite OF all oppoIll"h'
Nv mother used ~ try discouraglhg me ny
giving me her very longest ana hdTur'I
souzs 10 learn. Sno would tell me to sl"dN
them in the drawing room and thar "h'h
J had them perfect she would come ana
hear Them. Sometimes I would work Tor
Two hours only to- discover that my mother
rsd gone 10 the theatre or somewhere else
10 have a good time. Even tins coH'un
oisbearten me. ! just stayed at homo ana
learned the SONGS.
My frst real role was that Of Mrs. Pine
annie in 4 Chinese honeymoon My next
vas that Of Ada the principal character
I'm Three Little Maids IN company PLAY
ing all the big English cities outside "i
T moon. NV London premiere was IN ! ne
Merry Widow replacing Gabrielle Ray.
who was taken suddenly III. Unfortunate
IL for me. she was sick only one week
Then had my choice Of staying in The
SrCCIt
ing really very good engagement for the
music halls, and chose the second ai'erhd-
tive
For three wears 7 played the West tnd
music halls-tuc Palace the London "a
>ilion. the TiyOli and the Oxford Ihs
orly Zines when ] went outside Of London
Ucrc Tor two Christmas bantomme pro
ductions-once as the Principal Boy ana
or.o as the Prin~ral G'l J was the
original Scotch Blue Bell with Harry
Lauder End originated the dress and the
dance Ny first big hit in the halls was
singing q Spanish song called My CUBAN
Girl aud with that one success ! became
star
Miss Collins is very frank i'm ler discus
son of conditions in England and America
Il think It is very hard to get start
here" she declares. 1T seemed TO me
that il was much simpler in London, ami
that after the one hit everything ran
smoothly. OF course, l know that my
mothers name and popularity were great
help. but still truly think that the Amer!-
can public is more difficult Ny mother
reputation helped me unquestionaDly, but
vet she would never permit me TO be billed
as the daughter Of Lottie Collins, though
the managers naturally wanted TO DO JUS,
that.
speaking about Hames-my name given
il baptism WAS Josephine and not jose.
But when my mother at last consented 20
nv going on the stage she changed IL her
slr Sh, thought That Jose, with an ac-
,.p, on the e.. would look more Spanish
srJ distinctive. People said that >was
srauisb in appearance anyhow, and as d
,.,,ter Of fact my grandfather was Il
SranIard.
MY mother said that there should be ot
l,.st one distinctive thing in our family
,,.. ,sro. And how much trouble il Sas
,...ed INC EycryWhere people have sim
I,..in,isr.d on billing me as Josie an
.uering al ms protests with the respons"
that lose is a mans name ana mat there
fr~e II cannot he my name, 40 nlsN'i
-hst J hapren 10 thIrk about y ~ ''H.
~, .be otoer hand when M name mas E'tn
C,lre,tyy spel!s4 II has been nothing un'
,-,,,,ao fer me 70 reeve letters Ike th!S
.Usar Sir: We hope that you vii! honor u"