The Washington times., 1912-05-12
SPOTLIGHT WILL
HAVE DIZZY TINE
FINDING THE STAR
Every One in Cast for Weber
and Fields Jubilee a
Headliner.
By WILLIAM RAYMOND SILL.

To begin with the stage career Of
Joseph M. Weber and Lew NJ. Fields,
who are to appear at the Belasco
Theater on the afternoon of May 90,
after a separation of nearly eight years,
would go back far beyond the memory
of the average playgoer of this genera
ton. II ts over a third of a century-to
be exact, thirty-five ycars--since they
made their first public appearance, when
Weber was nine years old and Fields
eight. Since that time they have gained
fame as low comedians probably
never before equaled by any American
players. Indeed. II may not be too
much to say that never in the history
Of any stage have two young men at
tained such a world wide reputation.
Weber and Fields have not always
been German comedians" They were
first Irish comedians, and, unknown to
their parents, were playing thirty-three
turns day for 50 week each at a
concert hall on New York's Bowery
At the time when they made their
first stage appearance, the United
states was the haven of refuge for
many foreigners, and Castle Garden,
Now York, the most conspicuous port
OF entry.> The lani league troubles
were rife in Ireland then, and a very
large percentage of the immigrants
were Irish. In fact they oGtnumhcrcd
all others by about three to one. There
fore 1t was not surprising that the two
boys, determined on a stage career of
comedy. should hit upon the Irish as
the proper race to portray, and so IL
was that Weber and Fields made their
stage debut IN green coat. green knick-
rIn .at,, NJ i,1are 4,
pipe and shillaldh.
Pair "Made Good"
Weber and Fields made good" It
wasn't necessary for them to make so
very good at 81 week apiece. but
| thev won enough commentator TO en-
able Thorn % plaY from one house to
| another on the lower East Side, and
| finally have their salary doubled But
just about this time the influx of Irish
| Immigration began TO cbb and the Ger
mans cana over IN drovcs. Quick TO
| take advantage OF this fact the two
boys changed their green raiment for
something more susgestive OF the Teu-
ore night and sang:
eve are two Jolly German lads,
As YOU can plainly Gee,
And if we're not mistaken
We think you will agree,
| That We ATE Jolly German lads,
And happy rs can be-"
| From then, thirty-three years ago,
| Weber and Fields have been known as
German comedians, and never once have
they deviated from that type of enter
tainment. AS sole stars each has clung
to the dialect, twisted and distorted
that won them fame and fortune
Weber and Fields had no easy row tc
hoe. Many was the night when they
were hungry, and they knew what II
was to make the next town as best
they could. But they were inventive
they were always up-to-date in every.
thing they did. Out of some popular
fad of the moment they saw opportuni,
ties for burlesque. and they never le,
the opportunity go by. Pool became q
wildfre fad-they gave their pool table
scene; roller skating became a craze
they rolier-skated: bowling was the
pet sport of the hour-they set up theiI
own bowling alley on the stage: marks
manShip was In the public eye-they or
ganiZed a schuetzenfest of their own
and so they kept on. never stopping a
one success, but always changing theil
act" as 1t is known in stage parlance
For a dozen years they plugged away
playing at music hall and variety
} houses. Their salary was increasing un
til they were receiving 500 a weei
for the pair-a very good remuneration
IN those DAYS. Then, season after sea
son, this wage was advanced until un
der the management of the late Johr
Is ernell, they were receiving" $50 a
, week. At the end of one season .theS
plucked up courage. and tossed coin!
to determine who should approach tho
doughty Kernel. famed in his day as
handy with his fists. for a larger salary
and Weber lost the toss. II was ur
to the little fellow to do the deed, He
did, and when he picked himself W
at the bottom of the long flight OF
stairs that led from .kernelrs dressins
room to the stage alley, Lew took hin
into a drug store. and said
Well. Joe. you see how 1t is. We've
got to start out on our own hook
And they did.
Out for Themselves.
With less than 800 between then
they organized Weber & Fields owr
company and engaged such players a.
Sam Bernard. Lottie ellison, James arC
Bonnie Thorning, and other entertain
ers, then very popular in the ''variet!
halls" To keep the organization goinl
Weber and Fields went to work IL
white-face at the old Corncross Min
;, strels in PhiladelphIa-the first team o
white-face men ever to appear at tina
famous house. For the first few week.
their entire salary was expended t
keen the own Company going. bu
fortune turned, and by the end OF th'
season they were several thousand dol
lars ahead of the game and they sen
out other companies. 1t was seventeen
years ago that their metropolitan op
portunity came to them. A small play
house at the corner of Broadway ant
Twenty-ninth street, New York, hat
: been established by George ]. Krau
: and had met with some little measur
Of success as the Imperial Music Hall
At the end of a season or so Mr.. Krau
E was willing to sell and Weber
I Fields were willing to buy. 1t was re
christened Weber & Fields Broadwa,
Music Hall, and 1t was opened with
r musical entertainment called The Ar
e OF MARYLAND" in a burlesque of 9TH
: Heart of Maryland in which Mrs
j Leslie Carter was then theatrical sen
n sation. Weber & Fields themselves wer
i not in this company. although many I
= this day will insist that they were. Sar
3ernard was in the cast, as was ais
John T. Kelly (who is with the Jublle
Company TO be seen here shortly, bu
Weber and Fields did not appear o
broadway until later. Following 9TH
| Art of Maryland" was THE GeeZer,
and then came Mr.. New York, ESQ,
with Weber and Fields as the principa
? comedians. Just what their specialt
! was on the opening night few remen
= her. but they made a hit, and the mex
..o,,tn- faShionable New York " hiC