The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-02

| This is a State Journal reporter.
I would like to talk with you.''
where are you, at the hotel? If
you are, just wait in the ladies' par
| lor and I'll be down in a moment. You
see I am resting. Didn't get much
sleep last night, but I'll be dressed
and be down soon"
The above are typical descriptions of
how arrangements are made for in
terviews with stars and near-stars
who pass through Topeka If a vaude-
Vile artist in her act at the Novelty
Monday afternoon seems to give out
the impression that she has an inter
eSting story in her mind, the first in
formal method is used. The reporter
knocks on the dressing room door Cor
maybe Dale Jones, stage manager at
the Novelty, knocks for him), and the
question, Are you decent?" has no
reference to morals, only to whether
the actor or actress is presentable. And
theatrical people are more particular
about these little nieetieS than many
imagine. Generally for the benefit of
the reporter the interviewer summons
up the most gracious of manners.
stars and Near-Stars Much Alike.
This is true both of the compare
lively obscure vaudeville people or of
the well known stars With the lat
ter an interview is expected by the
city editor as a matter of course. And
usually the interviewing is done at
the hotel, although a hard train ride
has worn out the star until on account
of need of sleep the interviewer is
sometimes asked, ITO please come to
the dressing room before the show"
Interviews with several of the prin-
cipals in the "Girl of the Golden West
opera company here recently were OBJ
tanned between the acts, rapid fire in
tervieWs.
However, time, place, and person
even, Notwithstanding, it is much the
same. With rare exceptions, from
least to greatest, the people behind of
the footlights want publicity and the
public wants to read the interviews
And there you are. Or rather there
the reporter ia go-between.
Foreigners, Especially, Platter.
1t is graciousness for publicity. With
foreigners, the graciousness is often
ELUSIVE and develops into the most ap-
parent fiattery. If not too much it
amuses you, even if it does not wholly
please you. You almost believe that
newspaper people in general and your
self in particular possess more than
ordinary good looks and cleverness, by
the time some Siren-voiced French or
Hungarian singer has told you between
answers to your questions how smart
she Cor he) thinks 'reportaiers'' are
she Cor he) thinks reporters are and
One P. d. with the ''Girl of the Golden
West" company offered a reporter Il
fabulous sum to be her press agent
and private "sacretairy'' when she
should form her own "companee,'
which should be small but all ARRESTS,
yes Perhaps, she thought he was
green enough to believe her. but as
she also told him how well she could
cook the Hungarian goulash, which
made q good story he gave her
considerable s2aee.
Often it is most interesting and in
structive to talk to theater folk Henry
Woodruff, here last August in 1.-The
Prince of Tonight" talked like an old
friend. You forgot you were meeting
purely on business. Thomas Jefferson,
here in Rip Van Wrinkle last Deem
Der, gave more interesting press dope"
in the shortest time than the majority
of stars, but then he is so used to be-
ing interviewed that his information
was at his tongues end. Likewise
Frank Mcintyre, here recently In
'Snobs." But he was formerly a news
paper man. He was as genial as fat
man at German picnic. He apologized
for keeping the interviewer waiting
and also like many others, for the ap
pearance of the dressing room.
Like all the other truly great near
ly all of the truly great in the theat-
rical world are comparatively modest,
and appear to give out information
about themselves because it is your re-
quest and that they really do not care
about it. Butt all helps
It is the small time vaudeville art
ist'' who gets the smallest salary who
brags about how many European en-
gagements he or she turns down, and