The Washington times., 1912-05-12


thing blase New York and the strangers
within her gates had ever known.
There was smoking, and a feeling of
intimacy between the players and the
audience that was indescribahle. So
ciety took if up, and where society
went every one else followed. naturally.
The best of players obtainable were
seen there season after season. 1t was
Just like one happy family. Mr.. Weber
was Joe and Mr. Fields was Lew, and
Mr.. Warfield was Dave, and Mr.. Daley
was Pete, and Miss Russell was Lillian,
and Fay Templeton was Fay, and when
Willie Collier would appear each night
1t was There's Willie" There was an
atmosphere like II nowhere else, and It
was not long before strangers in New
York would be sure to see three things
before returning home-the Brooklyn
bridge, the Zoo, and Weber and Fields.
Then, to make themselves more ma
tional In character. each spring short
tour of from six to eight weeks was
taken. only the larger cities of the
country being visited and only the
largest theaters and halls utilized.
1t was no unusual thing for Weber
and Fields to play TO from 5000 to 5000
In some of the larger houses, and their
earnings from these tours were enor-
nous
With the opening OF Mr.. New York.
ESQ.," Weber and Fields outlined a
pDllCy lne SulOanCe OIL tnelr Dusl-
ness, and they stuck to 1t. never de-
waiting an iota. They determined to
get the best possible players. no matter
what the cost: and TO spare no money
| in the cost of production. And then,
| believing that refined burlesque was the
truest. most difficult of all dramatic
art, besides being the most amusing,
they burlesqued every new success cur
| rent in the Metropolis.
Signed the Stars.
1t was really marvellous the way they
got all that wonderful galaxy OF players
that have made the name ''Weberfields''
what 1t is today. II they knew of a
player they thought would At into a
production or burlesque, they never
said, I'D like to get him." or Wouldn't
1t be nice to have her with US" Lew
would say TO Lew. Sure" and that
| was all there was to IT,
Willie Collier, who Joined the Jubilee
| company, has often said that he knew
| he was doomed the third time he sat
in the box at a Tuesday matinee. There
was no reason in the world why he
should want to join the Weber and
Fields company. He was the most sue
can stage. but he said he felt II COM
ing on when he saw poth partners look
ing 1T him al the same time. Weber
and Fields paid Mr.. Golfers managers
lot OF money-but they wanted him, and
Joe said Sure" to Lew, and 1t was
all over.
Take Lillian Russell and Fay Temple
ton right now. What in the world could
induce them to Join thiss Jubilee com
pany7 Miss RUSSELL was in vaudeville
! L; q salary of $3,5g0 a week. She had
announced her approaching marriage to
| stated she would retire from the stage
for domesticity. But just then Lew said
to Joe that they wanted her, ana Joe
made his CUSTOMARY response. and willis
! there were Il thousand and one pieces
of red tape 70 be united. shes with
| them again.
! Fay Tcmpleton. She had undertaken n
! shOlt tour rs Little Buttercuu in Tina
fore and had returned to her home
anil husband in Pittsburgh. Scores of
NO, I'm through with the stage for
ever" she said 20 every one every one
except Joe and Lew.
All Come Back.
I have often thought, in trying ia
figure out this unusual sentiment thai
| seems to attach to the Webertields
what was the cause. and think that
among the players that it is because In
the old days cveryoodv was boss and
nobody bossed.
Numerous instances of this impromptl
Wit do l recall. There was scene II
"Fiddle-de-D Dee" where Fields and War
field were coming down a mountainsidC
and were confronted by an animal &C
tor" disguised as st. Bernard dog
In simulated fright they endeavored tc
make friends with him. Warheld called
him Jack" and Tiger" and William
and Fields called him Mike" anc
lake" and 'Isidor"-all masculine
!. names, and the dog made no Response
of any kind. Just then Weber ap
peared.
perhaps he isn't that kind of dog,
said Weber, who thereupon advanced
toward the animal and whispered soft
ly in its ear:
Julia" .
The animal actor was quick of wit
too for although this situation was no
+. in the play at all Julia" wagged he
tail and from that day on the phrase
Perhaps he amt that kind of dog,
| was familiar all over the country.
} Another instance of impromptu speeci
; was when Lillian Russell appeared OF
/ the stage one evening fairly ablaze will
diamonds. She had never worn then
before, and Lew Fields, with whom he
scene was laid, stepped back In amaze
ment. =,
You don't look Ike woman" h
: managed to gasp. You look ike III
t That phrase was all over the town /
I twenty-fOuT hours: 40
: There were hundreds of instances lik
this They were constantly cropping uI
performance after performance, and tn
Weber and Fields clientele was ever o
4 the qui viVe for these unexpected moti
, Half an hour after they were delivered
they were i'm most of the clubs. and a
: of the cafes along Broadway.
There is much Of the same atmospheT
Il about the present jubilee, OF cours