Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-11
BY RAYMOND HITCHCOCK

: 80
him; that he is always merry and bright; and that
in brief his life is just about the gayes Coolest little
thing in the world. 1t isn't. Believe me- it isn't And
just to show it the other side of the pcture,the
cret, hidden side-I am going to do a small undertaking
Job of this comedian industry with myself the special
horrible example, the special victim.
THE life of professional comedian and if you think
| am exaggeratng ask anyone of my fellow tollers
in the same line of jocular activtys of the most
trying things you imagine. Not only is he expected
to convuse his audience during his working hours in
the heaer, but every single soul with whom he comes
into contact outside the theater-after his business
hours. to Speak-expects him to do likewise The
for this is simple An actor of straight dramatic
roles is advertised far and wide in this general fashion:
JOHN SMITH
THE MAN IN BLACK"
But the comedian Glance at the nearest billboard,
window placard, ashcan poster, newspaper ad
vertsement. Nine times of ten-the ratio in
which this style of billing holds true for the dramatic
actor-you will observe something like this
JACK ROBINSON
The Dr0lles1 ii q Comedians
The Thousand Laugh Show
The King of Hoboken
After long period of such promulgaton Jack Rob
nson confronted by the eternal challenge of the public
The latter goes John Smith in the play advetsed
but it goes Jack Robinson in "The King of
HObOken whatever he happens to be appearing in
that year. but in his role of "the drolest of comedians
And eventually he has to pay the penalty OF the power
OF advertising. Thus, John Smith is not Hugo" the
hero of The Man in Black in the eyes of the public
after he leaves the theater He is then just plain John
Smith, actor. But Jack Robinson To be sure neither
is he after he leaves the theater Rudolph" the hero
OF The King of HObOken"; but he is, so far the
public views him, still "the drollest of comedians"
The plain common, and garden fact that Jack
ing out of his work, that it is his work just talorS
is making clothes chefs is making eggs Meyerbeer
an automobile manufacturers is making automobiles,
all these things are forgotten.
OF course, when the tailor goes to dance of his $50
cia club the girls and boys would hardly cluster
round him and beg him to demonstrate his talent to
them by making a raglan overcoat. OF course, when
the chef goes to call on his day off, his friends would
hardly hint to him that he get busy and prove them
he is really chef by making couple of oyster paes
on the spot. And of course you could hardly imagine
the automobile manufacturer being urged when sup
ping restaurant to demonstrate for the ladies with
the aid of the table sverware just how automobile
made Each of these tOlers, like all Others
Except probably Wall Street brokers', wants to and
actually does leave his business behind him in his office
or trade headquarters when the whistle blows After
that-unti the next mOrnng-he is privileged by the
code of society to become more less
without his trademark
w regarded what he is,-as theatrical
comedian, who is paid for entertaining heaer
audiences He is held to be comedian, always humor-
always Jocose always puppy, always rcpareeish
in short merry sde-sptting soul by nature through
out his waking hours And, what is more you must be-
lieve when tell you that, if he wants to succeed
his work, he actually has to try to live up to this
public idea of him.
If he doesn't then Bill JONES' who meets him in the
street. who SAYS, Fine day. amt it, Ray? and gets the
reply splendid Bill isn't it, will tell Sam Smith, the
very next friend whom he encounters, "Say, Sam, do