The Washington times., 1912-08-07
BILLIE BURKE IS r.
vUh HIUINu Hi 80.
, TWENTY;S|X AND
A POPULAR IDOL
Actress, Born In Washing
ton, Will Appear In Pre-
tentious Play.

Twenty-six years ago today a girl
baby was born in this city who has
since become one of the most popular
actresses on the American and English
stages. The baby was Billie Burke,
christened Ethel. but known as Billie
Burke the civilized world over The
name was taken In honor Of her father.
Miss Burke was carrot-topped. angu-
lar child OF ten years when she left
Washington to 60 to England not to
return for more than q decade. In these
first ten years part Of the time had
been spent in Washington. part on the
road with circuses. for her father was q
famous clown with a trick mule almost
as famous as himself
Goes to London.
In 1890 Mr.. Burke decided that the
music halls OF London were calling him,
and he went abroad with his daughter.
Miss Burke was sent to France for q
time, and in a convent school, in Pars,
she studied laungages and music. Then,
at sixteen years of age. she returned to
London and made her first stage essay.
Her professional debut was at the Pa
Wilton Music Hall, and for two or three
evenings Miss Burke sang a coon song
undoubtedly would have run longer, but
George Edwardes saw her and imine-
diately engaged her for a small part in
The School Girl" in which Edna May
was starring. Miss Burke was allotted
The Little Canoe" song, lifting
melody which is still remembered by
those who saw and heard The School
Girl when II came to America later.
Mtaa pt.r h.
ing night, and Immediately became the
talk Of London town, Since then her
dramatic path has been strewn with
roses. 1t 10 true that Miss George"
an offering in which she next had a
part, failed. and failed completely. but
Miss Burke was Immediately engaged
drama. where she played an adven-
turess In this Charles Frohman saw
Miss Burke and at once offered her a
contract.
Becomes Leading Woman.
Theatergoers In this country know
the rest Of Miss Burke's theatrical ca
reer quite well. She came to New
J York to be leading woman with John
Drew In the fall OF 1907. and next year
was made a star In Love Watches" "
Except for a Grabbed critic or two, Miss
Burke has met with little that was un-
pleasant since she first tripped. in from
the wings to the center OF the stage.
Critics have always been a little sus-
picious of Miss Burke. First of all, she
became a star over night, and, second.
she is young woman of such ad-
mitted beauty and charm that most
critics have suspected that her beauty
and charm, rather than her ability to
act, were what was capturing the audi
ences. No critic has ever been unkind
enough to suggest that Miss Burke is
lanything but pretty and charming, but
many have limited that as an actress
she is a hothouse product.
Burke. Il must be tdmitted, had nc
| lengthy, experience when she became
one of the leading figures in the Froh-
man forces and her technique was not
exactly ripe nor cultivated. Yet sh,
| has worked hard and steadily and witt
intelligence so that the discerning have
| witnessed a steady advance In her som.
mand of her art, and these have con,
| fidenoe that Miss Burke will be success,
! full in a big chance which Is coming Ia
her this fall.
Miss Burke is to play the title role
| in Pinero's Mind, the Paint Girl
| when II IL given for the first time II
| this country. The heroine of the drama
is an English actress and the play am
part are considerably more vital thai
the more or less insipid plays in which
| Miss Burke has been seen heretofore.