Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-14

an elasticity, a spontaneity which is
bound to be marred by the constant
turning of pages and reading of a score
Besides, so far as | personally am con-
cerned, / find that score Is Superduous
The complete grasp of a work, the deep
and intimate knowledge of detail neces-
sary to q real conception of its mean
ing. and an authoritative Interpretation
make the memorizing of it inevitable. II
/ know a work we'll enough to give 1t a
worthy performance / know every note
of it from memory"
SIDELIGHTS ON WILLIAM COLLIER.
A few little known biographical facts
concerning William Collier may be of In
terest He was born in New York in a
house on Varick street, his father being
Edmund Collier, a tragedian well re-
membered by old theatergoers In Wash
ington, and his mother, Jennie Engel, a
dancer who made frequent visits in
years gone to the old National Theater.
When Willie Collier was ten years old
he ran away from home to join Haver-
ly's Juvenile Pinafore Company, but the
elder Collier compelled the boy to return
home. and Willie attended school diligent-
~ for the following two years.
When he was thirteen he became call
boy at Days Theater, at the time when
John Drew was the most conspicuous
figure in Augustin Days famous organ
ization- Both MIR. Drew and Mr.. Collier
are now stars under the management of
Charles Froham.
From the position of call boy William
Collier became understudy for the jul
venile roles in the DAILY company, a post
he filled for six years. Later Mr.. Daily
gave him the role of Starveling IN "A
Midsummer Night Dream, followed by
that of Simple in The Merry Wives of
Windsor and girls part in the pro-
logue of The Tanning of the Shrew."
he went from Days to the Chicago
Opera House, where he appeared In
Bluebeard Junior, in which Eddie Foy
also appeared. He returned 10 New York
with company watch included May
Irwin, Flo Irwin, Ignacio Martinetti,
Charles Reed, Bert Haverly and Amelia
Glover. appearing in The City Direct
ory- This piece ran at the Bijou for q
whole year, remarkable record at that
time.
Next Collier took hand at playwrit-
ing, and turned out a musical farce the
We'll remembered 'Hoss and Hoss," in
which he and Charles Reed starred. Save
Tor an appearance in Edward Z. Kid
ders "A Back Number Collier was seen
in ''Hoss and Hoss' for three seasons.
He then followed the late Charles Big
Glow as o Hooligan, the detective, in
Little Christopher, Jr" Bigelow's rea-
had to wear seven DISCUSSES, declaring
that II was too much work. Willie Col
lier elaborated the role and donned four
teen DISCUSSES, his catch line after ap-
pearing in each disguise being, You
never know me now"
Then came many later successes with
which Golfers name has been connected:
The Man From Mexico, "Mr. Smooth, .
Eria Ix,I; s.fk. A.
The Diplomat then two seasons with
the Weber & Fields all-star company,
The Dictator" Caught in the RAIN
H she Patriot # NJ "a Lucky star" IN Be
Never Say DE-" who's Who" and now
A Little Water on the Side
Collier is extremely popular with his
feilow-players. and in his private life he
has shown himself devoted father to
William Collier. jr., and a loyal husband
Mrs. Collier, who is Paula Mari, is Mr.
Golfers leading woman, and the entire
family party is seen In pleasing roles in
the comedian present vehicle.
AN OUTSIDER WHO BROKE IN
When, few years ago, Winthrop Ames
a young and wealthy man, invaded the
New York theatrical world, there was
considerable surprise. Everybody knew
that Mr.. Ames had been keenly interested
In the drama from the time he was in
the university until he directed Boston
theater. And yet the fact that he in
tended to invade the New York field and
to produce plays not necessarily for the
money that was in them, stamped him as
different and caused him to be looked
upon with a certain diffidence.
Mr.. Ames soon dispelled that diffidence
He has done that usually impossible
thing-made footing in the New York
dramatic world without compromising
in the quality of plays. Indeed. quite to
the contrary, he has steadily raised the
standard. Mr.. Ames brought viewpoint
of his own to theatrical work. He de-
cided he would not put on plays which
did not interest him or which were not