The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-20
ON OTHER STAGES
What Famous Players Did
when They Were 81.


Nv 0AA6x W Q1t9Sl0o>
when they were twsnty-one, says
Robert Grau In the New York Press.
Nat 2. Goodwin. jr.. was commanding
the hishest salary paid in the vari-.
tmpereonation8.
William II. Crane was singing the
baritone roles in light opera with the
Holman Opera company. but was ex-
pected to play ''Aeavie9' In melodrama
on odd nights.
Raymond Hitchcock had just left on
work in q shoe shop in his native
town. Auburn. N. T.. to become a
chorus singer in a cheap opera COM
pany.
Adelina Patti. already queen of
song, had even given her first fare
web to America, never dreaming that
she would come hither fifty years
later for q fnai farewell AZ now pro-
posed.
F. Ray Comstock was in the box
oflce of the Casino. while his part
ner, Morris Gest. was ticket specu-
lator in front Of Hammerstein's Vic
toriA theater.
John Drew was playing at the Arch
Street theater in Philadelphia in his
tho sRfaae company was his sister. the
late Georgia Drew Barrymore. and
mother Of Ethel Jack and Lionel Bar
rymore, Of present day fame.
De Wolf Hopper was playing lead
ing Juvenile parts, such ~ Captain
Hawtree in Caste" in his own com.
pany. After sinking about 100000
Of his mothers money. Hopper dis
covered he had q resonant baritone
voice and John McCauu engaged him
for . long term.
Lee Shubert was assisting his broth
er. the late Sam S. Shubert. about
New York state, where the latter had
several playhouses.
''Who will play Shakespeare 2"
queries an editorial writer in the MIL
waukee Free Press, and chooses Wall
ker Whiteside, who did a wonderful
business in Topeka last year in the
steel-strong "Typhoon."
'Is Mr.. Whiteside." asks the writer.
making the most Of his ability and
experience in the public interest and
in his own interest?
I'm asking the question we have no
desire to minimize the value and i'm
portance of plays like The Melting
Pot and The Typhoon,' or Mr.. White
performance. We are not urging his
abandonment of the modern drama in
which he has met such deserved sue
cess.
with his reputation 50 firmly es-
tablished. with two successful modern
vehicles of considerable vitality at his
command. would not q repertory in
GLIDING several plays Of Shakespeare
and perhaps q new poetic drama be
venture not only safe but highly re-
munerative?
''Mantell is nearly so. Sothern Is
81. Forbes-Robertson Ia soon to re-
tire. Who will keep alive the Shake
spearean tradition whom they pass?
walker Whtteside has youth and
reputation and his equipment is be-
yond that Of the English actor. Does
he possess the enterprise to re-enter
the Shalkespearean lists with his chal-
lenge?"
FRITZ Scheff, who has been on tour
over the "big time vaudeville circuit,
returns to New York next week to do
her Christmas shopping. incidental
ly she will appear at Proctor's Fifth
Avenue theater and earn the where
withal to assist in the shopping.
With none Of the fanfare and pub
1icity that attended her arrival, Mile.
Polaire has silently sailed away for
that dear France. The woman who
once boosted that she was the ugliest
of her sex, as well as the poeoessor OF
the smallest waist, did not happen to
tell the newspapers OF her intended
departure. Her tour came to an end
in Toronto tour that was not alto
gether satisfactory, and she sailed last
week.
While Sir Johnston Forbes Robert
son is playing his successful farewell
| engagement in America, his sister.
Louise Professionalism. Is helping
to make history in England. On oc-
casion OF Premier Asquith's recent Wis
it in Birmingham, Miss Torbes-Rob-
ertson. who is an ardent militant suf-
smashing and sentenced to imprison-
days later she. was released after q
hunger strike.
Laurette Taylor will enter upon the
second year of her engagement at the
Cort theater next week in Oliver Mo-
roscos production of ]. Hartley Man.
| ner's comedy. Peg O. My Heart -
Friday night will complete the first
years run Of the play, which opened
| the Cort theater on Dec. 20. 1912.
Cecilia LOTUS is to be presented by
| the Famous Players Film company,
OF which Daniel Frohman Is manag-
| ing director. in a motion picture pro-
duction Of "A Lady Of Quality" by
Frances Hodsson Burnett
Cecilia LOTUS began her dramatic
III ~.. n