Evening journal., 1914-04-09
JoE WEBER'

This is the story Of the genesis OF the
idea OF burlesque with which the names
of Weber and Fields are always asso-
ciated in the public mind, the story OF
how that little old music hall of de-
lectable memory came into being.
1T happened just eighteen years
ago" said Mr. Fields in telling the
story. I'VE had arrived IN vaudeville
and we were receiving what was then
considered a staggering salaIy-s5OO a
week. a figure which would now be con-
sidered ridlculously small. We were
booked by Oscar Hammerstein to dp-
pear at the playhouse now known as the
New York Theatre It was then a part
Of the great institution which he called
the Olympiad, which embraced not only
the present New York Theatre, but the
Vitagraph, the roof garden covering both
auditoriums and a small concert hall as
we'll
at that time the foreign impersona
tor, Fregoli, was appearing ON the bill
: at the New York and had created
great sensation with his lightning
changes of costume and character. He
would walk off the stage in one costume
and bob in through another door almost
instantly in another disguise. In one
of his plays be essayed more than a
dozen roles. We were little bit dub
ious about appearing on the same bill
with him, but Hammerstein said we
would be able to take care of our own
regulations and that put us on our met
ltle.n
''You bet it did" broke in Mr.. Weber.
"We walked down Broadway together
latter our interview, determined to show
Hammerstein and the public that we
could be as big hit as Fregoli or any
other foreigner who might happen
along"
Il don't remember which one Of us hit
ON the idea OF burlesquing Fregoli's act,
resumed Mr.. Fields. "but it came to us
that night at dinner and we worked out
our plans Immediately. My brother
Nat, who is now very large party
was at that time as slender as ! was
and my wife's brother. Bobby Harris
was exactly Weber's size. We picked
them for our supporting company and
we began rehearsals the next morning
after we bad been assured by Hammer
stein that we could follow Fregoli on the
bill
AT the opening matinee We stationed
Nat in the wings at the right side OF the
stage and Harris in the wings on the
left. Both were made up in exact imi.
tation of myself and Weber, so far az
their faces were concerned. Nat, how
! ever, was dressed like woman and wore
beautiful blonde wig. The imitation
Weber wore a policeman's uniform.
ave opened our act with the poo
table scene which we are reviving this
season and at the conclusion of this
J walked down to the footlights and made
an announcement something in thi'
: manner;
. Ladies and gentlemen. we wish t.
close our performance with little ex
4 hibition Of lightning change work which
F we hope will demonstrate TO you that
4 there are Americans who are just al
rapid and Just as facile in this line ol
! endeavor as foreigners such as the ont
t who has preceded us on the bill. W.
4 don't like to hurl bouquets at our selves
& but we think that we can make him looi
4 sick
"I then walked off the stage and las
4 no sooner disappeared than Nat can't
4 ON. II would have been physically i'm
4 possible for any human being TO have
\ made q change so quickly, but the audi
3 enee didn't realize that and applaude'
4 wildly. Then Weber walked of am
4 Harris came on. We kept it up for sev
eral minutes. The two limitations woul'
walk Of and Weber and ] would COM
h on in our regular make-ups nom tn
lopnosite side Of the stage We absolute
" fooled that Monday afternoon audi
,nce until all four of us came on at tn
s. end. Then the house went wild.
"'rhat week our future was Heaiee
= We decided that burlesque offered
q splendid field for amusement and W
n worked out our plans for stock com
3 panv. even going so far before the mid
Fl ale Of the week as to get in touch wit
Sam Bernard and Peter Daily, who wer
n members of our first company. We Wen
"a to Hammerstcin and offered TO lease th
q Criterion. now the Vitagreph Theatr'
q from him, but he laughed at us. Il
= engage you for the roof garden LOT IN