Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-13
HOW THORNTONGO
BOOSTED TO STAGE

|
William Elliott's kitty Mackay'
company, at the Comedy Theatre
/ New York, Monday last, says he has
resolved from Paris during the week
a silver watch which was lifetime
| companion of the late Barney Barn
alto. This timepiece is perhaps the
souvenir of an adventure as interest
| ing as any ever undertaken by a
/ theatrical man. The story is doubly
/ interes ting to Newarkers, as it deals
| with a man whose business is right
in this city.
| A few years ago the old Grand
Opera House in New York was under
the management of John II. Springer
and Thornton was in charge of the
box office Business was SO bad that
the treasurer and his manager de-
cided that their ways must part.
But said Springer, "I'll tell you
what I'll do. III give YOU a small
chance to make what will seem a lot
of money in our present circum-
stances.
Years ago." continued the man
ager, IA man named Frank L. card
rer was associated with me. Neither
)
tain fact was that Gardner lost more
than 1 made. He quit me finally,
owing me for paper, advertising and
other small accounts $500. l haven't
even an l. o. L. for that amount
Gardner disappeared. but he has since
become associated with Barney Bar
nato. and / understand he lives like
a king in Paris. Have you ever been
across the Atlantic?'
MI. a, L. s1.,t4
Asked if he had money enough to get
over, he informed Springer that his
savings would perhaps represent
third-class passage money
Good exclaimed Springer. Go to
Paris al. once. I'll give you a note of
introduction to Gardner, and you can
have one-fourth OF all that you can
collect. If you get nothing you can
swim back or stay there
Thornton had no family obligations,
SO three days later he sailed on
French liner.
- went to Paris" says Thornton,
END lived in small pension. while
[ found that Gardner was almost in
accessible. He had a rampant of the
stiffest servants ever. Finally, when
l. had dropped 10 sous instead of
francs / created a disturbance in the
Vestibule of his boulevard home which
reached the ears of the proprietor.
Being regular man instead of a
sycophant he came himself and
threatened to thrash me. I had at
tained my object. I had reached him
personally. I stated my business
Gardner laughed and summoned
me into his library. He seemed
touched by the recollection of his
oh fsat on to an old friend. but looked
specifically at me
How do l know you're not an inn
poster?' he argued. Probably Spring.
e. has told this story within your
hearing"
The cables are open today. l be-
lieve.' I replied. I still have money
enough for cable to Springer and
ali answer
Gardner verified my right thor
op2hly. and then gave me drafts for
the money. He not only paid Springer
his principal but interest in full from
the date of his first association with
Springer.
Then Gardner began to take an
interest in me. He thought that l
should act instead Of continuing my
Efforts to box office. He took me
about the various French theatres
and after | had seen the best in Paris
and had met the best people in the
salons to which he had access he
sent me to London. I met the actors
there and received a small part in
a piece which was going to open in
New York. Finally Gardner wired
ne $3.50 to London for my passage
money across the Atlantic. Not con-
tent with that he also secured a suite
fen me on a Cunard liner
81 returned Gardner his cash out
lay two years later, when ] went back
Ia Paris. but I was not able to see
him. as he had gone somewhere out
o. France. The watch. sent without
any but the briefest note, is my only
communication in years.
Springer? He's running a motion
picture agency in Newark