The Washington times., 1914-01-01
Floradora's Producer
Sends New Play Here
By JULIA MURDOCH.

- EMoRIES Of old theatrical days
NH are conjured up with the an
Ill" nouncement of the coming at
traction at the Columbia The
ater, 'The Queen Of the Movies" for
| two Of the men who are most concerned
in this production, Thomas w Ryley
and Glen MacDonough, are remembered
for having given the American public
some Of the best known musical COM
edies OF the old days. Mr.. Ryley would
be remembered even II his other sue
cesses were forgotten, as being the man
who gave US 'F7oradora," which was,
without doubt, the most successful mu-
sical comedy of its day-"F1oradora," "
with its famous sextet. which was cop
led by many other producers with 50
original sextet.
And. speaking OF that same sextet-
here Is a piece OF information that 1t
might be we'll to keep for future refer
ence; Scattered over the length and
breadth OF this land, singing In more or
less well-known musical productions.
something like go young woman, each
one of whom places her hand upon her
heart, and solemnly swears that she is
one of the original six who charmed
the world with that merry little ditty,
the opening line OF which was:
Tell me. pretty maiden, are there any
more at home like your"
But here Is the list Of those who really
did make up ttsat sextet:
Marie Wilson, afterwards known as
Agnes wayburn, first wife Of Ned
Wayburn.
Marjorie Relyea.
Vaughan Texsmith, whose real name
was Smith. and who added to 1t the first
syllable Of her native State.
Daisy Green.
Margaret Walker.
Miss Texsmith stayed with the COM
pany only three weeks, and was re-
placed by Miss Susan Drake.
Ryley Was Sponsor for
The First Pony Ballet.
Mr.. Ryley also stood sponsor for the
first pony ballet Then, too, the Trail
of the Lonesome Pine IL another of
Mr.. Ryley's successes. he having made
a fortune out OF It during the time II
public. When Mr.. Ryley was abroad last
summer, he happened into a theater in
Berlin. where musical play. die Kino
kongen,"' was being played. 1t Inn
pressed him 80 favorably that he imne-
diately obtained the American rights
for the piece, and placed IL in the hands
OF Glen McDonough to be Amerfcanized.
Julian Mitchell was given carte blanche
to arrange the staging OF the play, and
Jean Gilbert was intrusted to supply the
music.
Mr.. MacDonough Is another old
timer, though this must not be taken to
mean that he is a doddering old gentle
man, by any means. On the contrary,
he Is just entering the forties, and is
as lively and as healthy as a youngster
of twenty. One of the secrets Of his
success is that he began young. and has
kept eternally at II. Now that he has
added greatly to his laurels with his
recent stage work, the searehlight has
been turned on his early achievements.
Born In Brooklyn of parents who had
long been identified with the theatrical
world, it is not surprising that he indi--.
Gated longing for such a career for
himself. His father was a prominent
theatrical manager, and his mother was
Laura Don, one OF the talented actresses
Of the early SOS. Her biggest success
was Egypt" In which she took not
only the leading part. but for which she
painted the scenery.
Mnnorourk u.6, Ur;k|.,