Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-21

on the stage at the Forsyth theater,
all in the person of Mr.. owen Nc
Giveney.
Huh" scoffed the sweet young
thing, when the actor had completed
his marvellous feat of quick changes,
sit can't be did"
Being person much given to the
vaudeville habit, she was as sophisti-
Gated as YOU please. Thus all the
regulars are affected. But never
mind; she was wrong this time. be-
cause it could be did and is. And
even when you watch Mr.. McGiveney
back of the scene, making his
changes, you are not disillusioned.
Rather your admiration is heightened.
Hence this explanation.
Changes in Three Seconds.
1t requires him no longer than three
seconds to make any change of cos
tune. And depend on it, there is
complete change-wigs, shirts, jack
cts. coats and everything.
This is made possible as much by
the dextefity of his two assistants
back of the stage as by his own art.
Bill Skies, for instance, is on the
stage. growing at the world. In the
wings the two assistants have Fagin's
makeup ready-the wig, beard, long
coat and hooked nose. Bill Skies
strolls out of sight of the audience.
Immediately his studied stroll be-
comes a frantic dash. He plunges to-
ward Fagins wig. held out toward
him by one of his assistants.
AS he plunges, he filings out his
arms, and the other assistant with
one hand whips off hte Bill Skies wig
and with the other snatches the Bill
Skies coat.
Assistants Kept Busy.
The actors head shoots into FaSin
wig. to which the whiskerS are at
tached. Assistant Number One has
Fagin's coat ready. and Nh Nc
Giveneys arms are in the sleeves
quicker than thought Fagin, com
pletely arrayed, totters out onto the
stage.
Then the two helpers snatch the
next change, the costume OF Nancy,
and hold it ready for the actor. Fa-
gin backs off the stage, and is grab
bed by the watchful pair in the wings.
one hand whips off the Bill Skies Wig
other slaps Nancy's hairdress on ms
head and whips a skirt tight around
his waist. In the intervening nall
second, McGiveney has seized Nancy,s
shawl, which hangs ready on tripod
and Nancy is off
Then the helpers fall to shooting
talcum powder into the sleeves OF the
coat of the Artful Dodger, who next
appears. so that the actor arms may
slide easily into place.
If is all done with CELEBRITY that
is marvellous, and that makes more
tban interesting a sight of the me-
chanics of the act.
Was College Lecturer.
Back of the stage, behlnu the PANT
ed scenery, where the romantic glaIe
of the footlights does not penetrate,
and where the music Of the orchestra
is heard but dimiy, there Is supposed
IA exist the domain of disillusion-
ment. But in the case OF TINS act
hack stage is the most interesting
noint Of inspection. Sometimes MI
NcGiyeney might be persuaded TO u"
II All in the open, and then Inc know
mo vaudeville watchers VIII stare
sure enough. c....,.
owen McGiveney the performer,
was but lately iecture! ON picheh9
Ina English colleges. From ms IN
trlligent study of the novelist ne ac-
CURED his knack Of aftistl' ihteIpie
tation Of the characters.
Then he conceived and worked out
me Quick change act, with the help
~ his brother. Jack, an English actor
Tho two enlisted the services OF
friend who is q Frenchman ot nom"
Ilmilv Mr. McGiveuer assures Nou,
md ,hcv se' out 10 sjarIe mo sho"
Going world. The brother and Tn"