The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01
O. MY HEARTS VERSATILITY LED TO SUCCESS
Notable Career of Laurette Taylor, One
OF the Most Popular Stars on American
Stage-Hard Work in Stock Com
pany Fitted Her for Stellar Role

1t was not long before the young &C.
tress was discovered" by the Broad
way critics. who hailed her genuine
find" and her efforts that season in the
underworld play won unstinted praise
everywhere. The then young and en-
terprising firm Of Cohan & Harris
next obtained her services. and again
Miss Taylor acquitted herself with
credit. They were so impressed with
her ability that they endeavored to
find play in which to feature her. but
without success. 1t was then that she
attracted the attention Of the veteran
producer Daniel Frohman. who at once
placed her agreeably as the joint fea.
ture with Charles Cherry, in THE Seven
Sisters" in which play she won new
laurels.
After finishing her season with the
Frohman production Miss Taylor hied
herself to Los Angeles two years ago
last summer, there to take a post grad
uate course In acting at the Burbank
Theatre. where Oliver Morosco main.
tains his internationally famous stock
company. the only real and permanent
organization Of Its kind in this country.
1mpresario Morosco. who was just then
branching out as a producing manag
Of big calibre, was much impressed with
the young womans personality and
work. At the very moment ne was con-
templating an invasion Of the East with
The Bird Of Paradise" He soon de-
cided that to Miss Taylor should he en-
trusted the delicate yet daring and al
together unusual feature part Of Luona.
the half savage half civilized little Ha-
waiian who knows only how to love and
who gives herself as a human sacrifice
that her white husband shall be free
to become great man. as his people de-
sire. Her success in this role was tre-
mendous and in New York alone the
play ran for seven months and far into
the summer season.
The startling versatility Of the little
actress. whose forte was girlish roles Of
any character. but whose talents were
limited to no particular characterize
ton. convinced Mr. Morosco that she
was Of sterling stellar stature. lie
thereupon placed her under a long term
contract to star under his personal
direction. J. Hartley Manners. an emf
nent dramatist with several successes.
including The House Next Door" &c,
to his credit. was pressed into service
and commissioned to construct proper
vehicle for the new star to be- Five
weeks later he handed over the manu-
script Of Peg O. My Heart" the prin-
cipal character in which Is n little
Irish wildfower Of a girl who Is sud-
denly transplanted from poverty to
luxury and who Is the pivot about
which revolves one of the most charm
ing love stories ever given to the stage
With that thoroughness which marks
his every endeavor Mr. Morosco decided
to give the play a proper tryout right
there in Los Angeles and under the
most approved conditions. Scenery and
structed and company composed of
his own splendid stock players was cast
in support of the budding star. The
success of both Miss Taylor as the
heroine. Peg. and the Manners play
exceeded all expectations and though
originally scheduled for only a weeks