The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-21
:: In Local PlayhouseS =:

Its strange fact" says Il. NJ. New
man. the traveler-lecturer. now giving
: series OF Sunday evening traveltaiks
In the Detroit opera house. but Euro
peans. and most foreigners for that
matter. seem never to lose the idea
that Americans still shoot buffalos on
the principal streets OF our cities, and
that savage Indians roam our plains
at will. That we should have the cul-
ture or refinement that they have Is
not 70 be thought or Even In far-on
Egypt this summer I found evidence
OF this belief As was about TO leave
Alexandria for Egypt and had taken
my seat In the waiting train. an Egyp-
tain boy passed and seeing Americans
offered for sale what he thought they
would want. He had pint bottles OF
whisky, and such novels as Three
Weeks" "The Queen Of Bedlam.'
The Scarlet Kiss and The Diary OF
Lost One"
Billie Burke always has four photo
graphs on the table In her dressing
room and any one privileged to visit
her behind the scenes while she IL
playing Jerry In the Detroit opera
house this week will see them.
f'Yes, that Is my art gallery. ex-
planned attractive Miss Burke. When
j began had only one-my mother
there In the middle. Mother and
have always been great deal to one
another. She believed In me long be-
fore any one else did--long before !
believed In myself. She kept me at IL.
Whatever | am. | owe chiefly to her
encouragement Then that man on
mothers left--that IL Louis N. Parker.
He gave me my first big boost! he
insisted that | should play the title
role In his play. Mr.. George. the nrst
dramatic part I ever had. I'm sorry
TO say that Mr.. George was a failure,
but Charles Frohman saw me In II and
thought well enough OF my perform
ance to bring me To America to sup
,ort John Drew in My Wife. The
other man-on mothers right--that Is
Mr.. Frohman. What | don't owe to
mother I owe TO him. The other wo-
man Is Mrs. Catherine Chisholm Cush-
ing. who wrote Jerry for me and help
ed Inc to fulfill my ambition to play
an American girl on the stage"
"The Midnight Girl" musical com
edy that abounds with popular fascin-
ating melodies, will be presented In
the Gairick theater for an engage
/. ment of one week commencing Mon
day evening. Oct. 26. with George Mac
Farlane as the leading singer OF an
exceptionally capable company. Mr..
MacFarlane will be remembered for
his splendid work In the baritone
roles Of the allstar revivals Of the Gil.
bert End Sullivan operas. He will be
seen here In his original role OF Gus
tave Criquet. In The Midnight Girl"
with Margaret Romaine In her orig
inai part OF the midnight girl" Miss
Romano scored decided personal
success In that role last season In the
Forty-fourth-st. theater. In New York,
,when she made her debut on the
musical comedy stage after singing
for three years in the Paris Opera
ComiQue where she took Mary Gar
den's place.
Speaking OF the manner In which
she studies for the eccentric character
roles h which she has made name
, for herself, Dorothy Walter now play
ing the mother In Help Wanted" In
the Lyceum theater said: II have
habit OF mingling In street crowds.
walking leisurely. until some detall
about woman's back arrests my at
teption and drop In behind her for
study. size up the woman's carriage,
her clothes, the varying poise OF her
body. and take In every little detail OF
her makeup, from rear viewpoint
even down to the condition Of her
heels and the tilt OF her hat. Ny eyes
are registering thousand mental pic.
lures OF her In this short space, and
by the time have given my subject
thorough study, my brain has begun
to ST ape out for me Just how the wo-
{. mar will look from the front. and
have clearly defined idea of what her
face looks like. Then quicken my
pace and pull alongside the object OF
my interest. have got SO in the habit
Of. this that In almost every case the
wcman's face. when / am In a good
o position to size II up, Is exactly what
my mental picture Of her has led me
to expect. Later. II am engaged to
play new part, recall type and
know Just how the woman will look,
how she WI stand or walk, what sort
OF clothes she will wear and how she
will wear them"
Mollie King. who plays the title
role In The Belle of Bond Street"
with Sam Bernard In the Garrick the