New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-01
J. J. CONAN FETED
BY THE FRIARS
Veteran Comedian, Father
of George NJ, Hears
Himself Eulogized.

Jerry J. Cohan sat eatin. his dinner
iu the Grand Ballroom Of the Hotel
A7tor last night and heard himself
talked about for three hours. Most u
the remarks made about him had TO be
inverted before they gave ous IN r
true ring. But such is the way Of the
Friars. 1t all came about because in 4
moment of weakness, Mr.. Coh1n con-
scented TO be the guest of honor at one
Of the Friar-' famous dinners.
Each one OF the speakers took shot
at each one of the others, usually be
ginning with the guest of honor. The
animal called "repartee" pranced up
and down the guest table with no end
of recklessness While that was going
on there was much applause all over
the place. Everything that was said
was applauded. Everything anybody
did was likewise cheered.
When the orchestra played Dixie
one knew that everybody present came
from the South If a strain from
Yankee Doodle" cropped out, they all
were Northerners. God Save the
King" proved that none but English
men were there. 1t was fine party.
Six hundred diners filled the floor Of
the room. The reception committee,
headed by Harrison Fisher, showed
great foresight in providing nc deco
rations-that is, of the ordinary nat
IRE. No need of them. The color
scheme was furnished by 200 pretty
women and as many pretty gowns,
tastefully arranged in the boxes about
the room and in the balcony.
Ben II. Atweil was official harmony
promoter, and diffuseG good cheer in
the most impartial manner. William
Collier, who had charge of the big
show which was given after the speak
ers were exhausted, managed to keep
his company together without missing
a single course.
The first gun of the campaign was
fired by George VI. Cohan, abbot OF the
club, who filled the position OF toast
master without even the inspiration OF
the Flag, although some who were there
declared he had a tiny one concealed
in mis- cuff. Anyway, he made quite a
speech.
lie admitted having known the guest
of honor all his life. why" said he,
eve have been wearing each other's
clothes for years. That suit he has on
tonight, however, is not mine. This IS
his and Sam Harris is wearing mine.
When he had made sure th4 guests be
lieved him he introduced "Ilr. Chan
ming Wolf, the author of one Of the
b ggest lawsuits that ever was
Rennold Wolf showed his cleyerness
by perceiving that he was the viet!m
4 wise one swore that Wolf had been
tipped Off and took the floor. Jerry
Conan 3 the greatest living genius,
he began. ale has been On the stage
for nifty years, and never paid cent
of allmony. We are always ready 10
give a dinner for a Conan and there
remain Helen and Josephine, so our
course is clear" After giving some
inside information on how Jerry Co
han won Mrs. Cohan by reading his
press clippings to her and other
actor tricks" Mr.. Wolf subsidized.
81 know. come next, shouted
Sam Harris. as George Corln began
new preamble. 81 am gong TO take
no chances. Sit down, George. Ana
George sat down. -,
Irwin 6. Cobb, the next speaker, toId
a number of funny stories, and Percy
williams admitted that he had l9f-
saken the show business because ne
once saw n list OF dement's that had
been given for destitute producers
Talks by Dudley Field Malone and Gus
SKINNER CONCluuth 'HtN
Under the direction of william Col
Iicr an entertainment was then staged.
The first number vas Bert Leyy's ia.
nous Americans. Various members OF
the "Uello Broadway" company amused
the people. ,r,-,...
Rousseau, Tom Wise, Robert Adamso on
Irving Berlin, Sam Scribner, William
Courtleigh, Joseph Brooks. Percy &.
Williams, f. F. Albec, p. Paul Keith
Dudley Field Malone; Jerry J: o? 3lli
George NJ. Conan, A: l.: +. LANCER, Il
lam Harris, Daniel Frohman, +. r.
Proctor, Irwin S. Cobb, George Nc
Aneny, William Collier, the Rev. John
Talbot Smith, Otis Skim =, KennoId
Wolf. Sam II. Harris and HolorooA
Blinn.
Mrs. Jerry J. Cohan oc upied one o.
the second tier boxes, and WI, hef
we're Mrs. Francis Xsvier Hope, Mrs.
Frederick Leland. Miss Grace Nolan,
Mrs. Howard Stevens, Mrs. Sam H..
Harris and Mrs. George NJ. Conan.