New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-31
"OUR BOYS"
James Blakeley Has Original
Manuscript of Famous Comedy

Whenever a museum for famous the
stricar relies and memoirs is estab-
Ushed. Mr.. James Blskeley. tho genial,
sparkling eyed comedian who has ons
of the principal roles in the "To-nighta
the Niqht" production at the Shubert
Theatre. is willing 10 donate many
nriceless remembrance, for he has
made a collection of objects which have
contributed history 20 the realm or the
sock and buskin.
or all the autographed photographs
Of famous celebrities, antique Wigs
dancing pumps, personal letters, old
fashioned tintypes, orchestra batons'
iewelled novelties and other rehcs,
nerhaps the most valuable keepsake IN
Mr. Blekeley's possession Ia the orlgi-
nal manuscript of the famous produc-
ton. "our Boys" II. J. Byron's world
renowned three-act comedy, which ran
for four years and three months con-
tinuously at the Vaudeville Theatre IN
London. "Our Boys" was produced NJ
the Vaudeville on January 10, 1873, ana
continued until April IL, 1879. rms
initial script was given 10 Mr.. Blakeley
bv his father, the late William Blake
lev. who was intimately associated
with the great +. A. Sothern and with
Sir Charles Wyndham.
The manuscript is now faded ana
worn. some of the pages are crumpled
and yellow with age, and parts OF the
writing have been scrubbed over ana
erased. But "Our Boys" even in It's
present shape, is a treasured memoir;
IL contains some of the original gags
and bits of stage business which have
since become established features OF
the English speaking stage.
According TO Mr.. Blakeley, many
mother-in-law jokes and many current
puns about matrimony are nothing but
oFshoots Of the original palaver con-
tanned In "Our Boys"
| A we'll known Partisan banker, who
is a Srlettante collector Of antique
paintings. statuary and stage relics, re-
Gently offered Mr.. Blakcley 5000 francs
for the script, but the offer was de-
cined. .,
III memory serves me correctly
saws Mr.. Blakeley, my father played
the same role in Pink Dominos' which
am now acting here in 'To-nights the
Night, which is very much revamped
and modernized version of this much
adapted French farce. My father ap-
peared i'm New York at the old Union
Square Theatre in the late sO's.
1.-THE chief difference between the
acting of the two roles is that my
father had some business of getting in
toxicated during the second act Of the
piece, while | do not get a chance to
touch a drop of any beverage during
the entire performance. As matter
of fact, prohibition Is rapidly becoming
the vogue in modern stage productions.
Not half so many present-day offerings
have drinking scenes as did the old
farces and comedies of twenty years
ago.
speaking Of my father recalls to
mind the rather interesting fact that
he occupied one dressing room continu-
ously for fifteen years at the Criterion
Theatre, in London. During this time
he missed only four performances, and
he never went away on tour"
Mr. James Blakeley was born at Hull,
England, in 1873, and he began his
stage career as a call boy at Sir Charles
Wyndham's Criterion Theatre in Lon
don in 1889. He afterward appeared in
pantomimes at Brighton and Manches-
/ ter, and followed this by several vaude-
Vile tours. In 1903 be played the role