The Washington herald., 1915-08-18
THIS Comedian PAINTS
PICTURES TWEEN ACTS
And Trains Voice and Toots CIario-
net. Too-Class to Frank
Finney!

Ever hear OF a burlesque comedian as
pirins to grand opera? No? Well, listen.
gentle reader, and you will hear the life
story of Frank Finney the master fun
maker with the Bostonian Burlesquers at
the Gayety Theater this week. who really
and truly-cross my heart and body-ad-
mits that his principal hobby is the study
of vocal music.
Now, mind you, there's no immediate
necessity for either Caruso or Scotti or
any of their ilk to make an immediate
rush for the tall or uncut, theatrically
represented by the one-night stands No,
not at all, From present indications their
laurels are entirely safe, but just the
same, Frank Finney has his hobby and
his aspirations. SO let's let him have EN-.
Now we're going to let you in on little
secret. Sh-h-h. don't breathe a word,
Frank just dotes on water coloring,
Nothing suits him better between re-
hearsals and performances than to daub
away on an italian sunset or a peaceful
woodland scene. Ever hear tell, of the
like? But it's true-every word of it,
and furthermore. Frank admits It,
Serious fellow. this Frank F'inney,
You've probably heard him sing. but you
ought to see him paint! But give him
credit. boys. he means we'll. Just thirty
eight years ago. according to Franks
own statement. he was born in a town
called Brooklyn. n. Y. (U. s. Az, and at
an early age his parents took pity on him
and moved to San Francisco. While out
on the Coast he became a patron of the
dramatic arts. and with the arrival of
maturer years became obsessed with the
idea that he could act. After several in
terviews with theatrical managers and
agents, he finally was convinced that he
was wrong, so he entered burlesque.
HIS first appearance on any stage was
accomplished at Spokane, Wash The au-
dience stood for him. In fact, they even
consented to sit down and laugh at him.
Tolerance soon gave way to interest. and
interest to enthusiasm, and that explains
why Frank Finney is today entitled to
the name of burlesque's greatest come
dian.
At first musical comedy was Franks
forte. then he graduated into burlesque,
being one of the first to introduce this
popular form of amusement on the Pa
cific Coast. Ten weeks in a town at a
clip was Franks pace. so you can rest
assured that he must have been good
By and by Frank got the bug in his
bonnet that he could not only act bur-
lesque. but write the book as well-and.
by golly. he did, Furthermore, he has
been doing it ever since. No second
hand stuff for Frank, He's simply got
to have new book every season, So he
writes it himself.
When he isn't writing a new burlesque
or taking vocal lessons or painting an
Italian sunset. Frank contents himself to
live in Spokane. the scene of his first
success. He has also managed to ac-
quire ranch on which thousands Of
head of cattle Craze. and at the present
price of beef Frank has little occasion to
worry whether the motion picture makes
any inroads into the legitimate or not.
w. Ill
Prepare yourself, wild and ferocious
reader. the worst is yet to come! All
prepared? Yes? Well. here 1t is: Frank
Finney plays the clarionet. Honest, he
does, for he admitted it to the inter-
viewer. Fortunately, however. Frank
has the good judgment not to inflict his
talent on his audiences Pretty nice fell
low. Frank, after all. Ell?
You must admit that Frank Is versa
tile. though. If you'll stroll down to the
Gayety this week you'll find this premier
funster first as the ebony-faced super
visor Of an Information bureau at a rail-
road station: next impersonating Chester
Conklin. Charlie Chaplin's former side
partner in Keystone moving pictures.
then newly elected alderman. and
finally shipwreclled sailor on the mys-
tic isle of Observation-Disclosures that
may be.
Frank put a good one over on Harry
Jarboe, the new manager of the Gay
ETY.. at Monday nights performance.
1t was during the course of the bur-
lesque in which Finney appeafed as
a newly elected alderman with expec-
tations of being called upon for a
speech. In the emergency, a book of
parlor recitation. including the clas-
sic grafton of Marc Antony over Cae-
sar's body. was found and brought
into play. It was frequently necessary
during the play for Finney to call
upon his prompter to get the book"
While all this was going on on the
stage, several friends of Jarboe In the
audience had arranged a little surprise
for him. 1t was planned to call him
back OF the stage, and while there to
draw the curtain up on him and pre-
sent him with an elaborate floral to-
ken
All went we'll. Jarboe was complete
ly taken by surprise. He felt that a
speech was due. but to save his life
he couldn't get II out of his system.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he said-then
stuck! Enter, Frank Finney to the
rescue, Here's the book!'' chied
he, and in the laugh that followed.
Harry had time to collect his thoughts
and made his getaway In q very
graceful speech Of thanks.
You've got to give him credit, boys,
even II he does persist in the idea he's
a vocalist. a water colorist. or (crime
of crimes) q clarionetist. you must
admit that Frank Finney IL there.
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