The Washington times., 1915-02-01
VAUDEVILLE TITLE
HOLDER CAN'T SING
But A. Paul Keith, Who Is in
Washington, Is Pioneer in
Profession.
BY GARDNER MACK.

1nheriting a canny Scotch acuuisitive.
ness and New England directness. and
shaped by a university training fol-
lowed by an apprenticeship under the
pioneer Of vaudeville, A. Paul Keith Is
today the champion song and dance
purveyor Of the world-but he can
neither sing nor dance
From a humming New England manu-
featuring valley in the days when the
healing Of mental depression was yet in
its alopathic stage. came B. F. Keith
10 New York to set up an establish
ment to provide comedy without trag-
edy. dancing without opera. singing that
had both comedy and dancing attach
ments. and sandwiched in a few aero
batic stunts and a trained animal per-
formance by way Of good measure. He
called his style Of entertainment BY a
French name-vaudevule-to distinguish
II from the cheap variety. which was
not considered respectable.
Enterprise Prospered.
In the fullness of time the Keiti, en-
terprise prospered exceedingly, and ex-
panded to other cities. and the youthful
Keith. under his fathers eye. was given
a thorough training in the song and
dance and comedy business.
A. Paul Keith is still a young man; /;
he Is under forty. and yet he controls
the entire business end Of the big Keith
enterprises. which extend half way
across the continent. When Of the
proper age. he was sent to Harvard to
acquire the usual smattering Of football
slang. baseball jargon, fraternity pins,
and an academic degree. Returning
from college. he made a trip 10 Europe
and other trips around this country be-
fore taking his place in his fathers
Office.
Mr.. Keith had reckoned on this
eventuality, it would seem. for when
his son came into his office he gave
him place beside the desk Of one e. +.
Albee. the gentleman who knew every
thing about vaudeville that the elder
Keith had not had time to learn. Paul
Keith and Albee were broken to double
harness right there under the eyes Of
the inventor Of the business, his idea
being that the load had grown too
heavy for one man to pull. and that a
team Of well-traincd experts would be
able to carry the enterprise far beyond
anything he had yet attempted.
Judgment Shown To Be Good.
That the judgment of the elder Keith
WAS good Is proven by the results that
nave ODtaiHcu. Tdui ncitu WAS given
charge of the business end OF the COM
bination. He studied theaters in all
sections Of the world and designed new
b, ildings for the Keith forces. He paid
careful attention to the administration
Of ell the business dctails-w hich are
1t is his part Of the work
to supply the theaters and the audi
ences and Albee's to supply the enter
tainment.
The profits Of the Keith business are
invested in q wide variety OF ways. In
railrC ads. in banks, In Industrial enter
prses OF all sorts. A. Paul Keith Is
He attends to the investment and the
general superintendence Of the moneys
received. To do this he takes a per-
sonal interest In every industry repre-
sented in the Keith holdings. He has
studied the railroad and real estate con-
ditions throughout the country and in
addition to be an authority on theatrical
properties Is probably as we'll versed
In investments as the average broker
modest unassumiing young man,
" no has quietly assumed q very big
position In the amusement world and
conducts his affairs In accordance with
strictly modern business methods, ne
business the ene branch of
the theatrical industry that Is continu-
ing to pay big dividends. Washington
ians have felt the benefits OF his poll
cies and it Is Mr.. Keith's desire to
make the National Capital a vaude-
vile capital He declares that Wash
irgton audiences are the broadest and
most distinguished In the country and
the Keith standard Of the future is to
BE- the Washington standard.