Evening star., 1916-03-26

symphony orchestras and grand opera
companies. When the Spanish Amer
| lean war broke out he served as
member of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry.
Paid in Fun, 1907: The Wolf 1908:
The Easiest Way" lust a Wife
1910: Fine Feathers" 1911; The Trail
of the Lonesome Pine" 1911; Just a
Woman" 1915. stand to his credit as a
contributor to theatrical entertainment.
Career OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES stories
| of their careers is one of the popular
| indoor sports of the pretty girls play
| ing at the Belasco Theater this week.
Vida Bennett. who sings the prima
donna role, perhaps had the most diff
| fcult time of it. First it was her par
ents who objected to her stage aspira-
tions Then it was the theatrical man
ayers who objected. However, Miss
Bennett refused to be discouraged.
even after Henry W. Savage would not
engage her. She remained hopeful
even when Lee Shubert offered her the
undignified role Of a soubrette. which
she refused She also turned down an
offer to be a show girl: She finally be
came Conscience in the original pro-
duction of "Everywoman- She points
the only American out of the entire
original cast that was selected for it's
production at the Drury Lane Theater
Vivian VESSEL did not permit her
high ideals to block her first step
towards success. She gladly took a
place in the chorus. starting out in
Franz Lehar's operetta, The Man With
Three Wives" Then she joined Chris
/ tie Macdonald in "Sweethearts But
i she remained III the decorative line for
I
| ognized. also her ability, and she was
given a small part. Later she was in
one Of Mr. Savage,s conpsnies playing m
j the road afterward in Along Came
| Ruth which Immediately preceded
Girl
/ Leona Stephens started in her chosen
| profession when she was but thirteen
| years old with a big voice and a bigger
ambition. Soon those two assets told,
given several understudy parts. Her
| next appearance was in The Babes of
Toyland'' and later in The Wizard of
on in which she played small roles.
| when 1T Happened in Nordland was
| produced she had quite prominent
role. After this she developed yearu
! Joined Louis Mann's company, playing g
the leading role in Julie Bonbon.
She went to Europe with this company
and while she in London studied
tive land, she joined Eddie Foy in
over the River Miss stephens also
engagements over the big times
circuit.
Joan Sawyer.-JOan Sawyer was the
first dancer to have her own after-the-
! ater dancing place in New York.
She had danced at the cafe de Paris,
at Reisenweber and the New York
Roof when Messrs. Shubert made her
an offer to open their new after-the-
alter dancing place. the Folies Maligny.
atop the Forty-fourth Street Theater.
one evening Miss Sawyer and a
friend met Lee Shubert at what was
called the Persian room of the Pslais
de Danse. adjoining the Winter Garden
| Theater. At that time the Spanish dam
GERS, Louis and DelirIo, admirable dam
! GERS Of their class, were drawing small
but select audiences. When Mr.. Shu-
| bert joined Miss Sawyer and her friend
| the friend said, Mr.. Shubert, why don't
YOU let Miss Sawyer take over this
! place her own
II should be delighted" replied Mr.
| Shubert, IF We can make satisfactory
arrangements" Satisfactory arrange
ments were made and Miss Sawyer took
She renamed II the Persian Garden
and the electric lights outside the door
bore the Inscription. Miss Joan Saw
yers Persian Garden" The place was
success from the opening night. The
best people from New York and the
| best people who visited New York pa .
rronized il. IT was more like a draw
ing room than a public dancing place.
wrote For Wide Audience. Miss
Jean Webster. niece Of the late Mark
Twain, recently submitted to her pub
fishers series of letters with post
marbs that included practically every
corner of the universe. The letters had
been inspired by her fascinating ro-
nance. DADDY Long Legs" which she
has since dramatized.
one pathetic letter reached the au-
thor from the federal prison at At
lanta, Ga. where prisoner who sign
ed only his number. thanked her for
the pleasure it had brought into his
sad life. A sentimental cowboy. who
had read the book while riding range"
on the plains of Wyoming. wrote to in
quire il Judy Abbott was a real person
and asked for her photograph
faris and New Zealand. far-off Au-
stralia. England. China. the Philippines
and several South American countries
also furnished correspondents, who
contributed compliments and criti-
cisms. corrections and suggestions
Miss Webster never realized how
world wide her audience until this
overw helming correspondence began to
arrive.