Arizona republican., 1916-08-20
HOW | BECAME 4 STAR By Lionel Barrymore

Hard work More hard work. Then fate played leading part in my be- coming staT-that is, if l am a star. 1 have long been puzzled ovei the use of that word star" l don like it at all And since l come to think of it. I guess I don't want Il attached to me The poor word has been abused too much already. with out me picking on II.
 Rut if I must tell how I became an actor-for that is all l am. and not very good one. at that--it was be- cause a boys voice went bass at a critical moment. l was only six years old. but my folks insisted on putting me to work, and I've been cursed with if ever since. My Father, Maurice Barrymore. and my mother, Georgia Drew was playing m en- gagemcrt in Milwaukee. There was .a boy in the compa1iy. about ten years old who had sweet little
 part. He contracted heavy cold. and likewise husky voice. Father
 said 1t would never do to have him appear in that part
 Some friend suggested that little
 Lionel would make good substitute They went over to the hotel and paged ne. | was asleep in my crib. but they routed me out and carried
 me over 10 the theater more asleep { and stupid than awake My father i coached me in tie lines l was to i repeat and gave me a quick rehear- sal. l could rot get my mind on the i work. I wanted 70 have a contract 1 signed, If l remember right, but l was told 10 get busy on my ward
 robe. and that they would see my attorney in the morning.
 When I walked ont on the stage ! furkt I ct down at the great crowd of folks in 1 the auditorium Someone in the wings shouted for me to go ahead
 with my lines. My father scowled at
 me, and from every direction some
 one was hissing to me in stage whis- l pers Then I became frightened. ' realized that I must do something. SC l. up and had a good cry. It was
 very effective. and I do not think
 ever have won by auditors so thor
 oughly as I did on that occasion Il
 body said that. 1t was true realism
 l broke my contract the following day and a substitute was brought
 on from Chicago. But they got me
 back to work some years later, whei
 appeared with my grandmother Mrs. John Drew. in The Rivals" also appeared with her after that 1T The load to Rum. Then l retired from the stage for a couple of years and went abroad. I neglected tC make use of this before leaving. ir order to give a few farewell perform ances as our actor folk usually do It was an oversight as l now realize When l returned | took up my worl again, this time appearing in Squire Kate" Next came Cumberland. '6l ,, in which I played one season Dur ing the season 1S9S-9 l was witt Nance D'Nel in several plays Th' follow ing season I was in Arizona, then Uncle Dick" and The Hon John Grgsby."
 The next season I joined James A Herne in Sag Harbor," and then had short seasons in Arizona" again and "The Brixton Burglary M, uncle, John Drew. by this time evi. dently heard that l was on the stage for he sent for me and l became { member of his company, playing fol two seasons in "The Second IT Command'' and The Mummy anc the Eumming Bird
 This is an awful tax on me ,o con. tinue this catalogue. but as | have
 .he data at hand l will proceed. h l9n5 appeared in "The Best ot Friends" .he next year in The Othei
 GirF' and the next year | had m first real, honest -to-g goodness big