Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1916-03-13

leaned particularly toward drama,
d decided that ] would never play
a comedy.
When I reached the third floor Of
le Empire Theatre, there was at
asst 200 people standing around
2itiug to see Mr. Frohman or one Of
S managers and my heart sank
thin Inc for l beie4ed that all those
aople had to be interviewed before
got my chance, bur fortunately my
tier was from particular friend
f Mr. Frohman's and within half an
our the great man sent for me.
Mr. Frohman gave me thorough
king to on the vicissitudes and
appointments of stage life. Lit
girl" he said don't look for a
lace on the stage with the idea thai
on are going to become a star in a
aason. Honors in this business are
on through diligent attention to
usness and honest, careful, pains
liking effort There are twenty play
IS for each position and one hun
led failures to each success.
I drank in every word Mr.. Frohman
tered, but was not discouraged for
had fostered the idea of going on the
90 H. Nv
ne mans opinion, no matter how
-reat that mans judgment might be
told Mr.. Fromhan that | believed
possessed sufficient intelligence and
mbition to be able to take my work
eTiously, that my heart was set on
1y going on the stage as a means to
/ career and that ! could well afford
-uch disappointment that came ear
Y in my attempts, as | had little
n come and could live moderately
and bear the disappointments stoi-
oally because of my income.
Mr. Frohman must have been i'm
PRESSED with my sincerity for he
talled one of his stage managers and
.uggested that I be given some small
part where my iuexperienee would
not be noticeable
The part that received consisted
Of my walking acros the stage in the
second act with tea tray in ny
lands and when addressed by one of
The players in the company as te
Mr. SO and So had 'phoned
answered Eyes, Madame" l was
7n the stage about Twelve seconds all
told and only SPOKE two words, vet
practised at home every night with
girl friend who was student at the
New York Art school and who had
an adjoining apartment.
would have my friend play tn
aart of the actress and / my own role
l would strut across the room in the
direction shown me by the stage man
ager and believe that we must
have gone through my scene five hun
lred times.
We attended some theatre in New
7orl, every night trying TO discover
IN actress whose part paralleled
mine. studied the maHerisms OF
zach actress in all the plays we saw
know that ! spent mere money see
ng ploys during the first three
aftaa ! arrived in New York
nan earned during the first year
worked in the business.
The opening fight of the show ar
'iyed and If you want to know the
,xact condition of my mind and body
imagine howl of gelatine being
erved by a nervous waiter. / cor
ainly shook all over and just as ,
vas about to 20 across the stage and
peak my Two words, one Of the 9th
# girls in the company said to me,
Gail, one Of he hooks in your dress
S open did MT have time n
hook il before had to &c on the
'tage and there was fear in my heart
hat that poor little 9i--and-eye
would ruin The evenings performance
[ felt sorry Tor Mr. Frohman, sorry
Tor the actors in the company and
Try for myself. I went on, spoke
nv lines. reached the other side OF
i. mec. ar' believe l would have
'aintt had been chair to
faint in ] surely thought the whole
world rev ged about my shoulders,
and that the responsibility of the
Universe depended on that hook and
eye, but the responsibility of that
show depended on more than my
hook and eve and was counted fail
me one week later / visited Mr..
Erlanger seeking another position.
/ secured aouther position and yet
another, bur my troubles and the ef-
forts to make a name that almost ey-
cry girl must make, will not help YOU
so from now on. in this series. l
am going 70 speak as little of myself
as possible and devote the space 10
telling YOU just what will be expect
al or t.-,, s,I ,t.bat Won will have To