The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-13
NOTED ACTOR SEES
THE MOVIES" FOR
THE FIRST Time
WILL N. cREssY RETURNS TO
WHEELING AFTER TOUR OF
THE WORLD.
Played at the Old Grand Opera House
Here Fourteen Years Aso-TraV-
els In Auto.

I am not going 10 tell YOU how old
] am but after you notice my bald
head. II / tell you I've travelled all
around the world. and was the first
mar 10 bring an automobile into Se
state OF New Hampshire. YOU mishr
make a rough guess. But regardless
Of my years. my travels and my eX-
periences had never e "A moving
picture until just a few months ago.
This may seem all the more strange
since /. myself. have been on the stage
ever since the time DenhQm ThOmp-
son and Keith started in the theatrical
business This statement was made
20 an Intelligence reporter last night
by Will NJ. Greasy. who, with his wife
arrived in the city yesterday after
noon from Chicago, and are stopping
at the Windsor.
Perhaps a number OF old time the
atre-gOers in wheeling will remember
Mr.. Greasy as he played in Wheeling
In repertoire at the old Grand Opera
house fourteen years ago.
Mr.. Cressy said. Somehow. there
are many people who never do what
they think they are going to 10 and 1
am one OF those persons. When 1
was young my father, and his father.
and perhaps my great grandfather.
were in the -four and milling business
and IL was all cut and dried that /
would follow in their footsteps. Any
ibNs We HNdA ~ -ANAlN a lew dLudAtul
plays IN u town, which Is Concord.
Just at that time Denham Thompson
was breaking into the theatrical bust
ness. He WAS playing a little show
that u amateur club had previously
presented. one Of the members OF
his company took i'll and he sent for
me 10 come to the town where he Wat
showing and take the part temporarily.
I stayed with him six years.
Al this time ! VAS trying my hand
az writing some plays n Keith, who,
afterward became a prominent figure
In theatrical enterprises. gave me the
opportunity 10 write some One-aCt
plays for him. Somehow. or other.
those acts made good. and ! nave con
tinIsrd 10 write others. At the present
I have $50 ne-ac plays now being
produced In vaudeville and this Is TIE
largest number over any other play
wright"
During the interval I started story
writing and my name an be found as
author OF stories appearing IA a mum.
Der OF the magazines today. My wife
and ] stiil play some in vaudeville. hav-
ing just closed an engagement last
sunday in Chicago. We 90 on the
stage now. only that We might meet
some OF our old friends. We leave
Wheeling Saturday for Uniontown.
Pa. then 10 Cumberland. and on Ia
D New York en- route to our home IN
Concord, New Hampshire. where We
will spend the summer"
But regarding our travels we have
been in fourteen different countries
and N tours were all made in a JET.
frey auto. ! purchased my seventh Jer.
fiery here in Wheeling today. When
We first started out for our camp life
We always were seeking shelter and
wanted 10 be among the crowd. Now.
} however. We like TO get out IN the
D anon unl nmNnL Waan % mn 1tfn %
Mr.. Greasy has hundreds of pos;
cards and pictures which he took him
self while on his travels here and
abroad. While in Japan. he said, ne
learned the art OF coloring photos. and
he claims hat the chief OF his severa.
hobbies r coloring pictures. writing
stories and touring in his Jenery.