Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-22
Scouting
Round in
Burlesque
Mollie Williams on the
Trail of Recruits All
Summer
BY ROBERT w. MAXWELL

ny NObhNl w. MAAW WE'LL
row of swinging, stepping, singing and
perspiring chorus girls swayed back and
forth on the stage Of the Gayety Theatre
one night this week. shouting out the words
of the most recent song, while a swelterinR
audience clapped its moist hands in appre
ciation of their strenuous efforts. They
meaning the chorus girls-were hard al
work as we stepped in TO take a look at
the house" We didn't know what they were
singing-and didn't care. All we noticed
was that the dancing damseIs were clad in
hotweather attire, and, even at that, they
seemed to be suffering from the heat
But the audience didn't care. Every
man and woman in the place was enjoying
the burlesque-they call II ''burlesk" there
and after the number was finished roar
of applause called the singer and support
ing company back again. They went
through the same motions, perspired just as
freely, and the damp, soggy applause once
moro was their reward. Then the leader
of the orchestra started his hirelings on a
new tune, and another stunt was about to
be presented.
We looked around at tnis juncture and
noted that at the end Of ono OF the back
asles was a fashionaby clad girl, seated
all alone, with her chin resting on her hand
She was taking in the show, seemed to see
everything that was going on, but did not
Join in the applause. She did not change
put on, nor did she smile at any of the
funny stuff" pulled by the comedians She
Just sat and absorbed everything like
highbrow attending the opera.
You have a pretty good audience to-
night" we remarked to Manager Howard,
but did you notice the girl on that aisle?
She seemed to be enjoying herself but isn't
getting excited about 1t. What's the an
swer. Do you know herr"
why, sure l know her." replied How
ard. You WILL too, when I tell you her
:.ame. That Is Mollie Williams, the Queen
.t Burlesque. She pays us visit once
ysar during her vacation and she usually
ntays a couple OF days. She takes in all
Of the summer shows, cabarets and every
thing else that has singing and music. It's
the way she spend her vacation. Did you
ever meet her? Come over and I'll intro
duce you"
Then met Mollle williams. Miss Will
liams seemed to be anything but the
queen" I expected to see. She was a
small, dainty girl had a pleasing person.
ality-which probably accounts for her
success on the stage-and seemed to be
quite serious She was working" she sald
and would keep on the job until August T.
when her nsw show starts rehearsing for
the coming season.
1T seems strange that you are spending
your vacation in such a manner" ven-
tured ~ thought theatrical folks rushed
country during the summer months to rest
up for the long 40 weeks grind during the
fall, winter and spring. Is this usual
thing, or are you just trying 1t out this
summer"
''I do this every summer" replied Miss
Williams. You see. I virtually manage
my own show and 1t is up to me to get new
talent. You can't expect the real actors
and actresses to come to you. SO just go
to them II see performer In one of the
uhn hot friIF 10 II
try to sign him or her up for my show. In
that way l have found many good people.
You are a baseball writer" she contin-
ued. "and probably know the system. What
do they do in the big leagues when they
need new player? Do they put an ad
in the paper and then wait for replies?
They do not. They send some one out to |
take a look at ball players playing all over
the country and as soon as a promising |
youngster is seen he is signed up and sent |
to the big team for a try-out Those people |
are called baseball scouts. i. too. am a |
scout-a scout for burlesque.
''It scenes funny, but got the idea of |
selecting my own talent for the stage |
right here in Philadelphia. About four
years ago, during a worlds series. I was
TO Captain Harry Davis. of tho
Athletics. I only saw him for 4 short time.
and the chances are that he forgot mo nve
minutes after he met mo. But had a
short talk with him and he gave me the
uea OF scouting Tor myself
How does IL happen ] asked, that
four team plays Just as good every day I'm
he year and year after year3 Don't the
players get hurt or play poorly, or aome-
hing2 How do you replace your stars2
What kind OF understudies have you got
md how do you get them7 You must have
ome system
Then he told me how scouts travel all
'ver the country looking for new talent and
decided to try II myself.
'"rhe very next year. decided TO put on
dramatic sketch and was in need of a
straight heavy man to play II with me-
ooked over all of the Ieglts' in New York,
ut they were very sad bunch and passed
hem up. 1t was getting close to the opening
4 the season, and was almost frantic.
'ou know there are few 1egits'-that is
hose Shakespearean actors-in burlesque
nj was about to visit Brady or Frohman
o get one or their regular actors for the
art when l saw an advertisement in the
aper that a Western melodrama, called
or some such name, was playing |
a theatre in Brooklyn.
THAT night I attended the show, for l |
hought that there would be at least one
Western character who could dll the bill |
% my surprise, there were six OF them, all
resssd up in cowboy attire i did not
hink much OF the leadiRS man, but there
Tas one in the cast who struck my fancy.
Ie did not say word during the show. but
rantgur.a ~. ~. ~. - Al a-.,- |