The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-09
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS
Vaudeville.

l
 cal order.
 l In it must be sprinl1led certain num-
 ber of songs, or ballads with sprightly, l catchy airs.
 Hallam, in his "Literature of Europe" in touching upon the question, says; 1 ''In all these light compositions which gallantry or gayety inspired. we per- ceive the characteristic, excellencies of
 French poetry as distinctly as in the [ best vaudeville of the age of Louis Xv." It is generally accepted that the word vaudeville is to be identified with vau- de-yire, the name given to the convivial
 songs of the fifteenth century This name originated with a literary associa- ton known as the "Compagnons Gal lois" 1. e, "boon companions" or gay comrades"
 The most famous author of these songs was Oliver Basselin, who in the fifteenth century originated the word, by which he described his songs composed in the valley of the Wire. When in the seven teenth century the term had become ap- piled to topical, satiric verses current in the towns, 1t was corrupted into it's present term, either from vau le vile, or voix de vile.
 Vaudeville is now a term generally given to a musical drama of a light humorous or comic description Inter- spersed with songs and dances, or any | theatrical entertainment comprising di- l verse acts of a light and amusing char acter
 In English usage 'vaudeville'' is prac- tically synonomous with what is more generally known as musical comedy" but in this country 1t Is applied to a music hall variety entertainment, with songs and dances. acrobatic and other feats having no dramatic connection.
 
 It's an improvement on the old Iva riety show" of the dizzy blonde" type, the silly "burlesques" known in common parlance as '1eg shows" in which women of powerful physique and uncer- tain age seemed to joy In making an in- decent exposure of their charms, while the "bald-headed" row went into ecstatic delight. Let us hope they have been forever swept from the boards
 I was living in New York just as mod ern vaudeville was coming into its own. Keith was stealing Tony Pastors crowd I remember on coming from Europe in the sos I went to Tony Pastors. I had just come from Paris, and the grand opera and it was strange to see the freedom and hear the audience volun- tarily join in the chorus when a popu- lar song was sung by favorite.
 I was in New York when Lottie Col lins came back from the music halls of London after having set members of the House of Parliament to singing. Tarara Boom de Aye" She had brought with her an ambitious skit and was trying to make New York forget her as dancer and singer of special songs.
 I saw the truth of the saying that there is a proneness of the theatregoing public to demand that an ;.ctress con tinue indefinitely in the line or parts in which she has made her greatest suc- cess Lottie wanted to be a sure enough actress, but New York wanted to see loved.
 Lottie and her packers had spent a fortune to advertise and stage her new play that was to land her in the ranks of the stars of musical comedy. For a half-hour I saw the prettiest fight ever waged by a game actress and a clamor- ous audience. They let the first act go on, but the fun came when the curtain fell.
 There were calls for "Tarara Boom de l Aye" The manager came out and ex- plained that Miss Collins wanted New York to forget it and positively would not sing it. This only made the calls more insistent. Finally, Lottie appeared mad as a hornet and said she wouldn't | sing 1t and left the stage. Still calls l for it rang through the building. She came in front once more and said she would throw up her engagement before she would sing it.
 1 chestra wild and the house in an uproar Every man, woman and child was shout ing for "Tarara" as if their very lives depended on their hearing it once more before they died. It was like bedlam 1 broke loose.
 Just as it looked as if the crowd was going to wreck the building Lottie made
 her appearance. She had been crying | Folks" said she, don't make me sing 1 it. I want to forget. I want to be dis l associated with vaudeville. want to be a comic opera singer.
 It was quieting talk. The audience saw just what it meant to her and was | getting ready to let the play proceed | But up in the gallery leaning over the rail was little newsboy with dirty face,
 but shining eyes. He had forgotten where he was He only knew one thing and
 that was that Lottie wasn't going to sing it. With a voice which sobs and tears had softened, he put all of his soul into his plea, he cried out: 'Lottie, sing me just one verse;
 l It struck the woman in her way below where the actress dwelt. Gone were her dreams of glory, gone her ambition and
 stepping to the front she motioned to the
 leader. The child got her to do what manager and house couldn't make her do and she sang '"Tarara" as she had never sang it before, and before she finished hearts were melted and eyes were wet and it seemed more like an old-fash- toned Methodist love feast than scene in theatre.
 It has taken me long time to get tC