New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-21
Anent the Family Tree

Elaine Hammerstein does not believe -,
that the tree which caused all of the |
trouble in the Garden of Eden was an /
apple tree at all. She believes it was
q family tree. because that is the par
ticular tree which has caused all of her /
trouble. Now, Miss Hammerstein Is Z
very young-not yet twenty-one-an T
she is a beauty. and therefore entitled /
TO be spoiled. But does she wish to sit I
calmly down and rest in the shade of
the family tree? She does not. She !
desires to get out and take her place |
among the toilers in the sun.
She expressed herself on the subject
IN no uncertain terms. at is a decided
handicap for an actress to be endowed
with relatives who are famous" Yes,
this is exactly what Miss Hammerstein
said. and she said it herself, too. and
not through the pen of her publicity
director. "No matter what | do or
how hard work every one says, oh,
Of course. she is the granddaughter of
Oscar Hammersten.' Why, | am quite
sure that grandfather doesn't know !
am on earth. and he never has done
anything for me in a theatrical way,
and vet every bit of success which |
have attained has been attributed TO
the fact that ! happened to be the
daughter Of Arthur, who is the son of
Oscar.
81 hated the stage and I love the
pictures, but ! had 10 take the plunge
| all by myself, for father wished to have
me remain in musical comedy. I went
/ into that, too. much against my will. !
was in school when father began 10 plan
( High Jinks,' and when ! came home on
ny summer vacation | inadvertently
/ sang for him ono night and he said,
/ Young lady, YOU start tomorrow to
/ take singing lessons, and am going TO
/ have a part written for you in my new
musical comedy
81 wept and pleaded, but my walls
/ fell on deaf ears. had my choice It
was High Jinks' or nothing. So ]
chose High Jinks.' studied the rest
\ Of the summer, and when fall came
/ they said | was ready TO make my de-
/ but. 50 was torn ruthlessly from
boarding school and plunged into re-
/ hearSals."
i Miss Hammerstein's recital Of her
/ experiences at rehearsals was most
amusing. She had been educated at a
| convent. where ankles were taboo at
/ least, the subject was. A young lady's
/ feet were supposed TO grow on the bot
I tom of her skirt. Can you fancy my
I horror when was among those present
at the first rehearsal? walked in tim
/ idly, and there were rows of girls sing
ing at the top of their voices and wear
| ing boomers, bathing suits or anything
| that would not hamper their move
ments nor cramp their style. And
presently the director said to me, Wear
/ boomers tomorrow or else pin up your
skirt Do you know. | thought that
the whole world had gone crazy |
never did like musical comedy. either.
"Ny next venture was The Trap and
] ! liked this a little better, but | was
still unhappy, and then the idea came
to me that | should like to 90 in pict-
1 ures. ! was afraid / shouldn't be let
/ but finally obtained permission from
the powers that be and set out in
search of the wonderful adventure.
"My first picture was The Argyle
/ Case Then came The Mad Lover
with Robert Warwick, and now The
[ Correspondent. and | never was so
happy in my life. Now they do moi
say oh, yes; the granddaughter Of
Oscar Hammerstein.' They say: oh,
yes; you were in The Mad Lover
weren't you?'"
Miss Hammerstein's next picture will