New-York tribune., 1919-01-06
''Cobs'' Score Hit
First Time Here
In "O-Kay Follies'
Theda Bearer, the "Vamp
Stenog,'' and Rest of the
Merry Grew Keep Crowd
Roaring With Laughter


Theda Bearer, the campfire "stenoep:
Sam Shcrbcrt, Carmen Clay, Pebeco
Colgate, the tenor; Fiji, the flower
girl, and long string of footlight
celebrities had answered to their names
yesterday in crowded motor boat
alongside the dreadnought Oklahoma.
lying in the Hudson, when the order
came to "shove off"
Bosn Joe Goniwiecz had acted as
call boy for the troupe and had piped
the company on deck, and off they
went, this merry crew of Thespians in
blue peacoats and fiat hats, to give the
first performance in America of the
"O-kay Follies Of 1919" done exclu-
sively by the "gobs' aboard the Okla
homa.
That was at 10 o'clock in the morn
ing. An hour later in the stars dress
ing room at the Lexington Opera
House, 0lin b. Landick, of Boston, a
pharmacists mate, was mctamorphos-
ing into the immortal Theda. The
Cupid's bow lips that were later to
lure Sam Sherbert ever onward were
already painted on. Sam himself, who
is Harry Abrahams, the Chicago musi-
clan "gob," who produced the show and
carried a stellar role, was pecling off
his jumper in the same room with the
vamp. While Theda struggled with silk
hose and French heels Sam got into a
natty gray suit. which he wore in his
part as theatrical producer. Theda
snaried in a good masculine way. show
ing abundant knowledge of a language
not in school curriculums, when the
corset almost "busted" over her
dimpled shoulders.
Thcda Tall and Radiant
They talked of the days when they
gave the show in Ireland and in Eng
land, and finally Theda emerged, a
triflc over six feet tall, slender, with
limpid eyes and crown of Titan hair
that spelled disaster for the "opposte
sex"
In other dressing rooms were Hugh
McLaren, of Pittsburgh, radio oper-
ator, changing his blues for Bert Will
iams's black; and there was a dainty
soubrette. +. G. Shampon, a Chicago
boy, who was demure and fascinating
as Marge Dimple.
Hazel Knutt and Qucenc Sheba
to dazzling army of camouhaged pull
chritude, and the nice, smooth haired
chorus men, such as Francis X. Ema,
Paris Green and Harold Futterby,
helped the girls get on the uniform
of the day, with many a good navy
cuss word.
The first act, showing "Theda the
Namp Stenog," ombarking on her ca
reer as an actress, drew loud applause
from the audience. The musical num-
bers went off with spirit and dash,
hearsal in six veeks, when Theda had
been mixing pills, and the beauty
chorus had been splicing rope. scrub
bing decks and doing other light work
about the Oklanomas gun turrets and
engine room.
Huge Roll too Much for "Gob"
Sherbcrt offered Theda $3.50 Gin stage
money! to play in new show, and tn.
sight of so much money to "gob''
made Theda faint and, like the true
vamp she was, she required three
shots of (stage) whiskev down the
later appeared as Bert Williams, was a
press agent in this act. He fell for
Theda strong
observe the second act of the O-kay
Fol]ies. It's a de luxe affair. with I'M
POROUS beauties drinking champagne
and toying with feather fans T. S.
Holmen as Jazz-o simply spills ire
sistible rangtime over the keyboard, SO
that Bert Williams forgets he's a
waiter and frisks about while Thcda
comes in. like composite picture of
Gaby Delys, Lillian Russell and Mrs.
Leslie Carter, under a tiara of willow
plumes and white satin, spangled
gown.
Enlistments in the navy are now
open. Theda told the narrowing and
gruesome details of her past, and there
was plenty of fun on the runway, with
the vamp. the vampcd and the lively
chorus. There were many bright and
breezy features, including Visions Of
Cleopatra. Chinatown, and flag spec
tacle at the end where the German flag
is torn down and trampled
The Folles played to q crowded
house last night and concluded its en-
gagements for all time. The theatre
was loaned through the courtesy OF
the Attaboy Company, which is there
with Captain Frank Tinney.
Harry Abrahams, who wrote the
Follics. is reserve "gob." He pro
duced it and handled the rehearsals in
the officers wardroom on the ship. His
best comedy is in the role of Cleo
patra. Lieutenant +. N. Kennedy, who
worked on the production, said he
would have lost both Abrahams and
Landick in London if they had not been
in the navy. And that's not press
agent bunk.