The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
Helen Hayes and Lynn Fontanne the
Latest to Be Pointed to Stellar
dom by the Veteran Manager

Have you a contract with Miss
Robson?' he asked.
81 replied that had none. He asked
me if had an understanding with her
l replied that | had one and that she
was to come under our control when
she had finished in Arizona
- ~, he responded rather angrily.
you can tell her that she's under your
control now. She's no longer with
Arizona" or will be no longer with 1t
after her two weeks notice expires.
You tell her to give it to- me tonight
THAT was the manner in which Miss
Robson came under our direction and
began a career which was one of the
most brilliant in the history of the
modern American theatre. She first
appeared in 'Unleavened Bread and
afterward as leading woman with
Kyrle Below In a Gentleman of
France Then We established her as
star in Audrey Il piece in which
she achieved a personal success,
though the play itself did not seem to
catch the popular fancy. Then came
Zangwills Merely Mary Ann one of
! the most successful plays we ever pro-
duced. Her appealing performance in
this charming comedy established her
in the hearts of all sorts and condi-
| lions Of theatregoers from one end of
| the country TO the other, and she re-
| malned firmly entrenched there until
| her retirement from the stage In the
| full zenith OF her career on the occa-
| sion Of her marriage to August Bel
| mont.
Miss Robson With Notable Artists.
I'VE found ways and means during
i the early days of Miss Rohson's career
as star to give her splendid prestige.
One of the things we did with this
idea in mind was to send her on tour
with Mr.. Skinner and Mrs. lie Moyne
in In Balcony equally featuring
| her with these distinguished artists.
Then we organized an all star com
pany for the production OF Romeo and
Juliet Miss Robson played Juliet to
| kyrle Bellows Romeo, and the cast
included such players as Eben Plymp-
ton. Edwin Arden, William II. Thomp-
son. Edmund Breese Frank Q. Bangs
ana George Clarke. AL OF these things
gave this exquisite artist a promi-
|
years to gain alone and unaided.
Usually great artists have n hard task
In winning fame and reputation and
public acknowledgment OF their tai
cnts Miss Robson subsequently en-
| joyed great success in 'Salomy Jane
| The Dawn of a Tomorrow and other
plays.
William Hodge was another star
developed under our direction. Ono
night on the eve OF the beginning of
rehearsals OF Sag HarbOr' James A,
Herne met me and asked me to drop
over TO the Knickerbocker Theatre
with him and see a few minutes of "A
show in which the Rogers brothers
were appearing.
"'There's an actor playing a $40 bit
in the piece he said, that | want for
Sag Harbor" He'll play Freeman
Whitmdrsh to the life
I'VE looked in at the show and
watched a lanky fellow with peculiar
drawl who was playing the tiniest sort
OF part Herne, with uncanny in
stinct. had picked him out as a player
possessing unusual qualities NJ per
sonality. We engaged him for Sag
Harbor' paying him $40 n week. and
when Mrs, Wigs was subsequently
produced we cast him for the part of
! the delectablc Mr.. StUJbidS, After
ward he left us To go with Weber
and Fields. When Booth Harrington
and Harry Wilson wrote The Man
from Home and ! bought il ! first
offered the role of Daniel VOORHEES,
Pike to Nat Goodwin. but he declined
TO play II, declaring that II d. int have