New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Chorus Girl Shortage
Only in Short Girls,
Assures MIR. Wayburn

There is no alarming shortage of
chorus girls. At least Ned Wayburn
said SC last night, and New Wayburn
should know. <He has hired more
chorus girls than any ono else on
Broadway and that means anywhere.
So another fabrication is nailed and
possible panic avcrted
THAT is" qualified Mr Wavburn.
"thcre is no shortage of the common or
roof garden variety of chorus girls as
such. There is, however, looming as a
possibility shortage of short chorus
girls"
1t seems on investigation that
chorus girls are distinctly classified
There is the tall, shapely, majestic
creature. who displays priceless cos
ing languldly through part and gaz-
ing sideways through downcast lashes
at the front row. She is the "show
girl Then there is the "medium."
This isn't the kind Of medium who
takes two berries out Of your jeans and
tells you John Barleycorn is going to
win the sixteenth at Havana. IT'S a
girl who is lot big enough to be
show girl and who isn't little enough
for the pony-iust the right size for or
the downright hard, effective work
which makes a show scene. Last is the
small type. Now Of this small tvpe
there is certain kind Of girl who is
known as "quality." She is competent
al the way through. She can dance.
sing, and. above all, look. She is cute.
This little fairy is getting harder and
harder to find
Even this threatened shortage has
not however, affected the Wayburn
shows. he says. 1--WE are better fixed
shan most producers. We have a
higher rate Of pay, broader field OF
selection, think, and believe may
claim it is no idle boast. that NV lone
experience has enabled me to take bet
ter care OF show girls than most other
and especially new, producers. Then
there is the quality of the shows with
which am connected. | can Get a kind
Of girl for the Capitol and Ziegfeld
Revucs who might hesitate to ioin
some other shows.
or instance. Chorus girls arc
very human. A girl viii ION show
such as the two | have mentioned for
reasons other than salary. First they
present future. Each girl is studied
tIer individuality is recognized She
has chance. Second, there is the lure
pecially of the costuming of the shows.
There is no woman on earth to whom
the chance TO wear 1900 gown which
IS built to mate her. and only her.
beauty and originality does not appeal"
Even in the matter Of pay Mr.. WAY
burn presented rosy picture OF the
luck OF the present chorus girl in
the rree-for all between wage scale and
mounting costs. My first association
with chorus girls in the show business
was with May Irwin in 1877 said the
producer. 1--WE had an excellent show
and Got the best in the way Of chorus
Broadway could Offer The girls we're
paid SIP a week in New York and Si5
on tour. show with which | was as
soclated shortly afterward paid the
girls $50 week and at that sum.
without any descrtions. tho show went
to the Pacific Coast over tho Northern
Pacific and played back over thc
Southern route. The girls bought all
the accessories Of their costumes and
pad their own sleeper and dining car
bills" N''
AS contrast Mr.. Wayburn said that
the present rate Of pay at the Capitol
and the Foilics was $50 week.