The sun., 1919-07-06
WHO IS GEORGE WHITEY

IN VERY year brings into electric
~ lights in the theatrical dis.
trict several new names -
always heretofore those OF actors Of
actresses who have leaped into famC
through sudden recognition Of theii
artistry. This season opened with ar
electric sign over tho entrance 70 the
, Liberty Theatre that read George
Whites Scandals Of 1919" and nat.
urally the question was asked "Whc
Is George White?"
Up to few months ago White was
said to be earning more money as q
dancer than Woodrow Wilson IA
President OF the United States He
! Is still in his twenties. He was born
/ in Toronto ran away from home TO
Join a racing stable, drifted to New
York. became a messenger boy, took
message to a famous sightseeing
place in Chinatown and saw money
being thrown at some boys who were
dancing. White delivered the tele-
gram. started to dance--and TO grow
prosperous. He never returned to the
office.
He danced from music hall to bur-
lesque, from burlesque TO vaudeville.
from vaudeville TO musical comedy,
from musical comedy to the "Foll!es,"
then back again to vaudeville as a
producer Of unusual dancing numbers.
Then klaw & Erlanger sent for him
and offered him a Job In one Of their
productions.
But" says White, "I knew that
they wouldn't pay me as much money
as l wanted--as much as I had beep
foolins the vaudeville people into CIV
Ing me for several years. SO thought
the time was ripe to put into practice
what had been dreaming of for
years. You see really have been
seven years perfecting Scandals II
was in 1912. while was dancing at
the Olympia, in Paris, that I got the
idea Of real revue.
TN the first place. there was the
compere, which is French for an
nouncer-in this case a man and q
women who from each side OF the
stage announced the coming scenes
Then again In this revue at the
Olympia there was & burlesque on Lc
hdtin. the famous newspaper, or
rather a ourlesque on the news OF the
day. All the scandals were treated OF
In a humorous vein. From that day to
this have had that in mind and when
decided to decline Klaw & En-
langer's offer and become my own
boss I had already plotted out the gem
eral plan OF Scandals That was a
year ago. From that moment on
worked on plot, scenery, costumes,
cast II really was a simple matter,
for unlike other producers OF revues
l didn't have to employ a lot Of heads
OF departments TO come in with all
sorts OF suggestions. / knew what
wanted, had some money and didn't
stop when the bills began TO come In.
You see had faith, which sustained
me, a bank account that started me.
and, most gratifying OF all, a clean bill
OF credit with the business men with
whom came in contact.
Last year was a busy one with
me. studied the papers like an
editor in search OF what would come
closest to the public interest; hence
the Long Island murders. the shimmy
shop and the other features Of Scan
dals,' While I worked in New York
and on the road kept my eyes open
for the best possible talent OF every
kind. OF course there were two mem
hers OF the cast that needed most:
first girl, young. popular with the
public. l found her in Ann Penning-
ton--indeed, there was never a mo-
ment's hesitation over that choice.
Then I needed the compere, and
instead of following tho. Rax1sianStx