New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-16
BE Jack of All Parts on the Stage
Not Master of One," Says Newly-Wed
Actor; "Specialize Only in Matrimony' "

"Dont specialize" Frank Carter in.
sists On giving this ~advice to young
sectors" He says it is his first offense,
that he's never given any advice to any
one before In his life, and particularly
nsver-well. hardly ever-tc actors.
hut on this occasion he is determined
to advise. II is his first interview since
he left the "Follics" to become a real
actor In "See Saw" scoring strong
personal success and incidentally STIR
ring Broadway for the second time in
single season. The frst time was when
he walked off and married Marilynn
Miller. For these two coups-de- ton
nsrre the visitor from The Tribune
agreed that young Mr.. Carter should
was given carte blanche either to OBJ
serve Aristotle, in providing his inter
view with a beginning. middle and an
end. or not to observe Aristotle.
In the Carter-Miller bridal suite at
the Astor II is hard to observe Aris-
totle. Everything is so young, and
carefree and ecstatic. Here is the pref
test romance our stage has known in
many day. But neither Of the chill
dren can talk about that yet So Frank
Carter decided to launch his interview
Murder me If you must" quoth this
Henry W. Savage's play. "but long to
advise young actors. This may be my
one and only chance. What ! want to
say Is, Don't specialize.
Disqualification seems to me the curse
Of our stage, as we'll as age. Seven
eighths of US get caught in the spe-
eialization net before we even begin to
develop our real talents. mean, once
We hit on one thing that earns US
living. we get so bound up in that thing
that we forget there is great. wide
world around US. Concentrations all
right. but If you put too much force on
too little goal you get all cramped,
narrow. limited, and lose your sense Of
perspective. Then follow compression
and eonceit. Don't paint an allitera-
tive picture?
"But honestly" declared Frank
Carter. ~ know what specialization
means on the stage. Ever since / was
sixteen I've been branded as a spe-
Gus. was with Bostock's Carnival
and my stunt-or specialty-was a
daredevil dive from the top Of maju
pole, ninety feet high, into q pond the
size Of bathtub.
"Twice day for two years I did
this. Then it got on my nerves, as
anything will that you do too long
and missed my aim. Well, after
three cheerful months in q hospital
rejoined the troupe. ! asked for a
different stunt to do. But they didn't
think was good for anything but
diving. That was my first run-in with
specialization. The way beat it was
by making the manager take me back
40 Q ticket seller.
meantime studied with the jug
glers. acrobatic dancers and imperson
etors in the troupe. Every one Of them
told me it was better to be jack-of
ail-trades In the theater than master
Of one. I've learned this since, on
the vaudeville and revue stages. Spe-
cialization simply does not pay. OF
course some speciality actors make
more money in Ave years, on the
stage, than most all-round actors make
in a lifetime; but after five years the
speciality man has exhausted his pub
lie and can't come back Now you
know what it means to stage folk tc