Evening star., 1920-02-29
Music and Drama

ularly brilliant one
Mr.. Blinn, a Californian, first came
60 New York in 1893. He made his
debut at the Broadway Theater IN
play called THE New South. written
by Clay NJ. Greene and Joseph GriS-
mer. Later he appeared with Eme
Ellsler and in Shakespearean roies.
He then began to turn his attention
TO the production of plays ana pro-
duced and played in The cat ana .ne
Cherub" stage classic, of itS tune.
Four wears after his appearance on
Broadway Mr.. Blinn went to London
where he remained for nine years ap-
pearing in many notable productions
He was one Of the original csst OF
Cities" and also in Basil Bonds io
and Little Christina" He also had
part in the spectacular production OF
Don Juan" in association with Martih
Harvey.
Returning to America. he appeared
! in ITO Have and to Hold" and with
Maurice Barrymore and Marie Bur
roughs; also in The Battle OF the
Strong He returned to England re-
manning four years. and created tne
role of Napoleon in George EDWARDS
production. The Duchess OF Dantzic'
the musical play in which he returned
to New York. appearing at Days IN
1905
He starred in "The Clansnan," "Sa-
Man of the Hour" and played opposite
Mrs. Fiske in salvation Nell his
association with Mrs. Fpske continued
for three years when he again began
a series of starring tours that lncluo
ed two years in Edward sheldon
The Boss" and like period in "A
Romance of the Underworld, ny the
late Paul Armstrong.
He assembled the famous Princess
Players. and in two and halt years
thirty plays.
He was one of those responsible for
the production of Getting Together.
stirring war play. in which ne was
associated with the British ana "a
madam recruiting mission and CO.
stared with Blanche Bates. Mr. Blinn
achieved another personal success re-
Gently in Tho Chalenge
Mr. Blinn is a. we'll known in the
fheater as a producer as he is as an
actor. He staged Within me Law, .s,
THE Misleading Lady" and The
Fight" with Frederick stanhope he
staged Getting Together and not a
little of it's effectiveness was que 10
his direction.
Imperxonators of "Ben Hur
Many of Americas best actors have
PLAYED Ben Hur during the twenty
one wears the play has been presented.
1t was originally intended by Gen
Lew Wallace that Walker Whiteside.
the son of lifetime friend. should
create the role. but after rehearsin8
II for ? time Mr.. Whiteside felt he
was not physically equal to its re-
ouirements and voluntarily withdrew
from the cast 1t then fell to +. j.
Morgan to create the character. and
he played it during the long run at
the Broadway Theater, New YORK. MIR.
Morgan died years ago.
NhA nl2S the role
was Emmett Corrigan. who played
smaller role in the original production
and later Simonides, succeeding Hen
ry Lee, who created that character.
Then came William Farnum, one OF
its most successful delineators. He
was in the early twenties then and
made a most romantic figure. He was
the first Ben Hur seen in Washington
and PLAYED the character during a
long run in New York.
to London. Robert Taber. an Ameri-
can actor, then theahusband of Julia
Marlowe. played the role. Adolph
/ Either, Richard Buhler. A. H. Van
Ruren and Robert Frazier were
others.
Richard Ruhler. physically fitted to
the character and one Of it's most
successful pFotasonists. is the Ben
Hur ofethe- presents seduction. He is
a resident OF Washington. grew to
manhood here and has a host Of
friends who will welcome his re-
appearance in this important role.
Fren Burlesque to the Legitimate
The latest recruit to the ranks Of
Broadway musical comedy producers
is Jean Bedini, who. in association
with @. NJ tBronco Billy Anderson
and Messrs. Lee and J. ]. Shubert.
is to present a new. musical revue in
New York this season. The produc-
tion is to be the first of a series of
annual productions and is to be named
The Frivolities of 1919" Bedinfs
advent as a producer of Broadway at
fractions is said to be the direct re-
suit Of his presentation of a two-act
musical revue. "Peek-A Boo" at the
Columbia Theater. in New York. last
spring. where it ran four months and
shattered all records of the theater for
attendance and gross receipts. 1t is!
said overtures were made to Bedini by
both Klaw & Erlanger and the Shu-
berts to withdraw "Peek-A-Boo" from
the burlesque circuit and present it'll
in their houses as regular road at
traction during this season. This,
however. he refused to do, and it con-
tinues in burlesque.
Marian Sunshine-Marian Sunshine.
whose real name is Maria Tunstall
Magdalen Ijamez although born in
Louisville. KY. is the daughter of a |
Spanish planter. who died when his
little daughter was two years old At
the age OF Ave she made her stage
debut in a travelling show. ''rhe Two
Little Waits" with her sister Flor
0nce. Then came season with Rob-
ert Mantell in Shakespearean reper-
tore. Vaudeville next claimed the
two talented youngsters. who won a
reputation as Tempest and Sun.
shine"
They attracted the attention OF
Florenx Ziegfeld. who engaged both
for the first 'Follies." Florence was
allowed to go on, but the authorit e
discovered that Marian was oal.
twelve, aud she was straiEhtway cr-
dered OF to st. Joseph's Convent in
Mount Vernon. where she spent The
next three years in study
She returned to the stage in vaude-
willie. but after short time Joined the
Ehubert organization. to appear in
Winter Garden productions Then
came an engagement with Raymond
Hitchcock. followed by STOP Look
and Listen" Moro recently Misc Sun
shine has been known to theater-
Eoers for her success in Going Up"
A Modest CoMedlan-"Wheneve I
hear bleatinE about them great old
days" Rys Herbert Corthell, 'it gives
me sinking sensation around the belt
buckle and a rising feeling in my Masaa-
chusetts blood.
Especially IL this the case when
tho self-appointed herald Of dead
yesterdays 10 a member Of the the
Atr!cal profession. For. while rich