davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Burlesque Purges Itself
OF Baseness of the Past;
The Columbia am Example

In a poorly lighted street. in a
shady section Of town, any large town,
stood a theater, dirty and uninviting
on the outside and not any more invit-
ing on the inside. That was the bur-
lesque theater of ten or fifteen years
ago.
Some, without pride, walked boldly
up to the box office, bought their tick
cts, and entered. Others, probably in
frequent visitors, walked briskly and
slinkingly on the darker side Of the
street, fearful of being seen. INSIDE, q
predominantly male audience sat
watching the immoral dances then
prevalent and applauding the vulgar
and suggestive comedy. Beer was
peddled through the audience and the
whole thing took on the appearance of
stag" party instead of perform
ance for which rhe public, both men
and women. could buy tickets Of admit
tance.
All this has changed and the bur-
! lesque theaters which caused burlesque
to he looked upon as form of vul-
garity have been as completely elimi-
mated as if the earth had opened and
swallowed them all. In the fore
ground OF those who have been striving
for clean burlesque have been Sam A.
Scribnsr and j. Herbert Mack, gen.
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Life and Drama as Seen
By William Hodge, Author
OF The Guest of Honor

John Wetherbee, in "The Guest Of
Honor" is struggling poet, inhabting
a garret with few books and an
adopted child as his companions. So
William Hodge, author and star in the
play, in tattercd raiment, sat in his
dressing room at the Broadhurst Thea
ter, waiting for the cue for his en-
trance. Mr.. Hodge is one of those
pipe SIN oking men who talk easily and
calmly and with much reflection be-
tween puffs on q favorite briar.
II am poor subject for an inter-
view" was his greeting, while he load
ed his pipe and prepared to light up.
Doyle has hogged spiritualsm. am
not yet ready to talk with my departed
brethren. | still am interested in the
live ones. the ones | can see walking
about" he said with the characteristic
closing and opening of his eyes.
Its hard to expect man to come
off busy, busting Broadway and sit
down beside a little babblng brook
and read a book. He must be prepared
for it in advance. That is precisely
what the critics had to do when they
came to see my play. Perhaps they
were not prepared for the simplicity
Possibly it was little too tame for
them. do not offer The Guest of
Honor' as a thrilling melodrama or as
discussion of any great moral prob
lem. I did not intend it as such. 1t
is chunk of life and that is what in
terests me most---lfe walk the streets
and look at life, and the incidents of
the play are ones which / know to be
true.
"You know" he said whimsically,
when a boy starts smoking all to-
bacco seems alike to him. After a
while he begins to know tobacco. So,
too, with play after a time a man
gets to know plays. But there comes a
time, both for the smoker and the play
goer, especially, when they get along
in years, when their viewpoint and
values change. have noticed that in
my own case. A man out in Chicago
has been supplying my tobacco for
years Recently l went to him. Isn't
this tobacco getting stronger? asked.
He looked at me. No, it's the same
tobacco he said I'm sure it seems
stronger to me- You know YOU are
getting older, Mr.. Hodge, he answered. y
The actor author puffed meditatively
on his pipe for a few minutes. He ran
his hand through his blond hair and
smiled.
Failure means nothing to me. It's
just like poker. You don't give up If
you draw bad hand. You shuttle the
deck and try again. There are plenty
Of other hands in the deck. If YOU
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Brooklyn Theaters

MONTAUK-Lenore Ulr:c in "The Som
Daughter" bv George Scarborough
and David Belasco. will be here.
Some Of the Others in the cast are
Thomas Findlcy, Marshall Brming-
ham, Harry Mestaycr, Albert Brun-
ming, Lyle Clement, Marion Abbott
and Jane Ferrell.
MAJEsTIC-Arthur Richmans comedy
of the '70s, mot So Long Ago with
Eva LIE Gallienne and Sidney Black
mer in the cast, will be the attrac-
ton.
Observation-Disclosures" the
rusicalized Kitty MacKay," with
Tessa Kosta, Molly Pearson and Colin
O'More in their original roles, VIII
be presented here.
ORPHEUM--Adelai and j. J. Hughes
have returned TO vaudeville after
two years in a Broadway production
and will top the bill. Gilmore and
Williams. Gertrude Vanderbilt, Russ
Brown and Connie O'Donnal, Ray
mond Bond, Tony aud the Four Or
tons.
BUSHWTCk-"On Fifth Avenue" billed
as "a Promenade of Fun and Song on
Fashions Boulevard will be the
headline feature Eddie Borden Is
featured. George n Browns "Pedes-
trianism," VIII Oakland, Larry Har'
kins and company. Al RAYMOND. Mer,
ritt and Bridewell, the Randal!s ana
the Dare Brothers.
STRAND - Conscience Talmadge IN
Good References" is the feature
film.
LOEW's METRoPoLITAN-"Money Is
Money" tops the vaudeville bill ior
the first half of the week. Wallace
Reid in What's Your Hurry" Will
be the film Offering. Will Morris
sey's "Buzzin' Around" will be the
headliner for the second half of the
week. Clara Kimball Young, in
story of California, will be the screen
offering.
sTAR-Max B. spieeel will present
The Social Follies." his burlesque
production, for 81 weeks run here.
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26

Chow" which cost $1,000 after that
came "Aphrodite," which cost $500, 900
TO produce. and now the total of $780,
900 will. be reached before the first
curtain rises on Mecca" These in
creases have been due to the great
increase in the cost Of labor and mate
rails as well as the fact that mecca"
will be much bigger in every way.
There is no other stage in New York
like the Century Theater to accommo-
date this production, and it never could
be given on the stage Of an ordinary
theater.
The scenery Of "Mecca" was painted
in London by Joseph and Philip Hark-
er, the scenic artists who painted for
Sir Henry Irving and for the London
Drury Lane productions. The mechani-
cal work was done here In New York
by Theodore Reisig, the master me-
chanic for Oscar Hammerstein, who
has had force Of stage carpenters
working night and day for more than
four months building the framework
for the scenes. The properties have
been made by Henry Gebhardt. Carl
Link designed the Oriental properties.
The costumes, of which there are more
than 1900 were designed by Percy An
derson.
Michel Fokine is now directing the
ballet and choreographic scenes.
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Bert Williams, of Minstrel
Fame, Makes Painstaking g
Study Of Character Parts

Bert Williams 10 coming to town
again. Time was when this comedian
was whole show by himself. and then
there were other times when he was
the biggest part Of q show. In George
lie Mares Broadway Brevities, ls2o,'
which comes to the Winter Garden
September 2s, Williams will have an
opportunity to show the highest of
those talents which have made him
one Of the best known comedians.
Bert Wflliams's art is found in con-
structive Characterization. The slow
amoiing gait, the balanced intonation,
the emphas'zing gesture, all have their
place IN making reality Of the man
whom he Is portraying. He looks ON
each OF the characters he plays as q
separate person and ne plays them in
Just that way after the most pains.
xaking study. To see Bert Williams
from the front 1t looks very simple
sn9 very easy. That is where simple
Ino easy'appearing things are usually
So IL Is with the songs that win.
rams sings; First he learns the lyric
sad tnen he gees 20 work at it, Just
as good actor studies and works In
part But he must put the charaete,
over In two or three verses and az
many chorusss instead Of having an
entire evening 70 do It. Therein the
art Of this comedian is best revealed
Bert Williams began his career "a
o minstrel playing banjo. He then
went into what was known In those
days ss variety" This was on the
Pacific Coast. and there was one place
called the Midway Piaisance whsre
Williams and his partner, under the
teaua name Of Williams and Walker
starred for two years. They at length
came to the Eastern theaters, but a
long and hayd struggle ensued before
raeogniaton was given them. When
Walker had 70 retire. Bert Williams
went % alene and 10 such good pug
gesa the8 be has vsaysA9ss rssny sne.
sssSsa M ssaesf ssvssAiee
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Fifteen Years of Climb
Behind Lulu McConnelI's
Central Theater Success

After being told that considerable
number Of tie Broadway experts were
wondering as to her identity, and
that most of the thousands who have
laughed at The Poor Little Ritz Girl"
never had heard of Lulu Mcconnell
until Lew Fields brought her to the
Central Tneater a icw weeks ago, the
same Lulu Mcconnell readily agreed
the other day to diagram q few of the
high lights in her career.
"When an unknown steps into
production and makes them take no.
rlce," said Miss Mcconnell, IT usu-
ally is the verdict Of the experts
that here is a person who just hap
pened overnight, and they n Yer con-
slider the work the artist may have
performed before snc has reached the
top of the hill.
1--WE worked with the rest Of the
vaudeville help over at the Palace and
other theaters of that character" said
Miss Mcconnell, "but The Poor Little
Ritz Girl was my first Broadway show.
| had never shared chorus honors or
dabbled in the showgirl stuff. In fact
l had never seen the working side Of
a legitimate Broadway stage until |
got my present engagement with Lew
Fields.
bQo a blOdONdS SUCCESS 1871 lleCCS-
sarily based on Broadway experience
had been working up to the top of the
hill for more than fifteen Years and for
the first ten years OF my career was
uncertain as to the particular path
wanted to follow. | was born and
reared in Kansas City, Mo, and with
local stock company there played
every sort of role in comedy, tragedy
and the romantic drama. Our stock
company tackled anything and we usu-
ally got away with it. Before joining
this stock company | had experienced
all the terrors of the repertoire tours
in the loneliest of one-nirht stands,
and l had worked in vaudeville houses
chat, while they were not within shout
ing distance Of the mark of the Palace
Music Hall, were vaudeville houses
nevertheless, and places where amhi-
tious performers were permitted to
work all the way from two to six shows
a day.
The stock company experience was
most valuable, for it gave me chance
at wide variety of roles in every
phase of the drama and with a change
II bill every week the young people
store of useful knowledge every seven
days throughout a period of forty
weeks.
when the Broadway opportunity
came this season, after the long and
tedious climb, climb, climb up the hill,
| had my fifteen years of assorted ex-
pcriences from the wild and woolly'
draw upon, and you know what hap
pencd."
Miss McConnells success in "The
Poor Little Ritz Girl" has been most
mphatic. Iers, perhaps, is the most
striking individual success in musical
'omedy this season, and Lew Fields
aust think so, for he has signed
.hreeyear contract with the former
Kansas City girl, who is to be featured
in a new production next season, and
who is to be starred call by herself
during the second year Of the contract.
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26

about year before another nearby
theater which has become the home Of
elaborate productions was ready for it's
first performance. The builders Of the
new house had no definite policy in
mind for it. For q year they visited
the Columbia weekly, sometimes taking
our performers, but really there to
They took over our plan for their new
house, and decided to magnify it. In
stead of spending $4,000 or $4,000 on
scenery and costumes, as we did, they
decided to spend $4,000. For weekly
pay roll they would have $4,000, instead
of $500 to $4,000. They are adhering
to the policy adopted from burlesque,
featuring principally specialties and a
beautiful chorus. Their shows are the
same as ours except in the cahber Of
the entertainers. In the first eight or
duced by them which did not have
some performer who had been discov-
cred in the ranks of burlesque. Some
of these were Joe Barton, Joe OFT,
Stella Barton and Lon Haskell, all of
whom made good. And they did pre-
cisely tho same things they did on The
Columbia stage-in stage parlance,
their own stuff These people were
just as clever on the Columbia stage
as they were when they joined the cast
of the more expensive production. This
shows what burlesque has arrived at.
Leon Enrol played in burlesque for
seven consecutive years, coming to the
Columbia each year, until he was en-
gagged for the 'Ziegfeld Follies' to be
the principal comedian. He did the
same thing that he had done in bur-
lesque. And there are others who have
gone out, made good and then returned
to burlesque."
In line with the Improvement in the
production itself. the type of theater
used and the location of the theater
also have improved. No longer are
they dirty and uninviting. No longer
are they in dark streets, in shady dis
tricts. The efforts to clean up burlesque
have been successful and have received
public Endorsement where it does the
most pood--at the box Office
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Scenario Writers Have
Golden Opportunity to
Market Plays, It's Said

If writing the scenario were the only
problem to be solved by the man and
woman interested in producing film
works there would be little left to
worry about, Maurice Tourneur, the
noted director, remarks in discussing
the question Of marketing motion pic
ture manuscripts. Then he proceeds to
tell the ambitious ones what they
should and should not do in order to
make the most of their efforts.
Selling the completed story" he
says, ais, of course, the difficult part
of it. Therefore, scenario writers to-
day are confronted with one Of the
most difficult jobs connected with the
production of motion pictures.
THE successful scenarist, the one
who commands high salary and whose
work is sought by big producers, must
be cognizant of every new angle in
production. To-day his script is time
ly; tomorrow it may be out of date.
Changes are incessant.
"Ln its more than twenty-five years
of existence the photopiay has raced
for development, and advancement to-
day is going ahead like great snow
ball, gathering size and weight with
every revolution. 1t is indeed strug-
gle to keep pace with It,
each department of all the studios
is endeavoring to give the world new
who aspires to fame must keep track Of
what is being made or his story will
be outclassed by q more observing
writer.
From its inception the story should
be kept strictly up to the minute tech
nically as we'll as in an artistic and
dramatic way. We are getting a truer
sense of values all the time and are
coming to see that there can be more
real drama in a single look than in a
great mob scene or in some spectacular
stunt. Drama is and always will be
the essential element in every story,
whether it be for book, stage or screen.
"Some years ago l predicted that di-
rectors would become independent pro-
ducers; that the star system would
dwindle, but not vanish, and that the
the prime elements in the construction
of the finished screen play. To-day sub
tleties are appearing more and more.
The screen drama at present is reveal
ing true character, personality and
thought more than ever.
"In order to reap the golden harvest
in the scenario field, Che ambitious
writer must keep his eye on every
division of the industry. He must first
know what is the popular type Of pic
ture; when such matter is wanted,
and everything relative thereto.
"One good way to keep we'll informed
is to follow the reviewers. Read the
trade journals, magazines and news
papers. II you desire to succeed in
any line, learn all you can about that
business-know more than the other
fellow-soon somebody will discover
you, and then you will be success.
"Never fear that your story will be
stolen. Legitimate producers are not
thieves. Misunderstanding occur oc-
casionally. Almost identical thoughts
are known to occur simultaneously in
the minds of two persons in widely
separated communities, with the result
that plagiarism Is charged, suits some
times follow, and then embarrassments.
To-day the great Aim industry pays
more for pictures than it ever did be-
fore, and there is no reason why
writer's should not be profiting as a
result"
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
A Peep at Real New York

New York as it really exists, high
lns.n NE and low life. is to be shown in the
by Max Brand, by the Universal Film
Corporation. Frank Mayo will be
starred.
1t is promised that actual nhoto.
graphs Of seldom explored regions OF
the city's underworld are to be flashed
upon the screen, and also that the inte.
rior Of many Of those palaces that line
Fifth Avenue and The Drive will be
seen for the first time in motion n,c.
ture form. The methods by which thew
obtained the pictures are to be OK.
planned with the drama.
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26

and Morris Gest is authority for the
statement that there is more lusa Der
and more canvas in this production
than in any two of the other big spec
tacles he has produced Also the cost
Of the new production has gone up by
leaps and bounds over the previous
productions. Mr.. Gest states that The
Wanderer" represented an investment
Of $125,000; then came "Chu Chin
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Meighan Coming 20 New York

Thomas MeIghan. the "Admirab,e
Crichton," and "Why Change Yon<
Wife" hero Of the motion pictures. ia
on his way to New York from Los An.
geles. He 10 to make a picture here,
and. 1t 10 said, may appear, personally
an several Of the New York shsatess
-. s.ss atr ~ N rs IN s,.,,s
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
English Screen Actor ON Tour

Bruce Gordon. the young Englishman
introduced to the American stage in the
J. Stuart Blackton photo-melodrama,
"The House Of the Tolling Bell" has
appearances with the film at the Nixon
Theater in Philadelphia. He is featured
with May McAvoy in the screen produc-
ton, and also in forbidden Valley" 3
Biackton production to be shown in
October. Mr.. Gordon was born in
Johannesburg, South Africa, and acted
extensively in England, France and
Holland before coming to America.
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
AT the Columbia

Jean Bedini will present "Twinkle
Toes" his latest burlesquc production,
at the Columbia Theater beginning to-
morrow afternoon. 1t is in two acts
and eight scenes Of short comedy bits,
musical numbers, dancing and vaude.
vile speeialties. Tom Smith and Ralph
Austin head the east, which also in
clndes Jimmie Shea, Betty Weber, Xela
Madcag, Arthur CcnncllI yeen Evol,l
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
AT Outlying Houses

SHUBERT- RIVIERA - The attraction
here will be Marjorie Aambeau IN
The Sign on the Door," by ChanninS
Pollock.
New-York tribune., 1920-09-26
Cahill Again i'm Vaudeville

Mayl0 CansH 10 60 appear A&ath S3s rs q 4
yAuasyall slass saasea. She viii hsgS a3I. sdll
Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-11-19
REGULAR MEETING
OF The COUNCIL

All members Of the Village coun-
ell were present last Monday even
ing at the regular meeting; there
was the, lin these days usuaD
struggle with the financial problems
OF the corporation which involves
.le transfer OF moneys from one
fund to another in order to get
sufficient cash together to meet
pressing Obligations in some one of
che departments of the village gov
ernment; it requires expert finance
ability not to mention patience and
persistence which the councilmen,
Mayor and Clerk with the assistance
of the City Solicitor are furnishing.
At the same time thankful that they
are still able to keep all depart
ments of the village going, even
though unable to make the improve
ments and repairs that are impera-
1--WE, as they would like to do.
Mr.. A. j. Fields was present to re-
peat his request for sidewalk grade
along his premises on Wood Street
and call attention of the need Of ad-
ditional street lights on that street.
The sidewalk grade was ordered
given at the earliest possible date
and action was taken to secure the
necessary light. A new street light
was also ordered for West Superior
Street. A motion to transfes funds
IN order to meet bills past due was
carried.
Complaints were presented thru
one of the councilmen regarding the
so called punch Boards" in use in
certain of the business places, as
gambling devices. The Marshal was
instructed to notify those firms US
ing said devises to discontinue US
.Ag them at once.
An ordinance to authorize the
Board of Trustees of Public Affairs
TO purchase an additional acre Of
land from the Jay Funk farm to be
ued in building the reservoir for the
new water works plant was pre-
sented and placed on its first read
ing.
Claim ordinance was read and
passed and Council adjourned to its
next regular meeting December
9Th.
Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-11-19
THE RED CROSS
ANNUAL ROLL CALL

Under the leadership of Messrs
Ed Scott, w. C. Fink and Howard
Lyon for the North Side Business
section and Messrs c. D. Perry,
Clement Standish and Clyde Wager
for the South Business section and
Mrs. c. P. Grisier, Mrs. Charles
Humphrey, Mr.. Rease w. Campbell
and Mr.. Earl D. Harger for the re-
sidence sections, together with the
following solicitors and helpers:
Mrs. Bonnell, Mrs. Jordan, Mrs.
knight, Mrs. Merrill, Mrs. Fouty,
Mrs. Sweeney, Mrs. Dickson, Mrs.
Hartman, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Ralph
Miley, Miss Fannie King, Miss
Lillian Evans, Mrs. ,WhiteseH, Mrs.
Maddox, Mrs. May Howard, Mrs.
Ernest Reynolds, Mrs. Geo. Schan1p,
Miss Opal McClarren, Miss Edna
Croninger, Mrs. Flo Ufer, Mrs. &.
v. Soule, Mrs. R. O. Merrill, Mrs.
G. c. Cummings. Miss Lillian Robb,
Mrs. Will Robb, Miss Julia Burr,
Miss Helen Upp, Mrs. Paud Hayes,
Mrs. Geo. Gorsuch, Mis- Simon Funk
houser, Mrs. Wager, Mrs. Rowe,
Mrs. Oakley, Mrs. Disbrow, Mrs.
Sullinger, Miss Emily Orndorff,
Mrs. Henry Schlatter, Mrs. Harger,
Miss Doris Border and Miss Dorothy
Waldron, the Red Cross membership
drive was started and has been prac-
ticaIly completed within the last
week with reported membership
to date of more than four hundred
and other reports to still come in.
There is wide spread belief that
since the war is over there is no
longer any use for the Red Cross
organization and that it ought to be
disbanded and the work discontinu-
ed. The truth of the matter is that
in one month the Red Cross organi-
cation has extended relief to almost
a half million adults and more than
a hundred thousand children through
out the world and this month is but
typial of other months and the needs
are multiplying day by day.
The Red Cross of the Nation has
la great peace-time program, the Red
Cross of Fulton County has a well
worth while peace time program, we
need your help and sympathy even
more than we need your money, but
unless you join and become interest
ed in the organization you are not
very apt to lend your assistance.
Don't you want to belong to such
an organization Help the organi-
zation, help the solicitors and help
your community by joining when
asked to.
The Red Cross organization of
Fulton County desires to extend its
thanks to those who have given of
their time and energy to make this
drive a success and as well to all
those who have joined during this
drive.
Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-11-19
HALF MILLION CONTRACT CLOSED
The Automotive Body Company of Wauseon Close Con-
tract With the Brscoe Motors Corporation of
Jackson, Mich, for Car Bodies.

and assure their comfort and well
being they will appreciate and it
will help to make them contented
citizens who in their turn will be-
come boosters for the town. Above
all else "Boost" don't "Knock;" find
out for yourselves what is going on
down at the Automotive Body Com
plny pant, you will find some very
agreeabls, courteous gentlemen
down there and then when you have
found out remember it is a Wau-
seon institution and talk it up
among your friends, get acquainted
with these new people-"you might
like each other"
At all events for the honor of the
Wauseon that is and the good of
the Wauseon that is to be let US
as citizens get back of this institu-
ton that has made good" and help
them to make better"