The Washington times., 1920-09-12
Star in "Martinique" Probing
Aetna Is a Lazy Profession

The French West Indian romance,
Martinique" which rings up tomor-
row night at the Belasco, is by Lau-
renee Eyre, who wrote Mis- Nelly OF
NOrleans" for Mrs. Fiske. In the
cast of Martinique" Is a young man
whose astonishing performance of
Ruff Quembo, the half-breed villain of
the piece, has placed him very near to
stardom. Learning that he had once
been fired by David Belasco for incom-
petence and a little later hired by the
temperamental David as leading man
for Francis Starr. we obtained from
Arthur Hohl, the actor in question,
an account of his professional career
in his own words. Here 1T is:
II have much pleasure in giving
you a few details, some of which may
not be too horrible for public con-
sumption.
"Originally studied mining en-
gineering at Leland Stanford Univer-
sity. California. If the sex had been
right l might have stuck and become
"a famous gold digger" The stage
germ was virulent. however. At the
age of ten l had built my first the
ater on lot eighteen inches square.
This may be proof of artistic leanings
or pure commercialism; the beginning
of the little theater movement or
clairvoyant vision of the possibilities
of theater ownership in New York.
MY parents were opposed to my
contemplated career. Father said 1t
was a lazy profession. ...
Consulted Frank Bacon. Decided
that following his advice would be
too tedious. Conceived many bril-
liant short cuts to fame: that is.
think they were brilliant. l never
had a chance to find out.
"In 1907 played around Frisco with
semi-pro company then lied myself
into an engagement with melo-
dramatic repertory company in south
ern Oregon as leading man. l knew
all about Ibsen, Shaw and Strindberg,
and particularly modern repressed
acting, with the result that i got my
notice at the end of the first week
This peeved me greatly, so; / decided
to give them what they wanted, which
consisted of making the rafters shake
on such lines as Stand back, curse
you" or 81 love you" or "Oh," every
line. The notice was withdrawn after
the next performance. Then l, with
really whitening contempt, quit.
played up and down the Pacific
Coast with all sorts of companies
in everything from Camille to King
Lear. With stock company in
Stockton, Cal. playing two leads a
week, AND FATHER THOUGHT 1T
WAS A LAZY PROFESSION! Then
Bishops company in Oakland, Cal.
In 1910 / went abroad to study
the theatre in England and the.con-
tinent. When l returned | de
termined to try my fortune in New
York. Went on tour with Frederick
Warde in Shakespearean repertory
playing the Poet in "Timon of
Athens" Caesar in the play of that
name, and Appius in "Virginius."
More stock in Cleveland, Ohio.
"In 1911 Joined Belasco in the
humble capacity of understudy with
Frances starr, confident that ID. B."
would discover me and-well, you
know. He did discover me. when
returned to Belasco II was 1918. ]
was engaged as leading man with
Frances starr in a new play, "Ovet
the Hills" which opened at the
Belasco IN Washington, Ind our
amusement was mutual.
However. in the meantime, small
part with THE Governors Lady"
more stock. Tried vaudeville in o
sketch of my own writing. Was told
| was too damned high-brow. Wrote
another. Still too much forehead
please vaudeville and tore 1t up be.
fore anybody saw It,
"In 1914, the young detective in
The Dummy at the Hudson Theatre
Left The Dummy to go to England
where l remained until after someone
started n war. More stock-this time
in Waterbury and Stamford, Conn
Followed Roy Atwell in n low comedy
part in a musical show with joseph
Santley in Chicago, among other
things singing the famous song,
Some Little Bug VIII Get You"
"More knocking about. In the
summer OF 1915 | Joined the Wash.
ington Square Players Here
played % parts In less than two full
seasons just half n block from Broad
way--parts ranging from the song
and dance man In Plots and Play
rights to the strike leader in