The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-23
Mack Sennett, ComedyKing,
Visits Topeka and Takes
Snap Shot of a "Cop"
Gets Cue From Recent N S. A. Comment On Antics of
Topeka Force-Hes On His Way East To Give
Real Girly-Girly Show.

a successful business man engrossed in
the hazards of great financial enter
prises. sobered by the weight of his re-
sponsibilities as head of an institution
involving the employment of an army
of assistants and aware that success
and popularity are tickle distractions
and belong only to him that earns
them by unceasing Improvement and
Il .'soberside." difficult of access. He
is far from that. being accessible. will
ing, even eager, to listen and a genial
companion. But he is far from being
flippant. given to noisy mirth or an ir
responsible perpetrator of a practical
joke.
Arc Women Funny?
explained to him during the ride
that l thought the American stage and
picture field was experiencing a great
shortage of women who could be real
ly funny.
He said: THAT is a fact. and in
view of the preponderance of male
mirthmakers. the question naturally
arises whether women are really lack
ing in the ability to make an audience
laugh. In spite of what may be said.
however, l refuse to admit that they
lose anything to men as far as humor
is concerned. If the ranks are thin.
there is a reason for it. Women are
not generally encouraged to be funny
In the family circle the boy who can
sing comic song with gusto or turn
a droll countenance is applauded as
clever. But let the embryo CO.
medicine attempt to demonstrate the
power of humor with which nature
has equipped her and she will, in nine
cases out of ten, be told by a shocked
mamma that she is 'unladylike' or
even vulgar in her behavior. And so
the girl whose Unborn spirit bids her
provoke the world with laughter is
i No. TT
umph by being afraid to let herself
go.
"At the same time" continued Mr..
Sennett. It do not intend to imply that
d comedienne should necessarily
strive after humor by copying her
male compeers A woman's humor
runs essentially in a different vein
! from a mans. The comedienne has
to preserve her humor to a higher
tone than a mans and for that reason
/ it demands greater artistry, in my es-
( timation, for a woman to be funnier
/ than a man. An audience expects
something daintier and more original
from her. She has. therefore. a bigger
| job to get a laugh. Another reason
why it is difficult for a girl to make a
name as comedienne is that some
| hops or other the public does not ex-
pects a woman to be funny. Once she
proves it to them they will Immediate
ly recognize it. I have a hard time
with a great many women who come
to me looking for work. They think
they are funny. and those are the
| hardest to handle"
Once u Stock Actor.
And so we trailed about the city
Sennett rambling from one thought tc
the other and such a good time 1 had
with him. Finally we reached the de-
pot and he crawled on the merry ole
Santa Fe for the east.
I was very happy for the visit and
hope and wish him we'll He is de
serving of all he has in this world
Just a few short years ago he wa:
just an ordinary sort of a stock actor
He saw the possibilities of the picture
game and he grasped it. Today he 1!
the foremost producer of comedy pic
lures and is the originator of all tha
is clever and funny in screen come
dies. 1 hope he comes again. some
time, 1 would like to have another
chat with him. And that ended {
regular visit with a regular fellow
So, you tell 'em aviator. I can't sea
plane. And 1 guess that will be abou
all