The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-10

SO tnar refusing 70 l1Dgh AZ loe cups
that used to send them TO sleep in the
cradle is nothing new to them. The fact
that the books OF musical shows are
being written by Glen McDonough. Har-
ry &. Smith, George Hobart and all the
other time honored favorites who union
lied the first jokes shows that managers
feel that patrons are amused by the
same materials as of old. even though
some OF il would be outlawed by tho
statute Of limitations.
III the laughter isn't as raucous as It
used 10 be- II is because new libretto
material is needed, for good stuff Is the
first requisite, no matter whether the
actor Is an excellent salesman and ie
trying 20 sell his bootleg goods. Person
ally / think there never was heartier
laughter, even il the comedian wee2s in
his arid dressing room"
Frank Tinney's Inquiry.
Don't make me laugh said Frank
Tinney to the interviewer at the Seiwyn.
adding an inquiry as 70 when the dry
laws were to go into effect.
IF prohibition is danlper on laugh
ter. why is It there are more laughing
shows on Broadway this year than every
before? You say, I don't know and
answer Yes" At this point Tinney
braced himself with nip OF Hammer
stein houa brew tea.
I'm the old days, before prohibition
turned Broadway generalities upside
down, IL was impossible for comedian
to get to- the wine soaked out OF town
buyers and others to whom theatre
visit was merely a round between drinks.
Before prohibition it was hardly possible
&c book q reputable comedian for club
or g. stag entertainment because the
audience was generally betuddled, and
no comedy short OF buffoonery stood a
chance of bringing down anything but
the chairs on the comedians head.
Audiences have taken on higher order
of intelligence--why. lookit. don't get
the laughs in whiteface now. and doesr
Eddie Cantor appear au naturel. too?'
Harry Kelly of the Century Prom
enade considered that prohibition audi
ences are an aid to the comedian. since
without lingering until everything Is
evaporated and arc consequently in a
better il less fluid frame of mind.
I'm the second place" said the come
dian. drinking doesn't always bring
high spirits. regardless of what the text
books and the barkeeps say. have
played before audiences that seemed stu
pefiod-before I came on, mean. In,
no. saying they had all shipped heavy
sea. But the presence OF numerous
little wet parties in a house will dampen
the enthusiasm of the other patrons"
William Kent at the Longacre Theatre
pointed out that as Herbert said folks
liked only a very good show now, that
was the only kind reputable comedian
cared to put over. when he could feel
the laughs were due TO him and not 70
something out of a spiggot. Kent then
whistled and snorted out this statement :
Lots Of laughter come now from
listeners who rarely went to the theatre
before. because so much of their money
went into the flowing bowl The comedy
bits are newer and fresher to them. and
we notice that quality in the laughter
It's more spontaneous. even II 1t doesn't
come out as an overflow. or course
there are some roles which make a
comedian feel he'd like to get drunk be-
fore playing them. But that's private
matter"