New-York tribune., 1920-05-30
Lightnin' Bill Joneses
Plentiful i'm Real Life;
Nothing's New to Them
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that would sound like one that had
been submitted to me, and then the
person who wrote the one sent to me
would say l stole his play. l don't
want any Misunderstanding. So 1
don't read them"
He is writing new play now, him
self. Really, he has two or three, he
says, that he might try out some day,
playing the principal part himself. But
just now "Lightnin'" is never going
through a performance without every
Single, solitary seat" being occupied,
and SO why should he think of any
other play?
There is one subject, though, that
brings an unusually broad smile to Mr..
Bacon's face, and he shakes his white
hair and his foot will strike the floor,
and he tells you that "Lightnin' in
novel form is now in its third edition,
and going like hot cakes" Why, he
will say, it seems to be as much
sought after as tickets for the play
itself. Seems the people out in Cali
fornia are just as eager to read it as
those in Maine, and in Texas big orders
are coming in for it, as we'll as In
South Dakota and Missouri.
in other days out through those sec
tions that they wish to see his new
book, 1t is suggested again. He has
played there, has he not?
"Yes," smilingly. II played out
there. Fifteen years ago-let's sec
yes, fifteen, l was playing in Cali
fornia piece through Kansas and Mis-
souri,. You say you're from Kansas
Yes? What part? OH Yes played
there. Once"
Mr.. Bacon says he never has been
happier in part than in "Lightnin,'
and he says there are few things that
he has noticed that might be improved
upon, from the standpoint OF the audi
ence. Although he doesn't feel strong
ly enough upon the subject to go about
talking about it.
Mr.. Bacon doesn't make up for his
part in "Lightnin.'" He always has
been against the use of too much make
up and too much acting" He believes
on the stage the better will be the
effect. He simply puts a little red on
his nose to show that he likes his
liquor, and then, as he says, II don't
have to be 80 drunk"
If you ask him what his explanation
Is for the record breaking success OF
"Lightnin'" he is likely to answer you
by saying after hesitating for so long
a time you wonder if you haven't ap-
preached a subject distasteful to him
that There just-seems to be-some-
thing about-the lay-that-they-
like"
His wonderful sincerity when he
speaks to you, his careful selection OF
English, his entirely unaffected manner
and his deep conviction that the stage
and the play have definite and serious
places in the makeup of things bring
yon to look upor his splendidly carved
face with feeling of deepest respect
and admiration and you want to say to
him over and over again that you think
he Is about the most wonderful actor in
the world. And. even if you did, he
would smile and turn his head bit
and say, like he does in "Lightnin'.'
Thank you. Thank you"
Mr.. Frank Bacon lives Bill Jones
as he acts Bill Jones. That is, he is
not in every detail like Bill Jones in
the play, but the big heart is there, and
the honesty is there, and the quaint
ness sand character are there. What
more could be asked?