New-York tribune., 1920-03-21
Intimate Information From the Realm of Male-Beleve
Theda Bara Prophesies
Need of Police Reserves
To Handle Her Crowds

The morning after IN exhausting
premiere 10 aot exactly the most ap-
propriate time in the world for an inter-
view. But Theda Bara. with the men,
DRY Of the opening Of "The Blue
Flame" at the Shubcrt Theater wildly
in her mind, was able to Danish the
nervous strain Of the 6rst night very
quickly.
Theda Bara, 30 inevitably associated
in the minds Of all movie fans" with
the role of vampire" has in her new
play what she terms q bridge between
the screen and the stage.
II has been said" she began, "that
this play was written expressly for me,
but there were really four or Ave plays
from which to choose. knew that
some people wanted to see me as
good little girl and that some other
people wanted to see me as bad little
girl. The Blue Flame gave me both
roles. II Is means Of transition from
the screen to the stage"
The first appearance In person since
her great screen success probably
brought disillusion to 80 many of her
admirers as could crowd themselves
into the theater on the opening night.
Iaughingly, Miss Bara referred to the
popular conception, gained from seeing
statuesque beauty, some nine feet tall
and of tremendous weight. Actually,
Miss Bara is of slight, girlish figure;
the beauty which has been reflected on
the screen Is as effective on the stage
black hair. drawn low over the tenn
pies; heavy -lidded eyes, mobile
mouth. and q full and exotic cast Of
countenance. This Is the picture, in
complete without mention of Miss
o1>
cially pleasing in the deeper tones.
That voice could not be heard to
advantage the first night of "The Blue
Flame" because, as Miss Bara ex-
planned, of a cold caught on Sunday
night. After four weeks on the road,
during which "The Blue Flame" had
been played in Stamford, the tradi-
tional "dog," Washington, Pittsburgh
and Boston. the company reached New
York so close to the hour of the open
ing performance that it was necessary
to hold the final rehearsal in the wee
sma' hours Of Monday morning.
Straightway came shiverings and
sneezes, and when Monday evening
came Miss Bara's voice was sadly i'm
paired, especially for those scenes
wherein she WAS forced to call upon
her deeper tones.
She confessed to great nervousness
On-tne opening. AitHouSu SHlo wa" .'~e
the first appearance Of the screen star
upon the speaking stage, it was the
frst time since she has created
through her work on tho screen her
own particularly distinct type of part.
She was graduated from a school of
dramatic art and appeared for short
time upon the stage before going to
the silent. drama. Yet "The Blue
Flame" brought the tense nerves OF
premiere on Broadway. The greatest
ovation of all came. she confessed, at
q particularly awkward moment, and
for second she feared that she would
be unable to proceed.
Miss Bara had not read the press
criticisms of the opening when she was
seen.
"They had to call out the police re-
serves in Boston, and the same thing
will happen in New York, she said.
One who had seen the turbulent
stream of humanity at the entrance Of
the Shubert Theater on Monday night
could we'll comprehend the necessity
for police reserves.
An interview with Theda Bara would
be incomnlete without a bit of word
3or Petey, who replaces a dog lost
recently by the star. Petey, Miss Bara
explained is very proper. sort of bull
terrier, being half bull aid half ter
rier. He had been very taciturn dur
ing the interview itself. adding notn-