The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-21
Aroused Great Enthusia-m.


Aroused Great Enthusiusm.
That determination, as expressed by a
man WIN silver white hair, who will in
a re" months have been connected with
the theatre in this country for half a
century, aroused great enthusiasm. and
absolutely no doubt among the diners.
Mr.. Belasco, disclairning the honors
paid him for himself, credited them to
the American stage as a whole and con-
tinued
VIII It seem TO any that I presume
IN speaking of myself as representa-
i've OF the theatrical profession? | hope
ana think not. for l have labored many,
many years in the theatre. There is no
branch OF it in which 1 have not had
long and varied experience. Super
huheFary, actor, company manager,
agent publicity man, hack playwright,
stage manager, theatre MANAGER. direc-
tor, producer, dranatist. Instructor Of
acting. Yes, and scene shifter, stage
hand, call boy and bill sticker, | have
been them all.
FOR eleven years / worked In the
theatres OF old San Francisco, the dream
CITY OF theatrical romance. For thirty
nine years next August / have without
pause worked In the theatre Of this
great city. and here for nineteen wears
nave been manager of my own the
atre."
He told OF having been a stroller"
VINO had acted In It's different parts by
the time he was 20; of appearing in
mining camps like Virginia City, New,
then called hell with the blower on"
Of acting when stroIling often meant
walking into town beating n big drum
and running out Of town pursued by an
irate Sheriff or a still more irate hotel
Keeper with bill in one hand and a
sixshooter In the other" He told, too of
playing with Edwin Forrest and Charles
kean, with Sedley-Smith, Barry Sulli-
van. THE man John Mccullough. the
noblest Roman OF them all !" with Bar
rett and Sheridan and Booth. and with
the many others who came after.
1t was no uncommon thing in those
days for manager to read a play for
the first time on a Wednesday or even
on Thursday night, and to have re-
written it and seen il produced on the
following Monday evening. Those we've
the days."
The first play Mr. Belasco produced
in New York. At the old Madison Square
Theatre, in West Twenty-fourth street
called Young Mrs. Winthrop" was
success. and more than this In Mr.
Belasco's opinion II was from the pen Of
Bronson Howard. founder of the society
and my philosopher and guide"
The stage in this country, Mr.. Be
lasco declared, need not dread conpari-
son with that of any other country I'm ali
the world. In thanking those present
for the honor paid to him he concluded
FOR that friendship and love. again
and again ! thank you Never, never
can forget-until the last dark curtain
falls"
Pays Tribute TO Mr.. BeIasco.
Prof William Lyon Phelps Of Yale,
who presided, paid great tribute to Mr..
BelHsco. and said:
Mr. Belasco has the secret Of genius,
tho secret OF starting each day with
fresh steam and vigor. He never be-
comes mechanical. Most people find
their Joy outside their work. Mr.. Be-
lasco finds all his pleasure within mis-
work"
Daniel Frohman. old timer himself,
sketched the life Of Mr.. Belasco In the
days of his youth and his Anal achieve
ment or managerial salary OF s3b n
week IN New York. After him came
Sir Philip Gibbs. with a plea for closer
union between Britain and America,
Miss Laurette Taylor with words OF
humor and praise for the producer,
Major-Gen. John f. Organ and others
OF the guests OF honor, long list in
GLIDING Miss Geraldine Farrar. John
Drew, Cosmo Hamilton. Franklin Sar-
gent, Miss Rose Coughlan. ono tine
Gov. Charles $. Whitman, Miss Frances
Starr. William 4. Brady. William Gil
lettc Arthur Hobson Quinn, George
Pierce Baker and Roland Holt
Among the many others present were
Edmund Brcose, Mr., and Mrs. Martin
Beck, Mr.. and Mrs. Morris Gest, Sam H.
Harris, Avery Hopwood, Miss Margot
Kelly Marc Klaw. Niles Carroll Nc
Comas. Louis Mann. J. Hartley Manners,
Samuel Shipmar. Edgar Selwyn and
Elmer Tahiuger.