South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-14

just then finished producing. The
people were fo,king 10 II in crowds
and I should Ike him 20 have seen
what 81 was IN such a show that
really fascinated the audience.
Do you think for one moment that
70 was shocking things" that they
were going 20 see? DO you think
that American theater-goers want IN
delicacies on the stage2
No. they were going to see and
hear beautiful things-and that is
what I should Ike 20 have impressed
upon the uniformed mind OF this
minister. The secret Of the fascina-
ton OF the stage today IS beauty. not
suggestiveness.
Beauty in the faces and forms OF
it's actresses.
Beauty in costumes and scenery.
Beauty in music and mirth and
personalities.
great many people have told me
after a performance that they ad-
mired the vigorous action, the life,
snap or. as some said. the pep" that
had been packed into three hours Of
entertainment
It's positively refreshing 10 see
the vitality and radiating personality
of those chorus girls" they would
say.
And right there YOU have the ex-
PLANTATION for the lure Of the stage
land beauty. l. is bounding vitality,
not a display OF silk stockings. that
makes the real hit.
It is personality. not sex appeal.
that fascinates the much talked of
tired business man.
1 told this once 70 a western We
man who was visiting IN New York
and she wouldn't believe me.
Everybody knows all about these
girly SHOWS" she said why they
are just gotten up for the men from
start to finish. All the T. B. NJ
wants TO see rowadays is a row Of
kicking chorus girls"
1 pointed out 10 this lady that she
was mistaken.
In the first place, quite contrary TO
public opinion, more than half the
seats at the so-called girl shows are
occupied by women. I should figure
1t roughly and 60 and 40 per cent. So,
YOU see. the shows are not built en-
tire for men from start TO finish.
More than 60 per cent OF the whole
show-dress, scenery, character OF
the chorus and principals. dancing
and the show itself-is constructed
for the special benefit Of the prepon-
deratinR femin ne element OF nearly
every audience.
In the second place. the modern
musical revue or comedy is not so
weak and lifelcss a thing that 1t has
20 depend for ) IS popularity upon an
emphasis Of sex appeal on the stage.
People often ask me:
What is your attitude on this
much discussed matter?"
My answer is:
Il aim to disregard the sex factor
in my efforts 10 present a truly beau
uful entertainment which will de
light the eye and ear. do not ig-
more it; it cannot be ignored. But l
never aim to emphasize it."
Now. I am well aware that the
popular NNlCdl view Is l0dL the ma
jOrity Of audiences are fascinated by
the purely physical appeal of the
lovely girls whose beauty adOrns the
American stage. But il isn't sO-and
/ the proof lies in the sort of girls that
attain the greatest popularity.
/ The most popular girls are not
| the ones who have the best figure OF
/ the ones who have the best Fl cure OF
/ costumes more scanty than others
And they are not the ones who are
lacking in modesty in either dress OF
manner.
The girls who fascinate the tiret
. business men are the girls WITT
brains. orginai ty. warmth OF man,
ner dash and with mOdesty rather
than immodesty.
heard a story Of a chorus beauty
the other day which well illustrate.
this truth which I have stated. i
seems that this particular young cir
came on from the southwest. where
she had been reared on a ranch. She
had spent her early life among rug
ged cow-punchers and bravado boy.