The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-22
Mr. Walter Hdn1pden

Always I shall recall with untold pleasure the conversation I had yes terday with the eminent Shake sperean actor, MT. Walter Hampden. Of all the stage celebrities (and I have known quite a few), who have come within my pleasant acquaint- ance, none has more impressed me with his intellectual attainments, his graciousness and his kindness than Mir. Hampden, handsome, elegant. cul- tured.
 Reminding one tremendously of Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson Gin his younger days), of William Faversham back wonder when he played The Squaw Man" (and which by the way he Is "reviving" in New York next week., Mir Hampden. clean cut, as- cetic with his broad intellectual fore head and coal black hair, thin, refined lips which cover the most wonderful snow white teeth anyone has ever looked at, brings to even the casual observer the pleasure of placing him in a class all to himself-younger than his distinguished predecessors more vivid, more colorful more hu- man, snail l say!
 At any rate MT. Hampden is a charming and scholarly gentleman yet modest withal, for when We talked about the Baconian theory in regard to Shakespeare plays he promptly declared that he had read only one book relative to the subject and that was written and presented to him by friend, for he felt 1t not So much question of who wrote Shakespeare's plays but that the plays were written and given to the world
 One would assume that a man as young and as Inexperienced as Shake speare perhaps could not have written the wonderful dramas that he has given us, his environment and his ad- vantages being so diametrically op- posed to his achievements, but then the Savior of Mankind, whose glorious birth we stand on the threshold of celebrating, might have the same charge brought against him-born in a lowly manager, yet King of Kings and Lord Of Lords"
 T played Shakespeare" Mir. Hamp- den declared, before I played any thing else-Ibsen, Shaw, or any other dramatists--for as a youngster I had my training with Sir Frank Benson In England, where first learned to~love and appreciate Shakespeare. My wife, Mabel Moore, who plays a number of the leading roles in my productions was also a member of Sir Frank Ben sons company of players and our courtship and subsequent marriage took place during our happy connec- tion with this company, when we were playing Lorenzo and Jessica, which you'll admit are romantic enough to inspire a mort ardent love affair."
 Of course Mir. Hampden wouldn't confess that Hamlet" of all ShaKe- speare's characters is his favorite, for he declares largely in favor of the poetic fantasy and beauty of Macbeth, who, of course. he adds, is mot an appealing character" and he leans affectionately toward "Shylock,' as almost peer of the illustrious Dane, but all of us who know anything about the stage! know that Mir. Wal ter Hampden's Hamlet" has been the greatest portrayal of the immortal bard's masterpiece since the days of Edwin Booth. therefore his favorite
 Of Sir Johnston Forbes -Robertson's Hamlet" much criticism has been made; of Mir. Robert Mantel's, of MT. Sothern's "Hamlet"-but of Mfr. Wal
 
 who never agree on anybodys Ham let, have agreed unanimously on his. , The significance of this event to our stage can scarcely be overesti- mated. He has accomplished what no other actor has ever been able to do, for he began the undertaking without prestige as star, and without the help of a great tragedian for & fore pear as Edwin Booth did. When all Is summed up. one cannot but help feeling amazed at what MT. Hampden | has done.
 To chronicle the story of such an achievement as this is a pleasure for we nave been waiting for 20 years TOT some great actor to give us a
 Hamlet beyond all reproach, one for which we can feel only reverance and enthusiasm. At last we have such an actor and such a prince of denmark. Of course. now that the impossible" has been done. other actors will try to emulate the deed and we have had scores of Hamlets each season all bidding for the his trionic crown, but MT. Hampden was First in the field, and to him will al ways belong the greater measure of glory no matter how successful imi- tators may be.
 with all that MT. Hampden has done he remains the same modest, an . assuming. lovabie gentleman he has ever been, revering his art as few artists have ever done, and loving the roles he plays far more than he ooes himself or the fame he has won. when l asked him how he felt apout 1t all he smiled his charmjng Q smile and said: It IS wonderful satisfaction, of course, to feel that I have been abIa to make Hamlet live for people again tiful tin loving cup, President Osca r