The Washington times., 1921-01-02
Rooney and Bent Like TO Make
Their Debuts In the Capital

Seventeen years ago a very. very
young couple made their vaudeville
debut together in Washington. They
were not the headliners on the bill
and their future was as yet an uncer-
tainty. During the intervening seven
teen years this young couple rose to
the very pinnacle of big time vaude-
willie.
They became known from coast to
coast as two OF the most popular ar
lists grazing the vaudeville stage.
They both hated to leave vaudeville
for after all those years vaudeville
has taken on the atmosphere of home
to them, SO much so that they might
be called children OF vaudeville.
But they are graduating TO stardom
in a great Broadway musical comedy.
and vaudeville had TO become a mem
DRY. And strange to say, they are
making their debut as stars of must
cal comedy in the same city in which
seventeen years ago, they made their
debut in vaudeville.
These two successful young ar
fists are Pat Rooney and Marion
Bent, who come to Polls Theatcr for
one week beginning tonight. They
are the bright particular stars OF
Love Birds" the new Wilmer Il Rom
berg production which enjoys Sig
mund Ronber's melodies, Ballard
Macdonald's lyrics, a story by Edgar
! Allan Woolf. the artistry of Homer
, Conant and the stage direction of
! Julian Alfred and Edgar McGrcgor.
Love Birds" also carries a great
cast of stars such as Elizabeth Muir
ray, Eva Davenport. Elizabeth Hines,
| Emile Lea, Evelyn Cavanaugh. Jo-
sephine Harmon, Barrett Greenwood.
| Tom Dinglc, Richard Bold, Harry
! Mayo. James l.. Sullivan, Sylvia Ford,
| Gypsy Norman. and a host of others.
4 glimpse at these names will bear
witness to the extent of the success
achieved by Rooney & Bent since
| they made their vaudeville debut here
seventeen years ago. for they are the
bright and shining stars of Love
| Birds" Notwithstanding this galaxy
/ of talent.
Pat Rooney made his debut uron
th stage at the time Of his fathers
death thirty years ago. in a produc-
ton in which the elder Pat Rooney
was to star.
John Cort, who is now one of
Americas most successful theatri-
cal producers. was not very big
factor in stage circles at the time
OF the elder Pat Rooney's death.
but he had arranged show called
Lord Rooney" in which the dancer
and comedian was TO he starred.
| During rehearsals Rooney died
suddenly from pneumonia. 1t had
been his ambition that his son
should be n lawyer or physician.
But financial matters made this
dream impossible when the noted
dancer and comedian died. He had
H.. 4. L., a
| also been good spendCr.
Upon his fathers death, young Pat
! found himself the sole support of his
mother and four sisters. He was
| eleven years old and immeditely &C
copied the big responsibility placed
upon him by fate. He jumped into
the show Lord Rooney" as a juven-
| lie dancer to keep the family name in
| tH production. while comedian
named Kelly took the part to have
been played by the elder Pat Rooney.
From then on Fat Rooney. II,
danced and sang and acted his way
up the ladder steadily and surely
and in his thirty years cxpcr-
fence on the stage he has produced
many shows, has written several and
now reaches the apex of his career in
being the bright and shining star of
a stupendous musical extravaganza
! with enough talent surrounding him
to produce three ordinary musical
comedies.
Pat Rooney is conceded TO be
! wonderfully versatile and is unQues-
| tionably one Of the best dancers on
| the stage today, and has not only
preserved the fame his father brought
! to the name OF Rooney. but has added
| new laurels to IL. In this connection,
! L. L. Albee. head OF the Keith circuit.
| recently said, II knew the elder Pat
Rooney well and played him many
times. Pat Rooney.-II, is a worthy
! son of worthy sire, and has not
| only made name for himself and
! his wife. but has added glory to his
| fathers name
| Altho he has been on the stage for
| thirty-onc years. most anyone would
! take Pat Rooney To be about twenty
| three or twcnty-four years Of age, Off
! stage. After watching some of his
antics and boyish good nature yod
would figure him not more than nine .
| teen.
The story OF his marriage to Mar.
! ion Bent is an interesting chapter in
! his lifc's history.
! Pat was i'm "A musical show in New
York when he met Miss Bent She
had y small part and used to tic BIZ
Scotch sash on Fat at every perform
ance. Fat become interested in her
and used to take her as near home