The New York herald., 1921-08-29
DOUGLAS and MARY
MOBBED BY FRIENDS
Crowd Tries to Tear But
tons From Their Clothes
for Souvenirs.
CHAPLIN ALSO TRAPPED
Movie Stars Get Ovation at
First Presentation of The
Three Musketeers.'
CHARLIE is AMBITIOUS
Custard Pie Comedian Wants
to Play Beau BrummeI'
on the Screen.
CHARLIE IS AMBITIOUS

Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pfckford
and Charlie Chaplin went to the Lyric
Theatre in West Forty-second street,
near Broadway, last night to see the
first showing of Fairbanks's newest
picture, THE Three Musketeers," and
received such an ovation from a crowd
of more than 1000 gathered outside
the theatre that the police reserves
had to be summoned.
The crowd began to gather before
the theatre about o'clock as the
morning newspapers had announced
that Douglas and Mary and Charlie
would appear In person. Two or three
policemen tried to keep them in line
when a taxicab came up to the thea
tire and the three stars got out, but
they might as well have tried to stop
Niagara. The crowd surged and
yelled and screamed and pushed and
crowded about the automobile, so that
while Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pick
ford got all of the way out, Fairbanks
was able to get but one foot from
the car. He stood in that way for
some time. poised on one foot, until
finally a part of the crowd swayed
feet on the ground.
The crowd grew larger every minute
1t stopped traffic, and it tried to kiss
Mary Pickford and tear buttons from
the coats of Chaplin and Fairbanks.
Automobilists added their honks 70 the
shouts and cheers of the mob. and the
uproar was tremendous.
But 1t was a good natured crowd. 1t
didn't want to hurt any one; it was
merely keen on tearing the three stars
to pieces and carting them away as
souvenirs. Alter the reserves came ff-
teen or twenty cops managed to clear a
lane some two feet wide, and down this
lane Douglas and Mary and Charley
hastened. lodging button grabbers and
entirely surrounded by policemen.
The theatre was filed when the three
stars entered box. The audience stood
and began cheering. Douglas and Mary
and Charley bobbed up and down. bow
ing and smiling. and policemen went
down the aisle trying to make the people
be quiet, but the cheering and shouting
continued until Fairbanks rose. waved
his hand and shouted:
Thank you ever so much. It's great
But now let's all sit down and get going
with the picture"
Outside the theatre meanwhile the
crush was so great that the police estab-
lished fire lines and would permit no one
to approach the theatre without showing
a ticket An hour after the three stars
had entered the crowd was still waiting
outside for them to come out.
Chaplin reached New York yesterday
morning and went TO the Ritz Carlton
Hotel. where Fairbanks and Miss Pick
ford also are staying. Next Saturday
the comedian will sail for London on
the Olympic. to make his first visit to
England since he left there nine years
ago, an unknown vaudeville performer
He expects to be gone not longer than
two months, and one of the things he in
tends to do there Is to attend the per-
formance of THE Kid the picture he
made with Jackie Coogan.
Chaplin said yesterday afternoon that
he had grown dissatisfied with playing
the buffoon and that His custard pie
days will be over as soon as he makes
one more picture to complete his present
contract.
Il don't mean that am going to give
up comedy" he said. II think I have
sense enough to know my limitations.
and you'll never have to suffer seeing
me in Hamlet. But do want to work
in a humorous vein and away from the
broad slapstick effects. What I'd really
like to do is Beau BrtniDtel, because that
part would be at the other pole from
what i've done and I'd get kick out
of It,"