The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-28

there was not a matinee.
I'm bet they've all been out {
said. land will not come to the tels
10 settle the wager. they tele-
phoned one F riday afternoon, with
the following results: All ten, word
came, were asleep and could not be
disturbed.
A few months ago the same <wo
men, recalling their wager. tried the
same experiment with the ten most
popular beauties of the 1921 stage in
New York. The results were differ
ent. None of the ten were asleep.
Six were at their dancing masters;
two were shopping with their
mothers, and two were downtown
taking music lessons.
And there you have in a nutshell
the difference between the chorus
girls of the last generation and those
of the present day. The former
lived largely for a good time. The
latter are ambitious. studious and
businesslike. Let me tell you a
story which. will illustrate the
chorus beauty's attitude in those
days of Stage-door Johnnyism.
JOHNNIES BROKE UP
OLD.TIME REHEARSALS.
One brisk winter morning some
fifteen or eighteen years ago. GER
tain theatrical manager walked into
his theater on Broadway, New York,
and came pretty near to tearing his
hair at the sight which awaited him
on the dimly lighted stage. For
there. instead of the eight chorus
beauties who comprised his then ia
NOUS dancing octette, was only one.
She was waiting patiently for the
manager and his director, both OF
whom were few minutes late.
where are the rest?' asked the
bewildered manager.
Harry Thaw's come to town.,
the sole remaining beauty replied,
"and they've all gone off shopping
together"
mo. don't tell me they've gone
and done that again. the distracted
manager walled; "why! they PROM
ised they never would. How the
devil do they think we're going to
run off a show here II those cursed
stage door Johnnies keep break
ing m rehearsals? Tell me, did he
take all seven Of them?"
YES. sir; they all got in big
machine and went off to Fifth Ave-
nue.. Personally, I think it's getting
to be awful, sir
The only reliable member of the
beauty octette was right; 1t was get
ting to be awful. The manager
knew II too, and because he ana
other managers knew it and came
to realize the vital Importance of 1t
TO the stage, a great revolution &C.
Cured in the profession OF beauty.
From then on, the sinister character
known popularity as the stage door
Johnny was doomed to rapid ex-
tinction.
Now, lots of people do not know
that the Stage Door Johnny has
passed. They still associate with
chorus beauties the dashing figure
of a wealthy young blood. clad in the
latest mode. bouquet in hand, waiting
eagerly at the rear or side entrance
of a theatcr. They take it for grant
ed that chorus girls are fast set,
never happy unless they are flying
off on some giddy JOY ride to gay
cafe where champagne il secretly
uncorked and general wild orgy
ensues.
This simply Is not true of the
modern chorus beauty. To hold such
a belief is unfair TO an eminently re-
spcctable, hardworking class OF
American girlhood, and It is with
particular pleasure that take this
opportunity to conrure any such ri.
diculous notion.
The story OF the passing Of the
Stage Door Johnny is also the story