New-York tribune., 1921-05-15
ggi
Takes Turn at
The 1Iwo-a-Day''

Singing songs on the vaudeville
stage seems somewhat remote from
selling soothing syrups for Mrs.
Simms's little Sammy, but there is one
modern Cesar who has mastered both
of these accomplishments and he is re-
vealing his twiN capabilities at virtu-
ally one and the same time.
This weird dual role of pharmacist
and variety star is played by
Joseph E. Howard, who heads the open
ing bill of the season at the New
Brighton Theater.
Heretofore Joe Howard has been
known only in his quadruple capacity
of actor. singer, composer and producer
but he found time hanging so heavily
on his hands that he looked about
Tor lucrative field as an outlet for
surplus energy and cashg Deciding
upon the drug business, he arra1fwec
| to lease for term of years a busy
corner on Eighth Avenue, just south
OF Columbus Circle, and opened How
ards drug store about a week ago
Thus far it has enjoyed flourishing
trade. Every morning from o'clock
until matinee time and between his
performances at the New Brighton
howard presides over the store and
serves his customers with the same in
terest noticeable in his stage appear
ances.
When he embarked in>the drug bust
ness Howard carried out wish of his
father. When the composer was still
In his teens, in Kansas City, he became
a Pharmacists assistant at the pater-
nal instigation. Being possessed of
pleasing voice and qualities as song
writer, he deserted the drug counter
after six years training and drifted to
New York-and Tin Pan Alley, then in
Twenty eighth Street joining the staff
of t. B. Harms & Co., where he turned
out his first song hit. Hello, My
Baby"
A short time after he connected
with "McNish, johnson and Slavin's
(John) Refined Minstrels," and while
with that Constellation of talented
entertainers" wrote "Goodby, My Lady
Love-"
After year with the blackface show
Howard branched out as producer,
bringing his first handiwork, "The Dis
trict Leader" into Wallack's Theater.
An actors error nearly drove him back
to the drug business. The play opened
before q fine audience and was
proceeding splendidly when, at the
wrong, moment, one Of the principal
players retired to his dressing room to
change his clothes, and there was moth
ing left to do but to end the perform
ance then and there, at exactly 9:45.
Naturally, the plot was lost and the
next day the critics wanted to know
what it was all about. The New York
run ended the following Saturday
night, but "The District Leader" was
moved to Chicago, where it ran for six
months at the Cort Theater, and lasted
Ave years on the road.
The Windy City verdict gave Howard
the idea of establishing the Western
metropolis as producing center. Mort
Fl. Singer. now general manager of
the Orpheum Circuit, became interested
in his plan and they opened the first
Chicago-produced show, "The Time,
the Place and the Girl" at the old La
Sale Theater.
The Singer Howard association re-
suited in fourteen different. shows, all
of which first saw the light of day in
Chicago. Many of them brought into
musical comedy prominence present
day Broadway stars. The list includes
"The Stubborn Cinderella" in, which
John Barrymore made His bow as
musical comedy star; "The Prince of
Tonight" which introduced Henry
Woodruff in the same capacity; "A
Broadway Honeymoon" which brought
out Nan Halperin and Carl Randall;
miss Nobody From Starland," in
which Ralph Herr came ito the fore;
"The Land of Nod with Mabel Barri-
son and Mr.. Howard; "The Goddess of
Liberty with May de Sbusa and Ed
ward Abeles; "Honeymooa Trail,o aThe
Golden Girlp and @The Flower Of the
Ranch" Il