The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-21


 with debonnair manner kissing zoe's hand and in turn according me the same greeting.
 You'll want to hear what NJ Balieff says about the Chauve Souris. M. Balieff with his little round "moon" face and his broken English-who Is the tautocrat, of the Chauye Souris; M, Balieff the genius of the Chauve Souris--the deus ex-machina, the originator, and the force, which makes the unique entertainment a thing of beauty and joy forever ruling tho entire organization more absolutely than any Romanoff Czar ever ruled his subjects.
 There is no soviet raypublic this side of the curtain (meaning back stage) except mo; I am it. says he. and then proceeds;
 Many years ago when this Idea of art vaudeville rackedS my brain I sought a place in which to produce 1t in Russia I found a dark, dank cellar, and as I entered, a bat brushed his way across my face That's the name for my produa- ton; The Bat, I said, which in French translates into Chauve Sourls and shortly afterward the play opened in the cellar under the name of '"The Bat"
 That was IS years ago. that time having elapsed since M Balieff first produced the Chauve Souris, which now packs the Century Roof from pit to dome.
 M. BalIefrs Wit
 One of the most attractive things about the Chauve Souris Is M. Ba- lieff's talk" between each act he makes the most adorable, witty little speeches and when he sees notable reople in the audience he points them out. and everybody cranes his neck to get glimpse of the one in question.
 Sort of" like Raymond Hitchcock used to do; you know what I mean.
 The evening We were at the Chauve Souris, being a premier" the place was packed with celeb- rites; NJ. Balieff called them out in large numbers and afterward during the Promenade, the intermission when everybody went out on the roof for breath of air, Zoe and had the pleasure of talking with many charming people.
 There was Lillian Gish like a lit- tie white kitten or a powder puff, with Dorothy Gish, her sister, 1ova- ly and blonde. Lillian asked me at once about Henry Walthall when she found I was from Birmingham, and said all sorts of beautiful things about him and how she adored play ing opposite him in "The Birth of a Nation"
 My old friend David warfield was there; just as big as dime and with the ''dinkiest" sort of a litue straw hat on with his dinner clothes: I've always thought men looked funny dressed up like a horse and buggy In evening clothes and straw hat; there was lovely Doris Keane of Romance" and La Czarina" fame; there was Laurette (Peg e My Mear) Taylor; there was Dr. Frank Crane, looking as if he would burst any minute into Souris;" there was Theresa Malkiel on the staff of the great socialist paper. The Call" great friend of. zoe's and whose 'brok en- Russian English is fascinating. She introduced us to Abraham Cahan. the editor of the Yiddish newspaper, The For ward" having circulation of over 300, 900, the most widely read Jewish newspaper in the world. MT. Cahan is also the author of that interesting book, .The Rise of Abraham Le- tluSkys VI q car UT more a8O. And then there was Robert Winthrop Chanler, with face like a savant and figure like a prize fighter. brother of John Armstrong Chanle-, who you remember, changed h:s name to Chaloner because he got mad at the rest of the family. noted as writer and an artist and as the first husband of Amelie Rives, the novelist and playwright, who Is now the Princess Troubetzkoy.
 It was John Armstrong Chaloner who gained worldwide renown and undying fame, some IF years ago, by asking the immortal question. under peculiarly fitting circumstances, Who's looney now?" He was ex- tremely eccentric. and certain mem bers of his family had him confined In Blooningdale as insane. He es- capped to Virginia, where he has . fine estate. and where he lives the life of a country gentleman, greatly esteemed by the first families of Virginia.
 The immortal question was sent by him in a telegram to Robert Winthrop Chanler upon the occasion of the latter's marriage to the world-famous beauty and opera star. Lima Cavalieri. now the wife of the great tenor. Lucien Mauratore of the Chicago opera.
 There's nothing 'looney" now as far as I could detect about Robert Winthrop Chanler. six feet, four Inches tall and weighing about 150