New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
|Shrewd III. &. Warner
Discards His aIet;
Becomes 1000 Hero

Every week Garlic Carlton, producer
Of danger" is saving the sum Of
money that would have been needed
TO pay for one good able-bodied valet
And in so doing the producer owes
thanks to his star, H. B. Warner, vino
is about the only valctle5s celebrity in
town.
When Mr. Warner wa engaged for
his role in the piece ROW a. the Thirty
ninth Street Theater, there appeared
in his contract a clause which pro-
vided for valet at all times. The
actor said nothing about it and did
nothing about it, but the producer as
sumed that Mr.. Warner mad hired
somebody and forgot all about It.
When he went back stage one night
and found Mr.. Warner doing his OWL
work he mentioned the contrac,
clause
"Nover mind that said the actor.
II can put on my clothes and take
them of ard put on my grease paint
and take it off Don't need valet;
don't want one. Let's forget about it.
Mr.. Carlton vas willing enough
Mr.. Warner, so the story goes, has
always looked out for himself back
stage and struggled through the many
pcrformaI COS of the original produc-
ton Of ".Alias Jimmy Valentine" alone
and unaidcd. A result Of the actors
attitude in the matter there's going to
be An unemployment situation in his
dressing rooms for some time to come
it being his intention to stick to Broad
way for awhile
He made it clear the other night that
he wants to stay in New York and
doesn't intend to isolate himself in
flmdom again. at least not in the near
future. However, ne might under
take some screen work IN connection
with his Broadway activities if he finds
it can be arranged.
The other night-a raw, cold night
it was-Mr. Warner was handed at the
theater a special delivery letter from
California. 1t was from a person
prominent in the screen world. who eN-
pressed the hope that the actor was
bearing up we'll under the hot spell
and then said that he wanted 10 en-
gage the player for a series OF new
pictures. Mr.. Warner was asked TO
name his price. Before being able to
arrive at what he thought would be
the proper sum, the actor reread the
line about the hot weather and let his
gaze fall upon the date, which was 4
day in July, 1921. That letter had
been coming to him ever since
Mr. Warner heartily disapproves of
the revival idea. "The old plays don't
seem to do now" he said, land | don't
see much use in trying to make them
do. AS far as can make out the situ-
alton, there was before-the-w
tempo for plays and there is an after
thc-war tempo. | don't know whether
the war itself actually brought this
about but it seems that there are two
distinct divisions"
The actor pointed out that imported
pieces have had to suffice on Broadway
this year because Of the fact that the
American playwrights have not been
turning out the credtable stuff of other
years. He is confident, however, that
next season will find the playwriting
craft # the United States more ade-
quately represented.
AS in the case with number OF other
English actors who have gained fame
in this country. Mr.. Warner has not
the slightest desire to- return to the
English stage. He came to this coun-
try because he thought he'd like it and
stayed because he did like it.
a.