The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10
Eddie Dowling, an
East Side Boy, Is
Star and Author
Man Who Wrote and Acts
sally Irene and Mary
Talks.

r. DDIE BOWLING. star and author
r. OF "Sally, Irene and Mary" en-
- boldened by hts first achieve-
ment, is writing several more plays with
which to give impetus to the American
stage. He Is writing them on the COM
munity principle---that Il, he talks over
bits or them with his neighbors and In
that way gets an idea of how the pub
lie would respond TO various scenes.
He told about It on the sidewalk out
aide the stage entrance the other after
noon. while chatterlng chorus girls
streamed past and spilled conversation
over him and the interviewer. Actors
from other plays walked past and looked
askance at this earnest young actor,
who was seen talking on Broadway with
some one who was obviously not an
actor.
II 20 home after a show" he said,
land get an idea. and the next DAY
let the neighbors look 1t over. Then
after It has been chewed over In CONVEX
sation l write 1t down: II would be con-
fusing. OF course. IL / told them every
detail, because the advice would get In
return would be more than one man
could stand But l just outline It to
them, and in that way don't give them
a chance to- say anything like 'Looka-
here, what do you think you can get
away within
ut was talking it over with some one
that handed me the main Idea that put
under this show. l happened 10 ne
talking one day with Jimmy Montgomery
when his Irene was stu IN acuon a.
The Vanderbilt. He remarked on the CO.
Incidence by which three musical shows
named after girls all happened TO DO
rolling along at such speed. l said, say
Jimray, wouldn't IL be funny IL some
bodv should write q musical show with
oil three Of 'em in 1t and call 1t sally.
Irene and Mary? He laughed. ana
walked away. letting It so at that. But
the more thought Of It the less Iunny
Il seemed to me. One idea leu " az
other-and here we are
His pale blue eyes turned 70 .nv
Ga sino toward which he evidently
,oolsed up-from the level OF the vaude-
vile whence he came--with mucn LIZ
Same awe that a small town hotei ps0
nrietor looks up at the BlltHio,c'
bowling is a slight youth. indist'nsulsn-
able from other young men oDseI Vaoie
IN street corners except for an en-
gaging earnestness. 80.
at was quite job expanding ln,s
play from a vaudeville sketcn. ne re
stunned. because ] had to strctcn gu.
without seeming to pad IT 90 tnat ~
appeared full of nothing but straw.
Introducing new character-another
Young man-turned the trick without
straining. 1t was also difficult Keeping
m interest in all three girls at once
though OF course II was necessary 70
have one come out as the blushing bride
IN the end-three of 'em would have
been too much. I picked Mary Tor
the ultimate winner because tnat
seemed more like an old-fashioneo
name-and then ] kind or IKE the
name O. Mary. anyhow
1T was thinking of the critics on the
opening night that gave me pins ana
needles most Of ALL I felt sure they would
lump on me because of some technical
point here and there, and l felt sire they
could fiatten me out In any argument
like that But they acted more ike my
friends. / felt pretty sure OF the general
public because think they like any one
with heart. and this boy, Jimmie D*-
gan, whom ! play. has big enough
heart TO fiji flour barrel.
Hes the kind of East Side youngster
/ know, for ran Wild over there as a
how myself. / lived with the family Of
Daniel Sullivan, who was pretty well
known on the legitimate stage under
the name Of Daniel Jarrett. and / want
70 tell YOU that It's the people on the
East Side who have heart bigger than
an ostrich egg. They have to work hard
for their money and when they give
some OF il up in sacrifice to help an
other II means much more than when
somebody further west lets loose thou-
sand or so in charity.
some stars and actor managers are
willing to strip Off big hunk OF their
roll to help out another actor when he's
broke. and It's fine to think they haven't
forgotten the little fellows in their day
of prosperity. But after all, the biggest
deed is dohe by the little actor getting
$50 week who meets another one on
the corner and says What, on your
uppers? Here. split miner"