New Britain herald., 1922-10-14
Local Man Playing in Pic ture at Palace Next Week Opens in New Play on Monday at Springfield.

John Miltern, known to his many New Britain friends as John shee- han, Is one of the few residents to have left this city and to achieve what might be called a phenomena success on the American stage.
 MT. Miltern is one of the featured players in "Manslaughter," the mo- ton picture which IS to play at the Palace thoater for four days begin ming on Sunday night. He is also featured in "The Hands of Nara" the feature picture with Clara Kimbali Young playing at the Capital the ater in Hartford the last three days of the week.
 In New Stage Drama.
 Martin Hedman and John Miltern are being co-starred in Persons Un- known" a new melodramatic play by Robert Hosum, which will open at the Court Square theater in Spring field. Mass, on Monday for three day run preliminary to the opening of the production in New York This will be Mir. Miltern's first appearance on the stage in two years, as he has been playing in pictures for that length of time. Mir. Miltern will spend the weekend in New Britain with his relatives and will leave here for Springfield on Monday morning. IL is possible that he will attend the opening of "Manslaughter" at the Palace on Sunday night.
 Has Interesting Career.
 The New Britain boy began his theatrical career az young lad with his family as his audience. His mother at that time conducted a pri- vate night school in her home. His father was an invalid all his life and his mother was obliged to help with the family support.
 She conducted a vacation school in the summer and a night school in the winter years before the city had these public institutions.
 On the nights the class met, John was usually sent to bed early. If there happened to be show at the only theater in New Britain at the time. the old Opera House, now known as the Palace, the young lad somehow contrived a method with which he could earn enough money to purchase ticket and then schemed how to evade paternal watchfulness and sneak out
 Sneaked Out of Window It was easy for John to get from his bedroom window to an old apple tree and make his escape, but if his o his room was considered a paiVful operation by the stage aspirant. as the paternal hand was swift and sure. No punishment, no matter how se- were, could restrain John from at tending the next show to come into town, as he would do the same thing over and over again for the thrill of following the actors on the stage, made any punishment trifing.
 Following each show he would stage the show at his home acting all the roles from the comedian to the hero me.
 Started As Clerk
 As young man Mir Miltern was clerk at the Russwin hotel but his mind was ever filled with the romance 'f the stage and his ambition was to oe an actor. On one of his vacations le went to New York and by going rom the office of one manager to l mother he at last secured a small part n play called The Rajah." In CIV months it was necessary for him c wire home for his return fare, an experience which happened more than 'nce in his first years on the stage.
 Played the "One Nighters'
 For some years he advanced from mall parts to heavy leads in the best nelodramas of by-gone days and had hard schooling in "one night stands" Il over the country His first Broad say appearance was in 1908 in Via Wireless" a play dramatized by Win hell Smith. Soon followed big hit n The Fortune Hunters
 Mir Miltern also played a full sea on in repertoire with William Gil- cite and the following year played ull season in London in Officer 666". )n his return from London he played 'ith Margaret Anglin in Barbara. lore recent plays have been In ocent" with Pauline Frederick, Heart of Wetona" with Leonore IT, ic, Roads of Destiny" with Flor nee Reed. Ruined Lady" with Grace ieorge. This was his last appeara nee n the stage before entering the 1ovies
 In Many Pictures
 During the past two years Mir Mill prn has done many pictures includ- lg "On With the Dance" with Mae 1urray, 'Divorcons' with Billy