The New York herald., 1922-01-25
$500 Actors See
Bulldog Drummond
and Hiss Williams
Profession Invited to Special
MelOdrama Performance and
Fill the KnickerbOcker.

More fur collared overcoats were Wis
ible in and around the Knickerbocier
yesterday afternoon-worn by men.
mind you--than have probably been
gathered together in one spot since
the cave men left off yearing fur boas.
Which ought TO have been evidence IN
itself that a professional theatrical
matinee of Bulldog Drummond" was
on. Only actors and ticket spectators
wear such garments in profusion since
the wine agent went out.
Charles Dillingham; had decided it was
high time a real professional matinee
was held. At most performances of this
nature seats have been sold to the gem
eral public as well, which made the
players often feel quite self-conscious
and not at all inclined to open the con-
versational exhaust before mere strang-
ers. Looking over the befurbelowed au-
dience OF 1900 was equal TO running
rapidly through who's Who on the
Stage" including those who had made
the biggest hits. announcing. "My lord.
the carriage waits :"
Sam Hardy was there, wearing the
big polar bear overcoat which Peary
Is said to have shot on his last dash
for the north pole. Sam reached his
seat released himself from the death
grip which the grizzly had on him. and
said. Down, Fido," whereupon it inn
mediately lay down in the aisle beside
him and remained motionless. A theat-
rical friend said Sam had unclaimed the
coat from its post at home and brought
it to the playhouse because he had
heard that A. +. Matthews, star of the
play, had fur coat which could whip
any other coat at any weight This
runor proved false, as Matthews wore
during the play merely a coat lined
with sheepslxin. such as any actor would
refuse to wear off the stage.
Miss Uric Recognized.
Up above Sam, in a second tier box,
sat Miss Lenore Uric of "Kiki." who
recognized her leading man as soon as
he took his coat off. She rolled vp her
program in wad and hurled 1t at him,
missing him but striking Roger. his
coat. which in Sans eyes is worse than
hitting him. She barely missed scalping
another Belasco star, Lionel Atwlll.
seated a row back with his wife, Elsie
Mackay. and showing the multitude how
to behave. Like the Russian grand duke
OF this Bolshevistic outbreak.
Outside in the lobby q commotion was
caused by some one shouting at the car
loads of talent clogging the entrance,
- fire. stir your stumps!' Every one
turned in the direction of the speaker. to
find Wallace Eddinger blushing furl-
ously on remembering suddenly he
wasn't playing the pirate in Captain
Applejack." The jam was caused by a
- IL 1~f& III. 4
tickets but who seemed to expect they
could get past the dorkeeper by simply
showing their faces and murmurlng a
line from Shakespeare.
Inside Miss Hazel Dawn was talking
TO a guy named Guy, who seemed in
great public demand, as we'll as to her
sister. Eleanor, who appeared to have
heard the story before:
And you know, the thief jmmied the
window open and stole. a $500 mink
overcoat-positively my dear-which I'd
Just got for Christmas present, and
a couple of dresses. and a gold clock I
paid $3.50 for-positively. my dear. And
the worst of it was we'd just moved into
the apartment, after nearly breaking
our necks. TO get in"
Just then the curtain rose: every one
said ''Sh - loudly, and there was no fur
thcr opportunity to follow the thrills of
Hazels disappearing overcoat. Every
one was busy absorbing the thrills OF the
play. and after the manner of profess
sional spectators. they responded to each
point with hallelujahs. Never did the
company play TO such an appreciative
audience. who did everything but the gal
lery whistle. When Wallace Hickman,
as Morcouitch, was knocked down by the
arch villain Carl Peterson. played by
Sam Livesey, the crowd hurrahed. and
Harland Dixon stopped chewing gum for
moment. As Matthews in the title role
chokcd c. IT. Croker-King. as Dr. LAX
inoton, another blackguard. the crowd
applauded wildly. and Hardy had to lay
a restraining hand on his overcoat.
villains Duly Kissed.
At times they would be so carried
away that some would giggle, whereupon
other voices would sternly demand si-
lence Although they had taken part in
thrillers themselves and would not have
to calm themselves by muttering "Aw.
this Is only y play one woman in the
balcony became so excited she dropped
her program on the heads below with a
cracke. Following the third act. when
the players trooped singly before the
curtain in the old fashioned melodrama
style. Hickman was the first villain &c
appear and the spectators Kissed him I'll
he broke down and smiled.
They hissed each villain with right
good will. perhaps to give vent to their
feelings over the reception which bad
plays have been getting this season
They added hearty boos for Lvesey
Croker King and Miss Mary Robson. and
when Matthews came on they acclaimed
him like n Roman emperor. The star
made brief curtain speech TO an au-
dience which included almost every star
you'd care to name, Including Charles
Ruggles. wearing the tinted spectacles
he has had 10 don since appearing in
bedroom farccs. Matthews said:
'Td prepared a little speech, with
a chair and a manuscript to have
handy. but they've taken both those
things away from me. and now cant
say IT, No doubt you're very sorry. Bni
do remember the beginning of IT, Thai
IS. Ladies and Gentlemen. I'll chang.
that 20 sisters and Brothers, ! wan'
10 thank you for your appreciation oi
our 'thick-ear' play. and also for sub
nritting 90 that flashlight that was talSer
of you. for | want to send IL TO Gerald
Du Maurier who's playing this piece n
London still. Just 10 show him we hav,
capacity audiences here"