, 1923-01-15
Taught Sam Bernard
How to Dance

"HAT is M ofsthe many inter.
esting "reminiscences Of Snitz
Edwards. old-timer of the
legitimate stage. who after retiring
from the footlights. decided to be-
come active again and for the last
four years has been n Of the most
striking character comedians OF the
screen. His latest role is 'Manico"
in The Ghost Breaker" starring
Wallace Reid and directed by Alfred
Green.
"A man is Just as old as he feels"
observes Edwards, who after retiring
from the legitimate. decided that he
still felt like q man Of IS. despite his
sc Summers. and arrived at the con-
clusion that he was merely hurryinE
a conclusion OF his activity and try
ing to rush himself into an old age
environment.
Snits and Sam were vaudeville
partners back In the old days-in
fact, the partnership with Bernard
was the first formed by Edwards.
The two had known each other for
a long timo-in fact had grown up
together as boys.
II shall never forget what a time
/ had teaching him a certain dance
STEP" ruminates Edwards. "That
was the only step he ever learned
and he could only do it with one
foot.
I'VE worked for a German. named
Gansberg, who had a little concert
hall in Hoboken and received tito
astounding salary OF SIS a week, 20
be divided equally among us. AZ, +
the first week, there was a heavy d.
mand for 4 return engagement of cor
act, which was the headlincr, aud
Gansberg induced us to come lack ny
raising the SIS to SIS, and especially
stipulating that he would see TINT
the props-one fat custard pie
were on hand every night and that
he would give us his head waiter to
play q straight part.
Edwards was IS years Of age when
he first began in vaudeville. Prior
to that time he had been a Jockey
for three years in New York, but an
accident In which he broke three
ribs. caused him to give up thaa
game. After the nrat partnership
with Bernard, Edwards continued IN
vaudeville for seven years and then
Joined Haveriy's minstrels, which
was considered one of the finest
minstrel organizations Of that time.
He remained with them for two
years and then went from blackfacs
to musical comedy with De WOLF
Hopper. Later no was with Charles
Frohman for SIX years. during which
time he again was associated with
his old friend. Bernard, in a produce
ton called 1.-THE Silver slipper" He
was also with William Faversham in
the famous piece, Don Cesar Ba-
xan," was eason as q clown
with the New York Hippodrome. stc
Edwards experience was not con-
fined solely TO this country. He went
to Europe with the Handlans for
thrOe years. played in Paris fourteen
months and then all through Spain.
Germany and AustTis. Then he re-
turned to London for q seaso after
which he returned to America aud
Joined AL Woods IN musical comedy.
For three years she played at the As
tor in New York and on tho road.
ut was merely to please, Eleanor
Edwards. who had played with mo 4
great DEAL" he recounts. "that / took
a play on the road In which / played
a dramatic part Up to that time !
played principally musical comedy
and I hardly thought / could handle
the part in this play. But she insist
ed, and we took the play out It
was called Tho Man Who stood
STILL and was one of the most sue
cessfui ventures I had ever foated.-
It vas Charles Giblyn who induced
snitz to 60 into motion pictures.
Giblyn was making THE Price She
Paid" by Charles Graham Phillips
and wanted a very unusual type-s
sort of dramatic comedian. to play the
husband role.
Joy Is that peculiar feeling n man