New Britain herald., 1923-02-03
ROBERT MIDDLEMASS
 DISCUSSES THEATER
Continued from proceeding page,

when we arrived on South Higl
 street and found the entire neighbor
 hood discussing plans for sending ou
 rescuing parties.
 Afraid Of Movies"
 On another occasion Howard Wil.
 son. Stuart Merwin and went to tho
 Lyceum to see what was then con.
 sidered a great novelty--the so-called
 Vitascope. I hardly need say that the
 present day movie is the great great
 grandchild of that old yitascope
 Only in those days there was no Pick ford. Chaplin, Valentino. Hayakawa,
 Fairbanks or anything of the sort. In- stead there were lot of weird people chasing each other around corners and over fences. And railway trains. There was always railway train as I remember it. In any event there was a railway train on the day that I am talking about. When the picture first came on the screen we seemed to be looking down long length of track. Then way off as far as we could see a little speck appeared and gradually grew larger and larger. It was the train and we were fascinated as we watched it's approach. Nearer and nearer 1t came and to us. who seemed to be right on the track, the aspect was truly terrifying. We ground our teeth and desperately clutched the chair arms as in open eyed horror we watched this thing bearing down upon us. Howard and managed to stick it out, but Stuart, somewhat our ju- nior in years, lasted only until the mo- ment when it seemed that the engine was about to jump across the orches- tra pit and down our throats. Then he leaped from his seat and dashed from the theater. But those days are also gone, and the blase youngster of today will not even wink an eyelash at anything that may be shown him on the screen.
 Favorite Plays and Players.
 There was another phase of those 'ld days of theater going that seems o have disappeared. Favorite play ITS and favorite plays came back year liter year and we welcomed them | lgain and again. I am certain that |
 saw James A. Hearne in Shore Acres" at the Lyceum no less than hree times. and l have no idea how many times I went to see Tn Old Kentucky and was thrilled at the orse race, and at the girl who jump q across the chasm after the villain ad destroyed the bridge. John Drew, efferson de Angelis, Henry Miller, .oland Reed, Mrs. Fiske, Viola Allen, .ndrew Mack, Chauncey Olcott, Will am H. Crane. William Gillette, Mill red Holland, Mrs. Leslie Carter, Rob- Tt Mantell and many others were all sgular visitors at the Lyceum. Sal ini was there once, and unless my lemory has played me low trick oe Jefferson appeared one night in Rip Van Winkle." I missed both lese actors, and I also regret that missed hearing Robert Ingersoll who { ctured from the Lyceum stage. { Note: Please explain to the children { lat this lecture had nothing to do ith the manufacturer of watches.) l as a Herald newsboy in those days ! ld the day after the lecture I re- ember hearing John O'Neil say: Robert Ingersoll is the most eloquent 1t also the most irreverent man I 'er listened to- "Superba," with it's ysterious trick scenery came year ter year. as did also the Brothers yrne in Flight Bells" with the crazy ipwrecked boat and the whale who uck his head in the porthole and ewed up the acrobatic voyager.
 William Gillette Here.
 And what a day it was for New 'itain when William Gillette came to e Lyceum in Secret Service!" Mir. llette was big star, as he still is, d Secret Service" was his greatest