Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03
Banks of the Wabash
And Brink of Broadway
By Ph;1ander Johnson.

the feelings OF the tired business
man the wrong way.
x X X X
"The CGnging Vine" came under
the banner of Henry w. Savage,
Inc. 1t is a musical show, in which
| no song can be so serious in poetical
thought as to prevent a group of
graceful dancers from dancing to it.
Our once lavish producers are grow
ing less magnificent in their expen-
ditures. THE Clinging Vine"
though liberal production, is moth
ing to compare with the Henry Saw
age production of ''Parisfal," which
was so pig that people came and
brought suit cases with them SO as
to be sure OF being properly attired
both afternoon and evening. Musi-
cal productions are opulently
financed, but not on any such scale
as "Parsifap was when Wagner was
being exploited as the superman of
musical genius to overwhelm the
musical taste of the world. The
Wagnerian Opera Company that re-
Gently came to America returned un-
Prospectus; not because OF any ma
tionali5tic resentment, but because
many people having had an oppor-
tunity. to think the matter over have
decided that Wagner, like all other
composers, is subject to selective
taste and cannot hurl wholesale
anathema at those who do not find
Kim great or charming i'll each and
all of his varied manifestations. An
affection for German music is not
dependent on an appreciation OF
Wagner; there is tie of permanent
world sentiment in the delicate Ger
man poems which have been pre-
served in folk song, and in the melo-
dies (which have waited through
years for words, like those in "Blos-
somtime."
* x *
Mr.. Belasco, except in his produc-
ton Of Merchant of Venice" has
done nothing for years that ap-
preached "The Darling of the Gods"
''Du Barry" or "Zaza" in scenic pro-
fusion. Neither Mr.. Klaw nor Mr.,
Granger have duplicated the spec
tacle of "Ben-Hur," which remains
the record achievement of their
notable partnership, so far as the
footliehts are concerned. There is
All atmosphere of caution through
which mutterings of an Equity
storm in the distance penetrate from
time to time. Rumor frequently as
serts that Mr.. George Cohan is 60
ing to close out his Theatrical inter
ests because of differences with the
Equity, The idea seems as improb-
able as that of closing down the ele-
waited road or the Woolworth build
ing, or any other New York institu-
ton, at which the general public has
learned to gaze with wonder and
delight.
Managers and actors have Often
indeed, usually-had their differ
ences. But in PALMER" days they
managed to call one another by their
first names to their faces, whatever
rhetorical variations they might in
troduce when out of earshot. Sar-
casms filled the air, for the player
often salued a reputation for per
sonal wit as highly as his prestige
Ill interpretive art. The managers
were at a disadvantage, because of
the disnities of disciplinary position,
anu AlSll Sd SdSiiiS at tnelG expense
flew gaily and necessarily. But the
managers asserted more and more
the authority they held in practical
matters and the ironclad arrange
ments controlling the services of
players, implying, it has been as
serted, even power to prevent them
from playing at all, may, perhaps,
be due to a generation of suppressed
| sarcasm.
|, **x
Willie Collier was dismissed from
the company for minicing Augustin
Dalyf but Willie didn't care. He
easily got another place, and was
soon star. A. NJ. Palmer, who was
particularly impressive because he
wore sidewhiskers, told Wilton
Lackaye, solemnly:. Il understand
that you have been indulging in
cheap sarcasms at my expense"
well" answered Lackaye, I'D ad-
wise you to lay in supply while they
are cheap" John Stetson Of Boston
was "a continual topic for those who
had little business ability and de-
cliued to respect it in others-much