The Denver Jewish news., 1925-08-06


Gates his works-a veteran producer
who tolls fifteen to eighteen hours
daily and who complains that the
days are too short for his needs.
The acknowledged peer of Amer
ican dramatists and producers smiled
boyishly up at me from his desk in
the great studio atop the Belasco
theatcr, when | was ushered in to
talk to him of his more than fifty
years connection with the American
stage.
Mentally and physically, Mr.. Belasco
is as alert as any man of thirty. He
upsets all established rules of health
by keeping in good physical trim
solely through mental exercise! When
occasion demands in the throes OF re-
hearsal time, his associates declare
he displays supcrhuman reserves Of
physical endurance, firing his COM
pany out by an all-day rehearsal
then going back to his studio to work
half the night on revision Of some
play.
l said something about gcniuses
and the indications by which they
may be identified. Mr.. Belasco shifted
audibly.
Genius is the once in "a million
happening" he said. 'What the
world calls genius is largely applica-
ton to the task before one; that
coupled with laborers' hours. Genius
is mostly hard work.
"What measure of success ] have
attained has come because never
give up when / begin task. / re-
solved carly in life that would reach
the top-and now, after lapse of
more than fifty years, still am re-
solved to reach that goal.'
but" l interjected, "men say
you already have done that"
The inscrutable Belasco eyes turned
introspective in expression; one firm,
muscular hand was raised in ges-
turc oil dissent.
NO" my host replied, what ]
have done is merely preparatory to
the things | plan TO do. Meanwhile /
can merely go on giving the best
there is in me-hoping for the Great
Day. that is to come
"Tell me something of the years
that are behind you" | prompted,
eliciting another enthusiastically
youthful smile from the producer.
at was long, long lane" he re-
piled happily, lone l would love to
tread again. Whatever l have done l
owe to my mother and her tender
love; her splendid counsel. We were
bitterly poor iE my boyhood days,
and my earliest recollections have to
do with odd jobs, the proceeds from
which | turned over to mother to add
to the exchequer.
Mother had strange provision
concerning me; friends called it sec
ond sight When l was four years
old l made my first appearance on
the stage, being carried on in the
play 'Pizzarro' in Victoria, b. c.,
theater. That night mother predicted
a stage career for me and through
out her life she was the one to whom
turned for comfort and advice when
the trail became too thorny. Of
course, do not remember the night
of my debut, but old friends told me
that l felt perfectly happy. When !
was carried back stage, it seems that
| cried, that l longed to be back on
the stage.
81 was everything from drudge
to a play doctor, finally a recognized
actor and stage director, all before !
was 20 years old, l wrote plays from
which others made fortunes, but |
profted little thereby.
During my days in the San Fran
cisco thcater, had the friendship
ard example of such players as
Joseph Murphy, Dion Boucicault, J.
lC. Williamson, Clara Morris, John
Mccullough, the Chapman Sisters,
Bella Pateman, Lawrence Barrett,
Joseph Jefferson, Adelaide Nelson,
Helene Modjeska and many others, to
guide me Alright. Each gave me some
thing had not possessed before. AL
ways a student, | tried to turn to ad-
vantage everything l learned from
them.
"Despite this application and effort
was compelled to make my fourth
journey to New York before man
aged to gain foothold-and then
only as stage director for others.
Some of my plays were produced and
was paid insignificant royalties in
addition to my salary. | had been