Evening star., 1926-12-26

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formance depending largely on hand
some personal appearance. When
"Adonis" went to New York dane:
was given in his honor and referred
to as The Dixey Ball." Dixey came
to be appreciated in legitimate roles;
but was never so feted as he had
been in the frivolities
X X *&
In the latter demonstrations he
could use his own audacious wit
which he combined with remarkable
powers of mlmicry. He told a story
at his own expense, alluding to his
burlesque of Sir Henry Irving dur
ing topical song, beginning
The strange things we say and
the strange things we do
Are English, you know.
After the curtain Irving, one OF
the most gracious and democratic OF
stage people, made his way to
Dixev's dressing room.
Il came to congratulate you on
your imitation and your song"
Thank you,' said Dixey.
Il also take the liberty of remark
ing, incidentally. that one of the
two of US is fearfully bad actor.
| II Il Il
The topical song was an essential
feature and invariably one of the
hits of the presentation. 1t depend
ed on witty turns of suggestion hung
upon a single phrase and involved
some of the cleverest work OF which
the rhvmsters of the day were ca
pablc. 1t fell away from attention,
and a reason for this fact is frankly
given by publishers. While they
pleased the fancy enormously as
they went over the footlights, topi-
cal songs did not sell over the coun-
ter. The demand was for ballads
which implied graceful romance as
She touched the ivory keys under
the mellow glow of piano lamp
and He warbled heart-yearnings in
throaty tenor.
The attention of music magnate
of tin-pan alley was brought to some
parodies of songs from his shelves.
Thought you might like to see
| the boost" remarked the genial
| parodist.
The reply came in icy tones.
THAT is no boost. A parody only
goes with something that is already
familiar. We regard a parody as
the death knell of perfectly good
popular song"
Spectacular extravaganza advanced
along the lines that brought Eddie
Foy into distinguished prominence
as a droll laughmaker, surrounded
by electric lights, tinseled scenery
and girls An oft-repeated story
tells how Eddie Foy as youngster
was boasting to his mother of a
, position ne had obtained in small
place OF entertainment Before he
went on the stage his first name
was Danny and his family was
proud of a touch of the btogue:
Tell me. Danny" said the mother,
is it paid you are for cuttin' up
the same as you do around the
homer"
Pretty much the same, mother,
come and see me act
I'D never have the time for such
nonsense. Do you get real money
for doing that out before folks ?"
Sure do"
Maybe as much as hve dollars a
week."
More, mother
you don't mean to say you get
as much as ten?"
More than that, mother. / get
fifteen"
Go on. Danny! Fool 'em as long
as you canr r
And Danny has been "foolin' EN-
lin that quaint delightful way of his
ever since. Eddie Foy never seems
quite of the theater, even to this
day. He is as completely apart from
the theatrical generality as Santa
Claus or a Brownie would be at an
afternoon tea. He has one extraordi-
nary trait which very few of the
PLAYER folk share. He never acts off
stage. This was commented on in
his presence in connection with the
somewhat artificial manners as
sumed by players ever eager to i'm
press personality" and grab any
spotlight, however faint and init
mate.
why should I act off stage?'
said Foy. Nobody ever accused me
of acting on the stage, did they?"
A simple e-hearted man, making nc
pretensions to great scholarship
strangely diffident in discussing his
own attainment, almost shy in his
attitude toward strangers, he goes
on, even though a veteran who
boasts not only large family ot
possible prodigies, but who has also
enjoyed the distinction of being imi-
tated by Elsie Janis, and continue.
to please that big child, the public
of whom Barnurn said: 1T loves
to be humbugged." ,, .--
He seems TO this day to be in q
state of wonderment that he should
be able simply by being himself
with no show of personal smartness
or aggressive assertion, to bring sc
many smiles.
Much of the itheater that has
proved conspicuous would now bt
forgot were it not for the vaude
villes. Eddie Leonard, the minstre
man. who laughed his way to promi
nence in many of the old-timt
magic semi-circles," established
himself on terms of gleeful &C
quaintanceship at Keith's Theatel
and proved that minstrelsy is still
like some of its jesting, good a.
new" The tenacity of old-time en-
tertainment was again revealed il
Mr.. Loew's vaudefilms, when tn,
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