The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-26

0Alb1 ASA0tIAs
Mr.. Brady sat down with the
members of the committee and Tor
some two hours let them in on
a few intimate financial facts
regarding the exact status OF the
legitimate stage. In substance
he declared the so-called "road"
business was shot to pot by the
competition provided in the mil
lion dollar film palaces with their
entertainment shipped weekly in
round, tin cans. The necessity
of wiping out these nuisance
taxes he stressed and the COM
mittee weighed carefully the
words of this theatrical sage.
Then they took the action which
is likely to be ratified by the full
Mr.. Brady is a | que and pow
erful figure in the theater and
he has a profound respect for
Congress. He told me on GER
tain occasion that he would love
to produce a novel on politics
written by Sam Blythe and called
The Price of Place" There was
only one drawback. The central
figure in the novel was Con-
gresham and he was corrupt.
Such character, Mr.. Brady felt,
might offend some of the august
members of the national legisla-
tive body and bring about restric.
tive laws. Censorship. perhaps.
Not all playwrights have such a
respect for Capitol Hill opinion,
for recall an Augustus Thomas
opus at the Belasco. not many
months ago, which had a proto-
type of one Of our venerable Sen.
ators in his office and the states
man was diligentl. engaged in
mixing up a batch of gin. The
Thomas play died of box office
anaemia and probably saved
Congressman Blanton. and others
prone to combat the demon rum,
some extended remarks in the
Record.
Mr.. Brady got heavy financial
wallop when he lost the services
Of Washington's own little star,
Helen Hayes. He had a highly
profitable season with her as
luminary OF the Barrie play,
What Every Woman Knows"
Helen drew down something like
$1,000 week plus a percentage
of the gross receipts when they
attained certain figure. Then
jed Harris and Crosby Gaiga.
rival managers, began to diclxer
for the Brady star. William A
fought hard for the option clause
in his contract but when the
matter was finally taken to the
Actors Equity Association for adj
justment the new managers won
their point. They give Miss Hayes
about $4,000 a week and in
''Coquette," their play, she has
been smash hit. So everybody
is satisfied. That is everybody
except Mr.. Brady. He sent out
the Barrie play again with
Patricia Collinge playing the
Maggie Wylie" role, but pulled
it in after a few weeks Of un.
profitable business. The show
required the Hayes talents.
When the Rev. John Roach
Straton became a bit too vigorous
in condemning the stage and all
who had any connection with it
it reused the Brady ire. His wife.
Grace George, is a gifted star of
the footligbts and his daughter.
Alice, is one of the famous Broad
way stars. His son. following in
dads footsteps is already launched
on a successful career as a pro-
Queer.
Thus William A. had reason to
be angered. He challenged the
Rev. Straton to debate and when
1t was accepted went to the
church Of the dominic and proved
that all who take an interest in
footlight affairs are not horned
SatanS.
The most recent Brady achieve
ment was to step into the lead
ing role of his own show, IA
Free Soul" when Lester Loner-
gan was stricken with Illness. He
joined the Actors Equity Associa-
ton and proved he was a worthy
holder of the card by giving a
fine performance for a run of two
months. A fine fellow this Brady.
A gallant crusader. A hard
fighter. Broadway is fortunate
to have him to fight its battles.
A few days ago the Treasury
ruled that George M. Cohan
must pay on $3.50 900 of claimed
exemptions. The money was
, mostly funds given to his mother
in partnership arrangement
which Uncle Sam construed as a
gift. Attached to part of the cold
official records was letter that
the beloved George M. Cohan
wrote in 1914 to his father, the
late Jerry Cohan. 1t speaks for
itself and partly explains why
Broadway fondly refers to the
lFressaS