Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-03-15
On the Street
of Stars
BY LEETE STONE

IN his feet and face. The way he
could shuttle and putter was nobody's
business. Sylvia, his wife, partner In
the act, sang spIrltunls In n sweet,
deep contralto.
Seven years Of ups and downs ON
various circuits had strengthened Syl-
Was love for Randall. He had beaten
a path from newsboy to bellhop, from
barking In front Of the circus big tops
to small.time vaudeville where his
winged feet had kept him; but Broad
way was forever a bright, reckoning
name to him.
Broadway was Sylvia's world be-
fore she married her mountebank.
Chorus trouplng, posing for artists,
tedious days on the set as "movie"
extra, weary waiting for some man
ayers promised phone call-how fa-
miliar they were, these stepping stones
to fame.
"Never saw you put II over better,
RAN" Sylvia said IN the dressing
room the night their summer tour end
ed. But you're not so gay-and
rest ahead of you, too"
"Ah. Syl, I'm sick of the same gags
an the same towns every year-slck
of 1t all. I'm only draggln' you down,
too. Those pipes Of yours would plant
you in big time II let you CO."
"Forget It, RAM You've been good
enough for Broadway the last three
years. | know I"
"Fat chance, Syll Say, I'm only a
hick hoofer. Not even funny"
"Llsten, Ran, II can watch you ev.
cry night and get a kick out OF it
after seven years-well, you're good"
In the morning Sylvia wakened with
a forbodlng sense Of loss and loneli-
ness clutchIng her heart. Jumping
out OF bed, she searched the room for
Randalls suitcase. Gonel Randall
had left her.
Life was the same as of old back on
Broadway. Sylvia was soon In the
chorus OF Gotham Gaietles," and do
ing posing and movie" work during
the day.
She plnched herself awake one
morning, dressed with care and TAXED
to an Astoria "movle" studio to an
swer n call. The set was sumptuous,
supposedly Servants, In London, a
smart cafe frequently visited by
princes. Lefty Lansdowne, the star
who had risen from tapped, aching feet
behind store counter to glddy heights
in the silver screen domain. insisted
on extrayaRant settings for her pIc
tures
"Find me N girl to sing for this
shot" said the director to nm assIst
ant am llven thInRa I'M between
dances"
SvlvIo hoard the low command from
whore she sat md steppIng 10 the d.
rector's elbow. she said sImply:
az sing"
30. XII III try YOU out"
"WbatIl I sIng?"
"AnythIng-long's YOU get life and
feeling in II. II YOU make good I'll
give Won n cIoseuD"
"Reodyl LiRhtsi ActIonr" sharp
commands from the TOW megaphone
and the camera. purred.
Sylvia sang. And howl She chose
"Bve nm Bye." the spirItual. for her
number and she paye nil she had.
"Snv. where dld YOU learn TO sing
like that?" The director Rrasped her
shoulders gently
"I'ye sung anIrltuaIa since I was N
baby." SylyIa replied.
swell. III take YOU to Dick Boyer
of tho bIg Circuit This afternoon" the
director smiled "ond von,I sin0 Tim,
for him You're a boodtlner n / over
nIcked one"
voor Ioter sov the name Of SvIvia
JocLs I'm electr,c Iiob,s ovor the nIcL
Of Broodwav variety theaters: but her
success wos no, sweet wItbout Ran
DAN IN sbore II
Ono ofternoon inst No tho orchestr.
gent tho curtain nm with n bIare Of
iazz the house manager noked a dis.
troc,ed ,oce info svIvio's dressing
room.
"your nortnor,s iammed nm nv
toxi pbonod from 81 yincenrs Just
nm bour m cot some ono also for Won
or yourI have IN ca on oIone
rotten incl !"
Toge,hor ,hov roced nm, n, the staye
o,tranco IN rho monogor,s of,,ce
around m. corner
S.I.to hnrr,ad 90 finn, sho col,,ded
with a man whose hock wos toward
Iar sha Lnow Tho 40, ~ those shonl.
ders and ho wa. s,orlno nm a, her
600 a., ,oII Letter.
"uo,,n nanw o,mnI,o,,, po, os
ohoroe,or,s,Ic n, svIu,o
,r,'a - 80. -, AM, COCOON,