Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-07
Mew York
Letter

NEW YORK@The aristoc-ats Of
the sidewalk ballyhoo business
boast a new headliner.
To the fantastic assortment Of
mummers who march in the Man
haitian parade for their daily bread
has been added a robot" whose
name is Jose Lisso, but who is
known in the "profesh" as Tiny
Dunn"
1t has been Mons. Lisso'S occupa-
ton for many a year TO play the role
Of mechanical dolls or mechanical
men. His particular gift lies in the
immObillty Of his face. He boasts
that no medico, flashing one of
those trick little lights in his eyes,
can get the usual reaction. To be
successful in his act, he must ap-
pear not to be alive, but rather some
mechanical device requiring re-
winding and direction.
Thus, as he goes clicking through
the midtown crowds, the passers-
by wonder whether he is actually
real. To find out, they follow him
for a block or two. And Manhattan
ties always seem To have time for
watching steel workers, pitchmen
and derrick operators, or for other
forms Of idling away the hours. Lisso,
the robot man" gathers a crowd in
his wake anr leads them to the front
o. the burlesque house that pays his
salary.
There he relaxes behind he
scenes, becomes a man again and
prepares for another expedition il
the role Of a robot.
His companion in such expedi-
tons is another member Of the
ballyhoo ~aristocracy - the gent
known as "the duke OF Broadway"
The duke" has been on and off
the Manhattan thoroughfares since
Fourteenth Street was the center
Of theatrical activities. His partic-
ular forte IS playing the role OF a
gentleman Of the old school. His Van
Dyke beard Is carefully trimmed and
his mustasche is carefully waxed
and pointed. He wears a slick look
ing top hat. In winter season his
evening attire includes even the an
Gent opera capeS, SO rarely seen IN
these days. In SUMNER, he affects
an immaculate evening suit Of some
white material.
Visitors. to whom the familiar
street figures Of Manhattan are
unknown, stop TO watch him; and
even those Manhattanites, who
know that ne Will turn out TO be a
glOrified sandwich man, cast ad-
miring glances. His makeup has
that over-perfection Of q movie
hero.
But when he finds many eyes GEN.
tered upon him, "the dukes" shirt
front lights up and some advertise
ment appears. Wherewith he a
ders on. Thus he has been perform
ing since those ancient days when
the Pepper whisky people gave him
one OF his first jobs.
As might be expected, the brill
liant idea Of having an illuminat-
cd shirt front came from the Bow
cry. cradle Of the show and carnival
world. There. in a bygone shooting
gallery. came the invention that
has been his meal ticket ever since.
Before that he had been a COW
puncher on the western plains. a
circus and carnival man and a prize
fight promoter.
1T Il "the duke who now works"
with the robot. Taken alone, they
are alluring aristocrats Of mummery;
working together. they are Broad
ways most intriguing sidewalk team.
The robot man. by the way, will
tell YOU OF the time that the movies
hired him to play the part OF al
statue: Of stage experiences as al
mechanical doll and how he once
worked with a papier-mache dog.
But, arousing the curiosity Of
Manhattan throng has its handi-
caps. Cynics and doubters that they
are. the curious prod him with pins
TO see IL he will react. And It isn't
simple 10 remain immobile under
such circumstances.