Evening star., 1934-07-15

ing role of Dottie Dimple, In "Courted Into
Court" with John C. Rice as leading man,
sang piece entitled Miss Modesty," and to-
gether with the company sang Susie. Dis Coon
Has Got De Blues" and I'm the Daughter OF
the Leader of the Band" She was sufficiently
active to take part In song and dance with
John C. Rice. After this she came here in
vaudeville and appeared at Hashims Academy
Of Music The Princess of Comediennes."
and no doubt was here upon number Of other
occasions and in other plays.
A FEW days ago the writer went to the
\ Congressional Library TO see what he
could find out about Marie Dressler and there
he found standard work which said that
this ladys real name was Leila Koerber and
that she was born in Cobourg, Canada, her par
ents being Rudolph Koerber and his wife An
ME (Henderson) Koerber. She was educated
In Toronto and married J. H. Dalton, but rust
what became of this gentleman the book did
not say. Further. we are told that she first
appeared upon the stage in 1886. when she
took the part of Cigarette in Under Two
Flags" when she Just seventeen
Katisha in "The Mikado" came next, and
then she went to New York where she made
her first appearance at the Fifth Avenue Thea
ter on May 28. 1892. She subsequently toured
with the Bennett Moulton Opera Company.
playing a number of roles at the Casino, New
York, as the Duchess in THE Princess Nco-
tine" in November, 1893. and as Aurore in
"Girofie and Girof1a,' in March, 1894.
Some of her other characters were Mary
Doucles in Madeleine, or the Magic Kiss. in
Robinson Crusoe," 1895; as Georgia West in
"A Stag Party" 1895; her next play The Lady
Slavey" was a great success and she continued
in this for some time. In 1896 We hnd her
at the Herald Square Theater Mrs. Mala-
prop in The Rivals" and then came the "Ho-
tel Topsy Turvy," already mentioned. Then
he N he
Carnival" Miss Prinnt," THE Hall of Frame"
and then, in 1905, she with Joe Weber.
Two years later she was very well received in
London
Returning to the States she took part in
many other plays before entering the movies.
which seems but of recent date when We look
back to the days we saw her at the big thea
ters in Washington. For awhile she viii be
remembered for her screen successes, but as
time goes it is more than likely that her
biographers will stress her career on
the legitimate stage when the old-timer had
the pleasure of seeing her act in the flesh, away
from the studio and the aid Of the photo
graphic lens.
. UT Miss Dressler was not the only favorite
- that came to Washington back in the nine
ties. Indeed it is probable that in no other
period in the history of the stage there
more real talent entertaining the public than
at that time. One dear little woman who
helped Klaw g. Erlanger Charles Frohman,
and other producers to put on successful plays.
and who was much admired in Washington and
elsewhere. was Gladys Wallis, who is none
other than Mrs. Samuel insult of Chicago to-
day having the tragedy of her life. How nice
it would be if could just reverse the situa-
ton and make her happy she made
nearly forty years ago.
She is now a woman around so and q
recent picture of her shows that she has in
creased in sge just have her old admirers:
but the traces of her early beauty still with
her. Nature may make some slight differences
with mankind. Perhaps she may make us look
q few years younger or older than we really
are, but it averages up very closely, and If
will get out the old family album and look at
ourselves as we appeared four decades ago and
compare it with likeness of us at the present
time and then make the same comparison with
the photographs of Mrs. insult we will un-
doubtedly find that this lady has stood the test
Of time excellently well.
Shakespeare has said, "Al the worlds stage,
and all the men and women merely players"
Few. however. ft and prepare themselvs for
the two great parts in nfe's drama-comedy
and tragedy, especially the latter-lttle dream
ing that sooner or later the bill may be
changed and they viii be cast for a tragic role
Mrs insult has adapted herself to the
serious part. demonstrating that she was and
still is, good actress and a brave woman.
Happiness crowned her married life for many
years; she Is standing by her husband. any
dutiful wife should do; her ordeal is sad
one, but her old friends who knew her on the
stage still admire her as of yore.
A IANY old theatergoers will recall the name
WI Gladys Wallis; few will associate this
name with Mrs. insult; and a still smaller
number can tell you who was Margaret Anna
Bird, and yet these are all the same person.
he aSf ms ed heir he ~