The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-10-01

Memories of that greatest
university of them all, the stock
company. Leading parts in
Albany. Parties with young
Senator Jimmy Walker, whose
song writing days had just
ended. And the loud outlaws
Of AL Smith who attended the
theater every Monday night.
Then my first trip to the coast,
to be leading man for Fred
Belasco. David's brother, in his
famous stock company at the
Alcazar in San Francisco.
What q grand troupe they
were. Charley Ruggles, Jimmy
Gleason, Edmund Lowe, Ernest
Glendenning, all just beginning
their acting acreers. David
Butler, now q director In pict-
ures, was general utility man,
and third assistant stage man.
ager, really just q stage struck
kid to whom Fred Belasc0 had
given q job. Ralph MetcaIfe,
the author of "CradIe Snatch
erS," was another Of the as
sistant stage managers.
After stock, an actors ST.
preme thrilI-tirst appearance
on broadway. Marie DresSler,
the greatest trouper and finest
coincidence of them all, gaze me
a part in "The Mir Up," Which
opened at the Thirty-uinth
Street TheGter. Months of
standing in the 1Dings and
matching eUery minute of her
performance 1Ohen / lOGSn't on
the stage. She Oas q great
1DomGn and a great artist. I
1UiH never forget a bit of adUice
she gaze me on playing comedy:
"A laugh" she said, "is like
neD-6orn baby. A soft slap and
you bring it to life. Hit it too
hard and you kill it"
Hello Sweetheart
Memories of Broadway and
my first leading role. The thrill
of receiving my contract from
AL Woods, in person. The little
elevator in the Eltinge Theater.
Hello, sweetheart" the saluta-
ton from AL, and a cigar thrust
into my hands. Too scared to
refuse, I smoked myself into a
dull stupor, but walked out with
the contract to play the lead in
"Mary's Ankle"
Success in the Boston try0ut,
and a long term contract with
Mr.. Woods. The play arrived
on Broadway and was a hit.
The movies were just making
Roadway at that time, and John
Barrymore had agreed to play
the lead in a picture to be called
"The Lone Wolf" The director,
Herbert Brenon, called on me to
take his place when Barrymore
decided he couldn't do it.
MISUNDERSTANDING the story
to Al Woods, Nth Dhon, I had
a contract. Those days in ShoU
business 1Dhep there mere a mini
mum of lawyers and a maximum
OF pals. AL didn't hesitate a
moment. Bert" he said, "do
you think you'll like pictureS?"
/ told him / felt it Mould be a
great opportunity. He pulled my
contract out OF the drawer and
tore it up in front of me. A
grand person, A. H., and I hope
he makes a great comeback.
My first hit in pictures was
this part in THE Lone Wolf"
We made most of the scenes on
location in New Orleans, and
the rest in New York. 1t was
the first picture. by the way, to
open in New York for a run. It
played 10 weeks at the Broad
way Theater at a 50 top.
Let me marshal some of these
vagrant memories. The army in
1917, and living for nine
months in a tent adjoining
Earl Larrimore'S in Texas. Then
Hollywood and three of my best
pictures for the old Metro COM
pany. They were lombard,
Ltd" Right of Way" and the
one most identified with me.
alias Jimmy Valentine" A
lovely memory of Marcus Lowe.
He and Aleck Roland came
into my dressing room. Roland
handed me an enormous cigar.
Marcus Loew asked me if was
happy with his company. I re-
piled that I was quite salts
fled. He asked me what I was
getting and I told him that my
salary was 81, 200 a week. When
he asked whether I would be
more satisfied with $4,000 I
literally swallowed the end of
that huge cigar.
When LOew'S took over the
Metro company I happened to
be In New York. N. r. G. was