The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-11-05
In New York
By PAUL HARRISON

 conventional patterns into the lives of stage people. And in most su<> cess stories, lucky stars have littI> to thank except their lucky stars.
 Take Luella Gear. (And if you don't want her, there are plentv of producers who dol. She can'c sing. She can't dance. She can't do a heck-fall, juggle Indian clubs, or even look beautiful. It's be- cause she is unable to do much Of anything that Miss Gear is sne of the principal cogs in Broadway musical comedy.
 Of course, if the formula were as simple as that, the Main Stem would be jammed with comedi- ennes. Miss Gear does have a lu- guberous something, dead-pan manner of doing everything worse than the next fellow. She attend ed a party one time, one of these parties at which everyone is called upon to entertain. Other girls danced the Charleston, interpreted spring, sang of love, stood on their heads, told stories.
 The terribly untalented Miss Gear had to do something. And so, very grimly, she kicked, pranced, tried to sing, attempted a story, blundered hand-stand. Her satiric mimicry had the party in stitches. One of the guests was a theater man, who signed her on the spot.
 Still Can Sell Pianos
 One of the most exciting shows in town is Small Miracle" One of the most exciting performers in Small Miracle" is Joseph Spur in-Calleia. If he ever decides to go to Hollywood-an idea he doesn't favor now-he can name his own figure. Things haven't always gone so | well with MT Spurin-Calleia. He came from, of all places, the Is- land of Malta. Newly arrived in New York, he washed street cars. Later, during the performance of | some tasks around a theater, he got job singing Scotch ditties in a vaudeville act. Played a few | legitimate bits, wrote a song or two, became stage manager. Having a good tenor voice, he suc- cumbed to operatic ambition. Ev- cry cent he had went to rent Town
  only customer in the auditorium was an old lady who'd mixed her dates and had come expecting to hear Rachmaninoff.
 Next he sold pianos, and did so well they wanted to make him an agency manager. Alarmed, he chucked the whole business and returned to the stage. He clicked. 
 Jack of All Trades
 Scarcely anyone ever heard of Lawrence Riley, except a few friends in Bradford, Pa. He was a reporter on a newspaper there the sort of reporter who runs down to the 3:30 train to see who is arriving. He also worked in brickyard. In New York and Wheeling, Va, he sold furniture in department stores.
 Now and then Riley laboriously composed a story for the pulp magazines. A few of them were sold. He moved to Warren, Pa, and became interested in the little theater movement. Tried his hand at four plays, which were pretty bad. His fifth was better. He showed it to friend, who showed 1t to friend, who showed It to a reader in Brock Pemberton's of flee. It is Personal Appearance, first smash hit of the season. And the Hollywood moguls are stand ing around with checkbooks in hand.
 Wrestling with Success
 Consider, briefly MT. Walter Dare WahPs career of violence. Born in Poland. the son of a wrestler he became a wrestler himself. Became, in fact, the light heavyweight champion of Europe. He began a conquest of the United States, was billed as "KarraZy Kalwara, the Beautiful Pole" and was tossed on his ear. He was funny. though, and real ized it. So from wrestling, which perhaps is the gravest form of un- enjoyment, he went into vaude- vile. Did well, too, until he be- gan to have nostalgia yearnings for the wrestling mats. He ar ranged a comeback match and was thrown so hard that he woke up in a hospital. But when he did wake up he found a theatrical man holding a contract. Wahl sighed and signed. He has appeared in the "Vanities," two "Follies" and now cavorts in life Begins at $40"