The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-01
In New York
By PAUL HARRISON

l New York, Oct. 5-Success stor- | ies in reverse: When Richard val entine Pitchford was shell-shocked | during the World War and sent to the mental ward of a hospital for observation, examiners asked him who he was. I'm 8 magician" he replied, and the doctors sorrow fully shook their heads and sent him back for a years supervised rest.
 That gave him plenty of oppor- tunity to practice his tricks. To- day. revues and vaudeville know him as Cardini, siickest and suav- est of all card manipulators :. Rudolph Valentino danced in one performance at the Colony Thea ter, and was fired for being clum- sy and lacking personality :. George s. Kaufman was dramatic critics, but such q bitter one that 1t was suggested he had better try writing plays himself and learn to temper his reviews with sym pathy. So he made the attempt and became the theater's foremost | satirist.
 Richman a Poor Boy.
 Sigmund Romberg was a con- cert pianist of mediocre prom ise. During 8 period of idleness he l tried composing music. And look at him now Harry Richman, one-time errand boy for 8 yeast company, grew up to sing songs, make fortune and buy the Flor ida palace of his former boss. He also bought a yacht that had be- belonged to Doris Duke. She sold it because it was costing her too much to operate. Flo Ziegfeld ordered W. s. Fields to stick to his juggling and quite trying to talk; said his squeaky voice would ruin the show. But Fields wouldn't stay shushed, and you know the rest Jean- ne Eagles tried for three years to get a producer to stage Rain" and became regarded as a nuisance in theatrical offices. The show, of course, made millions "The Last Warning" reached Broadway and became a, hit only because it's scenery burned before an out-of- town opening. The discouraged pro- ducers were going to quit, but others persuaded them that 1t was good luck to have a fire.
 Divine Spark.
 There's less distance than you'd imagine between stage and pulpit. A minister named Harold Raynor writes songs and jokes for Joe Penner.. Father Joseph Connors composed the song, Love Sends a Little Gift of Roses" Newton Chase of Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood, is a son of the> Rev. William Chase, director of the Lords Day Ali ance in Boston. The turbulent al "Stormy Weather" was authorized . by Harold Arlen, a rabbfs son Evelyn Venable. Ray Perkins and John Charles Thomas all were the children of ministers.
 Broadway, however, offers many convincing examples of the infiu' ence of environment and heredity Consider the Drew -Barrymore-Coli royal family, for example. James O'Neill, the actor, must have passed on some of his skill to the play. writing of Eugene. Richard Ben nett, returning to the stage thi' i season, has seen Constance, Bar bara and Joan do very well fol themselves.
 Margalo Gilmore is q third
 generation actress. The mothers of Mary Pickford, Richard Bar thelmess, Kay Francis and Maud' IANouo xUarn aF tha af Ua vntyat
 mt forget Fred Stones Dorothy
 Paula and Carol. George M. Co
 han played in his papa's vaude' vile company. The heirs of Will
 liam Brady, owen Davis and Lau rette Taylor are doing all right 1T lthe theater or movies.