The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-29
In New York
BY PAUL HARRISON

New York - Notes backstage:
Victor Moore, perhaps the nations
No. / comedian because of his
succession of smash-hit roles
as diffident, humble little
man, looks just as shy and
wistful off-stage. His clothes don't
fit, he has to wear glasses, and he
often carries an umbrella when it
doesn't look like rain. But Moore
is Infatuated when Broadwaymen
mistake him for yokel. Sidewalk
pitchmen invariably accost him,
and swindlers try to sell him oil
stock, or attempt the old pocket
book switch.
Osgood Perkins was Harvard
man who tried banking and im-
porting with success but little en-
thusiasm before he became an
actor. 1t was 1.-The Front Page
that established his success. He
likes to cook and paint. Cooks any
thing, but his painting is confined
mostly to bed heads. That's right
- bed heads. Does a design on q
wall, then puts q couch up against
it.
Split Up
The longest married partnership
of the stage was interrupted when
Rose King went alone into Eddie
Dowling's revue few months ago.
Chic Yorke had to go down 10
Livingston, Texas, to look after
some property that had just
brough forth couple of oil wells.
They're fairly wealthy now, but
Yorke and King haven't any IDEA
OF leaving the theater. 1t was z1
years ago that they first appeared
together, in a little stock company
in Alva. Okla.
An older and no less devoted
partnership is the team OF Willie
and Eugene Howard. Wille's the
more popular one - now. But ne
never has forgotten the days wnen
their positions were reversed,
when he was the straight man ana
his brother the comedian. They
even used each others first names.
So now that the lder Eugene
isn't so much in demand, their
earnings are shared just the same.
Flop Over
A year ago. vinton Freddy.
the producer, vas nipped by =
sorry flop show and swore OF
musicals forever. He's glad ne
changed his mind, though, ior
"Anything Goes is netting him
neat $4,000 a week - and VIII
make a great deal more in royal
tics of one kind and another.
Freedley is another Harvard man.
and to please his family - which
Included an uncle who was Bisnop
OF Massachusetts - he became
lawyer. In his own mind. now
ever. there never was any doupt
~ what he eventually would DO.
BECAME an actor. trouped for five
wears learned about producing.
and. shifted to the other side 81
the footlights. 1t was as cold anu
calculating as that. a..
Freddy has made some I'M
portant discoveries - or az aeasl
boosts to stardom - in relativey
few years. He gave Fred anu
Adele Astaire their first speaking
narts: yanked Bert Lahr out OF
hurlesaue: sent Ginger Rogers
ana Ethel Norman to fame N
.sGirl Crazy" and gave Victor
Moore e new start on Broadway
in Funny Face"
Death ON Broadway
violence has been rampant on
broadway stages this season, with
pistols, poisons and paper-knives
getting in their lethal licks. There
are no less than seven suicides cur-
rently on view, three OF them IN
two plays by young Mr. Cufforo
Odets, whose mind seems mostly
shrouded In gloom and the trou-
bles OF the downtrodden. "ceil-
ing Zero" has an airplane suicide
that's thrillingly heard. though not
seen. Also, Leslie Howard commits
a form OF suicide every night when
he begs for death at the gun Of .
gangster. and gets II.
Just about the most novel ana
hilarious entertainment In town "
a series OF reviyala staged in har.
lem by a company OF the pest
available Negro actors sailor.
Bewarei" roway comedy me- OF
Broadway last seasons was tvs
first selection Of tho Harlem fh,y.
eFs. ''iVhat Price ui0ryf'. "itain. l
and "pFlyate Lives also are %
fha flnf