The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-03-04
In New York,
By PAUL HARRISON

New York-Contrary to occas- ional grumblings, 1t may be that that the theater really isn't losing it's romance and back-stage tradi- tions. But it is your correspond ent's unhappy duty to report that the theater has lost it's cats.
 This is quite a loss. because cats on Broadway. There was the one that had kittens in Mande Adams dressing room, the one that meowed at Eva Leqallienne during an emotional scene, ain- other that stole the show from the tenor warbling in "Turandot,f at the Metropolitan, and the cat that played hob with the premiefe of "Rio Rita" .F
 Among acting cats was therone which used to be identified by Groucho Marx as Peruvian quail the only fur-bearing quail in the world. MT Marx offered t. per-uve that it was. More recent ly, a succession of kittens appear ed with Joe Cook In Fine and Dandy" hopping out of a cocktail shaker when anybody ordered a Catastrophe.
 Practically all theaters used to have basement and back-stage cats, ecah variously considered good luck and bad luck by cat lovers and non-lovers, respectively The Palace cat, Tootie, lived in the boiler room for nine years and. produced thirteen generations of progeny without making single sortie on the stage. The Bijou and Morosco theaters had a joint cat named TimbuctoO. But what with being fed by the yroperty men and stage doormen at both houses he got so fat and lazy that he rats ate hini. At least, that Is the le- gend.
 The reason most theaters have dispensed with their cats, and re- sorted to rat poison instead. is that they just can't be trusted to stay out of sight. In play Sew eral season ago an actress had to stand at a doorway and pretend to call her cat. But no cat was supposed to appear; in fact, con- siderable dramatic value attended the fact that the pet wouldn't come at its mistress call. The house cat happened to be brows- ing in the wings on the opening night. When it heard the actress coaxing. kitty, kitty!" 1t bound-. ed through a window, rubbed, a., gainst her ankles and kmeoowed. The scene was ruined and the show soon closed.
 of 'She Loves Me Not' last, season during researsals, and become serious trouble when the manage such a favorite that there was ment had it spirited away just be- fore the opening night. A very dignified old feline at the Broad hurst had an understudy to do It's, mouse-catching.
 Not Slamese Twin.
 William Barry, in current mus ical, owns prize Siamese named King Kong, and shows pictures of 1t to anybody who is willing to look. A chorus girl studied one of the photographers the other evening and seemed perplexed. Siamese," she said. Barry assur- ed her that 1t was Siamese. Then where" she demanded. lis the other one?" ( a
 A few motion picture houses tolerate cats, although here lS none in the Mickey Mouse theater. A sleek Tom called Midnight has charge of things in the vast Music Hall of Rockefeller Center. Rocke- feller Center hasn't any mice yet SO Midnight is able to make full- time job of the maintenance OS his personal aplomb and dignity. He occupies the magnificent apart ment which originally was design- ed Tor ROXY .. ' Catching n Bandit.
 Cats are to be found in many oH the clubbier restaurants. especially reformed speakeasies occupying old brownstones. You hear all manner of stories about cats that like gin and cats that live oftl cavier scraped out of leftover can- apes.
 Of the great horde of cats In Greenwich Village, the best known Is a creature called Whiskey that's always hanging around Jack De- laney's bar. Doesn't beg, but uns less carefully watched he will yslup the froth off an Alexander pr 2 Clover club. After sa few 0f these he goes out and Ambushes police doEs.