The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-22
Fun-Makinq
Cantor Film
Coming Here
Story of Comedians Life
Displays Little to
Provoke Laughs.
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON

That is what Eddie Cantor wrote
me once after / had requested his
recipe for humor on the stage.
Upon that philosophy Eddie Can
tor has built his reputation as a
comedian. When he retired from
the stage six years ago to devote
himself entirely to pictures and
radio, Eddie decided he could do
justice to no more than one pic
ture each year. He has stuck to his
promise as has no one else In Holly
wood, except Charlie Chaplin. Mr..
Cantor is to be seen in his latest,
Strike Me Pink" at Loews start
ing Friday.
Believes Actors Snug
Mr.. Cantor, who like all the lead
ing professional humorists essential
ly is solemn person, believes actors
are too SNUG.
They don't think enough" he
says, because they have nothing to
worry about" So Eddie prescribes
worry for those who are engaged
in the interpretive work Of the stage
and screen. Eddies sideline is writ
ing-articles and books.
Eddie once was ragged little
street urchin in Hester-st, New York.
He wasn't we'll bred. He wasn't even
well-fed. But he had stanch
old grandmother who urged him on.
And he picked up a few pennies
singing and dancing and improVls-
ing jokes for passers-by.
At IA Eddie got job as clerk in
factory mailing room. A year
later he was fired.
Won Amateur Prize
Although he won first prize in an
amateur contest at Miners Bowery
theater, it was as singing waiter
in a Coney Island beer garden that
he achieved his first real success.
Jimmy Durante was his pianist, and
folks endured the food to hear Eddie
sing and Jimmie play. After work
ing six months, saving tips and all,
he got enough money together TO
buy his grandmother fur coat.
Soon, however, Eddie got his start
on the stage. He worked in a
vaudeville act featuring Bedini and
Arthur at Hammerstein's Victoria
theater. Eddie was thrilled to
death, but he didn't have much to
do. During stage wait once, he
volunteered to sing song, the man
ager acquiesced and Gus Edwards,
who was in the same show. recog-
nized Eddie's talent. He offered to
give Eddie a job as Gus Edwards
discovery" any time Eddie was out
of work
In 1912 Eddie became member
of the kid Kabaret" cast. And
what cast it was. Included were
George JesSel, Eddie Buzzell, George
Price, Lila Lee and Gregory Kelly,
all magic names to the eyes and
ears of the thea trical public at that
time. Eddie played the part of q
black-faced butler.
Friend of Will Rogers
While touring with this act, Mr..
Cantor met Will Rogers and there
was born long friendship. There
was sort of pleasant rivalry be-
tween the two as to their philan-
thropic work, and they took I'M
usual interest in what the other was
doing. Eddie is the main support
of boys camp. He is one of the
5ackers of another camp where he,
himself, went one summer.
During the last few years, due
probably to the familiarity of Ed
dies radio broadcasts, the American
public has come to better know Mr..
Cantor's family. One of the incest
things about Eddie is Ida, his wife.
They have been married happily
more than % years. And who is
there that hasn't heard Eddie re-
mark about the Cantor Home for
Girls" referring to his five
daughters.
Not long ago, on one of his broad
casts, Eddie mentioned the name
of Janet Cantor, one of the "ba-
bies" of the family Afterwards he
called her long distance and asked
how she liked hearing her name
broadcast. In very grown-up
voice Janet answered;
Thanks for the publicity, Pop"
Teaches Girls Thrift
Eddie is teaching his daughters to
be thrifty, a lesson he learned at
the cost of fortune lost in the
stock market crash. His two younger
girls, Janet and Marilyn, are. on an
allowance of $3.50 week When
they are in debt they can't get a
cent from Papa" Cantor.
Stay W min your budget" he
warns. you're not producers yet"
The secret of Eddie's and Ida's
married bliss is mutual respect,
according to Eddie.
IF more women in Hollywood
would use Ida's tactics, the divorce
lawyers would starve," he says.
In Strike Me Pink" Eddie is sup
ported by Ethel Norman, and
Parkyakarkas, his radio stooge, who
appears on the screen for the first
time.