The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-06-02

his big hit as a child actor IN
old Boston. And Otis Skinner
MY father used to tell me proud
" of his days as gas boy in the old
Bowery Theater in New York,
when he Lit up the footlights with
q torch. His job might be COM
pared to that Of an assistant cleo
trician today. Later he became
assistant stage manager, which
meant that he blew a whistle at
the end of a scene to close in the
flats. L still own that whistle.
When I was 16 1 played Phila-
deIphia, Boston, Cleveland, and
Detroit INF a repertOry which in
Guided Little Emily, David
Copperfield", "The Celebrated
Case, and BLOW for Blow. A
show was good for at least 81
weeks in those days. .
Later I became a member Of the
Dudley Street Opera House Com
pany, playing turkey Shows-so-
called because they filled in
turkey dates-T h ksgivin g,
Christmas, and New Years. My
speciality was limitations Of famous
ball players. The family standby
was an act in one-the Micawbers.
NV father played wilkins Micaw-
Der. my mother Mrs. Micawber,
and I was one of the little Micaw.
bers. Between the acts dad and
I would dance a hornpipe.
At 18 I decided that the life Of
an actor was not,for me, so took
a lob in an insurance brokers' Of
flee. Six months later my en-
ployer suggested that I return to
the stage. He seemed to have his
heart set on it, so accepted the
suggestion.
Broadway:
Until I was 80 had written
nothing for the theater. One day
Fritz williams, at that time Collie
of a Lambs Gambol, needed q
sketch and asked me to do one. !
wrote about q phase of the theater
I knew all too well-Cain's Ware
house, dumping ground of the flop.
THE Curse of Gains" was well re-
ceived, and I decided to write a
play.
In 1912 I wrote "TOO Many
Cooks and a year later "ThiS
Way Out" I wanted to give up
acting for playwriting but / soon
learned that q manager would
buy my plays only if l promised
to act in them -.
Two years later I wrote 1.-THE
First Year" It was produced by
John Golden, and it started an
association that has lasted 16
years =.
Hollywood:
have just returned from Holly
wood, where I played the role OF
Colonel Cobb in "Barbary Coast
and where I improved Cor so
like to Think my golf -.
It's q funny thing about golf
tho devOtees of the game are
the men and women who used
to think that of all the silly
paStimes, golf was the Silliest.
They jeered at ardent golfers;
they ridiculed the game, and
then one day they got club in
their hands, took a swing at the
ball-and now they're the worst
fiends on the links.
Golf Is unlike any other game.
The fever attacks you the minute
you take your first swing. Other
sports, like tennis, handball, bowl
ing, or baseball, must be played
often before they get you. Coli
is different. It ensnareS you in
stantly. When you take your first
swing at the ball one of the three
things happens: You miss it alto
gether, you hit 1t for mile OF
so, or you top it and send it drib
bling for a distance of only few
feet.
In any case the fever attacks
you and you are lost.
I remember my first experience
on the golf course. BY lucky
chance managed to get off a
long drive and became so puffed
UP over my skill that I refused
to believe it was just luck. Then
I attempted to repeat the stunt
and missed the ball completely.
called that bad luck. Then tried
again and again, and each time
missed the fighting spirit would
seize me. I was ashamed to admit
that such a childish game could
lick me and I kept right on try