The Washington times., 1937-12-11
EddieCantorPicks
the AII-America
Show cam
AU-Tine, AU-AmericG of
ShOU Business
By ED. SULLIVAN
HOLLYWOOD Cal

~ the room deep in rugs and perplexity:
You want me to name what I'd consider
the all-time, all-America team of show
business the eleven persons who have con-
tributed most to our profession7 Say, that's
a big order, Ed"
He paced up and down some more. "Hey,
this may ruin me. What about Christ
mas business at my antique shop9" But the
question was an interesting one, and Cantor
finally sat down. For an hour he drew up
lists of names, considered each one of them
carefully before accepting or discarding it,
At first he suggested two teams, but voted
that down. Here is the team he named
finally:
L.E.-Chaplin R.T-Paderewski
LT.-CaruSO RE-Nijinsky
L.G.-WaIt Disney LH-Irving Berlin
.Cen--Wiu Rogers Q.B-Charlie Mccarthy
R.G.-Bernhardt RH-David WarfieId
F.B-GeOrge M. COhan (captain)
Il want to explain those selections" said
Cantor, seriously. Chaplin qualities be-
cause he brought the most laughter to the
most people. His pantomime was universally
understood. He typified the peasants, the
humble people of the world.
"Caruso was the most important singing
voice of our times. They say everybody
can be replaced, but nobody has taken his
place or filled his shoes.
Il know Of no one of our profession who
has contributed so much as Walt Disney
through the medium of animated cartoons.
VWILL ROGERS, or so it always seemed
w to me, was a kindly policeman pa
trolling the American national beat ridicul-
ing pomposity and forcing the bigwigs to be
themselves.
Sarah Bernhardt was the worlds great
est actress; so great that when she came to
America, our audiences understood her
plays and her art, although she talked in
French. That is genius Of unbelievable
depth.
"Paderewski, great pianist, think,
did more in my time to spur an interest in
fine music than any single figure. As an
artist, his effect on culture was incalculable,
"NiJlnsky was poetry in motion, the
greatest male dancer the world ever has
known. The interest he created in dancing
was vital contribution to show business.
Irving Berlin was the words and music.
of popular pieces who fed the musical appe-
tite of millions of people and entertained
them with his harmonies. .....
6STHARLIE MCCARTHY include be-
~ cause he symbolizes the illusion of
the theater and is a symbol of radio enter
tainment. 1 don't think any of us in radio
will begrudge him the honor of representing
the radio profession. Mccarthy is more than
comedian; he is the brick that knocks off
the high hat. Radio must be represented
on this team, and don't know of better
representative than this amazing dummy.
David Warfield select because he was
the greatest character actor of our times,
and he gave theatergoers the good crv
that they need to supply emotional balance.
l include him, too, because he taught the
world how to retire gracefully, the most diff
ficult of all fine arts.
Il don't think I have to explain nv
selection of George NJ Cohan as fullback
and captain of this all-time team of show
business. Cohan is, you might say, the
American theater and, in football parlance
triple threat-he can write hit songs he
can dance, he pens musicals or dramas, he
can produce them he can act in them"
II is to be doubted that there will be
- serious disagreement with Cantor's selec-
tlons No one can stand up in meeting and
say that the personalities he has nominated
DON'T BELONG. Some of those he con-
sldered, and who lost out by inches for this
all-time array, were Pavlowa, Houdini,
Thurston, Helen Hayes Nora Bayes, Chalia-
pin, Al Jolson, Bert Williams, Paul NUM-,
Eleanor Duse, Maude Adams, Jack Benny,
Katharine Cornell, Jascha Heifetz, Eugene
O'Neill, John Mccormack Fred Astaire Bill
Robinson, Oracle Allen, George Gershwin,
Fannie Brice and Lillian Leitzel.
The one he regretted most in dropping
was Noel Coward. Cantor has tre-
mendous regard for this talented Britisher,
who, in his estimation, is one of the most
important citizens of the international the.
ater.
asked Cantor if he didn't belong to
this powerful array of performers. "Say,
with that team I'd be content to carry the
water bucket" he said, and seriously. And
then, as an afterthought: Anyhow, I don't
want to play. I'd rather sit up in the stands
and wear a raccoon coat"
For graduate manager of this team
I'd name the late William Norris - aaid