Evening star., 1938-03-20


you may remember Eugene as "Milty,'
the newcomer to the gang OF tough
boys from the New York slums, who
figure IN the play.
He got his chance at the role when
he was among 400 boys in Chicago who
tried for six of the nine juvenile roles
in Dead End" for the road company,
which was to play key cities of the
United States,
Eugene had finished high school at
Omaha. Nebr, and was doing secre-
tarial work in Chicago at the time,
though he was definitely interested in
the theater he said.
WHEN he joined the company he
was II years old. and. with the
other boys. who ranged from IA to
20 years of age. played for nine months
three months in Chicago, one month
each in Philadelphia and Boston and
shorter engagements in other large
cities.
When the company broke up some
Of the boys went into radio work and
most of them had chance to get good
But, as odd as it sounds, he was too
ambitious.
Il want to keep on with the the
ater," he said. But not as an actor.
I'd rather write and direct plays.
And felt that the most important
thing for me to do at this point was to
continue with my education"
AS result of this reasoning Eugene
came to Washington. where a sister
was living at the time. and enrolled at
George Washington University, He's
freshman there now. and active in
several student organizations.
Eugene is taking literary course,
and at night he ushers at the National.
This job gives him an opportunity to
study the stage by attending perform
ances over and over again.
Sometimes, when remember that
played on that same stage myself
not so long awo. I feel little queer
about it. however" he admitted.
successful plays of the season.
and the youthful members of the road
company attracted much attention
wherever they appeared.
In all of the cities We played the
boys clubs were thrown open to us
and all sorts of dinners and luncheons
were arranged" Eugene recalled.
Also. their status as actors opened
the doors of several stars to the
juvenile players, and they found them
selves talking as equals to successful
actors.
The biggest thrill in the way of en-
tertainment. however. was experienced
right here in Washington when Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt invited the nine
boys In the cast for an hour at the
White House. They we're conducted to
the family quarters on the second
floor. saw several of the rooms used by
the President and other members of
the family and were greatly impressed
by Mrs. Roosevelt's hospitality.
But there was another side to the
picture. Eugene declared There's
lot of hard physical work in the the
ater, he discovered. Sometimes it
even means that person has to take
beating as Eugene did every night
in Dead End" as a newcomer to the
gang.
MORSE than that. an actor sees
much heartbreak. Eugene con-
tinued. He learns that not over 20
per cent of the people who try for the
stage ever have chance to play even
q bit part. That whole season is apt
to pass without the discovery of even
one real star
As for the glamour of the stage, in
Eugene's opinion, its only glitter is in
the moment the curtain comes down
and you get your calls"
Just the same. his part in Dead
End" really crystallized Eugene's am
bitions to become a playwright and
director.
The money he earned as a member
Of the cast will finance his first year
Of college and after that he'll have to
make the grade somehow.
He plans to complete his college
education. study the theater in Mos
COW for four years and then allow
himself about four years on Broadway.
IT I don't make the grade then.
III quit" he said. II think I'll Just
turn into history professor. History,
after all. is drama and the greatest
source of material for the theater"