The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-05-28

0s what do you recall as the most un-
usual emergency9
Al suppose that would be-let's see
back in 1929, at the Haymarket Theater in
London. Most old theaters, as you know,
had mousers, cats that prowled around back
stage to keep the place free of rodents. The
Haymarket mouser was big, black tom
cat, and the ancient stage doorman said that
l was the only actor the tomcat ever had
liked. Probably the tomcat recognized in
me another bum, so we hit it off. used to
bring meat for him every night, SO he be-
came quite attached to me.
Q-Uh-huh?
A.-This particular night, during the run
Of Hamlet" had just started the soliloquy,
"To be or not to be-" when heard the audi
ence smoker. Continuing the speech, I
looked around quickly, thinking that some
drunken actor perhaps had wandered out on
the stage Then I saw the tomcat. He was
sitting near my feet, with his head cooked
to one side, for all the world as though he
were listening intently to what was say
ing. If he got up and walked away, I knew
that the audience would explode, so reached
down, still reading the lines, scratched his
neck and picked him up. He sat in my lap
for the rest of the soliloquy and I carried
him off on my exit.
Q.-You should have kept that in for the
rest of the show.
A i tried to, but the tomcat never did
xAs it again, which may be a form of
criticism. I don't think anything will ever
happen again that will give me such kick.
y Il y
Q.-Billie Burke tells me that your Hamlet
was the greatest performance she ever saw
in her career.
A.-That reminds me Of a letter that
George Bernard Shaw sent to me, after he'd
seen our performance in London. I'd taken
some liberties with the staging of it, so
Shaw, after praising the show, ended his let
ter this way: IT cannot agree, however, with
some Of your emendations because, in spite
of his shortcomings, I can assure you that
Shakespeare is much better author than
you are" love that line: "In spite Of his
shortcomings"
times when somebody dresses us down,
isn't it?
A-You're right. I remember the after
noon that Arthur Brisbane called me into
his office. I was newspaper cartoonist and
he had asked me to illustrate murder story
in which one brother had killed another.
You know that cartoon formula-the brand
Of Cain, the smoking gun and the caption:
sam I My Brothers Keeper" Well, drew
it all right, but it reproduced badly in the
first edition, and when Brisbane sent for me,
I knew the jig was up.
Q.-What did he say to you?
Ale was very calm. If he had started
cursing, would have been better off, He
said: "Mr. Barrymore I understand that
all Of your family is in the theater." I
nodded. Haven't you, Mr.. Barrymore,
ever had an urge to continue in the family
tradition?" I said: eyes" He said "When,
Mr.. Barrymore9 I said: Fright now, Mr..
Brisbane" thereby ending my career as
cartoonist.
Odd you ever see him again?
Ayes. He visited the "Grand Hotel
set with his daughter Carlo chased them
off the set and never was so burned up in
all my life. But Mr.. Brisbane said that he'd
seen enough.
n HOW did you get on the stage after
cko being fired as cartoonist2
Al was at Atlantic City with hardly
enough money to pay the hotel bill when
Mort Singer met me on the boardwalk and
asked me to play the juvenile lead in must
cal comedy he was going to produce. He
said: "I'll give you $500 week." and was
so excited at hearing there was so much
money in the world that yelled: "Whatp
He said hastily that he would give me $3.50.
He thought he hadn't offered enough.
ESQ you broke in as a song and dance
man?
Ave opened the Princess Theater in
Chicago, with Morris show, 'The Stubborn
Cinderella and it ran two solid years.
faxed the singing and the dancing in the Sec
ond half of the show, when had to dance
minuet, become so embarrassed that took
three stiff drinks
Q-Who were the greatest actor and
actress you ever saw on the stage?
A.-The greatest actor was Sir Henry
Irving. He was marvellous. The greatest
actress was Eleonora Duse
Q-Of your plays you liked Hamlet