The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-25
Man bout
Manhattan
By George Tucker


NEW YORK - The fists thai
launched a thousand counter-at
tacks for dancing, prancing Slap
sic Make Rosepbloom, the reform
ed pugilist, %carressed his jaw and
his cheeks gingerly as he relaxed
in the deep cushions Of a wicker
divan in his dressing-room in the
Strand theater on Broadway.
Don't ever let anybody tell
you," said Make, that being ar
actor hasn't got it all over being
a prize fighter. In the ring you've
got to stop everything that comes
your way with your face. Even
now, when l think of some OF
those fights I've been in, my face
automatically begins to swell up.
But l never was scared. I wasn't
even scared of Harry Greb, and
he hurt me more than anybody.
Hell, l wasn't even scared to go
on the stage"
This was an interlude between
two of the five daily shows that
Make has during his three-week
engagement at the Strand. He had
just roared into town with Rudy
Vallee and the personnel of the
Vallee show, along with Gene
Mann, his manager, who is a
| sharp, cigar-smoking hombre who
likes turn down hats and fast
horses, and Sidney Fields, his
gag-writer, now doubling as a
stooge in the Strand audiences.
Make had never before been on
the stage in front of a live
audience, although crowds h a v e
been no novelty to him and shy
ness is not a part Of his nature.
I remember an incident one night
in a Broadway night club when
the master Of ceremonies was
about to introduce Congressman
Sol Bloom, who had just come in
with a party Of friends On a
sightseeing tour. Make had won
an important fight. and feeling
that this laudatory introduction
was intended for him, he leaped
to his feet, clasped his fists over
his head in traditional pugilistic
fashion, and took a bow. No,
Make is not shy. He never was
one to turn his back when the
multitude clamored, no matter
for whom.
II got a good tip on a horse
Make suddenly yelled. AN 81
shot. Can't give you his name be-
cause l gave my solemn word l
wouldn't tell. Well, maybe
didn't give my word. That horse
is Grand Union. . He can't
miss"
(Note: Grand Union a 4th).
And what does Make do on the
stage? There are, frankly, no set
rules, and no holds are barred.
Sometimes he sings a little song,
which he wrote himself, about Noel
Coward. Sometimes he apes
Harry Richmond. Mostly he strad-
dies a chair up near the footlights
and argues with the audience.
They seem to love it. Make seems
to love it, too. He is well fed these
days, and extensively dressed. The
turtle-neck sweaters Of the resin
era have given way to egg-shell
blue sports jackets and fancy flan-
nels.
And he is a happily married
man, his wife in professional life
being a child psychologist
lone night she asked me for my
Autograph" explained Make,
land she was so cute, and l was
SO lonesome, and 10 anxious to
settle down that, well, hell, l asked
her to marry me, and she said
yes. We've been married 6 h
months and two days, and it
doesn't seem a day over g 6 h t
months"
Yes. Slapsie Make is a lucky
Young man. After 1865 professional
fights his head still is on his
shoulders. He is a successful CO.
median with the Rudy Vallee
hour. and he has made 20 movies.
Furthermore, he has a valet, who
lis a sort of streamlined "Roches-
ter'' proud of his boss, and proud
of his job.