Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-31

for the pro-
TESS ma III A
pran TX tiers, - o,,
Vince Barnett
and Frank Libuse are still active
and will remain active as long
as II pays.
Far unlike Nicky nho indnIgps
in his idiotic frivolity for the
fun, Barnett and Eibuse- have
hooked their careers 10 popu-
lariZing the practical joke as
a means OF livelihood. Theirs.
too, is the technique OF the awk-
ward. exasperating and in.
nocent dolt-and needs no ella
borate preparation or build up.
They don the guise OF walters
and at private parties or pop
ular saloons rile unsuSpecting
victims by dropping boiling
soup into wine, moving tables
when diners are still forking
their steaks, stumbling over
feet, rafting plates. juggling
trays, etc.
LibHsr, bald-headed snny
who has clicked heavily with
his routine at local cabarets, has
scored in London and Paris, too.
His speciality is eavesdropping
on the conversation or spOOUiUg-
couples. When he whips his We
tim 10 state of resentment
where fists seem 10 be the
logical solution. Libuse signals
an 6. o. s. 10 the bona fide
walters or captains who rush up
and whisk him away a practical
psychologist. Libuse knows US
ually just how far he can 20
before being socked Result
He's been hit by an indignant
victim-only once.
His real name is Fran,isck
Belohlavek whose folks operated
Libuse Hall. in Chicago al the
turn OF the century The Hall
was named after a Bohemian
Queen.
Iince BARNETT operates aioHz
Libuse lines. He is an expert
aviator and popular comedian
as well, often drawing lucrative
comic roles in the movies. a
past master OF the insult gag"
he is generally credited with
having ribbed more celebrities
and visiting statesmen than any
OF his contemporaries.
Famed for his madcap waiter
antics at film capital shindigs.
Barnett often was induced TO
step into other and more subtle
Characterization. He would
adopt the guise OF a famous
French producer hired 10 SUI
pervise an epic just going into
production He would toll
the director that his direc-
ton was feeble, change the
script ridiculously. make vio-
lent love 10 the leading lady.
fly into a temperamental frenzy
and stamp off the lot just when
everyone from the juvenile
lead to the prop boy was ready
10 commit hara-kiri-or murder.
That is. this used TO be the case
now Vince is too well known.
Once he pds topped in one ~
his own pranks. He appeared at
a skating rink dressed as a
jockey. In paradcd two gen.
darmes and placed him under
arrest-for impersonating the
famous actor-Vince Barnett.
He was taken 10 the hoosegow
and when he kept protesting
was slipped into a strait-jacket.
II was many hours before he
was released-and learned that
for once few friends had
played a practical joke upon
him.
To Joe Cooks and Marc Lach.
mans stunts, this department
has devoted much space in the
past.
Another OF the practical
jokers has been Hugh Troy A
distinguished Manhattanite who
never cared whether people
we're In on his explosive vagaries
as long as he enjoyed himself.
Troy was not partial to the act
Ing OF Greta Carlo. Attending
a showing of ANNA Karenina,"
he seated himself in front OF
the projection booth. AS the
film got off TO its opening Sc
quence. Troy lifted the cover
OF large box in his lap and out
and up-flew thousands of large
moths-so many of them they
clouded In front OF the projec-
tor, swirling around for many
minutes, until the bewildered
attendants shooed them off.
While this was going on the au-
dience saw very little OF the