Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-15
Actors Fail
Usually as
Cafe Comics
Floor Men Unsuccessful
on Stage, Screen
By DAMON RUNYON

~ tanners Oh the type Oh the
late Les Copeland, whose career
l discussed the other day, il
must be remembered that this
has always been a field apart in
the world of entertainment, with
a technique all its own.
Many a great cafe entertainer
whose art and personality can
jam a comparatively small room
with customers nightly and pro-
duce a weekly salary into four
figures. is lost on the stage.
Similarly, many high-priced
performers of the stage do not
know the right time when they
attempt cafe appearances, and
merely bore their audiences.
This has been demonstrated
again and again. An expert
enced cafe entertainer who can
hold an unruly saloon crowd in
the palm of his hand throughout
a long session on the floor may
seem confused and futile up
there on the roStrum before a
theater gathering.
LIE MAY employ every word
II and gesture with which he
kills the cafe mob and never
raise a ripple from the cushioned
seats.
A theater star of pureSt ray
serene whose every move en-
thralls in the theater and whose
knowledge and practice of the
dramatic art may be perfection
plus. can speedily assume the
aspect of complete dope on
cafe floor and cause the crowd
10 marvel at his ineptneSs, if not
to give him the good old razZ.
There are some performers
who are swell in both places, but
not many.
TIiE screen. OF course, is Spe-
Il cialiZed department of pub
lie entertainment that does not
always reflect the true talent of
performers because il requires
certain attributes that are UNI
necessary on the stage or in a
cafe.
Some Of the stage and cafe
artists have been highly success
full in pictures but others of
equal ability have failed for
reasons that do not diminish
their popularity in their own
field.
The present king Of tho cafe
entertainers in the comedy line
is undoubtedly Joe f. Lewis, who
says the f stands for Ever
gladeS.
He Stays cafe audiences ev-
erywhere. His name is the
synonym for good business.
He gets a big salary. But as a
screen performer. Joe is some
thing less than marvellous be-
cause the film costs him his
personality. However. Joe is
without illusion on this point.
There was so much OF me
left on the cutting room floor"
he says Of recent picture. that
1 am getting mail from mice
I EVILS and Jack White, an
II other great cafe comedian,
were among my favoriteS OF the
present generation of laugh
makers. I go back with White
further than either of us care 10
think about but the fact that he
retains top standing in his field
after all these years is an indi-
cation Of his talent.
In talking of cafe comics, I
am drifting far from Les Cope
lands particular field. as he was
a piano player and singer.
THE Ritz Brothers were ter
Il rife cafe comics in their
days. Though the champion
combination of cafe funny guys
of my time was that huffle-
scuffle trio, Durante, Clayton
and Jackson.
Then there was single
handed operator who may have
been forgotten by many of those
who used 10 enjoy his work but
who in my humble opinion was
one Of the funniest that ever
lived. his name was Jack Rose.
Think / should include an
other name that OF Jackie
Osterman, who died at a COM
paratively early age. He was
the fastest man on his feet, as
the saying is. bar Milton Berle,
that ever heard.
| do not mean actual speed
afoot. but facility in thought and
repartee at which Berle is the
present master.
Copyright 1912. by King Features
Distributed by international News Service
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