Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-14
Up and
Down
Broadway
by Walter
Wincheu
THE TOWN CRIER

ALEXANDER WOOLLCOTT went out
in character. His last public speech was
crack at Chicago paper, which always had
his contempt. The remark was heard In his
last mike appearance, few minutes before the
stroke that killed him five hours later. The dis
cussion was whether the Germans could be cured
Of their war mania. .Woollcott didn't think so
unless time did the curing. The confab got
around to the mistake Of blaming Hitler for
everything, an error, thought Woollcott. 1T was
partly the fault Of the Germans, he argued, that
Hitler was the top rat. Just as" he pointed
out logically enough, Chicago is responsible for
that Chicago rag" The chairman of the meet
ing took issue and insisted that Chicago didn't
deserve to be talked about like that
TT PROBABLY would have tickled the Town
Crier to know he would make his last exit bick-
ering. He was that sort Of fellow. He fig
ured the best way to die was In harness. You
probably do not recall his comments on Eeonora
Duse, the great actress. /. She passed away In .
Pittsburgh hotel. during tour which had brought
her out Of retirement. ."Bo0-hoo," moaned the
obitters, "how very sad! What place for great
lady to die. so far away from her sunny Italy and
the scenes she loved. TO which he diSsented:
Rubbish! Duse was trouper. Show business
was In her blood. II the best place Of all 10
die, In . hotel room. n tour, with the sound Of
her last applause ringing In her beautiful ears!"
body breaking their back trying TO become .
dramatic critic, he suddenly quit that job. say
ing: "Oh. I'm just tired of fighting my way
through Times Square crowds at IL p. m" Most
OF his pieces about the first World War Cup 'front.'
tool dealt with the gayer aspects Of soldering.
Even the way he wrote 1t up. 1t sounded like q
lark. Once lady asked him Where were you
when the Armstice came?". =. Probably" in
terrupted a colleague, "in some corner crying his
heart out!" His counsel to writer's and critics:
Always be sure and put enough salt in an article
even IL II Is about friend Readers will then
believe the sugar in It. Don't worry about the
friends complaining. The very fact that you
write about man is compliment enough"
AS A DRAMA critic he rated the most expert
Of the hideremovers. Lots Of players still smart
where he hit them. and it used to be said that II
he were mysteriously murdered-the cops could
easily hold at least 1000 New Workers on suspi-
cion. But most OF the showfolks regretted his
retirement. They had often bled from his stabs,
but they realized he was good for the thsater H..
He had enthusiasm for it, something not many
OF his aisle cronies had, then or now. Right up
TO the end his quote on show was money in
the bank. Skin OF Our Teeth" wears one
THE RADIO ideal for his storytelling
talents. He had the biggest store OF anecdotes
all diles many OF which are revived daily and
credited TO others. Some Of his pieces we're
softies. valentines to those he admired but the
best had thorns in them. Some of the fastest
lacings the America Firsters suffered were penned
and vocaled by Woollcott. He had a voice that
drpped scorn, and he had talent for insult that
was devastating. The best part of IL was that
his insults made sense There are people who
are still digging some Of his 1895 barbs out OF
their hide. Only recently he shed 100 pounds
being i'll. When victim Of his drama criticism