Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1913)
SEMLMONTHLY M'AGAZINE J) even then ho had to limp through the first performance." DUT THESE," I objected, "aro not real questions of art" "Same thing," he cut me off posi tively. "Why, I tell you the most artistic of 'em would stand a poor show without the 'grips' having the real lino on art. I remember when the 'Divine Sarah' first camo over here. Light effects weren't so easy to get In thoso days as they aro now and Bernhardt's figure and complex ion had to bo lit up Just right or she would have made a picture of bony structure and Impressionistic tints that no woman artist would ever stand for. Wo had an electrician named Kelly who spoke about as much French as Sarah did English, so she put It over to him In a panto mime that made her latest stunt In moving pictures look like a perform ance of Dago marionettes. Well, Kelly worked thoso lights about four hours, and "believe me ho got Sarah toned Into the plcturo so that she looked beautiful from tho front. "Now with Lillian Russell I re member that wo had to sit hard on her artistic tomperament. Lillian was a good fellow and wo all liked.her and had stuck to her through several theatrical seasons and a few matri monial ventures. Every time some body led Lillian to tho altar wo all chipped In for our sacrifice and were there with a present. But Lillian was n great one to keep the chips flying and the block wo were cutting was our salaries. Just about tho tlmo we thought she was settled down and wo were settled up, why her artistic temperament would dis cover her mistake and start to rec tify It, and wo'd havo to organlzo a new commlttco on ways and means. Finally, at tho last announcement wo all quit in a body. Well, the man ager almost threw a fit and wanted to know what the matter was. Wo had to, tell him the pressure was too strong. Wo could n't keep up with Lillian's ambition for presents." "You 're wandering Into prlvato matters," I protested. "Nothing Lillian Russell docs is a prlvato matter," tho Old Man an Bwored. "But if wo could n't put her on the right track I'll toll you about a stage carpenter that ratlroadcd a whole production to Bafety all by his self. Brady had cleaned up big money In tho cities with that old English melodrama 'After Dark' and then sent out a Number Thirteen company to tap tho 'tankB.' They got Into a llttlo one night stand with S R O out beforo they hit tho place, but tho scenery was side-tracked somewhere and tho manager faced a refund. " 'Bill,' he gasped to tho carpenter, 'there's tho tunnel scene of tho undorground railroad. It'B the hit of the piece, and wo can't fako that.' '"Sol, says BUI, 'you go on out front and don't bother me when I 'm busy or I '11 quit without notice,' and Sol sneaked out to die In tho box office. , VY7HEN tho underground scene " came, ho couldn't Btand It no longer and went out into tho foyer. Every light was out when tho curtain roso and when tho train materialized out of the darkness and roared and clanked across tho stago with the house going wild Sol never .stopped to count tho curtain calls, but rushed back to solve the miracle. "When he got there tho carpenter was mopping off his face with ono hand while ho unwound a lot of chains from hlsself with tho other. He'd set tho tunnel with a prison back drop, put out all tho lights, hung hlsself with all the hardware about tho place and with a reflector lantern In each hand had choo-chooed across as the lightning express and got by with It. "Of course, In this country the actors are getting wise that they're not the whole show; but in England they won 't oven use tho same en trance with a stage hand." "Oh, you'vo been to England then?" I asked. The Old Man nodded slowly. "Sir Henry Irving was putting on 'Becket' when I dropped In to visit. The piece Is laid In the Norman period before doors were In voguo and In ono set Sir Henry was having trouble with the hangings that took tho place of tho doors. 'Wo '11 havo them a warm red,' he says; then he shakes his head: 'No, I think blue's more harmonizing;' then after a minute's thought: 'Or perhaps a soft brown will be more effective. What do you think?' and he turned to tho stago carpenter. "'If you'll pardon my suggestion, sir,', ho answers, 'I 'd havo them tap estry, sir.' "'Why tapestry?' asks Sir Henry. '"Becauso tapestry waa what they used at that period.' "Well, Sir Henry looked It up and found that he was right "While I was thero Irving put on 'Don Qulxoto' and in one scene he had to sit, clad In armor, upon his wobbly steed and deliver a long speech. As Sir Henry was n't exactly a rough rider, when tho property man brought him tho horso ho wanted par ticularly to know If ho 'd stand. , "'Ho, yes, sir!' 'Props' assures him. '"You must bo very certain,' per sists Sir Henry, 'for If I were to bo thrown with these spikes on mo knees and elbows there might bo some question of my rising to the occasion.' " 'No fear o' that, sir,' says 'Props'; 'this 'orso 'as 'ad experience.' '"Indeed, In tho profession?' " 'Yes, sir. Mr. Beerbohm Tree used Mm, sir, an' durin' a long speech which 'e delivered from 'Is back tho 'orso always went to sleep, sir. "'Indeed,' says Sir Henry, who loves Beerbohm Treo like a chorus lady does tho prima donna. Then ho looks tho horso over affection ately: 'What an intelligent nnlmal, and how discerning a critic.'" "HPHE Englishman wo inspired with tho greatest respect for American 'grips' was Sir John Hare. Ho camo over here with a poor opinion of stage hands, which wo did n't hold against him as it was tho fault of his early training and Sir John was really a good fellow, and a fino gentleman. " 'It seems quito remarkablo to me, you know,' ho says to tho mana ger one day, 'tho Intelligence of tho American stago mechanic. He seems actually to havo a recognized placo In society.' " 'He certainly has,' tho manager agrees, 'why you're liable to sco them making a set In evening dress any time "Sir John smiles kind of knowing ly. 'Come now, you can't chaff mo quite that far even If I am an Eng 11 slim an,' ho chuckles and walks off to his dressing room. "But tho manager knew tho boys were all going to a ball tho next night after the show. As it was an easy ono to work, they all wore their evening clothes under their overalls so as to bo able to mako a quick get away after tho last strike. Tho final scene was a box set, bo the manager came around and asked us if wo would n't take off our overalls and make It In full dress. Knowing he had some sort of a Josh up hlu sleeve, wo did. When we wore al most set, here he comes dragging Sir John Into the wings. "Sir John stood pop-eyed a minute 'Most extraordinary!' ho gasps, 'Would not have believed it if I had n't seen It with mo own eyes.' "And that 's Just tho way with tho peoplo out in front," tho Old Door Keeper concluded, looking regret fully at tho long ash that marked my burnt offering at a new shrine. "All they see is tho actor in the picture and not the men who put him there But they re getting over It now, thanks to Belasco, and what's he but the 'King of Grips?"' Your rlk la small tbe advertiser' treat. ' IrJflt wrlUTNiMED til I 1 1 L mm , mi it -o-W by, ' ill Of i& 1 1 II aiaiB owMfedl m UrU for IfafeaWt rVi4feMet - I 1 ,1 1 k FIREPROOF GARAGES STEEL For Automobiles end Motorcycles $30 and Up Easy to put up. Portable. All iizei. Postal brings latest illustrated catalog. Th.EJw.rJ.Mfg. C... 131-311 EsiL.L. A... Claciauti. 0. Be Beautiful, Charming, Youthful Again IN iVTn i i liful la Couk M oft. fit ml lr rampliloii d rrittrUnt. UiU' Mpotii kin r , fr frwm MtUln nd t beauty Ljt TIm mum turtles Trutant ls)lwomn fithualauiUf ftl y pimlM ft, having biuitfthva all fsrlsl ImMtfortiuna. Vain hi rtok IIiU,W-ulr.Hrr..rM.rr.WrHtndr ftbiM Hf. C.. 655 R-fclMM eiJf ,TU4. 0. FUN RADIoPTiCAN It throws upon a screen photos, post cards, clippings, draw Irt'gsf etc., greatly enlarged, In all original colors and detail. No slides necessary. Entertains, instructs, amuses at noma. simply by electric lightalso by gas or acetylene, 'by ffeoto and optical mores, department stores and shop. Writs for keekhf, '.'.Homo Entertainments." WWTE.. COMPANY; 820 River St.'Nor Bcaalutoa. Vt.