The Omaha
I , AMUSEMENTS'
EDITORIAL
1
HVOL. L NO. 20.
OMAHA, $UNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER . 31, 1920.
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FRANKER. , WOODS
1 By H. R. HARRIS. -Were
it possible for some super
man among theatrical managers to
assemble from the wonderful, coloi;
iul realm of make-believe that lies
just beyond the orchestra pit all of
the folk who once called Omaha
fhome," he tould gather a "cluster
of stars fit for the sweetest dreams
of the wildest and most imagina
tive impresario. For Omaha, the
thriving center of a corn-fed coun
try, a city busied with its huge grain
and live stock interests, has not been
i too Dusy xo raise a gooaiy nuraocr
j V0f the world's greatest entertainers.
Along old Broadway the names vf
- i A , t c s i
nauvc suns anu adu&iiiers vi wniaud
flash out each flight in blazing elec
tric splendor; around the "big time"
vaudeville Circuits those who romped
as kiddies here -are playing and
, dancing and singing; in the greav
i t i. .
-vutnos wncre inc gorgeous crea
l'"SHns of present day scenery and
yOStume come into being; on th.2
I 'lnagic scrcea; un inc cunccri aiagc,
and in the legitimate, they are to
be found.
Daughter of Omaha Pastor.
Go into the mammoth New York
Hippodrome and you will hear the
liute-like notes of amazing sweet
ness sung by Belle Storey, leading
lady in "Good Times," the big ex
travaganza being staged this season
in the famed playhouse. Belle Storey
wa once demure, little Grace Laird,
student -in Browneil Hall, : whose
father was the Rev. Asa Laird,
pastor of the old, Knox Presbyterian
church here. .
' Step over to "Hitclry-Koo," one of
the winners on. Broadway this sea
son, and you will, it you are any
where near normal and well, get a
convulsive snort and snicker or so
out of the sight and sound of Char
lie Withers, now among America's
foremost comedians. Charlie With
ers is no other than Garland David
son, cutup and teachers' terror in
Omaha schools not so many years
I'gO.
Former Student Here.
Then, there is Eleanor Painter,
celebrated prima donna, now lead
ing lady in the revival of Floradora,
former. Omaha school student.
Do you remember' the impressive
beauty of the costumes and' scenery
of "Maytime," or the Splendor and
gorgeousness of the "Follies of
m9," the "Midnight Rounders" and
-Arinti "Passinc Shows?" Homer
""Tenant. Omaha boy,, designed these.
rated today among the best
his profession,
careers of Omahanst who
climbed the ladder of hard
work and perseverance to" success in
stage and, filmland there hat been
romance and adventure a-plenty.
Take petite Helen Kroner,, dancer
extraordinary, for instance. Her art
ii . Arious "
-Tenant. C
He is rat
f 1 artists of I
V " In the
f have clim
took her to faraway cities of South
America. ' . v
Helen started .out in New York in
1914 in a dancing part in "Katinka."
Then she went to "Miss Springtime"
on Broadway when "Katinka" took
the road. Her magnificent dancing
here won her a place" in the troupe
of Anna Pavlowa, premier dancer of
all nations.
Helen spent two years touring
Cuba, Porta Rica, Panama and
South America with Pavlowa and
then left her for an engagement of
one year in a ballet which played at
Buenos Aires and other South Amer
ican cities. She returned to the
United States last winter and is
playing in Boston with Sam Bern
ard and Irene Bordoni in "As We
Were," following a successful sea
son in New York.
From Usher to Stage.
, Franker Woods and Bunnee Wyde
make up one of the best two-character
skits on the Orpheum. Years
ago Franker was av usher at the
LOrpheumywhen Buniiee had to reach
up on ne tiptoes at tne urpneum
box office to buy her tickets. This
she did every week, however, for
she was very fond of the wonder
ful land behind the footlights. Right
here it begean. Today they are
married. '
Both attended Central High
school before they went on the stage.
Bunnee started with the "Isle of
Spice." She later appeared in "In
Greenwich Village," which played
at the Boyd theater. Both she and
her husband played with Montgom
ery and Stone in "The Old Mill" and
both appeared in "The Echo," which
played at the Brandeies theater. For
the last six or seven years they
have made up a vaudeville team
and have played in Omaha a num
ber of seasons. They have a home
in Long Island and have one of the
cutest of little boys.
Billy Ellsworth, night foreman in
the World-Herald composing room,'
is a mighty proud daddy these days,
for his daughter, Florence, has just
broken into vaudeville. Here, too,
has been a romantic adventure on
the part of two , little girls,; one of
them Florence and the other Hilda
Lachmann, noted in Omaha since
she was a mere baby as a dancer. .
Try Out for .Vaudeville.
This fall Florence and Hilda cast
their lots together and journeyed.to
Chicago Tor a tryout for the Or
pheum ci.euit. They got by this test
and wen given a contract. Some
time this winter Omaha is scheduled
to tiave the opportunity to welcome
these youngsters. " '
Quite in striking contrast to these
two young "flappers" is old Dan
Carroll, dean of all Omaha ttage
folk, who played on the Orpheum
when there were only two houses
on the '"circuit," one in San Fran
cisco and the other in Los Angeles.
This was way back in the early '80s.
Dan played four weeks at each.
Dan was a "knockout" in the days
of variety when the old straight jig
and clog were the dances and such
songs as "Golden Slippers," "In the
Moonlight at Cape May," "Aunt
Eliza" and the like were the rage.
He served a long and honorable ca
reer, mostly in black-face work, and
saw the present day vaudeville in
evolution.
Dan started in the old variety
shows in 1879. In 1880 he appeared
at the Academy of Music on Doug
las street between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth, streets. Back in the
early days he also played, at the old
St. (Elmo on Twelfth between Dodge
and Douglas.
John Flynn was Dan's partner.
They went under the name of Keat
ing and Flynn,-Dan taking the name
of Dan Keating. " ,
This pair went with Jack Haver
ly!s minstrels al! over the United
States, (Canada, and Mexico.
Keating and Flynn played Chi
cago variety for two or three sea
sons and then made Chicago, New
York and the other big towns of the
east. They played for eight weeks
with Mclntyre and Heath.
When Dan next appeared in Oma
ha he played at the Grand Opera
house on the northeast corner of
Fifteenth and Capitol avenue. He
tame -in Dan Tw Jack's Lilly Clay
company, he and his partner play
ing "ends." . ;
In 1890-1-3 he played with Mc
Carty's "Mishaps." In this he ap
peared at the old Boyd the first year
and at. the new Boyd the two 'fol
lowing. 1 Dan , took the part of an
Irishman in this playrin contrast to
his usual black-face comedy ,
Dan played the big eastern towns
with the London Gaiety Girls, a
burlesque show.
. In the course of his career he also
played with Leavitt's Minstrels. the
original Pat Rooney's Nevr York
Stars in '86-7 and the William West
minstrels.
Dan retired in 1910, when his
mother died.
Dan has little use for the present
run of actors. He goes to seethe
old-timers when they come to town.
That's about all.
Prominence in Drama.
Real prominence in drama has
been attained by Carl Eckstrom and
his sister, Clara, both born and
raised here. Carl Eckstrom made
his--name . and aoility known from
coasf to coast by his splendid work
in "The Shepherd King."
Carl Eckstrom attended the Cen
tral High school about 18 years ago.
He won the Frank Short Lee schol
arship to the , Franklin , Sargent
academy in New York and went
from Omaha for a course in that
institution.
On leaving the academy Eck
strom went into Charles Froham's
company, "The Girl from Maxim's,"
in which he took the part of
Chamerot. . v
Next the young actor was lead
ing man with Grace George in "Un
der Southern Skies."
Eckstrom's biggest success fol
lowed this engagement. He played
for four seasons in "The Shepherd
King" with the late Wright Lori
mer. He played the part of Jona
than and was understudy to Lori
mer in the part of David, which hd
played at times when Lorimer's eyes
troubled him.
Eckstrpm then appeared' -in"
"Sopho" with Alberta;, Galletin,
played an engagement with Mar
garet Anglin and went into vaude
ville with Helen Ware. '
In 1919 Carl played in "Scandal"
for seven months at the Garrick
theater in Chicago. From Septem
ber to October " this show. ran.
"Scandal" was then shifted to
Thirty-ninth street theater in New
York for a .run. It is now in Bos
ton for an indefinite engagement.
Clara Eckstrom, his sister, left
Omaha about IS years ago to study
voice culture in the Chicago Con
servatory of Music, Her debut on
the stage was made in "The Sultari
of Sulu." She subsequently played
with Charles Dillingham productions
for six seasons anB for Charles Fro
ham, two. She played with Don
ald Brian in "The Siren" and in
Savage's production of "Parcival."
Recently Performed Here.
Any one who saw "Apple Blos
soms," that delightful musical com
edy which played at the Brandeis
theater a few weeks ago, will agree
that Ferd and Adele Astaire deserve
their rating among the smartest and
cleverest dancers von the stage to
day. Fred and Adele were born in
Omaha as Fred and Adcle Osterlitz.
Their father was F. E. Osterlitz.
slate sales manager for the old
Storz Brewing company until the
family moved to New York 14 years
ago.
Adele was a pupil at the Cham
bers Dancing academy here. After
the family moved to Gotham both
brother and sister studied "terp" art
under Albert Cherry in the old Met
ropolitan theater.
The Adaires have been on the
Mage for several years, first in vau
deville and then in such shows as
"Over the Top," "Passing Show of
1918" and "Apple Blossoms."
Charles Dillingham hat instructed
HELEN KRONEN
Fred and Adele to brush up on their
singing. Next season he has prom
ised them he will put them in a new
production in which they will act,
dance and sing. I
The . older Osterlitz is now con
nected with the Movette Moving Pic
ture ! company of New York. The
mother travels with 1 her children
wherever they go. i
While In Omaha Fred and Adele
enjoyed their first airplane ride
through the efiorts ot their uncle,
Dan Geilus, Omaha Gun club mem
ber and former, state game warden.
"S Changed His Name.,
Many stories of ChaiJ'e Withers
tre told in Omaha. He was known
in his boyhood as an eccentric and
was always in one sort of la scrape
or another. In the first, place h?
adopted the name of "Charlie With
ers" when he was in the Sixth grade
in school. He did this for no par
ticular reason except that it suited
him better than his own.
In High school Withers won fame
as a speaker. Here, though, as in
everything else he mixed up in,' he
nnllpH a nrank that ruined him. '
There was an important debate
on at the Central High school on
the subject of "Capital and Labor."
Withers was closing for. his sid.
His eloquence had just about won
the decision of the judges. He was
telling how no one escapes from
work, how the bank president, the
teacher, the scientist, etc., must al!
labor. . . '
Charlie couldn't resist the tempta
tion. He came td the climax of his
brilliant argument. ,
"In short," he declared, "every
body works, everybody but father."
Thisvwas the 'you tell 'em" of the
day and the "audience roared, thte
Judges purpled and Withers' side
lost the debate while Charlie, him
self,' was plunge& into disgrace.
Charlie, as a boy and youth, tried
to dress as much like a tramp as
possible. His parents were well able
to supply him with nice clothes, but
he insisted on tattered attire. Now.
however, he has quite changed, ac
cording to, Fred Heyn, local .realtor
who was a playmate of Withers and
has followed his career with interest.
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BELLE STOREY
No Maud Adamses started in
the Gate City,' but we have lead
ing ladies on .Broadway, just the
same;
No John Drews have lived
here, but such boys as Harold
( Lloyd and Charlie Withers hail
trom our town. . '
Talent spjung from Qmaha is
now famed over America and in
Europe.
Every angle of the theatrical
game is covered "by artists who
were kiddies around Omaha.
They are in vaudeville, on tie
"legitimate" and in the movies.
There 'are singers, dancers and
designers. Some . o 'em ; are
managers. ''.,
Old Dan Carroll was the first
to gather spotlight glory. He
started in 1879. They've been
at it ever sipce.
CHARLIE WITHERS ' HAROLD LLOYD
Goes Into Vaudeville.
Withers took to the stage,' 'and
vaudeville, much in the manner m
which a duckling waddles to a pud
dle. For a while he' served as su
pernumerary with ' the Eva Lang
company here. In 1909 he drifted
into vaudeville in New York". He
starred on the Orpheum circuit for
a number of seasons. He has ap
peared in "The Fiji Islander" and
scored a tremendous hit, in "For
Pity's Sake." Now he is in "Hitchy
Koo," having just ; returned from
England.
' When the curtain goes up on such
shows as "The Follies of 1919" and
the breath-taking beauty of the
scenes and costumes is first revealed,
Homer Conant gets recompense in
the exclamations and bursts of ap
plause from the audience.
Homer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Har
ley Conant, is rated today among the
top-notch designers of theatrical
costume and scene designers of New
York. He has designed the cos
tumes for a number of the big New
York musical shows for a number
- ' - '
of years, including many of the Shu
bcrt productions. ' ,.
Some of the big shows he has
dressed up are "The Follies of 1919,"
"Maytime," "The Midnight Round
ers" and the various "Passing
Shows." -
Young Conant was graduated at
the Omaha High school IS years
ago. He studied two years at the
Art Institute ih Chicago and two
years at the Art League of New
York. Following this he conducted
an art class in Mary ville, Mo., for
one year.
The most recent of his creations
is "Piccadilly to Broadway," new this
season. i
Conant wa with the Shuberts for
a number erf years. . .
Studies in Europe.
( Belle Storey lived in -Omaha with
'her' father- and attended Brownell
Hall. She went from here to Kan
sas City, where she' becami a pupil
of James Powers. When he moved
his school to New .York she fol
lowed. She then went abroad and
studied in Paris and in-'Italy. -
Returning ; to this country j she
went' on a , concert tour." Her next
appearance was in "Chin Chin" with
Montgomery and Stone.1 Next she
was on Keith's vaudeville circuit.
Belle went to the Hippodrome.
She played in the revival of "Pina
fore," and in "Happy Days" at the
Hippodrome, last year. i
Mrs.. Warren Switzler and- her
daughter, Mrs. John D. Lynn, now
living in Boston, have 'visited Belle
Storey at the Hippodrome and found
her the same sweet, unaffected girl
sheT was when Mrs. Lynn was a
schoolmate of hers at Brownell
Hall.
Belie Storey has appeared in pri
vate .concerts with Caruso at the
Biltinbre in New York. Her voice
is -remarkably clear and sweet. She
is also an accomplished pianist.
Belle Storey is married and lives it
Felham. lTinor, N. Y.
v- Goes to High School.
Eleanor Painter attended the Park
school in Omaha. Later she went
to Central High. The family moved
to Colorado Springs, where Eleanor
stitdied voice culture.' Following
this her rise was rapid." .She sang
grand opera in a number of the
large European cities and whenshe
returned to New York starred in
a number of big musical comedy
productions, the latest of which is
the big revival of "Flarodora." y
iFrancis Nash, daughter of E. W.'
Nash; attended the uu Chesne school
here. She studied music abroad and
was in Germany at the outbreak
of the war. She became a pianist
of note and has played with a num
ber of the finest orchestras in the
country, including the Minneapolis
Symphony orchestra. She returned
from a tour of South America last
rear, and went to Paris, where she
married Lieut. Col. E. M. Watson ot
the United States diplomatic service
September 1. She is to appear In
Omaha in February in concert.
Grace. Cameron sang in the Trin
ity Cathedral choir when she was a
girl in Omaha. She later went on
the Orpheum, where she played for
a number of years.. She was after
wards prima donna , in "The Bos
tonians." . Of recent years she has
developed into a singing comedian.
She played in Omaha this fall iu
"The Scandals of 1919."
Dr. Frank Anson,' former young
Omaha dentist, and his wife, have
had remarkable success in the mo
tion picture game since they wenf
to California a year ago. (
Dr. Anson first "broke into " the
movies after he had been lured to
the studios .while in California for
his health two years ago. He came
back to Omaha and he and his wife
both decided to make the venture.
Som12 months ago they did. -
Dr. Anson, under the stage -name
of Jack Franklyn, has appeared in
pictures with Wanda Hawley, with
Ethle Clayton in "Crooked Streets,"
and in a number of other Goldwyn
and Lasky productions. ' ,
Lura Anson, the other member of
the firm, made good from the jump
and has already appeared with Wal
lace Reid in "What's Your Hurry?"
with Mary Miles Minter in "A Cum
berland Romance," and in pictures
with Fatty Arhuckle -and Thomas
Meighan. I
. F..B. Rogers, Omahan, who went
into the movie game nine years ago,'
on the distributing end of the busi
ness, declared in Omaha recently;
that, noted directors are predicting
a big future for Lura Anson.
Rogers Jeft a grain business in
Omaha to goto Kansas City, where
he ' took a position under Ralph
Proctor, then branch manager for
the Vitagraph company. He sub
sequently went to the Metro pegpls
in Chicago as salesman, thence to
the Standard Filrrt company as as
sistant manager of the Chicago of
fice, then to the district manager
ship of the centraL western district.
Next he took two more hurdles and
today- is general manager of J.
Stuart Blackton. Inc., which has
produced such filfns as "The Battle
Cry of Peace," and "Passersby."
Success on Screen.
Jean Armour, as she is known in
the movies, is Jessie Bowie, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. James Bowie of
Omaha. She has already attained
considerable success on the screen.
Some of the pictures in which she
has appeared are: "On the Firing
Line," with Irene Castle; the
"Branded Woman," with Norma
Talmadge; "Lady Rose's Daughter,"
with'- Elsie Ferguson, a new picture
just released iiiuNew York. She
has also played with Geraldine Far
rar, Constance Talmadge and June
Caprice. 1
Marie Snowden, daughter of , Mr.
and Mrs. James Stiowdeif, who were
formerly Omahans but are now
Californians, was brought up and
received her early tfaining in Oma-
ha She learned dancing from W.
E, Chambers and then started out
in vaudeville. Eventually she be
came a vaudeville star.
.Marie Snowden made an Omahan-in-law
out of Art Hickman, famed
as the greatest jazz band leader in
New York, where he is playing with
the Ziegfcld Midnight Frolic when
she met and married him in San
Francisco. n
Among the earlier stars to leave
the Gate City was Mae Naudain,
who won a national reputation iu
musical comedy. It was she who
introduced and popularized "Glow
Worm," the tremendous song hit of
some 11 or 12 years ago. She was
later in the famous musical comedy
success, "Katinka."
As a newsboy taking a flyer at
an amateur performance in Omaha
a number of years ago, Ed Lee
Wroth, one of the burlesque kings,
of today, got his start. f
Wroth went from .the I vaudeville
"sticks" to burlesque and from bur
lesque jumped to "big time" vaude
ville, taking bookings Around New
York.. Later. Wrota; jorganized a
burlesque show. of his own. In this
he appeared at the Gayety theater
!n Omaha several weeks ago.
Wroth is an Omaha boy, raised
and educated iere His brother, Le
roy Wroth, is proprietor of Wrotn's i
cafe, opposite the court house.
Parents Oppose Movies. ' ,
Rodney La Roque when in Central
High school gave very little indica
tion that he would become an actor,
ior though he was talented, being an
accomplished musician and a born
elocutionist, he had hardly anything :
a all to do with amateur theatrical "
of any kind. His parents, were op- v
posed to him going and held him "'
back. " '. . , , .
Rodney's inclinations would not be
tlenied, however. - In 1915 he went !
with the Essanay people in Chicago.
Later La Roque appeared in a num
ber - of films, including "Vrnus
Model." "A Tcrfect 36." "Hidden
Fires." "Easy to Get," "Greater Than. x
Love," etc.
George M. Clarke, son of Mrs.
I'.ruce Barndollar, 205 South Twenty
fifth, is one of the best "juveniles"
who has gone out of Omaha.
George was graduated at the Mis
souri Military scademy at Mexico,
Mo., in 1909. He studied with Lil
lian Fitch in Omaha. His first ap
pearance in a big New York plav
was with Mrs, Leslie Carter in "Two
Women." He played a juvenile role.
He playedhe part of Laurie with
"Little Women,' for two seasons
?.nd then "Along Came Ruth." He
next went with May Irwin in "33
Washington Square." His next ap
pearance was with Shubcrt's "Eyes
of Youth."
x George has played three summers
in stock at Diyton and two win
ters in stock at Akron. He plan
to return to Broadway following
h:. present engagement.
Clark Marshall, Omaha boy, who
(Continued on rs Two, Columa TtwrJ ,
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