Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 186, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1914 — AT THE BOOKING OFFICE OFF-STAGE COMEDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AT THE BOOKING OFFICE OFF-STAGE COMEDIES

THE STORY OF PERCY, THE ANGEL OUle Oneal (character woman) — Listen, bunch! I want to read something I just glommed out of a show sheet It will make you laugh oat loud. Dad Waden (jrho knew Booth—by night)—Woman, can’t yon see I am studying a part I will play next sear son, undoubtedly? Algy (late of the ’Alls)—Undoubtedly—not! Wat did jr* see in the Weekly Breezer, Ollie? OUle Oneal—Listen. Here it Is: “One of the most romantic affairs that has taken place this season among stars of Hie dramatic firmament occurred last week at Los Angeles when Lottie Leydon, leading lady of the Sea Cliff stock company, and Bert Walker, her leading man, were united in marriage. It to said to be a romance of long standing. The couple have an offer from a prominent eastern producer to play an all-season engagement on Broadway.” Will Bately—Holy acrobats! A season on Broadway! What’s the matter with those Coast people—getting looney right? Why, that boy could — Ollie Oneal—Hist, Will. Never mind about the Broadway part of It, but tell me what PerCy Dolittle will say when he reads this little item this morning? He’ll do something desperate I know. Algy—Wy should ’e? Ollie Oneal—Why should he? Will, toll this English comedian why Percy win hit the ceiling when he sees this. , Will Bately—lt’s Ilka this, Algy.*

Poor old Percy was the one who made Lottie what she Is today. His drag and his coin. ;.v Tottle Sanders (a soubrotte) —Tm glad he got it banded to him, take my word. Spendln’ his dad’s change on an actress fiancee. Serves him right. If be boosted a poor chorus /girl and made a leadin' woman of her he’d have'been appreciated. Do you think if it was my gentleman friend I would .•have gone an’ married another? Not me! But, what’s the use; 111 never get a change to play a part like that Will Bately—What I don’t understand is that reference to Bert as a leading man. When Morrie Rosenberg got back from the Coast last weqk he told me Bert was playing juveniles and doing the job badly. 4)ad Wadell—l know Mr. Walker to be an excellent actor. I started bins in the business. Will Bately—He wouldn't be the first peanut peddler you started on the tvrong track Dad, if you told Bert Walker he could act you ought to get 30 days in the cooler. The truck drivers lost a good loan when be took to the boards. Tottle Sanders—You know it! He ought to be understudy to a scene shifter. lie worked with ns a week one time and the way he played was a shame. Algy—’E must be a blighter, I dire *'y. _ Lily Williams (chorus lady)—That wasn’t it at all. Bert is a fine actor, but be couldn’t work In Tottie’s company. He was too artistic and refined. Imagine a real leading man, like Bert, out with a four-trunk show playing honky tonka. That notice OBie read about him is all to the good.

Dad Wadell —I once taught him the grave-yard scene from Hamlet and the excellent way he did it would have gotten him a position in my awn company—if I had one. OOto Oneal—All I can think about Is poor Percy. Imagine tbs lad’s feelings when he realises that Lottie. Is tons out of his life forever. Will Bately—lf she married a real actor Percy wouldn’t care. He's game. Bat when be hears it— Ollie Oneal—Poor Percy was so wrapped up in Lottie. Remember when she waa with ns In "The Torn of the Road." doing Luey the miner’s daughter? Tottle Sanders—Did she do Lucy? Lily William —She did it to a finish twice a day- I was with the anther one night when she sssssaingtad it He was ready to throw a fit because that waa his pet oharaeter, fTi" -iy Y. "5;;

By Will Bradshaw

Dad Waden—What did he know about it; he was only the author. I Ollie Oneal—That was when Percy first saw Lottie. We., were playing Waynes burg, where hto father owns three coal mines. Two hard and one soft Percy was in a box with hto family the night we opened. After the act the house manager came back and said there was a millionaire's son out in front wanted to come back and meet the ideal of hto dreams. Tor s minute my heart stopped beating. X thought the fortune toner's words were Casing true — Algy—Wat did the fortune teller toB r. OUle? , CDad Wadell—TeH us. I'm a student of the psychic myself.' ' . s WUI Bately—What about Percy that night? Ollie Oneal—A fortune teller told me that when fate looked darkest to me a light complected man with a million would cross my*fcath. Algy—Wonderful! It’s about time ’e’d show up, -OUle. You’ve been out pf booking three weeks now.' OUle Oneal —Some day he will come, never fear. Dad Wadell—l hope he will be interested in Shakespeare—l’d like to revive— OUie Oneal—When the Waynesburg manager made that announcement I thought it was my man. Algy—But It wasn’t. Ottie Oneal—Nope. It woe Persy begging for an introduction to Lottie. He met her and from that minute on he was a goffer. So was aha. Percy's pa heard about it and tried to break

off their engagement. Percy was going to leave home and wark in tbo mines to support her. Instead father gave him a million and showed him the old home’s exit. From that time' on Percy planned to make Lottie & star. She promised him she’d marry him the day her name lit up Broadway. Percy went in strong then. Ho hired a staff of authors to study her at dose range and write something to fit. He rented his own theater, set up a scenic shop, hired press agents, dined critics, started a show paper to boost her and had a full house lined up for her opening in her new play. Algy—Dukes an* lords, w”at luck! Onie Oneal—Then she got a tip somewhere that Percy had just thirtyfive left out of his million and he waa going to spend that thirty-five for flowers for her premiere— Dad Wadell—And— OWe Oneal—She left tor Frisco tha morning of the opening day. Shu wanted Percy to keep the thirty-five to take him back to Waynesburg. Algy—l wonder w’at *eH s’y w*ea '• sees the item? Dud Wadell—He may lose his faith in womankind. Booking Agent (entering)—l want a, straight and a juvenile for summer stock (Copyright. 1914, by W. O. Chapman.)

"She Got a Tip Somewhere That Percy Was Going to Spend That ThirtyFive for Flowers.”