Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1914 — AT THE BOOKING OFFICE OFF-STAGE COMEDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AT THE BOOKING OFFICE OFF-STAGE COMEDIES

by Will Bradshaw

LA SARAH PREFERS A CAREER •"w * , Algy (late of the 'Alls) —I s’y, Joey, ol* top, did y’ ever tell that little girlie my ’eart was gone on ’er? Joey Powers (blackface comedian) — Say, bo, think I’m runnin’ a matrimonial agency and tryin’ to get a week’s booking at the same time? No, sir. Algy—l thought , maybe she spoke about me an’ you mentioned w’at I told y’. I ’ope she ’asn’t thought I went an’ forgot ’er. W’at was ’er nime again, Joey? Joey Powers —Ready to marry the girl an’ you don’t know her name. Her name is Belle Marie Cady—ingenue and child parts. Carrie Benz (of Benz ft Benz)—Did I hear some one say something about Belle Marie Cady? Poor Belle Marie — La Sarah (interpretive dancer) — What’s the matter? You talk as if she. just died. I met her this morning coming out of an office with a contract for ten weeks’ Bummer booking. And how she makes them think she can act gets me. Algy—lt gets you, does it? I’ll tell y’ right now Belle Marie is one* of the cleverest little girls in the business. That’s w’y I’m thinkin’ of marryin’ the little elf. Carrie Benz—What*s the idea? Algy—W’y, when she gets t’ be a great leadin’ star I could get all the booking I wanted as a single. I’d be better known as ’er ’usband. Dad Wadell (who knew Booth —by sight)—My lad, don’t ever use your wife’s name to get bookings. She’ll object in the first place, and on the other hand — Algy—Then I’ll be *er manager. Dan Wadell —Re a star on your own account. I remember after I became leading man for Maggie Denahan, the greatest Juliet of her time, I was

often tempted to propose matrimony. If I had done so the Wadells would go down in history as the greatest tragedian and tragedienne of all time. But I reconsidered it. The public, ever ready to judge harshly, might have thought I sacrificed my art for worldly gain. I remember — Algy—l’ll tell y’ right now I’d marry Belle Marie without thinkin’ twice. Everybody that sees ’er act says ahe’ll be gettin’ a fat salary in a short time. That’B the kind of a wife I want A woman with a purpose. Carrie Benz —You mean a woman with a purse. Think she’d give you her hard-earned cash, piker? Sammy Benz, (Carrie’s husband) — Good talk, wifey. Why should Algy expect to marry a dame that will rake In the big money when he’s only a poor single? Just as soon as she gets the big wad she’ll get her ideas enlarged. She’ll want a millionaire actor that has mines of his own. Maybe he’s been married seven or eight times before, but that won’t count Algy, if you wait till that girl heads a production she won’t have you. And if you marry her now and she beads one later she’ll send yon to the discard. She’d call up the Ladleß’ Aid society to come and take you down to their rummage sale and sell you or give you away. All I say is, don’t marry a girl if her prospects are too good. Joey Powers —That’s all wrong! Look at our little friend here. La Sarah, the best toe and soft-shoe dancer on the three-a-day. La Sarah is going to get the money some of these days. She’s going to hit the top pext season. Suppose she marries tome nice guy that loves her now, a blackface comedian, for instance; think she’s going to send him to the storage in later years? Would you, Sarah? La Sarah —Love, not fame or riches, will be the reason I’ll give up my carefree life, Joey. Dad Wadell —A noble sentiment from a maiden. Joey Powers —You know it, Dad. And especially when La Sarah told me she could have married a rich one with swell New York' connections. Sammy Bens —When me and Carrie hooked up double for life she knew I was only a comedy Juggler. I knew ihe was only a contortionist with a tittle, squeaky singin’ voice that just efts by. That's why we were happy.

If I started to tell her I was going to play a heavy on Broadway next seasoni she’d send out for the docs tp come an’ examine my head. If she told me that Putton and Takeoff offered her * part in their big show I’d start to< laugh an’ tell her she was readin’ tool many novels again. There’s lot of consolation in knowin’ your partner ain’t gain’ to beup at the top lookin’ down at you some day. Joey Powers —That ain’t the ways with La Sarah. That girl is going upi fast I’ll place ten to five with Dadi Wadell that she’ll be doing a specialty in a big musical show next sear* son. I’ll also place another bet that! I’ll be workln’ in the same as her husband and making a big hit. Ten more says we’ll be costars in our* own show a year from that Ain’t that! right La Sarah? DM Wadell —Reminds me of the ravings of McCullough. I remember — Algy—lf I made those remarks of Joey’s there’d be some sense to it, y” jolly well know. I’m too conservative., I’m keepin’ it quiet about the new act Fm going to ’eadline in. Carrie Benz —Who’s wasting the money? Algy—Never you mind, * me lidy. I ’ave an aunt who is going to make mo famous. Sammy Benz —Was that that nice little old lady I saw you with at the studio picking out drops and sets? Carrie Benz —Why, I saw that oldi lady give Gus Painter a check. Algy—Yep. That was a deposit It’s going to be a big thing—Drury Lane style. Seven people an’ ihe at the ’ead. Carrie Benz —Could y’ use Sammy and me in the act? Algy—l should s’y not. Everything first class. People that ’ave a future. Me leadin’ lidy was to be Belle Marie

Cady, but I think I like the prospects of La Sarah Just as well. Joey Powers —That leaves me out, huh? You won’t go with his act, will you Sarah? Lar Sarah —Yes, I will, Joey. I can’t lose a chance at my career to many a blackface comedian. Booking Agent (entering)—Say! Don’t you see that sign, “No Smokin’?" (Copyright, 1914, by W. G. Chapman^

“You Mean a Woman With a Purge. Think She'd Give You Her HardEarned Cash, Piker?"