Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
The Huron Expositor, 1929-12-13, Page 3
zaa awn= 471,7 0030 It reuutlt3t .have COP sq - a,.;tak of a many who de set Itatelare yr old to Yea' a tale' deers 5}n At "s 7, -mud Toehold; , Hca reut eoma- edl an, wase eale101140" Sfl .. TO unany t bousae s , :- had not Deemlike a, t aua at all hat Just the blonde youuuag ,?tallage of perhaps 80 who play- ed in "MeV_ _ Dodo"and "The YankeeCloaesuul °' Wow Hitchcock is dead, and be will he mourned in the anilliesi. 'hearts to which he brought fun and lraughter in the course of his long purge career. For as a matter of 8ea:t, he was a veteran, his first ap- pearance having been in "The Brig - rand" to 1891, when he carried a apeax and his last in Chicago a few -months ago when he carried the show "Heels Dudley." He was years old, and was a frequent visitor in Toronto for many years. He did not seem to age, (mut of course this is a trick that the stage people know, and like De Wolf Hopper his real age did not make any difference to the parts he played. They were, after all, just one part, that of Raymond a itchcock being himself. He was the least stagy of stars and all the time gave the im- pression that he was getting a good deal of fun out of the whole per- formance. He rarely smiled or laugh- ed, and we suppose his musical edu- cation was the kind that anyone could pick up in a correspondence school. He was just funny,, and in the opinion of some old timers such al- leged comedians as Jolson and Canter are not fit to black -face his boots. Speaking of boots calls to mind the fact that Hitchcock, who was born in New York State, though he always appeared as the typical down east Yankee, began his working career as a shoe salesman. At the age of 19 be threw up his position, for he was screly stage struck, and went to Phil- adelphia to go into vaudeville. He played as often as ten times a day, but the pay was poor and irregular and Hitchcock's performances may have been likewise. In any event he could not make a living in vaudeville and was glad to get work in the Wanamaker store. Here he was dis- charged four times but three times he was reinstated because of some bright remark offered in his peculiar ingratiating manner. The fodarth time his witticisims failed to save him and he was driven back to the stage, this time in "The Brigand," which we have mentioned. For some years thereafter he had quite a struggle to maintain himself, and performed in some curious places. One of his jobs was as an entertainer on an excurs- ion boat plying between Philadelphia and Cape May. But gradually he was coming to the notice of managers and it was predicted that if he lived long enough and had enough luck one of these days it might be found that the public liked his peculiar kind of fooling. His first big chance came in "King Dodo," which had been written for 'William Norris, himself a finished comedian. When Hitchcock took over the principal role it was felt that he was in a tough spot because of Norris' popularity. :But the new lead wisely did not try to give an imitation of Norris. :Hee played the part in his own way and before the run was finished had firmly established him- self as one of the best light comedians on the American stage. It was found that Hitchcock: was not one of those mechanic' l .nummers who are abso- lutely dependent on the author for every humorous line they utter. He began to interpolate bits of his own, and his spontaneous clowning marked him as a man of humor and original- ity. 'In "The Yankee Consul" he found the medium with which his name is most often connected. He created the character of Abijah Booze the official who seemed to be always slightly intoxicated, and so long did he play this 'popular role that Hitch- cock even off-stage would give the impression that he was pleasantly be- mused. As a matter of fact while he was not a total abstainer he was ex- tremely abstemious and one drink would last him the whole evening. In the next few years he was seen in such plays as ' Easy Galloper," "The Student King," "The Yankee Tourist. P "The Merry-go-round," "The Red Widow" and "The Beauty Shop." George Cohan wrote "The Man Who owned Broadway" for Mr. Hitchcock, and permitted him in the last act to introduce his character of "Dodo." In "Hitchy-Koo," of which there were three different versions, he equalled his "Yankee Consul" suc- cess, and it seems that he might have continued interminably in such re- vivals, surrounded by pretty girls clever dancers anal lavish settings the whole show being focussed on his inimitable drolleries. ' Like many other comedians he carried in his breast the idea that he might play serious roles and this he fatally es- sayed to do. He made a couple of trips to England with his companies and was well received there. Holly- wood finally lured him and he fea- tured several films, but we have no idea whether they were good or bad. We would suppose that much of Hitchcock's appeal lay in his voice. He was twice married, but little is ]known of his first wife whom he divorced. His second wife was Flora Zabelle, who played with him for sev- eral years and was the daughter of a clergyman. Though he must have made large sums of money he was twice in the bankruptcy courts, and once when he seemed to be at the height of his fame declared that his assets amounted to $150 in addition to clothing, while his liabilities were more nearly $9,000. l e said that it was well for :, true artist to be broke for then he worked harder. On one occasion Billy Van, the knoekout comedian with the tremendous voice, rushed into a New York court and asked that Hitchcock be restrained from murdering him. "He's wi's'hing ane dead," said Van, who apparently was a Christian rientist for he said that Hitchcock was assailing him with malicious animal magnetism. An un- forgettable memory that a Toronto man has of Raymond Hitchcock when staying at the Xing Edward betel is ofhis asking shyly for a dish that be had not had since boyhood, but which he longed for. It was a bowl of bread and milk which he content- edly dl consumed while his friends ab- sorbed more exciting stuff. d y e.q 4 ca ig Stores ed f v 7eTilowi g nd Brisfit AttncEve area UsefaAll Christmas Gifts, at ecce you wil one V' V OT nesitu gvqlit } 1 Si Quilailky Sam VJ erre only auk* Nell.clifialeise, its Cie lime ?one lie prices._ s. Come lime ©m Mamas ]'Err ellfto Ems 1hi1; omeis ap lm©pthtie ©© Cr®mm-ne one Irequiing i® empenc1Jlltmc iey®andl any- one's mem. ( A .V\rozi u© SI oppc m on Priceso ° FOR' Men s,a4 Boye Mufflers Ties Handkerchiefs Handkerchiefs, boxed Fancy Sox Umbrellas Shirts Smoking Jackets Lounging Robes races Garters Boys' Leather Caps Arm Bands Sweaters $L50 to $5.0(0 Belts 50c to $L75 Sweater Coats $L50 to $5.00 Golf Sox 50c to $4.00 Boys' Stockings 59c to $1.00 Fancy Caps 75c to $2.00 Men's Overcoats $115.00 to $35.00 Boys' Overcoats $5.00 to $1.3.00 Men's Suits $112.00 to $35.00 Boys' Suits $5.95 to $112.049 Boys' Leather Coats . $9.50 Men's Leather Coats $10.00 to $12.00 $11.25 to $6.50 50c to $11.5@ Il®c to 50c 50c to SLOW 50c to $1.25 $L50 to $3.50 $1.50 to $5,00 $5.00 to $111.00 $4.50 to $112.00 25c to 75c 25c to 75c $11.00 to $11.25 25c to 50c lin ftilie lana iise oanm Hew (Citi- I.Ches Sf®ck9 we hive made vell.y elk k give mcg .ante prices on ijllness merrclillai-ise. We lava me tL mmaL-e fie dot; vie _neve gone concessions in our Teganllar ?Tea. EL 111 ne For We comidentLly invite you to Lo.you Cris IN Sl 0ppa tti "^�_nem�a We will see � alt net pears c"' fi 111 ge Ieftftem gllll ®m ]iris money. STIEWA1 T ROS. GIIlF'irS FOR A IC: Y Mitts 25c to 60c Dresses $1.75 to $2.25 Wool Bootees 35c to $L50 Silk Bootees 50c Silk Rugs $L®® Rattles 15c to 50c Baby Toys 35c to 65c Carriage Clasps 40c to 60c Coat Hangers 50c to 85c Bibs - 20c to 35c Madiera Slips $1L,50 Bonnets $L®® to $2.00 Rugs $2.541 Sweater Coats $L00 to $2.50 Fancy Knit Suits $3.75 The .F%r Coo2 The Supreme Gift For Women. IIIIUDSON SEALS, FRENCH SEAL, MUSKRAT, PERSIAN LAM11. RN A VERY IINTlERIESTIING I"ANGIE OF PRICES. en and Gir Purses and Hand Bags Flowers Silk Bloomers Kid Gloves Suedette Gloves Novelties Handkerchiefs 25c to $8.00 115c to $L5O 98c to $2.00 $2.00 to $4.00 59c to $1L.50 25c to $4.50 5c to 75c Handkerchiefs, boxed 25c to $1.50 Lunch Sets $3.25 to $5.00 Lunch Cloths 75c to $4.50 Centres and Runners 40c to $3.50 Bridge Sets $L50 to $8.50 Pillow Cases, pair $1.00 to $L25 , Pillow Cases, embroidered 98c to $3.75 Silk Hose 59c to $L95 Silk and Wool Hose $L®® to $11.:,O Pyjamas, Silk arld Flannelette $Ll5 to $5.00 Kimonas $2.50 to $M® Rubber Aprons 25c to 75c Night Gowns, Silk and Flannelette $L19 to $4.5t Blankets, pair $2.19 to $112.50 Baby Gifts (various) 25c to $2.50 Fancy Bed Covers $7.75 to $110.50 Bed Spreads $2.95 to $7.00 Linen Towels, pair 29c to $1.75 Bath Towels 59c to $L5M Linen Table Cloths $2.75 to $110.50 Linen Table Napkins $3.50 to $10.00 Table Linen Sets $110.00 to $25.00 Women's Parasols . $1.50 to $6.00 Women's Sweaters $2.69 to $6.75 Children's Sweaters $1L119 to $3.50 Baby Knit Coats $1.O to $2.50 Child Knit Suits $3.75 to $4.50 Fancy Cushions 59c to $5.00 Cushion Tops 50c to $3.75 Dress Ends of Sii&, Velleet, Crepe and Fine Diress Goods. Nw OVZTCOEta FOT ChTf2tME,3 Beautiful, comfortable, luxurious are the new overcoats we are showing -you will want one for Christmas. There is a wonderful as- sortment of new Blues and fancy plaid checks to choose from. We never had better Over- coats at as reasonable prices. Come in and see them. Prkkeo X115 b $35. artiztnamo SaTe of Every hat in our Millinery Department to be cleared before Christmas. There is a particularly good selection to choose from; all new Fall and Win- ter Hats. It is a splendid opportunity to get a new hat for the holidays. Taimtrimed Halo 11-3 ®fI Uit rrim mea Hmts 1-2 off . vs�, �ayy, 1q�,. ,"" ;a�- y 2 v �; ++eeyq, {� " i .H s • qw r Irv. .. en c, : 3 ,. may, ea a r ems,. r ri o �n' x r .�� Jsi. -i3�r•' iarrt�fTv/rt�rr.�r�l ii�`rr�r7�eisfir3�r ;: a rT�x'ni�i �a3�r3iidrT,r�n�it,�s �"32�r 6� ': . i �," i.�r3'a8� �r.Nrr'its�i't �]sere?iR" it i are e r Rr� < *7' -• "r' f er r-". 3r D> ' rid • '„i�... yr : s,a