Notice—I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by anyone except myself after this date, June 26, 1916. Henry B. Brayson.
Wanted to Purchase—A set of the latest edition of Encyclopedia Britannica. State lowest price you will take for same. Address M-27, care Half Century Magazine, Chicago.
WITH OUR EXCHANGES
BERT WILLIAMS
AGAIN STAR OF ZIEGFELD’S “FOLLIES.”
Noted Comedian Makes New Yorkers’ Sides Ache With His “Othello.”
(Louisville News.)
New York, June 18.—Bert Williams, premier comedian of his day, is again the star of Florence Ziegfeld’s “Follies.” Ziegfeld started his “Follies” in 1907 and each year he has outdone the preceding year in this type of show—which consists of elaborate staging, pretty girls and plenty of them, funny men, all kinds of music and dance, in short his “Follies” have been hash, a little bit of everything. Shortly after George Walker’s death, which left Bert Williams to travel alone, Ziegfeld did what no other manager or producer in this country would have done and that was to take a Colored performer into a purely white company. He snatched up Bert Williams, it was a bold thing to do—but it paid. Of course, the “Follies” can not go into some cities because of Williams, but that loss is over made up in the other cities. Williams has often saved the “Follies” from being pure and simple burlesque despite the fact Ziegfeld has most of the high priced white stars. This year the “Follies” have a Shakesperian travesty after the tercentenary in honor of the great Shakespeare. Bert Williams plays “Othello” in the play of that name. Space forbids a rehash of the scene—but if you’ve ever seen Bert Williams in anything, just shut your eyes and imagine him as the jealous Moor. You might then get a faint idea of what makes New Yorkers’ sides ache.