A FAMOUS COMEDIAN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2654, 28 December 1915, Page 8

A FAMOUS COMEDIAN

The original J. Rufus Wallingford of tlie stage is among those who are "under engagement to the J. 0. Williamson.' management. He is six foot of good nature ajid fun. Hale Hamilton is his name, and he lias (says the Sydney "Sun") every reason for buoyant spirits. In his portmanteau is the fattest contract with which the Williamson management has ever baited the lino that catches . comedians. For four years now ill'. Hamilton has had the refusal of the star comedy roles in A r c\t York. As it was, one of the managers of that city believed lie had him under contract when it was announced that Hugh J. Ward had signed him up. The. option on the comedian's services, however, had expired two days before. 'Jrie chances are that tlio record clerk of that offico was 'ircd. As a youngster Hale Hamilton managed to acquire in some .mysterious way complotc mastery of tlio slid© trombone. This enabled him to run away with a minstrel show. Hut the family rescued- him, and lie was induced to graduate in law. His father, by the way, was the attorney of tlio famous Santa Fe railway. Onco through his law exams., be was back to the footlights again. Ho began by supporting stars—Nat Goodwic, IS. H., Sothern, Julia Marlowe, W. K, Hackett among tlicm—and ift due course came the day, or ratlier the night, when his name could bo reatl in bulb lights on Broadway. "This is not to bo my first experience playing in a British country," ho said to-day: "I also appeared as Get-Ilich-Quick Wallingford m London. Jt was ono of tlio best of the American successes up to that time, running 3G weeks. Jlmd you, I had already played it a year and a half in New \orlc, Ti weeks in Boston, and 17 weeks in Philadelphia. After Wallingford in Lpndon I did "The Fortune Hunter there. This was the timo when American plays began to catch on in There were eight \mcricnn pieces m London theatres at the time, the other seven being "Bought and Paid I'. 01 '' "Within the Law," "Oh, Oil, Delphi no, "The Girl in the Taxi," "Yellow Jacket," "Tlie Pink Lady," and Heady Money." Our playwrights arc now thoroughly established ill Unglniid. It is quite remarkable to see the way tnc now. hits of New York bi'G suuppetl ilj>