THE “BYRON" LAUGH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 635, 11 April 1929, Page 14

THE “BYRON" LAUGH

STARTED IN THE “SMALLS” JOVIAL COMEDIAN IN “THE PATSY” Arthur S. Byron’s laugh in the first act of “The Patsy” is one of the best things in that production. But, to quote the play itself, “Life’s like that” to this jovial American. He has done everything in the “show” business except play in a circus, and his laugh is just as cheery as it was when he first started to play stock in the “smalls” of the United States. Mr. Byron’s career has been built on the soundest foundation —years of playing in stock. He did this for several years, he said in an interview last evening at His Majesty’s between acts. “Yes, I started in the ‘smalls’— damn ‘smalls’ they were, too. When I graduated into a town which was large enough to have street cars and qlectric light, I thought I had struck Broadway.” During the time Mr. Byron estimatMr. Byron estimates that he appeared in 600 plays of all kinds. As a

young man he appeared in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and “East Lynn” and others of that persuasion, and later he took the leads in “Pptash and Perlmutter,” “Daddies,” “The Squaw Man,” and many other plays. “We had changes every week,” he remarked. “An actor had to know his job to cope with every kind of play which came along.” Mr. Byron says that he enjoys playing Jew characters. He has studied the Jew very carefully and has the greatest admiration for that race. In his wanderings with stock companies Mr. Byron toured Canada and went as far north as Prince Edward Island. For two years he stayed in Montreal, where, in the winter time, the thermometer often registered 38 degrees below zero. One of the principal amusements there was sleigh riding after the theatre. For the past 20 years Mr. Byron has been playing on Broadway. He first appeared there in a comedy written from the short stories of a New York journalist, Roy McCardle. His ability to play character parts soon had managers demanding his services, with the result that he has rarely if ever been out of a part. Mr. Byron has appeared in plays with all the big American stars of today, including William Faversham and Margaret Anglin. He has appeared in New York in musical comedy with Alfred Frith and Thomas Burke, the former husband of Marie Burke, well known to New Zealand audiences. Years ago in the States Mr. Byron had played in the same company with Muriel Starr, and one of the surprises he enjoyed on arrival in Australia was to find her playing there. This is Mr. Byron’s first trip to Australia and New Zealand, and he likes us so much that he proposes to stay here if there is anything suitable offering. He also has some vaudeville sketches which he would like to do, aud if the opportunity offers, he will. SUBURBAN THEATRES • °r e > Lynn Cinema this evenPictures are "The Haunted (Chester Conklin) and “The s Relations” (Shirley Mason). Edendale Theatre Is presenting Porting Age” (Belle Bennett) Coyj Beyond the Sierras” (Tim 11cThe Victoria Theatre. Devonport will screen "Tire Patriot” (Emil Jannings and Lewis Stone) and "The Farmer’s Daughter” (Marjorie Beebe). T he Empire Theatre. Dominion Road will screen Home. .Tames” (Laura La Maynard) S ° T * Phantom City” (Ken The Prince Edward Theatre is Dre- “ The Drag Net” (George Ran--Avalanche” (Jack Holt). At the Capitol Theatre. Dominion Road, the pictures are "The Constant Nypmh” (Mabel Poulton and IvorAovello). and "The Phantom City” (Ken Maynard). y