Lewis Stone's 40 Years on Stage and Screen

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 8

Lewis Stone 's 40 Years on Stage and Screen

Cinema .«. Snapshots

It was about nine o’clock on a May night 40 years ago in a New YorK variety theatre that a certain young man emerged from the wings anu proceeded to play the principal part in a sketch written by himself. The sketch was a fair success. It didn’t make theatrical history, but the young man was elated, and in him was born a determination to make the stage his career. Forty years on . . . and that young actor is now known as Lewis Stone, veteran screen star, who, for the last year or so, has enjoyed a new-found and immensely profitable fame as Judge Hardy, in the series of films carrying that surname. Just now grey-haired Lewis Stone, who has never given a bad performance because he can’t, is indulging in some mild jamboreeing by way of celebrating 40 years on stage and screen. Forty years of showmanship and entertainment of the public. It’s a pleasant, comforting thing for a man to look back on. After 40 years he is permanently enthroned in film-goers’ minds as Judge Hardy. He has no more need to worry. . . And for a fine actor and good showman such as Lewis Stone, well, that is how it should be.