FANS

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 21, 4 December 1936, Page 16

FANS

A Chronic Disease

ANS, like the events in Ronald Frankau’s song, are "extraordinary, wonderful, fascin- . ating, queer," writes Gale Pedrick in the "Radio Times" (London). They range from the young man who pastes pictures of his favourite film stars on the inside of a baby saloon-car to the generous unknown who. once sent Shr | Seymour Hicks a gold cigarette-case with a great wad of pound notes inside it, and the woman’ who had ‘the autograph of a Hollywood idol stencilled on the brass plate of her coffin. Between these extremes, fan-worship flourishes in a beWildering variety of forms. — The mildest is the urge to write letters to stars of the radio, the stage and the screen. Consider the phenomenon of "fan-mail"’ which, especially in the United States of America, has become the standard for judging the popularity of artists.

From being merely a symptom of the modern outlook on entertainment fan-mail has assumed the proportions of a chronic disease. Fans-Murray’s Dictionary informs us that the word is a "jocular abbreviation of ‘fanatic’ ": it was certainly used in connection with baseball as far back as 1889-write thousands of letters every day. to the objects of their admiration. Radio itself has provided a vast new field for the fan. Not only radio’s "ready-made" stars, but members of the B.B.C. staff-. announcers in particular-have their daily post-bag. Fan-worship is not a twentieth-century manifestation. Doubtless, the victorious gladiator had his idolaters, no less than Arsenal’s: centre-forward. But in these days, when entertainment has become. a powerful influence upon the lives and habits of the masses, fan- -worship has got out of hand. I know a case-and this was in England, remem-ber-of a sick girl being brought to an actor so that he might take her hand and: ‘touch her, as it were, for the King’s Bvil.: I have seen scores of women fighting, kicking, and seratching their way to the stage-door of a. -musie-hall. They-tore the door from its . hinges: and then the firemen: turned on the hoses. All those women wanted was.a glimpse of a young Mexican film star. When Rudolph Valentino, who was a dancer and had been a ‘landscape-gardener, came to London; women tore off their jewellery and threw it. at his feet. A. great deal of fan-worship is perfectly natural-and not at ..all unhealthy. "It was real affection that inspired five hundred ‘students to draw Edna May’s carriage through’ the streets of: London: when she was playing in"The Belle of New York" 207 For years we jaughea good- -tamouredly at the men who. used to hang:.round. ‘stage- doors with bouquets "and chocolates.". "Stage-door Johnnies" we called them. They were by. Way of being a national joke. We-teased our sisters when they. kissed:.a photograph of Owen Nares good-night. But that ‘was only human. The stage-door Jolinnie is dead.. His successor has made -a cult of fan-worship, and.into it has crept a note that is .often unpleasant -and- violent, Irving, , of course, had..his fans. So ‘had Macready and Mrs. Siddons. But there was a note of reverence and awe in their admiration of these masters, They weré beings apart; one’ could not rub shoulders: with them Or ‘dlamour for: autographs and souvenit Ss." AS

Lewis Waller was the first actor in this country to inspire organised fan-worship. His admirers got together, appointed a secretary and founded a club. They called it the Keen Order of Wallerites. There had been nothing like it before. I have met a number of middle-aged ladies who were fervent members. of the "K.0.W.’s," as they were called. The club chose a badge. On one side was a device depicting Waller’s favourite flower: on the other a picture of Waller, in powdered wig, as Monsieur Beaucaire. The entire membership turned up in force at Waller firstnights, wearing mauve and violet favours. They stood guard at the stage door ‘afterwards. Hardly a performance was given without representatives of the: "K.O.W.’s" being on duty in the theatre. | Patrols, they were called. Waller loathed the whole business, avoided the. stage door as much as he could, and always ‘tried / to slip away unrecognised, Part of this was natural . modesty: but Waller also realised that half the P actor’s magic lies in maintaining the illusion. Waller, out of costume, was. rather short, did not dress ‘remarkably well-and knew his limitations. He preferred, and with great commonsense, to be the Lewis Waller of the footlights, remote and romantic. HE Keen Order of Wallerites was the beginning of it all. Gradually, the fan demanded (and was given) more licence. Tree-a jolly, companionable man-was quite approachable. The theatrical garden par ties brought the playgoing public into closer touch with the green room. The old ‘barrier was broken down. Actors no longer "kept themselves to themselves." ‘ ‘Then came the picture- postcard era. Millions-and this is no over-statement--were sold every year. . Phyllis. and Zena Dare were each photographed in a hundred different poses and costumes. Portraits of Marie Studholme’: and ° Gabrielle Ray adorned every other mantelpiece in ‘the king-" dom. "The Merry Widow" made history, and: Lily, Dlsieand Joe Coyne were always .three weeks behind:in answer: : ing their enormous fan-mail. Queues waited hours to see. Owen Nares-the last of the matinee idols.’ At one Theatrical] Garden Party, a shilling was charged’ just to see Gaby Deslys. They took £700° in shillings. When Gladys Cooper appeared in a’ new play- at: the’ Play--house Theatre,. Craven Street was-blocked: for hours. :Gan: anybody .who was there. -. (Continued ‘on, page 18.)

The "Fan Disease’"’’ (Continued from page 16.) forget when Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks attended a garden party and the crowd rushed the gates? Hundreds of people got in for nothing that day, Carl. Brisson, the dimpled, smiling Dane, was mobbed everywhere he went. Clubs were formed to honour star after star as they rose in the firmament bounded by Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly, and St. Martin’s Lane. Fan-worship became a business. In Hollywood prices were quoted daily for the autographed pictures of movie stars as they rose or fell in populatity.

R410 artists do not escape the attentions of the fan. How can they when they receive such vast publicity? From early days, broadcasting people have been bombarded by letters of adulation, criticism, and abuse. And it is not only dance-band leaders, erooners, and others connecied with the lighter side’ of radio who have a fan-mail. A mighty following is drawn . by less obviously attractive broadcasters who cannot be said to belong to the world of entertainment proper. "The Zoo Man" has his own queer fan-tanil-much of it in. match-boxes containing strange specimens of insects and moths. A mild but no less enthusiastic company of fans listens for i

the wisdom of ©. H. Middleton, the gardener’s oracle. Read the enthusiastie letters in "The Radio Times" arguing about which is the Best Broadeasting Voice, hotly championing various favourites, and expressing anger, scorn, bewilderment and contempt when other letters don’t agree. One remarkable demonstration of fan-worship at least has been proved sincere. Years after the death of their idol, the sdmirers of Rudolph Valentino carry on good work in his name. They have built a roof-garden for the Italian Hospital in London; they have endowed beds for unemployed men; they have done innumerable good deeds in memory of an actor who. never even made a "talkie."