SUDDEN DEATH

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 16

SUDDEN DEATH

KING OF PANTOMIME

MR. JULIAN WYUE

Not for many years has the theatrical world been so stunned as it was at the news that Mr. Julian Wylie, acknowledged King- of Pantomime and one of the best-known stage producers in the country, was dead, writes Harold Conway .in tht« "Daily Mail."

So tragically sudden and unexpected was Mr. Wylie's death that many of those working under him, On the herculean task of producing six pantomimes in London and other parts uf tho country in time for Boxing Day, refused at first to believe tho news.

It was soon1 after 3 a.m. at his home at Oakwood Court, Kensington, W., that ho called to his wife: "Darling, I'm very ill," and before a doctor had arrived, he had passed away—his hand grasping Mrs. Wylie's. Though it was only a few days ago that Mr. Wylie, who was fifty-six, declared to a friend: "I feel fitter than I have been for years; I an. ready for harder work than ever," there is little doubt among his associates that the heart failure which caused his death was brought about by the terrific strain imposed by his pantomime programme.

The last three dayc of Mr. Wylie's life give an indication of that strain.

THE LAST TIME,

On the Monday he was in Glasgow, working all day on his pantomime production for that city. He travelled all night back to London, and was in Drury Lane by 9 a.m. He remained there until the evening, when he wenL to Broadcasting House to give his talk with Mr. Mack Sennett on tho.subjec of pantomime. He was again at Drury Lane early on Wednesday moraing, and remained there until close1 on midnight —when ho left it for the last time.

It was being recalled that his celebrated partner of the old. Wylie-Tate firm, James' W. Tate, died just about this time of year in 1922 from pneumonia contracted as a i result of rushing about the country working on a number of pantomimes simultaneously. In addition to his Wig-scale production at Drury jane, on Christmas Eve, Mr. Wylie was due to produce the following pantomimes: "Mother Goose," at the Glasgow Alhambra; "Puss in Boots," at the Palace, Manchester; "Dick Whittington," at the Grand, Leeds, on Christmas Eve; "The Babes in the Wood,'' at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, on Christmas Day; ,and "Jack' arid' the Beanstalk," at ■ the Theatre Royal, Birmingham,' on the; afternoon ,of Boxing Day. . . ■>. ;.;

it says much for the remarkable pro-, due tion system built up by Mr. Wylie that his untimely death' will not in any way interfere with 'the production of any of these pantomime's^—which are giving employment to some thousands of people and in which approximately j £30,000 is invested. ' t ; His whirlwind life during a month' of rehearsals hero, there, and everywhere was ruled strictly by a little red.book which he always carried. In it was set down every detail of his productions, planned, in advance, and the times of tho trains he must ca.tch from one citv' to another.

Mr.- Walter Macqueen-Pope. one of his closest; business associates, told mer-

"So perfected was thjs, 'book system'- that- by now • tho details of construction, scenery, costumes, music, and dancing ensembles' of each of the six pantomimes have -been fully prepared, and Mr. .'Wylie's ideas are known -to his assistants, down to the smaHeit item." • , % * Mr. Herbert Bryan, who has been associated with Mr. Wylie on the production side for many years, will now supervise- all the rehearsals. Drury Lane was a sad place. On the stage were working many people to whom Mr. Wylie had jocularly remarked fewer than twelve hours before that by the end of this season he would have produced 113 pantomimes, and that he hoped the number would not prove unlueky. Mr. Wylie had at one time or another employed most of the celebrated stars of the musical and' pantomime stage; he was loved by all. as-one of tho straightest and most capable men in the profession. Tho air of a martinet at_ rehearsals screened a winning personality and an exceptionally generous disposition. LOVE OP "MAGIC." "I'm never really angry at rehearsals, you know," he confided to me a week or so ago, "but it wouldn't do for me not to display temperament sometimes —they all expect it." Mr. Wylie—whose real name was Samuelson—began his career as an accountant; but ho was dismissed becauso of his over-fondness for attending music-halls. Later ho became business manager to David Devant,_ the illusionist, who infected him with a fondness for magic which in later years came in very useful for his stage productions. . . Mr. Wylie's partnership with James W. Tato was responsible for some of the most celebrated musical comedy and pantomime productions London has seen —particularly at tho Hippodrome. Mr. Wylic and his wife were one of the most devoted couples in theatreland. During his frantically busy rehearsal weeks, she was always in the background, unobtrusively doing everything in her power, to ensure him as much rest and comfort as was possible. Among the many tributes paid to Mr Wylie was one from Mr. George Robey, who said: "Wylie was the one man who kept pantomime alive and kept up the public taste for it. Nobody knows the work he did travelling about tho country, and he never spared himself. The best show. I was ever in was a Wylio production— Round in Fifty,' about fourteen years ago.'