WILLIAM A. BRADY FROM AMERICA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14707, 7 June 1920, Page 2

WILLIAM A. BRADY FROM AMERICA.

William A. 'Brady, of America, lias many claims to distinction, the two most recent being the success which he ■ has. scored-in London , with "The Man who' Came Back" and the signing of Alice Delysia. for movie work in the United States. William A. Brady is a great theatrical producer; he is an even greater Irishman. The first is his occupation, the second his preoccupation. True to his race, he has an instinct for eloquence, and before meeting him one naturally assumes that as he is a good Irish Roman Catholic he will hurl his eloquential thunderbolts at England, protesting; at her acts of outrage against his native Ireland as far back as Cromwell. Not so. There' is no question that Ireland holds first place in his affections, but England is a. close second.' Her traditions, her history, her people all form a. subject for his best oratory. To see Bill Brady with shining eyes and a breast swelling with emotion discoursing on the merits of Old England is to receive an impression not soon erased from the memory. He is a. man of varied interests, and feels strongly on almost. every subject in the world but finance. His comprehensive personality does not embrace that, although his record of successes would suggest a man of considerable commercial aptitude. In passing, one must not forget that the Brady star has gained fresh lustre from the achievements of his daughter Alice, who is numbered among the first five motion pictures actresses in America.. In the art of the theatrical improvisation her gifts rival tliose of her brilliant father.

It is no news, of course, that Mrs William A. Brady is Grace George, the actress, who thus completes the triumvirate of greatness. Some years ago Graco George was rehearsing for her London debut, and two days before the opening performance she missed her husband-manager from rehearsal. Hurrying from the theatre, she at. length discovered him (it is perhaps. unnecessary to state) on the tcrraco of the House of Commons in company (naturally) with T. P. O'Connor. As she joined the pair a slim figure passed them coming from the House.

• "Just a minute," called T.P.-to the yoimg mail. "I want you to meet a namesake of yours. Miss George—MiGeorge." : . :''Ali, Miss George." said the young inan, who was just taliing office for the first time, "I hope my run in London will be as long as yours.".

It is an incident in the career of the great little Welshman that is cherished in the Brady household. The subject of Lloyd George is one on which the Brady oratory finds full vent. He never tires of extolling the Premier for his services to mankind in the war. There is only one man whom he admires equally, and that is Woodrow Wilson. To hear Mr Brady give his impressions of these two men on the Peace Conference' and what the British Prime Minister did to the American President is a whole chapter of inner, secret, and inflammatory politics. Perhaps it is only natural in writing of this super-Irishman that one sh6uld reverse the usual course of things and consider his personal characteristics at the end of the sketch.

Brady is well built, rather stout, not particularly good-looking, and when in repose his features are hot striking. But —wheii he begins to talk _ his whole personality glows like Vesuvius in eruption. From ' then on you are overwhelmed, fascinated. Among his virtues one can hardly number consistency. . Three days ago I met him at the Savoy. "When* are you going home?" I asked. -"My dear fellow," lie answered, "not for ,a month at least, and very probably I shall be here till August." : Yesterday he sailed by the Mauretenia. . . •