BERNARD SHAW’S LATEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22022, 3 August 1933, Page 16

BERNARD SHAW’S LATEST

THE VISIT TO HOLLYWOOD TRIBULATIONS OF VICTIMS. Hollywood has been taking some time to recover from the visit of Mr George Bernard Shaw. “ The earthquake as a subject of conversation has long since faded,” says one writer, “ but the Shaw interlude still reechoes, and will do so for a long time.” "Mr Shaw is alleged to have insulted Ann Harding; criticised the hat worn by Alice Brady; abashed the daring and often witty John Barrymore; had newspapermen cautious about putting themselves on the spot by asking him innocuous questions.” “ Miss Harding’s case was deemed particularly sad and pitiful,” it is stated. " She had evidently dreamed of meeting the great playwright all her life. She had apparently also visioned his knowing her by name and having some idea of her work on the stage. She informed him with a great glow of enthusiasm that she had played in ‘Captain Brassbound’s Conversion ' in the Hedgerow Theatre, in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania, and was rewarded with the reply that it must have been a piratical performance.” Miss Harding is reported to have wept for hours. John Barrymore has a passion for autographs, which he collects for his little son. “ How old is be? ” asked Mr Shaw. “ One year,” replied Mr Barrymore, proudly. “Too young,” replied the great man. “If it. was your grandfather, and he had only a couple of years to live, I’d give it to him.” Even Mr Barrymore could think of no reply. Neither could anv of his other victims—at the time. In due course they all declared that Mr Shaw’s wit was vastly over-rated, and hinted at devastating retorts. Only one man thought of contemporary retaliation, and he was but a property man. “Aw,” he said, “ I know' a guy who can put on whiskers better than he can.’’ But, alas, even this not very brilliant mot wa« not uttered within Mr Shaw's hearing.