The Extra Girl

Diminutive, with eyes crepuscular --
Mere space itself would bow and acquiesce,
Comedienne, director, writer, star,
The total package, destined for success.

Mere space itself would bow and acquiesce
So that our Icarus could reach her sun.
The total package, destined for success?
It seemed that Sennett's Keystone was the one.

So that our Icarus could reach her sun
Mack offered up himself with open arms;
It seemed that Sennett's Keystone was the one,
the laughter tinged with encroaching alarms.

Mack offered up himself with open arms...
The King of Comedy could not protect her;
The laughter tinged with encroaching alarms,
Her wings destroyed by scandal's evil spectre.

The King of Comedy could not protect her --
Diminutive, with eyes crepuscular;
Her wings destroyed by scandal's evil spectre...
Comedienne, director, writer, star...

Mabel Normand

Profile of Greatness

One says his name, and instantly you see
Richard the Third, or Hamlet, tortured prince,
His cultured voice in great soliloquy,
No better came before - or has been since.

Richard the Third, or Hamlet, tortured prince -
Such royalty he brilliantly portrayed;
No better came before, or has been since.
Too often, sadly, prices must be paid.

Such royalty! He brilliantly portrayed
Each role, as critics cheered (and women swooned);
Too often, sadly, prices must be paid.
The lure of liquor stole him far too soon.

Each role, as critics cheered and women swooned -
Jekyll, or the Svengali, or Don Juan...
The lure of liquor stole him far too soon;
His characters, however, living on.

Jekyll, or the Svengali, or Don Juan,
One says his name, and instantly you see
His characters. However, living on -
His cultured voice, in great soliloquy.



John Barrymore

This is my favorite photo of Barrymore, by Alfred Cheney Johnston. I don't know if the child is Diana or Dolores, however.