A Change of Heart

Initially, John Barrymore Sr. was disinterested in the acting profession, only doing it to stimulate his income. However, due to his familial connection in the industry, he repeatedly picked up small roles and began to build his brand. Eventually, his reputation as a stage actor led him to receive leading roles in major productions. A front-page article about him and his Brother Lionel's first stage production together, A Great White Way, illustrates their early stardom in Vaudeville. As well, Barrymore often did Shakespearean works, such as Hamlet, and Richard the III which he was very well known for. As the film began to emerge he began to shift with the rest of the industry towards making movies, however, he continued his work in the theatre even as film was becoming the predominant mode of entertainment.