Evening star. [volume], May 13, 1928, Image 59

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Theater, Screen
and Music
Part 4—14 Pages
PA
'**7 |
— ■ ■ "
Dolores CosTELLO-Mc+ropoii+an
Rumors That Bloom in
the Spring.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
THE disheartening spectacle;
of a theater which does not!
know precisely what to do j
with itself is presented at j
this time of year. Following a,
season, in many respects one of
the most brilliant known in a long
time, the future becomes a vista
of blossoming uncertainty, with
full expectation that the choicest
fruits of imagination will be in
evidence before the snow flies
again, but with elements of uncer
tainty as to auspices under which
they will be provided.
** * *
It is not every city that can ren- j
der a stock company so secure as
the National Theater Players have
become. Steve Cochran, in add
ing a Baltimore theater to his
cares, undertakes an experiment
now frequent enough, but in the
past regarded as unwieldly. When
P. Harris ran the theater of which
only a vestage remains at Ninth
and C streets, he included it in a
chain of theaters which many
who enjoyed discussing theatrical
business regarded as too large to
permit requisite attention to de
tail. The arrangement did not
endure. Neither did the effort to
establish stock companies in both
Washington and Baltimore by P.
B. Chase find substantial encour
agement.
** * *
Conditions, however, have shift
ed. In us amusement way there
has always been a bond of natural
relationship between the two
cities; ever since the days when
special trains were run to enable
Edwin Booth’s admirers in this
city to see him. even though the
evening’s entertainment involved
a journey of nearly 90 miles. The
interchangeable company is one
of the cherished dreams of both
the big towns.
** * *
The chain system of theaters
Bow flourishes so prosperously
that K is not possible to be sure
Riat some established trade mark
will not be hyphenated over night
to share the glories of tradition
with a brand-new name. Fame
that is written in electric lights
fades or shines intermittently as
the currents are turned on and off
from switchboards operated at a
distance.
The Shubert-Beiasco title was a
aurprise and cannot even now be
regarded as an arrangement aris
ing from an ordinary course of
events.
Poll has succeeded in giving
his name a monopoly of the scin
tillating arch above the doorway,
although it is never donated that
the Bhubert offices are a power in
Its management.
The appearance of A L. Erlanger
as one of the parties at interest
with W. Harrlman Rapley in the
National Theater brings a new
element into the amusement sit
uation here; an element which
cannot fail to be helpful and
beneficial in providing entertain
ment of responsible quality.
** * *
The H V Keith interests hy
phenated until the name became
ponderous, leaving the theater for
toe present with Mr Robbins at
desk as the only reliable attrac
tion.
The original decision to call the
playhouse 8 t. Keith's Theater,]
instead of following a natural
tendency to call it “Keith’s," was
a departure in theater naming
and seemed to he intended as a
son of memorial to a much-es
teemed man. However, the inter
ests came to include the name of
Aibee in recognition of a long ca
reer of competence and devotion
Recently the title Keith-Albce- ;
Orpheurn circuit was evolved Now
instead of throngs of patronage
only rumor* float through the
doorways No able theatrical man
objects to rumors which are. after
all a form of publicity. Theater*
could never thrive if everybody
strictly minded his own business
and refused to talk about them.
♦* ♦ »
The prominent appearance of
the name Btaniey as a prefix to
tmmiliur trade mark titles for local
playhouses has been followed by a
process of noteworthy evolution in
motion picture policies leaving
the term “vaudeville" with no re
Atrteted significance The idea of
definite policy for a theater finally
disappears, excepting as it asserts
itself in a Summer stock engage
i ment, enabling patrons to pur
j chase places far in advance and
i be quite sure as to the character
and quality of the entertainment.
"Going to the theater” is, in the
present amusement era, a selective
process, involving studious scru
tiny of available menus. Sophis
tication of audiences is demon
strated by the unanimity with
which they remain away, from the
very start, when the offering is
sour or a little too peppery,
** * *
| Where the Winter season found
i playhouses frequently dark and
shifting their announcements be
cause of uncertainties in booking,
the Summer season is approached
with an exceptional air of confi
dence. De Wolf Hopper, who not
long since enjoyed a prospewms
Summer mason here, is booKffi
for a return to test out as a be
ginning the genial theory, found
so reliable by Mr. Ames, that the
wit and melody loving public
never gets quite enough of “The
Mikado."
** * *
A rumor is to the effect that
still another stock company will
attempt an eternal triangle of
competition that will make it just
a little harder for everybody who
is attempting to keep open the
ater.
Another rumor is that the Keith
interests will build a new theater
in this city. There may be other
rumors, for it is every person’s
privilege to make up one of his
own.
It has been one of the most
gossipy little merry Springtimes
known in many years.
• • ———
Marjorie Beebe to Star,
Vs ARJORIE BEEBE Us to be starred
11 in a series of feature-length com
edies. under her recently signed contract
with Pox Films.
This clever girl has been alluded to
as the “feminine Charlie Chaplin of
the screen.” and for a long time has
been groomed by Winfield Sheehan, vice
president of Pox Films, for comedy
stardom. Her pathway to comedy fame
has been watched carefully and fellow
players are said to have complimented
her with the charge of “stealing" nearly
every picture in which she was cast
Her first starring picture will be "A
Farmers Daughter,” from an original
story by Harry Brand, Frederica Sagor
and Hank Johnson,
Arthur Rosson has been assigned to
direct the comedy, which will get under
way within a few days
Worked Both Way*.
I EAR HERSHOLT wore one of the
strangest make-ups of his entire
career in * The Battle of the Sexes,”
which D. W. Griffith is directing at the
United Artists’ studio.
It was a rubber vest, weighing five
pounds, which he wore in the earlier
stage# of the picture to make him
portly. The vest, however, defeated its
own purpose, for after a week of shoot
ing Hersholt discovered that the gar
ment had caused him to lose nine
pounds.
Herbert Anniversary.
IN anticipation of the Victor Herbert
1 anniversary, May 26, the Fox Grand
Orchestra will render a medley of that j
composer # airs Assisting artists from !
tii* stage include Josef Turin, tenor,
who Is fast becoming a Washington fa
vorite; Jawrence Downey, baritone, and
j the Fox ballet, 16 youthful darners.
. -V...
No Time to Fly.
CIANLEY REDOES, leading man of
J tie National Flayers, envisioned a
happy answer to his problem of acqutr
tng enough “flying hours” at Boiling
Fie id to have his British air pilot’s
j license transferred to the American reg -
istry Director Brooks' fetish for morn
ing and afternoon rehearsals, however,
ha* prevented Mr, Ridges from being
credited with but a paltry half hour
aloft, and lie lias been here for three
| weeks,
————•*
BurJeequc Interest* Many.
' I*HE actual status of the burlesque
* industry as an Integral pari of the
amusement business in America Is not
generally known,
yet, jt is announced that more than
fifteen millions of men, women and
niidren paid to witness burlesque per
formances during the season of 36
weeks, aggregating a cash outlay of
more than *l2 000,000 It would seem,
therefore, that fifteen millions of people
are interested in burlesque,
AMUSEMENT SECTION
She Sunday gtaf.
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/IAONTRA - theater
Plays of the Week.
NATIONAL THEATER
PLAYERS "Merton of the
Movies," comedy. Tomor
row evening.
BELASCO Leslie Howard in
"Escape.” Tomorrow eve
ning.
POLrS~~“Abie's Irish Rose,"
comedy drama. This eve
ning.
“Dracula" Going Strong.
| I GRACE UVKRIGHTB production
* * of “Dracula,” the famous vampire
play, has passed Its 250th performance
at the Fulton Theater, New York, where
It la playing In Its ninth month on
Broadway.
With this performance "Dracula,"
combining Its four solid years In Eng
land and Its nine months In America,
passes Its 2,000 th performance
“Dracula" was based by Hamilton
Deane and John L. Balderston on the
Brarn Stoker novel, of which, It Is said,
50,000 copies have been sold yearly for
30 years.
- —-- •
Staged in Yellow Aster.
AN historic old mine came back to
life as one of the Interesting fea
tures of "The, Fifty-Fifty Girl," Hebe
Daniels' latest starring vehicle for Para
mount, which Is now showing at the
Earle Theater,
The climax of the picture story Is
staged In the famous yellow Aster
Mine at Randsborg, Calif,, and In the
tunnels of the mine
Years ago lire Yellow Aster was one
of the richest gold producers in Califor
nia history, and the memories of those
years still remain Almost deserted
when Director Badger thought of It as
a location, the mine was given the life
of oilier years after crews from the
Paramount studio and the engineers
were called upon to rejuvenate It
Griffith * Annivcrnary.
I \ W, GRIFFITH celebrated ‘his
twentieth anniversary as a motion
picture direr;tor last Tuesday
Griffith began Ids directorial career
with the old Btograph studio on West
j Fourteenth street, New York City Ills
first group of pictures, scarcely more |
than half a reel In length, was known j
as the “Dolly series " Htnce that time
i Griffith ha* contributed some of the
’ finest artistic productions at the screen,
, among them ’'The Mirth of a Nation,"
t "Broken Blossom* " "Wsy Down East,"
"Intolerance" and "America,"
WASHINGTON, 1). C„ SUNDAY MOHNJNG, MAY' i:>, 1928.
Amn^ment^
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Scene from VN LAUG-H CLOWN. LAU6W Columbia
I IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Notes of the Stage and Its People.
Jack Renault, the well known fighter.
It la announced, may appear In “Help
the Police," the Gladys Crollua-Harry
Tyler play.
David Belaaco, whose stage appear
ance for many years has been con
fined to making curtain speeches on
the opening nights of his productions,
will be In the cast of "The Beaux's
Stratagem," the Players Club revival
which will be presented In New York
the week of June 4. Although he was
an actor In his earlier days on the Pa
cific Coast, lie has never appeared in
New York,
“Eve's Complaint,” a play by Hubert
Osborne, was presented in Paris re
cently and glowing reports of the piece
have come over the sea. Mr. Osborne
is best known as the author of "Shore
l4*ave," which David Belasco produced
and which was later adapted Into the
musical comedy, "Hit the Deck.” He is
assistant director of the Yale Univer
sity Theater.
The Edgeinont Productions Corpora -
tion announces the early presentation
of a play entitled "Freeport," written
by Helen Broderick, Which hits had a
tryout by a stock company In Califor
nia, it is described as being the story
of a vaudeville team who relinquished
their two-a-day Job to enter the boot
legging Industry, Miss Broderick was
a big favorite in vaudeville befure going
Into the big revues
“Manhattan Mary" closed Its long
run In New York last night Ed Wynn
Is going abroad and will open his new
season with the show on the road about
!,abor Day.
William Hodge, who lias avoided New
York all this season, dosed Ids road
tour in "Htralghl Through the Poor"
In Chicago a week ago. This comedy
opened In Detroit last October and lias
played from Mt. lands to Boston since
then. Bo cordial was Hodge 1 * recep
tion on the road that he stayed there
the entire season.
I,eon Blumenfeld, an erstwhile press
representative, has written a melo
drama called "The Death The story
concerns a youth who becomes Infatu
ated with a woman twice his uge id
ward Cosgrove Is the producer and a
, Wept ember opening has been ached
I tried.
“Over the Wire," a play by Sidney
Btone, n annoum ad for production by
Mr hi one and Arthur H Vinton, The
latter Is an actor
Herbert Clark, aim has been upp.-ai'
tng in the Chicago company of “Excess
Baggage,’’ has been engaged to play
the leading role in "The Money Lender"
which will go into rehearsal in New
York tills week.
Tlie forthcoming play featuring Ju
dith Anderson and Lou Tellegen has
been given a new title. Instead of
“Young Truth,” it is now known as
"Anna."
Ethel Barrymore will appear in two
plays next season, both adaptations
from foreign dramas. The first, "The
Kingdom of God,” which was produced
in London, was translated from “El
Relno de Dios," by G. Martin** Sierra,
a Spanish playwright. Later Miss Bar
rymore will appear in "The Love Duel,"
from a play by LIU Hatvini, that had a
successful run in Vienna.
"Thunder in the Air," produced in
London a few weeks ago, has been
acquired for America by David Belasco.
The play, which has a psychic back
ground, is the work of a new playwright,
Robins Miller.
In addition to Richard Bennett and
Sydney Shields, the east of "The People"
will Include Marjorie Wood, Edward H,
Robins, William B. Mack, Jennie Eus
tace and Beverly Hltgreaves. "The Peo
ple” will have Us first performance May
2ft in Erie, Pa.
London will see "Funny Face," the
musical comedy now playing In New
York, in October, with Fred and Adele
Astaire as feature members of the east
With the exception of Ure Astaires, the
entire cast will be recruited in London
The London production of "The Show
Boat," which opened recently, U re
ported to have scored a success The
Berlin production of "The Trial of Mary
Dugan" Is considered good for a year'*
run.
Helen Mack has succeeded Netta
Harrlgan in Horace Liverlght'a "lira*
oula," which recently passed Us 'JftOth
performance at the Fulton Theater.
New Yolk.
"Merton of the Movies" lias been one
of the most widely circulated pieces of
fiction In modern wilting Written
originally bv Harry Leon Wilson an a
serial for flu* Haturdav Evening Post, II
whs Inter published In book form, then
dramatised for the stage, than published
ns a play and ftiiMlly was adopted for
Hie films with Glenn Hunter in ids
original tola,
Films for Children.
“ A RE the children of the country
*• justly entitled to a share of motion
picture entertainment .suitable to their
age and understanding’’”
This question, asked and answered
recently by the juniors' matinees com
mittee of the Better Films National
4 Council, National Board of Review, in
[ New York, resulted in the selection of a
list of 100 motion pictures deemed suit
-1 able for children for special children’s
matinees, conducted throughout the
country under the auspices of the Na
• Uonal Board.
The Juniors’ matinees committee, rep
s resenting national women's organlea
i Hons, acted after hearing the results of
a nation-wide survey by the Better
Films Council.
• Under tile resolution creating the
i committee motion picture producers
• will be petitioned to provide enough
I prints of the approximately 100 pictures
1 selected to carry on the children’s nmt
, lnee work successfully over the country
and to so modify any ruling at present
' governing the circulation of the fibns
that the pictures specially selected may
be generally available for such work.
This survey Indicated that, young
America has a preference for adventure
and athletic pictures.
Bluffed But Made Good.
f ILLIAN RICH won her first real
part in a motion picture by making
good on a bluff Now she lias climbed
Hie ladder to. an important role In
"That's My Daddy," starring Reginald
Denny,
Bom in London, England, Miss Rich
studied dancing after her schooling was
over. She secured the leading feminine
role opiHHdtc Harry Lauder in his mu
sical comedy, "Three Cheers " Then she
went to Hollywood and pulled her big
bluff
A company was looking for a gill
who could play the feminine lead in a
picture to be filmed in the Canadian
Hock lea, one who could skate, ski and
handle a dug sled Miss Rich glibly
admitted great ability and it was not
found out until ihe troupe was on loca
tion, Hhe mastered the tasks so quickly,
however, that she won the respect of
Hie whole company and is still an ar
dent advocate of Winter sports
A Wampas star In 1824. she is ft
blonde of classic beauty.
•
Pix Getting Better.
II H'llAlH* DIX, who underwent an
*' operation for appendicitis, was le
icully sufficiently recovered to permit
bis removal from Roosevelt Hospital.
Los Angeles, to ids home He ts said to
be planning a yachting trip down tlie
coast of l*iwer California, with a rest
period at Ensenada, when he i« able to
be about, ,
; Motors and
! Motor Touring j
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Irene Rich and joun Miljan
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Jaa\es Hall and &ebe Daniels- Earle
Photoplays This Week
SILENT DRAMA ATTRACTIONS
PALACE—"Th" Devil Dancer.” This afternoon and evening.
FOX—“The Silver Slave.” This afternoon and evening.
RlALTO—“That’s My Daddy.” This afternoon and evening.
EARLE—“The Fifty-Fifty Girl.” This afternoon and evening.
METROPOLITAN—“TenderIoin.” This afternoon and evening.
COLUMBIA—"Laugh, Clown, Laugh.” This afternoon and eve
ning.
LITTLE THEATER—“Lucrezia Borgia.” This afternoon and
evening.
PALACE—“The Devil Dancer.”
Gilda Gray, In “The Devil Dancer.”
is the screen attraction at Loew's Pal
ace this week. The picture was adapted
j from the scenario by Harry Hervey.
author of the "Oriental Stories," and
was directed by Fred Niblo.
Clive Brook has the leading male role
and others in the cast are Anna May
Wong and Michael Vavltch.
The star enters the picture as the
successor to a sacred dancer killed with
her lover by being buried alive for the
sin of unfaithfulness. The supersti
tious natives look with awe at this white
woman among them, the orphan of a
murdered missionary, left at the temple
many years before.
With the death of her predecessor as
a menace, the love affair between
Stephen, Clive Brook, and Takla Hilda
Gray, takes place in a procession of
events, which includes humorous and
pathetic incidents of Tibetan manners,
in conflict with British-Indian society;
the kidnaping of Takla by Hasson, an
itinerant showman; the dancing of
Takla in a nautch house, the pursuit of
Stephen and the avenging minions of
the Grand Lama—and the climax in
a striking light between the contend
ing factions.
The stage presentation Is entitled
"Hat Kabaret" and has a cast includ
ing Kerenoff and Maree. the Patterson
Twins. Hoy Walman. Bert Nagel and
"Omar." the Uearst Brothers, the Al- !
bertina Rasch Girls and featuring
Wesley Eddy and his Palace Syncopa- !
tors
The bill Is augmented by the Palace
Concert Orchestra, under Harry Borjes,
M. G. M. news reel and other short sub
jects.
FOX—"The Silver Slave,”
Irene Franklin, Just returned from a
world tour, will be the stellar attraction
al the Fox Theater beginning Unlay. This
artist, always popular with Washing
ton audiences, Is said to have won many
new admirers on her tour and during
her local appearance will present a cycle
of new songs, assisted at the piano by
Jerry Jarnagtn. who writes the music
for Miss Franklin’s character studies
Other features will Include an 8 J
Htebblns novelty, "in . the Spotlight,"
which features Ross and Gilbert. Bertie
and Norway and Hobart Merton and a
stage picture with Josef Turin, law
renoe Downey and the ballet corps in a
special arrangement of Victor Herbert’s
melodies, the climax depicting the
Gy nay dance from "The Fortune
Teller,”
The Fox Orchestra, Leon ttruailuff
conducting. will offer Gershwin's
Rhapsody in Blue," with Richard
Mtngei as piano soloist and Helen and
Burt Harter. Flavin Theodore and the
Fox ballet as supporting features
The screen feature offers Irene Huh
lu "The titlver Slave," in which the
star is seen as a modem mother who
endeavors to save her daughter from
the mad la** age and incidentally
iteah her naughty* *• sweet heart*.
, EARLE—"The Fifty-Fifty GW."
•) “The Fifty-Fifty Girl” is the title of
■ [ Be be Daniels’ new Paramount picture.
I which is this weeks feature at the
Earle Theater. The stage offering is a
1; new Stanley Co. of America presenta
; tion. “Venetian Nights." which features
. Jack Pepper as master of ceremonies
and a number of Broadway stars. In
cluding Berinoff and Eulalie, the Three
Whirlwinds. Georges Dufranne, Kitty
■ McLaughlin, Edward Albano, Grace
II Yaeger and the Serova Dancers. The
: Earle Stage Band supplies the music
i for the stage offering.
In "The Fifty-Fifty Girl” Miss Dan
! iels has the role of a stubborn girl, who
I maintains that women are superior to
i men in every situation A young man,
who seriously disagrees with her, allow*
; her to test her theories on him, and in
; the dark passageways of an old gold
mine, pursued by a horde of yelling
laborers, she finally meets her Waterloo
| and concedes his mastery. The story is
laid chiefly In and about an old gold
mine with a historic background, while
several sequences are taken on a rail
road train In the supporting cast are
seen James Hall, William Austin and
others
A Sennet t comedy. "The Bicycle
Flirt." starring BlUy Sevan; a short
scenic, news events and musical accom
paniment for the screen subjects com
plete the bill.
RIALTO — "That's My Daddy."
“That’s My Daddy," the feature at
: the Rialto this week, is Reginald Den
ny’s newest production In the cast is
iff tie Jane La Verne, a child actress,
for w bom has been predicted the
greatest screen success since Jackie
Oov'gan’s appearance in “The Kid.”
’Lite story concerns Jimmy Norton, a
young man of wealth, trapped into an
engagement with a daughter of a once
wealthy family, who wants his money
Jimmy dashes across town in his car
j and is atopiied by a motor cycle cop
He tells the officer that he to hurryuvg
jb> the Children's Hospital where htx
I daughter is seriously injured. The of
rtcvr goes along
Here a child. Pudge, has Just been
brought in alter running away from
her foster mother. She thinks Jimmy
is her father whom she never saw and
Jimmy, to carry out his bluff, takes the
little girt home. Meantime, Jimmy has
fallen in love with the nurse he has
engaged for Pudge. When hto wedding
to By I via Van Tassel to about to bake
place Pudge rum hi and calls Jimmy
"Daddy," the Van Tassels call off the
marriage, Jimmy weds the nurse and
ail ends happily.
The supporting cast includes Bar
bate Kent. LilUan Rich. Turn O'Brien
Mathilde Rnmdage. Wilson Benge. At
maud Kalla Charles Coleman and Art
Currier
Rox Rmnmell. conducting the fklalto
orchestra offers a new arrangement of
"Echoes from the Metropolitan Opera
House." as overture International
c ontinued on Hurd Page i