Evening star. [volume], October 25, 1931, Image 51

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Stage and Screen
News and Gossip
Part 4—B Page*
U.V PAMITA Itl * •TMR6BS ACRWO"- I
Survey of New York’s
Dramatic Efforts' Fails
To Reveal Box-Office Hit
Musical Productions Have Reaped a Harvest,
While the Drama Receives Little Attention.
The Situation Here in Washington.
By W. H. Landvoigt.
LATE surveys inform the world
that Broadway is still wait
ing for its first dramatic hit
of the new season. Columns
have been written of prospects
that after a brief peep have fold
ed up their tents like the
and have as silently stolen out to'
Forget-me-land, or else to Cain’s
storehouse, the morgue of shat
tered hopes. Several shows that
were scheduled to close, we are
told’, are still hanging on; some
half dosen are playing to flatter
ing returns; musicals are in the
ascendant, George White’s “Scan
dals,” “The Band Wagon,” Earl
Carroll’s “Vanities” and Ziegfeld’s
“Follies” being the “outstanders,”
with hope haloing the coming in
of “Everybody’s Welcome" and
“The Cat and the Fiddle.” The
plays, those whose authors believe
contain elements of real drama,
are few ana far between—scarcely
worth mentioning, at least, until
some news arrives that indicates
they may find shelter on the road,
and, who knows, perhaps in Wash
ington. This apparently is the
status of the theater In New York,
the home of unborn drama, the
workshop of theatrical creation.
** * *
SPECULATORS in the possibill
° ties are pondering over the big
news of the week that one of the
fountainheads of our local drama
supply has fallen heir to a court
receivership. Where would the
legitimate theater of America be
now had this occurred, say, 20
years ago? Evil minds will have
their evil thoughts and malicious
tongues will wag in gossip on
themes like this, in spite of our
President's earnest appeal for the
unemployed, in its very essence
flavored with the suggestion of a
divine appeal to “love thy neigh
bor as thyself.” Unhappily, how
ever, the divine charge to “do
unto others” is often twisted by
the temptation of the thought “as
they do you”—and so the wicked
world goes merrily on its way.
** * *
JOE COOK’S amusingly pleasant:
“Fine and Dandy,” not for an |
instant forgetting Joe Cook’s
hard-working ranks of feminine j
beauty, which nearly, if not quite,
achievea perpetual motion in
rivalry with his gadgets, was one
of the agreeable, if not brilliant, i
offerings of the theater in Wash
ington this season. It was free of
offense and enjoyable throughout,
a maker of honest laughter and a |
mouth cleanser. And yet. even in
this pious and well meaning com
munity. its local collections fell
short of those that rewarded the
wicked “Vanities” by a full 50 per
cent of par. Who can explain
this? And another inquiry, seem
ingly quite as pertinent, is why
should that well and widely be
loved grand dame of opera be
drafted to bolster a losing propo
sition—and that with a pathetic
mockery of sentiment sickening to
Stratford Company
r r'HE Stratford-Upon-Avon Co. which
* will begin a limited engagement of
One week at the National Theater Mon
day evening. November 2, has a back
ground of tradition which is an inspira
tion to all connected with the famous
* organization. The company has exist- |
ed for nearly half a century, giving a
season of Shakespearean plays in the !
Spring and Summer of each year at |
Stratford -Upon- Avon.
In its early years there were frequent
changes In the personnel of the com- |
pany, but during the past 10 years. ;
since W. Bridge* Adams became the
director, a strong effort has been made 1
to keep the same players together year
after year, so that in time the company
will develop in precisely the same sash- i
lon that a symphony orchestra is devel
oped through long association.
The first important performance of a
Shakespearean play at Startford oc
curred in 1748, more than a century
after the poet’s death. John Ward, the
( grandfather of Mrs. Siddons. with his
company, then presented “Othello" to
j raise funds to repair the monument of
the host of admirers who love her
very name, and did when names
of that type weren’t being held in
such high esteem in this land of
the free and home of the brave?
♦* * *
TT is so easy to fool people, be
i cause, after all, the generality
of what we call people, home folks,
are so simple, so unartificial. The
acroamatlc technique with which
the creators of movie art have so
long awed play people, not to
mention playwrights and even
great authors like Maeterlinck,
are an instance
chiefest among the fine arts of the
press agent ana has often, oh, so
often, lifted rank mediocrity to
high pinnacles in the Hall of
Fame. The Hall of Fame! When
all is said and done what is fame
any way? Men have striven and
died for it. The history of avia
tion is fairly smeared with it, and
yet, except for the palaver of a
bald-headed orator, a few meaals
or a cup and maybe a citation
the dead hero’s consolation, of
what use is it any way? The
thoughts are suggested by the
misfortune that nas come to
Messrs. Lee and J. J. Shubert after
all they have done for the theater.
** * *
JAMES BERNARD FAGAN’S sur
prise comedy, “The Improper
Duchess,” it appears, is not yet to
reach the Manhattan Walhalla.
It is reported to be in the work
shop for drastic recasting, which
may or may not mean that it is also
to be redrafted, although the news i
report states only that all the
players that had a hand in its:
Washington presentation may be
eliminated save the vivacious and
intriguing Bordoni. There does
seem to have been some sub
stance to the Washington estimate
of the play, after all, despite the
admitted excellence and personal
ity of its gifted author.
** * *
JF the Eugene O'Neill trilogy.
“Mourning Becomes Electra,”
which makes its entry into New
York as a one-day show, starting
at 5 p.m., with a dinner intermis
sion at 8, and at a $2 to $6.60
scale of seat prices, breaks into
Washington on the same terms
and conditions, “mourning” may
not “become,” but certainly it will
i be visible in the Nation’s Capital.
However, it might not help mat
ters very much to divide the pro
; duction into a two-day entertain
ment. unless the patrons can es-!
feet a saving with a home-cookeo
dinner in lieu of the case-bought
article. Some wise creature has
said “You can’t get something for
nothing.” and it seems to apply
right here.
** * *
AND, as a closing thought, gentle
reader, have you noticed that
even as the he-man seems to have
been entirely overlooked in the in
spiration which creates our mod
ern songs, in direct contrast, the
cave-man seems to be the fellow
our modern theater is trying its
hardest to satisfy?
Shakespeare in the Stratford Church.
The first Shakespeare Festival took
place at Stratford in 1769, under the
direction of Garrick, Dr. Arne and Bos
well. Tire festivities were repeated in
1827 and 1830, and it was planned to
hold a similar celebration every three
years. The plan was abandoned, how- ;
j ever, for the next Stratford celebration
' wus the tercentenary celebration of
: 1864
In 1875 a few Stratford men, headed
iby the late Charles Edward Flower
formed the Memorial Theater Associa
tion and erected the fine Shakespeare
1 Memorial Building, w'hich was opened
in 1879 and was destroyed by fire three
years ago. It was in this theater that 1
the festival company played. Since the
calamity the organization has appeared
in a small theater in the town of Strat
ford, but in the Spring it will move into
a magnificent new structure, the corner
stone of which was laid last Summer
The new theater, with the endowment
will coat $2,500,000. The entire pro
ceeds from the presermour will g 0 to
that fund.
AMUSEMENT SECTION
§lhe fiiinilai| Jitat
a.** tuSHl ife. «*.,*. -
i frtolm'i •Wri-rr v - - it.:
■ jJM ' i - *:»
■Mgrm v s y». fk ■Us
p? '’~ r
wK§B3fe~'' Y 11
1 Ink sr i. -/jk
p| 1
m-
fllft Br Ift
H ii
mk.'- jj-ri >■> /
william boyd end lilyah tashmam
♦ THE ROAD to RENO " - BAR.LK
In Capital Theaters
NATIONAL—“Three’* a Crowd.” |
THOSE who saw th<* flrst “Little
Show” during its successful en- :
gagement In New York will j
need no introduction to the stars
of “Three’s a Crowd,” the big
musical revue which Max Gordon will j
present in the National Theater this
week, beginning
tonight, with pop
ular matinee Wed
nesday and Satur
day.
Clifton Webb,
suave dancer-com- j
edian; Fied Allen,
droll monologist- !
Juggler - musician,
and Libby Holman,
langorous blues
singer, are to
gether in “Three's
a Crowd.”
The songs are
the work of How
ard Dietz and Ar
thur Schwartz, two
young wTiters who
wrote most of the
Libby Holman.
melodies in the first “Little Show.” Mr. i
Dietz, moreover, compiled and super- ;
vised all of the material in "Three’s a
Crowd." Various sketches were written
by Corey Ford, Newman Levy, Groucho
Marx and Fred Allen.
Hassard Short, remembered for di
recting the famous Music Box Revues,
staged “Three’s a Crowd.” Albert John
son supplied the stage designs, while the
costumes are the work of Kivietts.
The dances have been directed by
Albertina Rasch. For the first time.
Mme. Rasch has deserted the classical
ballet in favor of modem dance rou- <
tines.
In addition to Mr. Webb, Mr. Allen
and Miss Holman, the cast of Threes
a Crowd” includes Tamara Geva, the
dancer last seen in “Whoopeethe
California Collegians, Joan Clement,
Helen Ault, Harriett Hamil. Fred Mac-
Murray. Percy Launders, Lou Wood,
Wally Cole, Portland Holla, Allan Jones
and others.
GAYETT— “Frivolities of 1932."
«P'RIVOLmES OF 1932,” a new
” Columbia Burlesque attraction, is
this week’s attraction at the Gayety
Theater, with a matinee performance
today A happy blending of comedy,
pretty dancing girls and jingly tunes are
said to be the assets of the offering,
with • cast that rates among the best
on the Herk circuit.
Featured are Charles (“Bimbo’)
Davis, a droll tramp character come
dian.’and Margie Bartel, one of bur
lesque’a outstanding features, whoee
dancing la a big asset of the show. The
coterie of plajrors also Includes Bobby
WASHINGTON'. D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 25, 1931,
| Vail, eccentric funster; Jack J. Lamont, '
character straight man: Bernie Monte,
who doubles with Flo Maye in a step
; ping and musical turn; Harry Hamlet,
1 juvenile; Gladys Leland, a pert red
head, who offers a banjo playing spe
cialty and dances, and Jean Burt.
The chorus, numbering 18. appears
to good advantage on a dozen occasions.
Search for Good Plays.
r J''HE survey, Nation wide, being made
by Lawrence J. Anhalt, whose studio
is at Essex, Conn., to find a play or sev
i eral plays, modern or ancient, for early
New York production, is said to have
revealed great interest among the thou
sands of "best minds” to whom a ques
tionnaire has been addressed, request
ing an opinion as to what is considered
| “the best play ever written.” -
Replies have been received and are
still coming in from university presi
dents. professors of dramatic literature,
dramatic editors, literary editors, men
and women distinguished in arts, let
ters, science and industry; political and
I legislative leaders, eminent chruchmen,
and just everyday lovers of the theater.
As the \juery has been sent to addresses
all over the country, "votes” are still
coming in. The comments and opinions
are diverse and interesting. A digest
will be released as soon as all replies
are in and can be tabulated.
Any one interested in the best tradi
tions of the theater who has not re
ceived a questionnaire is urged to send
irt a selection of a play or several plays.
What is the best play ever written, or,
what play or plays would you like best
to see produced?
The object is really to secure a selec
tion of "immortal dramas.” the produc
-1 tion of which would be an event in the
history of the theater and culture in
America. Address letters to Anhalt
Production Studio, Essex, Conn.
Stage and Screen Attractions This Week
NATIONAL—“Three’s a Crowd,” musical comedy. Opens this
evening.
GAYETY—“Frivolities of 1932.” This afternoon and evening.
ON THE SCREEN.
FOX—“The Cisco Kid.” This afternoon and evening.
EARLE—“The Road to Reno.” This afternoon and evening.
RIALTO—“The Woman Between.” This afternoon and evening.
PALACE—“The Beloved Bachelor.” This afternoon and evening.
KEITH’S—“A Dangerous Affair.” This afternoon and evening.
METROPOLITAN—“Twenty-four Hours.” This afternoon and
evening.
COLUMBIA —“Palmy Days." This afternoon and evening.
Photoplay Attractions
FOX—“Cisco Kid.*
O HENRY’S romantic bod man
and his avowed enemy, the
self-admiring but likable
• Army sergeant, who made
“In Old Arizona” one of the
greatest talking pictures, are back
again at the Fox Theater, at their old
tricks of fighting and loving and
I strategy. Warner
Warner Baxter.
1 Baxter again is
the Cisco Kid and
Edmund Lowe the
Sergt. Mickey
Dunn. The fem
inine interest is
supplied by a new
1931 Fox debu
tante star, Con
-1 Chita Montenegro,
and another new
comer. Nora Lane.
The story, with
the elusive Cisco
Kid again in the
saddle and fleeing
from the pursuit
of his old enemy,
Sergt. Dunn, is
said to contain
enough thrills and unexpected situa
tions to satisfy the most exacting spec
i tator.
On the stage Fanchon and Marco of
fer a costly stage extravaganza entitled
! “North, South, East. West” idea, which
; depicts Canada, the Colonial South,
China and sunny Spanish California.
Heading the cast are Jack Waldron and
Miss Harriett, comedy team. Other
entertainers include Elivira Tanzi. Glen
Dale, tenor; Helen O’Shea, late of Zieg
feld Follies, and the Sunkist singing
and dancing ensefnble, with A1 Mitchell
conducting a popular overture and the
Fox Movietone News.
EARLE—"The Road to Reno.”
DENO, the city of false gayety, pro
iV vides the background for "The
Road to Reno,” the screen feature pre
sented this week at Warner Bros.’ Earle
Theater. A1 Shaw and Sam Lee, well
known musical comedy stars, headline
the vaudeville program.
"The Road to Reno” shows the scram
bled and unscrambled lives of those who
take their yearly divorce seriously. It
shows how folks start by promising to
! love, honor and obey end end up with
"Hey. Hey,” roulette and the pursuit of
pseudo romance and false happiness.
The cast includes Lllyan Tashman,
Buddy Rogers, Peggy Shannon’, William
Boyd. Irving Pichel, Skeets Gallagher
and Wynne Gibson.
Shaw and Lee, who head the stage
show', are late stars of "Five O’clock
Girl,” "Artists and Models,” "Pleasure
Bound” and "Grab Bag.” These noted
comics are seen in 20 minutes of fun.
Other acts Include "Oklahoma" Bob
Albright, funster, assisted by Beverly
Birks and Elinor Primrose
Semon, the red-head comedienne of
song, assisted by Blanche Saure; the
Four Robeys, novelty entertainers, and
Maxine Doyle, mistress of ceremonies.
THE RIALTO—“The Woman Between.”
A TTER playing successfully on the
musical comedy stage, Lily Damita,
late of "Sons O’ Guns,” returns to her
i first love motion pictures in "The
Woman Between,” a modern and
dramatic story which is now at the
Rialto Theater. Miss Damita is sup
ported by O. P. Heggie, Lester Vail,
Ruth Weston. Lincoln Stedman. Miriam
Seegar. Anita Louise, Halliwell Hobbes
ana Blanche Friderici. The picture
was directed by Victor Bchertzinger
after the play by Irving Davis.
“The Woman Between” is a story of
second marriage and the consequences
in the lives of the husband’s grown
children.
In addition, the Rialto offers a short
screen comedy, the Universal News with
the Talking Traveling Reporter and
the music of Otto Beck at the organ.
PALACE— “The Beloved Bachelor.”
«'T'HE BELOVED BACHELOR,” Paul
-*• Lukas’ first title role for Para
mount, is unfolded at Loew’a Palace
Theater this week. "The Beloved
Bachelor” is the story of a man who,
after surviving many love affairs, finally
falls in love with a street waif without
name. Dorothy Jordan is seen opposite
Lukas, with Charles Ruggles and Vivi
enne Osborn in supporting roles.
On the Palace stage a Capitol Thea
ter. New York, revue'has the title of
"Going, Going, Gone.” Adler and Brad
ford head a cast of specialty artists in
this production that is reported as be
ing one of the swiftest moving and en
tertaining productions of this year.
KEITH’S—"A Dangerous Affair.”
VI WASHINGTON’S first mystery thriller
’ ’ in several months is currently be
ing shown on the screen of the R-K-O
Keith Theater. It brings together again
the team of Jack Holt and Ralph
Graves for their first starring vehicle,
a Columbia picture with a mystery
angle story, titled “A Dangerous Af
fair,” in which Holt is a "copper” and
Graves a newspaper reporter.
All the ingredients of the mystery
story are said to appear in “A Dan
gerous Affair,” with a different twist
in the development, not through the
usual trickery, but through the plausi
bility of the story.
In addition to Messrs. Holt and
Graves, the cast includes Sally Blane,
DeWitt Jennings, Tyler Brooke, William
V. Mong and Charles Middleton.
METROPOLITAN—“Twenty-four
Hours.”
‘‘ r p WENTY-FOUR HOURS,” Para
mount’s screen version of Louis
Bromfields novel, “Shattered Glass,” is
held over at Warner Bros.’ Metropolitan
Theater for a second week. Clive Brook,
Kay Francis, Regis Toomey and Miriam
Hopkins, who won sensational success
in “The Smiling Lieutenant,” are the
featured stars.
The story depicts bow stray husbands
and misunderstood lovers are inter
locked by a queer prank of nature. The
hopes, loves and desires of each are
graphically shown. All the action of
the story takes place within two turns
of the clock, and leads up to a climax
that is said to leave you breathless.
Short subjects which will continue on
the bill include a Vita phone short, fea
turing Ruth Etting, “Words and Music”;
Edgar Burgenrthe ventriloquist, in "The
Eyes Have It.” and the latest issue of
the Paramount Sound News.
COLUMBIA—“PaImy Days.”
p'DDIE CANTOR’S latest production,
"Palmy Days,” remains a second
week at Loew’s Columbia Theater, where
it has been drawing large audiences.
Many claim this production is even
funnier than “Whoopee,” in which
Eddie was a star last year. To be seen
also in "Palmy Days” are Charlotte
Greenwood, Spencer Charters, Barbara
Weeks and others.
"Palmy Days” has to do with a clair
voyant’s assistant who becomes effi
ciency expert In a bakery, and who is
loved by the physical director. Cantor
plays the role of tte efficiency expert
and Charlotte Greenwood the role of
the physical director. Besides a great
deal of comedy and new songs, the pic
ture shows 50 of "the most beautiful
girls in the world” doing an unusually
fine job dancing and singing.
j
Motor, Aviation,
Radio Programs
Sallv blane
A OAMftIHOUt APFAI* -*£ if Hi
Mary Pickford Denies
She Will Give Up Her.
Motion Picture Work
Says She Could Not Leave the Films With “Kilci"
as Her Last Effort—Estelle Taylor Prefers
Costume Roles—News and Comment.
By E. De S. Melcher.
Mary pickford isn’t
through. Not by any
means. Said she re
cently: “I simply couldn’t
retire now and leave
‘Kiki’ as my last picture!” And
that would seem to indicate that
Queen Mary is not going to let
fate drop her out of the picture
game with a smirch rather than
with a smile.
For even the stanchest of her
legion of admirers will admit that
‘•Kiki” was nothing short of a
mistake. More than that, it wasi
a near tragedy. It wasn’t the right I
picture for Mary and Mary wasn’t:
right for the picture. “Kiki” didn’t
hap Den to be a Pickford gamin
with golden ringlets and an “our
sweetheart” smile, and try as she
would Miss Pickford couldn’t bite
her teeth into the rougher pas
sions and toss around lure, wick
edness and an over-the-shoulder
come-hither expression.
This isn’t the moment for Miss
Pickford to retire, and it comes
as good news that she isn’t defi
nitely planning to. After count
less rumors to the effect that
while husband Fairbanks was get
ting “one up” and “two downs” on
British royalty Mary was sitting
by the fire burning up ancient and
honorable films and preparing for
old age, and that all this signified
a "give-iny” feeling to abandon
ing the films. Miss Pickford’s an
nouncement that she’s still fight
ing comes as a welcome shock.
The path before the one-time
Pollyanna is, however, not likely
to be all roses. The question
whether to grow up or not to grow
up has long been on Miss Pick
ford’s mind. Now that she is de
cidedly out of the romper age, and
that her public aoesn’t want her
to be, the method of procedure is
none too clear. Orchids and lilies
of the valley have not been reaped
by our Mary because she was an
Ina Claire or a Hope Williams. No
one has ever clamored to see her
as Camille. She tried “Rosita,”
and she was calm and quite beau
tiful, but not at all convincing.
She threw things around in “The
Taming of the Shrew,” but even
Shakespeare, wherever he is (with
or without Bacon), was heard to
utter a yowl. And try as they
might, people who wrote about
Miss Pickford’s “sophistication”
seemed to freeze in tne middle of
their words.
Which is to say that Miss Pick
ford’s forte is sprightly comedy
long and loud and girlish—and
that mixed in with all this she
has to have the box-of-candy
chewing type of romantic whimsy,
which makes the matinee ladies
use their handkerchiefs and think
of their own legs when they were
shorter and thinner—ana that
there are very few stories being
turned out these days which would
be at all serviceable to this star.
But Miss Pickford is coming
back, and that’s enough for the
moment. From the way in which
she says: “I couldn’t retire now
and leave ‘Kiki’ as my last pic
ture,” it would seem that there
won’t be any more Kikis. But who
Artist and Comedian
QLIFTON WEBB, the tall, suave
comedian, co-starred with Fred
Allen and Libby Holman in the new
revue “Three’* a Crowd,” is not only
internationally famous as a dancer, but
he ha* won recognition as an artist,
whose paintings were exhibited before
he was 10 years old. Also he has
achieved recognition a* an actor in
straight comedy and drastic roles.
Mr. Webb comes from an old South
ern family. He is the first of the
Webbs to adopt a stage career. The
credit for starting him on his career
belongs to Malcolm Douglas, the former
business manager of the New Amster
dam Theater, New York, where, inci
knows what there will be instead?
Somebody, please, lead her away
from Shakespeare or Bernard
Shaw! Well, maybe it will be
Bernard Shaw—and yet, we hope,
i never.
** * *
C PEAKING of Miss Pickford re-
minds us of “Dorothy Vernon
of Haddon Hall,” and a handsome
figure in the drapes of those times
galloping down Haddon Hill (or
some kind of a hill) on horseback.
That was ’Estelle Taylor, last
'week’s “personality” at the Fox.
Miss Taylor admits to liking that
sort of thing. “Give me costume
parts—roles like Lucrezia Borgia,
which you can read up on before
you play them. Give me ”
Well, frankly, she would like to do
“Carmen.” But there is a rumor
on the wind that Pola Negri, whose
singing voice is saia to be one of
Hollywood’s surprises, has
the clamps on the naughty Span
ish Carmencita, and that until she
has taken her over the jumps no
one else can. So Miss Taylor, much
smaller and thinner and more
vivacious than you or I suspected,
will have to do somthing else.
But she WILL sing—better, she
hopes, than she did at the theater.
“The theater frightens me so.
You can’t make a mistake. But
in the films—ah, yes—you can sing
over and over again, and when it
is perfect they will record it. Not
until then.”
** * *
AMONG those young “Wampas”
laaies, who are supposed to
flame from their baby days into
stars within two or three moments,
or perhaps she’s only a “debu
tante”—well, whatever her rank
at the moment—Conchita (her
name came out in bold type as
something else a week or so ago)
Montenegro is destined for great
things. After viewing “The Cisco
Kid” we are sure of this. She is
young, not too good looking, but
full of a certain fire which is the
grandest leaning post for the
young actress. Senorita Monte
negro can smile and knock you
off your feet—but she can act, too
—and what with this and that and
the other she seems headed for
great popularity. Watch her close
ly at the Fox this week.
** * *
A CCORDING to rumor, “Grand
'' Hotel” is to be a four-star pic
ture—a cinematic four-star pic
ture. If, after “Mata Hari,” Miss
Garbo is free from her toils
(never a week goes by, it seems,
without news of this lady) the
M-G-M forces will launeh her inio
“Grand Hotel.” Others who may
join the cast are Joan Crawford,
John Gilbert and Clark Gable.
After “Susan Lenox” there may.
of Course, be nothing left of Mr.
Gable, but Miss Crawford is still
very much there, and Mr. Gilbert
certainly couldn’t have lost mu<sn
sleep over "The Phantom Os
Paris.”
The only other news note of
the week is that Miss Chatterton
hasn’t dyed her hair. It’s a wig,
that’s all.
dentally. Mr. Webb played for 1» mo&trr.z
with “Sunny.” Mr. Douglas was the
manager of the Palmer Cox Brownies,
which enjoyed great popularity a gen
eration ago. Yodng Webb made his
stage debut as one of the Brownies at
the age of 6, and played with the
Brownies until he grew too tall, and
he was then drafted to head the Chil
dren’s Theater in New York, until he
was 14 he was well known as a kid
player, when, nearly 6 feet tall, too
big to play kids and too young to play
juveniles, he retired from the stage
and studied art and music.
Mr. Webb’s return to the stage, after
he had qualified both as artist and
singer, took place in the ipusical com
edy “The Purple Road,” composed by
his music instructor, Victor Maurel, in
which he scored lnstantaneom success
in fa eccentric juvenile rota
W to ...:M