Evening star. [volume], December 13, 1931, Page 2, Image 62

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Hollywood Sees Problems
In Cutting Big Expenses
High Cost of Many Pictures Is Blamed Upon]
Waste—Stars W orth Their Salaries—Gene ral
Studio Cuts of Past Week.
Bv Mollie Mernck.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.. December
12—"The motion picture in
dustry. now in the most pre- |
carious predicament it has
faced since its existence, can
be successfully pulled out of its slump
and put on a sure paying basis once
again if given sufficient time to estab
lish such radical changes as will have
to be made ” according to David Selz- :
nick, Hollywood's youngest executive,
who Is not reluctant to discuss the j
hazardous year which lies before mak- |
ers of gelatin entertainment. Hts fel
low producers are loathe to comment
on a situation which has become omi
nous in the past 12 months and which ;
today is a calamitous one unless im- ■
mediate drastic actioh is taken.
‘ The salary cuts which have been I
general throughout the industry this :
w'eek are not enough to put pictures;
where they must be put." says Selznick.
who has recently assumed the helm
at R-K-O Studios. "The salaries of !
actors and writers are not the largest
past of the expense of making a pic
ture. The salaries of executives,
charged to the various pictures made
in the studios, is another item which
Jooms amazingly small when you con
sider the cost sheet of a production.
Naturally the first move to make is a
general salary cut, since that is the ;
auickest way to see results and since
that must necessarily follow any a»
tempt at retrenchment.
"After the salary cut the most im- :
portant work of retrenchment begins.
It is the cutting down of the vast t
wastage involved in the making of a
picture. We shoot a picture which, i
w hen finished, will average 7.000 feet, j
Then we examine our cost sheet and
find that the director has used 125,000
to 150.000 feet of gelatin strip to make
that 7.000 feet of finished picture. And
even this cost of gelatin strip—no
small item—is not the secret of the
loss in this particular instance. The
big loss* lies behind that wasted footage.
It lies in the salaries of armies of
electricians, technicians and camera
men. who have been working through
all those hours of extra-footage making.
It lies in the hours lost while cameras
are set to make 14 takes, for Instance,
from various angles. Only one take can
be used in the finished picture, yet pic
tures as made today, reach out for
every conceivable camera angle and
choose the best from 12 or 14 takes in
stead of the best from say 3 well con
sidered and carefully planned takes.
"The picture of the future, which
must be made within certain limits
of expense in order to save the industry
as an industry, will have to have its
camera angles planned by experts be
fore the shoot ng begins. These mat
ters should be as vitally considered as
the moves of an army on the eve of
battle. Then, when the actual making
of the picture begins, it may be done
with a crew that is a mere fraction of
the amount of people used at the
present time, and the results will be
little wasted footage, less time lost in
cutting (for it requires far less time to
choose between 3 significant takes and
a dozen or more insignificant ones*
and a better picture in the long run.
“There are two men in the industry
today who do not overshoot. Ernst
Lubitsch and Lewis Milestone shoot
the minimum, have less takes per scene
and better results than any other di
rectors In Hollywood today. What they
do others can be taugnt to do. Pro
ducers can insist on an end to wastage
and can have better pictures for less
money.
"The first important fact for pro
ducers to assimilate is that the public
has lost the habit of motion pictures.
The radio has provided people with
entertainment at home, the motion pic
ture must provide them with ' unusual
entertainment out of the home and at
prices which they are able to meet un
der present conditions.
"The habit of reaching out and sign
ing up wholesale Is another practice
which must be abandoned in studios if
Hollywood Is to find her feet on solid
ground. A fine character actress—man
or woman—may make a picture and be
worth the salary paid if that salary Is
paid for that picture only. But if the
character actor is signed by the year
and only is nr-* for that one picture, it
becomes another matter entirely. A star
who pulls people into the box-office has
never yet been an extravagance, regard
less of the amount of money paid.
• When Clara Bow was at her height
in pictures w-e could make a story with
her in it and gross a million and a half
where another actress W'ould gross half
a million in the same picture and with
the same cast.
"We are. in the motion picture in
dustry. no more able to get away from
the personality element in art than is
the theater. A play with Ethel Barry
more, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne
and a number of others in the theater
would 'go better than the same play
with different personalities Star sal
aries are generally worth what we pay
for the star’s personality and drawing
power. And directors’ salaries are more
than worth ^.helr value wnen the di
rector can cut mentally and save wast
age m time and strip."
(Copyright. 1931. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
..—-- -
This Week’s Pictures
R-K-O KEITH’S—'“Secret Service.”
WITH the famous story of the
Civil War in a stirring spy
film of unusual dramatic
strength, with Richard Dix
as its star, R-K-O Keith's
Theater will start its new week on Fri
day with “Secret Service.'' based on the
famous stage play by William Gillette.
The film is an entirely new character
ization for Mr. Dix, the star of ''Cimar
ron.'' who is well
established as a
leading portrayer of
virile roles. In
‘•Secret Service" he
Is seen as a mas
terly man who
rules his own des
tiny In the face of
danger. About him
revolves the sharply
contrasting note of
romance.
"Secret Service’’
brought William
Gillette undying
fame on the speak
ing stage.
Supplementary
features will in
clude Edear Ken
Rif bard Dir.
nedy, Raymond Hatton, an Aesop Fable,
an Audio Review and the R-K-O Pathe
News.
EARLE—“Her Majesty Love.”
A/f ARILYN MILLER, famous Zleg
feld star, will be seen on the screen
In “Her Majesty Love,” while the stage
program will be headlined by Sue Carol
and Nick Stuart, the popular young
screen couple, in songs and hits, at the
Warner Earle Theater.
“Her Majesty Love," a First National
and Vitaphone comedy, is a romance
that concerns the love affair of the star
with a wealthy young manufacturer
(played by Ben Lyon) and the unex
pected developments that follow when
the family opposes the match. Pour of
the screen's funniest comedians are in
the cast—Leon Errol, W. C. Fields,
Chester Conklin and Ford Sterling.
Sue Carol and Nick Stuart, who head
line the stage activities, were stars of
‘•Movietone Follies,”"Big Party,”“Danc
ing Sweeties” and other screen hits.
They will offer a cycle of songs and hits.
Other acts Include Joe and Jane Mc
Kenna, youthful exponents of mirth
and melody; Britt Wood, a country boy,
and his harmonica; Mayris Chaney and
Edward Pox. dance delineators, and
Maxine Doyle, mistress of ceremonies.
Short reel subjects, including the
Graham McNamee talking newsreel
and an orchestral prelude, will round
out the program.
FOX—“Good Sport.”
'A FOX photoplay of modern matri
mony, “Good Sport,” with a dis
tinctly novel and spicy twist to the
subject—marriage—Is now at the Fox
Theater and features Linda Watkins,
ttre sensation of “Sob Sister," with John
Bole*
The story is described as a frank
revelation of why and how light-fingered
women steal other womens husbands.
Miss Watkins plays the role of a young
wife who suddenly learns that her hus
band has transferred his affections to
another woman, and she sets out to dls
aover why she had failed—unsuccessful.
Allan Dinehart plays the part of the
Unfaithful husband: Greta NLssen and
Minna Gombell are featured as gold
diggers. and Hedda Hopper as Miss
Watkins' mother. Kenneth MacKenna
directed the production.
On the stage, Fanchon and Marco
offer their "art gallery” idea, staged
by Leonidoff and featuring Felovls; Eki
<Jle Cole: Bob. Andy and Tod; Jose
phine. and the Cachalots. Olga and
Lester. Herculean trio; La Marr Broth
ers, Mavis and Ted. and Marion and
JTgtharyne. Les Stevens and the Dip
lomats in original selections and Fox
Movietone News complete the bill.
PALACE—"Corsair.”
*iV|Y8TBRY WEEK” will be cele
x 1 brated at Loew's Palace Theater
the week beginning Friday, with "Cor
sair” op the screen and Nicola, claimed
to be Athe world's greatest magician”
"Dr. Rockwell,” complete the program.
“Qyaalr" is the latest starring pro
DANCING.
MRS. ACHER. 1137 10th Street
sa and dance with orchestra every
and Friday. 8 to 11 SO p In Private
by appointment. Met. 4180. Bat. 1800.
* Mis* Ellen Waller
S Dancing Mailers ol America. Inc.
N BAIXROOM A STAGE DANCING
, MBIift St. N W._Tel. A Aung «»
( * WASIINOTON WHY "if Of
to «ic«? Private fesaons or clasa
n*j» management. 3 to 10 pm. week
W22 Pa ay* n.w. 13*
1L HAYDEN "
t
auction of Chester Morris, with Thelma
Todd In the leading feminine role. The
story concerns a young man who starts
in to be a gentleman pirate with a
number of reported exciting escapades
as the result. Fred Kohler and Wil
liam Austin are seen In the chief sup
porting roles.
RIALTO—“Nice Women.”
CIDNEY FOX, Universal Pictures'
^ new star to be seen at the Rialto
Theater this week in the screen version
of William A. Grew’s famed play. "Nice
Women,” adapted and directed by Ed
win H. Knopf. The supporting cast in
cludes Frances Dee, Alan Mowbray and
Lucille and Russell Gleason.
The story concerns the matrimonial
difficulties of a young working girl, who,
to save her family from ruin, finds her
self confronted with the problem of
marrying a millionaire. It is said to be
a new presentation of a situation that
never loses Its interest with audiences.
Miss Fox is afforded an excellent oppor
tunity In “Nice Women," which it is
confident, was made after her sensa
tional work In the Preston Sturgis play,
“Strictly Dishonorable.”
Supplemental features of the program
include a short comedy, the Talking
Reporter in Universal News and selected
short subjects.
METROPOLITAN—"The Age for Love.”
KILL IE DOVE, in her first screen role
in more than a year. Is featured at
Warner Bros Metropolitan Theater this
week In “The Age for Love,” a United
Artists Picture.
“The Age for Love” Is described as a
bold and sophisticated treatment of a
modem subject—love and marriage,
adapted from a "best seller,” by Ernest
Pascal, with dialogue by Robert E. Sher
wood, noted playwTtght.
Supporting Miss Dove are Lois Wil
son, Charles Starrett, Edward Everett,
Horton, Mary Duncan, Adrian Morris
and Betty Clarke.
Selected short reel subjects including
a new issue of the Paramount Sound
News and “Relativity and Relatives,”
starring the sugar-coated philosopher,
‘Dr. Rockwell,” complete the program.
COLUMBIA—‘^Th^ Big Parade.”
“HTHE big PARADE” that created
1 motion picture history as a silent
production some years ago has been
brought back to the screen with sound
and will open a week’s engagement at
Loew’s Columbia Theater Friday.
John Gilbert appears in the leading
role with Renee Adoree, Karl Dane, Ho
bart Bosworth In the supporting cast.
It was this production that established
Gilbert as a star, and many claim he
has not since equaled his performance
as the doughboy who Joined the Army
for fun.
A selected group of short subjects will
complete the Columbia program.
Cromwell s Mask of Cornell.
I3ICHARD CROMWELL, motion plc
J' ture star, made a mask of Katha
rine Cornell from life, which Joan
Crawford bought and now keeps on her
dressing-room table
When Miss Crawford and her hus
band, Douglas Fairbanks, jr„ came to
New' York for the premiere of Miss
Crawford’s film, "Possessed,” the first
play she saw' was "The Barretts of
Wlmpole street.” in which Miss Cornell
now Is appearing In the Empire
Theater.
At the Gayety
Bee Cunningham a featured player at
the Ninth street burlesque theater.
Balieff s Chauve-Souris.
ojgEING the son of an important
manufacturer and man of af
fairs.” says Nikita Balieff, "I was des
tined to enter my father's business.
Deep-seated within me, however, was
an insatiable longing for a theatrical
career. Although my angry father shifted
me from school to school. I continued
to organize amateur theatrical perform
ances. Even when I was graduated
from Moscow Academy and taken into
my father's business I started a dra
matic society in secret among the em
ployes. For this I was banished to the
Caucasus
For 10 years I performed the duties
of a “mime," in which I never uttered
a single word. Growing tired of this. I
found a small cellar by the Moscow
River, capable of seating about 40 per
sons. Here I held a sort of midnight
cabaret, where current plays were bur
lesqued. The artistes merely enter
tained one another. Only persons be
longing to the theatrical profession were
admitted. Later the fame of the place
spread, and the general public demand
ed admission
When choosing my first cellar, a pe
culiar thing happened. Out of the
darkness a bat flew into my face I
took it to be a good omen and named
the place the Bat Theater, or "La
Chauve-Souris.” The first performance
was given on February 29, so we can only
celebrate our jubilee once in every four
years. That was 23 years ago now. and
for the last 10 years X have w'andered
In exile.
Dix Helps War Heroes.
jLJOLLYWOOD has a heart. Richard
x x Dix proved it recently.
The star learned that three wearers of
the Congressional Medal of Honor were
at their wits’ end to find work. Two of
them had been unemployed for months.
The ironical side of this was that they
had only their medals to remind them
of past glories—medals which lay in
drawers with the defiant eagle symbol
izing liberty and the pursuit of happi
ness staring up at them.
One had a family to support. His
medal hung upon the wall—a golden
symbol, too. It had earned him noth
ing save bitter memories, although 12
years before it had promised a different
harvest. He had no work and little
food and faced threatened eviction.
Dix heard of their plight and placed
then as extras in "Secret Service,” his
latest R-K-O-Radio pictures, now at
the R-K-O-ICeith Theater.
The Congressional Medal of Honor
men befriended by Dix are David E.
Hayden of the Marine Corps, who won
decoration on the bloodstained fields of
Belleau Woods; Robert Von Schlick of
the 9th Infantry, United States Army,
who, while severely wounded at Tien
tsin during the Boxer rebellion, success
fully held the Chinese rabble at bay
for four hours, and Joseph Leonard of
the Marine Corps, who won his medal
at Vera Cruz.
i 1 - 1 .
: In Capital Theaters
NATIONAL—"The Wive* of Henry
VIII.”
CORNELIA OTIS SKINNER Wilt
precede her illustrious father
at the National Theater this
week with her new solo dra
matic performance, "Th?
Wives 'f Henry VIII.” tonight and
tomorrow night. She will precede this
closely-knit dramatic sequence with A
group of the character sketches from,
her own pen with w'hich she has mad6
her reputation on the stages actors
America and throughout the British
Isles as well as over the radio on both
sides of the Atlantic.
According to the announcement qf
Miss Skinner's complete program, made
I by her manager, James B Pond, the
group of five character sketches, which
will comprise the first part of Miss
Skinner’s program both evenings, wr.il
be as follows: “Eve of Departure," “Ifi
a Gondola," "Homework," "Mon>e
Carlo” and "A Lady Explorer.”
"THE MERCHANT OF VENICE."
J^MERGING from a retirement of >3
vears, Maude Adams will be see?i
as Portia to the Shylock of Otis Ski,<
ner in Shakespeare's comedy, “The
Maude Adaraa
A hip rarppr
Mercnam, oi Ven
ice,” at the Na
tional Theater Tor
five days only, be
ginning Tuesday
evening.
Miss Adams has
signalized her re
turn to the stage
by assuming tor
the first time ohe
of the most ad
mired of Shake
spearean roles,
though she has
played * number
of other Shake
s p e a r e heroines,
including Rosalind.
Juliet and Viola,
during her remark
Mr. Skinner brings to the stage the
Shyiock which has won him applause
and critical praise many times in his
long and notable career For this cel
ebrated actor, honored as the dean of
the American stage. "The Merchant of
Venice" carries memories and intimate
associations with such monumental fig
ures of the stage as Edwin Booth and
Lawrence Barrett, with the great Mod
Jeska and the beautiful Ada Rehan
The engagement of "The Merchant
of Venice” at the National is part of
an extensive tour which Miss Adams
and Mr. Skinner are undertaking under
the management of Erlanger Produc
! tlons, Inc., prior to the New York en
i gagement of the production, the date of
i which has not yet been determined.
Much interest is being evoked by the
new acting version of the play which
Miss Adams herself has prepared for
this production. It is notable in the
fact that it has been arranged with an
eye to the splendid comedy values of
Shakespeare’s immortal play Under
Miss Adams’ supervision, also, special
music has been arranged to fit the me
dieval Venetian setting of the play.
This task was placed in the gifted
hands of the Russian-American musi
cian. Theodore Zarkevich, in collabora
tion with Harold Morris. Mr. Zarkevich
has been musical director of Eva Le
Gallienne's Civic Repertory Theater
during the five years of its existence,
and for “The Merchant of Venice” he
has made a complete departure from
the usual score, avoiding the little
Elizabethan tunes that are commonly
used, turning instead to Italian sources,
; consonant with the background of the
comedy, even to Jewish folk songs for
certain of the Shyiock scenes. Zarke
vich is particularly at home with the
problem of fitting music to Shakespear
ean performances as a result of his ex
perience with a number of such pro
ductions at the Civic Repertory Theater,
including "Twelfth Night” and "Romeo
and Juliet.”
Miss Adams and Mr. Skinner will
bring a notable supporting company, in
cluding Jerome Lawler as Bassanio,
Charles Francis as Antonio, Barry
O'Neill as Gratiano, Martin Burton as
.. " 1 J "
Washington’s Players
What Various Dramatic Organizations Are Doing
and Propose to Do.
“MIN’ICK"—American University.
GRADUATES of Washington high
schools will appear in the cast
of “Minick,” a modern comedy,
the first dramatic production
to be presented this season at
American University, next Tuesday
night at the auditorium on the campus,
Massachusetts and Nebraska avenues.
The play is by Edna Ferber and George
S. Kaufman.
Rath M. Simpson.
i ne roie oi mis,
Pred Minicic will be
played by Miss
Ruth Martin Simp
son. a graduate last
Spring of Central
High School, where
she appeared In
leading parts in
two operettas and
played the feminine
lead in “Anne’s
Little Affair.”
Miss Barbara
Pierce, a graduate
of Western High
School last Spring,
will appear as
Annie; Ean Kerpa
han, a Central
High School gradu
ate, will be Dietenhoffer, and Miss
Eleanor Waite, Tech High School
graduate of 1930, will play the role of
Lil Corey.
The title role, which was originally
played by O. P. Heggie, will be pre
sented by Carlton Skeggs of Mount Airy,
Md., who has made a name for himself
in dramatics at American University
and is president of the Dramatic Club.
The play is concerned with the situ
ation created by the arrival of the 72
year-old Father Minick in the home of
his son and daughter-in-law and is
under direction of Will Hutchins, pro
fessor of art at American University.
COLUMBIA PLAYERS—Friday.
The Columbia Players announce a
departure from their usual custom
by opening their season with an evening
^mmrTheyPrincett of Jtomo
fJLfr AUKRl
¥ in First National-Vitaphone Hit v
I "HER MAJESTY LOVE" I
—On the Stage— i
I SUE CAROL I
I NICK STUART I
a Screen t Mott Romantic Couple S
1 IN PERSON k
Wa. 3—Other Acti—J fft
Oft, Alto on the Screen ff/t
oNwk BING CROSBY ///L
fe:S=tJ®SsDCX3RS OPEN 1:30/**®*
It Blows the Lid I
Off Modern Marriage
mtxm
in Howard Hughes'
"THE AGE FOR LOVE
Kith
IDW. EVERETT HORTON
LOIS WILSON
Dr. Rockwell Vlteshsne
Soond New«
* DOORS OPEM 1;
of one-act plays, all of which have been
written by members.
Friday evening of this week they will
present three plays written by Dorothea
Lewis, Mrs. Armstrong and H. R.
Baukhage, respectively. The first two
have been previously presented in Wash
ington, but the last named was written
especially for the occasion.
Meanwhile, the second production of
the season, ‘ Lady Windemere's Fan,” Is
in rehearsal. Casting for the old mele
drama ‘‘Lady Audley's Secret" will be
gin after the holidays.
The three original one-act plays an
nounced for this week will be given at
Wilson Normal College. No tickets will
be issued in advance. Admissions for
non-members may be secured at the
door.
Miss Lewis and Mrs. Armstrong are
directing their own plays and Orris Hol
1 land is directing Mr. Baukhage’s.
WESTERN PLAYERS—“Scoop#.”
TTHE Trilla B. Young Bible Class of
i A the Western Presbyterian Church
| will present a three-act comedy,
j “Scoops,” under the direction of Mr.
j James Shore, in the new church,
located at Nineteenth and H streets
j northwest, Wednesday evening at 8
o’clock.
GAYETY-BURLESK
Benny (Wop) Moore
and HU
GINGER GIRLS
with
BILLIE HOLMES
1 ~■" ' ■■ .... n
Lorenao, Audrey Ridgewell as Nerissa,
Cynthia Blake as Jessica and All Hel
ton as Old Gobbo.
BELASCO—Balieff's “Chauve Souris.”
T^IKITA BALIEFF, one of the few
unique personages upon the
world's stage, and his famous "Chauve
Souris” will be the attraction at the
Shubert-Belasco Theater this week, be
ginning tomorrow evening.
BaliefT returns after an absence of
two years luareled with another tri
umph, it is announced, more daring in
its design, more brilliant in its fulfill
ment, more emphatic in its appeal and
more startling in its result than any
thing that he has heretofore given in
this country. It was the sensation of
Paris and London.
"The Queen of Spades,” a fantastic
story will be presented in seven epi
sodes by an all-English company head
ed by George Hayes, who will be re
called for his excellent work with the
Stratford-on-Avon Players two years
ago: Marie Ault, another British play
er, well known by local playgoers, and
Helen Klngstead.
In addition to this feature, there are
15 other novelties contributed by the
Russian contingent of the organization,
which are what might be termed the
real backbone of the "Chauve Souris,”
as originally given in Moscow and
Paris.
BaliefT, as usual, will appear at every
performance and fracture the English
language in a manner that has no
equal upon the American stage.
GAYF.TY—"Ginger Girls.”
1DENNY MOORE, a noted burlesque
*-* delineator of Italian character,
announces "an A-l burlesque entertain
ment" in his “Ginger Girls,” which
cnans today with a matinee at the
Gayety Theater.
Playing the leading role himself,
Moore has assigned important portray
als to Billy Holmes, a snappy singmg
and dancing soubrette: Harry “Katz1
Fields, a Hebrew jester: Stewart and
Gardner, specialty dancing team: Zella
Stevens, Prank McKay, Bee Cunning
ham, a "unique dancing divinity";
Yvette Lane, a nifty blond "blues"
singer, and George Reynolds, with a
chorus of 18 girls in evidence on nu
merous occasions during the action of
"Novelties.”
"The Suspect,” a stirring dramatic
sketch written by Mr. Moore, is played
also by a competent cast, headed by
Mr. Moore.
JANET RICHARDS, Tomorrow.
VA1SS JANET RICHARDS will give
-‘■’T her usual review' of "Affairs
Political and International” at the
Willard Hotel tomorrow morning at 11
o'clock.
From the many dramatic events of
world interest that the past week has
brought forth. Miss Richards will speak
particularly of the political and par
tisan issues that confront the new Con
gress: the high lights of the President’s
message, and the scene on the Senate
floor, on Tuesday last, upon the seating
of Mr. Barbour and Mrs. Caraway.
Foreign affairs in relation to our coun
try and the present situation in Man
i cliuria will also be reviewed.
Christmas Week
, Films
\ LTHOUGH all the picture places
*'*■ downtown have announced entire
ly new bills of entertainment for the
current week, four of them, at least.
__announce a chance
Georre O'Brien.
of bill for Christ
mas week.
“Riders of the
Purple Sage." fea
turing George
O'Brien, M a r -
guerite Churchill
and Noah Beery,
is announced for
the week starting
Friday at the Fox
Theater. On the
stage, Earle Sande,
king of jockeys,
with songs and
wisecracks, will
head an entirely
new program.
For the week
beginning Fririav
it-iv-u Kritn announces a new Co
lumbia Pictures production entitled
"Men in Her Life," featuring Charles
Bickford and Lois Moran, with Victor
Varconi and DonaM Dilloway in the
cast.
Gary Cooper, as a two-fisted sea cap
tain. and Claudette Colbert, as a fal
len woman who is redeemed by her
love for the captain and his child, in *
picture called "The Woman" is an
nounced for the Warner Earle Theater
starting Saturday of this week. Trixie
Friganza, “grand duchess of comedy,”
will head the stage program, which
includes also Isabel Dwan, Marion Wil
kins, "the girl with the twinkling
tees,” and four partners; Loma Worth,
the one-girl orchestra, and, of course,
Maxine Doyle.
"Working Girls,” a story of young
women who support themselves, is an
nounced for the Warner-Metropolitan
starting Saturday. The cast Includes
"Buddy" Rogers. Judith Wood. Dor
othy Hall, Stuart Erwin and Francis
Dee.
——-•
Club Presents Plays.
THE Wesley Heights Players will
present two plays at the Wesley
Heights Club, Wednesday, December
16—"His Come-Uppance, of the Tri
umph of the Gertrude,” by Marjorie
De Mott, and “The Mouse,” by Louise
Van Voorhis Armstrong. The former
will be directed by Mrs. Wesley M.
Gewehr, with a cast comprising Charles
H. Hillegeist, Mrs. Walter Gawler, J.
Austin Stone, Miss Gretchen Daniel.
Mrs. Walter Davidson, Mrs. Carl W.
Mitman and Mrs. Otto Englehart. The
story concerns the experiences of
Joseph, the boss of the household,
until the entrance of his new infant
son. "The Mouse" will be directed by
Mrs. Franklin D. Jones with a cast
including J. Douglas Rollow, Charles
B. Tleinemann, jr.; Max J. Proffitt,
Royal R. Rommel and Mrs. Franklin
D. Jones. Tire scene is laid on the
outskirts of an English seafaring town
about 1750. The pirate captain “don’t
like mice and don’t like women no
better.” He is “afeared of ’em,” and
with good reason, as the play discloses.
Great Players, Both.
Y^ASHINGTON should experience a
thrill Tuesday evening, when the
curtain of the National Theater rises
for the presentation of "The Merchant
of Venice,” with two of the American i
theater’s most notable players in roles j
of great distinction in the eyes of the
theatrical profession. They are the
roles of Shylock and Portia, and their1
depth of plausible interpretation has
challenged the dive of the world's great- j
est players in centuries.
The dash and coloring of the per
fected art of Otis Skinner, a veteran
in the world of artistic mimicry and
dean of our American theater, may
easily be anticipated, because Mr. Skin
ner has been seen more than once as
Shylock, and his skill in other fields of
the drama have provided his public
with imaginative ideals of his creation
that will enable it to withstand the
shock of any surprise he may now have
to offer, even after his well ripened ex
perience has fitted him for a degree of
perfection in his art that is rarely wit
nessed in our drama of today.
It is to Miss Maude Adams, therefore,
that the connoisseur and especially the
old-timer will turn for new delights and
surprises, because the talents of this
distinguished artist, who is returning
to the theater after an absence of 13
years, are best remembered in their
play with the fancies of the whimsical
Sir James M. Barrie, even though she,
too, acquired some familiarity with
Shakespearean heroines in days gone
by, and her versatile artistry in Ros
tand’s “L’Aiglon” and "Chanticleer” is
not entirely a thing of tradition.
The enterprise, the creation of the
production and its direction is all her
own, apparently. She has even pre
pared "a wholly new prompt book,” as
she describes it, and her new version of
the play, differing in many respects
from its predecessors, "accentuates the
comedy frather than the turbulent and
even tragic) elements of the famous
play.” New music has been devised at
her command, the Shakespearean dit
ties being abandoned, and a concession
= . t
TWO
PERFORMANCES
ONLY
AT 8:50 P. M.
TONIGHT & MONDAY
‘'More real entertainment than can be fonnd In
moat of the play hoiieee of New York today.
_John Mason Brown, N. Y. Evening Poet.
James B. Pond, presents
i CORNELIA
OTIS SKINNER
la the novelty eenaatlon of the aeaeon
THE WIVES OF HENRY VIII
Preceded by selection! of Miss Skinner’s Character Sketches
"Few crowded stares *re better worth watchlnr than that on wnien an*
walks alone." —Richard Lockndga. The sun.
5 DAYS ONLY—BEG TUES.
NIGHTS ft SAT. MAT., fh.OO to $1.00—'WED. MAT., 50c to $2.50
MAUDEOTIS
ADAMS b SKINNER
WM. SHAKESPEARE'S COMEDY
"The Merchant of Venice*
Under the Manarement at KBLA-SGEB PH0DUCT10X8, ine.
to the Italian locale and atmosphere of
the play has been infused.
The greatest interest, however, is
likely to develop in the qualities with
which Miss Adams, the Peter Pan and
spirit of eternal youth of other days,
clothes her sister Portia, a youthful de
velopment of wisdom, which is looked
for rather in the elder and, perhaps, mas
culine character, than in generally irre
sponsible maidenhood. Critics have felt at
times that Peter Pan is not so very far
away when Miss Adams’ Portia appears.
The engagement promises easily to be
the most important of the year.
Sidney a New Star.
CIDNEY POX, starring in “Nice
^ Wcmen,” at the Rialto Theater,
is Universal Pictures’ “new find.” She
has played in “Strictly Dishonorable"
and will play in “The Murders of the
Rue Morgue."
' Silk Stocking Revue.”
DRANK X. SILK and his "Silk Stock
1 ing Revue” are announced for the
Gayety Theater during the week, start
ing next Sunday with a matinee.
Norman Frauenheim
presents his pupil
Betty Kate Stone
Pianist
Barker Hall, Y. W. C. A., Tue., Dec. 15., 8:30
Seats Wilson-Greene Concert Bureau
I
I
I n ur\
l\ TWJ HA» A
$ CHRISTMAS;
QIFT/wYOU /
Picking the “Ten Best”
Of New York’s Past Year
Cream of the Lot, However, Are Called “Spilt
Milk —Two Selected Plays That Might
Easily Be Erased From the List.
By Percy Hammond.
I
BURNS MANTLE is a refutation of
the belief that habitual play
going warps the soul, weakens
the character, destroys the mind
and gutters the standards of
those who practice it.
As a daily newspaper reviewer he has
been an associate of the theater for
more years than X care to enumerate,
since I am closest to him in the list of
veterans. Despite Mr. Mantle's long
and continuous contacts with the perils
j of the stage he remains as created—
a bright, serene and knowing dramatic
' critic, as well as a bright, serene and
knowing man of the world. All of which
is a fraternal introduction to his latest
yearbook of the drama, entitled “The
Best Plays of 1930-'3i.” It is one of the
best sellers.
Mr. Mamie s aim m uiese annual voi
| umes is to isolate ten of the better
plays, and to reward them with his
benediction. Thus he selects for anoint
ment this year the following expositions
and displays, most of them spilt milk:
“Elizabeth the Queen.”
“Tomorrow and Tomorrow.”
“Once in a Lifetime."
“Green Grow the Lilacs.”
“As Husbands Go.”
I “Alison’s House.”
“Five Star Final.”
“The Barretts of Wimpoie Street.”
I “Grand Hotel.”
“Overture.”
Perhaps you as well as I would make
changes in Mantle’s catalogue. I am sure
you would erase from its items such a
stupid affectation as “Alison's House,”
which, though It was awarded the mys
terious Pulitzer prize, was nothing but
an overprecious tableau. You will
cross out “Five Star Final” as an
angry, exaggerated and delirious melo
drama, violently expressing in no ar
tistic terms the brutal grudge of an ex
tabloid Journalist gainst tabloid jour
nalism. I, as one of Mr. Mantle’s sub
scribers, put my blue pencil through
“Green Grow the Lilacs,” in the sus
picion that it was just a moderately
uninteresting Theater Guild stunt.
♦ * * *
TV/flSS HOPE WILLIAMS, the star of
lvl posing Present,” and Ar
thur Hopkins, its producer, are more
friendly to that drama than is Miss
Gretchen Damrosch, its author. Miss
Damrosch. although born and reared in
an atmosphere of art and its technique,
is still, in her proscenium efforts,
| awkward and amateur. The play there
i fore is rather an old-fashioned muddle,
| saved by Mr. Hopkins and his actors
; from being too routine. The hitherto
orchid Miss Williams is now a bouquet,
and a fragrant one, as she represents
the four-square sister who rescues her
gambling brother from disaster by bor
rowing money from her married sweet
heart. Mr. Hopkins’ clairvoyant stage
direction is to be seen at its best at
the end of the second act. Upstairs
and beyond the view of the audience
a crisis is occurring to this old and
theatrical Fifth avenue family. You
hear the groans and the muffled shrieks
of patricians in despair as it becomes
known that the son of the housesold
is an unsuccessful stock promoter, and
that the daughter has sold herself for
money and love to a rich, sentimental
broker in Wall Street.
Learn to Fly
S100.00
Kinner-Powered Cabin Planm
This offer is limited to Ten Students.
R. Kerr
I Congressional Airport
Call Atlantic (HIM) aftrr 8 P.M.
FIRST CONCERT
PHILHARMONIC
SYMPHONY
SOCIETY OF NEW YORK
DEC. 15 4:30 '“SST”
Arturo TOSCANINI condactisf
Adolf Busch, violin soloist
Ticket!. S3 t5. S3. 33.75. S3. SI.SO. SI.
T. Arihar Smith Bureau. Nat. 3700
In Bomer L. Kttt Co., 133a O at. aw.
MONDAY m SHUBERT g^ /1ATINEES
***10*■*»>*. °*3h(o K SrT I JK At *:SO Thnra
*i^o: n«i.. Ji.so wum / W ,i»y a„d s«tor
*nd *li Gal.. 50c MGMX LEE AND J. J. SHl'BEHT daj-.. 50c to *3
One Big Hilarious Week
\ MIRTH — DANCING — MUSIC!
f The One and Only
' NIKITA BALIEFF
WHO PRESENTS
His Incomparable Self and 45 Artists in
THE MOST UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT IN THE WORLD
BALIEFF’S
CHAUVE
4,SOURIS
4 M --AOLUTfNEW FttTWlS INOUOtlH THE ^
1 V **sWSATIOtl OF PARIS ANO LONDON
fa QUEEN of SPADES
In Seven Tableaux With George Hayes, Marie Ault English Cast I
WEEK
OF NON.
DEC. 28th
WEEK
OF MON.
JAN. 10th
BASIL SIDNEY and MARY aLIS in
THE JEWEL ROBBERY
Mall Order* Now. Price*, 50c to $:.M
RETURN of the WORLD SUCCESS
The Unmatchable Musical Masterpiece
BLOSSOM TIME ,
WEEK
OF MON.
DEC. 28th
WEEK
OF MON.
JAN. 10th (
! jy|R. VAN DRUTEN writes with - a
sad detachment about us and our
j elders in “After All," a pensive though
not despondent comedy treating of the
i ever conflicting generations. The
1 youngsters in it desire to break home
ties and, throwing their fetters off, to
seek the illusions, facts, dreams and
' aspirations tempting to adolescence
Their- parents, staid and flftyish, mildlv
deplore the exodus, but suffer It, hurt
and puzzled. The boy in the plav
wishes to have his own flat so that he
can associate with actors and artists.
The gi:i announces that she admire:;
a married architect with a dying wife
Both youngsters appall their father,
who pines away and dies, leaving their
mother to wonder pathetically what it
Is all about, until she, too, pines awky
and dies. It is not Mr. Van Druteii
at his b«et.
Six to One Not Significant.
glX blondes and one brunette are
seen In the principal feminine roles
in “Good Sport,’’ now at the Pox
Theater.
This preponderance of the “pre
ferred” variety is not Intentional, how
ever, but is due simply to the fact that
Director Kenneth MacKenna Chooses
his players for their particular suita
bility to their roles and regardless of
their hirsute coloring.
I Thus it happens that Hedda Hopper,
| the heroine s mother, is the sole rep
I resentative of the brunette school, while
the leading lady, Linda Watkins, Greta
{ Nissen, Minna Gombell, Claire May
j nard, Betty Francisco and Eleanor
Hunt—all support the blonde faction.
JANET RICHARDS
Affairs Political and
International
Every Monday Morninr at Eleven
| Willard Hotel Admission 75e
LAWRENCE
TIBBETT
BARYTONE,
METROPOLITAN
OPERA
Constitution Hall,
Mon., Dec. 14, 4:39
(IN PERSON)
Seats Mrs. WHsa%
Greene's Bureau, Droen’n
1800 G at. | Dis. 0498,
TODAY AT 4:00
CONSTITUTION HALL
NATIONAL
SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
OF WASHINGTON. 0. C.
HANS KINDLER, Conductor
Price., $1.50, $1.00, 75c, 50c
Boxes, $10.00
Seats on sale at box office, hall, alts*
II a. m. Met. 2*61..
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
NATIONAL
SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
OF WASHINGTON. 0. C.
HANS KINDLER, Conductor
CONSTITUTION HALL
Thursday, Dec. 17, 4:45
SOLOIST I fly T
SYLVIA L.C.n I
VIOLINIST
Prices $2.75, $2.00, $1.50, $1.M, 75c
Mrs. Wilson-Greene's Concert Etore*%
Droop’*. 1300 G street; District 0401.
STANTON fith »nd c sts. n.k.
JI All 1 Ull Finest Sound Equlpmen
Continuous from Matinee. 3 P M.
“DIRIGIBLE." Overshadows any pic
ture. with JACK HOLT. FAY WRAY
RALPH GRAVES.
Warner Bros.’
AMBASSADOR C,M.».
MARILYN MTLLER, "HER MAJESTY.
LOVE.’’ BING CROSBY SONG
RElELl. __
Warner Bros.’
APOLLO
0^su8anAlennox ,GXARK GABLg
Wainer Bros.’
AVAI ON Conn. Ave. and
AVALUIY McKinley St.. D. C.
WILLIAM HAINES. "GET RICE
QUICK WALLINGFORD "_
Wanner Bros.’
AVENUE GRAND AVea ft
_J°MAKES Go8d^’ 'LOCAL BOY
Warner Bros.’ "
CENTRAL94h D “a ■
WARNER BAXTER and EDMUND
_Arthur Comedy0 DANE »nd
Warner Bros.’ ~~
COLONY G‘ At* * r»rr“'t
ORETA GARBO and CLARK GABLE.
no Y ° x-"
Warner Bros.' ———.
HOME 1939 c 84 N E
WILL ROGER a “AMBASSADOR
BILL. _
Warner Bros/
SAVOY IU) ft CoL Ed. N.W.
JOHN GILBERT. “PHANTOM OE
_ PARIS/ SPORTSLANTS. No, L
Warner Bros.’
Tivoli 14411 *park
WARNER BAXTER■ “SQUAW MAN.”
Warner Bros.'
YORK a. Ave. ft Qnebee St. N.W.
WILLlR GOERS, “AMBASSADOR
FA IRI AWN anacostia. d. c.
rHinuinn the star wtt
NESS." with CHIC SALE
DUMBARTON 343 charlbb At®'
ROGERS and LILYAN TASHMAN in
THE ROAD TO RENO. Comedy.
JESSE THEATER IT'
R. C. A. Photophone.
"MERELY MARY ANN, JANET GAr
NOR. CHARLES FARRELL. Comedy,
New;. Talkertoon. _
CVI VAN ut ft R. I. Ave. N.W.
31 Li V All “THIS MODERN AGE,”
JOAN CRAWFORD. NEIL HAMILTON.
Comedy and News.
fIRPIF *105 P\ Ave., Fh W. ms
LinuLL Home of the Mirror Screen
IN A CLAIRE, ROBERT AMES. "RE
BOUNDS
DIRECTION SIDNEY LUST
HIPPODROME Today-Tomotrow
Four Marx Brothers. “Monkey Buslnesa."
PAMFO »!T- rainier, md,
V./AlTlkivy Tomorrow-Tuesday—
Four Marx Brothers, "Monkey Business ”
ARPAHF hVattsville. Md.
nnunl/L Tomorrow-Tuesday
Gaynor ft Farrell. "Merely Mary Ann ’’
RICHMOND S^R^,d^
Ed. _CL Robinson In “Five Star Final”
CAROLINA 11 "GuIltV h aSdsY j
witi LIONEL BARRYMORE. (Per
fect Sounda_■
TAKOMA ^rhiS14^8^
ROBERT AMES and IN A OLAIRB In
“REBOUND”
ASHTON CLARENDON. VA.
T<gsssiriSS* ROOEM- “ambas
PRINCESS U1LB"
ALFRED HUNT ft LYNN FONTANNE in
“THE GUARDSMAN”
WM w awana