Evening star. [volume], April 28, 1933, Page C-7, Image 37

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
"Cavalcade" Would Be
Winner of Movie Award
Picture Which Is Now Bem£ Exhibited at Popular
Prices Is, However, Less Popular With Yountfer
Generation—Shows Bitterness of War Day«. I
By E. de S. Melcher.
TODAY Is an Important day In j
local moiion picture circles.
The popular price revival of i
"Cava.cudc" at the Palace Is '
something which would loom
big in any film year. We venture t)
say thai if there was such a thing as
» Pulitzer prize awarded annually to
the best film. "Cavalcade" would un
queitionably be the winner II Its theme
had been Amer
ica Instead of Eng
1 a n d. It is a
Euccessful pano
rama of life, senti
mental lzed and
dramatlred to
bring out the trag
edies in a single
family's history.
and acted with
such dignity and
skill that even the
smallest details
spring to life with
e x t r a o r dlnary
vitality.
It is a fact, how
it serves to bring out the year's most
successful screen personality—Diana
Wynyard. Miss Wynyard not only
locks like a lady—she talks like a lady.
Her voice is the smoothest in Holly
wood Added to that is the curious
fact that her beauty increases with age.
Although she is a comparative young
woman, when she is growing older along
with Clive Brook, she acquires a
"noblesse" which is lacking in the earl
ier scenes. It la a pity that color
couldn't have been used in these mo
ments, as those who have seen her
both on stage and off know that the
coloring of ner hair and cheekr, and
eyes is something quite unusual, and
that her real beauty lies in the ulti
mate blending of these.
So with the exceptional Miss Wyn
yard as its neroine, with a cast which
is probably unsurpassed, and with Mr.
Coward's elevating "toast" as a finale,
this is a kind of a film which is rare,
and good, and true—and one which
you will not be ashamed to shed a tear
over.
ever, tnat mis mm —
* mM* Disns W,n„rS.
•with middle aged
classes than with the younger. Some
of the very young. Indeed, have
complained that It is a sloppv
saga, too drolling with emotion,
and completely unconvincing as to
story. They say that no such bitterness
could ever have come into a single
home, and that war» just don't behave
themselves that way.
Unfortunately, they are wrong. Wars
do behave themselves that way. People
who have seen service in the Boer War
and the Great War. and those other
major disasters depicted in the film
*■111 tell you that the film is grlpplngly
true. That while sentiment and theater
may rub elbows in It, there is a vastly
Important part of the material devoted
to fact, which Is as true and as merci
less as the fact that there was such a
thing as a World War.
The events which are mustered may
be presented at the height of their
theatric value, but they are also pre
sented In what must have been at one
time or another the full fury of their
truth. Some little boy. for Instance,
might well have said, as he watched
Queen Victoria's funeral procession,
"She must have been a very little
lady": a pair of lovers may very well
have walked away from in front of a
life-preserver on which was written
that single word. "Titanic." and a
mother, whose sons have lived through
a succession of wars, might easilv have
lost two of them during the short span
cf tjoitn years.
Yer these very events have caused
those wh» seem to think "Cavalcade"
is all theater and tinsel to complain
that no such tragedies ever occurred
tn our civilized world. They point to
Mr. Coward and say that he has woven
his tapestry with the single purpose of
pointing a finger of wrath at the folly
of war. They rant and roar at his
theatric conception of hysterical doings
vhlch they claim were actually as
normal and smooth and unemotional
as butter.
Thankfully many, many people will
deny this, too. Mr. Coward is a paci
fist only In that he chooses to show
the blindness of man In the pursuit
of pride He is fonder of the family
as a unit than be Is of the uprooting
of man and the every-so-often blowing
up of him to Mt*; - His message Is one
or loyalte and courage in the midst of
the hard and cold necessity of fighting
the good fight. You cannot blame him
for feeling* that It is too bad that such
a splendidly patriotic family as the
Marryota should be wrecked through
circumstances which are far beyond 1
its control.
* • * *
Whatever you may think of the
story, whatever you may think of Mr.
Coward's bitter philosophy, whatever
you may think of the vast spread of
emotion which is necessary to the un
raveling of this theme, you will have
to admit that, as a production, it is
far and above the most perfectly uni
fied product of the season. Each char
acter is reality. Each scene Is life.
Each spoken word is meant with in
tense sincerity. There is not a drop
of blood lost in Its transplanting from
stage to screen. Mr. Coward will tell
you that he is enormously satisfied with
It, because it has been edited word for
word, and whipped straight from the
original with the omission of only one
brief scene.
The film Is Important, too, in that
Where and When
Current Theater Attractions
and Time of Showing
National—"Riddle Me This," at
• 30 p.m.
Gayety—"Prosperity Girls," burlesque,
at 2:15 and 8 15 p.m.
Palace—"Cavalcadr." at 11:50 a.m.,
• 15, 4:45, 7:10 and 9:40 p.m.
Rialto—"Be Mine Tonight." at 11:53
a.m.. 1:50. 3:47, 5:44, 7:42 and 9:40p.m.
Loews Fox—"Zoo in Budapest," at
11 a.m.. 1:40. 4:25, 7:15 and 10 p.m.
Stage shows at 12:40, 3:25, 6:15 and
9 p.m.
Columbia—"The Big Stampede." at
11:25 a.m., 1:10, 3, 4:45, 6:35, 8:20 and
10:10 p.m.
Metropolitan—"A Bedtime Story," at
11:05 a.m., 1:05, 3:10, 6:10, 7:20 and
9:25 p.m.
R-K-O KelthW'The World Gone
Mad," at 11 a.m., 1:05, 3:12, 5:19, 7:24
and 9:39 p.m.
Earle—"Central Airport." at 11:10
a.m.. 1:45. 4:25, 7:25 and 10 p.m. Stage
■hows at 12:40, 3:20, 6:20 and 8:55 p.m.
Tlvoli—"Our Betters," at 2:35, 4:20,
6:05. 7:55 and 9:45 p.m.
Central — "Billion - Dollar Scandal,"
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Ambassador—"Crime of the Century,"
at 6.15. 8 and 9:45 p.m.
NATIONAL
* ■ M1T1VTI «>
»»
TONIGHT
8:30 T. M.
aumn mtiiday
NATIONAL THEATRE PLAYFBI
OFFER JOHN GOI.DEVS N. I.
MTtUrr C*mr4j Siitm
"RIDDLE ME THIS
Ntihta. Me f SI.10. Wei. * Rat.
Hate.. All Scata 45* iPrtn* I ail. Tai)
"Grand* for Divortt"
SEATS NOW SELLINO
LAMBS'
Pt'BUO
GAMBOL
A Brilliant Mailtal aa< Dramatic
■mi kr
IK BTAB1 or Tlx STAGE.
SCBE0 AND RADIO—MM
Ob* Anunnw Onlr.
SUN. NIGHT, APRIL Mtb
■:M p. m. Mm. tl. M. **. M. M.
I 31011 -
DANCING.
Pf »ton Praa Studio, I74S F N.W.. Met. 30B0.
Instruction in modal 11 ball room dancing.
Standard routine* Sat rvcninn dance
MISS OIRARDEAU I/EOARE. 831 18 th
N.W.. Met. :SH. Private leason* in ball
room dancing. & 1e?sons. >5; or classes.
PROP AMD taa. ACHER—Studio. 1127
loth at. n.w. Class and daneinf. Mon. and
Tri.. * to 11:30 p.m. with orchestra. Priv.
fataiini by appt. Mat. 4180. Estab. ^900.
ACTRESS MAKES
HAVANA FLIGHT
WITH KIRKLAND
Ann Harding Says
It *Is Not an
Elopement.
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES. April 38 —Protesting
against any suggestions of contemplated
marriage, Ann Harding, screen actress,
left here lut night by plane with Alex
ander Klrkland, actor, bound for Ha
vana. Maria Lombard, secretary of the
actress, accompanied them.
"Does this mean an elopement?" the
blond actress was asked as she walked
through a rain toward the airplane.
"Oh, my, no! Please don't print any
thing like thit," she replied. "I'm
going to Havana on a little vacation to
see friends. Marriage is absurd."
The couple boarded the American
Airways ship, which is scheduled to
land them in Atlanta, Qa.. at 6:15 p.m.
today. They plan to leave there at 9
a.m. tomorrow for Miami, arriving there
tomorrow night, and leaving Sunday for
Havana, arriving there at 10:18 a.m.
Miss Harding Is the former wife of
Harry Bannister, actor, who Is en route
to China as a war correspondent. Al
though no romance has been attached
to her name in connection with Klrk
land. the couple has been seen dancing
lately at a fashionable club here.
Amateur Players
M ...... . -I ' " |
Gene Donnelly and Mary Neason, prominent In the ca*t of "The FYame Up," i
produced by the Mimes and Mummers oi St. Patrick's Sodality last night and !
tonight at Carroll Hall.
Out Where Movies Begin
Guild of Hollywood Actors Similar to That Formed
by Authors Is Discussed—Mass Meeting to Be
Held Monday Night.
BY MOLLIS MERRICK.
HOLLYWOOD. Calif.. April 28
(N.A.N.A.h—Thirty-five of the biggest
acting names in Hollywood's industry
met at the home of one of the stars to
discuss ways and me^ns of banding
themselves together for protection
against what threatens to be the new
movie regime.
What they hav« outlined is being
kept secret, although it is generally i
known that a guild for actors similar to
that founded by 300 of the authors of
Hollywood is under way. On next Mon- I
day night a mass meeting of actors will
hear the results of this first meeting |
of higher-ups and will discuss sug
gestions for laying definite plans for
action.
None of the original 35 would have
heard of such a move a year ago; can
cellation of contracts and a general
•disinclination on the part of producers
toward giving long-term contracts are
the motivating factors, together with a
firm belief on the part of the creative
talent that producers, backed to the
wall, will slash prices everywhere but
in their own pockets.
Interesting sidelight is the statement
made C. F. Morgan in the Wall Street
magazine that "the funded and un
funded debts of eight major motion
picture companies amount to $400,000,
000."
Most of the "bad girls" of films are
going good. Jean Harlow has toned
down her types considerably and any
day now may take on an ingenuish
flavor. And Myrna Loy, long dedi
cated to the most villainous of sex
roles in Hollywood village, plays
straight parts now, including the vir
ginal young fiancee of a British en
gineer in the Orient.
But Mae West, accused by a local
interviewer of being married safely and
sanely to Manager Timoney. bursts
forth in Ire about this "libelous" state
ment. She believes in marriage, says
Mae, but has not had the time for it
nor sufficient leisure of thought to
select a victim.
Then who gave out the interview
about being married? Perhaps Mae.
before "She Done Him Wrong" proved
to her that she could get away with a
treat deal on the screen despite Mr.
Hays' loud wrath against suggestive
gelatin material. Mr. Hays and bis
staff must have been vacationing when
"She Done Him Wrong" got by the
office board. Some siren song deaf
ened their ears to Its very obvioils and
raffish vulgarity, although personally I
think It Is a very able picture done by
a very able actress. Its vulgarities are
amusing only in view of the loud irate
statements of the censorship hewis who
passed it.
Which brings us down to the pur
chase in this year of disgrace of a
Broadway floppo named "The Oreat
Magoo," by B?n Hecht and Gene Fowler,
which, if you have read, hits the high
wnter mark for broadness. It Is the
story of a lady of no virtue whatso
ever. a half-wit Hag-pole sitter, a de
mented and vulgar showman and a
few other idyllic characters. Seventy
five per cent of the dialogue could not
be used on the screen and must have
been highly embarrassing in the thea
ter. And the Censorship board mav
as well pick up its ears or read its
current stage literature pronto.
Yet the purchase was blithely made
right atop Will Hays' fierce barrage
against "screen vulgarity" made while
producers were massed here trying to
find the way out of the financial im
passe. We talked vulgarity when we
should have talked money. Let us pray
that the Censorship Board will » ot be
engrossed in money-saving when the
question of vulgarities comes up in due
course.
(Copyright. 193:1. by Nonh American Ntwi
paper Alliance. Inc.)
■ *twys a better show M
mzsiz&m
■1/'WORLD GONE MAD'
■ ■ Pat O'Brien— K*elyn Brent
A M U>r; Brian— NeU Hamilton
SO flari tm Lamb Club Gambol
"READ 'EM AND WEEP"
comlTt;
Tba Wonder MlrnrU flctarc * the Tesrl
"BELOW Trfi St A*
Last Timet Today—"BE MINE TONIGHT"
Those gay lev* bird* . . . gawky SLIM
and bashful ZASU, trying to find •
little peace on their honeymoon .. .
and mother-in-law tagging along
to tee that everything goes okay!
•
More r i d i c a I on fl y funny
than "LITTLE ACCIDENT"
(rati,, than "THEY JUST
HAD TO GET MARRIED"
Out AIITNiph't
a imiWRSAi Pimm
omorrowj
Leading "Ghost Orchestra"
Dr. Leopold StokoWski leading his Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra from
the control board in Constitution Hall last night. The mu£lc of the orchestra,
6laying in Philadelphia, was transmitted perfectly to the audience in Wuh
lgton. W. B. Snow (with earphones) and Dr. Harvey Fletcher of the Bell Tele
phone Co.
Joan Crawford Explains
Fairbanks' Family Trouble
Tells Why She and Young Doug Decided to Go
Their Separate Ways, and Says She Seek*
Education, Even Delving Into Dictionary.
By Mayme Ober Peake.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., April 28—"It
is Impossible lor two people to live up
to an ideal created by Hollywood pub
licity. Doug and I were Just two happy
kids. All the slush written about us in
the beginning embarrassed us and made
us too conscious of each other."
That Is the way Joan Crawford ex
plained how she and Douglas Fairbanks.
Jr., decided that divorce was the best
way out for them. She and a visitor
were seated alone in her living room,
carpeted in creamy white.
"Love is something that cannot be
self-conscious," Joan resumed. "If we
got up to dance and Doug wanted to
say. 'I love you.' he was afraid even to
whisper it for fear some one would be
watching. Instead of holding hands in
the movies, like hundre:s of other
couples were doing around us, we put
our hands in our pockets.
"Publicity made us that way. I re
alize we are in a business that peopl®
publicize and criticize, and I am glad
for the publicity I get. What I resent
are the slushy articles and the subse
quent gossip when we couldn't Mve up
to all the lovey-dovey stuff written
about us. We had to deny our separa
tion for a year. Hardly a day passed
that there wasn't a little squib in col
umns—like, for instance, 'It was a joke
from the beginning, wasn't it. Joan?'"
Joan denied that she was older than
Doug. "We. are Just the same age," she
said.
Joan's latest home is a charming
blend of the old and new. In a fash
ionable setting as modern as herself are
fine old pieces of masten cabinetmakers.
In the living room the only likeness of
the former master of the house is a dig
nified portrait. Companioning it is a
portrait of Joan.
When Joan received her caller she
had on pajamss of navy blue woolen
stuff. The top was shaped like a Rus
sian blouse, buttoning on the side, piped
with white, to the narrow high collar
where was pinned a fresh white gar
denia. She had on white sandals and
socks, and wore her hair In a long bob
with a side plait drawn across the top
of her head from ear to ear.
"Doug and I w«* too close to each
other." she sai£. "Suddenly I realized
something was wrong. I was unhappy
because I was making some one else un
happy. In looking back to find myself
and the reason—so it could be elimi
nated if possible—I finally said to Doug:
" 'You are unhappy, and I am caus
ing it. The only thing for you to do is
to get away. Oo to New York, have a
good time.'
"Dour hadn't thought of it. Didn't
quite know what he warned to do. When
he came back, he said: 'Qee, it was'
swell. Thank*.'"
"How did it affect you when you read
in a recent story about your various
suitors the statement: 'Doug Fairbanks,
jr., did what no other man had the
courage to do—he married Joan Craw
ford?' "
Joan's eyes flashed.
"What girl dotsnt go through that
stage of wishing to heaven she could
have a different date every night? They
used to say that Joan Crawford liked to
walk in a room with a different man,
just «-s she wore a different corsage on
her shoulder, each night. Wouldn't
that appeal to any girl's ego?
"You and Doug are still friends?"
"Certainly, we are .friends. I still
handle Doug's business affairs. Friend
ship is the most important and lasting
thing in the world, anyhow."
"Your career Is uppermost now?" Joan
was asked.
"A career lasts longer than love." she
countered. "Love in Hollywood and
love anywhere else are different. Con
tent is lack of knowledge of life. In
Hollywood are people who want to get
ahead, do great things. They have such
a short time to do it In. They try to
cram 15 years in 5."
"What you want of life then, Joan.
"More life." she finished, "more life1'
in term' of everything. Sorrow, happi
ness—even if it is a momentary thing:
tragedy, pain, beauty, laughter babies—
everything that makes you grow. One
should never stop growing.
"What I want to become first of all
Is a Joan Crawford I can respect. With
out self-respect nothing else matters.
I want to overcome this terrible inferi
ority complex I hafe—no one dreams
what suffering it causes me. I go to my
room and try to quietly analyse it, but
it is a weakness I cannot overcome. It
makes me ill a t times. I want people
to like me so that I'd go in a room
with my arms outstretched if I could
"But what I want most in life now is
education The knowledge that acmes
with learning. I spend an hour a day
with a professor from the University
of Southern California We study Eng
lish literature American history. When
I haven't the time to go to him I read
the dictionary!"
(Copyright. bv North American Newt
Dtp?r Atipner. Inc.)
mr.o
TODAY
▼
-DAREDEVIL" AND "BAD
GIRL" TOGETHER IN AN
UNDYING LOVE STORY
RICHARD
!>>
- A MAMMOTH # A
J ALL NEW STAGE f f
SHOW....
A GREAT PIC- $
TURE ....
i i -*< rou
I A Sf
REG
in First National V(taphonfs
(Mral JUrport
A THRILL ROMANCE WITH
SALLY EILER*
Held Over
Another Week'
AMERICA'S MOST VERSATILE ORCHESTRA
- J*edHlarinq's
PEnmmm
30-COMPANY OF —30
TOM WARING
tVELTN NAIR LANE SISTERS. BABS4BROTHERS
*
ALIO ON IT ACE
JMIIIE
sn
HYMAN
FRANKLIN*
i^n^7
LOOK. WSJEU BABEE—
THEY WONT LET US CO'
fo//i M only If CM
MedtimeStou)
A ?•••«•»•! FkImvc Will
HKLIM TWtlVZTMtS
ADRIENNE AMES
M'<i» L« BABY LEROY
(ThtChiU With tkr
CkfUiliiT Li))
METROPOLITAN
TITLED ^BRITON DOUBTS
ROMANCE WITH STAR
"I Don't Think That's True," lays
larl of Warwick of Reporta
He'll Marry Sally Blane.
By the Associated Preu.
CHICAGO, April 28.—A soft answer—
"Oh, Z don't think that's true"—was
the comment of the youthful Earl of
Warwick laat night to Hollywood's
burning question as to whether there
waa a romance brewing between the
earl and Bally Blane, young film
beauty.
Charles Ouy Fulk Greenville, Earl of
Warwick, reached here by airplane from
St. Louis on his way from the West
Coast to New York. He was met by his
hosts. Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Manning
and Merrill C. Meigs. The earl plans a
two-day stop here.
To the question regarding the reported
romance the earl smiled and mentioned
that publicity men apparently worked
overtime in Hollywood.
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
NEED IS EMPHASIZED
District Officials Have Conference
With Chairman Buchanan of
Appropriations Group.
The increatinf need for emergency
relief for unemployment in the District
of Columbia was emphasised today at
a conference of District officials with
Chairman Buchanan of the Appropria
tions Committee. Chairman Cannon of
the District Subcommittee and other
prominent members of the Appropria
tions Committee.
That the $1,250,000 included in the
District appropriation bill for next year
as it passed the House will be in
sufficient to meet the needs and even
the increased amount which the Senate
Is understood to have written into the
bill will be insufficient was brought to
the attention of the House Committee
members.
Among the officials attending the
conference were Dr. Luther H.
Relchelderfer, president of the Board
of Commissioners; Maj. Daniel J.
Donovan, the District auditor; George
8. Wilson, director of public welfare;
E. C. Graham, president of the Com
munity Chest, and Dr. Frederick
Perkins, president of the Council of
Social Agencies.
PIONEER MOVIE ACTOR,
J. ROY STEWART, DIES
By the Associated Press.
LOB ANGELES, April 28—One of
the pioneer actors ol the movies—J.
Roy Stewart—died Wednesday of a
heart attack. He was 43.
Stewart was a star of Westerns In
the infancy of the film industry when
screen stories of adventure on the
plaint and in the mountains were
numerous. His first pictures were made
In 1913 for the old Triangle Co.
Among pictures in which he (tarred
were "The Sage Brusher," "The West
erners," "The Sr.owshoe Trail." "Back
to Yellow Jacket," "Ridin' Wild" and
"Timberland Treachery "
Funeral services wil' be held today
in San Diego, his birth place.
MRS. COOPEB TO WED.
LOS ANGELES. April 28 r/PV—Mrs.
Mabel Cooper, mother of Jackie Cooper,
juvenile film star, said last night that
she and Charles Blgelow. fllm official,
well known in Chicago, would be mar
ried Sunday, possibly at Yuma. Ariz.
Her son will attend the wedding. The
two plan to lire in Beverly Hills.
CONCERT TONIGHT.
Pupils of Henri Sokolov. Greta Ton
Bayer. Richard Lorleberg and Otto
Simon of the Associated Studio? will
give a concert this evening at the Sear?.
RoAuck Art Galleries. 1106 Connecticut
avenue.' The accompanists will be
George,'Dixon Thompson, Walter Salf
and Mrs. Bernhelmer.
-
FIL/HS
academy 01 "is STavs01-""
E Lawrence Phillips Theater Beautiful
LEE TRACY in "PRIVATE JONES " SYLVIA
SIDNEY in "MADAME BUTTERFLY."
A CUT AN CLARENDON VA
Aofl I un BUCK JONES. "TOT SUNDOWN
RIDER " Serial and Comedy.
PADAIINA * N c" Aw. s.E.
LAKULINA •■SON-DAUGHTER" with
_RAMON NAVARRO
nori r 210a p» at».. ph. w o».is
LIRvLli Matinees Toes.. Thurs.. Sat.. San.
JOHN. ETHEL and LIONEL BARRYMORE
"RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS."
rkllMDADTftKl '34:1 Wisconsin Ave.
lAlnlOAHIlin SPENCER TRACY and
MARIAN NIXON in "FACE IN THE
SKY. News. Comedy.
CAIDI AWN anacostia. n c.
rAlKLAWn WARNER BAXTER lr
'DANOEROU8LY YOURS"
I VDir fiAITHF.RSBl'RG. MD.
LTKIl KEN MAYNARD in COME ON
TARZAN." J as Glcason.
PRINCESS 11YV &F
Double Peature (Mat. 2 PM>—BUSTER
KEATON and JIMMY DURANTE in
"WHAT. NO BEER"1" MARIAN MARSH
In PARING DAUGHTERS
CTAMTAt! and C Si». N.I.
M AH I UN Finest £'Ond Einlpincnl
SPENCER TRACY in "FACE IN THE SKY.''
CT A TE BETHE8DA, MD.
51A I K Home of Wcatera Electric Soanri
"EVENINGS FOR SALE" with CHARLES
RUGGLES and SARI MAR ITZA. Comedy.
TAIfAMA and Butternut St«.
I AfcUITlA N» Parkin* Troubles
PHONE GEORGIA 4312
BUSTER KEATON and JIMMY DURANTE In
"WHAT, NO BEER"
°s
JE«J
o
gs
fd
Sm
HIPPODROME Double Feature
Chaj. Lnughton. "I»Ie of Lost Souls."
Leo Carillo. "Men Are Such Fools.'
CAMEO 1,1 *TSdaV' "D"
ALL STAR CAST in
"SIGN OF THE CROSS"
kVCklW hyattsville. md.
AnvAUC All Comedy Night
Laurel-Hardy. Chase. Our Pane, etc.
DirUMHMn ALEXANDRIA. VA.
HltninUnU Today-Tomorrow
Hie Hiree Barrymores in "Raaputln."
(A
0c
w
AMBASSADOR
"CRIME OF CENTURY"
APOLLO 624 H 8t N t
AL JOL8ON "HALLELUJAH. I'M A
BtTM." Cartoon.
AVALON MeKJnley *8t.'. V* C.
u
r JAMES DUNN and BOOTS MALLORY
H j "HANDLE WITH CARE" Comedy
AVENUE GRAND IV
Matinee. '' OO P.M.
"WHISTLING IN DARK"
CENTRAL 9,h 8ts«n.« •nd 1
Smoktnc Permitted in Balcony Only
(A ROBtRT ARMSTRONG. "BILLION
- 1 DOLLAR SCANDAL." Our Gang.
o
cc
COLONY G* Ave S.w,rr"Bt 8t
AL JOLSON. "HALLELUJAH. I'M A
BUM." 8port Thrills and Comedy.
HOME 1839 c 8t *•
"WOMAN ACCUSED"
SAVOY 14tb BL * CoL Bd' N w
BUCK JONES. "TREASON." Stria;
and Comedy.
X1V0LI utb st° * ruk *'w
Matinee, 5:00 P.M.
CONSTANCE BENNETT, "OUR BET
TERR" Taxi Boys Comedy.
YORK Clk ATe* * Q"ebe# *L "•*
"SECOND-HAND WIFE"
JESSE THEATER "'l? IT*
^C. A. Photophone
:ON and SPENCER TRACS
la "FACE IN THE SKY." Sena
Comedy.
CVI VAN * R *«• N.W.
•»*Lf An LEO CARILLO and VI
VlENNK OSBORNE in "MEN ARF
SUCH FOOLS." Serial. Comedy.
rem SILVEB SPRING. MD.
EDNA MAY OLIVER and R
ARMSTRONG in "PENGUIN POOL
MURDER." Comedy. Cartoon. Serial.
PALM THEATER
JAMEB_ CAONEY ^and^MARY BRIA*
88
"BAUD TO
/
Dr. Stokowski Controls
Orchestra by Telephone
From Box in Constitution Hall He Directs Phila
delphia Symphony in First Demonstration in
Washington—Scientists Hear Concert.
By Alice Eversman.
A GIANT orchestra dwindling to i
pigmy size was the uncanny
demonstration of orchestral
music in auditory perspective
given last evening at Constitu
tion Hall by a visible Dr. Stokowski and
the invisible Philadelphia Orchestra in
conjunction with the Bell Telephone Co.
This latest departure in sound trans
mission, which has been tested and
perfected by the scientists of the Bell
Telephone Laboratories, working in co
operation with Dr. Btokowski. was given
a" first demonstration in Washington
yesterday under the auspices of the
National Academy of Sciences.
The vast auditorium was filled with j
an expectant audience as at any orches
tra concert. The huge stage was hidden
by blue velvet curtains, which parted
slowly at the appointed concert hour to
show an empty stage lightly veiled by
a white gauze screen. Out of the blank
ness came a glow of light and high up
In the center a dimly-etched cathedral
rose window became a parent. Sud
denly, from every portion of the empty
stage, an invisible orchestra began the
"Toccata and Fugue in D. Minor." by
Bach. There was not even an off-stage
illusion to the playing; it was actually
there—the violins to the left, the harp
to the right, the drums and double bases
in the background. An invisible indica
tion was given, and the violins sank to
a whisper and the basses boomed softly.
Gradually, with absolute precision, a
magic baton drew forth a perfect cres
cendo that grew to forte, then to a
fortissimo of terrifying volume, to be
released again for a suave legato of per
fect clarity. The music stopped, the
glowing rose window vanished and the
audience rubbed its unbelieving eyes,
for the stage was empty as before the
ethereal music of 100 instruments had
flowed from its every comer.
The Philadelphia Symphony Orches
tra was ensconced in the Acai'?my of
Music in Philadelphia, led by Assistant
Conductor Alexander Smaller. In a
box in the back of Constitution Hall
sat Dr. Stokowski before switchboard
arrangement, manipulating and direct
ing the transmission of his orchestra's
playing over the Bell Telephone wires.
Another signal, ar.d Beethoven's "Sym
phony No. 5" was played, with the per
fection c-f execution of the orchestra
emphasized to a remarkable degree.
In the intermission Dr. Harvey
Fletcher, director of acoustical research
at the Bell Telephone Laboratories, gave
a short explanation of how the phe
nomenon was accomplished. By several
specially constructed microphones placed
before the orchestra in Philadelphia
the round was caught and passed over
a cable system to the newly-invented
loudspeakers on the Constitution Ha'l
stage in Washington. Dr. Stokowski,
from his seat in the box in the same
hall, was in communication with the
orchestra, able to speak to it directly,
and operating its dynamic effects by a
series of controls with the same finesse
of effect as when he personally stands
before it directing.
The remarkable auditory effects are
given three dimensions. The sounds
come from different and easily distin
: gulshed portions of the stage, and from
its level or high above it. A series of
! experiments further demonstrated this
movability of sound. An unseen work
man is busily using his hammer and
saw at one end of the stage, an equally
busy friend at the other. A linger singe
as she walks across the stage. the soundi
of her Invisible movements accompany
ing her singing.
The range of sound which can be
transmitted was shown by a musical
chart of nine octaves thrown on a
screen. The lowest tone, hardly audible,
crept up the series of notes to vanish
In the sounds beyond the range of hu
man ears. Further demonstrations
proved the control of range in pitch
that this invention la the first to ar
rive at.
The musical program continued with
the performance of Debussy's "L'apres
midi d'un Faune" and a magnificent
and awe-inspiring rendition of the finale
of Wagner's "Goetterdgemmerung."
From a musical standpoint, the door
has been opened to undreamed of (per
haps dreamed of by Wagner, neverthe
less; possibilities of expression. It is
remarkable to note, however, that the
music of the post-classic period is nat
urally fitting for the amplifications that
are possible through this new inven
tion. Of the entire program, the Bee
thoven symphony was the least satisfy
ing through this production. Bach's
music is more adaptable, strange to say.
Debussy exquisitely so. but the apogee
oi grandeur was reached In Wagner.
The colorful impressionistic picturaza
tion which filled the screen on the stage,
as a visual accompaniment of the mu
sic, interpreted, by Its changing lights,
the mood of the composition. The rose
window of Bach was superceeded by a
dimly towering mountain effect at sun
set for Beethoven, vague pastel shad
ings for Debussy and for Wagner,
grandiose flaming light, surrounding a
faintly visible recumbrent flgutf of
Bruhuhilda. which changed through
clouds of color to the clearly defined
outlines of Valhalla.
Dr. Stokowski had chosen a program
well calculated to show different points
of contrast. In the classical numbers
the lack of the human element, the In
timate union of musicians and audience,
might be felt but for Wagner and De
bussy. who translated music of the
spheres, it was an ideal medium of ex
pression that indicated in a startling
manner a host of glories to yet be
given out.
In a short speech at the end of the
program. Dr. Stokowski told of the
greater richness of tone color, to be
achieved, the importance of sensation
ol space in music and the mastery of
the control of sound which will now
be possible. He also spoke of the
greater musical advantages to be ac
crued by the remote corners of the
country through the actual bringing to
them over a system of wires not only
the sound but the minute shadings of
interpretation of the great orchestras
and master musicians.
Swiss Restrict Fruit Imports.
Fresh apples, apricots and pears can
rot be imported into Switzerland with
out a government permit.
Wi COLUMBIA
now JXTUgtim** II c
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SIDNEY GIBSON
BOBBY GRAHAM
STORMY
rue MOST PMMITWE
tOVE STORY EVER. F'lmed,«j
,0% HCTlfR*
FRIDAY
^Norm« Talmadcr.
George Jestel
in person
Screen
Ramon Navarro
in
"The Barbarians"
Starts Today
First time at
POPULAR PRICES
Greater than
BIRTH Of
A NATION*
A FOX
PICTURE
WITH
DIAMA WYMYAI
CLIVE BROOK
40 FEATURED PLAYERS
AMD A CAST OF 5 CQQ
cAbe/ Comnfi
TREMENDOUS DUMA
OF LIFE PORTRAYED
ON THE GRANDEST
SCALE EVER AJTCMPh
EO..THE.STORY OP
A LOVE THAT HELD
WlfM FAITH AND/
COURAGE /
COS
Jmi Crtwfora
In
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with
0AHY COOPER