The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 30, 1927, Page 12

Propaganda in the Theatre Famed Novelist Tells Why Labor Plays Are Called “Propaganda” By JOHN DOS PASSOS (Author of “Three Soldiers,” “Manhattan Transfer,” “The Moon Is a Gong,” director of the New Playwrights Theatre.) re the commonplace of American criticism that ART and PROPA- GANDA are opposed and cilable conceptions. irrecon- muddled overestimate of both words. like LIBERTY, PATRIOTISM, HOME and MOTHER they have been so often used for lettering placards that they have lost any real meaning. | © Now all that “art” ever seems to have meant in English was “doing something well or cleverly.” In the nineteenth century it was debased to imply something connected with easel-painting and copying old mas- ters in museums. The mauve nine- ties, under the influence of Bohemian Paris, put exclamation marks behind it and made it the rallying cry of lazy and discontented members of the middle class. At present the word means exactly nothing. Propaganda is a _ bugaboo-word, just as art is a glory-word, I ‘think it was invented during the counter- reformation when the tinkling of cash in the collection-boxes was getting low and the Catholic faith had to propa- gate or die, In its agony it gave birth to the extraordinary organism of the Society of Jesus, which gave the most efficient form yet discoveréd to the science of convincing people. Propaganda means trying to convince people, to make them think and act the way you do, or the way you would wish to act and think. At present anything that remotely deals with labor, except an injunction, is labelled propaganda by the mysterious body of unsuccessful poets, novel- ists, dramatists, lawyers, and effi- ciency experts too lazy to do con- structive work that have become editors, columnists, and college pro- fessors and control the thinking of the mass of Americans. Dramatists All Propagandists What’s all this to do with the theatre? The question of art is be- side the point, as the word is an adjective, not a noun; but the ques- tion of propaganda is very much to The thing is that | we have a peculiarly confused and} } SIDNEY HOWARD Author of the Theatre Guild suc- cesses, “The Silver Cord” and “Ned McCobb’s Daughter, now alternating at the John Golden Theatre. the. point. All the great dramatic writers in the past, with the possible exception of Shakespeare, who reaches | a curious balance of opinion against opinion, and never ventures a final decision, have been primarily moral- ists, propagandists of some creed or attitude of mass life, or else critics and satirists of the creeds prevail- ing. Almost any other form of ex- pression can exist without trying to make people do something. The the- atre as distinguished from vaudeville (Continued on Page 7) The New Plays MONDAY “THE LADY SCREAMS,” a dramatic thriller by Everett Chantler, will open at the Selwyn Theatre Monday night. The cast in- cludes: Betty Weston, Grant Mills, Dana Desboro, Ralph Cul- linan, Eleanor Daniels, W. D. Heppenstal, Anthony Hughes and Edward Broadley. MARTINEZ SIERRA’S ART THEATRE will open at the Forrest Theatre Monday night, presented by Crosby Gaige. The first week’s repertory will include: “The Road to Happiness,” Sierra’s most recent play on Monday and Tuesday nights; “The Roman- tie Young Lady,” Wednesday evening and Saturday matinee; “The Girl and the Cat,” a comedy by Carlos Arniches, Thursday and Friday evenings, and “The Blind Heart,” by Sierra, on Sat- urday evening. “THE SEVENTH HEART,” ‘a comedy with music, by Sarah Ellis Hyman, will be presented by the Lionel Productions, Inc., Mon- day night, at the Mayfair Theatre. The cast includes Sylvia Meecher, Aileen Poe, Mary Moore, Mildred Kend, Barbara Weeks and Helen Gray, TUESDAY “A NIGHT IN SPAIN,” the new Shubert revue, will open Tuesday night at the 44th Street Theatre. The book is by Harold At- teridge; the music by Jean Schwartz and the lyrics by Al Bryant. The cast is headed by Phil Baker, Ted and Betty Healy, Georgie Price, Brennan & Rogers, Norma Terris, Grace Hayes, the Spanish danseuse, Helba Huara, Cortez and Peggy and Bartlett Simmons. “ELECTRA,” by Sophocles, will be given at two performances Tues- day and Wednesday nights at the Metropolitan Opera House. Margaret Auglin will play the principal role, THURSDAY : “TRIPLE CROSSED,” a mystery melodrama by F. S. Merlin, will be presented by Robert Rockmore Thursday night at the Morosco theatre, Robert Toms head the cast. Vera Maxwell, Frank Morton, Patricia Barron and LLL A Cnt E The Theatre Guild Acting Company in ALL NEXT WEEK “PYGMALION” GUILD THEATRE 62nd Street, West of Broadway. Eves at 8:30. Matinees THURSDAY and SATURDAY at 2:30. Week of May 9th-—-THE SECOND MAN Week of May 16th—PYGMALION “MR. PIM PASSES BY” GARRICK THEA. 65 W. 35th St. Evs. 8:30, Mats. Thurs, & Sat. 2:30. Week of May 9th—RIGHT YOU ARE Week of May 16th—-MR. PIM PASSES BY ALL NEXT WEEK NED McCOBB’S DAUGHTER © JOHN GOLDEN THEATRE, 58th St., East of B’way. Matinees THURSDAY & SATURDAY. | CIRCLE 5678 Week of May 9th—THE SILVER coRD Week of May 16th—NED McCOBB’S DAUGHTER $500 AWARD for the article of 200 words or less judged to be best on the play “The Ladder’. closes Monday at 10 a. m. do not like the play. “THE LADDER” Contest for fourth week Money refunded if you WALDORF THEATRE 50th St. E. of B’way—Mats. Wed. & Sat. 5S THEATRE, WEST 42d STREET. TIMES SQ. Eves. 8:30. Mats. Thurs. & Sat. 2:30. THIRD MONTH A. H. WOODS presen ts CRI By Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer with JAMES RENNIE & CHESTER MORRIS and CAST of 100 “A vivid, gripping and absorbing melodrama. fess that I enjoyed it as I haven't drama in seasons.” I con- enjoyed a melo- —Alan Dale, American. WALLACK’S West 42nd | Street Evenings 8:30. Mats. Tues., Wed., Thurs, and Sat. What Anne Brought Home carro. Vanities Ear Carro Thea., 7th Ave. & 60th St. l ll seats.” Thurs. & Sat, 2:36 MADISON SQ. GARDEN 49th and 50th ST. and Sth AVENUE N OW TWICE DAILY (EXCEPT SUN.) 2 AND 8 incl. among 10,000 marvels PAWAH the SACRED WHITE ELEPHANT ack, GREATEST FEATURE OF ALL TIME More People—More Acts—More Zoo- logical Rarities—More Freaks—More of Everything Than Ever Before ADMISSION to all ,U"°:, 75¢ to $3.50 (Incl.tax.) Children under 12 at reduced prices at all matinee performances, ex- cept Saturdays, to $1.10 seats and over. TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT GARDEN BOX OFFICES, Sth Avenue entrance, Branch Ticket Offices (Same Prices), GIMBEL BROS. and ABRAHAM & STRAUS, INC., BROOKLYN. Neighborhood Playhouse 466 Grand St. Drydock 17516 B. Every Eve. (except Mon.) Mat. Sat, ill of Lyric Drama Civic Repertory fof $,A%.,& 14,36 EVA LE GALLIENNE Tonight + “LA LOCANDIERA" Tomorrow Mat. . “TWELFTH NIGHT” Tomorrow Eve. .. “THREE SISTERS” Bronx Opera House ?{°t? , Street, K. of Pop. Prices, Mat, Wed. & —_— “ON APPROVAL” The Comedy Success sentiments MARTIN BECK PEATE 4 i Mats. Wed. and Sat. JED HARRIS Presents a Drama ‘SPREAD EAGLE’ ee