Evening Star Newspaper, September 30, 1923, Page 55

The Sunday Shar. WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 30, 1923. Current Attractions AT THE THEATERS THIS WEEK. NATIONAL—“The Last Warning,” melodrama of the old school with thrills brought up to date. Opens tomorrow evening. POLI'S—“For All of Us,” a new comedy written by William Hodge, who takes the leading role. Opens this cvening. PRESIDENT—“The Goldfish,” a comedy of New York Iffe. tomorrow evening. KEITH'S—Bert Lytell, in “Valiant.” afternoon. COSMOS—“Movie Masque,” vaudeville and motion pictures. Opens tomorrow afternoon. STRAND—“Battles of 1924,” vaudeville and motion pictures. Opens this afternoon. GAYETY—"Breezy Times,” burlesque. Opens this afternoon POLI'S—Irene Castle, in a dancing revue, Tuesday afternoon. Opens New show opens tomorrow ODOLPH VALENTINO, at the time of writing, is rather a back number in the motion picture world. At present. he is highly in vogue. Along with the coal miners, New York newspaper ‘hess- men, plasterers, bricklayers and other of the country’s oppressed, he is on strike. However, his is a one-man trade union, and he is buck- ing a fairly strong and well formed organization, and, although his hold- out is for a principle and not for higher wages ang shorter hours, never- NATIONAL—‘The Last Warning.’|acters. Iteterpsichorean features are ‘An old-fasniomed melodrama, some. | 2814 10 be brilllant and pleasing; and - : - | those who compose the cast of tha what_modernized, is the offering at S o laas ercast T ihe company, _including Vi AL the .National Theater for the coming pany ng Violet Morley theless it has relegated him to the realm of exhibition dancing, and his admirers will sce him in no new plays for a period of five yéars or so. No one is a forgotten hero, however, as long as he can keep himself talked about, and Rodolph is the center of many dicussions along the Rialto these days, principally as to whether he will come back, who will take his place or if his type as the favorite among the movie fans will die a natural death. With the continuation of “Scaramouche,” thegfilm ver$ion of Saba- tini's romantic novel of the French revolution, for two more weeks at the Belasco, this question of Valentino’s successor comes to the fore once more, as Ramon, Navarro, or Novarro, as he now decides his name is spelt, who plays the role of the dashing Andre-Louis Moreau, is one of the chief contenders for the crown. Whether or not he portrays the laughing, mocking Scaramouche true to life is beside the question. The fact remains that this is one of the very rare photoplays that has stayed on in Washington for a month at Broadway prices, and this indication of popularity should mean a boom for Novarro's fight for the champion- ship of the swarthy-skinned, black-haired “romantic-Spanish-lover” type of American screen idols. Along with Ramon Novarro, who hails from Mexico or Spain, as different stories indicate, there are many other foreign aspirants: Ivan Novello, Antonio Moreno, Rodney fa Rocque, Theodore Kosloff and a horde of others. With Rodolph's rapid rise to fame, making the so-called- sheik type popular, every steamer from foreign lands brought in some embryo Rodolph, hoping to gain similar success, just as the countless embr~o Mary Pickfords flocked to Hollywood during the days of her glory Some of the suave, mysterious brunettes have aped Valentino’s style, his manner, his expression, even his haircut, while others have gotten by on the general popularity of the type with their own individuality. At this late date, however, none can hope to become as well known on type alone and only superlative ability as an actor can bring the reward of the great, for the wind is beginning to shift. vamps may shine for a w! Some one of the Spanish-type male , but his career is apt to be short-lived. Just as the yellow, curly-headed, blue-eyed ingenue is giving way to her more sophisticated sisters, the Pola Negri type of beauty, as leading ladies on the screen, so, too, is the popular type of leading man changing, but in the opposite direction. Public taste is tiring of sheiks and de- manding “real American he-men,” or so at least the motion picture pro- ducers tell us. Clean-cut, square-jawed, regular men are to be the heroes of the silent drama in the near future, it seems. And just as professional base ball scouts scour the colleges for material, so are the movie direc- tors looking about in the universities of the country for likely young men to take up the movie career, with the hope of developing some of , them into “stars.” Perhaps the country, or rather the motion picture enthusiasts of the + country, have had enough of Valentino and his followers. Perhaps the film directors assume that the type is losing caste. directors are convincing the people they want a change. the change is coming, so prepare for it. fight with the producers has something to do with it. Perhaps the film Nevertheless Possibly Rodolph Valentino’s But it would be inconceivable to believe that the powers-that-be in the motion picture world would turn sentiment against many of their newly made headliners just to put Valentino out of the running. whole town to catch one fugitive. It would be like burning a evertheless, when the hero of “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” returns to the screen he is likely to find an entirely new set of leading men, with no empty berths for his ulinity.. * % .particular type of mas S * PEAKING of Rodolph Valentino’s masculinity, there is a story current along Broadway that would make one believe his prewess as an athlete is not restricted entirely to sham battles on the screen directed to make him come out an unscathed victor. It appears that of a recent evening in one of New York's bigger cafes the screen hero was made the butt of jibes and joshing as to his effeteness and dandyism by a group of former college students at an adjoining table. The story runs that the “kidding” finally became offensive to Valentino and he “called out” the most talkative of the party, a one-time Yale foot ball star, height six feet * two, weight 210, who gladly retired to a private dining room, where a ring was formed. Little is known of the actual combat, as Valentino had no seconds, but it is reported that the former gridiron star, nearly twice the size of his opponent, retired very ingloriously in an ambulance. Valentino, always popular with the feminine movie fans, has of late " made himself popular also with men, both in'and out of the profession in New York. They find him of a whole-hearted character, totally un- spoiled and not conceited by his success. Those that met him when in ‘Washington generally admitted that they were “agreeably surprised.” Whatever they expectéd they didn’t find, apparently. He came to America from Italy in the steerage, and his first job in this country was as waiter in a small restaurant, and yet the only outward reaction of his fame is “a deep feeling of gratitude, appreciation and sincere surprise.” % ¥ A % Ok indication of how far moving pictures are cutting in on legitimatey drama is found in the fact that “‘Scaramouche,” starting its third week at the Belasco at high prices, is still drawing larger audiences than any of the spokes word plays, notwithstanding the fact that the Shu- bert-Garrick is still closed and the theater season practically has just opened for the fall. However, the National, with the double at- traction of its beautiful mew building, which all of Washington was anxious to see, and a ridiculously laughable farce for a premier, was able to draw very good houses throughout the week. “Poli's, which was unable to attract any considerable part of the fheater-going public last week, will probably play to much larger houses during the coming week with ' William Hodge, very much a fayorite, with many, presenting his new three-act comedy, “For All of Us,” in which he plays the lead. The Shubert-Garrick will open its sedsor®October 8 with the Don Marquis comedy, “The Old Soak,” Harry Beresford taking the title part. S * % PEAKING of foreign invasions of the American dramatic field, the cele- brated Grand Gignol Players of Paris will descend on New York and make their American debut October 15, at the Frolic Theater, with a long series of short plays, all given in French. Russia, having completely cap- tivated Gotham last season with “something different” in amusement, France hopes to pull a similar coup this winter, and probably the thing to do will be to appear at. the Gignol Players regularly, whether one knows a word of French or not. The company, which has won interna- tional fame for the past thirty-five years, has a repertoire of one-act thrillers. The first week. the program will include “On the Bench,” “The Dead Rat, Room No. 6,” “The Night of Terror” and “The Star Role.” The second week “Madame, I'Love You,” “Crucified” and “The ‘Short Circuit” , will be presented. * X * * ASHINGTON will have its first glimpse of the New York Theater Guild when that company, on tour for the first time, will play at the Belasco the week of October 15. Washington is fortunate in being one of the ten cities in which these players, who have created such comment in the past few years in New York, will appear. Out of an ex- tended repertoire of successful plays,-mostly foreign, the-guild has chosen The Devil's Disciple,” “Peer Gynt” and “He Who Gets Slapped” to be herc, Basil Sydney portraying the leading characters. PHILIP- (- KAUEFMANN, 1 SH- Columbra William Hodge Tells How He Writes Plays Aside from being a clever actor, William Hodge, who is starring this year in his new vehicle, a three-act comedy drama of New York life, en- titled “For All of Us” which comes to Poli’s this week preparatory to its New York premiere, is a novelist and dramatist of no mean ability. Mr. Hodge in discussing the art of play- | writing recently disclosed some ex- ceptionally interesting facts regard- ing his methods of writing for the stage. “I mever write a scenario as do some dramatists,” s=ald Mr. Hodge. “Instead, I make a mental scenario which I never forget. By doing this, I never have to rely on typewriter, or peneil and paper. No matter where I may be—on the stage, in my dressing room or in bed—I can revise my scenario, making mental notes which I never forget. When the actual work on the play | 1 have planned is begun, 1 start right off with the opening speech and go through with the acts from the r of the curtain to the finale, and it is| seldom that 1 have to make a change of any importance in my manuscript after I have started it. “I always avoid unnecessary com- plications, as.I do not believe that they are at all essential to the suc- cess of a dramatic work—that is, not | too many. It is best to keep on the main theme at all times. 1 generally devote the hours from midnight to 2 o'cléck in the mornipng to actual Composition, and the next day, after a night's sleep over my story f fill in the dlalogue and detalls. I divide my day with this ork, and letter writing and reading.” Mr. Hodge has two novels to his credit. Ram's Head Repertory. Robert Bell, director of the Ram's Head Players, who has just returned to the city to prepare definite plans for the opening of the Ram's Head Theater soon, has in mind for this season the accomplishment of a real “repertory” theater—a thing which as yet has not been done even by the Theater Guild of New York, most suc- cessful of all Little theaters in this country. o It is Mr. Bell's idea to present dur- ing the season, in addition to six new plays that have not been done ‘in Washington, at least two of last sea- son's plays, and to continue this method each year until the Ram's Head Players actually have formed a library of produced plays that may be presented at any tim Sabatini to Be Here. Rafael Sabatini, the Italian-Ameri- can author who wrote “Scaramouche,” is coming. to Washington soon. He arrived in New York this week pri- marily to attend the premiere of X Mgram's version of his novel at the Forty-Fourth Street Theater. Inci- dentally, he will oversee the arrange- ments now being made to produce a stage play from-his book drama. Arrangements are now being made for his extensive entertainment dur- ing & two-day Washington visit. Scese d('nom “Tie MoNBEYS PAW Crandalls s : * RAMON NOVARRO- Belasco | ; EVELYN CUNNINGHAM | Gayety | Photoplays James C.MORTON Strand This Week AT THE PHOTOPLAY HOUSES THIS WEEK. BELASCO—Ramon Novarro, in “Scaramouche.” METROPOLITAN—“Rupert of Hentzau,” featuring Lew Cody and laire Windsor. RIALTO—“The Eternal Three,” a Marshall Neilan picture. | | COLUMBIA—Mae Marsh, in ‘The White Rose,” a D. W. Griffith picture PALACE—Elaine Hammerstein, in | i BELASCO—“Scaramouche.” Rex Ingram's film version of Rafael Sabatini’s famous novel, “Scara- | mouche,” begins the third week of | its Washington engagement with the i matinee at the Belasco today. This massive production, which is said to have cost nearly $1,000,000 to produce .and _enlists the services of ,over 10,000 extras in the screening of the fall of the Bastille and other stirring scenes incidental to the French revolution, has drawn patron- age, that has demanded an extended run, Ramon Novarro, whose sterling per- formance as the romantic hero has won universal acclaim; Lewis Stone, ,a brilliant character actor, and Alice j Terry, the beautiful feminine star. all command._attention in_the thrilling moments that are unreeled as Sa- | batini’s thrilling story becomes life on ! the silver sheet., . A symphony orchestra of thirty pieces interprets the speclal score under the direction of Thomas J. Gan- non, Metro director of music for ‘Washington. 7 During the Washington engagemen dally matinees are given at 2:30 P.m. METROPOLITAN — “Rupert of Hentzan.” “Rupert of Hentzau” Sir Anthony Hope's romantic sequel to “The Pris- oner of Zenda will be the principal attraction at the Metropolitan Theater for the week beginning this after- noon at 3 o'clock. One unbroken succession of tense situations and passages of vivid ac- tion are said to mark the unfolding of this panorama on the screen. The list of players who appear in the im- portant _characters include Bert Lytell, who plays both King Rudolph and Rassendyll; Elaine Hammerstein, as a radiant queen and Claire Wind- sor. Lew Cody Is a suavely sinister Hentzau and Hobart Bosworth the masterful Sapt, with Irving Cum- mings, Bryant Washburn, Elmo Lin- coln, Nigel De Bru.u;r, Gertrude Astor, { Eternal 1 “Broadway Gold.” AMBASSADOR—Sir Anthony Hope's “Rupert of Hentzau.” Adolphe Menjou, Marjorie Josephine Crowell and others. In “Rupert of Hentzau” the settings are gorgeous in their beauty, with ac- tion of the most exciting sort in all parts of the screen at once. The final dueling scenes in which Rassendyll out-swords Hentzau are splendidly executed and Lew Cody's final scene as the outwitted villain is done with & touch that actually arouses sym- pathy for the scoundrel, who has fought hard to drag a lady's name in the dust. The major attraction is of such length that the supplementary offer- ings have been considerably curtailed. The Metropolitan Symphony, under the conductorship of Daniel Breeskin, will render only a brief symphonic prelude. RIALTO—Marshall Neilan’s “The Eternal Three.” A new motion picture, directed by Marshall _ Neilan, _entitled, “The Three,” ~written by Mr. Veilan himself, will be the feature at he Rialto Theater. for the week, beginning today. It tells an engrossing tale of @ great surgeon, whose foster son falls in love with the surgeon's young wife and fascinates her. On his way to elope with her the son is injured and only- an operation by the fa- mous surgeon can save him. The surgeon loves his wife, the ethics of his profession demand that he perform the operation and seemingly Testore his forter son to lifo—and to his own wife—when" a slip of the Knife, which no one would detect, would put the boy forever out of the way. What did he do? Mr. Heilan's denoument to the problem is said to form an intensely exciting finale. The cast includes Hobart Bosworth as the surgton, Claire Windsor as his wite and Raymond Griffith as the son. Other players are Bessie Love, Tom Gallery, Alec. Francis, .Geo: Cooper, Willlam Norris, Helen Lyne Daw, Cosmos | Lullan Leighton, Peaches Jackson and Victory Bateman. | "The production was photographed in Mexico and this country and is re-! | plete with beautiful exterior | scenes. The program of subsidiary attrac- tions also promises to be exception- ally interesting, introducing the first |of a new series of Hal Roach come- i i vhich the adventures of Spat Family” will be depicted, e premier offering being entitled, ‘Let's Build.” An exclusive showing of the latest Fox News, together with first pictures of the Japanese disas- o will complete this portion of the many | COLUMBIA—“The White Rose.” | The latest D: W. Grifith screen | masterpiece will be given its pre- | miere Washington presentation when | Columbia Theater presents, beginning | this afternqon, “The White Rose,” a |story of beauty and power, which | comes direct to Washington from a New York engagement, where it was presented at $2 prices. Mr. Griffith’s latest cinema concep- tion is rendered doubly notable by reason of the fact that it brings about the reappearance on the screen of Mae Marsh, the girl star of “The | Birth of a Nation,” “Intolerance” and | other' famous Griffith masterpieces, who will be seen in the stellar role of this tale of the old south, supported | by Ivor Novello, Griffith’s new leading | man, as well as Carol Dempster, Neil | Hamilton and others. |""A youth of high family and circum- | stance in the south is preparing for | the ministry and is to marry a girl of equal family importange in his own | neighborhood. v | Meanwhile there emerges from an | orphanage a slip of a girl who must |make her way unaided in the world. | The student preacher meets her and | their friendliness ripens into Some- | thing deeper and the divinity student flooes from his charmer. Then the world moves on in its cycle of woe. He is about to wed the maiden of his own circle when the wanderer with her child happens into his_locality. The denouement of this delicate story of ennobling love progresses in a most gripping manner ‘and there comes a meeting becween the pair in a lowly shanty, which is said to rank with any scene ever shown on:the screen. The picture is made additionally notable by its splendid atmospheric | musical score, arranged by Joseph | Carl Breil, who cbmposed the inter- | nationally’ famous musical score of “The Birth of a Nation.” PALACE—Elaine Hammerstein in “Broadway Gold.” Elaine Hammerstein, great-grand- daughter of the famous New York grand opera impresario and one of the most appealing stars of the silver sheet, will make her bow as an independent photoplay producer in “‘Broadway Gold,” a dramatic tale of Broadway night life, which will begin a week's engagement this afternoon at the Palace Theater with a cast inciuding Elliott Dexter and Kathlyn Willlams. ‘The picture is an elaborate screen adaptation of W. Carey Wonderley's story. It is sald to be a very faithful and true recital of life 'among the habitues of Broadway's exotic night life. {*Into this swirling vortex of gayety and unconventionalities a young and un- sophisticated girl is thrown by the force of circumstances. The narrative deals with temptations, adventures, loves and final escape from her environment. . Other members of the cast includé Richard Wayne, Harold Goodwin, Harry Northrup, as well as Henry Barrows. “Broadway Gold” will be supple- mented by a notable array of added screen and musical attractions, includ- ing & new .Tuxedo comedy, “Handy Anay": Pathie News views, Topics of the y and®*a symphonic overture and musical score by the Palace Symphony Orchestra. AMBASSADOR—“Rupert of Hent- zaun.” “Rupert of Hentzau,” Sir Anthony Hope's romance of Ruritania, the beautiful queen, the profligate king and a _valorous Britisher, will be shown the first two days of this week at the Ambassador Theater. begin- ning this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Tuesday and Wednesday will be shown for the first time in Washing- ton, Katherine MacDonald, in “The Scarlet Lily,” in_ which she is ad- mirably supported by Stuart Holmes. “East Side, West Side” will be the subject given its premiere at the Am- bassador, Thursday and Friday, with Kenneth Harlan and Efleen Percy. Saturday, Herbert Rawlinson will 4Continyed on Third Paged W, week, beginning tomorrow night, in “The Last Warning,” a _thriiler, smacking very much of the Nick Carter novels of a past generation, with suspense and hair-raising epi- sodes profusely interspersed in an in- tricate plot. The plot of “The Last Warning.” as a matter of fact, is, according to New York eritics, sound. 1t is, therefore, a_double pattern, being a complete in a play, a mystery with st of characters and the! first play that has had a real theater for a mystery background. The original story of “The Last Warning” was taken from the novel| dsworth Camp’s “The House of which Thomas F. Fallon in-| geniously dramatized. it has to do with the experiences of a group of actors who have been engaged to ap- pear in a haunted theater in a play that is shrouded in a murder m; v As the play progresses one se the inner side of stage life revealed in earnest and straightforward fash- ion. The actors are engaged; they barter about salaries; they attenq re- hearsals and finally appear In the ac- tual play in special costumes and be- fore unusual settings. And all the while that they are. faithfully attend- ing to their work the mystery in the background is ruthlessly progressing ngulfing them all in terror and my tery and completely mystifying each | one in turn . ‘The cast Jessie Bus Ruth_Sa jordon, Clarence Derwent, Louise| White, Irene Hom@r, Frank Harvey, | Victor R. Beecroft, J. S. urray, John Moore, John T. Hall, John T.| Carey, William Pike and others POLI'S—Leo Ditrichstein in “Right Is Might.” “Right Is Might,” written over 300 years ago by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, the great Spanish dramatist, and assumed by authorities as one of the greatest of all time, opens at Poli’s October 8, with Leo Ditrich- stein in the leading role. Calderon wrote this play for the court of Philip IV of Spain. and we can imagine in the first audience the gorgeous artificial nobility of the age of Spanish supremacy and pos- Iy Calderon's cotemporary, Ve- quez, the greatest of all painters. Right Is Might” is an example of Calderon's belief that man is the re- cipient of honor at his birth and must preserve it intact and defend it until death. Mr. Ditrichstein figures as the domi- fiating character, Crespo, who moves with charm and power through vivid scenes where brave men are driven to prayer and cowards are frightened into drunken courage. We live with him in Spain itself—the Spain of yes- terday, today and tomorrow. We live in erowds of warring. chiding, woo- ing, loving, praying, alarming hordes of human beings. 3 We think of Spain in reading of her as a country wreathed in delicate mists, but Mr. Ditrichstein presents her in “Righf Is Might” in full glory and shadow. He is supported by a company of sixty people. The spien- dor of the production is enhanced by its lvric beauty, this being supplied by music and songs of old Spain. THE PRESIDENT—The Goldfish.’ The President Players will present for the week beginning tomorrow night at $:20 “The Goldfish,” Mar- jorie Rambeau's brilliant and em- phatic New York stage success. The President production of “The Gold- fish” has been staged by Harry Man- ners and it affords Miss Edith King, leading woman of the President Players, with what is probably the finest role of her career here in stock. Mr. John Litel, leading man, will also have a role of splendid possibilities. “The Goldfish” is said to lend itself ideally to stock portrayal and will afford the members of the local com- pany unusyal opportunity to dis Hheir nistrionic talonta > 0 4P1aY The story of “The Goldfish” is that of a young woman, once a salesgirl, who ‘leaves her husband, a song | plugger, in search of social advance- | ment. He is superseded by a dull, | middie-aged business man, who In turn gives way to a captain of industry. Left a widow, the heroine deter- miges on a duke and has him won. Suddenly she realizes that all this 1s mere tinsel and none of it compares with the love of 4 good man. Putting on the simple little frock she had worn in the days of her poverty and happiness, she calls back her first husband, * With a glorifled smile sho alls out of the social register a back into his arms. . . The cast will inelude John Litel, | Edith King, Bunice Hunt, Adrian Morgan, Leo Lindhard, Agnés Grant, Helen Travers, J. Irving White, Wal- | ter Marshall, Gustave Bowhan. | * === KEITH'S—Bert Lytell. Having completed in Rome screening of “The Eternal City,” Bert Lytell, upon his return to the United States, decided to return to the speak- ing stage for a few weeks, and appears this coming week, beginning tomorrow faternoon, at 'Keith's in “Valianti,” the Robert Middlemas and Holworthy Hall playlet, his support- ing cast inciuding Mary Carroll, Frederick Burton and John Maurice Sullivan. After his six weeks in vaudeville he will return to the film ' studios to do “The Flaming Forest.” He will be-recalled for his splendid characterizations in “The Lone Wolf. {“Kick In,” “To Have and to Hol “Rupert of Hentzau,” “Alias Jimmy Valentine,” and “Lombardi, Ltd." Joseph Fejer, native of Budapest and_musician extraordinary, brings as his chief offering and the added attraction his Hungarian orchestra, of the hotel Vandebilt in New York city during the winter and of New- port in_ the summer. Bela Nyary, also of Budapest, is featured with hls cymbalom. oking down the list, one finds a delightful coterie of assisting artists “acts, including “D. D. the famous anonymous dealer in sophisti- cated humor; Eddle Weber and Marion Ridnor, the charming, “Just & Couple of Nifties”; Ned Norworth, the come- dlan and composer, in songs and yarns. assisted by Zoe Howell; Sylvia Loyal and her original company 'in “La Charmeuse de Pigeons”; Ross and Edwards, the two “Bull-Garlans”; and Maggio Clifton and company, in artistic posing and balancing, as'well as the regular Keith pictorial fea- tures. COSMOS—“Movie Masque.” Beasley, . Richard includes the One of the really unique headliners of the new season, “Movie Masque,” a creation of Maurice Golden, late of the Boston Grand Operas who with his company will present it at the Cosmos Theater this week, beginning with the matinee tomorrow, will pre- sent the names and faces of many gelebrities - of flmland in its char< | in Georg Harriette Brendel, “Voice from Holly wood,” and Joseph Del Puente, declared all artists. The Barrys and the Woolfords, in “The Past, Present and Future Gen- eratiéns of Vaudeville,” wilF bring a special feature with two famous the- atrical families in an interesting pro- gram, showing the development of singing, comedy and dancing in popu- lar entertainment. Other: o erwin Kell Olog: inging girl in the ups and downs eyelin McFarlane d Pal- ace, in “Volumes of Harmony with a pleasing touch of comedy, and milton and Jack Barnes, in edition of “Just Jun." 1-Jewel's great super-pro- duction, Merry-Go-Round,” featuring the gifted littlo Mary Philbin and the handsome Norman Kerry, in the ro- mance of a little organ grinder at the Prater, Vienna's famous Coney Island and the aid of the Kmperor of Austri th a story symbolic of life itse with its turns and twists, especially as it was developed in the world war, will be this week's feature film. This great picture was shown in Washing- ton only recently at much higher prices than the Cosmos exacts for its elaborate double entertainment, which will be supplemented further with amusing two-reel comedy and the mous Movie Chats The performan p.m a pretty tod will present t last week, headeéd by “Flashes F Songland. o of the best mus headliners in many moons. STRAND—James C. Morton and Family. James C. Morton, of an old stage family and a star of several years standing, seems destined to cause stage history to repeat itself in the matter of promoting a family of fu- ture actors, as Mr. Morton, assisted by his family of three—Mamie, Edna and Alfred Morton—will present a variety and travesty speclalty, en- titled “The Battles of 1 " at the Strand Theater all wes beginning today, the act being the featured at- traction of what promises to be a well rounded vaudeville and picture pro- gram. Others appearing on the vaudeville bill include the Br ¥ Barlows in sensational Davis, a dark kni Felix Bernard and writer of “Dardanella” and “The Son Demon,” respectively; and as an added attraction, the Homer Sisters and company, in *A Vaudeville Sym- phony,” with Billie Kamena at the piano, g Thé photodranifitic attraction will be Miriam Cooper, Norman Kerry and Martha Mansfield, in “Is Mone Everything.” The story concerns & man “who is a fine, lovable husband until the mania for gold takes pos- session of him. Then home, wife, love are all forgotten, the craving for money and power absorbing his whole being until his wife comes to the rescue and by a desperate r which ruins them financially saves Lusband for home and love. GAYETY—*“Breezy Times. The Gayety Theater for the cor week, beginning with today's mati nee, presents “Breezy Times,” in tw big’ acts with ten scenes and m: musical numbers. ~The -comedy ment is predominant in each s Edwin Hanford, author of burle and musical comedy book w “Breezy Times,” and Aurelia Cocei: stages the many musical numbers The “Breezy Times" company is a capable one and includes Eillly C B den and Sidney Taye, Don Tren rie Allen, Edythe Murray, E Cunningham, Fred Reebe, G Leon and Charles (Tramp) McNally There are fourteen or more musical numbers in the show and about many changes of costumes, wWhich displayed to advantageous effect upon chorus selected not only for ability but for youthfulness and good loc as well. ~ Gales of laughter arc pre: ised the audience at “Breezy Tinies.” as it is spontaneous in humor, spar- kling in its lights, colors and sottir and full of actlon. —_— Irene Castle. Irene Castle, dancing star and war worker, fashion ang moving picture star, is booked to appear at Poli's Theater in one afternoon perfor- mance Tuesday at 2:30 o'clock. Mrs. Castle is surgrounded by a com- pany of artists, including Duke Yell- man and his orchestra, and her en- tertainment takes form of a musical, dancing and fashion revue. As one of the first exponents of modern dancing, the management of Mrs. Castle promises for this engag ment not only’a revue of the dan ing sensations of pre-war and post- armistice times, but some novel crea tions of very recent date. The Yellman music, although cap- able of jazz interpretation, Is sald to show some futuristic possibilities, with the rhythm of syncopation and the welrd moan of the saxophone and yet with a more quiet, more melodic and harmonic finish that is supposed to set the pace for the newer dance music. As a fashion exponent, Mrs. Castle will bring to Washington the,very latest creations for the theater, the dance, all of which she has brought with her from Paris especially for this tour. % Sir Johp Martin-Harvey Final arrangements have been com- pleted between Lee Shubert and B. E. Lang, American representative of Sir John Martin-Harvey, for the latter to open his local engagement, which has been limited to four weeks and a half, at the Century Theater, Qctober 2. The English star and his entire Lon- don company of forty will arrive on the Adriatic October 22. Prof. Gilbert Murray's translation of Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex,” which was originally produced by Sir John Martin-Harvey at Covent Garden Opera House, London, in conjunction with Max_Relnhardt, has been se- lected as the opening play. “The Taming of the Shrew,” Mae- terlinck’s “The Burgomaster of Stile- monde,” “Via Crucis” and “Hamlet” will also be presented. Sir John is scheduled to appear al in Boston, Montreal, Tofonto and Chi- cago. y. starting a fine bill Car- velyn orgd Arabic segms to have made a re- spectable invasion of the stage this season in “The Lullaby” Edward Kloblock’s new play. Florence Reed, the star, has at least twenty-seven speeches in that language, amounting to about 238 different words,