Evening Star Newspaper, December 23, 1923, Page 47

AMUSEMENTS. News andComment By W. H. Landvoigt. HE COVERED WAGON," probably the most notable product of the screen when its value from a patriotic standpoint is considered, is necaring the close of its engagement in the - National Capital. Capacity audiences at almost every show- ing have testified to the interest which has been aroused by this great American epic, regardless of the fact that it has been shown necessarily, because of its extraordinary cost, at the prices charged for the regular road attraction of the theater. The picture has been viewed and reviewed from many angles, and always to its advantage. In view of this fact and also because of the wide appeal that has been made with its characters taken from the class of men who made America what it is today, there will be regret that its now famous director, James Cruze, has abandoned his purpose to produce a continuance of the story of the building of the west in the propesed production “North of Thirty-six.” There have been attempts to imitate “The Covered Wagon,” and the voice of the press exploiter has been mingled with the opinions of the critics, but none seem to have affected the interest, ever-growing, in Mr. Cruze's first really great picture. It is a verdict favorable to the photoplay, of course, but of far greater significance in indicating that Americans of the present day ¢ are moved with admiration by the accomplishments of the sturdy builders | of the great west, and admiration is a step toward emulation of their example, which is, and always will b¥, the aeed of this wonderful republic, | if it is to endure as its founders made it. . ) * Kk ok ok UST why a disgruntled critic of the movies should compare the indus- try with “Woman" is difficult to comprehend, even if he is at odds with both. But a recent communication from such a critic, after copiously quoting from the poets and the prose writers who have poured forth lines divinely inspired and others diabolically conceived, in compliment to, or of grievance against, *Woman,” complacently ejaculates, “Take it all in all, how like is woman to the movies!” He then proceeds to recite a story of the recent activities, not of “Woman,” but of the photoplay industry. “The industry is reforming, you know,” he say “Tom Ince is breaking loose with a great epic, ‘The Last Frontier, to match ‘The Covered Wagon,’ and yet in another part of his lot he is creating ‘The Galloping Fish,” with a diving Venus act that promises, with its bathing beauties, tc make Flo Ziegfeld look green with envy. In another part of his labora- tory he is constructing the South Sea Islands for a new ‘drama.’ branch of the producing end of Associated First National is quarreling with itself because the new and original stories sent it do not exceed 3000 words in length, which is not long enough to develop characters and atmosphere. Inspiration Pictures is lauding ‘The White Sister,” Lil- lian Gish's new exotic, because it is the only one made entirely in Europe with American players, which has run four months in New York, while David Wark Griffith is going to work all Christmas day filming Christmas scenes for his new production, ‘America.’ Goldwyn is going to use 35,000 Italian fascisti as extras in ‘Ben Hur,' and Elinor Glyn, after a generation “or more, is now engaged in proving that ‘Three Weeks' was written for its moral lesson. Emmett Flynn, a Goldwyn director, who recently made In the Palace of the King,''is now striving for fame with a production oi ‘Nellie, the Beautiful ‘Cloak Model’ No wonder Famous Players- Lasky shut down.” This remarkable kick ends with the query, “Is it want of brains or want of co-ordination in decent effort that ails the movies? % Kk % ERBERT BRENON, who has been directing Pola Negri m “Shadows . of Paris,” and who directed Nazimova in “War Brides,” her first picture, is quoted as saying: “They are, by a long way, the most superbly capable artists who have ever visited this country.” Tall talk when it is recailed that Duse is now in this country, and that Bernhardt and a host of other stars of the first magnitude also have visited America. * k¥ X “*T)ON'T CALL IT LOVE,” William de Mille's production of “Rita _Coventry,” Julian Street's story, it is said, will introduce technique.” Much of the story will be suggested by the action, rather than by subtitles, Mr. de Mille and Clara Beranger, who adapted the story to the screen, having succeeded in reducing the number of titles to ?_bpu! half those_ usually found in a film production, and in eliminating all “time and place” titles. “a new ¥ ¥ ¥ ok HE local photoplay theaters have all made preparations for exhibitions in the afterncon of Christmas day, and many of them for i . 1 ¥ matin showings the entire week. ) = PhotoplaysThisWeek At the Photoplay Houses This Week. PALACE—Mary Pickford, in “Rosita.” evening. METROPOLITAN—Booth Tarkington’s “Boy of Mine.” this afternoon and evening. RIALTO—Kathleen Norris’ “Lucretia Lombard.” Shown this after- noon and evening. COLUMBIA—"His Children’s Children.” evening. AMBASSADOR—“Boy of Mine.” Shown this afternoon and Shown Shown this afternoon and Al i‘the barefoot boy’ ning. Shown this afternoon and eve- CENTRAL—"“The Spider and the Rose.” Shown this afternoon and evening. CRANDALL'S—“Why Worry? Shown this afternoon and even Palace—Mary Pickford in “Rosita.” An outstanding photoplay event of Christmas week in Washington will be the showing at Loew's Palace, be- ginning this afternoon, of Mary Pick- ford’s latest picture, “Rosita which is fairly studded with the names of the dramatically elect and which fs s2id to have proved a great success in New York and other cities where it has already been shown. “Rosita™ represents the first ap- pearance of the incomparable Mary under the directoral guidance of Er- nest Lubitsch, the noted continental director, who attained international fame through his -productions of Passion,” ~ “Deception/’ “Gypsy Blood" and other picture productions and who is credited with having “dis- covered” the radiant Pola Negri. Holbrook Blinn. a finished and forceful actor, will be seen with Miss Pickford in an important role. The cast also includes George Walsh, Irene Rich, Charles Belcher, Frank Leigh, Mme. Mathilde Comont, George Pe- riolat and Bert Sprotte. All this literary and dramatic dis- tinction, however, is second in im- portance, it would seem, to the fact that in “Rosita,” Mary Pickford has finally abandoned the type of charac- ter in which she has won her great success in photoplay work and now will be seen in the radiant role of a beauty of old Spain, whose prankish song of the relgning Spanish monarch and his amorous tendencies involves her with the authorities, attracts the attention and then the iove of a no- bleman and involves the two in a web of court intr.gue. Added screen features, with musical ¢mbellishment by the orchestra under Thomas Gannon will complete the ill. Metropolitan—Tarkington's, “Boy of Mine." J. K. McDonald’s production for Pirst National of Booth Tarkington's “Boy of Mine,” will be the attraction of Christmas week at Crandail's Met- Topolitan Theater, beginning this afternoon, to, her with new two- reel release, “No Loafing,” featuring “Poodles” Hannaford, famous clown, the Metropolitan World Survey and a musical program arranged by Daniel Breeskin, including a “Santa Claus overture, “Just a Girl That Men For- get” and the orchestral score for accompaniment of the feature and an extra march. In “Boy of Mine" the foremost roles are played by Ben Alexander, Henry B. Walthall, Irene Rich, Rockcliffe Fellowes and Dot Farley. The story is_ a gimple, direct, moving record of life in a typical American family. Tuesday the Metropolitan will ob- serve the Sunday schedule,’ doors opening at 2:30 and first performance continuous from 3 to closing at 11 pom. Other days of the week show- hgs run from 11 am. to 11 p.m. Rialto—"Lucretia Lombard" Spiey with the scent of pine, holly and other Yuletide decorations, with ~ bigger Christmas tree than ever, with more lights glowing and more interesting and amusing features in the toy village, Which spreads below it. than ever -before, Moore's Rialto Theater wiil open its doors today with J Adventures in the Far North.” ing. @ special holiday bill of fine enter- ta!;mem, he major offering. a photoplay, “Lucretla Lombard,” 18 sald to be far out of the beaten track. dealing with | youthful faiths and fancles diverted by the grim touch of fate. It is a screen adaptation of Kathleen Norris' “best seller.” and its cast is headed by Irene Rich and Monte Blue. It is the story of a woman who marries a man older than herself to gratify her mother's vanity and am- bitions for a titled daughter. After seven years of loveless and forlorn marriage, catering to the whims of an Invalld. death comes and frees the wife. She meets a family grou Judge Winship, his wife, his precty ward Mimi, his two sons, Fred and Stephen, the iatter a district attorney. Mimi loves Stephen, but Stephen is ir- resistibly drawn to Lucretia and she to him.” He marries Mimi suddenly when his jealousy feeds on a chance conversatfon between Lucretia and his brother Fred. The scenes show how fate takes a hand. 7 lSuY;sld;nry feature atest of Hal Roach's Spat Famil comedies, “Roughing It": & speclal Christmas offering, entitled “A Little Friend to All the Worl the Fox News and orchestral music. Signor Arsino Ralon, concert master and vio- lin soloist of the Rialto orchestra, will play “Roses of Picardy,” by Hay- den-Wood, and a musical oddity, From the Canebrake.” Columbia—"His Children's Children.” A fascinating drama of modern America is promised this week at Loew's Columbia, _beginning this afternoon in Sam' Wood's picturix tion of “His Children's Children,” t novel by Arthuur Train, with a cast Including Bebe Danlels, a star in her own right, Mary Eaton, seen at th ational last week in Dorothy Mackalll, leorge ‘awcett, Hamlliton, Katheryn Lean, ' Mahion H milton, arner Oland, Lawrence D'Orsay a H. Cooper-Cliffe. visng Monte M. Katterjohn adapted the story to the screen and In it, the au- thor has propounded the momentous query of our vanishing ideals and the reason for their steady dissipation in the chase of the almighty dollar. It deals with the follies of sophisticated modern society and of the home life of a mother and father who indulge in wasteful pleasures and permit their children to pursue equally va- grant and ruinous fancles. Director Wood has embellished his picture with scenes of Broadway’ midnight revelr: There will be added screen offer- ings and Director Brusilof has a: ranged an orchestral overture and musical setting for the picture. Ambassador—'Boy of Mine' " the screen version of Booth Tarkington's story will be shown also today and tomorrow to- gether with “No LP“II " the comedy featuring “Poodles” Hannaford, news pictures and orchestral music _at Crandall's Ambassador Theater, be- ginning this afternoon at 3; Tuesday and Wednesday, Kenneth Harlan and will include the Rennie, Virginian,” a picturization of the fa- mous novel and play by Owen Wis- ter, with Hal Roach's new Dippy- (Continued on Fourth Page.) THE SUNDAY / | ALEXANDER- » + Metropolitan ax £\ SYLVIA BREAMER -Strand ]‘;olmes' Switzerland' Tuday: Burton Holmes' fifth _ travelogue in this city will concern Switzerland, the great playground of FEurope. now thronged again with tourists and pleasure seekers as in the days before the war. No other country in Europe, it is claimed, offers a richer return to the traveler than Switzerland. The name of every Swiss beauty spof is Sug- gestive of inspiring grandeur or thrilling sports, or recalls delightful memories. ~ Geneva, Bern, Lucerne, the Jungfrau, Zermatt, the Matter- horn, Mont Rost—these and many other well-known names conjure up a delightful two hours’ travel in the company of Burton Holmes. ¥Glorious Switzerland” " will be presented at the National Theater this afternoon at 3:30, and again in the evening at 8:30. The Barefoot Boy. 'HE BAREFOOT BOY' proves conclusively,” says John Bow- ers, the screen star, who appears in the picture, “that no economic or social condition matters half so much in American life as our own ‘younger gen- eration.’ It is essential for the future happiness and prosperity of our coun- try that our young people start life with clean, fing ideals, based on right living and right thinking. It is the boy from the soll who starts life unhandi- capped. “One need but scan the pages of our historles to discover that it is the country boy who has won out oftener than his city brother. Abraham Lin- coln is the first and finest example of s and place for himself in this world second to none. Warren Harding was another. Mussolinl {s another. Al though he may not be regarded as a heroic figure by many, yet no one can contend but that he is a fi reckoned with very seriou: world's affairs.” = y the J¥ view of Arthur Hopkins' presen- tation of John Barrymore in “Hamlet” at Poll's Theater the week beginning Monday, January 7, it is interesting to note that the try-out of the play was far from encouraging and the monetary returns were in- deed meagre. This event, however, did not take place at Stamford, White Plains or Perth Amboy, but occurred when the value of a dollar was exempli- fled by the purchase of Manhattan Isiand for twenty-four dollars. But In spite of this, the manage- ment of the theater at Newington Butts, England, was very much dis- j gruntied, when on June 9, 1594, a play of Hamlet was presented and their share of the gross receipts was only nine shillings. At this time, “my lord admirell men and my lord cham- berlen men” were playing together at that Theater; the latter of whom was the company to which Shake- speare belonged. The play seems to have had a lot of rough edges, but Mr. Thomas Lodge, about this time considered the offering of considerable merit to write a tract on the subject, en- titled, “Wits Misery, or the World's WITH a performance of Count Alexel Tolstoy's speotacular his- torical tragedy, “Tsar Fyodor Ivano- vitch,” the Moscow Art Theater Com- pany will begin a local engagement at Poli's Theater January 21. The performance will be given exactly as in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Berlin, Prague and Parls. All the original settings and costumes will be brought here, together with the company in charge of Constantin Stanislavsky, who is at its head on its American tour. Many of the costumes, with Tich brocades and handtooled armor, are those which were worn by the orl, inals of the characters who appeared in the play, and which were handed down from’ generation to generation and finally bestowed upon the Moscow Art Theater by the imperial govern- y is given in five elaborately et acts, but has been curtailed in its as in its original form the tragedy is so long that it would be ‘Another New Gloria. A NEW Gloria Swanson is prom- ised In “The Humming Bird,” a story of intrigue, love, Paris apaches and war, which Sidney Olcott is now producing at the Paramount Long Island studio. In corduroy trousers, nondescript coat. checkered cap - and bandanns handkerchief she will appear on the screen as the rogue of the Paris Montmartre. In her dally work at the studio Miss Swanson is said to be as light-heart- ed and as carefree the part she is portraying. It s not uncommon to ee her perched on top of the baby who made a name | ire to be | TARE Central Jacrie COOGAN Ambassador BP0 _STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, DECEMBER 23, 1923—PART 3. MARY PICKFORD HaAroLD LLOYD- Crandsils Christmas Dinner at Strand LL the Christmas Yuletide spirit and good cheer noticeable around theaters at this time of year are not confined to the “front of the house” at some of them, for there is quite as much, if not| more, doing “back-stage” at the Strand, where an air of preparation | is quite perceptible. Decorations are going up. long ta- bles are being prepared ready for quick assembling, cutlery and table linen are being delivered, and rumor says that Tuesday morning hampers loaded with rich, brown. crisp roast ed turkeys, vegetables, sauces, fruits, | candies and all the fixin's will arriv. in readiness for the annual Christmae | decorations, Try-Out of Hamlet. dinner provided for all performe; Madness, Discovering the Incarnate Devils of the Age." The tragedy of Hamlet apparently had, in the eyes of those interested, reat possibilities as @ plece of thea- trical property. From what can be gleaned, one Thomas Kyd Is sald to have written the original version, It is not very improbable, following present-day procedure. ' that the management sald: ‘“‘Say, Tom, you've got a corking idea in this play, but why not let this young chap Bill Shapespeare rewrite it and we'll all make some money. We can't carry the overhead on any nine shillings a performance.” At any rate in the year 1600 the en- larged and improved version was pre- sented by the “Lord Chamberlain's Servante” and it is hoped that the manager's coffers were sufficiently enriched not only to compensate the management for their continued faith in the play, but also to put money into Shakespeare's purse. It Shakespeare were now to make his appearance on Broadway and de- mand his accrued royalty from the managers who have presented his works for the last two centuries or more, it might Indeed strain the re- sources of the United States Treasury Moscow Art Th_eater. to settle the damages. an_impossibility to present it in its entirety. Another feature of the engagement will be the production of Maxim Gorky’'s masterplece, “The Lower Depths.” declared to be the most realistic drama of the modern Rus- sian school, which has been pro- nounced perfect by the cognoscent of practically every land. Its types are those who live in the lowest strata of soclety, and the episodes de- | the theater picted manifest the poverty and degradation that enter into the exist- ence of the Russian meaner classes. As a picture of life this drama of Gorky's has been acclaimed to be un- rivaled In the dramatic literature of any country. ‘A a relief to the more somber plays Anton_Tchekhoff's “The Cherry Or- Chard,” will be presented. This is a comedy, but neverthel almost prophetic in its adumbrations of the terrible calamities which were to be- fall the nation of Russia in the world war. Other plays which will be seen include “Ivanoft” and “The Brothers azofl.” R aih The entire first line of the company will be seen in the various play grand plano, which stands at the side of the set, singing a French song, or flopped on the floor off in a corner oying the privileges that come ;:{yywil;h boy’'s clothes. At another time she will be dancing the jig ulcl.l:lltlc ‘ol‘h!he 1 l‘trs urchin she is playing in the picture. She rl declared the typical apache flaunting her deviltry before the very flf‘flle agents of police. Her infectious humor, quaint antics and daring bravado during the filming of the plcture have a most stirring ap- peal. “The Show-Oft." a comedy by George Kelly, author of “The Torch- bearers,” will open in Atlantic City January 14 and is scheduled for New York in February. Stewart and French are the producers, stage crew and emploves by Strand management. Christmas is one of the hardest days in the year for those connected with It js the one day of all the year when every man, woman and child likes to be at home. But the the | public demands “on with the pl the amusement world. Manager Spar- row has to heed this demand, but he does the next best thing. he makes his theater as near homelike as pos- sible for those who cannot be at their own fireside, and then gives plavers, stage hands and employes, as far as he can, “all the comforts of home.” Many letters from performers and others testify enjoyed in past years, especlally to the joys of the Christmas dinner pro- vided at the Strand. This year's spread. it is said, prom- es to be the best ye (0] picturization of Emerson Hough's|the aythor, novel, “The Covered Wagon," executive committee of the Chicago Historical Society has made a speclal exhibition illustrating the period of the great wagon trains in the au- ditorfum of the society’s building, at | the corner of Dearborn and Ontario | streets. The exhibition consists of a Cones- toga wagon, built in 1811 and used for many years on the western trails, handmade plows, implements, uten- sils and furniture of the ploneer period. These objects were assem- bled and placed by members of the society, and will remain a feature of the museum for several months. An interesting point in connection to Strand hospitality | | Wagon.” Palace. 1 Sceste frome I “Tiie COVERED WAGON" Pohi Galsworthy‘s Favorite Theme. OHN GALSWORTHY liked th theme of “The First and the La 50 well that he used it three separate times—as the fundamental theme in an abbreviated short story, in a three-act stage play and in a much longer story, which fell just short of the short novel length. It was published in a magazine several years ago and caught the at- | tention of Joseph Henabery, who is now producing it as “The Stranger. In adapting the Galsworthy stor: to the screen Ralph Block and Ed frid Bingham have elected to follow the narrative story in preference to the stage play. in which the character of “The Stranger” does not appear in person, but is only referred to by the other characters. Paid to Play Picnic. UST to think of paying 500 chil- dren to attend a picnic! That's just what Sam Wood did for a chil- dren’s May party in Central Park, New York. which was staged for scenes in “His Children's Children.” With the 500 youngsters as a nu- cleus and a merry-go-round, a trick mule, a performing monkey, a Punch- and-Judy show. & hot dog stand. ice cream and gimcracks of all kinds as magnets, there was little trouble in drawing every kid within calling | distance of the Casino into the pic- ture. In fact, the party grew to such proportions within fifteen min- utes after the ten slght-seeing busses | had deposited the children on the | plenic ground that Mr. Wood and his} assistants had a difficult time han- dling the uproarious bunch. Historical Society Exhibits Wagon Train, account of the interest in plo- | with this exhibition and its relation neering days awakened by the |t0 “The Covered Wagon" lies in the fact that the late Emerson Hough, was a frequent visitor the | at the museum and library of the his- torical society and gathered there much of the historical data that he used so skilifully in “The Covered It is quite reasonable to conjecture that one of the massive plows seen in.the exhibition gave to Mr. Hough the idea of the char- acter to Capt. Wingate, to whom the plow is a symbol of civilization “The pick and shovel never develop- ed a country,” says Wingate. “What you need is a plow.” In the library of society are many brooks that prove the authenticity of the details of the story, as well as of the picture. Mr. Hough was thoroughly familiar with these volumes, and a search through them would doubtless re- veal the genesis of many of the epi- sodes of “The Covered Wagon.” Lucile Watson. TO_speak of a plaver as a Ciyde Fitch actress means little or nothing to the average seat holder in the theaters nowadays, for time speeds apace in the world of the stage and Fitch's brilllant talent was snuffed out before his time, many years ago. As a dramatist, Fitch knew women. Half of the feminine players in the country were ever pleading with him for parts or hoping that the lightning of his favor might strike them. Some of them It did strike and he wrote with them directly in ylew—not stars only, but lesser lights of every magnitude. Ong of Fitch’s ever reliable players was JLuctle Watson who, currently as the sympathetic, understandin, never-grow-old wife, in “You and I, in which H. B. Warner is starring, is sald to glow with brilllancy. Fitch made an_early discovery of her flair for brittle comedy. She was then acting her first professional part in “Hearts Aflame,” in which were Aubrey Boucicauit, Mrs. Felix Morri; Bijou Fernandez and Arnold Daly. Rialto Fairyland. THE Risito Christmas tree has come to be an annual institution and is looked forward to expectantly by its patrons. Towering thirty or more feet in the spacious lobby, the glittering mass of green pine and rainbow colors at. tracts great crowds all during the hollday period. Each year, under the direction and through the work of Phillip Chipman, chief electrician, a toy village has grown and expanded until it now occupies a space ap- proximately twelve feet long by seven feet wide, and contains almost every .|feature possessed by any modern town, with everything in it operated and illuminated by electricity, cot- tages, town hall, raliroad station, hes, fountains, the town pump. water works and a grist m A beautitul lake is stocked with smell fish to add to the realism of the min- It was Daly who induced Fitch to attend a performance for the pur- pose of observing the voung Cana- dian girl's way with a small part. (Her father was a major in the British army and she was born in Quebec.) Fitch immediately put her in "The Girl With the Green Eyes," and, delighted with her performance in_that play, wrote a part for her in “Glad of It ss Watson then went with Willle Collier in_¥The Dictator.” married Rockliffe Fellowes ar¥l retired from the stage, only to return a vear later to act with Margaret Anglin in Hartley Manners' play, called “Zira." During_the run of this play in Chi- ago, Miss Anglin brought out Wil- liam Vaughn Moody's “The Sabine Woman,” with Miss Watson In the cast. The play was subsequently re- vised and renamed “The Great Divide,” as which it became one of the milestones along the uplifted pathway of the American drama. She then returned and acted w Ethel Barrymore in “Captain Jink and in ‘Her Sister” after which v member of the cast in “The Clyde Fitch's last contribu- tion 'to the stage. tature Rialto Toyland. The outskirts of the town are equally charming, with the tunnels for the electric rail- road, pastures with cattle grazing and other rural scenes. Placing the tree in position and decorating it means a whole night of eady labor for Mr. Chipman and two assistants. — Irene Bordoni has hit upon a prac- tical scheme for deflecting business to charity. She Is collecting the quarters and dollars sent to her with requests for her photograph and giving the money to the New York French day nursery. Arrangements have been completed by Brock Pemberton for bringing to this country Arnold Korff, a Viennese actor of high standing abroad, im a cycle Pirandello plays. AMUSEMENTS. 3 Hollywood Gossip Picture People Going Into Politics—Cruze Passes Up “North of Thirty-six"—Mae Busch Now a Star. BY HALLETT ABEND. Spectal Correspondence of The Star. LOS ANGELES, December 21.—For the first time in the history of the clty, motion picture people are about to head and help organize a political movement. The new move of the leaders and members of the Indus try find picturedom almost a unit in the decision to help the liberal-mind- ed people of the city put through a recall petition forcing a change in the city ordinance which prohibits dancing after midnight. The Hotel! Men’s Association and the Association of Cafe Owners is back of the move, as are many ministers and civic or- ganizations. The old ordinance was mot oppres- sive, because heretofore the police commissioners have always auto- matically granted an extension of time for big private balls and char- ity affairs, but the new commission members began a more rigid policy by refusing an extension for the an- nual ball of the Motion Picture Di- rectors’ Association as charity. It is one of the big society events of the vear. This has resulted in the hold- | ing of innumerable indignation meet- ings by all kinds of organizations and, it s believed, will figure largely in next spring's municipal elections. Paris Resort n Setting. Conway Tearle will appear oppo- site Corinne Griffith in “Lilies of the Field,” which Francis Dillon will di- rect. The famous “Le Chat Black Cat Cafe of Paris duplicated at Universal of the settings for “Hands Dark. Ralph Block, for the last year edi- tor and production supervisor fo the Famous Players-Lasky Compa: has issued a statement to the effect) that it is absurd to spend more than $125,000 on any photoplay. He in- sists that the salvation of the in- dustry lies in stopping the filming of novels and stage plays. save in cases of unusual adaptability, and using instead picturable stories writ- | espectally for the screen. igrid Holmquist, whose nent contract has expired. New York to make a film eastern organization. i vuagram'x; is expected to increase production, for Alfred Smith, president, has just_returned from a ‘two-month | tour of Europe and announces a speed- | ing up at the west coast studios. Cruse Abandons Plan. James Cruse, who was to have made a tremendous outdoor picture akin to| “The Covered Wagon," but based upon | Emerson Hough's “North of Thirty six, * announces that this plan has| been abandoned and that instead I|r“ will next film Booth Tarkington's 1 ““Magnolia. ! (r}avgwxe ‘A. Siegmann, brutal villain | of “Merry-Go-Round,” appears to have | played tho part in his home lif too, | according to testimony given by Mar- guerite Webb Siegmann, his wife, in divorce court here. he was awarded a decree. Black ey throwing of flatirons and dishes, were a few of the things Mrs. Slegmann charged against her husband, who. she said, makes $500 a week. A property settlement was arranged out of court. They were mar- ried six years ago. | Alyce Mills is to be leading woman Noir* or} being’ as one in thel| perma- left for | for an | 2 character part for most of the film’ and ‘then in the end proves to be the hero and leading man. ; im Summerville and Bobby Dunn’ ' have begun making a series of one- reel comedies for Universal The casi for Laurett version of “Happiness,” being ma at the Metro lot here, has been com- pleted by the addition of Hedda Hop- per. Edith Yorke, Cyril ‘had wick Patterson Dial and Lawrence Grant Mae Murray and her husband and < director, Robert Leonard, have re turned to Hollywood after a confer ence in San Francisco with Vicente Blasco Ibanez, who is writing a_spe clal sto for Miss Murray Whil the script is being prepared Miss Mu ray vill film ‘Mademoiseile Mtd- night,” work upon which is beginning. Conway Tearle will go to New Yor in February to confer with a Broad- way producer about a brief return to the speaking stage in a play nov being written. He s now working in_“Lillfes of the Fleld.” Lloyd Hughes and his wife, Gloria Hope. may take a4 month’'s round-the world cruise, n ing short moti plctures at different ports of Interes: Atlantic steamship companies ar financing the project and specis stories are being written to fit e new location. M 'y Philbin's Next. Claude Gillingwater has been i gaged for the part of Mary Philbin grandfather in “The Inheritor. ‘ which will be directed by King Bag gott. The story is by I. A. R. Wyli and has to do with dife in an old lish castle stripped by the pove: of its owners of all save the glamour of romance. The baron's granddau ter finally becomes a Gayety girl London Yakima” Canutt, champlon rodeo rider of the west has been added to the cast of “The Riddle Rider,” the new serial being made at Universal City by Willlam Desmond and Eileen edgwick. The Goldwyn Pictures Corporat has purchased the film rights to Bandolero,” a novel by Paul Wynue The story is lafd In Spain_and the film may be made there. Tom Ter- ris, director of “The Heart of Mar) land” and “The Lion and the Mouse has been engaged to direct the pi ture. Plays in “The Miracle.” Orville Caldwell, who appeared i films here following his New Yorl stage success in “Mecca,’ his Hollywood foothiil home and w return to New York to appear op posite Lady Diana Manners in_th: Morrts Gest production of “The Mir e - Mason has completed a Wil- _Fox picture called “South Se: Tom Geraghty has been enga prepare the script for Glorla son’s next picture. To Film Aztec Rulns. A group of scientists and adve turers recently left here for south Mexico to make motion plctures ¢ the ruins of Aztec cities and art ob- Jects. Capt. D. H Corlett heads the expedition, for which W. J. Beckway is camera man Cecil B. De Mille has been elected vice president of the Commercial Na- tional Bank He is also director of the Bank of Italy and of the Trust and vings Bank of Hollywood and a heavy stockholder in the Biltmore a new §7,000,000 hotel here, Herbert Standing, head of the fa wat for a new series of western film plays starring Franklin Farnum. | Winifred Dunn has been engaged to! make the screen adaptation of the Robert W. Service poem, “The Shoot- | ing of Dan McGrew.” in which Barbara | LaMarr will be starred Finis Fox and his companion. filming ! “The Woman Who Sinned,” chartered a vacht to go to the coast of Mexico to | make sea scenes. Garrett Elsden Fort tracted for by Truart scripts and stories. Seastrom’s First Effective. has been con- for work whom Chaplin called the world's greatest picture director, has shown me his first American film, “Name the | Man,” made for Goldwyns from Hall' Caine's story, “The Master of Seastrom is an undoubted addition to' the ranks of directors and takes place {at once with Lubitsch, Chaplin, Henley, ' being acted De Mille, Borzage and Neilan. His work is at once distinctive and powerful. He | has made of ‘“Name the Man" the best | Goldwyn picture I have seen since Pau- | line Frederick's “Madame X" of three Yyears ago. on} Man."" ' mous family of stage and screen actors of that name, died here at th. age of seventy-seven. He himse! was well known to stage and scr audlences. He leaves a widow Jean Standing: two daughte and Joan Standing, and five Wyndham and Herbert, jr. York, and Sir Guy, Percy and Audrey Standing of London Hank Mann, Snitzed Edwa Cissy Fitzgerald and Hugh Fay hav been added to the cast of “The Woman Who Sinned,” which is bei | directed and produced by Finis Fox. Victor Seastrom, the Swedish director ! John Griffith Wray is carrying a broken arm and his head cameraman Harry Sharp, is on crutches with i sprained ankle. Both were injured when a ‘reak wave caught and dashed th'n against a cliff at La- guna when they were filming a scenec for “Against the Rules,” which 1s by a cast headed 1 Leatrice Joy and Percy Marmont, ani has a South sea setting. Studio Lull Nearly Pant. Within six weeks the lull in the . studios here will be a thing of t} the historical | i_ By his expert direction he has raisedPast, and even within a fortnight Mae Busch from a featured plaver to a | there will be a gain in activity. The real star and has revealed her as an Robertson Cole studio will begin prv emotional actress of unusual power and l'"ducing on a large scale at onc lappeal. Seastrom has taken an old Metro. with only two companies story in a somber Islc of Man setting 'Working now, will be busy befor: and has made great drama of it by |Christmas, and Lasky's will hum |again about January 10. Meantime ! Universal producing briskly and L there are seven companies working which the piquant and blond star had:at the Willlam Fox.lot reeled off for me in a projection room | The cessation of production by sev- one afternoon last week. Miss Murray | eral of the larger companies will in- is getting entirely away from her ferky | evitably result in a famine of pro- dancing parts. In “Fashion Row” she gram and moderate-priced films. and plays a dual role. She is alternately a |as a result picture audiences, except fetching Russian actress who poses as:in first-run cities, will be seeing re- a gflncesl of\ the old regime and then|issues of past successes by March a Russian peasant girl and immigrant. | The costly feature length production: The actress and peasant girl are sis-lof this vear have reduced the usua jlers: The play contains emotion and production of five and six reel pic tragedy and Miss Murray handles both tures, and the slowing. down of pro extremely well. Like all of her plays, it duction here since early last montl is lavishly mounted and was directed will make the shortage acute. b} her husband, Robert Leonard. (Copyright. 1023, in United States and Grea Earle Fox, who made such a hit as the ‘RIRENG 103,00 Lhied Sates and Go villain in “A Lady of Quali plays Tinnce. Al rights reserved. ! Georg’ette Leblanc. EORGETTE LEBLANC made her operatic debut in Paris at the age of nineteen in Alfred Bruneau's L’Attaque du Moulin” at the Opera Comique. She astonished, captivated and triumphed from the very first night in the very difficult part. Al Paris was cele- brating the voung beginner. Her beaut extreme Brussels she had an unforgetable tr umph in “La Navarraise” of Mas senet. The composer himself ducted the first performance and the end of the drama an unprecedent ed event occurred. There were still two or three pages of music b the musicians of the orchestra we so greatly impressed by the young tragedienne that they discontinue playing and Massenet himself mained with baton In alr until the dropping of the curtain Soon after she sang “Carmen.” and ! created such a sensation that she gave special performances of this ' opera in all the European capitals. Then she appeared In “Thais” and Anatole France wrote: “I have secn in Georgette Leblanc the purest aud most perfect Tanagra.” Again she achieved a_triumph i Beethoven's “Fidello” in Brussels, for her classic style, and returning 1o Paris created the “Charlotte Corda: " of Alexander Georges to the amaz - ment of the critics. At the inauguration of the new Opera Comique the first performanc. was “Carmen,” and Georgette Leblan was chosen. This distinguished French singe and actress opened her American tou in San Francisco November 1. § will appear in Washington on Mon day evening. January 7, at the King Smith Studios. On MWer return (1 America Georgette Leblanc is havin the same remarkable success that h followed her: from the beginning o her career. Astonish- was still greater when it was learned that she had gone through no conserva- tory, had no famous teacher and that her family, one of the most distin- guished and wealthy in France. had Vainly attempted to impede her ex- ceptional artistic nature. B he mext season at La Monnaie In —The next season At A o — Charles Ogle. CHARLES OGLE, who plays the role of the honest but easily be-fooled leader of the caravan in “The Covered ‘Wagon,” was born in Ohio. His father, it is said, thought he ought to be a minister, but finally consented to let him study law. He recelved his A.B. and LL.B. degrees from the Unlversity of Illinois and practiced law in Chicago with success. But his real ambition was for the stage. Eventually he became an actor, appearing In support of Hilda Spong. About twelve vears ago he first acted for_the screen, in Bret Harte's ‘‘Luck of Roaring Cam) Since then he has never left the studios, being associated at different times with the Edison, Universal, Lasky, Artcraft and Para- mount companies. Most of his work recently has been for the Famous Players-Lasky. In the list are “Romance of the Red- ‘Rebecca of Sunnybrook The Sunset Trail.” “Mlise, *The Firefly of France.” "“The Source, G “Rimrock Jones,” “Wiid “The Valley of the Giants,” in the Hills."" Georgette Leblanc. DANCING. PROF. AND MRS, ACHER'S STUDIC, 10th n.w. Class Monday and Friday, 11 pm. ' Private lessons by appointment Phone Frankiin 8567 _Established 1900, 23% DAVISON’S Teach vou to dance cor rectly in a_ few lessons Prof. Mrs. Strictly private, any hour. 1320 M St.N.WW. Class and Dance Satur. Main 1782, day Evening with Orches tra. New Dances, “‘Bambalina Fox Trot" ai ““American Tango.”” All the latest variation s Fraoklin 1485-W. ___ No 6 Dupont Circie GLADYSE WILBUR Dupont Studio. Fancy, Tos Ballet, Ballroom, Ohildre MISS CHAPPELEAR Drivate lessons by appointment Phone North 5197. PP 615 Toin st L e ol . Catherine Balle, 719 9th St. N.W, Tesoons, Peiveie sl coen.” Betoort ratess M~ i