Evening Star Newspaper, June 21, 1925, Page 53

Theaters ELORENCE VIDOR The Sunday Star Automob MORNING, JUNE ‘ i iles clropo/d&w.’\ 2 JETTA GOUDAL Palace. /| L1SIE < = & WILLIAMS, Garle Teaier ‘\"Q "Cgf/ p}lotoplays This Week At the Photoplay Houses This Week VIRGINIA VALLI, ralto. METROPOLITAN—"Chickie.” Shown this afternoon and evening PALACE—"The Spaniard.” Shown this afternoon and evening RIALTO—"Up the Ladder.” Shown this afternoon and evening. COLUMBIA—"Grounds for Divorce:,” Shown this afternoon evening. TIVOLI—"I Want My Man.” EARLE ROOF—"Declasse. AMBASSADOR—"Chickie. CENTRAL—"The Beautiful Sinner.” evening. LINCOLN (colored)—“My Son.” Columbia. La Motte Turns to Burlesque HE many friends of Ira J. La Motte will no doubt be pleased to hear that “Ira” has been appointed by Sam Scribner, president of the Co- lumbia Amusement Co. of New York, as the Washington representative of the Columbia Burlesque interests here. Mr. La Motte will be residefit man ager of the Gavety Theater on Ninth street, the Washington home of Co- | lumbia Burlesque, and of the Presi- SR dent Theater on Pennsylvania avenue. | ETROPOLITAN—"Chickie. | kado | Wwhich is also owned by the Columbia | «(hickie Johi rancia: Dhion “T, I_r;,l > ement Co. | he Bu 5 €0IEHo by ihe b % | Amusement €0, @+ was born in Wis. | Picturization of the celebrated news:| iy pe greatest, the best, ‘the most unique.’ the unapproachable.” And from | 3 z oy consin, and has been i m;- u;l:u‘n ical | paper ,\;»rmlrl.;!ul'\ ..{\"\,.’\:.:':‘1 ::xmth;x( i | rofessio since is oyvhoo avs. | name ) Zlenore Meh K e past experience :t is#elieved to be safe to predict that the run of pictures k‘{,Z',;."‘ < u:rinnv?l\\«; i ’(‘hux':::.\n( shown this week at Crandall's Metro and of plays will size up about as they have in past seasons. As a matter | and Shown this afternoon and evening. Shown this afternoon and evening. Shown this afternoon and evening. Shown this aiternoon and News andComme nt By W.H. Landuofgt. PITE the popular predilection for the superlative, this is a very | good season to be wary of adjectives. Shown this afternoon and evening. and the interpretative setting its recurrent theme “Rose in * by Foster. The exit march bow.” a new song hit From the present outlook ! almost every new picture and every new play ANNE CORNWALL. PALACE—"The Spaniard.” vivid tale of love and daring ro combining rare thrills rdo Cortez, Jetta A mance, | the booking department of Charles | politan Theater, b x:inl\\pg this after-| e s e e Frohman's attractions for three vears |noon. The title role is plaved by | budded, blossomed and died long. long ago. Only the ordinary, the mediocre and the with an occasional variation to the passably good, can possibly remain to be disclosed to public view, both on the usual, eoInbassador | | | Cenitral at the Auditorinm Theater in Chicago. His next venture was as lessee and manager of the old Schiller Theater, now the Shubert-Garrick, in Chicago. Then he produced several road suc- Dorpthy Mackaill, supported by John | Bowe! with Hobart Bosworth, Gladys Brockwell. Paul Nicholson, | Myrtle Stedman, Olive Tell and Lora | | Sonderson. The comedy for the week | is “Circus Fever' and features the | featuring F dal, Noah Beery and Emily The Spaniard” will be presented at Loew's Palace this week ‘The Spaniard” flashes from semi- medieval Spain to the brilliant social of lLondon and contrasts screen and on the stage. i something really great turns up to discount | : i ™ l.a Motte was manager of the |juvenile rascals known as “Our|courts reasonable anticipation it is going to be a surprise and as such the more polis Theater in New York for |Gang.” The Metropolitan World Sur | glittering fashionable l»'u"kzrmmm iwo vears: of the famous Hippodrome | vey will be shown also against the barbaric struggle of two | torious, not through his own prowess, hut because Ethel is satisfied with his keenly relished because unexpected. While the weather is not hot, there are times w to have a only between the regnlars and the independents members of the put the thermometer up against the entertéfnment imagination and apply hen it does grow warm, and in spite of the fact that we are “Greater Movie Season.” with the keeuest of competition. not but between individual val groups. it will help a great deal in keeping cool to the ice bag according to indications new thing under the Without straining the memory to answer the question, it is good to remember what it implies. Aiaie sun. MATTHE Butter and Egg Man,” the first individual effort in a full-length comedy announced for George S. Kauiman since he drifted away from the collaborative cflort of Mare tryout at the Shubert-Belasco during the weck. It was sponsored by Crosby Gaige, whom rumor credits with being a silent partner and backer of the Selwyns. It is an exposition of the inner secrets of the producing world, and purports to disclose to public view 'the character of the men, manner and methods that are emploved to uphold art in the American theater. One should not forget, however, Mr. Kauiman's disposition to satirize. and therefore his wolf and lamb of the play-producing world e consciousness of a favor of exaggeration. And this applies also to the characters employed to tell the Helen's Babies once wanted to sce the wheels go ‘round at should received, as it were. with the amusing story. in a watch. Such is curiosity. But if those who are supposed to uphold o destroy the illusion of the stage, thus far, there is no constitu- Wise cracks make laughter, even if Wise cracks, tional amendment to prevent them. they do not rank high in literature. Yet one never can tell. and even an oath now the of mirth 3 put them structure, and even the foundations of dramatic art, which were erected by an effete past and have outlived their day are demolished, the sooner will the ground be prepared for the new temple. But it requires a won- derful amount of brains and skill to make a satisfactory new job. Yet, withal, “The Butter and Egg Man” did highly amuse a large Washington spirit s all means in—the soomer the super- audience. e DETERRED by the weather and the spirit of criticism, the National Theater Players bobbed up afresh with “The Best People,” courting comparison with a recent road production of the play. and report says they got away with it in great style. The aim of the players is to enter- tain, and they draw upon the best available plays and the conscientious, earnest efforts of the players to present them. It is a difficult task to periect a new production each week. It should be remembered that the Dlavers feel the genial warmth of the season guite as much as the chap who wants to know “Is it hot enough for you When all is considered, the stock efforts at the National have compared most favorably with the average road attraction that visits Washington. And it costs very much fees to enjoy its entertainment. . UNNING counter to the_current of the day, when everybody is aim- ing to produce wonderful, .big. things, William -Fox,.in. the pictffre ... Who was it that said, “There is no | Connelly, was given a Capital | d then from tough ladies also, seem to cater-to | ;Current Attractlons At the Theaters T}HS Week TIONAL—"The Whole Town's Talking,” comedy row evening. KEITH S—Ina Claire, vaudeville. Opens this afternoon. WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM—"The Mikado,” light opera. tomorrow evening. CENTRAL HIGH AUDITORIUM evening. EARLE—Robert N Opens tomor- Opens “The Mikado.” Opens tomorrow McKim, vaudeville. Opens this afternoon. of his business partner. Chester is a shrinking violet and an unpretty one There isn't a vestige of romance ap- peal about him, from the crown of his uncombed head to the run-down heels Ethel confesses a liking a hus | NATIONAL—*“The Whole i Talking.” | Of the scores of stage plays writ- | ten around the motion picture game, | {but two have been accorded outstand- ing success, “Merton of the Movies' and “The Whole Town's Talking." The latter will be presented, com- mencing ‘Monday night, at the Na tional Theater, the popular com | pany of players there under direétion 'of Clifford Brouke. John Emerson and Anita Loos who have won fame and fortune writing scenarios, {the authors, and theh thorough | | knowledge of the fiim world, aside | from their deftness in contriving {situations and. funny diglogue, have | mude the play & success. forced to “fight it out” in the dark | Chester Binney, a kind but crude|Jjust as a real movie hero, defending ndusky, Ohio, is eager | his honor. At the end of the comic | merchant in $ to marry Kthel Simmons, daughter contest, however, he emerges vic- Town's | of his shoes. for him but she demands fi band a man who has “lived with a past, vividly scarlet, if possible Hoping to please her, Chester invenis a past for himself, inscribing the back of a movie queen's photograph with subtle references to the “happy, hec tic Hollywood hou he had spent ! with her. Ethel ix duly impressed {until the screen vamp known as Letty Lythe, appears on the scene, accom panfed by her director and fiance |large, pugnacious gentleman and in- | tensely jealous. Chester, exposed in the fraudulent manufacture of his hectic past, is by are world, is devoting his best energies to the improvement of the littie things. In a word, Mr. Fox is announcing the most ambitious programi of his career in the short reel field. His carefully chosen subjects will be given a dignity and an importarce heretofore unknown in this class of picture. His short subjects have been divided into six groups; which will include two-reel comedies based on the rollicking Van Bibber stories by Richard Harding Davis; two reel stories taken from O. Henry's works, pictures taken from stories by Mabel Urner on “The Married Life of Helen and Warren,” another -group “made from the funniest stories ob- tainable,” a group of one-reel pictures taken from all parts of the world n science, exploration, invention, the arts and adventure, and the one- reel screen newspaper. There is every reason to believe that this venture will match in success and finapcial return anything that Mr. Fox might produce with the trials and kriangles of modern life in high | dramatic form. The moments of real bliss are brief, very brief. Why | shou!d .not moments of real enjoyment in the matter of entertainment Ibe likewise? There are thousands who would rather be amused with J\;mlr or five excellent short reels than with the most pretentious screen rama. ! | who has invented sev alor and the curtain descends on an uy rious situation Minor Watson is deemed to posse: every requisite in clowning possibili ties for the Binney role and Leneta hel, while the screen in Pittsburgh; of the Lafavette Opera House, Washington, D. C., for five ears und of the Shubert-Belasco | Theater, Washington, D. C., for three | years. The past two years have been | devoted to motion picture work in | Hollywood and Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. La Motte has spent about 20 | vears of his voung life in this city. He was one of the first motion picture exhibitors of Washington. He is a of a number of local and including the Wash- Sk, al good imper- sonations of this type. KEITH'S—Ina ¢ Ina Claire, “America’s foremost comedienne,” will headline the bill at B. F. Keith's Theater this week in a new one-act comedy entitled “Right You Are,” written by Gene Markey. Miss Claire started her theatrical career in vaudeville at the age of 14. All the world knows her status today Featured also will be a treat called “Memoriés,” presented by Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Bronner, famous dancers. It is a collection or resume of the most successful efforts from their Broadway productions. Other attractions will be Shaw and Lee, “nature’s gifts,” in a 12.minute | offering of humor of the ‘nutty” brand: “A Rollicking What Not.” pre. sented by Jack McLallen and Sarah, remarkable roller skaters, who this season offer also comedy, song and dance, presented in a novel and ar- tistic ~manner; Hugh Skelley and Emma Heit and company in song studies and character delinerations; Josephine Harmon and George Sands in a song offering, “We and Us.” and the Fitz Sisters, A Southern Duo" in new songs to follow Bononia, Italy’s unique musiclan. Screen features in- clude Aesop's Fables, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News. > ington Lodge of WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM The Gilbert and Sullivan opera, ““Mi- kado,” will be sung at the new Wash- ington Auditorium this week by the Washington Opera Co., with Robinson Newbold in the role of Ko Ko, the lord high executioner: Sudworth Frasier as Nanki Pooh, Francis Tyler as the Mi- kado, Helena Morill. as Yum Yum and Agusta Spette and Adelaide Newman as the other two of the three little maids from school, Henry Rabke and Eieanore Lamance as Pish Tush and Katisha, respectively H AUDITORIUM. 'he Mikado” will be the offering of “The Washingtonians,” under the direction of Rollin Bond, also, at the Central High Auditorfum, with El- lott Thorndike ax Ko Ko, M. Harry Stevens as Nanki Pooh, Frank Duggan as Pooh Bah, Wesley B. Peck- ham as the Mikado, Royal M. Tinker as Pish Tush, Estelle Murray as Yum Yum, Gladys and Gale Hunt as Pitti Sing ‘and Peep Bo, and Jeanne Gordon as Katlsha. MONG the superlative incidents of recent occurrence is the signing of a five-year contract by Florenz Ziegfeld to produce for Famous Players-Lasky, on the screen, of course, the same type of productions that have made Ziegfeld famous for lavish entertainment. The pictures will be produced, a la Shubert, “under the personal supervision of Mr. Ziegield,” and will include many of the Ziegfeld stars and stage beauties. The first will be titled “Glorifying the American Girl.” "Meanwhile the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio has barred “The Birth of a Nation” from the screen on the ground that “it is not true to history, portrays scenes of crime and appeals to race prejudice,” and the good old song, threadbare with age, “Asleep in the Deep,” is to be put upon the silver sheet with staid old New Bedford as a background. P HE drift toward greatness also is manifesting itself in anather direc- tion—an insidious drive toward higher prices. For instance. the recent film production of “The Merry Widow,” according to Film Daily. will be offered by Metro-Goldwyn at the new Emhassy Theater in New York at a top price of $2 a seat. It would seem from this that the more bitter the fight of competition the less the public is likely to benefit. These is much hokum in the movie world outside the pictures. ot il MRS R - s el Sk s e e *hickie” concerns a young e- | | nographer whose mother encourages | ‘h?l to seek the company of the very | | rich, even to take part in swift parties | | at the home of a profligate millionaire. | The subsequent developments all but wrecked the modest home of the pov- | erty-pinched Bryces, but in the end | the lad to whose stanchness Chickie had pinned her faith made good. The production is a First National release. The overture for the week will com- prise melody gems from ‘“The Mi- EARLE—Robert - McKim. Robert McKim, known as one of the best of screen ‘‘villians,” heads the program which opens today with a matinee at 3. Mr. McKim has ap- peared in the support of the greater majority of the picture sta his most recent succe: being with Dougla Fairbanks in “The Mark of Zorro. His vaudeville vehicle is “The Bache- lor's Bride” written by M Elsie | who also appears the sketch with Mr. McKim. In addition there will be Neptune and His Bathing Girls, offering based on the Atlantic Pageants, its principal plaver being Jack Delange, the original ruler of the boardwal Following will be the Hebrew character comedian, Ben ‘Welch, who is blind. but who con tinues te bring laughter to vaudeville patrons throughout the land. Other features will include Emma O’Nell, monologuist, “The High Brown Flapper'': Sevmour and Howard in “20th Centurg Love,” and “Vim, Beauty and Health” described as one of oddest and unique turns now in vaudeville. Conway Tearle is the featured player on the screen in “School for Wives,” film version of the novel “The House of Lynch." in King | An City MAYFLOWER GARDENS. The Mayflower Gardens are attract- ing the exclusive element in Washing- ton. Its highly colorful Spencer Tupman Mayflower Orchestra and smart art cabaret are competing for attention at this resort which boasts |of a steadily maintained temperature |of 70 degrees. Modernistic effects in jazz ‘juggling |are featured and the Tupman orches- |tra has rapidly forged to the front |as one of the cieverest in the country In creating the Mavflower Gardens, the very newest dance resort idea has heen followed—that of placing a Summer retreat under the hotel in- stead of on the roof. . | will be the photopla | Rialto this week | disgr conrageous effort toreador to zirl from The where bull fights and the of a nationally famous rescue a beautiful English the hands of Spanish bandits second stage shifts Spain the girl has gone on visit and where the Spaniard lures her to an ancient castle only o have her stolen through the plottings of an unfaithful guide with a gang of bandits. Turning rescuer on the instant, he bests the bandits in a thrilling fight in which he is wounded. The next day he es says a bull fight and sinks fainting to the ground after the contest. The tremendous play of her emotions over comes the girl and leads to a happy climax. An Earle Foxe comedy called “The Amateur Detective,” the Pathe news reel. Topics of the Day, the Palace magazine and Tom Gannon's orches tral music will be other featuree. RIALTO—"Vp the Ladder.” Virginia Calli in “Up the Ladder." attraction at the An adaption of Owen Davis' playv and tells the story of a woman whe through self denial boots the man she loves to the heights of fame and | power. In a_ denouement. novel and dra matic, he is discovered in a love tri angle with a vamp and is saved from ce by the loyalty of the woman whom he had left behind at the bot- tom of the ladder in his scramble to success. The extra attraction will be the Seven Brown Girls, coming direct from, engagements in the larger pic- ture theaters in Philadelphia and New York City, who will offer a musical act entitled “A Symphony in Tone and Color.” The Rialto Orchestra, under Mischa Guterson, will play for the overture Strauss’ “Tales From the Vienna Wood: A comedy, “What Price Goofy” and the Interna- tional News will complete the pro- grom. COLUMBIA—"Grounds for Divoree.” “Grounds for Divorce,” the bright and breezy comedy of marriage by Ernest Vajda, author of “Fata Mor- gana” and ‘The Harem," has been adapted to the screen by Paramgunt with a cast that includes Florence Vidor, Matt Moore, lLouise Fazenda and Harry Myers. It will be given its first showing here this afternoon at Loew's Columbia Theater. Guy Bolton. the celebrated play- wright, made the adaptation and Paul Bern, director of “The Dressmaker of "7 (Contipued on Third Pagey)