Evening Star Newspaper, November 22, 1925, Page 61

e ] The Sundy Star Part 3—12 Pages ——— WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY Using Money Instead of &'i}iacite. By Philander jo]mson. There is no more interesting en- tertainment viewed as an expressior of popular faste than the “Follies” from vear to vear. The public has learned to take Mr. Ziegicld very <eriously and there are many who attend the “Follies” almost in the <ame sense of duty that inspires the devout Mohammedan to make his pilgrimage to Mecca. Not to have an opinion as to the merits of an edition of the “Follies” in compari- son with its predecessors is to be unequipped for ordinary conversa- tion. When “Kid Boots” was here the announcement was made that there would be no more “Follies.” Nobody took it very much to heart hecause it seeméd incredible that so valuable a trade-mark should be abandoned. even® though the pro- ducer’s interest was evidently turn- ing to more consistent and legiti- mate forms of entertainment. of which _ “Louiec the Fourteenth” proved'so successiul an example. * k% ¥ Ziegfeld has been able to do serves to diminish his popularity. He is a sort of Santa Claus, a mental impression rather than a personal identity. who is credited with an annual Christmas tree filled with scenic confections dolls and jumping-jacks accom- panied by no end of lights and tinsel. Nothing Mr. * ok ok % There is no perfume so fascinat- ing in_its general appeal as the odor of burning money. When “The Comic Supplement”™ plaved here and issued its two-week notice, there was consternation at the contemptu ous extravagance with which so heavy an investment. quoted vari- ously from $100,000 up to hali a million, was to be sacrificed. The new edition of the “Follies” brought a sigh of relief, for all was not lost of “The Comic Supplement.” the sal- vage including W. C. Ficlds and sev- eral striking bits of scenery * o ox % While the public continues to hold its entertainment in a regard almost reverential. a regard . which no breach of propricty, however fla- grant, can scriously disturh, the theater attacks it<eilf in a vein of merciless satire. Mr. Dave Stamper seats himsclf modestly at the piano to accompany the buxom blonde who relates how she applied to Mr Ziegfeld ior the privilege of being “glorified.” Tt was a keen bit of satire directed to the almost hyster- ical irresponsibilities of the profes phrasc maker. One of the trenchant attacks on itself made by the theater when it closed in “A Begzar on Horse- hack™ an allegorical protest against the methods by which words and music are provided for the lyrical stage. The revelation of a dismal grind was calculated to disillusion the most loyal devotee of the synco- pated muse. An even more direct attack on itself was launched by the theater when “The Butter and Egg Man" revealed the playhouse some- what in the light of a three- card monte layout of a shel game. Nobody took offense, not even the well known manager, Mr. Al Woods, who was said to be the original of a managerial caricature. Apparently, human speeca means absolute’y nothing to the well sea soned theatricist, excepting as it mav be made to serve business pur- poses. How little orthography amonnts to i proved by the ability i Ray Daoley and Tom Lewis to Jd an audience amused by a serics sheer vocal incoherences, sional most oi The low estimate of popular taste prompted by the succe-~ of produc- tions which in one way or another defy standards of taste or propricty reacts with misfortune on many a good actor or producer. It does so m the case of Lionel Atwill, a first- rate player with a courageous sense | of initiative who, in endeavoring to | |lure the same crowds that enjoyed | “White Cargo.” sacrifices the appre- | ciation of those who have learned to |enjoy hic polished delineations * % ok % It seems heartiess to laugh at the | man with the pockethook. especially | when the langhing is done by the | producers, who should be the first to isalute him as an angel and minister lof grace. One of the most expert {money burners is Mr. Erich von | Stroheim, who at least avoids aggravating any pangs of purse he may create by an attitude of unfeel- ling jest. His photoplay “Foolish Wives” was filmed. refilmed. waste- basketed in huge sections and when at last completed cost such an enormous sum of money that many | went to see it hecause of the colossal statistics involved His “Merry Widow™ said to be the product of the same lavish system which proclaims Stroheim as a genius superior to considerations of money. | “The Merry Widow™” shakes off its musical envelope and proves a work >f considerable dramatic possibility. The music is not entirely sacrificed The organ patiently plods through it as various scenes unfo'd. There is a stroke of originality in “The Merry Widow™ film well worth viewing. Prince Danilo and his wicked rival represent the superb elegance that only aristocracy depicted in the theater can attain. | When the hated rival, having made | himself quite frec with the cham- pagne, flowers and love notes of | Prince Danilo, decides to take a nap the latter slips up behind him and puts flypaper on the pillow. It indeed colossal comedy to see a head destined for a crown thus adorned | In addition to being a truly excellent picture, “The Merry Widow™ is cu- titled to grateful remembrance having at last found a satisfactory substitute for the comedy custard pie is for {Noted Creator of Stage Sets. OHN WENGER has created scenic settings_for theaters throughout the United States, includinz the Met ropolitan Opera House, the Boston Opera House, the Ziegfeld Follies, George White Scandals and “Tip: Toes.” the new George Gershwin mu sical comedy |7 "Mr. Wenger recently designed the sets_for the open-air municipal opera at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn. and by his creations made it possible 1o make the seven necessary changes in “Aida.” which theretofore had never heen pre. ented outdoors. nt to Open January 1 ‘presxde SaM SCRIBNER, president of the company -that owns the Gayety and President theaters here, spent several days in Washington last | week conferring with Ira J. La Motte, | local manager of the Gavety Theater, regarding extensive alterations to be made at the President Theater, on Pennsylvania avenue. The exterior and interior of the Jobby of this theater will be remodeled ‘and a new front entrance will be pro- vided. Manager La Motte announces that the President Theater will open on | January 1. Th~ opening show will he a local presei ition of “Uncle Sam's Follies” hy i ornment employes in Id two weh ment, § AL ied | tortionist |HARRY © {ute with spar Laugh-Getting Easier. HE modern audience is fairly dy ing for a_chance to laugh.’ Andrew Toombs of “Tip-Toes you have to do Is to screw up face and the audience howls trouhle these dav: finding between the Lt check jokes “Now days in clothes savs “Al The, space the | is < to it was different in the olden Instead of heing able to appear that might once have fit human . and in one's natura] complexion. a comedian had to weat clothes which were supposed to be humorous and appear either in burned cork or with a lavish coating of red grease paint. He had to he ible to sing. dance. say pie do sleisht-of-hand, jugzle. take tickets ind play the bass drum “Nowadays comedians come on in 4 dress suit. like a waiter, wear only a genial smile vay of make-up, and vent to mild wheeze In the old days—the days” vou read about—the were one in a hundred of vour a laugh; nowadays you can't get from it “P. T. Barnum right as far as he went complete his story didn’t. 'l say for American people like really helieve we are nation on earth a wd old chances tin away may have bheen Rut he’didn’t Tong he that the laugh. 1 lauzhiest As him to the Pompadour Ballet. ME. ALBERTINA RASCH. whose American hallets are decorating revuesand vaudeville. recently launch her latest and loveliest on the Keith-Albee Circuit _under the title of “The Pompadour Ballet.” With the idea in mind for several months, she molded it into definite form during her trip abroad this Sum mer. Costumes and settings are in spired by the regal splendors of the court of Louls XV, There is a plot that takes the form of a reception and entertainment for Mme. Pompadour, during which are introduced exquisite ballet routines and specialty toe dancing by Evelyn G an eccentric dance by Ruth Matlock. and a dance of Japanese in- spiration by three charming young ladies. The climax of the entertain- ment is reached when a slave girl oree. daughter of an Arabian acro whom Mme. Rasch discovered #broad this Summer, performs a con dance which It is declared ,i% absolutely unequaled is Will Give Him Welcome. JARBOE, for many vears manager of the Gavety Theater. is coming back as the man 1zer of his own show next week. Modals and Thrills,” his new at- {traction, is sald to be up fo the min- ling novelties. scenery, electrical effects, comedians of young and pretty | costumes and a chorus zirls, Many friends of Mr. Jarhoe at the Government Printing Office, it is said. |ave arranging to attend the evening performance Tuesday, December 1, with a large delegation. W. D. Skeen has charge of the affair. Several local organizations of which Mr. Jarboe is a member also have taken the matter up and are going to extend the glad hand to him in a sim 1lar manner. Selma Lagerlof and the Screen. s SLMA LAGERIOF flashed into en prominence in Europe a few months ago, when her first novel that was pictured achieved a tremen- dous vogue. It was “Gosta Rerling's aga.” and its production by the Svenska Film Industrie of Stockholm is regarded as one of the finest of foreign-made pictures. Louis B. Mayer of the Metro Goldwyn-Mayer. organization in this country saw the Lagerlof story in screen form, and with true American initiative he sought out the writer and obtained the photoplay rights to a new novel called “The Kmperor of Portugallia.” On his return to Amer- ica he rechristened the story Tower of Lies' and set Victor strom. his Scandinavian director, work on the plece, with Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney as his stars. As Seastrom had been weaned away from directoral work in Sweden after he had made a big reputation with this same Svenska Film Industrie, it is putting it mildly to say that he was delighted with hg assignment, for Selma. Lagerlof is 2 household goddess lin Sweden. | W. H. Post, who will be seen as Pere Chevillon, the jolly old French priest, in “Seventh Heaven,” is draw- | ins fat royalties from ““The Vagabond King.” a current Broadway musical | | success. He collaborated with Brian | | Hooker iny adapting the play from Tustin Huntly McCarthy's story, “If I Were Kin, MORNING, NOVEMBER 29 1925. WILKINS Strand SABANIEVA- \Waskimtrom Auditorium. VIRGINIA GRELNL Current Attractions At the Theaters This Week. BELASCO- NATIONA POLI'S- this “Dancing Mbthers.” —Tip Toes." The Daughter of Rosie cvening musical KEITH'S—Justine Johnstone, vaudeville vaudeville aundeville. Y-—Sidman’s “Peek-a-Boo.” EARLE—Marion Wilkins, STRAND—Charles Foy GAYE MUTUAL—"Step Along.” HOWARD (colored)—"Hello, Dixi tomorrow afternoon Revue, v NATIONAL—"Tip-Toes.’ a new by Guy musical comedy, Rolton and Fred George Gershwin Gershwin. will be A axons and Vi . p-Toes. with hook Thompson, score and lyries by Ira presented by Alex A ton Freedley it the National Theater this week. opening Tuesday evening Incidentally. ““Tip-Toes” is by the same authors as the musical comedy, ‘Lady, Be Good,” which was recently presented here. Queenie Smith has the title role. l.ast season she was co-starred with Jack Donahue in “Be Yourself.” In the cast are Andrew Toombs, Allen Kearns, Harry Watson, jr., Jeannette MacDonaN, Lovey Lee, Ruby Keiler, specialty dancer, and_Victor Arden and Phil Ohman, recording planists. The score is said to he the most tuneful in several seasons. John Wenger, well known scenic artist, designed the settings, and a sorgeous array of gowns displayed by the chorus, represent the work of Kiviette, the fashion creator. Sammy Lee arranged the dances and ensem- bles, and an enlarged orchestra will be conducted my Willlam Daly, recent- Iy connected with George White's ““Scandals. KEITH'S—Justine Johnstone. Thanksgiving week at B. F. Keith's | will be celebrated with a double headliner—Broadway’s star, Justine Johnstone in a new one-act comedy by Edwin Burke, called “Judy 0'Grady.” and Albertina Rasch in her latest dance production, *“Pompadour Ballet,” described as » modern ballet satire, featuring Norree, Evelyn Groves and 12 Albertina Rasch solo dancers. Others are Jimmy Nervo and Teddy Knox, two eccentric dancers ‘vho have appeared before the King and Queen of England, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in their offering, “Fantastic Frolics”; Margit Hegedus, premiere violiniste and pop- ular entertainer, in a new program, assisted at the piano by Josef Berne: Dennie O'Neil and Cy Plunkett, in° Red Hot"; “Traps,” the “world's youngest drummer”; the Aurora troupe of cycling equilibrists, appear- ing for the first time in America, and Hollaway and Austin, who produce thrills with their stunts on the wire. Completing the bill will be screen offerings, Aesop’s Fable Topics _of the Day and the Pathe News Pictorial, Theater burleque. the | comedy drama. Opens this evening. comedy. Opens Tuesday evening O’Grady.” musical comedy. Opens Opens this afternoon Opens this afternoon. Opens this afternoon. burleques. Opens this aiternoon. Opens this afternoon. " colored musical revie. Opens EARLE—Marion Wilkins. Marion Wilkins, vounz premjere danseuse, will be seen as headliner of an interesting holiday bill at the Earle Theater this week. Miss Wil- kins has studied with the masters of the dance, was formerly a partner of the Cansinos and now appears in her own production, in which she is assisted by the Lido Orchestra, an organization of young instrumental- ists. Others to appear are the Morin Sisters. three in number. who in- clude dancing among their accom- plishments; the Mitchell Brothers, two Southern boys, who, with their banjos, are offering a repertoire ex- tending from the old plantation songs to operatic arfas, classics and mod- ern syncopations: Oliver and Olsen, singing comediennes, and Artie Lewis and Peggy Ames, who will present “We Know a Thing or Two." The added attraction is offered by William A. Kennedy and company, in | “The Minstrel Boy,” an act in which | this Irish-American tenor combines | a melodious voice with able acting. The photoplay will be “Keep Smil- ing.” a feature-length comedy, star- | ring Monty Banks. with Anna Corn- | well opposite, supported by Robert Edeson and Stanhope Wheatcroft. STRAND—Charles Foy Revue. Headlining the current week's pro- gram at the Strand Theater are Charles Foy and company in a minia- ture musical revue with Cleo Pergain, Lillian Fields, Clingham and Jeffries, Margy Ross and Helen Johnson. Good singing and dancing spiced with com- edy are promised. As an added feature Charlie Wilkins and Addie Wilkins will appear in “Comedy Eccentricities,” a pantomime of eccentric dancing and burlesque of tango lessons. Other numbers will be James Car- lisle and Isabel La Mal in a song num- ber, “The Interview”; Frank Ward, with his original creation ‘Insane Topics Sanely,” and Kara, billed as “International Juggler.” The feature photoplay is high-speed- ing comedy of accidents “Red Hot Tires” with Monty Blue and Patsy Ruth -Miller. It is a romance with a pretty impulsive girl on one side and a gallant young man on the other. The usual short film features are announced. GAYETY—Sidman's “Peek-a-Boo.” Musical comedy and novelty vaude- ville numbers are but a few of the I I Mutual “The Vagabond Poet.” VACHEL LINDSAY, who has been called “the American minstrel” and “the vagabond poet.” hecause his poems are considered so imbued with the American spirit and many of them are inspirations gathered in rambles here and there throughout the land was born in Springfield. Til Literally. he sings his poems, like the troubadours of old. Some vears ago he determined to preach to the people what he calls his “gospel of beauty.” He tramped throughout the country. without money or thought of self. but in ex change, to those who entertained him, zave readings of his own verses, while preaching his doctrine that “bad public taste is mob law—good public taste is democraey.’ He went deep into the hearts of the people and be- came a sort of spiritual descendant of Mark Twain and James Whitcombh Lindsay's present home is in Wash. He is now touring tes. not as a “tramp.” however, but as a recognized and dis. tinguished poet, reading and interpret ing his own poems, and as such will appear in the Little Theater at Ward. man Park Hotel Friday afternoon good things promised in Dave Sid man’s “Peek-a-Boo” at the Gayety Theater this week. Beside the Lander Brothers. clever comedians. It presents smartly gowned and beautiful woman principals, an agile and active chorus, 16 changes of scenery and a bewilde ing array of costumes. The Lander Brothers—Harry and Will—chief funmakers, are two for- mer vaudeville artists who will be re- membered for the funny farces they offered in last vear's edition of “Peek- a-Boo.” Thomas Wardell, who assists them, is an effective singer and dancer. Billy Shuler and Halstead Barker also are singing and dancing experts. Irene Leary, ingenue, and Bobsey Parker, soubrette, are bright features of an attractive feminine contingent. Kenngth Casey wrote the Iyrics;: Dan Dody staged the musical numbers and ensembles; Bill Galvin wrote the inci- dental scores, and the direction and ensemble training were in the hands of Lou Sidman, brother of the pro ducer. MUTUAL—“Step Along."” Conceived and staged by Sam Mor- ris, “'Step Along” comes to the Mutual Theater this week, opening with a matinee today. Max Coleman, Hebrew comedian, heads the cast, supported by Claire Stone, prima donpa: Harry Jackson. eccentric comedian: Virginia Greene, ingenue: Marion O'Neill, singing and dancing soubrette: Chester Griffin, the Nichols Sisters and a chorus of youth ful beauties. 7 The entertainment is of the revue tvpe, with many specialties intro- duced during the course of the per- formance. Practically every night extras are staged at this theater. Monday night, a plantation revue; Tuesday night, surprise night; Thursday night, wrest- ling, and Friday is amateur night. HOWARD—*"Hello, Dixie.” The Howard Theater Thanksgiving week opens with a Monday matinee, 2 p.m., with the big colored musical revue, “Hello, Dixle,” with that funny and different comedian, Gus Smith, supported by a fast-stepping chorus of Southland Creole beauties, carrying their own orchestra under the direc tion of Genee Jones, “empress of joy jazz.” and a jazz pianist. “Hello, the melody of the sun (Contined on Second Page) 2 Coming Attractions NATIONAL—"Se Seventh Heaven." two vears in New York, an entire sea- son in Chicago and is rated as one of the great dramatic successes of the day. will pay a helated visit to Wash- ington Monday, November 30, opening 4t the National Theater. Produced by John Golden, it ranks second only to “Lightnin' " in the list of long-run succes way nth Heaven.” which ran for While the two plays are en- tirely different in theme and locale, they are said to hold the same heart warmth, quaint humanity and other qualities of popular appeal The story of “Seventh Heaven’ its setting in the slums of Paris principal characters are Diane, spairing girl of the quarter Chico. a chivalrous: voung washer who hefriends her. Regard- ing her merely a bit of human driftwood. hico takes Diane to his flat. far above the Paris street, and here. when love is born, the girl finds her “seventh heaven The one company appearing in Seventh Heaven™ is headed by Anne Forrest as Diane and Louis D'Arclay as Chico. Miss Forrest is a Danish girl who had won a large following mong screen fans hefore undertaking her present role. Mr. D'Arclay, al. though trained in Mme. Rejane's repertoire company and the Theater Odeon, Paris. is a Belgian the cast are Remy Carpen, Menken. John W. Ransone, Isabel West, W. H. Post, Harry Forsman, Charles tthold, Perc Winter, James C. Lane, James Newcombe Philip Earle, John Ward and Lionel Joseph. has Its de and street a EARLE—Stafford Pemberton Dancers. At the Earle Theater next week ¥red K. Hand will present a specially staged novelty. in which the princi- pals will be the Stafford Pemberton Dancers. These terpsichorean artists ire well known o the Capital's lovers of the artistic and beautiful The photoplay will he “N coms.” William De Mille's pre duction for Paramount of the play by ank Craven, which features Neil Hamilton and Bessie Love STRAND—Earl Lindsay’s Revue. Next week the Strand Theater. in its bill of vaudeville and picture at tractions, will present as the headliner larl Lindsay's Revue. with Virginia Franck. Phelps Twins, Thomas Man nahan and Marjorie Lune. Others in the cast will include Dorothy Markey and Adeline Thorn. Hilda Barnum and Mary Lee Reed. The act is a revue. lavishly set in seven beautiful scenes ‘The added feature will he Lew Cooper in a black-face comedy song and story act A Knight in the Tem ple of Fun." Other numbers on the vaudeville program will include Charles Grace Keating in “Huckleber: Dora_Maughan i and Me,” by Hari w v Ruskin and Dave Stamper, with Murry Fullman at the | piano, and Turner Brothers, acrobatic es that he has given to Broad- | Others in | Grace | and | “The Barrymores | dancers and comedians Capers.’ The feature phot Productions’ “The Wron excitinz play of New Y turing Lionel Barrymore GAYETY—Jarboe's Models and Thrills. Next week Wash come the return of | formeriy manager of the ater, with his own and Thrills.” “I am having as manager and show,” said Mr. 1 I have managed thestc | had ambition ducer and to stage n what a Zood show els and Thrills | combined with those | Gaorze Peck. and 1 ! Washinzton friends w MUTUAL—"Hey Abbott & be the attract ™ Models repre: 1 like Ho." en's Ho™ is n at Mutual The ater next week. commencing Sunds November 9. This new attra tion on the Mutual circuit and lrings many new plavers, with Al Golder one of the producers, as the lead | comedian. ROMEO AND JULIET" Nor. 30 General Directc Alhic completing preparz the pre entation of “Romeo and i the Washington Opera Com nex | Monday, November 30, at Was ington Auditorium For the role of has chosen Thalia the Metropolitan in voice and appearance. born in Greece. spent her in Europe until three vears agc she was singing in Milan Company. Gatti-Gazazza of ih ropolitan heard her and signe his company. Since coming York she has sung nothing hut roles, entitling her 1o the rare lege of heing termed a prima of the Metropolitan Ralph Errolle of Chicago. a 2 American tenor, now singing leadin= roles at the .Metropolitan. will Romeo. He couples a pleasing | ality with a voice of t and power. Ivan Ivantzoff, a member of the Moscow Ope pany. but now a bion forces. will sing t cutio. Charles Trowhr Washington Moore young student at the Me opolitan, as Stephano, will also pear, while smaller parts will he members of the Metropolitan Washington Opera Companies The work of the cho: rectea by Moes Zlatin sor in the Moscow Music. now a director ‘Academy of Opera Jacques Samassoud of the will direct. The hox office is at the Jordan Pianc it Thirteenth and G streets. Edouard ions for Juliet M ahanieva bt sopranos. Sabanieva entire 1if eadin< D donna reo 1S merly has rerit by ar 1s is being d profes V¢ ation former Conservat n the acaden L co In the Spotlight mu (GEORGE JESSEL is writing a Holtz sical comedy in which Lew will have the leading role. ““So That's That,” a play by Joe By- ron Totten, with Charles Gilpin head- ing the cast, will open in New York December 8. The new Greenwich Village Folliex will open in New Haven tomorrow night. Harold Levey and Owen Mur- phy wrote the music and lyrics Emma Dunn is appearing with the Rapertory Theater Co. in Boston in “The Rivals” and “Rip Van Winkle.” “I'll Leave It to You.” by Noel Cow ard, is announced for production after the holidays. “Song of the Flame,” the new musi- cal play to be produced by Arthur Hammerstein, will open in Wilming- ton, Del., December 10. “The Wise-Crackers, den, is announced for immediate pro- duction in New York. The production of “The Ragged Edge,” previously an- nounced by the same management, has been postponed. The name of the new play by Mau- rice V. Samuels. which opens in New York Tuesday night, has been changed from “Romany Rigo” to “Drift.” Jamas Gleason and Arthur (Bugs) Baer are writing a comedy of base ball life called “The Day by Gilbert Sel- man, was placed in rehearsal last wee with Minna Gombel, Beatrice Nicho! Pat Collins. David Landau, John Mar sten and Sidney Toler in the cast. “Back to Philippa” opened in Pitt burgh last week. with Henry Mille, and Margaret Lawrence fts o star: Reynolds is designing tt scenes and costumes for “Captain Fury.” the new play, in which Ot Skinner will appear early in Januu under the management of Russell Jan ney. James “A Lady's Virtue” will have its first performance tomorrow ht in New York. Robert Warwick is featured in the cast. “The Kiss in a Taxi" has closed it New York engagement and will open in Chicago tomorrow night. It is reported that. owing to the suc cess of “Hamlet” in modern clothes Druce and Street will introduce a mod ern dress version of “The School for Scandal,” now at the Little Theater. New York | Wanda Lyon has been engaged for | “Just Bevond,” which reaches New \’\'nrk next month. Reginald Goode is | the author. Emily Stevens has heen engzaged to play the leading role in “The Makrop oulous Secret,” the Kar (Continued on