Evening Star Newspaper, May 23, 1926, Page 63

BOYD Metropolitan By W. H. Landvoigt. LTHOUGH some of the photoplay product unloaded on Washing- A ton recently, much like one of our latest songs, “At Peace With the World.” to be exact, makes one feel less like forgiving their makers than ever before, vet the continued success of Steve Coch- ran’s brilliant aggregation on “the speaking stage,” indicating that some- where some one is really trying to please, ought to open the wellsprings of patience and coax us to be a bit lenient. It isn't possible always to be great, grand and glorious, and doubtless the song writer, like the scenario maker, suffers from a sag in his inspirational department now and then, just like the remainder of humanity. Washington ought to be grate- ful that a yvoung Washington .impresario can and does lift the bleeding form of the prostrate theater aloit and maintain it, even though for but a limited time, as still a worthy rival of its yvounger and more vigorous competitor, the movie. The stage has not furnished much in the way of | rivalry of the movie for some time, but there are many, despite their ad- miration for the latter, who desire to sce the theater survive and the good old drama go forward, propelled by speaking voices and acting actors who can and do act in the face of all else that lies before us. The radio is good— very good, when it is good—but it doesn’t make us lose interest in the phonograph, which, like the theater, is always with us. True, it is a bit surprising that so much real unmitigated junk manufactured so recently in the picture world should be foisted upon a generous public at a time when the Fourth Industry scems to be girding up its loins to launch the biggest program of its carecr in the hope oi winning “new audiences,” to say nothing of additional box office appreciation from a friendly and | expectant people. A D what are we going to do for language to describe the really bril- | liant stars of the screen, especially those of the newer and supposedly healthier growth, when they are exploited in “vehicles” that would put a | pre-war Galloping Lizzie to the blush? If there isn't sufficient worthy material on hand, with the vast resources enjoyved by the industry, to keep the new stars securcly in the screen firmament now, what is going to happen when the new crop of supersensational masterpieces is to be made for the new and “Greater Movie Season” that lies ahead? And is not the world of picture fans likely to lose hope and throw up the sponge in sullen despair before a lost cause can be retrieved with the new ma- terial which is now being so brilhantly exploited for the days to come. It looks like a poor business policy to unload mediocrity at this stage of the proceedings. i * ¥ VEN a sleepy world has been amazed at the courage and daring of the | movie industry. Nothing has been too difficult. nothing impossible to it. Almost like the fool who rushes in where angels fear to tread, it is constantly bursting out into new lines of endeavor and with marvelous results. The method. with these outbreaks, seems to have been to reach a given goal without regard for many things apparently small and incon- sequential in themselves, yet, neverthcless, which mean much in the great sum total of accomplishment. In other words, the movie goes lickety split to reach an end and then turns back later to smooth out the rough spots it has left behind in its mad rush for its goal. But there are some rough edges that should never be thus left, lest they cut the feet of the vast army, the public, which endeavors to follow after the daring leaders. If succlss is hoped for the present trend toward superspecial masterpieces at higher prices of admission, it would seem that the patient, plodding old public should not be discouraged and sickened with mediocrity now. . * k% % HAT is happening. or rather what has happencd, in the way of pic- tures has happened also to the screen stars. After firmly imbedding them in the screen heavens with marvelous and persistent publicity some one conceives the notion that, being fixed in their places. it is a good idea to use them to put over the rankest kimd of story material with them. Pola Negri, aiter startling the world with her incomparable work in “Pas- sion,” was hastily put under contract and then afterward exploited not only in the poorest of story material, but with a shiftlessness that seemed criminal on the part of scenario and continuity writers, and even the directors themselves. Gloria Swanson, after being made to outshine the sun, secure in her own self-consciousness, was permitted to drift heed- lessly on until her star seemed to be setting, when she was turned loose in a flat-boat monstrosity that only served o further dim her effulgence. ‘Then hastily she was plucked back and pushed forward in a fashion pa- rade. Betty Bronson, the quaint little Peter Pan of the screen. has drifted hither and thither cver since, and for the greater part of het time in pictures entirely unsuited and utterly unworthy of her delicate talents. And so one might go on for columns with other instances where “stars,” after having had their artificial brightness heralded in the most extrava- gant manner to the wor'd, have been allowed to sputter down to tallow candles in excuseless pictures * ok ok ok OW the movie has a new trick up its sleeve. It is the “prologue” and the “presentation.” What purpose can they serve save to bolster up picture mediocrity, while the industry talks about superspécial master- pieces at higher pric Mr. Zukor and the other gentlemen of the trade who are following his wake. or perhaps drawing him on in theirs, should have a carc. That wonderful old aphorism of Abraham Lincoln about fooling the public seems to be strongly apropos to the situation at this time. If the desire for greater revenues he so great as to be irresistible, the purse that is to furnish them should not be tightened with disgust in advance of the effort to loosen the purse strings. * ¥ 3k HE movic has a rcal task before it. It has too long waddled in public like an overdressed rustic trying to look like a scion of royal b'ood. | What is worth doing at all is worth doing well is a good motto to be re- | membered, if a real advance is desired in the worth of the photoplay. The studios should not be permitted to unload their mistakes, even in Sum- mer time. And if the poor material has been deliberately made in the hope that it ‘might tide over the time between the.showing of worth- while pictures. it should be shelved, and shelved permanently. An or- dinary-run picture should be made with as much rgard to consistency and dramatic effect as a big picture. The movie should be made to fit the clothes with which it is adorned. And until all movies can be made better in these respects the industry has no right, in justice to the public, to devote its time and money to the production of the grandiose in a sense- less scramble for greater revenues. and to expect real merit in all pictures. bigger or more costly ones. Victor Herbert Week. LI, over the United States this week will be observed and cele- brated as “Victor Herbert week,” ‘when all the allied circuits of vaude- ville will exploit the operas, ove tures, instrumental pieces and songs of Herbert as a memorial tribute to the great composer. Vietor Herbert pro; planned for more than ms have been 0 vaudeville The public has a right to demand It wants better pictures, not theaters in this country, the mana. gers arranging their offerings in ac- cordance with their musical resources and the regular bills of entertainment. Some of the smaller theaters will pro- Jject one-reel films of the words and music of a Victor Herbert song, the audience joining in the chorus, while in theaters -that - have .important orchestras the overtures, intermission and finale music will be devoted to selections by, Yictor ng“y. el Washington's “Blues™ Star. MONG the local developments in modern musical circles none, per haps, has more quickly attracted out- side attention In the theatrical world than “Our Own Kate Smith,” as they are now calling her. Kate “arrived” in the movie houses here as a_‘“personality att whose peculiar forte is “blues and melodies in syncopation thi | auire to be put over with a lure, were. She has a rare personality. There is no doubt about that. As an added charm she has a voice irresistible in the type of ballads dear to the heart of the Summer night river excursion ist, and, although to use a i phrase, she carries weight for her age —and she is both young and comely— she is a warm rival to the Charleston dancers who have been demonstrating in these parts for some time past. Kate has now hit the Keith-Albee circult as a featured attraction and she well deserves the promotion. Her friends here are legion. HILE the lads and lassies of the ‘Washington high schools have been winning dramatic laurels in their Spring plays here, Eleanor Has- brouck, who was a Central High senior up to October last, has been shedding dramatic luster on the of- ferings of the John Marshall High School senior class’ work in Rich- mond, where her home now is. In a performance of John Golden's “Dear Me,” in Richmond recently, which is declared by the Richmond Times-Dispatch as “a notable dra- matic achievement, smooth and prac- tically flawless,” the reviewer added, *“Miss Eleanor Hasbrouck made April Blair, the heroine of the play, as sweet and appealing as the authors, Luther Reed and Hale Hamilton, would wish her to be. However, she did not rely upon her beauty.' This news should be of interest to the wide circle of friends Miss Has- brouck has in Washington, especially to her schoolmates at Central High, where theatricals are considered seri- ously and are endowed with gifted talents and unusually fine displays. —_ Park Amuscmex:nt. EONARD B. SCHLOSS, first vice president of the National Associa- tion of Amusement Parks, is the sec- ond in command of an organization which is said to be to outdoor amuse- ment parks like the American Elec- tric Railway Assoclation is to the| street railway business, and the Na- tional Electric Association to the lighting industry, The organization has been in ex- istence for seven years, and in that time, Mr. Schloss states, it has brought about many reforms in out- door park amusements. Its membership numbers approxi- mately 1,500 of the leading amuse- ment park owners of the country with an individual membership. of nearly 400 parks. Enrolled also with- in its ranks is a section made up of those who create and- manufacture amusement devices. Mr. Schloss, who is the general manager of our own Glen Echo Park, has been active in the work since its inception. He states that the aims of the association are to conduct the re- spective parks on the highest plane of ethics, both in morals and in business. Frank W. Darling, president of the L. A. Thompson Scenic Railway Co. and Thompson's'Park, Rockaway Beach, N. Y., and wha .now is. com- pleting the largest indoor'amusement resort in America, the ‘“Amusement Départment Store” at Coney Island, X,is assoclation’s president, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 23, 1926. PIT\I?ITN-:EIF Rialto [ S GEORGE SIDNEY ATPEX CARR ~ Straud CORINNE. GRIPPITH Lincoln HINES - Ambassador NORMA TALMADGE. | “Tivoli Current Attractlons. - At the Theaters This Week. NATIONAL—"The Last formance tomorrow evening. KEITH'S—Pzi Rooney-Marion Bent, vaudeville. noor. EARLE—"The Test,” vaudeville. NATIONAL PLAYERS—“The Last ‘Warning.” “The Last Warnifk,” oddest comedy thriller of its time, goes into a second week at the National tomorrow night, replacing the previously announced production of “New Brooms.” pacity business all last week and a heavy turn-away of anxious patrons impelled the management to extend the engagement of this popular piece into a second week. The National Players have set one record so far this season, that of five extra matiness out of seven weeks. The extension of “The Last Warn- ing” is another record to attest to'the ability of this troupe to get across to an audience. “The Last Warning"” is melodrama, comedy, farce and mystery all in one. There Is no other show quite like ft, for the action takes place in various parts of the theater, and the actors mingle with the audience. A play within a_play, called “The Snare,” is nted on the stage uninterrupted climatic shock which sends the audlence into a thrill of excitement. | In addition, there are shots in the dark, strange knocks and groans and adventures in mysterious passage- ways. The action is so leavened with comedy relief that despite the sus- pense, the audience is not subjected to nervous prostration. d Kathryn Givney does her best work this season as a chorus girl who speaks an English all her own. KEITH'S—Pat Rooney-Marion Bent. Pat Rooney, Marion Bent and Pat Roony 3d, who headline the bill at B. F. Keith's Theater this week, have recently closed a successful musical comedy season and areé returning to vaudeville with many ‘members of their company, including hayman and Kling, Murlel Stryker, Anita Nieto, | Mildred Burns and Pat Rooney’s Club Orchestra, under the direction of the violinist, Andy Byrne. Featured will be Kate Smith, the Washington blues singer, and the famous French ventriloquist, Leo Bill, a popular idol on the continent. Others are Dare and Wahl, “two ambitious youths,” who originated their sap comedy; Joan Jahn and the Baldwin Sisters, in *“Music Hath Charms,” produced and staged by Miss Jahn, concert soprano; Josephine Harmon and Georgla Sands in “We and Us,” and Julius Fuerst and com- pany, “The Man on the Blocks,” an interesting bit of athletics. ‘The Aesop’s Fables, Topics of the Day and the Pathe News Pictorial on the screen will complete the bill. EARLE—“The Test.” £ C. B. Maddock, one of vaudeville's prolific froducers, is responsible for “The Test,” which is to be sented as headline at¥raction at'the Earle Theater this week, with Glenn a4d Latruments, Warning.” comedy mystery play. Opens this afternoon. | LR JOAN CRAWFORD Columbia Per- Opens this after- An Ideal Couple. AT ROONEY and Marion Bent, whom an admiring American public has dubbed an “ideal couple,” think they know why. “We've been married more than 20 Richards starred, Barry and Dunn featured and & _cast of eight. It is a novelty act, started after the manner of a mystery-comedy, and then re- solVes itself into—here the press agent is at a loss to express the remainder. | vears,” says Mrs. Rooney, “and the The added attraction will be Ray |romance t worn off vet. T met and Dot Dean. Ray, a “wise crack- | Mr. Rooney when I was playing in ing” rube, and Dot, who sings weil and | the chorus of ‘Mother Goose.' I was acts as foil for his clowning. Other |engaged at the time. but after 1'd acts will include Bobble Brooks and "‘v-\r;‘:“g‘m‘k:; L l“"et’[';“r‘"\f‘*_ie‘l‘(:saie"“‘,:}: Louise Phillips, with “Turc” Duncan, | pavried. in a melange of melody and mirth; s “I had never played vaudeville, but Louis Brems, Dan Fitz and the Mur- | pa¢ pad, so he taught me the essen- ray brothers in “Just in Fun,” and tlals and we were booked on the Lillian Morton, the two-pocket edition | Keith Circuit. We've been here ever comedienne. Sitice. The film attraction will be Frank | “In all our married life_we- have Lioyd's production for First National | never been separated. So many of “The Splendid Road,” featuring |sordid divorces in the theatrical world Anna_ Q. Nilsson, Robert Frazer, | grow out of the fact that the profes- Lionel Barrymore and others. Frank | gion takes a man away from his wife. Lioyd, who made this picture, also | If one or the other is not in the the- produced “The Sea Hawk.” atrical business, it is trying for that The program will include also short | one, and dangerous for the one be- films of varied interest and a pipe | hind the footlights. Pat and I al- organ recital by Alexander Arons. ways arrange to keep together. May- “THE MASCOT"—TONIGHT. be that's wi The performance of the cl ing French comic opera, “The Mascot,” will be repeated tonight by the Wash- ingtonians, under the direction of Rollin Bond, at the new Jewish Com- munity Center, Sixteenth and Q streets northwest, with an unusual cast of singers, comedy and dramatic leads, chorus and orchestra, and with the beautiful fifteenth century cos- tuming required. “The Mascot” is famous for its melody hits, its charming romance and its quaint comedy songs. It is in three acts and will be repeated this evening just as it was presented by the same company earlier in the month in the Central High School Auditorium. 5 B Song to Inspire. THE motion picture orchestra, playe to inspire the actors in emotiondl Taught Patiently, Kindly. IN-TIN“MN, “the wonder dog of the screen,” is said to lead a very useful existence, and he seems to_sense it. He is treated as any human motion plcture star would be. He has a chair with his name printed on the back, and his own kennels at the studio in- stead of a dressing room. In working before the camera he is rehearsed once or twice and then cued from the sidelines as when to turn and how to look. In saying that he knows how to look, it means just that, for he can give various facial expressions, even as a human actor. He can take direction, too. He has been trained to obey com- mands, and trained so thoroughly that he knows exactly what those cgmmnmis mean and ‘when to do them. . seenes, may soon be discarded in favor of song. 3 Such {s the opinion of James Cruze, Paramount director, who, for the first People who wonder at his acting on the screen forget that it has taken infinite pains and patience to train him to a point where he can do all time in motion pictures, has intro- | of those things, but once he has been duced voice as a means of creating the proper emotion in his players. Cruze conceived the idea when, for a love scene between Esther Ralston and Charles Farrell, in “Old Iron- sides,” neither of the actors was satisfied with the effects the orchestra produced upon their spirits. taught something he mnever forgets. Lee Duncan, his owner and trainer, it is said, has never allowed a whip or hand to touch him. He has been taught with repetition and kindness. ‘Definite announfement has been The director dismissed the musicians [made that the al fresco gardens con- and engaged Vivian Ingraham, prom-|ducted in conjunction with the Savoy inent vaudeville and radio artist, to|and Apollo Theaters will be_thrown sing for the players. . The result is said, proved far better than that ever before produced with musical in- Mt|open to the public Saturday, . May 29, wetjther permitting. The picture parks ‘have been completely refur- Rlebedox the Summes ELAIN TAMMERSTEIN Central ‘p}.lotoplays and evening. PALACE—"The Crown of Lies.” RIALTO—“The Night Cr COLUMBIA—“Paris.” TIVOLI—"The Sea Beast.” AMBASS evening. RAL Yerils of the Se STRAND—"Partners Again man.” “The Volga Boatman.” heralded as the latest and greatest of all the Cecil B. de Mille personally directed special productions, is announced as the fea- ture of this bill at Crandall’s Metro- politan Theater, beginning this after- noon. Into a tremendous drama of social unrest, great loves and angry passions, it is declared. has been | poured all of the De Mille genius for ! massive scemes. crashing actlon and METROPOLITAN—"The Volga lllmi-l The plot \\:IS’ human emotion ived by Lenore J. Coffee from the | novel by Konrad Bercovici and traces | developments in the lives of a princes: | of the royal blood and a_ struggling [ laborer on the towpath. These roles | are played by William Boyd in the title part and Elinor Fair, as Prine Vera. Julia Faye, Theodore Kosloff, Robert Edeson, Victor Varconi, Charles Clary and Arthur Rankin compromise the supporting ensemble. | “The Volga Boatman” will be ac- corded a special presentation and a musical interpretation by the Metro- | politan Symphony Orchestra, under Daniel Breeskin, who made a special trip to New York to view this picture and who since has screened it private- | 1y five times to perfect the synchroni- zation to the minutest degree human- | ly_possible. . | Doors will be open this afterngon at 2 o'clock. PALACE—"The Crown of Lies." Pola Negrl will flash from the screen of Loew's Palace this week. starting this afternoon, in Dimitri Buchowet- ski's production for Paramount, “The Crown of Lies,” the first original story for the screen by Ernest Vajda, the Hungarian playwright. Dimitri - Buchowetski will be re- called as the Continental director who has already produced two Pola Negri pictures—“Men” and “Lily of the Dust.” In “The~Crown of Lies" the famous star was supported by Noah Beery, Robert Ames, Charles Post, Arthur, Hoyl, Mikhall' Vavitch, Cissy Fitzgerhld, M: Foster, Frankie | Bailey, Edwin Cecil and Erwin Con- nelly. “The Crown of Lies” concerns an immigrant girl whose dream of fame and fortune on the stage is destined never to come true, but whose extra- ordinary physical resemblance to the deposed Queen of Sylvania causes her to be identified as that monarch and persuaded to cross the sea and ac- cept the throne. She is accompanied by an American admirer, and, once arriving in_Sylvania, she runs into a series of adventures and double deal- ings which culminate in her accession to the throne, but with a crown on her head she discovers that real hap- piness lies with the young American. Supplemental attractions clude Glenn Tryon's comedy, Sheiks,” the Pathe news reel, Topics of the Day and an overture and atmosphere score by the Paiace Or- chestra under Thomas Joseph Gannon. 'RIALTO—“The’ Night Cry.” “The Night Cry,” starring Rin-Tin- the cADMNG alake Which Wil bel Shown Shown this afternoon and evening. | artist, and This \Veek At the Photoplay Houses This Week. METROPOLITAN—"The Volga Boatman Shown this afternoon Shown this afternoon and evening. Shown this afternoon and evening. hown this afternoon and evening. Shown this afterroon and cve ADOR—"The Volga Boatman.” ing. Shown this aiternoon and afternoon cvening. shown at the Rialto this week, is said to have been filmed in its en tirety in the heart of the sheep-rais ing country, with its wide plains, roll- ing hills and streams. Rin-Tin-Tin, in the story, has been falsely accused for plundering the flocks of sheep, and the Martin fam ily tries to protect him from the wrath of the other shepherds. The dog knows that a condor has been responsible and pursues the bird of prey in vain. Finally. in a thrilling fight with the giant bird. he savex the Martin baby from its talons nad vindicates himself. The supporting cast includes Juné Marlowe, John Harron. Gayne Whit man, Heinie Conklin and Mart Louise Miller. The ge presentations include Eddie Jahrl. the accordian concert Mitchell and Devine in a pianologue and up-to-date song pro- gram. Madame Mystery.” the title of the two-reel comedy feature, is notable for the fact that in it Theda Bara makes her reappearance in films. The Rialto Concert Orchestra. Mischa _Guterson conducting, will play Offenbach’s “Orpheus™ for the overture, together with the International Newsreel will round out the program. COLUMBIA—"Paris.” “par Edmund Goulding's spec | tacular and dramatic story of Apache love and Parisian revelry, featuring Charles Ray. former Thomas H. Ince star, and Joan Crawford, will be shown here for the first time at Loew's Columbia Theater next week, beginning this_afternoon. “‘Paris” is Mr. Goulding's Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer production of his own story, in which the featured players are supported by Douglas Gilmore, Michael Vasaroff, Rose Dione, Jean ialeron and others. Supplemental features will be shown. including the Tuxedo comedy, “Mr. Cinderella”; the International newsreel and overture and score by the Columbia Orchestra, under Leon presents Charles Ray as a rich American tourist who starts out to “do” the Paris underworld and becomes fascinated with the sweet- heart of an Apache thief. He quickly earns the hatred of the Apache, who stabs him and escapes. Believing “her man” will be guillotined i the Amer- ican dies, the girl accompanies the latter home and nurses him back to health. In the meantime, the Ameri- can intensifies his feud by his gifts of* jewels and clothes. Although the girl is attacked and nearly killed, her love for the thief is so obvious that the American finally gives up the quest, convinced that Apache love is one kind of love that not even Ameri- can dollars will buy. Miss Crawford, who will be recalled for her work in ‘“Sally, Irene and Mary,” is seen as the girl sweetheart of the Apache. 7 TIVOLI—"“The Sea Beast.” _John_Barrymore will be the star (ontlnued- on