Evening Star Newspaper, July 25, 1926, Page 57

! RusscLL and MARCONI -Earle By W. H. Landvoigt. CASIONALLY there comes out of the heart of beautiful, but dumb, Movieland a“something that makes the casual onlooker in Venice News and Comment suspect that there are brains clsewhere than in Congress. The movie man has been accused of almost everything that wise and good people can think of, but:rarely has he been charged with having brains—at least, brains that think wonderful things. Now, suddenly, Harry | Marx, director of theater management for Publix—Publix is the corporate name for the theaters that Paramount has bought up—in an article labeled | “Public Relations,” published in Film Daily, the movie Bradstreet, tells | the world something to remember. “The progress of civilization,” sa Mr. Marx, “is merely a picturization (mark the word) of rendered servi e.| Each epoch of life makes its service contribution.” And then, after beau- | tifully pointing out what “service” means, he gets down to the real busi- ness of applying it to theatrical relations, with the obligations binding the theater manager and the public. To dilate on the theme would be quickly to drift into the field of sermonizing. That is not the purpose here, al- though the world is ready for many good sermons on the subject. “We, in the field of exhibition,” writes Mr. Marx, “have the opportunity and the obligation to render an inclusive service which has no parallel—as the dis- pensers of this most potential instrument in the world for the recreation, education and moral influence of millions through the quality of our man- power. There is no activity among men wherein the field of service de- mands and lends -itseli to the labors of perfection and inspiration’ more than in theater operation.” The importance of these declarations lies in their truth. It will do theater patrons good to think out what they mean. And to the theater managements Mr. Marx commends as fundamentals “gentlemanly conduct and courtesy, with its atmosphere of refinement and good breeding, tolerance, patience, self-mastery and efficiency in ren- dering a heartielt service to a patronizing publ . these things are familiar to Washington managers, but_sometimes one finds a conse- quential subordinate, who feels a little bigger than “the old man,” to whom these virtues might be modestly recommended before the bustle of the cooler weather renders it impossible for the young worthy even to consider them, * ok kX HERE is a service which theater managers can render the public in the aim at perfection and higher inspiration and which goes much further than the courteous treatment of their patrons. It is in careful discrimina- tion in the selection of the attractions which they represent, and, closely related thereto, is what they say of those attractions in their advance notices. Honest advertising is as important in the theater as it is in any other field of commercialism. The public should not be made dependent "Emn the opinion of reviewers or critics as to the character or the quality of the entertainment it is ex[&c ed to pay for. If the advance notices furnished by the managers or exhibitors are shorn of their present Oriental overgrowth of verbiage and simply relate the plain truth, it would be a great service to trustful people who like good entertainment. The tempta- tion to rave over something vou have to sell is human—most human—but the present practice, as a rule, of exploiting and praising things far be- yond what they deserve is nothing short of rank dishonesty. The mer- chant who was prone 4o advertise a_shoddy article as a yard wide and all wool has been taught the error of his ways. Why, then, should theater managers, through ambitious press representatives, mislead their custom- ers in a way just as pernicious ? . * ok ok % ND while higher aspirations occupy the mind of the reader, perhaps it is not amiss to point out a few bits of service for the dear old public, too. When vou pay for chewing-gum you do not like you can even things up by gnashing it over and over again with your teeth, if they are really| vours, and you ever use them in that way in the belief that you are help- | ing your digestion. It isn't a good plan to paste the wad on your theater chair for the next occupant to gather up on his or her good clothes. | Aside from this, the movie theater is rather dark most of the time and, if | you are minding your own business, you needn’t suffer from aching jaws due to impatiently watching the chewing-gum sisters do their favorite act. | But don't let distemper aroused by external things turn your wrath upon the play you are trying to enjoy, or the players who are doing their best 10 please vou in it, or the author who didn’t make it just what you thought it should he. And this advice holds good with the movies, unless the press agent has fooled you.- If you don't like either play or picture, it is all right to say so, even if you do happen to be a httle flapper and you are talking to vour young man who has been sent to “write it up.” Temper your terms of dislike. The more you temper the less you will dislike What doesn’t please you. Never kill a canary bird with a cannon—it de- stroys the sense of proportion. And, on the other hand, if what you do see pleaseé you, even if it doesn’t please your favorite critic, tell it to the | world. iz helps to advertise a good thing, and good things ought to be advertised. Then, again, getting back to that favorite critic; bear in mind that he i constantly telling the world what a good thing he thinks he is. Sometimes he is cure to be right, because humanity doesn't go wrong all the time. ~But it is just as well to have an opinion of your own. Maybe you may become a critic some day. * * % E seats in most of the theaters of Washington are comfortable more or less. If the man who put them there had the notion that by leav- “ing off the side arms the audience might be packed in a little closer with- out actual pain, don’t imagine that he'did so as an invitation to you to slop over your limit onto the other feilow’s territory. It not only causes him discomfort, but sometimes it makes him vicious. It should be stated, too, that the fashion of telling those around you what the play or picture is about and how it is going to end and just how the big surprise is worked out is quite out of date now. To tell these things discloses, of coursé, how wise you are; but it will surely make those who think you are wise expect much more of your wisdom, perhaps, than you are able to deliver. The playful little habit of kicking the seat of the chair in front of you also is not the correct thing nowadays, even though some still cling to the dear old custom. It is a pity that one cannot still do it and be polite, because it helps amazingly in beatng time for the orchestra, and it is astonishing how popular it is with some stock patrons. The habit of eating in the theater, though still ‘quite the vogue with some, is, neverthe- less, not really the correct thing, especially chocolate articles that are sticky and muss up the fingers so that one is obliged sometimes to wipe them on the coat of the genfleman who sits next. The style in this is also out of date, even for small children, who, of ccurse, must be taken to the movie, because children should know .the truth. These are a few things in the way of service that the folks who pnronixe the theater, speaking and dumb, might well offer toward the achievement of that perfection for which we all strive, but never reach—little incentives, as it were, to incite that inspiration which is so delightful when you know what it is. * ok K Xk Bl.’T lest the detailed discussion of service envelop, like the super- abundant adjectives of the press agent, the truth, which should stand out, it is well to repeat what Mr. Marx has ‘so sagely said. The theater i a field of wonderful opportunity, and it should, likewise, be made a field of wonderful service, not only in entertainment, but in the enlightenment and the general improvement of manners and morals in a world that many believe in this day and generation to be hell-bent t d destruc- tion. Precept and pla: tude may be great teachers in the philpit and.on. s CLARA BOW Palace DAY MORNING, JULY SYD CHAPLIN ol JACQULLINE LOGAN Rislto Crandall Gets Chevy Chase. ARRY H. CRANDALL last week consummated the purchase of the Chevy Chase Theater, on Connecticut avenue at McKinley street, on behalf of the Stanley-Crandall Company of Washington, of which he is execu- tive vice president. The Chevy Chase Theater, a hand- some house, with a seating capacity of 1,000, is located in an exclusive residential section of suburban Wash- ington, and was originally planned and promoted by Emanuel Stutz, for- merly associated with the manage- ment of Loew's Columbia Theater, who has continued as’its managing director. Hereafter it will be conducted as one of the Stanley-Crandall chain un- der the house management of R. Wesley Etris, transferred from Cran- dall’s Home Theater. Mr. Crandall states the theater is being redecorated and refurbished. ‘The pletures made available to the Che Chase Theater under the new ownership 1ll _reflect the buying power of the Stanley Company of Amerlca, one of the greatest exhibitor organizations on the continent. Book- Ings and presentations will be under the personal control of John J. Pay- ette, supervisor- of theaters for the company. House operation will be directed by Joseph P. Morgdn, gen- eral manager, and advertising and publicity will be in the hands of Nel- son B, Bell. The orchestral-unit organ will. be presided over by Kurt Hetzel, con- ductor of the Washington Symphony and a composer-artist of renown both in this country and lbrof’, New Idea in Photography. IT has become almost an axiom in moving picture - circles to expeot something original in each new pic- ture Ernst Lubitsch direct. In “So This Is Paris,” which the famous director has just completed, he introduces a startling photographic effect. This is achieved in connection with an Artists’ Ball scene, where a blending and dissolving of all the gy- rating figures on the floor weave into an unusual and sensational pattern. Flying legs kicking in the latest mazes of the Charleston, twinkling ankles and shaking shoulders fade in and out of the picture in so fantastic a fashion that the effect is bewilder- ing. The result is declared the neart approach to photographic noise that has ever been achieved.on the screen. JOHN PATRICK. Ambassador Current Attractions At the Theaters This Week- —“Puppy Love,” comedy. Tomorrow evening. KEITH'S—Judith Anderson, vaudeville. This afternoon and evening. EARLE—“The Volga Boys,” vaudeville. This afternoon and evening. STRAND—“St. Pat Revue,” photoplay. This afternoon and evening. HOWARD (colored)—"“Go Get 'Em,” musical show. Tomorrow after- noon and evening. - quatntance. NATIONAL PLA 'ERS—"P nppy Love Interloper whose card of admission «puppy Love,” a production spon- sored last season by Anne Nichols, author and producer of “Able’s Irish Rose,” will be the National Theater Players' amusement festival-for this week, commencing tomorrow night. There are several reasons why the performance should be one of interest. One is that Evelyn: Nichols, sister of the author and producer, will be here for . principal part; another, insuring a smooth and diverting performance, i« the fact that Director -Clifford Brooke of the National Players direct- ed the original cast before the play’'s premiere here in Washington last sea- son and prior to its Broadway run. “puppy Love” is the collaborative work of two former newspaper wom-: en who have for half a dozen years been connected with the theatrical business. Their efforts illustrate the beneficial results of certain forms of collaboration, for here the partnership has been ideal in that one author has adduced a delightful strain of humor, while the other has concentrated to produce an ideal romantic theme. The resuit is an ever-intriguing pic- ture of adolescents in love, relieved by the whimsicalities' of the older folks who look on. It is the story of two youngsters whose path of love is made to run anything but smoothly. The girl is betrothed to a yokel of chiidhood ac- rival, patched ‘world breathes easily again. KEITH'S—Judith Anderson. late of *‘Cobra” and “The Daove special arrangement with rence called “Thieves.” twist to the old triangle. the direction of Nathan Brusiloff in program of gems. Mile. Alice Mlle. Zeppilli has vaudeville debut. splendid volce. London, in ‘“This and That"; Joyce, the bo € \ the rostrum, but visualized human life under its ever-va ying conditions, ranging from the scalding tears of sorrow to the sunshine of happiness, They teach their lésson with a. force and an is_served in the theater. effect that speech never could supply. with the trash and trumpery that appeal only for the moment to sen- ed mentality, we should lend our every effort toward its exaltation as the mirror in which we may see our faults the better to correct:them, and to display our virtues for the emulation of those who, perhaps, m; not know or understand their beauties. his place of ebjectionable people by insisting' that free lunches he served l?)olle s linen and embellished with on tables covered with individually 3 forks and finger bowls. knives an can improve the :gmospht.re of our theaters by courtesy, perhaps it may chase away objectionable entertainment from the stage and the screen with the force of the eternal f more power to those who feel the object worth the Flapper and the Jelly Bea novelty wi Instead of degrading our theater EARLE—"The Volga Boys.” A restaurant keeper. once ridded week, beginning this afternoon. ‘The topline act is a quartet with a richness of tone the :hn Volga Boatman.” s as Mr. Marx wisely suggests, we manners and mutual LERC) Port.” Andy The chosen male is an his heroic rescue from drowning of his Parental objegtions take thelr usual form, and finally the girl is dis- t6 -grandma’s disciplinary wing, and yet love triumphs and the A “brilliant star of the legitimate stage, the talented Judith Anderno‘n. i which latter she co-starred with Hol brook Blynn, will headline the bill a B. F. Keith's Theater this week, b David Belasco, in a playlet by Vincent Law- The plot is sald .to contain a decidedly different An .added attraction will be the ‘Willard Roof Garden Orchestra under Zeppilll, ‘dramatic’ so- prano, for seven seasons a star with the Chicago Opera. Company, punctu- ating her appearances with that or- ganization with engagements at the Opera Comique, Paris, ‘will make her Others will " include Thomas B. Handers and Arthur Mil- 1iss, just returned from the Alhambra, new act'entitied “Nothing Is Impossi- bl Eva Esmond and Pat Grant the Reckless and company in a unique' and ‘Wil Morris in “Jus at every ‘matinee. “The Volga Boys, Anna Chlmllcrl and “The Purple Prince” will vie for first honors at the Barle Theater this| “flash” acts, and who has supervised double: mal Cossacks, who sing. ‘Son, 8 Anna Chandler | Roehrle, with costumes by : record :vorlte. wlt:' fiumphl on | Baker. 3 the sta 8o as a singing come. | Lyke gan will be responsible for dienne. ’*"ne Purple Prince” is & suc- m'%m&. 25, 1926. ‘PUPPY LOVE Natiowal SHIRLLY Mason CO] uMlDIB LitLIAN HALL DAVIS Tancoln. Alice Zeffelli, Soprano. VAU'DE\'ILLE iz entertaining an angel unawares. Alice Zeffelli, a vocal attraction of the week and yet withal one with whose distinguished career the press agent was apparently unfamiliar, was borne in Monte Carlo and made her debut there as Gilda in™ “Rigoletto” with the great Enrico Caruso. After coming to America she was for many years with ‘the Chicago Opera Company and during that thne has sung all the leading roles, even achieving success in the famous Mary Garden roles. She has sung many times at the Opera: Comique in Parls, nd with Challapin at Deauville, as well as with Muratore, Tita Ruffo and other big stars. She also sang Mme. Butter- fly in Rome, Naples and Milan. She was a pupil of Jean de Reske and of Clement and was a close friend of the late Queen of Rumania as well as of our own Victor Herbert. is ey e BLANCHE. SWELT Wardwan Park MARY ASTOR- Centrol Photoplays ning. PALACE RIALTO—“Footloose Widows. COLUMBIA—"Desert Gold." TIVOLI—It's the Old Army evening. CENTRAL- WARDMA LINCOLN (Colored)— METROPOLITAN—"Ella Cinders.” Colleen Moore is the pictured star of the bill that will open next Satur- day and run for eight days at Cran- dail's Metropolitan Theater, in her latest First National release, “Ella Cinders,” a film adaptation of the comic strip in the newspapers. Liowd Hughes plays opposite the star, with A strong cast. Fhe companion attrac- tion is supplied’hy “Helen and War- ren” in a new Fox comedy from the short stories by Mabel Herbert Urner, “The Family Pienic.” Bernardo De Pace is the added at- traction in a novel stage diversion as “the wizard of the mandolin.” The Metropolitan World Survey and the Pathe Review with orchestral contri butions under the direction of Danlel Breeskin will complete the bill. “Ella Cinders"” is, of course, merely the story of “Cinderella in the Movies.” A small town drudge is awarded first’ place in a movie con- test and has her way paid to Holly- wood, only to learn that the contest was fostered by a band of crooks who have since decamped. The manner in which she makes good, under un- usual and amusing circumstances, in the capital of the wiggle picture world forme the crux of the play, which is always laughable and at times dra- matie. The overture will be comprised of melody hits from Victor Herbert's “The Red MilL."” PALACE—"Mantrap.” Clara Bow. ingenue star of “The Runaway” and “Dancing Mothers.” appears as the heroine of Sinclair Lewls' story, “Mantrap,” which ‘will be shown in_screen form by Para- mount as a Victor Fleming produc- tion at Loew's Pslace today. Its cast includes Percy Marmont, Ernest Tor- rence, Eugene Pallette and Miss du Font. “Mantrap” is a romantic drama of the Canadian woods, adapted from [the Lewls novel by Adelaide Heilbron |and directed by Victor Fleming. It is saild to be notable for the exquisite beauty of its north woods settings and the quality of its photography. “Mantrap,” which appesred as a magazine serial, is the story of Al verna Easter, a Minneapolis manicure girl, who married Joe Easter, a Cana® dian gulde, to avold the necessity of self-support and who found the soli- tude of the wilderness, without bright Hghts or “good-time Charlies,” unea- durable until the advent of Ralph Prescott, a New York divorce lawyer, who had left civilization and his woman clients behind in disgust to enjoy a camping trip into the Cana- dian wilds. The Sennett comedy, “Ice Cold Cocos,” the Pathe News Reel, Toplcs cessful travesty in. musical comedy style of Shakespearée’s ‘‘Hamlet.” The Bard of Avon would hardly know his tragedy in its new .guise. A clever cast of principals ‘and lively chorus add to the color and, verve of this un- usual offering. ‘The photoplay is Producers’ ‘“Meet the Prince,” featuring Joseph Schild- kraut, Julia Faye, Marguerite De La Motte and Vera Steadman. A strong vein “of comedy threads the action throughout. The customary short-reel house features also will be shown, and the bill will be rounded out by orches- tral and pipe organ contributions. Other vaudeville features will be “The Three Rubes,” Bowers, Walters and Crocker, in versatile entertain- ment, and Tommy Russell and Ernie Marconi,- instrumentalis STRAND—"S8t. Pat Revue.” ‘The Strand Theater opens its 1926-7 season toduy with Father Hurney's famous St. Patrick Players in an all- new “St. Pat Revue.” The film fea- ture in connectlon with the revue will be “Men of the Night,” featuring: ‘Wanda Hawley, Gareth Hughes and Herbert Rawlinson. The “St. Pat Revus" is an aggrega- tion-“of 35 of the' most versatile non-professional stars that’ Father Hurney céuld find in Washington, The -revue will be staged by Ray- mond -Perez, who for the last five years staged nearly. all the Keith a al the stage uction of the “Green- le | which Vil o.'; Fo!!ll‘rh" 'Rainbow , W eart e, ete. The dances will be staged by Clara Madeleine Helen Evans . O'Nelll and tie: d{f’etion, ‘while - Mary A Hayden will look after the musical end. Mary Deery, 15-year-old toe dancer and singer of hot melodies, will again be seen with Royal Foster and Estelle Murray, who will do ‘their famou! Apache dance, “A Night in Paris. Clara Roehrle also will dance in the revie herself. Albert Henkel, the baritone, who has ‘just returned for a brief rest, after’ a meason with the = “Student Prince’’; James Barr, the young tenor; Mary Bazzuro, a whistling discovery, who will make her first appearance; Helene Terneak, Helen Gallagher, Thelma Anderson, Eleanor Glovanetti, Loretta Lynch, alice Skelly, Ruth Heil, Dorothy Heil Priddy, Antoinette Crowley, Stephen Fegan, Orme Libbey, CHff Cox, Jack Buckley, Albert Ilenkel, _Aloysius Kane, Willlam Kelly and Elizabeth Gorman will also appear in the revue. HOWARD—"Go Get 'Em."” Manager Saunders of the Howard Theater, who. seems to be gathering in.the cream of.colored entertainment for his patrons during the announces for this week Drake and Walker in “Go Get 'Em,” featuring “the world's “greatest trumpet - play- er,”" Gus -Atkins, with Drake Cy- clone Jazz Band. In addition to an octoroon beauty chorus, principals will include Sambo Reid, Robert de, Clifton Drake, Jimmie Haskett, Eddie Johnson, Wil- liam Mitchell, Baby Mack, Clande Col- lins and Sam Robinson. As an added attraction tomorrow, Tuesday and ‘ednesda shown D. W. Griffith' duction, “White Rose, t! mainder of the .week. Ben Lyon and Viola Dana in “The Necessary Evil. This Week At the Photoplay Houses This Week METROPOLITAN—"Ella Cinders.’ Saturday afternoon and eve- Mantrap.” This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and evening. Game. AMBASSADOR—"The Social Highwayman.™ This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and Wild Oats Lane.” This afternoon and evening. N PARK—"The Last Laugh.’ 'Quo Vadis?™ This evening. This afternoon and evening. of the Day and Tom Gannon's music will supplement the program. RIALTO—"Footloose Widows.” The attraction at the Rialto this week will be “Footloose Widows.” a film version of Beatrice Burton's news- paper serlal, starring Loulse Fazenda with Jacqueline Logan. They had so wanted to free them- selves from the grind of their dafly routine and Marion’s scheme to get money and a man seemed 5o plausible at the outstart. Envy fills the hearts of the two pretty salesgirls as they behold the hefty and bejeweled ladies buying and bearing away in trlumph the gorgeous clothes which they, KFlo and Marlon, had displayed. They take a supply of gowns from the New York shop in which they. work and go to & big hotel in Florida with extravagant dreams of landing a millionaire apiece, the said millicnaire to supply them all of their lives wiih all the things their hearts desire. The complications that follow, the mirth and regret, the peril and the love, are said to be filled with laughter. The picture was directed by Roy Del Ruth, and the supporting case in- cludes Jason Robards, Arthur Hoyt, Neely Edwards, Douglas Gerrard, Jane Winton and several others. The selecting of “‘Miss Washington" for the Atlantic Ci beauty pageant will be an added attraction each night, at the 9 o'clock performance only. Mischa Guterson has arranged a revue in which the girls selected in the weekly contests. by the applause of the audience, will be featured. The " from the 1926 class of jazzology, is also featured. The overture will be “Willlam Tell,” by Rossini, and the International News will complete the bill. ‘Desert Gold.” A romance of the old West by Zane Grey will be presented at Loew's Columbia this week, starting this aft- ernoon. It is George B. Seitz's Para- mount production of Grey's latest thriller, “Desert Gold,” whose cast, headed by Shirley Masol includes eil llamilton, Robert Frazer and Willlam Powell. It wae flimed in the actual desert locale of its ‘story by the man who made “The Vanishing American. “Desert Gold” is a story of a hu- man quadrangle evolved from the betrothal by her father of Mercedes, & beautiful Spanish-American girl, 1o Ideut. George Thorne, a cavalry leader, who is engaged in extermi- nating an outlaw band, and an frre- sponsible young man of wealth from the East looking for excitement, who joins the cavalry in its chase of the outla The bandits descend on the hacienda of Mercedes' father, kill the old man, burn the place and abduct the girl. Conflict and intrigue for the posses- sion of the girl thus waxes tense and vivid. An avalanche which wipee out the outlaws on “the Slope of Death” constitutes one of the thrill- ing scenes of the picture. The Glenn Tryon comedy, “The Cow's _Kimono the International News Reel, a scenic and music em- bellishment arranged by Leon Brusilof of the Columbia Orchestra, will be added attractions. 4 TIVOLI—“It's the Old Army Game.” W. C. Fields, comedian of the Zieg- feld “Folles,” will be the star at Cran- dall's Tivoli Theater the first two days of this week, beginning this afternoon, in Paramount’s production, 's the Old Army Game,” a comedy wherein the star has translated into silent pantomime more than one of his laughable devices. The bill will * include *“Creeps,” a release featuring a new teara of laugh producers; added short reels and pipe organ numbers by Otto F. Beck and Ida V. Clarke. “Tuesday and Wednesday, Producers’ release, “Silence,” adapted from the play by Max Mare, starring H. B. ‘Warner, supported by Vera Reynolds, Jack Mulhall and 'mond Hatton, supplemented by Mack Sennett's “Cir- cus Today": Thursday and Friday, 8yd Chaplin In Warner Bros.’, “Ob, ‘What & Nurse,” a comedy of hilariou and wholesome fun, together with a elody reel, f Scotland,” and “Topics of the Da. Saturday, Nor- man Kerry in “Under Western Skies, supplemented. by Alice Day in Mack Sennett’s “Hot Cakes for Two,” “A Trip Through Filmiand” and “The lo Detective,” No. 10. . AMBASSADOR—"The Social High- ‘Waymat