Evening Star Newspaper, September 5, 1926, Page 29

- Theaters =;— Part 3—12 Pages 7N /" LIONEL Y ‘f"BAR BARRYMOR Keiths )5 News and Comment By W. H. Landvoigt. 00D and bad, right and wrong. truth and falschood are being determined by majority vote these days, and the movie is being sent into the pages of history along with creeds. ethics and the color of automobiles, with a rating accordingly. Whether it be due to the nineteenth amendment—get the number correctly—with its in- centive to feminine assertiveness, or just because of the simple stupidity of the male of the species, doesn’t much matter. A thing nowadays is right or wrong. good or bad, according to the opinion of the “crowd” and regard- less of the discriminating minority. Indeed, it scems as if a sort of rebel- lion had broken loose in the land against well established standards of the past. Only a day or so ago a restless, cynical writer in one of the metro- politan dailics seemed to blame it on the modern dramatic and movie critic, | whoese ipse dixit in matters theatrical, whatever that is, he declared is Time was when it was considercd a wonderful feet of the sages and catch the words of wisdom But now not only is this privilege treated with scorn, but almost any old Tom, Dick or Harry feels it a God-given right to hurl 4 brick at the smart Alec who doesn’t think as he docs, no matter Gray hairs and a wise look able. the becoming unbe privilege that fell from their to sit at how eminent the authority may be in his line. don’t get yvou far these days. * xRk HIS solemnity of thought, if it may be so complimented, was supe lavish culogies that tears induced large demonstrations an i towed the death of Rudolph Valentino. True, when death comes v by the wil in it~ train and with them an almost irrepressible impulse to praise natural as cating potatoes. The danger of this, however matters that widely mfuence the public is in overdoing it and in establiching false standards that later may ves the body politic, ank and file. may the Lord bless them, always cling to first Then, again, it | deceased. It s as because the ¢ impressions and scidom ever vield to corrective reasoning. an casy matter to put over a well meant effort to stem the tide of pop- ! 3 a dead man, because somebody is always certain | nd to exploit your own opinion. I, however. the worth of a vanished siar, or “a work of art,” in which he or she may have appeared, is to be rated by extravagant emot: nal demon- | strations that develop in s way, somebody is going to creep into the of Fame that doesn't belong there, and, in the case of “the work of some movie producers are going to take the majority vote as a royal and do likewise.” whether they ought to or not. and Rudolph Valentino, unquestionably, i “ihe Sheik” was the cause of it. s turned in doesn’t establish the fact that | isn ular error when it conce to think you are trying to be fresh *Go the will we get with art of the fennnine movie fan, The he screen adorer, doubtless, had his e d for ason. But “The Shei lentino was a great dramatic star, and it 15 not at all doubtiul that it | hasn't helped cither politics or posterity in any considerable degree. Valen- | tino's chiet m to remembrance arises in the fact of his unobtrusive, manly dignity, his devotion to his work, his continuous endeavor to better it and to the fact t he gave the best he had to it at all times, but never Jost sight of the further fact that perfection was still far ahead of him. He did not make the "Four Horsemen” a great picture. " But it really helped him to an opportunity to become great. “Monsieur Beaucaire” also was a fine picture, but full of faults, yet it scrved to present a v stly improved Valentino. Measured in detail, and chiefly in its theme. Sheik™ has | few, if any, of the elements of true greatness, and yet it was “The Sheik’ that made Valeutino the feminine ido!, and it was the sinister influence of jts theme. probably more than anything else, that provoked the unruly demonstrations of the maddened throngs w violated the solemnity of the first few days of his cverlasting slecp. They were not an honor to any dead. command to then where the idc a smiian v x % K K i the majority vote, coupied with organized interest, | the modern photoplay studios. Commercialism and much to do with Art was brought to a standstill vpe of picture. or a certain movic star, scored heavily the coun the one or the other was at once a which even the gates of hell could not pre- 4 workers, especially directors. wouldn't be- could come of anvthing else. Fine stories were slashed and een stars were sacrificed, outsiders, no matter how eminent 1shed aside on one pretext or another and Iy became as big a bugbear of the cinema as est of the service™ has been, lo, these many vears, to the Government clezk who was fired from his job. It is believed that the ?hn*n lay ind v has awakened to this evil. and that it is honestiy striv- ing to fight 1ts way out of the woods. but it is going to be a long fight and a beforc evil in its entirety is eradicated Who are these lor o whose judgment in literature and art undertakes crs of ages? Authors before whose genius for liter- 11d hias bowed in gratitude have been repudiated do not meet the demands of “screen technique.” d actresse the stage whose lives have been devoted to have been rejected. if not because of screen tech- ause o v farlure to meet “the camera test.” Even great other lands ose stardom is as high above that of the casual as the bine heavens are above the bumpy boulevards of the Na- have been made to feel in a subduing way the sinister hand of ng glowworms, from the Lord knows where, highest pinnacle, with scarcely a thread of ar- NOTHER phase to be found seli-interest have by it for if a at the box ¢ claimed the vail. And Tieve that goc slanghtered in art int J'screen te “the best stugio offic wer ulti. ature que the becaus Great aciors at their professior nique players fron screen star ional Capita studio po have be ic ta'e (i tistic n ok mirable poir mark a new era. And| those who ~ometimes think know in their hearts that now is the ac-| 1 +ime 1 race our steps and get back to the highway of common ed with a'l there is of the best of art, of literature and of | < tme for the forceful intellectual to assert himself | . rabblelike rush of the modern goths and vandals een world. who have been overthrowing real art, real literature | 1d re E for a consideration and a job. The movie world is ripe | for regeneration. not so much in morals as in a wholesome respect for the tools of its trade that it has been long handling with reckless irresponsi- | r\ and disregard of their precious worth. The screen of today is sadly need of masculine inoculation. It has been too long a silly woman's & thing o ND this leaves but little opportunity to point out that a limited popular clamor and well meaning but unripened judement have done their darndest in recent months to dislodge from its pedestal the fame that right- belongs to and wiil ever be accorded the name of David Belasco. the peer- less master of American stagecraft and dramatic production. Many may fairly disagree with Mr. Belasco as to the wisdom of certain productions with which his name has been associated the past season or so, but mob | iudgment and rash denunciation are never just. the composite mind of irre- sponsible masses is too much of a maelstrom of perfunctory thought to en- agh it to discriminate and ta discern with sufficient thoroughness all the merits that belong to plavs and productions to which days and months of gerdous and competent consideration have heen given by a master of the work. It 1c but another instance where the majority vote misses its guess | and increases respect for the intelligent minority. no episode an | Who Forgot | in collaboration w another dircction | Memorial for Wallace Reid. ERTHA W mother of th lace Reid, promin the stage at one Westbrook, will here from New to make a person: National Theater tember 13. On_that tion formance for the lace Reid Memoria tion formed to pt of the late star. is quite active at effect in trying to some of Wallace ch well known as Alice Brady Norma and Gloria Swanson, T Richard Dix, Rc Moran and others the organizatlon Those formance who organization ar ship and subscrip Jetin without ¢h ax tions may be made by phoning ( 9604) or at the 1920 S street M Reid. wh invi on of the for the benefit ni bered by with Hal Reid o a_play which made 15 vears ago and such_enthusi Cardinal Gibbons. which Mr. and William Collier, a Generation.” a Robert Edeson, v of which Mrs. Rel producer. Newi@wen Davis Piay. WEN DAVIS of the cotem was the most his time, or o certainly the Mr. T speakin, started now talks amusin: he had the “mel nered.” so to spea At one time he of the “ten, twent, thirt’” school tour- ing the country Sitting in gallerie learned by watching and listening the | reactions of audi is probably no whose instinct fo tion or With “Ice Bou the Pulitzer dramati zgerald’s in this g>nre. Crosby Gaige wil * wh The play is desct tog siders that it strikingly unique. evening the popular X Theater Players will give a p attending oldtimes tic pr: Mr: prolif almost inexhaustible. s a writer of melodrama cene is surer than Mr. Davi al melodramn’ TBROOK REID,| e once popular Wal- | ently associated with | time as Bertha Belle make a special trip| York City in order al appearance at the Monday night, Sep- it henefit of the Wal- {1 Club, an organiza- petuate the memory ‘This organization the present time a reissuance Reid": theatrl Richard Bennett, nstance Talmadge, | tichard Barthelmess, mald Colman, Lois re connected with the benefit per- e interested in® this entitled to member- tion to the Club Bul- rge. Seat reserva- orth club headquarters, has accepted the club to be present ght, may be remem as the co-author he Confession,” sensation about h was accorded the late Human Hearts, Reid wrote for Unto the Fourth rring vehicle for were other successes id was co-author and . o . wh nd is the Lope de Vega porary drama. Lope playwright of Mr. Davis is f this matically He and gly of the days when | odrama market cor- k had 17 melodramas e. lific at the as a boy ame time. Mr. Davis ences. Today there | one in_the theater r the effective situa- 4" Owen Davis won he Great Gatsby novel, was a model The coming season ! produce ““The Man | Davis wrote | N. Behrman. | ribed as and Mr. Davis eon- a dramatic situation ich Mr. vith | decent hearthside her errant famil; . Pound Look.” | Hoctor, Scene from DANCING- MOTHERS" National 2 19 DOROTHY GISH Tivolt AZIMOVA- Wardmar. At the Theaters This Week. “Dancing Mothers,” comedy. Tomorrow evening. BELASCO—“Fanny,” David Belasco play. Tomorrow evening. ITH'S—Ethel Barrymore, vaude RLE—Roye and Maye Revue, evening. STRAND-—"The and cvening "UAL evening. Arkansas PLAYERS — “Dar Mothers.” ntral i re in “Dancing t the National this week is a woman just blooming in the sum.| mer of mature womanhood. A flapper daughter and a_philandering husband her mentally on the shelf and, mesmerized by their attitude, she slumps mentally and physically and, ostensibly, morally. She begins “stepping out with her teet on the gas” as her cocktail-guz- zling daughter terms it. She proves to he family that a woman of 40 hasn’t begun to sink her feet in the moss. She teaches them things they never knew about life, sacrifice her pride and self-re: willing that the world estimate her at | its worst NATIONAL g The Mother if it will bring back to a| A surprise punch in the last act sup- plies an intensely dramatic denoue- ment. | Rhea Dively will do the “dancing mother.” The week also will afford | National patrons their first real chance to estimate the acting talen of Alexis Luce, newly imported lead- ing man. Russell Fillmore, who reg-| ered solidly last week in “The Fall Guy,” will be in the cast also, with the usual National favorites KEITH’S—Ethel Barrymore. Ethe] Barrymore, the one and only, will appear in person this week, head- ing a great holiday bill at B. F. Keith's Theater, before she once again begins her regular theatrical season. She will present Burrie’s charming little comedy, “The Twelve- | Dora Maughan, a comedienne from England, is to be featured in a bit by Harry Ruskin and Dave Stamper, called “The Barrymores and Me," assisted at the piano by Murray Full man. The dancing act this week brings America’s premiere ballerina, Harriet | and William Holbrook H offering entitled o | Others will include Eddie ! George Snyder in a bit out of the ’ Valentinos,” TY-—“Watermelons,” burlesque. “Hollywood Scandals,” ville, This afternoon and evening. vaudeville. This afternoon and vaudeville. This afternoon This afternoon and’evening. burlesque. This afternoon and ordina called “The Director”; Carol Racine and Dorothea Ray, who will take the audience on Tour,” assisted by Fred Lloyd, in a bit of sfenic funning, by Eugene J. W. Conrad; La Salle Hassan and Moran in “Bug: Gus _Mulcay, with his mouthorgan, as *“The Harbonica Blues Blower”; Noel Lester and company, with “A Variety Surprise,” and the usual screen features, Aesop's Fables, topics of the day and the Pathe News. EARLE—Roye and Maye Revue. Harry Roye and Billee Maye, arls- tocrats’ of the dance, will furnish the headline attsaction at the Earle Thea- ter this week. beginning this after- noon. These two are supported by l?oyd Dav Thelma Vivian Lee, C rles Pappa, Leah Lewis and Babe Fenton in a production staged by Harry Roye, with its own orchestra, under the direction of Boyd Davis. The act embraces six novelty num- bers, handsomely mounted and cos- tumed. The added attraction will be a C. B. Maddock tabloid diversion I's Here”; a scene of bygone days, with Harry Bat ported by Bert Melville, James J. Dempsey, Felix Rush and E. G. Cor- bin, The central figure is a bartender, who injects into the offering a large amount of convulsing comedy. Others are Cooke, Morton and Har- ¢, who play a basket ball game on bicycles, filled with thrills; Gene and Myrtle ‘Moore in “Bits and Hits of Broadw: and McCoy and Walton in_an ng of songs and patter, called Moments With the | Spirits." The photoplay will be Producers’ production of “The Clinging Vine,” starring Leatrice Joy. House features will include short films and pipe organ accompaniments of the pictures by Alexander Arons STRAND—"Arkansas Valentinos.”” Monta Bell's picture, “The Boy Friend,” which is the screen attrac- tion at the Strand Theater this week, " (Continued on Second Page) es in the principal role, sup- | AlLire MAyre_ Barle ey ox , | ¥ i‘Heraldmg Ethel Barrymore. 'T"l'} coming of Ethel Bar merica’s distinguished d always matter of pleas: anticipation. It doesn't matter i may be her play. the keenest intervest manifested in the actr herself, and the recent announcement Inf her serious illness was received with marked regret by her host of admirers in the National Capital For some vears past, at the cl of her regular theatrical S0n Barrymore has devoted her efforts vaudeville, with Sir J. M. Baj “The Twelve-Pound Look” as vehicle. And now again, following the close of her Shakespearean season with Walter Hampden, during which she appeared In “Hamlet,” as Ophelia, and in “The Merchant of Venice,” as Portia, comes the promise that she will appear in Washington this week in_“Twelve-Pound Look.” It should be o rare freat for the patrons of Keith's, who in the past season have been regaled with many attractions of the first rank Worke; I;But; i’ler Head. Mae Brown, soubrette with “Wate melons,” at the Gayety Theater, a ranges the various numbers, scen and settings, and the colorful costum- ing which go with each “At first,” she said, work these out in my own head. used to 1'd S| just sit down and imagine what I would like to see done here and there, and how it would look if I had the things to do it with. Then I'd set my thoughts down on paper and work it out from that. Now I have an easier and simpler way of getting an actual look at the way our new production will look. I have a miniature stage in which I can place specially sketched scenery and little mannikins. It has simpli- fled my busy Summers tremendously.” Burlesq_ué and "Tin Gods.” SOME of the early sequences in Glorfa Swanson’s picture “Fine Manners,” are laid on the stage of a burlesque theater, and, it is said, the filmirig of these sequences brought about a reunion and rejuvenation of many former burlesque “queens,” some of whom hadn’t seen each other for years. - A burlesque stage, with its gaudy paper hollvhocks and detachable moon, was faithfully reproduced, and the casting director ransacked Broad- way for a gang of real “troupers.” When the chorus gathered, it is said to have contained the following: Alvia McGill, “The Persian Night- tngale” in the days of her ascendancy with such companies as “The Win- ners,” “The Garden of Girls” and “The Gay White Way”; Florence Doran, former prima donna of ‘“Pall Mall,” “Around the Town” and “The Parisian Flirts”; May Davis, who won fame as one of the first girls to de- ! scend into the famous hippodrome tank and later further distinguished herselt in “Wine, Women and Song”; Theresa Klee of “The London Belles" Lotta Burnelle, who flourished in the | days of “Black Diamond”; Grace Ma tin, one of the famous ollie Girls played with Lillian Russell; Agnes | Marc of “Mexicana";. Sonia Tamora | of the Paris “Moulin Rouge,” and Jor. 1y Gerard of the “Follles Bergeres.” | in *“The Top of the World,” who once | LILLIAN GISH- Colrmbia At the Photoplay Houses This Week. METROPOI Men of Steel.” This aiternoon and evening PALACE in Gods.” This afternoon and evening. RIALTO—"The Bells.” This afternoon and evening COLUMBIA—"Fine Manners” .(second week)” This aiternoon and evening. TIVOL So This Is Paris.” This afternoon and evenir AMBASSADOR—“Men of Steel.” This aiternoon a WARDMAN PARK—"“Cabinet of Dr. Caligar evening CENTRAL LINCOLN evening This afternoon and 1 evening “Black Paradise.” This afterno “Mantr (colored) p.” This afternoon and ev TROPOLITAN—"Men of Steel.” Crandall’'s Metroplitan Theater an- | | nounces for this weck, beginning th st National's special ‘Men of Steel.” by Mil- e male chorus of originally con the operetta COLUMBIA— Glon Manners, lumbia mers. “Fine Loew's (o Swanson's production is heid over at or a 1 week. heginning fternoon Fine Manners” is love-druma that gives Miss an opportunity to wear gor s and play the lady of ishion well s to get over the comedy antics of a slangy East Side 1d special music by the | by que chorus girl Metropolitan Symphony. under Daniel | ere arve only three important sup. Breeskin, and., on week days from |porting roles. Fuzene O'Brien is the 110:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 5 to | society hero. the sophisticate, who {7:30 pan., synchronized accompani- | finds romance in burlesque hall by the Metropolit mblers, | Helen Dunbar. the svmpathetic aunt, Milton Davis. and Walter amount Junior “Men of Steel” has : star, is the other. Doris Kenyon. Mae Allison te Faweett, Frank Currier and Ashmore Creelman and MeLaglen. It is a blend of 1 New York newsy and thrills, and much of its a wrote “Fine Manners” es. background the giant for Miss Swansc of Birming Ala., wher | business E manufacturing shown | The offerings of the male ch lude the possibility of an ¢ by the politan Symphony the screening « picture will be played Student Prince” has been se ted for this, and the theme of the score for the picture will be “L’Amour Toujours I'"Amour” (“Love : ). by Rudolph Iriml rch will be “In a Little’ pmposition by the conductor of the tivoli Theater Orchestra of Baltimo iy fe: the Metropolit Waring sylvanians. gether with a voicy which the male choru Student Prince. Short reel ituted “The | Goss. ) in its ¢ G Vietor | romance ion has 1 mills | tual is | the pic o VOLI—"So This Is Paris.” Monte Blu Ruth Mfller will be co-star ndall’s Tivoli Theater the ays of thix | weele. beginning this afternoon, in »thers’ production. “So supplemented by “Mighty Like a Pathe Review and pipe Otto . Beck and ldn This Is Paris” s a farce, directed by who has added to hi this lighter form Patsy at Cr two nd us | Charley in Moos: organ music by V. Clarke. *So flippant French Ernst Lubitsch achievements drima Tuesdy shwill Tueti Wednesday n the and be Doratlit in a foreignmade true life_story of with Lige Con _;l"‘\ e 1‘l|ur~nl:|\" and St cola | Friday, Compson and James i e | Kirkwood, supported by Mary Astor production for Paramount, S e o rion, Mary Carr and George D e ovee ot i ba. | "The Wise Guv." augmented by an rade” fame, Alleen Pringle, William |Aesop Fable and “Topics of the Day Powell, Hale Hamilton, Joe King, | , e l‘,u';"‘;x e Robert O'Connor and an adorable | 1<% Bones ~ s in voungster named Delbert Whitten BIRCE S Sennetys PRCIUELIGDS S atey e ; nooners.” Kach daily bill will be aug WL D Gt i ThG Gl | mented by pipe organ numbers. “Tin Gods” is the s of a voung engineer, whose marrage to a strong- | willed, ambitlous, twealthy woman ends in an agreement to separate when their only child is Killed through the mother's negleet. Turning up in South America und taking to drink he goes rapidly to the dogs. but is nursed hack to health by a mative | lancer, who, believing the en or in love with his wife, commits de when the latter appears, seek ing a reconciliation. pr n an in_ “his is promised Thomas AMBASSADOR—*“Men of Steel.” Milton Sills, Doris Kenyon, Mae Al- | lison, Victor McLaglen, Frank Currier and Geo 1weett head the cast of First National's production, “Men of Steel,” to be shown the first three of this week at Crandall's sador Theater, beginning this |afternoon. supplemented by varied short filtis Wednesd wnd Thursday, Clara | Bow, Ernest Torrence and Percy Mar mont will be seen in “Mantrap,” sup plemented by Mack Sennett's “Fight Night”"; Frid 3 Kerry, sup- ported by € Me Dermott. Cissy igel Barrie, in Universal's production, “The | Love Feast,” supplemented by an I perial comedy, “Officers of the Day.” land a scenic ‘of the Canary Islands | Saturday, Vera Reynolds in “Sunny Side Up,” together with the juvenils comedy, “Raisin’ Cain®; the Pathe Re- view and Screen Snapshots. a RIALTO—"The Bells.” The photoplay to be shown at the Rialto this week is “The Bells,” star- ring Lionel Barrymore, with the added attraction today and tomorrow of 12 beauties from many cities throughout the country en route to Atlantic City for the “beauty pa- geant,” who will appear 7 Mare at the 3, T and 9 o'clock performances and will be introduced to the audience by “Miss Washington,” the Capital's choice to compete for the title of “Miss America “The Beils,” the Erckmann-Cha- trian stage drama, which provided | qpa (b “ the the immostal Sir Henry Ieving With | grne et of Dr Calgart.” the his greatest role, was adapted for the | puod 8 SGECHAT Bt vival at the screen and directed by James Youns. |\yardman Park Theater this week, The story concerns Mathias, owner | beginning tonight of a combination mill and inn. who | This was the first UFA movie ever | believes that his generosity in cutting | brought to this country. It was ac- prices and permitting his customers | claimed by critics as one of the finest credit will help to elect him to the | films ever made, but American film position of burgomaster, for which he | tastes were not ready to accept it. As aspires. His protesting wife reminds | a result every print was withdrawn him that they must pay the mortgage | from this country and only last month on the inn and mill or lose both to the | did UFA consent to sena back a print Jerome Frantz, | to Americ 0 already has begun to assume the | Carl Mayer, of ownership. Last Laugh However, the innkeeper and his | It was directed by Robert Wiene. Lil wife celebrate the Christmas holiday Conrad Veidt and Werner by a dance and supper, at the height v the leading roles. of which a stately Polish Jew enters| The story concerns a young medical and is given food and drink. After | patient with a crazed imagination the departure of his guests and fam- | The story itself, with the cubist set ily, Mathias, who has been drinking | tings and the German film technique. down for another glass [is said to be a wonder of weirdness and fantasy. CENTRAL—“Black Paradise.” At Crandall's Central Theater the first two days of this week, begin ning this afternoon, Madge Bellamy will be seen in “Black Paradise,” sup. WARDMAN PARK—“Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. who later wrote “The wrote this film drama remonstrates against the extra drink As the Jew rises to pay the landlord he reveals a money-belt bulging gold Mathias watches his guest depart, watches the sleigh drive out of sight in a blinding storm. Then he returns to the fire, finishes the bottle, picks | plemented by Mack Sennett's “Fight up an ax and goes out into the storm. | Night.” the ffth visualized lesson in From this point on the story treats | the Charleston and a Grantland Rice with the soul-stirring remorse of a ! Sportlight conscience stricken murderer. uesday and Wednesday An atmospheric prologue, stavring | Prevost, supported hy Harrison senora Milla Domiinguez and Nichols |and Phyllis Haver. in “Up Vasilleff; the International News and Room,” and Walter Hiers in * the overture ‘“Morning, Noon anle“‘”“ Thursday, Joseph Schildkraut Night” will complete the program. {Continued on Third Page)