Evening Star Newspaper, September 19, 1926, Page 61

Part 3—14 Pages September Prelude to a New Playhouse Se ason BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. The departure of the National Theater Stock Co. is a widely de- plored ioss. It will require consp: uous merit on the part of the more ptetentious spectacular or dramatic productions to causze the playgoer | speedily to forget. There is a pecul- iar charm m a well conducted stock company. The playe become | friends and neighbors, and the old | pleasure. now so seldom enjoyed, of | seeing an actor tested for powers of | versatility available. The lovers of jegitimate drama are en- abled to enjoy the speaking stage in | terms of gemal cor without be- | ing expected, excepting on rare occa- sions, to concern with tragic moods ar rhetorical periods. i P ! hecomes has been orig When an enteyp inally established on suce sssful terms it is sure to make w ior others of the same character. The National Stack Co. gt is believed by experts could easi{ run for an entire scason, somethwig, of course, impract.cal in view fof the long-establ of 8 prominent a theater. The Fresident i neater wiii up e stock company story where the Na- | tional leaves it oft. A company in cluding weil known favorites will as- | semble to produce “What Price | Glory?” for a two-week run, hopes Benien bumind, nojipubt fhet fic demand will warrant prolonging the engagement at the end of tie fort- night. hed poiey | * o ok % The inflammatc Price Glory " cr ¥ diction of “What | {tes an atmosphere | of superwarmth, ft 1 titude n | order for the asbest tain. The precautions against fire in every the- ater are now so claborate that the ashestos curtain is admired a| superprecaution, which e the | audience with a sense of perfect se- | curity, even though something ex- | traordinary should intervene to put | the players m dy. Manager | Stoddard Tavior has de-cided to re ve the grim reminder of bygone tragedies common that managers were almost afraid to book hate Claxton in 1 he Twe Urphans because of the numerous controver- sies that had attended her perform- ances. The superstition aroused by her experiences became so strong as | jeo to threaten an uniavorable mtuence | on her extraordinary carcer. The | Tavlorian art scnsility resented | this and prompted an cniocliishnent which makes the n ster fire- | proof fubie 4 thing S enundorol paimy s m the etiect of tap slecping boy Shakes the tree i Arden, where, circling over his head 1 wicae.y g ness, the figwes Othello, i.ear and other spearean characte ure to the eve, althomn on the yvouthiul po.t at infant prodigy in i with <o much sche most boys would prefer ns! adjacent stream suncy Hamlet, | i the Shake- a pleas- arc of acquainted when n the | How far 1t would he possible to keep “What Price Glory?" in strong interest betore the public is somc thing for the higher mathematics verging on laws of relativity as they apply to the shifting Is popular demand 3 1 | and direct m its app tary cmotion a fiercrly sioned vein. “What Price Glory? no less rogged and d it edy of warnished natur “Abie” came rompu welcome security seasons of acqua Price Glory:™ an antithesis per, but a similarity in p! * * ect in Luman nong ajain, after many atance: and “Wha in tem- | . human Marx Brothers Knew the Game. Four vaude- | TH[RT N years ago the Marx Brothers in ville. Today they are the stars of | Sam H. Harris' musical comedy. “The Cocoanuts.” During this period they have reached the highest peak in vaudeville and have journeved to the | field of the legitimate, where they were duly applauded and appreciated. | However, this story i not one which | 1 relate the trials and tribu brothers and their rise to fame and fortune. The reason for the mentioning of the fact that 13| years ago thev were playing vaude- Ville is to disclose very interest- | ing sidelight in the career of those comedians. On August 14, were bt ations of the Marx 1913, the brothers were acting in Rosten and plaving poker. Their engagement was for a Week. The brothers are the hoys who taught Hovle all he knew about cards. Now if one plays poker as the Marx bove do for a_week thex can collect quite a sum. They did. However, one | of the parties plaving hated to give| up the sum he had lost in cash and| oftered to pay the brothers in real estate. Eager to hecome property | owners and receiving larger sum in real estate than they would have had in caeh, the bovs accepted { When they left Boston they were the proud nwners of five lote in Gaga more Heights. a suburb of Boston. The whole community of Gagamore Heights was nothing more than a waste land decked here and there with a wooden shanty. Tin cans, gar- page and wild flowers decorated the property of the Marx brothers. ‘,\I! they had was the deed the lots, The moral of the tale to them at the time was: “Always collect cash when you play poker The other day happened 1o he « sat in at the to see his old fr a letter carrier, who e of the chaps who ame in Roston, came nds in their latest) show, “The Cocoanuts.” After the performance they got to talking about | @3 times. The letter carrier asked if they had s<d their property In Gag- amore Heighits as vet. “Groucho” sald that they had forgotten that they | owned it and inav was. The visitor informed him that it was a thriving little suburb. The visitor had started the brothers thinking. They had forgotten all about the property. Could it be pos sible that Gagamore Heights was In habited at all” Each of the brothers looked for the deed to the property, but tn vain. It was lost. Just as the: had forgotten that thev had owned | the property, &0 had they forgotten and lost the deed. They had put it/ down as a lost gambling debt and let it go at that. Last week end “Groucho” and | idealism to any play in which he ap- [ the foundations of society. | the | intensity. | att: | nar i the | works that endure through all time. i how the place | T | France.” frankness, may go on and on almost until its promoters grow weary of making money, somethng ch | ! rareiy happens except in the case of a managerial quarrel. * % % % The outstanding offer of the pres- ent theater, so far as putlic interest i< conceincd, i the posthumous film | revealing Kudolph Valentino, the one | player of them all who nas absolute- | .y compelied recognit on of the fum | irt as ahle to claim in a high mo- ment recogrition on equal terms with the spoken drama. He has ntil- | zed facial expression, wth a finesse he more compeiling because he never seems conscious of his own gifts, in a manner which leaves the Jpoken word unnecessary. A great player necds a great author, and it was when appe as an interpreter »f characters fi Ibanez that he made the protoundest impression on he admirers most anxious to take him with the artistic serionsness he de- cerved and to map out in hope a ca- cer on the highest intellectual lev- els of which the screen, still young in its development, is capable. Val- | entino, a favorite in thoughtful atten- tion since he appeared in “The Four | Horsemen,” had the dangerous. gift | of being able to bring an element (»(! prarcd, however conventional the theme or usual the method of action involving the surrounding figures. * ok kK “The Son of the She is the stor, of a type that has become very nsual, indeed. Its conspicuous incidents de- pend on the ever-available free-for- all fighting, 1 which one hero can- quers halt a dozen men, and of ama- tory cxaggerations, which long since passed from sensational interest: even as long ago as when the Olga Nethersole kiss was regarded as a heart explosion calculated to shake A hne, ensitive nature speaks even through wurly-burly, as his countenance, premely placid in repose, reflects the emotions of his role as a mirror reficcts the lights and shadows of the passing moments. His playing 1ke his life career, a marvelous At the age of 31 he had d a supremacy as extraordi- as 1t was undisputed. * o % Whether or not Valentino was in full sympathy with all the material placed at s disposal or_ with all the methods employed for his promotion aiong the lines of publicity cannot he known. He struggled for his carly chance, and a player must surrendc his real identity in large degree as | he falis into the grip of those imagi- nary figures of literature, which be- come more powerful than human | identity itseli. P It would have been a fine thing for theater could Valentno have played some of the things that have tected the powers of great actors in When Henry Miller, and later, Mar- tin Harvey, appeared here in a stage version of Dickens’ “Tale of Two Cit'es,” long-time familiarity with the book did not prevent it from being hailed as a new dramatic masterpiece. In following the latest and last film of Valentino, there is a certain pleas- ure to be derived, aside from the performance itself, in following the dclicate shadings of the artist’s ex pression, and, in fancy, applymg them neation of the role of Sidney eation which, had it would surely have sur- | i ¢ work cven of men who held the spoken stage as recognized premiers of their art “Chico™ went up to Boston to see if Gagamore Heights was really devel oped, and. If so, to get a duplicate_deed. They found a hustling town. It had a bank, two motion picture houses, a and 10 cent store, four coffee pots. a trolley line running into Boston and other requirements of a growing town. Two-family houses had taken place of stumps and trees and tin cans. The brothers found their lots. Tin cans and wiid flowers still pre- vailed. They obtained a deed and are now on the way to selling the prop- ¢ for much more than they could ever make in any poker game. Bedini a f’{eadliner. J AN BEDINI, whose name has for many years been well known in theatrical circles as actor, author and producer, is featured at B. F. Keith's Theater this week. Ransacking his vast accumulation of theatrical equip- ment, he has resurrected a comedy juggling act as a starter and then worked out a comedy afterpiece for himself and others who happen to be appearing on the bill with him. Bedini is one of the clever comedy manufacturers. It was his facile pen and flair for comedy which produced | “Peek-A-Boo,” one of the funnie burlesque shows ever presente “Chuckles,” which ran it a close sec- ond. and several other all.comedy | presentations. Along with his in-| fallible sense of humor is a keen nose | for comedians in the making. Clark | McCullough, comedy stars of | nd vaudeville, were discovered | veloped by Redini. Joe Cook,| conceded to he one of the cleverest | of all comedians, is a Bedini “find." | Comedy is Bedini's hobby as well as profession He i= continually on the outlook for material, for new twists for old situations. He glean comedy suggestions from ordin ! situations, and his appearances in | vaudeville are always acclaimed with | enthusiasm. - fi‘fl! \V’ar Pla’y‘ | HE World War comes back in| “What Price Glory,” opening in Washington tomorrow. The play, which is the work of Laurence Stal- | lings and Maxwell Anderson, is called | a “grinning comedy drama” and| “lightning flashes of war-torn | The characters and inci- dents are claimed to be lifted from members and experiences of the Marine Corps, who certainly fought | a good fight on the western front. 1 The play, since its opening in New York, has been one of the most talked about of the decade. | come { offered | Glory.” is a comic enlargement of | marte district, and appeared here at SESSUE HAYAKAWA — Keiths D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 19, 1926. " Y e ) COCOMUTS National WALTER 7 GILBERT — President WILLIAMS — NOLA ; EDWARDS — Mutual Coming’ Attractions TIONAL—*Ben-Hur.” The first opportunity in Washing. ton to view the photoplay version of Lew Wallace's classic, “Ben-Hur.” will at the ational Theater week, heginning Sunday night, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer su- perproduction, in arrangement with A. L. Erlanger, Charles B. Dilling- ham and F. Ziegfeld, jr.. will be pre- sented for a limited engagement with the complete touring orchestra and staging from the Embassy Theater in_New York. The novel, subtitled “A Tale of Christ,” was one of the world's most popular bhooks, and the stage spec- tacle toured America 22 vears. Now, in the art of the motion picture, are the famous sea fight and charfot race, the romance of Judah, Prince of Hur, and Esther, and replicas of Old World masterpieces, many in color. Other scenes include the beautiful procession of palms, da Vinci's “The Last Supper,” said to be a marvelos color replica: “The Pool of Stloam, the miracle of Christ's healing, the mob and Pontius Pilate, and the ter rific cataclysm of nature that toppled towers and palaces at the death of the Savior. The final scene, with Roman soldiers casting lots for the garments and the women kneeling at the foot of the cross, is sald to be most impressive. The cast is_headed by Ramon No- varro, Betty Bronson, May McAvoy, Francis X. Bushman, Carmel Myers, and includes 150.000 others. The accompanying music, arranged by David Mendoza and Willlam Axt, i performed by an orchestra of 30 pieces. s next where PRESIDENT—"Kiss in a Taxl.” “A Kigs in a Taxi," which the President Plavers will offer, following the engagement of. “What Price events befalling a flirtatious French banker, who finds himself the foster father of a little sprite from the Mont- a local theater late last Spring with Arthur Byron, Janet Beecher and Claudette Colbert. The plece is built on broad farcical lines, concerning itself with a maze of entanglements, resulting from a rather innocent gesture by the afore- said banker. More hilarity ensues upon the appearance of a dizzy au- thor, who is in love with the girl, the latter being the innocent cause of all the trouble, which dates from the time the banker's wife adopts her. Leona Powers, Walter Gilbert, J. Frank Chaclten and others of the players will appear in this second of- fering of the new season KEITH'S — Betty Blythe — Cecilia Loftus. .The bill at B. F. Keith's Theater next week will be coheadlined by Betty Blythe, motion picture star, and Cecilia Loftus. the English star, in impersonations. EARLE—"A Night in China.” Next week’s bill at the Earle Thea- ter will include “A Night in China,’ an oriental musical comedy with the Roma Duo: Joe Morris and Wyn Shaw in “The Mosquito Trust”; Dave | Schooler & Co. in “Music Hath Charms.” with Peggy Hart and Es- telle McNeil, a_skit written by Dave | Schooler and Herman Timbers. STRAND—''Seminary Scandals.” Gram's production “Mare Nostrum’ will be the screen feature at the Strand Theater, with Alice Terry and Antonio Marino heading the cast. fare Nostrum” is a thrilling love story and tells in a powerful way a fascinating story of passion and re- demption. The stage lineup will be headed by “Seminary Scandals,” featur- ing Miss Tommy Allen, in a musi- cal farce comedy by Vivian Chandler Smith. Other numbers include Al Traham and Vesta Wallace in “The Curtain Speech,” by Frank Fay; Nel- lle Arnaut and Brothers, in her nov- elty featuring “The Merry Widow Waltz""; Sue Crelghton and Eddie Lynn, “The Follies of a Side Street,” by Harry W. Conn, and the three Herman Brothers, billed as ‘“‘Ameri- ca’s Most Famous Gymnasts GAYETY—"Around the World Revue.” In “Around the World Rewlie,” next week's attraction at the Gayety Thea- ter, nine countries are shown in col- orful revue during the progress of 2 acts and 15 scenes. Plcturesque Spain, France, China, Japan, Hawaii and Switzerland are all ‘“visited” and the native cos- tuming of each land is worn by the feminine principals and chorus. The Lander brothers, Han Willie, tramp comedians, head cast. Capital Sideshows. g Le Paradis Opening. Entirely new decorative settings will be featured at the formal opening of Le Paradis for the Winter season, which will take place next Wednes- day evening. The Club Chantecler will open two days later, Friday eve- ning. Huge black lace parasols as large as the usual lawn umbrellas will be dotted about the room from under which one can look up at romantic Itallan star lights that give out a subdued amber glow. Hangings of black and gold brocade are in perfect harmony with stars and parasols, the entire ensemble having heen designed by Mrs. Meyer Davis, an expert in the art of interior decoration. Felix Solari and Walter Kolk, Paradis favorites of last year, are hack on this vear's fun track. with a dozen specialties of vaudeville nature which will be added to constantly. Walter is responsible for most of the melody and grace of their turn, while Felix pops the “wise cracks’ and comedy. Robert Kehl will again be in charge of both Le Paradis and the Club Chantecler. ' and the Swanee. A contest as to the outcome and progress of the Dempsey-Tunney fight will lend zest to the first three days at the Swanee this week. Prizes will be awarded to those who qualify as the hest sports prophets, The Swanee Syncopators, led by Al Kamons, are serving up dance music that tingles with the snap and sparkle | of early Autumn air. The band has heen augmented with three extra in- struments since moving from Swanee- in-the-Air to the Swanee ballroom. Special entertainment features will Beginning next Sunday, Rex In- ) be added shortly, ] Le | Gayety Veidt Stars Wi ONC‘E again John Barrymore has registered his objections to the policy of surrounding a star with mediocre performers. “It is not only cowardly,” Barrymore insists, “it is inartistic!” Which explains why Konrad Veidt, who is acclaimed as one of the most brilliant character actors of the Fu- ropean studios, is hurrying to Holl wood. He first attracted attention by a performance in “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” and since has distin- guished himself repeatedly. Barr: more had been hearing of him for some time, and recently sought defi- nite information from a well known foreign director. “Is he good?" asked John. “Is he good? He's so good you would be extremely foolish to engage him unless you want him to steal your picture. The next morning a cable went dashing over to Veidt: “Will you please catch the next boat to honor us by playing Louls XI in ‘The Vagabond Lover,’ based on THE announcement that Rudolph Valentino's last plcture, “The Son of the Sheik,” is to be held over for an extended engagement in Washing- ton, starting this atternoon, serves to call attention to the fact that there is a big demand for Valenino pictures. Reports from the headquarters of United _Artists Corporation, _distrib- utors of the picture, are to the effect that the demand for “The Son of the Sheik” greatly exceeds the ability of the corporation to supply prints and that ymany theaters elsewhere, who never showed a Valentino production | on its second run, are now standing in line, as_it were, until the original lessors of the first run rights have had their fling at the picture. This demand for Valentino pictures since that actor’s death is not confined to this last of Valentino pictures, for one also hears that “The Eagle,” which had presumably finished its screen labors in the larger centers of population, Is once again in demand in those same centers and that its rural premieres in the small towns and villages must wait until the Val- entino vogue has spent itself suffi. ciently for the nickelodeon impres- arios in the small communities to meet its rental price. United Artists, however. is not the distributing organization which fair to boom its 1926 profits from | wholly unexpected source. Word | comes that Metro-Goldwyn is already planning a series of re-showings of th Barrymore. the life of Francois Villon?" Nor is this the first time Barry- more has demonstrated this policy. London actors gasped in amazement when he engaged the most talented cast in the United Kingdom to sup- port his “Hamlet,” instead of hiring a flock of more or less decrepit Thespians, as had been the custom with actor-managers. More recent proof that Barrymore has remained an artist, despite the screen and its potent box-office, is the manner in which he built up Estelle Taylor's part in “Don Juan.” Bigger and big- ger he made it, as its possibilities de- veloped. And when the critics in- timate that she holds an almost dual interest with him. he points out how one-sided the picture would have been without Miss Taylor's perform- ance to balance the role of the star. Veidt fills out a cast headed by Marceline Day and including Henry Victor, Lawson Butt, Mack Swain, Slim Summerville, Otto Mathieson, Lucy Beaumont, Rose Dione and Martha Franklin. Valentino Pictures in Demand. Players-Lasky Corporation will prob- ably earn a large portion of its bond interest, if it has any, this year on the renewed public_interest in Valentino pictures like “Blood and Sand,” and “Monsieur Beaucaire,” both of which were supposed to have long since reached the status of remote neigh- borhood and rural showings, but which now, on the wave of popular in- terest in Valentino and his work, will be taken down and dusted off for presentations of a much more metro- politan character. Curlously enough, Valentino's estate is expected to share only in the profits from “The Eagle” and “The Son of the Sheik,” but when one considers the fact that both these pictures will be running a year from now in the smaller houses, it would seem that the Valentino estate, estimated at $1,000,- 000 at the time of his death, might be swelled beyond the most sanguine esti- mates of his executors. Children's Programs. JT is announced by Harriet Hawley Locher, director of the public serv- ice and educational department of the Stanley-Crandall Theaters found- ed by Harry M. Crandall, that the special programs for children, to be given on Saturday mornings in Tivoli and Chevy Chase Theaters, will be inaugurated for the new sea. gon on October 30. Mrs. Locher has specialized in this type of entertaliment and is nation- Valentino's first screen triumph. “The Four Horsemen" as well as “The Con- quering Power, ally recognized as an authority in the preparation and presentation ef bills while the Famous]designed for juvenile entertainment. il the | PRBSIDENT—"What Price Glory STR! and evening. evening. MUTUAL evenin, Step-Lively Girl NATIONAL—*The Cocoanuts.” T the National Theater Mon- day and the balance of the week Sam H. Harris will pre- | sent his musical comedy riot, | the Marx Brothers in “The | Cocoanuts.” Heretofore through the | medium of the Music Box Revue. Mr. Harris has given an elaborate en- tertainment of the traditional type, but this year he has a story of suffi- cient volume to be dignified by the name of plot, and then has added his dances, sketches and musical num- bers, all of which are indigenous to the narrative. He has taken for his locale Florida during the land hoom and he has, through the pen of George §. Kaufman, a hilarious story. Irving Berlin has added the lyrics and characteristic numbers. The en- tertainment surpasses many of the “revues.” Beauty and art combined in the expert staging of a large working chorus, in the gorgeous en- sembles costumed to fill the eye, and to the varied talents of an unusually expert company of comedians, singers and dancers. The Marx Brothers first made themselves distinct favorites | through their success, “I'll Say She Is.” Into the story of Florida, the author has placed these comedians. Holding the story together has its own difficulties where the Marx Brothers are concerned, but the author has managed to give some continuity to his plot. Prominent in the cast are Phy Cleveland, Janet Velie, Margaret Du- mont, Jack Barker, Henry Whitt more, Basil Ruysdael, the Brox Sis- ters, the DeMarcos, the Breen Broth- ers, the Paloma String Orchestra, a jazz_band and the liveliest, peppiest, loveliest: and the most handsomely gowned chorus presented on the stage in many a day. All in all a cosily production and one of the outstanding musical successes of the past season on BroadWay. PRESIDENT—"What Price Glory.” “What Price Glory,” the much-dis- cussed play born of the World War, will be presented this week, opening tomorrow at the President Theater, by the President Players. Aside from incidental glimpses of the Great War, the story Is one of the most engrossing plays ever written. Mazwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings, its authors, lifted their cha acters from life and bullt their play with the authentic knowledge that comes from- the latter's oversea sery- ice. They have realistically sketched marines under war conditifns, pro- fessional war dogs for the most part, with none of the delusions common to swivel chair propagandists and with a very human capacity for frolicking while back of the line. Leona Powers, leading lady of the President Theater Plavers, will have the only feminine role in the play, Charmaine. Walter Gilbert, lead- ing man of the company, has the part of Capt. Flagg. Evening performances will begin at $:20, with matinees Thursday and Sat- urday at 2:20. KEITH'S—Sessue Hayakawa. Sessue Hayakawa, motion plcture star, will headline the bill at B. F. | Kelth's Theater this week, appearing in “The Bandit Prince,” a new play- let by Burnett Hershey, based upon the novel by Hayakawa. An able cast is seen in support of the star. ““Hello, Good-by,” a comedy revue in 15 scenes, will be a feature. It is pro- duced by Jean Bedini, and features Irene Ricardo, Eddie Vogt. Frank Hurst, Joe Melino, Jean Bedini and others, who appear in their own acts on other parts of the bill. Irene Ricardo returns to offer her hilarfous number, “Whoa, Pagliacct"; Frank Hurst and Eddie Vogt are booked as “Profiteering in Fun': Jean Bedini and Melino offer a Jjuggling travesty, Benjamin Ratner, talented young pianist and native of Washing- ton, offers a group of numbers, and the DI Gatanos appear in dances of esterday, today and tomorrow.” The usual supplementary features round out the bill. GAYETY—Mollie Williams Revue, burlesque. burlesque. Attractions In Washington Playhouses This Week At the Theaters This Week. ATIONAL—“The Cocoanuts,” musical comedy. Tomorrow evening. BELASCO—"Abie's Irish Rose,” comedy. This evening. " drama. Tomorrow evening. KEITH'S—Sessue Hayakawa, vaudeville. This afternoon and evening. EARLE—“Kuban Kos¢acks,” vaudeville. This afternoon and evening. D—Barnett and Thomas Revue, vaudeville. This afternoon This afternoon and and This afternoon HE————— EARLE—"Kuban Kossacks. For the current week beginning this afternoon the Farle Theater an- nounces as the headline attraction the Kuban Kossacks, a male chorus in a program of in- teresting number Featured will he Rert Levy, one of the foremost cartoonist and cari- caturists in the United States who augments his draftmanship with a keen sense of humor and marked ability as a whistler. Other numbers are “The Three Aces,” Freeman and Lynn, in a novel- ty offering, and the Shelby and Adams Revue. The photoplay is Producers' re- lease, “Almost a Lady.,” in which Marie Prevost is the star, with Harri- son Ford and George K. Arthur in support. The story is an adaptation by Anthony Coleway of Frank R. Adams’ magazine story, “Skin Deep.” Direction was E. Mason Hopper. The customary short reels together with orchestral overture and pipe organ accompaniments will round out the entertainment. STRAND—Barnett and Thomas Revue. Beginning today and continuing all week the Strand Theater will offer as screen feature, Buster Keaton in his inimitable prize-fight-comedy ple- ture, “Battling Butler.” Thrills and laughs galore are promised in this whirlwind of fun and excitement, to- gether with a love story that is full of romance and in which Sally O'Nell appears opposite the star. The stage presentations are topped by a Herbert Barnett and Jack | Thomas Revue with the Dnll Sisters and Helen Jestas, Chappy and Libby Kay, assisting. Other numbers will include Winehill and Briscoe in a comedy farce “Just for a Laugh"; LaFoy-Startman company in a_song and_dance number “Tea for Three" by Willlam K. Wells; Helen Morett} in a ballad_number, entitled, “The Little Girl With the Big Volce,” and Ambler Brothers, “America's Fore- most Equilibrists.” Short films and orchestra numbers under Arthur J. Manvell will com- plete the program. GAYETY—=Mollie Williams' Revue, At the Gayety Theater thi opening with a matinee today, * Willlams and her Latest and Greatest Revue' is announced as the attrac- tion. The spectacle she has produced as this season's treat has 18 scenes, with capers, anties and stunts filling up every minute, and to bedeck the chorus with attractive wardrobe mora than 300 costumes have been created. Mollie Willlams herself stars at the head of her own organization, bring- ing with her many modish costumes. There will be & playiet, in which she holds the center of the stage, and there will alse be a procession of novel scenes and laugh skits created by Harry Evanson, Nate Busby and Jack Darrell, featured comedians. Others in the cast are Jeanne Steele, who sings and dances: Mitzi Merry, who Is said to have an impres- sive \tollv-:{RPe Paige, who has her own style of entertaining, and George l's‘l\le and P}farr,\' Seyon. 5 mong the spectacles will ba * Green Hat,” a novelty; "T-mmau}»fi: introducing the fair ong Kingdom of Charleston, tic craze, and “The Chicken an up-to-the-minute dance vear's edition of “Step Lively which will be the offering at the Mutual Theater this week, com- mencing today, is presented in two acts with 10 scenes, depicting life, conditions and pastimes at Miam{ Beach, Walkiki Beach, Granada, Spain; Calro, Egypt, each with th nr;n:r)‘, !N\s;um customs, ginging and dancing for which e and dancing each country is In “additfon to the compan farceurs, 16 dancing girls ace ntra: duced to_lend vivacity to the action, Harry Bentley heads the cast, which includes Harry C. Van, Bob Collins, Elsle Burgere, Ethel Koppel, Nola Ed- wards and Billy Hamlett. “BIGGER Than Barnum's” the cir- cus pleture which is being shown here this week, made a number of records during production in many ways, but perhaps the most notable feature s the absolutely vivid and authentic circus atmosphere. The credit for this largely goes to two men, Jerry Gamble and Harry Bayfleld, both old-time circus perform- ers, who scoured southern California for the most noted clowns and acro- bats in the profession, and succeeded in obtaining the services of many ex- perts. Gamble, a veteran of the Ringling and Barnum and Bafley organization: { and Bayfleld, who has worked in nea |1y all the circuses of the country, in- cluding Forepaugh-Sells, Ringling. Hagenback-Wallace and Sells-Flotow shows, are both well known as pro- ducers and have orlginated many of the best acts of the ring. Jack Winn, HE popular song a highly appropriate musical for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's new pie- ture, “Blarney,” which is announced for showing in Washington this after- noon, for the old-fashioned buggy, the carryall and the surrey play an im- portant part in forming the atmos- pheric background of this story of the New York of 50 years ago. Not in a long time has the Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer property department faced a more difficult task than the business of supplying enough old-fash- |ioned horse-drawn vehicles for this | picture. Property scouts combed the |entire State of California hefore enough “props” of this tvpe had bheen obtained, but even then the property { men had only begun their task, for the business of costuming the more than | 800 ture with plug hats, congress gaiters, ruffled shirts and the like was another monumental job. This costuming task was not com- plete, of course, with the mere fur- “extras’ who appear in the pic- | who has toured practically every town in the United States and Can- ada with Forepaugh-Sells, Barnum and Balley and Buffalo Bill, well as England, Mexico and Australia, in the last ars, and Tom and Ethel At- kinson, whose dog-and-pony show fs known all over the country, are repre- sentatives of the artists secured for the picture, The list of names sounds like a “Who's Who" of circusdom. Rube Dalroy, Eddie DeComa. the Grace De- garro Trio, Larry Judge, Charlotte Schribe, Alice Brahm, Clara Masters, Harry Cornallis, Prince Elmer, Eddie De Van, Sullivan and Farrel are all veterans of renown in the world of “big tops.” Not a “1st of May,” as tenderfoot or inexperienced clown is called, was included in the cast, and the result is sald to be shown in the remarkable fidelity of genuine circus atmosphere that abounds in the ple- ture. Pictures New York 50 Years Ago. “Thanks for the | nishing of the proper clothes to wear. Buggy Ride” would appear to be |The hirsute adornments of the New theme | York of a half century ago required a small army of make-up experts 1o ap- ply them to the extras and principals alike before they passed muster with the technical director. Most of the costuming troubles centered about the men, for the women seenred to have little difficulty in finding period costumes suitable for the picture. Director Marcel de Sano, however, was frankly surprised at the amount of work required to fix up a modern replica of the old-time New York bar, The very architecture of the saloon of that period was difficult to fix, and when once fixed it was found easier to reconstruct it in the studio than find the necessary bar fixtures of that time on the West Coast. An instance of the work involved, however, is seen in the necessity for acertaining ex- actly what brands of beer,_ wine, ete., were popular in New York of the time of “Blarney” and then repaint signs ‘{;‘1:; would be replicas of the real thing.