Evening Star Newspaper, January 9, 1927, Page 62

AMUSEMENTS. AMUSEMENTS., JANUARY 9, 1927—PART 8. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON. D. €, “What Ho! The Gracioso! EXPLAINING HOW THE CLOSE-UP “SHOTS” ARE MADE : In the l{ocal playhouse’s BY FIRST NOM BAYES, who appeared at the Palace last week, is en- thuslastic over her experiment in a fiew entertainment field—the photo- play houses—and to First Nighter, ‘who interviewed her between stage appearances, she said: "I have found the movie audience very easy to please. Even to an old-timer like myself, the applause was thrilling, and we have no encores with the new work. The photoplay houses are conducted on regular schedules, g0 that no time is allowed for extra gongs. In regular vaudeville, audi- ences sometimes &top the show until their demands for encores are an- ewered. Now, when the regular work I8 finished, the artist can res until time for the next appearance. It has been Mr. Albee's custom to give a big Christmas party to the artists and staff of the Keith houses in each city, and Manager Robhins gave a 10-course dinner at the Wil- Jard for a group of about 40 guests. Squab headed the bill of fare instead of turkey, so Will Mahoney, who never overlooks anvthing, arose and gald: “Mr. Robbins we are enjoy- ing the party very much, but T would like to ask vou a question. Wasn't there a mistake made somewhere? Weren't these turkevs meant for Singer's midgets? President Coolidge does not go to the theater often, but his eon John is a vaudeville fan and whenever he is home frem college he attends the matinees. Last week the First Lady of the Land and her son attended an afternoon performance at Keith's. Lamentations and tears were much in evidence among the chorus girls of “The Vagabond King” over the fact that they had to spend Christmas and New Year in Wash- ington. A majority of the girls are New Yorkers, and as the show had done well all through the Fall on Broadway, they felt confident that it would remain there through the holi- days. The shift to the road was sud- den. Another old-timer graced the boards NIGHTER. Billy Watson, the German comedian, and although he has not changed his style a fraction from that of 25 years ago, he remains one of the big favor- ites of the burlesque wheel. Being acquainted with the German com edian, First Nighter found him in his dressing room ready to slide on to the stafe in his own original way. Billy carries his age well, and in reply to a query, sald: “I know my onions now, and I am a lifer in burlesque. They persuaded me to go out with one of the big revues about five vears ago, but never again. Evarything was new to me and I had to work like a dog to get my rough fun over, but in burlesque it in different. The audi- | ences know me, anticipate my every move and the laughs come easier.” | When “The Rig Parade” made its |two visits to this city, patrons re- celved extra entertainment by listen- ing to the remarks of the bovs who have heen “over there” and could not see the romantic part of the great movie. The same thing came up during the two weeks' stay of We're in the Navy Now" at the Columbia. Wallace Beery and Ray- mond Hatton, who registered so strong in “Behind the Front.” play the chief characters. The First Nighter sat behind a quartet of men one night Iast week, who, from their talk, had passed quite a period on hoard ship. They led the house in laughter, every now and then slapping each other on the back at a ridiculous situation or funny fall.” “Say,” said one to his boys “if there was ever that much fun in the Navy, I never ran against it. If there was we would be in there vet. It's great propaganda, just the same, and will make many a chap enlist.” A round of the suburban movie houses brought out the fact that the holiday ‘business was unusually big this year. Christmas eve shaded off somewhat, but, starting’ Christmas day, the theaters packed children and grown-ups in to almost capacity until the summit was reached with the of the Gavety Theater last week in bells pealing in the New Year, 1927, “Hot Stove League.’ 'HE Centennial of Vaudeville has developed an {nteresting phase in the extension of the “hot stove league” to vaudeville fans. Out in Butte, Mont., Dick Kilroy, editor, publisher and Trinity College graduate, heard one of the old- timers of the Silver Bow Club, founded by Marcus Daly, Senator Clark and other famous miners, horsemen and financiers, remark as follows: “Variety always was my style o' ghow. I remember when Eddie Foy had his honkatonk and saloon here and gave us all the first taste of his fun. That was a good variety show, and Foy was so comical that even when he sold you a round of drinks he gave everybody an extra Jaugh with the check. The girls in the show danced, sang, played the cornet and then came down on the main floor and mixed up with the gang. “Cattlemen used to eome up here from Helena, Great Falls, Miles City and even as far as Benton to see the shows at Eddie Foy's place. A Jot of 'em picked wives out of that old Variety Hall, and to this day the sons and daughters of them are emong the best citisens of the Treas- ure State. “We old miners of Butte discovered Fddle Foy, just like the famous Lotta, Crabtree first got her start down in Arizona, in the cow towns and mining camps, and, if you listen to me, the best critics of shows al- ways were to be found throwing gold dust or coins at the best acts.” Bart Grady, for 30 years identified with the Keith-Albes vaudeville, re- members and loves the variety artists of old. Sitting by a big fire. lace in the Copley Plaza, white- now, and as real a boy as any enthusiast, Mr. Grady said: “Past and present, the bigger and better a vaudeville artist is, the more modest he is and the more polite. The worse they are the more noise they make backstage. But there ren't many of this kind left. It's all different nmow from what it was in the early davs.” “Who are the great ones of the past?” he was asked. “Well, I'm ,not making compari- #ons,” said Mr, Grady, “but I'll never forget Albert Chevalier, the great Coster singer from England. An im- portation, mind you, but a great artist—one of the most finished I ever saw en any stage. Then there were McIntyre and Heath, who re- cently retired after 50 years on the real vaudevillans no matter what they did or where they wan- dered. They never parted company on the stage—and they never chum- med together off the stage. They were always good in their act, helpful to every one on the bill; quiet, modest, honest, friendly with managers, stage bands and doormen.” To Mr. Grady's reminiscences re- sponded Harry Malloy, veteran news. per man and publicist of Boston: ““All right for Chevalier and for Mc- Intyre and Heath, but do you remem- ber John W. Kelly—'Rolling Miil Kelly'? Wasn't he the greatest and one of the first monologists” Maybe he succeeded John and Hatry Ker- nell—and Tony Pastor, too—but ‘wasn't John Kelly the real originator of this monologue vogue? “As for the women—how about Annie Yeamans? She was a great artist and a wonderful woman to meet and know backstage or in any fine gathering. And then there were Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Drew, brother of John Drew. And do you remem ber Marshal P. Wilder, or the late en Welch, or Edmund Styvens and iss Marshall in their wonderful hodge-podge? Also Vesta Tilley, an other of the brilliant English girls ‘whose every word and motion was an DANCING. ROF_AND MBS. L A_ Al STUDIO. TS 100wt b —Clabieg Mon- Fi 8 (5 I b st w—luees . Murray E NACIN "ALL RTYLES OF DANCING tu Col. 200% THE FOX STUDIO iR, Dengine, worth while: terms reduced to oa. ALl stzies of e i 1 BEATRICE COLES o, 1850 Biltmore St.—Ph . 200 of the o—recently rofessional stage. offers & \nmul‘- \Patning . Sallcr serobaiic. har: ter, dancing . e o CATHERIN BALLE mart Taught. 719 9th St Nv |nn. m L) fifmi’.’:u;:zd‘x o NC- e les; 18._ ¢ 16th st. n por. B18! q!: TYPES fi;\b‘figAxgpm Claees g e & PM. Tivolt fl&r‘mfi tt2% m‘. 3087 — Billroom Pancing 'kn fuse for, Mgv gévaneed class commencing January = oD%finpers commencing 3 aftistic expression, and our own Maggle Cline—one of the greatest of them all.” Another stove vaudeville “hot league™ season included Harry Ridings, Lou Houseman, Ashton Stevene and Frank Gazolo, newspaper men, theater managers, artists and “customers” of the Loop. The list of tavorites, old and new, to which they gave prominence included Harry Lauder, Gus Willlams, Lottie Gilson Ward and Curran and Fox and Ward Evans and Hoey, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thorne, Allen and Clarke, George Thatcher, Hughey Dougherty, Lillian Russell, Lily Langtry, Wilkie Bard, Roger Imhof (who remembers him?), Will Cressy, Blanche Dane—all of them great, many of them gone, a few of them still with us. One vaudeville “hot stove leaguer” declared Barney Fagan the greatest clog dancer of them all, and after him came the first Pat Rooney, Howley and Doyle, all great. “As for monologists,” he contin- ued, “do you remember John Fuller Golden, ‘Blackface’ Billy Van, Charlie Case, Walter Kelly or Stuart Barnes? “How about Bert Haverly and Frank Danlels, who made their first appearance together at a ‘benefit for the late Charles Willard, one of their classmates. Remember when Bert Haverly sang his great song, ‘An His Feet Hung Out the Door'? “Who remembers Jenny Engles, or Mille. 1Irma, the dancer, or the Gerenflo Sisters, or Signor Jose Bas- tiglione, the great contortionist, or Senorita Lopez and her Infant Gymnasts?” A Burlesque Prediction 'MMA WESTON, character come- dignne with “Mutt and Jeff's Honeymoon,” says that character songs will come back with a whirl and a bang to the American stage one of these days. “We run in streaks and layers, she said. “This yeAr the styles of entertaining differ from those of last. Songs come and songs go, and they do their part to keep a vogue alive. “There are some folk who will re. member the painted slides that went along with the illustrated hallads of years ago. They made thelr own form of performers. Then came the neat little boys and little girls in eve. ning clothes and pretty gowns. They still are the center of attraction. “But take Harry Lauder or a dozen more that T could name and you will see that after all the character song done in costume has a greater appeal than anything else. It will come back one of these da; WILLARD—JAN. 17 FANCY DRESS Meger Davis Masie, 9:30 to 3:00 iz ho Av witare 1(".'5'!‘- on Ticket TONIGHT ureau 9 POL[ S At 8:00 O’Clock Matinees Thurs. and Sat. America's Greatest Revue The EARL CARROLL VANITIES ! (4th Edition) With |§ JOE COOK, FRANKIE HEAT) I JOHNNY DOOLEY H Nights, $1.10 to $3.85 Thurs. Mat., 50c to $2.20 Sat. Mat., 50c to $2.75 Week Beg. Sunday, Jan. 16th Seats Wednesday Arthur Lyons & William Seabury Present Ching-A-Ling WILLIAM COLLJER PRSI iy x5 O P And a G of Celebrated Japanese and Chinese Artists Chorus of Oriental Beautie. sutomobile; Charles Cralg on the back seat. Filming an automobile scene for “The Perfect "ameraman Mike Boyle on the fender at left and Director Howard Higgin at right: ," with Pauline Starke and Ben Lyon on front seat of the Tammany Young and In the Spotlight (Continued from First Page.) cluded an arrangement by which he became advisory counsel of the Ohi- cago Play Producing Co., which, under the direction of Marion Gering, pre- sented ' Kaiser's "Gas” in Chicago last season. Regarding the report that Mrs. Pat- rick Campbell is negotiating with George Tyler for an early production in which she will play the leading role, Mr. Tyler remains mute except for the assertion that no contracts have been signed. The play linked to this rumor is “The Adventurous Age,” by Frederick Witney. “Lazarus Laughed,” one of several Eugene O'Neill plays hovering_for months on the vesge of New York proauction will be given in Chicago in March by the Goodman Memorial Theater. George M. Cohen is said to be about to produce another play identified with the more or less mysterious author- ship of Margaret Vernon. The name of this playwright decorated his earlier production, *“Yellow,” which has been running in New York since September and which still shows every indication of continued success. John Floyd, author of “The Wood- en Kimono,” will follow up this mys- terious melodrama with- a farce come: scheduled for sentation early in the Spring. Its present title stands as “A Naughty Night.” A new play for Claiborne Foster called “Sinner” has been written by Thompson Buchanon and will be pro- duced by Richard Herndon the lat- ter part of this month. Miss Fos- ter's last appearance was in “The Patsy.” Brooke Johns has joined the Sam Bernard show “Plggy,” which opens in New York next Tuesday night. Two plays by Martin Brown will be acted soon in New York. “The Come-back” will open next week; the other, “The Strawberry Blonde,” will open about that time in Atlantic City. George Anderson and Julle Ring head the cast of the latter piece, which is | being produced by James Norval. “The Spider,” by Fulton Oursler and Lowell Brentano, has been put into rehearsal by Albert Lewis, with a cast including John Halliday Regina Wallace. It is described: ‘a play of the varieties.” .Current History Lectures CLARA W. McQUOWN Every Friday, 11 AM. . The Washington Club, 17th & K Admissi c G eorge Beban Talks ERHAPS under the sun.” But George Beban, playwright, producer and actor, who, with his company of 27, is presenting his stage and screen production “The Loves of Ricardo” this week, thinks he has found a true novelty. “In ‘The Loves of Ricardo,’ which I wrote, produced and in which I take the leading part,” Beban says, “I have tried to supply to motion pic tures a new element. Only one thing is lacking—that is, spebc And this is how Beban, accomplished it. He wrote the play and filmed it in the usual way. Then he picked out the most dramatic moment, the | climax of the story, and made it into | epoken drama. The picture is shown in the usual way, but at the height of the suspense the picture stops and the action is picked up instantly by | the company of living actors that | filmed it and it is carried on through one entire scene as spoken drama. A the close of this, just as quickly, the screen continues the story. “I took .the greatest, most tense moment of the play to give by word of mouth, for I believe that after the spoken act is over the presenta: tion takes on an added interest be- cause thé audience’ holds in mind the: Hving characters for the remainder of the picture,” Beban explains. . In this play George Beban plays the part of Ricardo Vitalli, a good- natured Italian grocer, in a way that| makes you ask if he really is an Italian. = Never does he miss the nat- G I ’fi“fi 0 Bopran -.-I.I‘Ofll‘l D-;tlnn?l m“..n. A R, urda ve., Janus 3 be In..::'vun'l Bireu, Broop's, 131 | MRS. WILSON.GREENE | 5 AXNNQUNORS CHICAGD GRAND OPERA ¢ f "..l(l-uu fose POLI'' THEATER THE MASKED BALL .& Van_Gorden v RESURRECTION 7,23 toh Molles T Dlasen T .., Raisa THAT JOLLR LITTLE DIALECT COMEDIAN AND HIS KUDDLING KUTIES CUTE—CLEVEBR AND OLASSY MONDAY At820. Oreh, Mo alon, §i30; Bal 0} IRK BROWN WILLIAM LEITH JANE JUNE RHOADS A RIPROARING FUN SPASM . SURROUNDED BY KUTIES GALORE WRESTLING FRIDAY NITE e MYTYAL SHUBERT ELA MGMT. LEE AND J. J. SHUBEAT Washington’s Theater Beautiful Presenting the Foremost Foreign and Native Artiste and Attractions of the B8peaking Btage JAN. 1 Mat; 2 We sat, Plus sC 80¢ to 8 500 _to Tax L, Lawrence Weber In Assoelation with David Wallice, Wil Present . AUSTIN FAIRMA LOUISE GALLOWAY LEE 8M| FILTiAM W. cRIMANS SPENCER BENTLER Staged by Lienel Atwill Produced Under the Supervision of David Wallace "“SEATS THURS. El Willilam A. Bredy, Jr., snd Dwight Dnr: g’lnln Present THE ROAD bert Emmet Sherwood Distinguished Cast CO w.l.'i ;’"‘"” TO ROME the actual draj accent {n the “slips” from th “there is nothing new |ural gesture, either in the picture or matic scene, and his spoken part never e Italian. But, George Beban is not an Italian, He is Scotch cello, N. ¥ San Francisco! on the stage as a bhoy baritone. first made a hi parts. Then h own plays, and has starred in Rose” and “On -Irish, was born in Monti- and was brought up in He_hegan his career He t in French character e began to write his among these that he are “The Sign of the e Man in a Million,” the former being, perhaps, his most famous play Now,” he producing motio “I have turned to pictures.” Wednesday, Jan. 26, 8:30 Gontinent “JANET al Memorial Hall CGH 2. §1.50, £1—tax exempt aduate in Washington Bureau, 1330 G St. “JANET RICHARDS Public Questions—Home and Foreign —Every New [, Ave. lasonic Temple, Admission, 65c. Monday Morning at 10:50. | 13th St. and lizabeth TCHERNIKOFF-GARDINER DANCE RECITAL WARDMAN PARK THEATER Friday, Jan. 21, 8:30 P.M. Tickets at Arthur dordan Plano Co. - HO, what and why is Ted Lewis?" They claim that after “Le Maire's Affairs” had played 22 weeks in Chi- Lewis was offared $7,000 a week to re- tire from the cast of the big revue and appear four turns a day, 12 min utes at each appearance, for 10 weeks, in a chain of big picture houses, but 41 he was loval to Le Maire and will continue to tour. f Mr. Lewis would probably prefer to be called “an entertalner.” He halls from Centerville, Pickaway County, Ohin, whera he started his musical career with a clarionet In the village [band at $12 a week. Now he draws aboyt three times as much salary as Uncle Sam pays the President of the United States. He was taken up by royalty - in’ Europe, it is said, and got to be real chummy with the noblility during his world tour last vear, He does not direct his hand at all, juet hops around, cutting capers, play ing various instruments, singing and will. In a word, Mr. Lewis is declared the modern reincarnation of the sev. enteenth century cut-up, an entertain- er extraordinary, who inflicted his capers upon the helpless drama. in the days long gone. The gracioso is the Spanish fool who, with cap and bells, takes part in every event of the play and frequently laughs at his audience and with it. MISCHA EVITZKI Master Melodist of the piano TONIGHT AT 8:30 Jewish Community Center 16th at Q—Pot. 3693 at Center and 1306 G. Washington Auditorium Gala Performance “Madame Butterfly” Puccini Opera Cast: Sabamieva. Rourskara, Althaus, Patton. Conductor: Chorus Friday Evening, Jan. 21 Tigkets now on cale at Mra. il on Graene Buraau. Droops at 13 o R T DIoPeIALT IO Benefit of the Gresk refugee chil. []l dren. Patronaga of Greek Minietar C. || Simonouios and Mme. Simopoulos Jacques Samossoud E. Wentworth Studios. NEXT CONCERT. PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA FRITZ REINER, Guest Cenducter. TUESDAY {5 JAN. 18 Program—Waber, Overtare b T i By 8 res onio Wagner, Overture. “Dia Melstersinger. Tickets—48.50, $3.00, §1.00, §1.00. T. Arthur Smith Buresu, 1330 G st., in Kitt's Musio Store. Ronald Col BEGINNING SUNDAY AND ALL WEEK W HENRY KING Production STELLA DALLAS —withe man—Belle Bennett— Alice Joyce—Jean Hershelt—Lois Moran—Douglas g irbanks, Jr. ALWAYS BEST FOR LESS ~G SUNLAY Engagement Extraordina: ON THE STAGE COMEDY! TUNES! PEP! A MUSICAL COMEDY REVUE ‘TOPICS awo TUNES' IRVIN B. HAMP FOLLIES BERGERE GIALS Foeatured 1n the STRAND'S Permanent Cast of 22 Talented Artists Entire Preduction Produced and Staged By LEO STEVENS Euteriaiament That's Different KEITH-ALBEE VAUDEVILLE teat Artiats Baclusively <ATINEE, ry ‘amous and Second to Nome B.FE.GOODRIC SILVERTOWN CORD JOSEPH KNECHT, Maestro And the Mysterious EXTRA ADDED The Fax ATTRACTION ‘orite Master of Ceremonies TAYLOR HOLMES in Humor, Original Storfes Rich Charm and Bentiment Special FERRY CORWEY The Merry Musical Olows Two Complete De Luxe Shows Dally 2:15 and 8:15 Phones: Main- 4484, 4485, 6828 Btar and Prince of Comedy Feature P JUANITA & PACO Assisted D Miss Rita-Josse Martines Marvelous Spanish Danoers HYDE & BURRILL - A ‘Bit Different THREE SWIFTS “VERY” CAROL SISTERS “Two Harmony Girle” o, Hurmony. Wil DONARUE & LA SALLE “4 Unigus Novelty” Aesop’s Fabl ‘Teples A By, Pate . Newe '.fig.l- Glant ‘Washington) e e it MATS.—Orchest: , $1.003 Balcony, 38¢ | upon the action and actors dashing into a dance or dramatics at | 50c; Balcony, 28e He assumes hoth the character of a spectator and an actor, sometimes in terrupts the performance with critical remarke, often gteps forward, discloses the mecret of the plot and comments Well, Ted Lewis is a “grac’oso,” they claim. James W producer of “Castel in the Alr is planning to | star Bernard Granville, leading play er in his present show, in a new must cal play next written by the | mame authors who provided his pres ent piece, Percy Wenrich and Ray- mond Peck. | CURRENT EVENTS LECTURES By William Rufus Scott | Every Monday Morning, 11 O’Clock AT RAUSCHER'S Single Admission, 60 Cents WARDMAN PARK Motion Picture Guild Presents Today and All Week Premiere Showing! Ufa’s Masterpiece “CHAINED” Based on the Life of the Sculptor Rodin Twe Shows Daily, 7:00.9:00 vear, WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA COMPANY Fdouard Alblon, General Director Presents “La Boheme” By Puccini TOMORROW EVENING, JAN. 10TH, AT 8:15 P.M. Margery Maxwell, Chicago and Ravinia Opera Ulysses Lappas, Covent Garden Tvan Ivantzoff, Rosa Low, Sigurd Nilssen Chanozsky, Ivan Steschenko Georges Georgesco, Conductor (Director of Royal Opera of Bucharest) WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM Prices, $1, §2, $3, §5 (no tax) SEATS ‘NOW Jordan Piano Co., 1239 G St. Phone Main 487 Ninth Twice Daily Near F G A'Y ET 215.8:15 LADIES’ CLUB THEATER LADIES' MAT. DAILY, 8¢ B;JD FISHER'S FAMOUS CARTOON (0 = < HONEYMOON . A Musical Cocktall in Two Acts, 15 Seenes A COMPANY OF 50—PEOPLE—80 Avd a Wonder Beauty Cherus of 24—DAINTY DANCING DARLINGS—24 FUN, MUSIC and GIRLS GALORE The Laughing Hit of the Century! NEXT WEEK—"LUCKY SAMBO" TI0 Nights $1.00 Wed Mat., $1 Sat. Mat., $1.00 AN RUFUS LEMAIRE PREGENTS <7he WORLD TOMORROW NIGHT and WEEK MERRY MUSICAL CLOWNS - Pusc by MARTIN BROONES ifcs 5y BALLARD FACDONALD SRAT NEXT WEEK SEATS MONDAY—MAIL ORDERS NOW COMMENCING THURS. Sam H. Harris, by Arrangement with Hassard Short, presents THE FUNNIEST SHOW IN THE WORLD CRADLE SNATCHERS A Farce Comedy by RUSSELL MEDCRAFT and NORMA Staged by SAM FORREST e witt BLANCHE RING One Solid Year at the Music Boz Theater, New York Eves., 50c" to $2.50; Mat, Wed,, 300 fo §1.50; Sat. Mat., 300 to 83; plus tax NEWMA TRAVELTALKS ,,‘}&0 OREOW, 81.65, 81.10, ‘Swami Yogananda Has Arrived Free Lecture Tonight Come and Come Early This distinguished East Indian is the founder of Yogoda, the system of concentration and meditation which operates to bring all forces ard faculties into harmony for the perfection of the body, mind and soul of the individual. Subject Tonight: “Everlasting Youth” Musical Program by Katherine Riggs—Harpist IMPRESSIONS OF 1936 180 and 800 One of India’s Gut Teachers All Free Thursday, January 13 “Developing Dynamis Power of Will” Friday, January 14 “Miracles of Raja Yoga. Its Western Miscon- ceptions” Additional Lectures Tuesday, January 11 “Art of Overcoming Nerv- ousness. How to Attain Poise” Wednesday, January 12 “How to Get What You Want. Law of Success”