Evening Star Newspaper, January 8, 1928, Page 62

AMUSEMENTS Moving Picture Album BY ROBERT E. SHERWOOD, Mr. Lasky Has the Floor. N enormous number of words have been uttered in this and other columng on the subject of dverelaborate film presen- tation—a subject which, it seems to me. is of vital importance to the movie producers and movie | fans at well. In all the larger thea- ters in the larger towns and cities the motion picture theaters have been drifting farther and farther from the medium of entertainment which they should legitimately offer (i. e, motion pictures). They have been presenting huge orchestras, bal- Jots, vaudeville acts, black hottom contests, prologues and other “pres- entatien” stunts. to the extent that the feature picture has become in- Iy inconspicuous as an item of . it is a far from uncommon ; a feature picture to | dy cut by a theater l“:l(n-l so that he will have room for %n his bill. His vaudeville acts take up =0 much time that he can't afford to give the mere movie its re- quired allotment. This scissors work by exhihitors has not helped the pic- tures any. In many instances such operations have proved %o w It has developed into a serious situation. particularly for those of us whe go to movie theaters for the ex- s purpose of seeing movies. ;::i |\"x'l\|l"slod vehemently; so have many other observers—but our pro- | tests have heen unanswered. We have heen impelled to the embarrass- fng conclusion that no one ever reads | st ’“:n‘ at h<| ‘comes word on this snbject from Jesse Lasky, no less whe undertakes in a recent issue of the Film Daily to satisfy us com- | plain: s - vs Mr. Lasky e he large houses the de luxe sho as a whole, runs about 2 hours and 10 minutes. The exhibitor be- lieves fram experience that this is the proper amount of entertainment to give his patrons for their money. Of This 2 hours and 10 minutes, the mo- tion picture entertainment usually takes up an hour and 10 or 15 min- utes. This does not include the news reel and a two.reel comedy or other screen novelty. Even with these, the exhibitor is faced with the necessity of providing something which will oc- cupy the rest of the time. ] “To do this, he has resorted to stage | shows. Thess shows are created by producers of large acts. The producer of the stage show, heing a creator, nocasionally allows his enthusiasm for | his own handiwork to run away with | him. Then the stage entertainment encroaches on the time and position which rightfully blong to the screen. | Then it is that the socalied presenta- tion hecomes a menace to the picture. *1 want to make myself perfectly clear: The film must always be the | in_their productions and the person- | sonalities, | a certain extent, with those of us who | and the theaters will take care of main attraction in any motion picture theater. The time consumed by the feature and the supporting film en- tertainment should be the basic time around which the stage manager builds his show. When stage acts ar'e necessary to round out a complete { program, those acts should be subordi- nated to the film. Certainly the stage act should not be allowed to run so long as to crowd out worthy film come- dies and news reels. Above all, the stage entertainment should not be of such length and nature as to leave the patrons weary when the feature picture is thrown upon the screen. 1t is the feature picture that the pa- trons have come into the house to see. If this be not true, then the whole mo- tion picture business s not true. Just as the program within the theater must be arranged o that the picture is the main feature, vious that the theater's advertising must present the picture as the main attraction. 1 have no patience whatso. ever with film theaters that subordi- nate a well known star and a costly production to the aggrandizement of some bandmaster, master of cere. monies or small-time vaugeville actor. Motion picture producers have invest. ed hundreds of thousands of dollars alities that appear in those produ tions. To me it is folly for us to make this great effort, to spend this mone in_exploiting these pictures and pe if they are to be kicked around in our leading theaters and subordinated to some extraneous per- sonality. That Is not building the piz- ture business: it is tearing it down. What incentive is there to a motion picture producer to make better pic- tures if he sees his hast efforts used as | a trailer to some jazz band or tabloit show? “Just as sure as the motion picture is subordinated in theatey so will it deteriorate in the studio.” L I B ANl of which sounds very promisinz. It proves that Mr. Lasky is consclous of the validity of the charges that have been made and that he agrees, to have made the charges, But what does he propose to do about it He doesn’'t say. He con- cludes his article with the promise that the three main elements in the film industry—the producers, distribu tors and exhibitors—are going to work together for the benefit of the dear public and the promotion of the better and finer things. He neglects, how ever, to suggest any conceivable rem- edy for a condition that is becoming acutely serious. In view of which, T repeat to Mr. Lasky, and to all the others, a bit of advice that I have offered on many previous occasions. It is this: “Make better pictures— themselves.” (Copyright. 1928.) S pATHE NEWS released on Wednes- | day to motion picture theaters ” & mews reel that will be a pictorial his- | tory of the past year's events in every section of the Nation. In its entirety the reel would total 17,000 feet of sub. ’efl nmuar. or more than three miles Nr each of Pathe’s 33 branch offices | Editor Ray Hall assembled approxi- mately 500 feet of film covering the year's most important events in the community surrounding the branch office. This 500 feet of pictorial news matier is led as part of the reg- ular issuve of Pathe News and for the first time In the history of news gpels theater patrans will see a complete re- view o Il. screen of the passing events of 1927 that are of greatest in- terest locally. In the past there has been a review of national events on the screen in Pathe News and other newspapers o" the screen, but never before has any £- nitude of this task can be arrived at #f one thinks of the same effort on the part of a mewspaper, that of getting out 33 separate issues in as many lo. calities on the same day and each de. ::rul to entirely different subject mat- 'athe News, which is the pioneer news reel of the screen, was enabled to carry: out thia project because of it strong organization from headquarters down 1o the remote localities. It has net been 30 many years since a cam- eraman in a small city or_town was more or leas of an 0ddity. Now Pathe has in each of 33 branch offices motion picture eamera representatives, wh v ATATROA A Tlaming Trandlation of Manon Lescaut ~the Romance AATATAY Vi ' NOW THE FAV EWSREEL OF THE NA’ u:m/ FOX- MOVIETONE AR puua ER creen History of 1927. { headquarters in New York. | trom {tions from the screen history of 192 are responsible to “editorial” offices in the larger cities, in some of which | Ihor‘ are several Pathe News report of the lens. Like the Associated | Pr"! and the ited Press, they for ward the more noteworthy news to | Lesser | events are made up in the jocal lahor: tories, or given a wider distribution | the branch editorial offices, known asx “bureaus. | The Pathe News headquarters In‘ New York is organized in personnel | somewhat like that of a newspaper. | with its city editor handling the as. 1 signments around New York: its for eign editor taking care of film abroad: | the title writers working like the copy readers on a daily and the newsmen m'r‘;'y at any time to cover a story. o quently break into the limelight crash Yhe screen pages. There are rameramen who specialize in “human nterest subjects, the mnewspaper wob” writers, the stunt men and the star reporters, who are likely to be sent most any place in the world at v time. Pathe's gigantic news reel was as sembled in New York and retitied. A miniature newspaper of 20 pages car ried the printed titles and fMustra. This was issued to the theaters us a contents sheet, “Gentlemen of the Prems, play written by Ward Morehouse with the ansistance of two other newspaper men .whose names are not led. will be produced early next mon Thomas E. Jackson 4 H. It goes Into rehearsa l N A THE SUNDAY STAR Photoplays at Washingt WASHINGTON, D. C, on Theaters This Week Wednesday Saturday Tuesday Clar “Get, Newa reel. Hodge Podze Clara_ T “Get, Your lhn o Ambassad'r e el o Lonel Bar 3 “The "Fhirteenth m.-.r t Christie comedy. Mayoard (i he Unknown Cavaijer . Our Gang_coms Apollo Novarro in *Ben-Hur Rin-TinTin 0 “A Dog of the Reg! ment Comedy, Serial n Giihe, n«uu Anlun» “The_Wie'T j.mu Giibert_and J-.hu Gilbert_and Renoe Adoree Ranes, Adorce “The Ble_Parade” k.. ard Bard el The Diop Ave. Grand o~ Lameo Sunda, n “Sarrell & Fatsy Ruth Milier in wworthentt 0. Henry comedy. Lois Wilson in Marion Davies in, 1l ““The Gingham Girl. o Fair Coed.” ooy Richand™ Defender’ nd Bills Tootey comualy. ¢ “The R e ,- Widow™ « n “Trunle M Night, Biltie - ender Hour Saily iy Mackaill and | Tacie: Moinall 16 mile, Brother, Smil 0. Henry e “Bebe Daniels e Bidney in ife of Riley," velty rrel ra Hes noldw Aimost_ Human ¥ “The, Wise Wite “Tiin '(lnun Fair Co- i and liezians ve Brook in Ralph Ince in nerworkd ‘Shanghated. Fieat opinode. 1ail_of the Tiger.” Febe Danieis in She's o Sheik Our Gang_comedy “and Sportlight e Dneerwornd. QT WilliamHaines n “Spring Fever.' Camea: comeds. George wel in “Sallor > Toed SWarimy Norma Talmadge in “Camille.” Bk “Hills Sammy Coben in “The Gay Retreat. Norma Talmadge in Jones n, “Camille.” " Ronnid ~ Cnlman,_ Bea te. Ellle The Heart of yiand." Dofores Costello T ( | “The Sporting Lover." “, Rudoioh Woman in Anothe Comedy Comedy. Empire Skl ik & iy, Hip’odrome 1p odrome Comedy . Inkwell Fartoon. Alec B Francis “The Mus Artoon. Collexe Widow.” comedy “Wandering zall Alley medy -nv| ke, Patay Ruth ¥iller “South Sen Lave." Joes e Vorska ¥angs o1 " { Comedy. sertal ra Bow in hildren. of Divorce Comedy. News b Dix n Plumber.” avy reel Putti in he Prince of Tempters.” News. Comedy Reuce Adorce and ‘Nagel nortiight. Rin-Tin.Tin_in “Where the North Bexine.’ Snort_reel. Serial. Hoot ¢ “A l de_ Putti in e “Prinee. of Tempters.” o ey con Kt b Rich in Hors “The Gav Defender.” o ~ Ton [A haney ha medies _Krazy_ Kat Bilversire: “Naughty'an g n “Let Georsr Do 1" Fanza of Ju comedy nd ame George Bancroft n “Underworld," Comeay. Milton “Sills n i “Paradise.” n “Underworld.” s . Comeay. lu.mm' el Rio Esther Ralston in “Ten Modern -'rm vum 2 *Shany Comeay Commandment 1t Myst'Be Love iy Comedy. Darid Baneroft in Sammy Cohen in “Underworld.” ¥ Cohen in oS “The Gay Retreat.” “The Gay Retreat.” Princess "ll!v\ul “The Lone Fagle." David Bancroft in Nix Amatedr nIEht. Reginald Denny, “Underworld." “Out Al Nig Francw X Bushman in Barhara M!nrd o The Thirteenth v e Savoy Gk Voraka nia Lea Corbin in do “Jake the -mmv-n. Tuth Milier in South Sea Love. ©. Witwer's ’w-ny Parlor_series. ‘A Hi Horsehack.’ ero on Silver om Tyler in 7 Fiying U Ranch. Spring, ‘omedy. M. Seco Sundas. Herbert irenon'y “Sorrell & Son. Pathe New: Herbert e, “Sorrell Faihe Kewnr: Takoma John Gilbert in John_ Gilbert in - John Gilhert in Tivoli “The Bix Parsce” “The Big Parade.” “The Big Parade” o Hin Wa e i wwhite Pants Wilhe “Now" We Life of Reilly.” el News. Tew Cody_and Al Regim: Billy_Dooley_com A R Jonn Gilhert_and Renee | John Gilhert and Laura La Plants York Renee Adoree Adoree i n Silk Stockings.” " Parade Roa filed with an ambition to act. During the Summer, when he was not going to school, he delivered meat for a butcher. To xome of his customers he | would pretend to be starving to death, 1o others he would appear in terrible anguish. It wasn't long befors some people RIALTO 1="NOW PLAYING %} Carl Laemmle Presents Europe’s Greatest Actor In His First American Production CONRAD VEIDT Elizabeth Wright, whe P’l! leading role in "Nlnlm musical comedy to be mnmi lhh week by the badours of George Washington University at the Ward- man Park Theater, Butcher Boy's Dream Realized. NRAD VEIDT, star of Universal's “A Man's Past,”” was once a poor | struggling Berlin butcher boy. Now | he has risen to international fame as an adtor, | As & boy, It Is sald, he was always C HOUSE OF HITS A DAZZLING WORLD PREMIERE NOW Thrilling Washingtonians as They Never Have Been Thrilled Before! in the Tac! 12 o manainteat e s A Mu M A !u'lui Pr?gu 60- - OREAT ARTISTS- 60 DANUIBE FANTASY' DIIALLHMJ. ENSEMI URE 'RIGOLETTO RIGGLES" A SYMPHONIC INLL ARSANGEMENT OF THE FOPILAR OPERA by FAANK BACK., foxTuwnzSYmomOmsmA Grand Sunday Concert TOMORROW —~Tue te Thise P.M Doors Open One-Thirty P.M, “'I‘NI' PRIDF, OF WASHINGTON" w FoxTh Patrons sra Priviiege: Wh eatre Symphony Orchestra OF FIFTY BRILL o Mempin for the rompul. Detuse Porfermanss Immediaiely ¥ neert ANT BOLOISTS Nt A TROPICAL HURRICANE OF HUMAN EMOTION Positively the Most Entrancing Photoplay Event of the Season Based on the story by Somerset Maugham WARNING! To mise this means the embar. resament of having to admit missing the most distinetive and distinguished of all Gloria Swanson classics, M-G-M 04l “'Monarehs of the 6 Ovel “Momoirs Comique’ Columbla Conesrt v:'l "'n.4 «'m.u luu el MAN/ A stery of sublime macrifice—a Man for a Man—sud @ Woman for the Men she ved. ' Keldom otion been told—a; and Ia I’; "‘.:dllu —ON THE STAGE— al Conceit “AN EVENING AT HOME” With a Scintillating Cast of Vocalists ~——ROMMELL MUSIC—OTHER HITS—— LOCW U OLUMBI FSTREET at 12tk Georgn Jessel in “Sallor Tzzy Murphy. “Almont’ Human.* Johany Arthur k& comedy. Warren Heien it Wa Callegian comedy. thought he was crazy. Others thought him clever. He showed which by getting a job In & stock company. A few weeks later he went on the screen. When he left Europe a yvear ago to come to America he was famous mong European stars and was credited also with being the best actor on the screen, Washington's Unique Playhouse LITTLE THEATRE Between F and G on Niath St NOW PLAYING WELD OVER_SECOND WEEK Tll MOST 'AI!II ch IC AN TOrN FICTURE EVER M. UFA's Il The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari With WERNER KRAUS LIL DAGOVER and CONRAD VEIDT N _COMEDY e NOVRLTY. | | \ MICR ETC. PAST/, Film Features Wth & Batlermut Sis. Yo Parking Troubles 5, m. (contin.) ‘l “SORIN:LL AN[) 0!\" v‘:li east, |n-|mhl\,‘\“\ i CA stor; »y nd_never e acting been portrayed 3 1 MYERS.” Patie %UMBARTON na;x wun-m " Ave. v todtm” - roR Presenis PRINCESS" 1100 i s SAuax con I MEDY N flhl(‘fll. nt. fro The Melodramatie -onm CIRCLE Ml‘x :\u. I‘ 1 ay_ a0 Tomerrin e TR FATR CO KD AMERK.AN Tat St &7H T Ave ADOLERE NENIOU NTLEMAN OF PARIS North Cap. and I* Sts. JANET GAVN _TTH_NEAVEN CAROLINA 11w & Columbia Theater. uthesst— S0 A BASSADOR " * RN W and TUESDAY HA C1. o SR NN APOI.LO 421 N LN AVENUE cmo gk Jn?nl n‘l nus‘---m K‘PL‘ AN "FNTR | oth 8. Mot A K NW. QMORROW o u I Mot IR\ “p- W, O W DORER tn “THE T u\u COLONY Gu. Ave. and Fareagut Nt DAY et TAMORE AN | VI \:fl'" PR W \lilll\ VERNO I R ‘l(l \\‘ u\ti TOM( NEW TRVl (TR AR O ViN A ol RETNWTT “ NAN tn l"%{'fl! “&‘ NE, 0 LIONKL AR Y RN OH, WHAT A WOMAN! IR O MONRT o 0 IlY Ui fll""l' LO in “THR ‘\}« FRANCIS 1 TIA Park R N, An'r‘l“ "v“ib‘ o TEVARRG At SN YMORK (0 Iu RO “l‘e“ tate = will the mest a1 To dve. & Gwebee .‘. NW. PRAMEN RN e RERR mpui“t" o ELIFR "V anD " g 'KW R Tioot Gibwon in Buster Rrown _comedy AMUSEMENTS. Cartooned His Way. Then ha was called for small he was cast for an t role in Confidential” Madge Pellamy His latest fea- work, bits, until finally OHT every method conceivable has bean employed by motion picture extras to “crash® the xtudio gates, but Patriek Michael Cunning alone, part 1% in “The Devil's Trade sald, may claim the distinction of he. t Mark hich TLeo Meehan is produc- ing the first to cartoon his way ing for ¥. B. O. 4 the movies, e siccesstully opened | the doors with hiz pad and paneil. | May Be a Star Soon Pat, who is but 20 vears of age, left| g porr a yesr agp Ganey Drexel hix home and birthplace, said good-by to the Cathedral High s 4 “chanl In New York City and left for determined to beeome | 10117004 to become & motion pleture retross, January 2 she began work om the % lot in one of the two featured girl srte in “The 4 Devils,’ under the into | ara 1wo y a mation picture objections made “ away | actor, Stronz family - f pital with ambition and | hope. but very poor ..! purse. direction of ¥. W. Murnau, st of others, he spent | The importance of Miss Drexel's en- weveral weeks making the round of the | gagement can be appreciated when it ous casting offices, only to be told, | ix remembered that Janet Gaynor was “nothing today.”” It soon became a |clevated to stardom after her work | question of three menls a day. | under Murnau's direction, and when Havinz natural talent for drawing, | Miss Drexel's screen test was shown hes of Venice |to Winfleld Sheehan, vice president sketching children | of ¥ox Films, he immediately placed and mothers their babies for 15 | her under a long-term contract, cents per sketeh. This proved quite | She was known as Dorothy Kitchen. . and at the end of the bath- [ ffer name anged with the sign- Cunning had enough | ing of her contract. money accumulated to carry him along | At the age of % she apmrod 1n further in his search for motion pic- > “The Royal and Santa Me waiting in ns of the easting view, he would take o1 nd sketeh the Giffere the reeaption “Floradora,” in which she offices’ for an|was one of a juvenile sextet. and by his_pen- | “Quality Street.” Then she retired to i people nish her schooling at Cathedral Hig? work in these officos, chool. The most prominent pi sented these drawings, in which she appeared since she ar- sult became well known among the |rived in Hollywood was “The W studios. The rest was easy. He be-|All Flesh.” = Her role gan getting regular | Devils” is her first b JTANLEY-CRANDALL S METROPOLITAN Daily l1AM=IlM. Sut\daq NIM VOY - WARNER: c'aulvr.lOS!F ROSENDLA’ WASHINGTON'S LAST OPPORTUNITY 10 SEE TWiS Fm' " WITH VITAPHONE AT : POPULAR PRICES ' R LRI EARTUELMESS |H\ Mollie O'Day 'n Rupert Hug The I'atent Leather Kld L OCWwW'’S LacE est p/)o(op/a‘/.» Greater Presentations Another adventure story by the author of “Beau Geste"— Bristling action. Flaming Love. PENETRATING ! POIGNANT ! Me DANCE SENSATION OF THE YEAR GLOOM WITH SMILING SONGS