Evening Star Newspaper, October 14, 1928, Page 77

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €. OCTOBER 14 1928—PART 4. BY C E. ROM pulpit and stage, crime pictures have been con- I demned. Various learned individuals have stamped them as exccedingly bad for the morals of the youth of today. In some cities, efforts have been to prevent the showing of certain undorworld photoplays, and in cther communities some of the pictures have been cut until they were hardly recognizable. In spite 211 this, there has been a vogue for crime pictures: it has drawn Inag lines to the box office win- and the patrons often favor such stories. This introduction is a round- about way of leading to an inter- esting angle of the present situa- tion, for, in Lancaster, Pa. the other evening, Carl E. Milliken, former governor of Maine, told the Rotary Club that the “so-called crime picture produced by the organized group of the motion pic- ture industry is, by design and efect, a positive deterrent to prime.” Mr. Milliken, who, by the way, 3 now the secretary of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Inc., goes on to say: “The motion picture is the first great medium of expression to be- come fully alive to its attitude- forming power and to seek delib- ‘erately to point that power to the right ends. The real test of the picture is not whether it refers to «crime, but what Mary and John, your daughter and your son, say to each other on the way home. «Jmpulse, direction, not subject, is ghe criterion. “Just as in ‘The Big Parade,’ a war picture, is possibly the great- est, preachment for peace in our time, so every energv of the in- dustry is bent to point the lesson T that ‘it does not pay’ whenever crime is used as a major or minor theme. We had an earnest letter from an inmate of a penitentiary begging us for more pictures like “‘Underworld’ and calling it ths “inest screen sermon against wrong-doing in the prisoner’s ex- \perience. In this connection, I cannot refrain from mentioning that Chicago has long had the ,strictest censorship of motion pic- gures of any city in the country. “If the ‘Ballad of Reading Goal’ makes a reader want to spend his time with no light except ‘that little patch of blue that prisoners call the sky,” then motion pictures should never mention crime again. |*Ten Nights in a Bar Room’ is the greatest sermon against drink ever ‘written. “More and more, church, civic ‘and educational groups are co- ,operating to help guide pictures foward the best and lend the eight of their approval in posi- itive fashion to films that achieve real community value. And out jof 300 pictures reviewed by the Hays organization during the first ! months of 1928, only 29 used e as a theme.” * K ok % /JFOR schemes that are strange f and ways that draw attention, Ehe burlesque geople are giving fthe photoplay housés a real run ifor their money. A local burlesque heater hands out a “personal [criticism slip,” and the customer ican fill it out with his own idea jof a show. For instance, under the heading, “The show is—" there is space for the patron to #«eheck the words: “Fair, good, bad fand excellent,” Regarding the ichorus, one may put a check mark 'at either of the words: “Attrac- FROM THE SCREEN CO-OPERATING in the observ- | ance of Book Week, the Na- tional Board of Review of Motion Pictures has made public a list of | 90 pictures released during ghe past year which are adapted from published sources. Among the | book-films on the selected list are “The Lion and the Mouse.” “The ‘Lmle. Shepherd of Kingdom | | Come,” “Wild Geese,” “Sorrell and | NELSON. | Son,” “Hangman’s House,” “The! ~ | Garden of Allah” and “Wind."| | Several short subjects are listed, | | among ‘them being “Cruising "1{ | the Arctic,” “The,World We Live In” and “Sun Babies.” The board }considers»“Book Week as a special | opportunity to stress good books and good films, both important in | | the social life of. every commu- nity.” ik e ¢()UR Dancing Daughters” is re- ported to have broken all | house records at the Columbia.| | The records, up to the present | | week, were held by “What Price | Glory” and “The Circus,” but the | new flapper picture has shattered | them into smithereens. There is little doubt that| “Daughters” will find a place| among the 10 best pictures at the end of the year. This will partly come from the great box office value of the picture, the popularity being determined in this manner. However, it is first-class enter- tainment—an intensely interest- ing story told in an interesting way. The director has been equip- ped with splendid material in both script and players, and his own work stands out. Joan Craw- | ford is the best possible selection for the part of Diana; she is the modern flapper as we know her. * ok ok ok 'HERE is something missing in the “sound vaudeville acts.” They afford employment for artists who once graced the two-a-day, but the performers do not “go over” with the audiences. Even the highest paid of the artists, putting their best efforts into the ! sound movies, have failed to draw much enthusiasm from the cash customers. The acts which are a step'below the bill-toppers are flat and fail to arouse applause. Perhaps, in the days to come, and with the rapid development of sound appliances, the defects will be found and remedied. If this is not done, the song and dance fea- tures of the sound pictures will always be classed among minor attractions of the movie palaces. 1 ok ok LLIAM FOX presents his com- liments and announces that his big Movietone studio at Fox Hills, Los Angeles, will be dedi- cated with grand ceremonies on the afternoon of Sunday, October 28. The studio is called “a walled city in the new world.” It com- prises 40 acres of land, upon which have been erected 27 build- ings of reinforced concrete and steel. The construction includes four sound-proof stages, each measuring 212 feet long by 165 feet wide. The entire proposition represents an investment of $8,- 000,000, in land value, buildings, sound” recording, photography equipment and electrical devices. And the entire outfit is surrounded by a wall 16 feet high. * k ¥ x Short Flashes. BE’ITY BRONSON, well known to movie fans, has been of- fered the name part in a stage production of “Peter Pan.” Miss Bronson was starred in the “Peter \tive, repellent, homely, fascinat- /ing and handsome. The scenery jcan be either “artistic, ¢rude or an eyesore.” 'The songs are either “sloppy, silly, sentimental, clever jor catchy.” And the patron’s mood is supposed to be checked. |He can be either “grouchy, satiri- real, antagonistic or friendly.” Also, the theater has put in bal- lot boxes for the voteless Wash- dngtonians. Upon entering the jtheater, the patron is handed a iballot, with a wide range of com- iment printed thereon. But the |ballots have nothing to do with {the presidential race; the votes concern the value of burlesque [productions. EE MUCH has been written about ! that Erich von Stroheim pic- ture, “The Wedding March,” which |was a Washington attraction dur- {ing the past week, but there is al- |- \ways more to write about. Comes ‘word that the author-director- actor, who is responsible for the |drama, did not intend that the istory should end as it does. In ‘the 50 reels which Von Stroheim Iprepared and cut from a hundred or more, the tale was altogether different. As the picture now stands, the final fade-out shows Nicki and his bride leaving the cathedral in a carriage after their wedding. The bride asks a question or two, the bridegroom answers, and all is ®over. In the real picture, as Von Stroheim planned it and “shot” it, the World War comes along after the wedding and the young Aus- trian officer leaves his bride (played by Zasu Pitts) and starts |the march through Belgium. Then, a number of things happen during the war years. The bride, an 'heiress daughter of the corn- plaster king of Vienna, kills her- iself. Nicki is seriously injured; he becomes a cripple, and when he returns to Vienna after the war he finds the girl of his heart, Mitzi (played by Faye Wray) and marries her. Quite a different story from thei one served up on the screen by ! the cutters, editors and experts of | the various studios where “The ‘Wedding March” was placed in the hands of specialists? * Ok K K !‘MOTHER KNOWS BEST,” which constituted the fare at the Fox during the past week, } is a shining example of a really. first-class picture which does not ! |reach spectacular heights and! cannot be placed in the category of “super-specials.” The enter- tainment value of the picture is| all that a photoplay audience could desire; it has everything| that goes toward “giving the peo- | ple what they want,” a phrase| which has been more or less ove; | worked by the producers and di rectors. Madge Bellamy, who dur- \ing the past has appeared in | lighter pictures, is given her big chance. Her work is well done. ! Louise Dresser holds to a high Pan” photoplay some years ago. The stage production goes on in Los Angeles around Christmas. King Vidor is seeking an all- colored cast for the Metro-Gold- wyn-Mayer production “Hallelu- jah.” Efforts are being made to recruit the cast in Chicago. Ex- teriors of the picture will be made in the South. Cecil De Mille’s first picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will be “Dynamite,” a story of ultra- modern society of a large city. Reginald Denny, returning from a motor trip through northern California, is starting work at Hollywood on his first sound pic- ture, “Clear the Deck.” Joseph Henabery will direct. May McAvoy is said to “scream perfectly” in the Warner Brothers picture “The Terror.” Of course, the picture is a “noisy.” Louise Fazenda has a part. Marie Prevost and Ben Lyon have been making “The Exodus” in the vicinity of Salt Lake City and the Snake River, near Twin Falls, Idaho. - Irving Cummings’ latest produc- tion for Fox is “A Romance of the Underworld.” _The scene of Clara Bow's new picture, “The Saturday Kid,” is laid in an advertising agency. Clara works in the shop. Albert Valentino, a brother of the late Rudolph, has a part in the Leatrice Joy picture “Tropic Madness,” but the role is not an important one. “The Singing Fool,” Jolson’s pic- ture, has been breaking all house records at the Winter Garden, New York. Irving Berlin’s music will be featured in “Say It With Music, to be produced by United Artists. Harry Richman, now with George White’s “Scandals,” will be in- trusted with the leading role. Several Broadway stage players | were given voice tests last week | for parts in the new Mary Pick- ford picture, “Coquette.” The tests | were made under the supervision | of Monta Bell, formerly of Wash- | ington. The Fox Movietone plant at Hollywood was built in 90 days, but it is the culmination of three years of experimenting and pioneering in sound films. Mel Klee's Revue. 'THE Stewarts—Rosalle and Lee— | gained their experience as sponsors of revues with the Broadway produc- tion, “A La Carte.” They have now put this experience to vaudeville pur- poses, and, it is claimed, with exceed- ingly satisfactory results. The Stewarts placed Mel Klee under contract, and the spectacular combi- nation of fun, dance, song, scenery, | 2irls and costumes with which they have | surrounded him is pleasingly preferred as Mel Klee in his Own Revue appears at B. F. Keith's Theater this week. Mr. Klee is well known in vaudeville, having given a good account of Lim- | self in several offerings. He is de-| clared an ideal revue comedian. He | has a company drawn from every walk of the theater. His revue is in nine scenes, with a standard in the important mother le, a ?art for which she 1s espe- vl thread of a story, stropg enough to carry a varled assortfient of revue Princess . Photoplays at Washington Theaters This Week WEER_OF TOBER 14 Sunday e Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Conrad Nagel and Myrna Loy in “State Strest News. ) i{nhassadA r et e Conrad Nagel Myrna Loy, adie.” “Stat, y. N T and Conra el and Myrna Loy in “State Street Sad; News. Comedy. 2 in e Strcet Sadie.” jows. . Comedy Janet Gaynor and Charles' Farrell in Strzet A “The Street Angel.” Fab News._Fable. ngel.” News. 1 John Gilbert and Joan Crawford in 5. 2 Victor McLaglen and .. Lois Moran in “The River Pirale " Snapshots. _Comedy Richard Dix in “Warming Up. Marion Davies in The Cardboard Lover.” News. Camen_comedy. M ‘Warming Up." ou “The Cardboard Lover.” N Cameo_‘omedy. _ Marion Davies in Richard, Dix_ in *“The Cerdboard over.” Cameo comeds. “Marion Dayies Jacaueline Logan and Skeets Gallagher in “Stocks and_Blondes.” Review. Comedy. ‘The Ca-dbo Lover.” Cameo_comeds. Trene Rich and Clive Tirook in nny Hines in Joh “The Wright Idea. News. KEITH'S—“Captain Swagger.” FOX—"“The Air Circus.” EARLE—“State Street Sadie.” rion Davies in “Richard Dix in ews. John Gilbert and Joan Crawford in “Four Walls.” Comed Richard Dix in “Warmins - Up Comedy. “The Perfect Crime." C Serial. John Gilbert and Joan Crawford in “Four Walls." Comedsy. Chi T “Flying Romeo: Sennett comedy. Serial. Dark. Conrad Fagel in “Mysterions Ladies.” Comedy. Topics of_th Milton 8 “Burning D Mermaid comeds. News| D Pathe News. Ay, " Estelle Taylor and Antonio Moreno Esf Carolina n he Whip_Woman. Antonig Moreno n “The W John Gilbert and Bessie Love n “St. Flmo.”_ telle Taylor and Woman.” ~George K. Arthur and Karl in “Roarinz_Fires." 5. Comedy Will_Rozers_reel. Alice Lak Tiovd Hughes in “Baflor’s Wives.” Metro oddity Comedy. _News. Johnny Hines in “Homemade.” Comedy. Sportlight. Mat.. Tom Mix in ““Arizona Wildcat.” Night. Wallace Beery in_“The Pig Killin." RIALTO—“Lonesome.” evening. evening. LITTLE Dane Clara Bow in n “Red Hair.” “Detectives." Central Chevy Cha. Jack Mulhall in “The Poor Nut."” Patlie Review Mermaid_comedy. Marion Davies in “The Cerdboard Lover.” My o0 romedy. Dolores c:;s;'euo'ln}m Dol 0 Conrad Nagel Circle 5 “Glorious_Betsy.” Trene Rich and Clive Biooke in he Perfect Crime.” " Sennett_comed. Ramon NAOL; TO ‘flnd Hooee Adoree Dumbarton -BSifaduiour™ Comedy. Colony “Lov Pathe Review Everett Horton “Gloriou Lioy Mary Astor in “Heart to Heart.” 1 St. John comedy. Pola Negri and Gary Cooper and Fay Wray_in “The First Kiss." Snapshots._Comedy. Thall in he Poor Nut." ermaid_comedy. s George O'Brien in Jacaueline Logan and Clive Brooke and ‘Honor Bound." Skeets Gallagher in “Stocks and Blondes." News. _Comedy. comady. Louise Fazenda and Clyde Cook in William Boyd in “Five and Ten Cent Annfe.” “The Night Flyer.” Gary Cnoper and Greta_Garbo in Fay ¥ in ““The_Mysterious “The Fi Lady.” napshot Cameo_zomeds. Greta_Garbo in Harry Langdon in The Mysterious ‘Heart _Trouble."” Lady.” News. Sport reel. Comedy. Cameo_comeds. Jack Mulhall in Mary brian in ““The Poor Nut." ‘Forgotten Faces.” News. Aeson_Fable. “Robinson_Crusoe. Comedy. Sport reel. Cartoon. Serial. “Warming Up." Our_Gang comedy. lores Costello and J: Conrad Nagel n n s Betsy. _ “Midnight Madness." Fav_Wray and Gary_Cooper in “The First Kiss." acqueline Logan and ive Brook d Hughes Louis_Wolheim, ~in John Bacrymore. Camilla Horn Louis _Wothelm ““Tempest. John Ba) rymore. Camilla. Horn and “Temgest.” _ Ramon Novarro Rin-Tir-Tin in n “A Certain, Young “Jaws of Steel.” ot Jacqueline Logan and Skeets Gallagher in “Stocks anJd Blondes.” Review. Comeds. Special cast in “Robinson _ Crusoe. News. Comedy. Screen_snapshots. # _Jack Mulhall in “The Poor Nut.” Sennett comedsy. Serfal. Nils Asther in ves of an Actress.” y. Come John Barrymore and Camilla_Horn in John Barrymore and Camilla_Horn, in “Tempest.” ““Tempest.” Comedy. Greta Garbo and .. the dos Conrad Nagel in e “The Mysterious ady.” News. “Mile. From, Armentieres.” Comedy. Fox_ News. Noah Beery in Con Elite Empire Come Esther Ralston and Gary Cooper, in “Hell Ship Bronson.” “Hell Ship Bronson. News. News. “Thief in_the Dark.” Bcreen_snapshots. omedy. Half medy. a Bride Milton Sills and oris Kenyon in ‘'The Hawk's Nest.” Comedy. Tois Moran in “Don't Marry.” Paramount News. Comedy. n “Fangs of the Wild." Comeds. Tim McCo: “The Lew of the Range.” _ Serial. Comed: Noah Beery in ] n “The Patsy." ews Comedy. Cameo _somedy. _ Tebe Daniels | “Hot News. Gang comery. G Hip’odrome Behe Danlels in . TR Mildred June in hen Seconds Connt.” News. _Jomedy. Eddie Gribbon and Lila Lee in “United States Smith." Airplane _novelty reel. Ml Te “The Apache Raider.” Arthur Lake comedy. Serial. dden Loot.” Snanshots. Con Tiarjorie_Beebe in “The Farmer's Daughter.”” Comeds. arinty reel ‘Hot News.” Gang comedy. Greaf t reat Event. Greta_Garbo in “The Mysterious Lad: Jaca Home o o Arthur_Lake comeds. C Richard_Barthelmess n e P Leather Ki atent Cartoon. Sport reel Comedy. “The Th C & Brooke and Trene Rich in “The Perfect Crime.” Ben Hall comedy. ueline n_and ets Gallagher in cks ard Blondes," Oddity. B George K. Arthur in Karl Dane and Mary_Astor in “Three Ring Detectives Marriage.” Comedy _ News. y. _Odd! Milton_Sills_and Doris Kenyon in “Burning Davlight.” Comedy. _News. George Bancroft and Evelyn Brent in “The Drag Net.” Comedy. Gary Cooper and de Olmstes Fay Wray in First Kiss. ““The illy_Dooley coms Bpecial cast in Col. Tim McCoy in, “Robinsor_Crusoe.” ider of the Dark.” Comed Our Gang comedy. ews. _Serial. Pola Negri in rec Sinners.” omedies. ramoun Ben_Lyon n “The Per’ect Sap.” Comedies Greta_Garbo n “The Divine Woman.” Comedies. Rin-Tin-Tin_in, “The Night Cry." Paramount News. Comedy. Novelty reel o John Gilbert and o ort_reel.Fa ‘om edy Paramonnt_News. n the Stroke of Charles Ray in Twelve “On the Count of edy. Ten.” Novelty reel. Comedy. “Fred ‘Thomson in it Carson.” lix_cartoon. “Fred Thomson Francis X. Bushman & Helene ‘Chadwick in “Say It With Sables.” Comedy. n “Kit Carson.”” Felix o “Five and Taura La Plante in “Thanks for the Buggy Ride.” Oddity. _Comedy. Clyde Cook and Louise Fazenda in Ten Cent Annfe.” Comedy. Ken Maynard in T Do 1 “The "Wagon Show.” O Mysterions, La Cartoon. Th Mysterious Lady.” ‘omed: edy. Serial. Paramount News. Mitchell Lewis and e ven Jee in Hours.” ~ Com Hodge Podge. Comed: Cullen Landis in “Midnight Adventure.” News. Serial. Willlam Russell in “The Danger Patrol." Arthur Lake comedy. Serial. John Gilbert in “The_Cossacks.” Comedy. Fox J Park Colleen Moore n “Happiness Ahead.” Comedy. john The Lon Chaney in Allan Hale in i Big City." “The Wreck of the "~ Fox News. Ramon Novarro in » Hall “Actosy o Singapores el Haines “Colleen."” “Spring Fever.” Comedy. Emil Japnings and Fay Wray in “The Street of Sin." Collegians. _News. Jacqueline Logan and Skeets Ga'lagher in * “Thy “Stocks and Blonde: S s Comedy. Hodge Podge. Silver Dark. Seco sprine. Md. Emil Jannings and Viray i Collezians _News. in Come Billle Dove in ay Viray in “The Yellow Lily." e Street of Sin.” Comedy. ews. Richard Barthelmess in “The Wheel of res Victor Jack Mulhall in, ‘Tady, Be O« d.” C y Jrene Rich in 00 T) Comedy, “Kilties. he Desired Woman. " Cartoon. Scenic. News. William Boyd in “The Night Flyer.” Comeds. Serlal. Georee Bancrof ““The Drag Ne Comedy. News. tin Helene Chadw! in “Modern Mothers. Sportlight. Comeds. Del Rio and McLaglen 1 Price Glory?” Fable. hat Lila Les and Wesley Barry ““Top Sergt. Mulliga: Review. Serial. Virginia Valll in ““The Escape.” News. Imperial_comeds. Kaill Be_Good.” News. “Down Upon the dy. Swanee River.” dy. n “Chinatown Charlie.”” Comedy. Johnny Hines “Prisco Night: Comedy. Ne Vera Reynolds in “Golf Widows.” Comedy, News. John Barrymore in “The Tempest.” Comedy. _News. Dolores Del Rio In “Ramona.” Takoma Dolores Del Rio in “Ramona.” Charles Murray in “Vampirg Venus.” Alice White in “Lingerie.” Irene Rich in “Beware of Marriel Men. Charles Murray in “Vamping Venus.” Beery and Hatton “The Big Killing. om Mix in “Daredevil's Reward. I Pola Negri in e “Loves of an Actress. John Gilbert “Four Walls Pathe review. Topics. _Comedy. i Tivoli ky Victor_McLaglen in i “The River Pirate.” Sennett comedy. opics. _Comedy. Novelty: reel Victor_M:Laglen in Richs rthelmess Tn “Out of the Ruins.” Newss. Jerry Drew comeds. ‘The River Pirate.” Sennett comedy. Novelty_reel. Jack Holt in Vanishing_Plonee: ews. Comedy. Sportlight. _Serial Richard Barthelmess In ““Out of the Ruins.” ews. Jerry Drew_comeds. William Tovd in Truxton “The Night Fiver.” in ' Rudolph Schildkraut, John_Gilbert in “Turkish Delight.” “Shame.” Conrad Nagel n “Body and Soul. “The Girl From Chicago.” Richard Barthelmess n “The Wheel of Chance.” “The Siren.” Marion Davies in “The Cardboard Lover.” York News. Next Week's Photoplays KEITH'S — “Craig’s Wife,” with Irene Rich, Warner Baxter and Lilyan Tash- man. . FOX — “Mother Machree,” with Victor McLaglen and Belle Bennett. EARLE—"“The Night Watch,” with Billie Dove. PALACE—“While the City Sleeps,” with Lon Chaney. METROPOLITAN — “Lilac Time,” with Colleen Moore. COLUMBIA—“Two Lovers,” with Vilma Blnk§ and Ronald Colman (probably.) RIALTO—"“Melody of Love,” with Walter Pidgeon and Mildred Harris. Russian Films. HEN the Motion Picture Guild pre- sented “The Armored Cruiser Prince Potemkin” at the Little Theater of Washington in 1927 it aroused sharp discussion as to the propriety of show- ing in America a film from Soviet Rus- sia. As the guild was the first Amer- ican organization to even recognize the existence of Soviet films, the brunt of this discussion fell upon it. Today, however, the guild is vin- dicated, for it has been shown by sub- sequent Russian films that Moscow is abreast of the world in the develop- ment of fine movies. The whole story of Russian movie production, however, has never been told, says the Motion Picture Guild. It began in 1918, when the Moscow Art Theater established its film school. It was decided that if it was going to produce movies it would forget “stars™ and “epics” and spend its time on im- proving the movies themselves. Every director o1 player assoclated with Russian film production has been required to attend this film school. In the beginning simple little character studles like “Polikushka” were made, but in 1925 the Russian studios Regan to branch out. Then began a series of historical films that are regarded, says the guild, as “the last word in cinema perfection.” This series includes such productions as “Potemkin,” “Mother,” “Ten Days That Shook the World,” “Czar Ivan the Terrible,” “The Marriage of.the Bear,” “The Station Master,” and “Mechanics of the Brain.” The latest of the group, “The End of St. Peters- burg,” was recently seen in New York at $2 prices and has been stamped as the greatest to date. MILDRED HARRIS, Who plays an important role in “Melody of Love,” Universal's first all-sound Marion Davies in Clive Brooke and “The Cardboard Mary Prian in Lover.” “Forgottan Faces.” Fable. News. Warner Baxter In “Dange= Street."” Curlosity. reel. Comedy. Richard Dix in “Warming Up." ews. Cameo comedy. Vilma Banky, starring as Marie, and Walter Byron, as Karl, in “The Awaken- ing’) Marie, by the way, is the village belle and Karl is the Prussian Don Juan. OSEPH P. KENNEDY, president of FBO Pictures Corporation, chairman of the board of directors of the Keith- Albee-Orpheum circuit of theaters, and business adviser to the Pathe Film Co., who has startled the movie industry more or less since he left off banking and took up the business of movie man- agement, recently delivered a radio ad- dress that may be of general public interest. Mr. Kennedy said, in part: “To tell you what little I have learned of the enormous activity we call show business would take so long that I tremble to think how much of your time, and: my own, I could consume if 1 knew all there was to be known about the art of providing profitable and en- tertaining amusement for the masses. “The picture business, which so sud- denly dominated the amusement world, was in turn dominated by men who made no pretensions to knowledge of art or banking training but who pos- sessed an uncanny knowledge of suiting the public taste. The present force of executives in the amusement business, like Kent of Famous Players, Schenck of Metro, William Fox, Warner Broth- ers, the Costons and the Comerford: and many others, possess all the quali- fications that executives in other large industrial enterprises possess. “In the enormous rush to satisfy an enormous demand for pictures, almost anything went by that did not actually violate police regulations. This brought on a cry for censorship, which has re- sulted in almost as many varieties of moral codes for the screen as there are cranks to propose them. “We know that between the vogue of censorship and the vogue of the sort of pictures that needed censorship, the public was deluged with miles and miles of films that at their worst were ques- tionable, and at their best superlatively stupid. “Yet, while things were admittedly in !a mess and the newest jokes about the ! cuplidity of producers and the insipidity | of players were so very true that they quickly became stale jokes, we wit. ' nessed several fine, outstanding achieve- ments. “Beginning with Griffith's ‘Birth of a Nation’ and ‘Intolerance’ down through the German historic series, the living tragedy of a nation called ‘Grass' and the beauty and dignity of Cecil De- Mille's masterpiece, ‘The King of Kings,’ the new art of the motion picture made substantial gains, justified its claim, to “What a Genius Has to Sajr. “Some have claimed that the motion pleture took more than it gave. It crippled legitimate drama and even in- vaded the old stand-by for talent— vaudeville, but it did furnish the world public a new form of amusement and instruction at a cost within the reach of everybody. “Now, with the advent of the talking picture it remains to be seen how the movies, from custard-ple comedies, bathing beauty rackets and the old tri- angle motive to the more ambitious presentations of literary classics and historic figures will stand up. “The day has gone when the intelli- gent public we seek as permanent cus- tomers will tolerate a hodge-podge of poor plots and pretty faces. They want substance to stories and real acting. Perhaps the time will come when tel vision will carry the best of entertain- ment into the home. “I don't know. The entire amuse- ment industry is in a state of flux and experimentation. Novelties of today be- come obsolete tomorrow. “But one thing I do know, and every- body who has any business in the amusement business should know, that Jacaueline Logan and Skeets Gallagher in “Stocks and_Blondes." eview. Comedy. A Good Bad Man. OBERT ARMSTRONG, Pathe player, has created a new style “bad man” in pictures, but in real life | is saild to be one of the nicest, most | domesticated husbands and sons in the film colony. Yet he is the baddest bad | man in Hollywood now and the most sought after for crook roles, in_films. Bootlegger, gangster, prize fighter, | roughneck, crook or gambler, Armstrong revels in the characterization. He plays golf, is in love with his wife, Qas his mother in his home, lives sim- ply and is just a regular fellow. Nancy Smith, his press agent, says, “instinct tempts me to say he goes to church on Sunday, but I refrain.” Armstrong is now working opposite Phyllis Haver in “Shady Lady,” as the gambling hall manager. His previous picture was “Ned McCobb's Daughter,” in which he played the bootlegger. Irene Rich was the leading lady. “Leather- necks” will be the next, with Arm- strong, Bill Boyd and Allan Hale as Marines traveling the world. Next will come “The Getaway,” and then “The Elevator ' Girl,” both giving gangster “Robinson Crusoe." Snookums comedy. Sport. reel. Cartoon. Serial. evening. KEITH—"“Captain Swagger,” Mel Klee. The stage production this week at B. F. Keith's Theater will be headed by Mel Klee, prince of blackface comedians, in his own revue, with Morey Barton and Harry Young, Al Borde, Grace and Coly Worth, Kay McKay, Harry Weber's Pompous Revue, Gertrude Kenny and Jack Haisler's girls. The revue is in nine scenes, begins in the greenroom of the theater and carries on with comedy scenes and numbers in real revue fashion, concluding with the ninth episode in a dressing room back stage. There is a thread of a story, strong enough to carry the varied ma- terial. On the screen will be presented the latest Pathe thriller, “Captain Swagger,” starring Rod La Rocque and featuring Sue Carol. ‘The supporting cast includes Richard ‘Tucker, Victor Potel and Elrich Haupt. There is an airplane battle, cabaret hold-up, and thrill follows thrill. It is a wholesome romance bubbling and sparkling with youth and high spirits, filled with dramatic action, humor and suspense. There will be supplementary screen n features. FOX—"The Air Circus"—Stage At- tractions. Three young Americans, two boys and a girl, actually conquer the air in “The Air Circus,” the screen feature opening today at the Fox Theater. It is a Fox talking picture. These youngsters are David Rollins, Arthur Lake and Sue Carol. “They operate their own planes, doing the .| laop-the-loop, falling leaf, spirals and other stunts. ‘The story deals with young America’s attempts to emulate Col. Lindbergh, having to do with commercial aviation. Seventy-five per cent of the picture was taken in the air over Clover Field, Santa Monica. Howard Hawks and Lew Seller were the directors. Hawks was a pilot during the war. The two principals of the stage pro- gram will be Lillian Bernard and Flor- ence Henri, who when they have surg a song that song is sung. John Grif- fin, who recently sang “Laugh, Clown, Laugh,” is returning for a special en- gagement. The Fox Grand Orchestra will pre- sent a symphonic-jazz concert, preced- ing the Sunday opening, with Meyer Davis as guest conductor. The Fox Movietone News will have many inter- esting world events in sound. PALACE-—“'EM Sawdust Paradise” - Stage Features. Esther Ralston in a Paramount sound production, “The Sawdust Paradise,” will be the feature screen attraction at Loew’s Palace. ‘The picture is a slice of life from the colorful career of a carnival girl. It has a novel angle, demonstrating how a girl with real showmanship ability uses a circus ballyhoo, steam calliope and all the trimmings to put over an evangelist’s meeting, and how she inci- dentally accomplishes a great deal of good. She has been saved from going to jail by the evangelist, played by Hobart Bosworth. Her sweetheart, played by Reed Howe, purchases a car- original show, with his new carnival, and a series of revival meetings open in the same town. So interested is she in her new work that she cannot go back to her old life. But when a rival burns down her sweetheart's carnival he and she resolve to start life anew. On the stage Wesley Eddy and his Palace Syncopators are presented in Frank Cambria’s latest Loew-Publix production, “Beaux Arts Prolic,” fea- turing Earl and Bell, Paul Kirkland, roles to Hollywood's favorite crook, Robert Armstrong. Chiefs Dictate Story Policy. ERWIN GELSEY, who has been ap- pointed head of the story depart- ment at the Pathe Studios in Culver City was born in New York City and educated at Columbia University. It was as secretary to Walter Wanger, then managing Paramount's Astoria studio, | that he got his start in motion pictures. Going to Hollywood with Mr. Wan- | ger, Gelsey became executive assistant to Ben Schylberg and then Paul Bern's | right-hand man in managing all of | M-G-M’s story activities. When Bern | moved to the Pathe lot as a producer he arranged that Gelsey should follow and take charge of stories. Gelsey believes that ultimately the principal producing companies will find it ne to inaugurate and maintain & contral biiven for synopsizing the world’s story material. He points out that at least three companies are now doing identically the same work of digesting literature, and that this could be done just as well by one agency. “Presentation of the material to the producing minds is where each depart- ment differentiates,” he says. “For each department has its own ideals in- culcated by the chiefs and must pre- sent the material in such a way as to satisfy those ideals. “Without a story department there can be no basis of action, and the im- portance of such a department would increase rather than diminish with the preliminary handling of raw material by a common agency.” i Now a Stunt Aviator, ROD LA ROCQUE takes to the air| in “Capt. Swagger,” a new Pathe| picture, in which Sue Carol is fea- tured. In the earlier sequences of this story the star is seen as an expert in tail- spins and nose dives, who does his part to make the world safe for democracy as fiyer with the Lafayette Escadrille. In “Deep Harlem” o H'E sophistication is on the increase, and | Nino Fucile, Bryant, Rains and Young and the Gamby-Hale Girls. Supplementary attractions _include the Fox Movietone News, M-G-M News, the Palace Concert Orchestra, under Harry Borjes, and an organ novelty by Charles Gaige. RIALTO—“Lonesome.” For its reopening feature the Rialto this week announces Universal’s sound and talking picture, “Lonesome,” co- starring Barbara Kent and Glenn Tyron. Gripping dialogue, elaborate sound effects and musical setting to an un- usual story are promised. There is no villain of the conven- tional type and no plot complications other than the threatened separation of a boy and a girl who have met at Coney Island, known one glamourous day together and fallen in love. A slight accident occurs on the scenic railway, and in the rush of the crowds they become separated. They search frantically for each other, but withaut success, and, driven under cover by a thunderstorm, are forced to go home alone. The separation is a tragedy for each, but happiness eventually comes in the powerfully dramatic climax of the picture. Gangland 'RIME classics” now being the rage, Charles Francis Coe, author of two noted underworld stories—“The River Pirate” and “Me, Gangster"—has provided the ladies and gentlemen who g0 slumming with a new slang diction- ary of gangland. The author, who studied crookdom intensively before he began writing fic- tion about it and who also, it is said, madé first-hand acquaintance with gamblers and roughnecks when he was a champion prizefighter, furnishes the following glossary for the polished gen- try who used to buy his cars when he was an automobile sales manager. ‘To murder a man: “Take him for a ride,” “bump him off,” “slip him the bump.” For pistol: “Rod,” “gat,” “smoke box,” that prizes in the form of profits only | go the way of producers who bet their ! brains and money in the long run on popular intelligence. “Amusement, more even than educa- tion, reflects popular taste. Vaudeville, which was the backhone of entertain- ment five or six years ago, has found it necessary to revamp itself to meet advanced popular taste. We are meet- ing with success in that this year. Trashy pictures and plays would not | be produced if there were no trashy people to patronize them. “The only way in which the Ameri- can or any public can improve the quality of supply is to make known an improvement in the quality of demand. As clean, sensible entertainment is patronized, it will be produced. “That is the only answer we who run the mechanics of the show busi- ness can make to critics of its defects. And the answer is sufficient. A coun- Jry finally gets the quality of govern- ment it deserves. It likewise receives only the type and grade of entertain- ment it wants.’ MAURICE HUNTER, It s reported from Salt Lake City|Featured player in “Deep Harlem,” that Raoul Walsh is in danger of I which opens at the Howard Theater, meyeuthamultothnvl:& Jack | October 15. While he has been on the rabbit hurled through the dshield | stage f time, Hunter is well of his aul bile near Cedar City, known as an artist's model. He was born Flatfoot,” “dick,” copper,” “bull " jail 6r prison: “Screw.” COLUMBIA—“Our Dancing Daughters.” “The End of St. Petersburg.” nival for himself, and Esther and the L 3’ Photoplays This Week IN PHOTOPLAY THEATERS THIS WEEK. This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and evening. PALACE—“The Sawdust Paradise.” This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and evening. This afternoon and evening. METROPOLITAN—“The Singing Fool.” This afternoon and This afternoon and This afternoon and With its inauguration of sound and talking pictures, a new policy will be initiated, with an orchestra, Johnny Slaughters’ Rialto Revelers, on the stage, the members of the ensemble being special entertainers as well as. instrumentalists. Bailey and Barnum also are featured in the sound pictures. and the International News Reel is among the added attractions. pe METROPOLITAN—AI Jolson in “The Singing Fool.” “The Singing Fool,” which has been shown to approximately 75,000 people of Washington in the past two weeks, will be held over at Crandall's Metro~ politan for the third week. Vitaphone provides a medium for the voice of Al Jolson and he sings songs, new and old. His speaking voice, too, is amazingly effective. Two leading women, Betty Bronson and Josephine Dunn, play contrasting types, and 3 year-old Davey Lee is adorable as the “little feller” to whom the “Singing Fool” devotes his life and songs. “The Singing Fool” is Al Jolson's most magnificent gesture. It is a ten- der and impressive impersonation. Nor is blackface characterization left out. It presents the Jolson the world knows and also a new Jolson—more sincere and more moving than ever before. EARLE—‘“State Street Sadie™ (vitaphone.) ~ ‘The Earle Theater this week presen’ a Warner Bros. Vitaphone talking pic- ture, “State Street Sadie,” featuring Conrad Nagel and Myras Ley, who arc S?id to fit their parts like the proverbial love. ¥ Others in the cast include Pat Harti- gan, Georgie Stone, and William Russell ‘The story? But why spoil the fun and the thrill by attempting to describe this arresting mystery picture? There's a murder to be cleared, a twin brother of a suicide who impersonates his brother in order to get a gang leader, and the daughter of a slain police officer who goes right into a den of crooks to get her revenge, and incidentally the man she loves. The program for the week includes a specially arranged overture by the augmented Earle Concert Orchestra under Daniel Breeskin, shorter Vita- phone subjects and other house features. LITTLE THEATER—“The End of St. Petersburg.” Direct from its record-breaking en- gagement at the Hammerstein Theater in New York, there comes to the Little Theater today “The End of St. Peters- burg,” described as a Russian film classic. The Motion Picture Guild is presenting this dramatic record of the Russian revolution for the first times In the United States at popular prices. “The End of St. Petersburg” comes heralded as a remarkable example of the last word in film art, disp! a new technique and direction. At least, says the Motion Picture Guild, such is the opinion of critics. Directed by W. J. Pudowkin, noted for his direction of “Mechanics of the Brain,” the new film tells of the spirit of peasant Russia at the time of the revolution of 1917. The overthrow of and the establishment of a provisional government mark the end of the picture. Featured in the cast are Katrina Kaja and Alexis Davor. Charlie Chaplin’s celebrated opus, “The Count,” and other unusual sub- jects from the vaults of the Motion Picture Guild will be added attractions. COLUMBIA—“QOur Da h- Dancing Daug] The picture that has been breaking 2all records at Loew’s Columbia, “Our Dancing Daughters,” an M-G-M sound produ , remains for a second week. Joan Crawford and an all-star cast are featured in this production of jazz- T ohuny Mack Brown o] plays the part of a young man whose lflwflnmp:€ sought by Joan Crawford and Anita Page. Anita wins the man by pre- | tending to be what she is not. yBrgwn | finds this out later in their married |life, and when Anita, while intoxi- | cated, falls and is killed he goes back | to Joan, who has been herself all along. iThc cast, in addition to those already | mentioned, included Dorothy Sebas- tian, Nils Asther, Edward Nugent and D!l.'l‘shrs aflrzote. e picture introduces three types of girls—the jazz-mad girl, the yé’lel'l strictly reared, and the girl who pre- tends things—and it alms to tell what kind men marry. There 'will be other sound attrac- tions, including two Metro Movietone acts, Marion Harris, the songbird of jazz, and Leo Beers, the famous whis- tling songster, and the Fox Movietone News. The M-G-M, a color classic, “Gold”; the Columbia Concert Orches- tra, under Claude Burrows, with an organlogue, round out the bill. Glbssary. ble-0, “he went palms up on me.” “the run-around,” “the dump,” Police shield: “The tin,” “Mary Ann, “the plate,” “he flashed the works, “the copper. In case those who see “Me, Gang- ster” and “The River Pirate,” which have been screened by Fox Film Gor- poration, wish “to be put hep” to fur- ther current terms of gunmen and such, the obliging Coe—who hails from that seat of culture, Boston—-makes this kind offer: “If this is not enough, let me know and Il slip you an earful of ufl{" that'll hang you over the ropes e Mrs. Murphy’s wash. An’ this ain’t the pipe dream of no junkie waitin’ fer the pay-off neither. Any screw in the can will tell you I'm on the up an’ up. There ain't no double-O in my back yard an’ when I give a the office he knows I stand pat till the birdies chirp in the gray dawn an' a heel moll buzzer pulls a score in the vault of the Corn Exchange dowtown branch!* It almost soun talking mode: potiie ds like m Rialto Reopens. prison sentence: “sleep,” “taking a rest,” “stir, For one who is caught an “Took the rap.” ; For one paroled: “Sprung” or “spring him.” For one addicted to drugs: “Hop- head,” “cokey,” “snowbird,” ‘“junkie,” For information: “The office,” “the tip-off,” “the low-down.” Passing ::ountertelt money: “Pushing the quee “hooch,” “alki,” | “sleigh rider. n loot,” “the junk,” “the Political ‘The little father,” “the old man,” bozo himself,” “the A raid: “The works,” “the wash-up,” “the blow-off.” out.” Rl:sm:n}? as ; haven of entertain- ment after a Summer cessation, the Rialto, Carl Laemmle’s Ninth street mo- tion picture theater, reopens tonight, gzfidéqu & new house, featuring Redecorated at an expense of $30,000, the Rialto is fully equipped to present the newest in both Vitaphane end Movietone productions. A strict ;u- ture pollc‘y will be followed, as it is Mr. Laemmle’s intention to offer the finest sound and talking pigtures available. Amonsn the added attractions, ac- cording to R. G. Wood, tne new major domo of the house, will be a stage band of an entirely new type, suited to what- ever added stage features the house may play\ ——— Patterson McNutt has filmed on the stage of the Maxine Elliott Theater, play. “The *rhing Galed: Love:* and play, * ve,” and the film and