Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1929, Page 73

AMUS UST as an illustration of what the motion picture industry has grown into during the past few years, it is interest- ing to go over some of the figures pertaining to the Fox organization which have just come to light. Mere statistics are dry material for Sunday reading, but the amounts involved in the Fox deals place them in the “human inter- est” column. For instance, it is stated that the Fox obligations amount to $91,000,000. Also, there are assets of $500,000,000, and re- turns from the properties amount to $33,000,000 annually. It is un- derstood that $27,000,000 of the obligations are held by interests represented by John E. Otterson, president of Electrical Research, and Harry L. Halsey, member of Halsey, Stewart & Co. These two have been appointed by William Fox to act with him as a board of trustees in handling the affairs of the Fox Films Corporation and the Fox Theaters., Within just a few years the Fox organization has grown from al- most nothing to a corporation with $500,000,000 in assets, and with a debt of $91,000,000. The latter amount is classed as a tem- porary obligation incurred by Fox since last January, at which time | he started to obtain control of | Loew’s, Inc., and which he planned to make permanent through a stock offering of an amalgamation of his various companies. It is understood that Mr. Fox could not get the stock issue underwritten because of the drop in market values, and he was forced to seek outside help for the first time in his career. The Fox Theaters Corporation | controls 1,200 theaters, and an- | other of the Fox interests is the Fox Movietone News, a pioneer in the field of sound news films. Yes, figures may be a bit dry, but when they take on such re- markable proportions in connec- tion with the movies, that is some- thing else again. The movie in- dustry no longer can be called am?‘r;g the infants of the business world. | * % %k x S “The Birth of a Nation”! spelled great things for the silent photoplay—opening up, as! it were, the wonderful future of screen possibilites—‘General Crack,” the new John Barrymore picture, is being hailed as firmly establishing the merit of the new sound pictures. “The Birth of a Nation,” directed by that master, David Wark Griffith, placed the silent picture upon a firm founda- tion; “General Crack” is said to end the “experimental stage” of | the sound picture. All this, nat- urally, comes from the critics and the public who have seen and heard John Barrymore in the lat- est Warner Brothers product. Here in Washington we must await the showing of “General Crack” before we make our final decisions about talking pictures. John Barrymore went into pho- toplay work at the height of his |1 This in |t popularity as an actor. itself has greatly aided his efforts before the camera. Other well known stage stars have joined the picture ranks after their stage popularity started to wane. His first celluloid vehicle was “Raf- fles,” the younger of the Barry- more family establishing himself | as a favorite cinema star. Then | came star parts in “Redemption,” | “Peter ‘Ibbetson” and “The Jest.” This work was done in connection with stage appearances. Before the German character actor, Emil ~~Jannings, came to this country John Barrymore had made a de- cided hit with his “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and two other screen plays followed—“The Lotus Eat-, ers” and “Sherlock Holmes.” Then came the Clyde Fitch play, “Beau Brummell,” originally produced on the stage by David Belasco; “Moby Dick” and the “Sea Beast.” In the latter picture Barrymore selected as his leading lady a hitherto un- known young actress, Dolores Cos- tello, who afterward became the bride of the star. The last two pictures before beginning work in “General Crack” were “Don Juan” and “When A Man Loves.” Others in the cast of “General Crack” are Lowell Sherman,| Philippe De Lacy, Marian_Nixon, | Armida, Hobart Bosworth, Jacque- | line Logan, Otto Matieson, Andres De Segurola, Douglas Gerrard and Theodore Lodi. Alan Crosland was the director. * kX X CARL E. MILLIKEN of the Hays | organization in a recent ad- dress, pointed out that one of the big problems of the producers to- day was the making of sound pic- tures which would please the so- phisticated taste of Broadway and et not offend the Main street deals. Viewing the matter from this point, it is difficult to understand how the artistic standards of Broadway can differ so materially with those of Main street. If a picture can be exhibited where the te lights are brighest and be| ed by critics and public as a| success, why can’t the same pic- ture make a success in the out- lands? Is it all a matter of geogra- phy? Or would Hoboken refuse to pass a picture which received ap- plause from the Broadwayites? The trade magazine Exhibitors’ Herald-World takes up the prob- lem with the idea of classification; that is, certain pictures not in- tended for general distribution. “Without such a plan,” says the magazine, various subjects that cry for expression in the dialogue motion picture will have to be avoided simply because they would not be appreciated on Main street or on certain portions of the myvthical thoroughfare.” This seems a far-fetched solu- tion to the problem. If the pro- ducers put out good pictures they will be well received on both Broadway and Main street. There are no ““various subjects that cry for motion picture expression” which cannot be exhibited in the small-town theaters or the neigh- bodhood houses. The picture should be universal in its appeal: it should be clean: it should find just as enthusiastic an audience on Main street as on Broadway. * X ¥ X Short Flashes. EPHEN VINCENT BENET, nov- elist and poet and a Pulitzer ST Flashes From the Screen By C.E. EM THE SUNDAY Nelson. prize winner, has been signed by the United Artists’ Corporation to write the story and dialogue for the D. W. Griffith picture “Abra- ham Lincoln.” Benet has been called “The Homer of the Civil War” for his hundred-thousand- word poem, “John Brown’s Body.” The Paramount Co. has received the first pictures from the Byrd expedition. Willard Vanderveer and Joseph Rucker are the two motion-picture cameramen repre- senting their company at the South Pole. Four new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pictures to be released soon have been rechristened. “Dulcy,” star- ring Marion Davies, will be known as “Not So Dumb”; “Road Show” has been changed to “Happy Days,” “Take It Big” to “Playing the Field” and “Lights and Shad- ows” to “The Woman Racket.” Clive Brook has been selected to play a prominent part in the de- tective screen play, “The Benson Murder Case.” Willilam Powell has the lead and Fay Wray plays op- posite. Monte Blue heads the cast of “His Woman,” being made at the First National studio. The direc- tor has not been selected. Basil Rathbone plays opposite Billie Dove in “Faithful.” Others in the cast are Kenneth Thomson, Kay Francis, Montagu Love and Philip Strange. John Mack Brown will be Joan Crawford’s leading man in the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer pic- ture, “Montana.” Cliff Edwards and Dorothy Sebastian are also in the cast. Don Alvarado plays opposite Dolores Del Rio in “A Sailor's Sweetheart.” Others with impor- tant parts are Edmund Lowe, Yola D’Avril, Ullrich Haupt and Ad- rienne d’Ambricourt. Joan Bennett has just signed a long-term contract with United Artists. She plays opposite Harry Richman in “Putting on the Ritz.” Gillette and the Immortals. WILLIAM GILLETTE, who is mak- ing his stage final farewell this season after years of retirement, is the only actor among the 50 members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters; but he does not bear this honor with undue solemnity. This fact is evidenced by an anecdote that was told by Vincent Starrett in the October number of “The Bookman” as an item in his recollection of his years as a re- rter in Chicago. Mr. Starrett says: “Speaking of ‘Sherlock Holmes' the play in which Gillette is making his final bow, re- minds me of an amusing encounter with William Gillette, always a courte- ous and affable man to interview. | STAR, WASHINGTON, D. DECEMBER 15, 1 929—PART FOUR. AMUSEMENTS. Photoplays at Washington Theaters This Week Paramount reel. WwEEK OF 7 DECEMBER 15 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Satmday « Dorothy, Mackaill Dorothy, Mackaill Dorothy Mackaill Return " engagement 2t o e snd ’r:nnon‘.n‘m fes and 9 n n n urn engageme ally O'Nell in avren: T Ambassad’t “The Love Racket.® “The Love Racket.” “The Love Racket.” “The Gold Diggers “The Desert Song." ““The Sophomore." MaFianne -£19038A SUOUAWIIA Vitaphone_variety Vitaphone variets. __§ of Broadwa: Comedy. _Vitaphone. Disney cartco Wiliiam Powell in _¥fl|l|:m Powell in All-star cast All-star cast Lis Les and Lila Tee and Robest Armstrong w rder “The Greene Murder in ack Hol ack Hol i Apollo T e Case. “The_Hollywood “The_ Hollywood in in New, Vitaphone eties. Revue." Revue.” “Flight."” “Flight.” Clara Bow in Mary Nolan in Barthelmes ichard T ' Hack ot Ltk hae? rne Bturay ‘Nieht “The Shanenal Lady. Toherd Barthelmess e Love Doctor Avalon in in Kid."" Comedy. Variety reel. “Young Nowheres " Vitaphone variets “Plight.” “Flight.” Vitaphone variety. Paramount reel. Comedy. Variety Universal comedy. William Powell in L William Powell in — Joseph Schildkraut in Robert Montgomer: d “The Hollywood “The Hollywood “The Greene Murder “The Greene Murder ““The Mississippl and Sally Starr in Ave. Gran Reve Revue The O e Sambier. ~85°rhis Ts Coltese.” Vitaphone varieties. __ Vitaphone varieties. _ Vitaphone varletles. ject. Disney _cartoon. 30 T Gl ‘Tryon in Stiye 1Er°°ke Evel Brent 1 CoctadimaEt! Bessie Lot 1 Dark. Glenn Tryon in lenn elyn Brent in essie wve In o vay." “Broadway." *“The Return of “Wowamtrap.” *“The Thirteenth “Gi ” Bethesda ‘Broadway. Br iRt o, mirap. e Rt Gli"in ti’ Show Clara Bow ClIYInBD"I Hal fik!“y Hal Skelly chk"?ak!z “‘Behind Closed Dark. n s . . n ? - E . “Saturday Night Kid. Dance cof Life! Dance of Life. “Fast_Company. Cameo B = Comedy. reen song. Screen song. Comedy. C ol Willlam Collier. Jr.. Nancy Carroll and . Nancy Carroll, sod Nancy Carroll 800 porothy Burgess in Dorothy Burgess in and_ Alma_Benneti in "Buddy Rogers in C.mhn. s n “Pleasure Crazed." “Pleasure Crazed.” “Two Men and a T “Son of the Golden ‘The Dance of Life.” “The Dance of Life." Maid. Tiusion.” st T Bow T T By T ne Colleen Moore Colleen Moore Ermest Torrence and Joap Crawford in Joap Crawford In “The Sajgasy S w “Footlights and Fools” *Footlights and Fools” “fhe Unhols Nignt." Central SUDteEINd. Coigme Vitaphone variety. ___ Vitaphone varlety. __Vitaphone variety. _ Vitaphone variety. _ Viiaphone variety. — Rod La Rocque and Frank Craven and Georxe O'Srien and Cirel Willim Fowell ana — willem FoReT arc R"fl#fi“bfi";flkflq Marx Brothers in Marx Brothers in ns“nlly‘mnlne Helen CChandler - e ““The_ Delightful “The Cocoanuts.” “The roanuts.’” in in ircie “The Greene, Murder “The Greene, Murder R el “The Vers Iden." _“Salute.” e . o gl e Baturday ‘Night Roland Youns e Grebn Murde Ihe Difiters Four Marx Brothers Four Marx Brother, n 8 e Saturdey Nig ) e Green Murder e Diifter g " o e . Shs hal Lady.’ Kid.' Comedy. in ‘ase.’ omedy. Paramount reel. Colony in’ “The Cocoanuts.” in “The Cocoanuts.” *Tne BHORENY, Nad Vitaphone variety. “Wise Girls.” Vitaphone variery Vitaphone variety. Clive M Astor and ‘Willlam Powell and William Powell and Laura La Plante and Patsy Ruth Miller and R B T k “Returp ‘ot Seriock Robert Armstrong 1n Richard Arlen Richard Arlen Montague Love in . Malcolm McGregor Dumbarton “***“Hoimes” Hoitmes.” Bhe Woman From ity B AR R Watning. in i Comedy Comedy. Hell.” ““Four Feathers.” “Four F:athers.” News. “Whispering_Wings. o v Jack Oakie In Sally O'Nelll in James Murray Mary Duncan in o ol AR Riacat™ “Past Company.” oA “Bxalted Flupper.” Bt i “In "G Arizona.” ’ “Marcled in Holly- “Married In Mol yp oy Campany.” Il ey, o Gomedy. ‘Sonora. * Loper's Orchestra flippodl‘ me wood." Comedy. wood.” Comedy. Fast Compan: f ey P ot T . i 08 = Tila_Lee and Lila_Lee and Forma Lee and Return engagement Ken Maynard o Ciara Bow Tn el R k Holt, in Jack Holt.in Roland Young, in of no.” Home “The Saturday Night “The Saturday Nisht T Eighe. “Fiight." ' Wise ‘Gt " “The Gold Diggers Vi S Gatioty: Vitaphaas variety. __ Krazy Kat cartoon. _ Krazy Kat cartoon. __Vitaphone variety. of Br . a gvi b { Fannle Brice in Ton_Chaney_in Charlle Murray in me o nnle Bice, vorstection & ;- under.” Do _Your, Duty. it i mes Murray in Comedies. “Ilusion." Leader somedy, Comedies. Oumetite Hiftare Shoulders:” Comedies. 3 it " William_Powell in Evelyn Brent in Bob Custer in . Jack Oakie i pet Gayno Jnet GREnor I “Scarlet Daredevil.” “The_Thirteenth “Womantrap.” 4 “Last Kound-up. i Liberty Come Rsmis Comedy. Rews. Comedv. T Comeds. v i uri Cl ler in Conrad Nagel and FaTe Fa RO '{-f’.:f-rx{f’" . E'"Ef"uf\‘l’:n‘;?x'"‘&a“ > -’rdx;n%cc%uhi‘r"p-m " “Bolores Costelio cuprotection™ pyTim McCop tn A 3 5 S 2 2 : Princess Comeds. Cgped>. i (o ke Ty Tendéioin.” e Arlis? ATl k in __ Moran and Mack in Moran and Mack in i George Arliss Ceosge An ™ MR Bk et *Why Bring That “Why Bring That “The Sophomore.” i " ;. Vitaphone D7 2 § . 5lthl:1'|fl.fl(!,. Viunrl;g); act, A Act. Comedy. - KAct.M Comlfldy, - S lexandria, Va. Le s kova Virginia Valll and Evelyn Brent an en Maynard in ary in in Norma lee Poume $haer 1o e Jason Robards in Glenn Tryon “Cheyenn “The Last Perform- S Reliise "Gir "“Wise Girls.* “Moulin Rouge.” “The Isle of Lost p Vitaphone variety. ange,” | .'q’ V\llvh’:fl! i Vitaphone variety. Vitaphone variety. Ships.” _Comedy. ‘Broadway. + Para._short subject. Comedy. Vatiety reel. | kie Harold Murray and Harold Murray and Harold Murray an Robert Arms & In | Jack Ogkie and S ! Norma Terris in Sally O'Nelll in “Big Ne | Tak Betty Compson Gl el .Norma Terrisin = Norma Terrls 3. «Marrled in Holly- “Girl on the Barge." Chester Conklin in ik “Street” Girl" “Street” Girl.” Wood." wood” wood: House - of Horrors. Fancy Carroll snd Nancy Carroll and Nangy Carroll and George Ariiss Georae Arliss George_Ariiss Douglas_Fairbanks, Jr. - Jack, Oakle GRSk onke SACK [Owkle “Disraell” “Disraell.” “Disraell.” “The Forward Pass.” Tivoli wgweetie.” “Sweetle.” “Sweetle.” Vitaphone variety. Vitaphone variety. Vitaphone variety. Varieties. Cartoon. T il in Richard Barthelmess, Mary Nolan in Lila Lee and Lila Lee and . Richard Dix in - | e o Saurder e T ene” Murder ln\‘d‘Y(.:un’sd .anhedr!x." “The Shanehal Lady.” Jagk Holt in Jack, Holt ‘The Love Boctor: -- 5 Mermaid_comedy. medy. 3 : 5 York Taser Variety. ot el o Vitaphone variety. Krasy Kat cartoon. Krazy Kat cartoon. Vitaphone variety. Erich Learns to Smile. HEN Greek meets Greek they open a restaurant—perhaps. When di- rector meets director the fur starts !0‘ —perhaps. | nyDupremx Ehe ten weeks the photoplay «wThe Great Gabbo” was in production. however, the sound stages of the James Cruze, Inc., film plant were innocent of directorial fur or Greek tugs-of-war. And this despite the fact that James Cruze, the “director who always smiles, was putting Erich von Stroheim, the “director and screen star who seldom smiles,” through the most vigorous paces of the latter's hectic studio career. That the temperamental former Aus- [ “The ‘Immortals’ had come to town— the American Academy of Arts and Letters—in a special train, to exhibit themselves as the intelligentsia at Ful- lerton Hall. The newspaper harps and harpies met the incoming gods at an outlying station and rode into the city on a special. Adventuring through the coaches I came upon a compartment whose doors stood open and, peeping in- side, recognized the occupant. He was ooking dreamily out of the window at he speeding landscape in such fashion that his perfect Sherlockian profile seemed etched against the glass. “I put my head inside. “‘A penny, Mr. Gillette! T said cleverly, the proverbial penny! There was an ironic twinkle in his eye as he turned. “*you would like to know what I was thinking?' he drawled. ‘I was thinking what a delightful paradox it would be if this train were to roll down the en- bankment and all the ‘immortals’ were to be killed’” Critics on the Warpath. THE tune is good but the words are rotten.” Thus crudely are the critics empha- sizing the decline of literature even in song form. in the theaters of today. Persuasive melodles, it is charged, throughout the current season, have I been wrapped around stupid plots and unimaginative words. Mass production is blamed for some of the faults alleged. With talkies to a large extent leaping into the laps of Tin Pan Alley artists, it is complained, the problem has become acute. It has led unhappy critics to suggest for new songs such titles as “Einsberger-Sachs Six Per Cent, I Love You.” One critic points out that the guilt of the librettist is by no means of recent date, reciting, in point, that Victor Herbert suffered from the same lack of intelligent co-ordination. ~He boldly states that since the days of Gilbert and Sullivan, perhaps, there has been no really perfect team work between music and word writers. “w New Musical "Smash.” As their initial production, Bobby Connolly and Arthur Swanstrom have presented Jack Donahue in “Sons ' Guns” at the Imperial Theater, New York, with Lily Damitd, the fa- mous screen star. It is added that Broadwayites concede that “not only does the production surpass anything ever before presented in gorgeousness and unstinting display, but the humor as contributed by the book and Jack Donahue, who is part author of it, and the perfect casting of the show, which contains such players as Willilam Fraw- ley, Shirley Vernon, Milton Watson, Mary Horan and Robert Hucheson, make it a show that is sure to round out a year at the same theater.” “Sons O’ Guns” was written by Fred Thompson and Jack Donahue with music and lyrics by Arthur Swanstrom, Fred Coots and Bennie Davis. The cos- tumes are by Charles Le Marie and the scenery by Joseph Urban. Bobby Connolly supervised the entire produc- tion and staged those dances not put on by Albertina Rasch, who has a spe- cial troupe in the show. AQE_IZ] F St. at 13th—Cont. from 11 AM. NOW PLAYING A United Artists’ Picture “THE LOCKED. DOOR” the Heart Misadventures of a Loving Wife With ROD LA ROCQUE BARBARA STANWYCK BETTY BRONSON —On the Stage— ALLAN ROGERS in a Loew Production | trian nobleman enjoyed working as a | star under Cruze is one of the wonders of the current Hollywood season. By the time his engagement in “The Great Gabbo” was concluded Mr. Von Stro- heim was wearing & natural smile, his first, remarked certain unfeeling gos- sips, in 15 years. l,"ll'he nm.f-'m Von Stroheim scowl, of course, is also very much in evidence In | “The Great Gabbo.” Wrestling With His Work. LXTERALLY speaking, Ivan Linow is the biggest man in motion pictures, and he considers himself also the busi- est. He is a former wrestling performer of Europe and America who has an portant role in “The River,” Frank Bor- zage's Fox Movietone talking picture, | now showing at the Fox Theater. Mary | Duncan and Charles Farrell have the leading roles. | After his personal triumph in “The Red Dance,” this giant (he is 6 feet 4 | inches tall) found himself with a long- | term contract with Fox Films and an. other nice part—that of Sam Thomp son, & “heavy” in “The River.” Besides the necessary preparation for the role, Linow in the meantime was becoming the owner of a beautiful home in Hollywood Hills. He supervised the building while playing his current role. He says if he's going to be a “heavy” he should do heavy work, so he is keep- ing in training. | —.— Jed Back on the Job. JED HARRIS, who at 29 was hailed as a theatrical “miracle man,” and who sailed for Europe with the an- nouncement that he had retired from theatrical life and planned to become a gentleman farmer in England, France or Italy, is back in New York and has admitted, according to advices from that city, that he may produce some more plays. He arrived incognito and unshaven (an eccentricity) and when questioned was evasive. He was asked if he might try his hand at musical comedy. He replied: “Yes, 1 might do that. I guess I'll do ‘Show Boat' again and show Ziegfeld how it ought to have been done.” Harris was the producer of numerous big hits, among them “The Royal Fam- gy.’ “Broadway” and “The Front age.” Has Chaplh;\ Succumbed? HOLLYWOOD reports the hint that Charles Chaplin has submitted to a compromise. ‘There will b unds, of some nature, in “City Lights,” which Chaplin is now producing, if these reports are correct. He will strictly avold any sort of dia- logue, however. Chaplin has been steadfast in his opposition to the talkies, depending, probably, on his genius in pantomime to continue its hold on the public. But the reports indicate he has bowed to the inevitable. | Experiments with the microphone have been under way though just what sort of noises they will record is not | yet settled, according to word coming out of the studio. F St. at 12th—Cont. from 10:45 NOW PLAYING A Metro-Goldwyn-Maver Picture HALLELUJAH A new theme for the speaking screen. A rhap- sody of singing souls. Made by the director of “The Big Parade.” Mu- sic by Irving Berlin. The picture New York paid $2.00 to sce and raved “DRESDEN CHINA” \ AT J. Harold Murray and Norma Terris in a bit from “Married in Hollywood,” the State Theater, on Wisconsi NEIGHBORHOOD Rod as Lincoln. HOLLYWOOD reports that Rod La Roque has been tentatively selcct- ed by D. W. Griffith for the title role in | the latter's forthcoming production of | the life of Abraham Lincoln, which | Griffith hopes to make the crowning | achievement of his brilliant career. | Another report is that Stephen Vin- | cent Benet, whose narrative poem “John | Brown's Body” won the Pulitzer prize this year, has been engaged to write the story and dialogue for the film, which will be-Griffith’s first talkie. Hunter Not a Poet. ENN HUNTER says he is not a| at| n avenue, Thursday and Friday. 1 Pajamas! BACK in Elizabethan days in England, rigid rules of theatrical censorship were established. They still exist, much to the discomfiture of American play- g'rlighrs who venture into the London eld. A British actor with a sense of humor, Reginald Owen, related receat experi- ences in this regard in New York a few days ago. He is an important player in the cast of “Candlelight,” in which Gertrude Lawrence is starring. The lord chamberlain, he said, is privileged to order deleted from any manuscript anything that offends his ears. There are no set rules, and the lord chamberlain's ideas on the thing are final. In the script of “Candlelight,” which P. G. Wodehouse adapted from the German, is a line concerning pajamas, Owen explained. When the lord chamberlain, blue pencil poised, came across it he exclaimed: “What? A lady talking about pa- jamas and those dainty garments in the apartment of a man not her hus- band? Have things come to this pretty pass?” So word came out, and the wom CIRCLE, 22 nd_De DUMBARTON ' <siisote AND BETTY LANFORD in “RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES" v Talking_Picture). Comedy, I < CAun NANl;l'cy CARROLL, HAL MRy oo Singmg and _Dancing). _ H F Talking, 6ih and C_Sts. N.E Matinee 3:00 P.M. UE, MAY McAVOY in HSLNE AMON NAVARRO in “THE PAGAN." _Comedy and News. _ | N. Capitol & Fla. Ave. TRUXTON ™ Qi8¢ ofveic in "HARD BOILED." _News. Comedy. TAK" “.IF"P Parking Lot. Pictures at Their Best, IACK"CARIE AND BETTY COMPSON in “STREET GIRL" Continuous_from 3:00 p.m. HIPPODROME ' -Siites™ “MARRIED in HOLLYWOOD." ALL-TALKING and BINGING. RICHMOND 4‘:#.;5&'&”:‘4-".!;.-, rrow, GEORGE__ARLISS DISREALL" ALL-TALKI NG HIT LIBERTY 1419 N. Ca GAYNOR “AND TALKING in “LUCKY STAR. CAME! Mt. Rainier, Md. 0 romoriow snd_ Tusday CLAR~ BOW in “THE Rishe D" "ALLTALKING. SYLVAN THEATER ' Buiternnt Sts. St ARRELL about. JESSE THEATER '™5.% Wi “HALF MARRIAGE,” OLIVE BORDEN. 3:30, 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00. Horrors! an speaking the lines says, instead, to a valet: “By the way, the last time I was here 1 ieft some things. You can send them to me.” The entire incident was innocent, Owen declared, and the lines were real- | ly unimportant to the structure of the play. No objection of any sort has been raised to the play in its New York engagement, he said. Just before coming to this country, the actor said, he was in the cast of a comedy opening in London. In the play was a line which to the actors seemed delightful, as well as innocent, and seeming to promise a laugh at each per- formance. It ran: “Scotland is so full of sex.” But the lord chamberl said and the laughs were lost. n District of Columbia. THE EARLE—13th and E streets n.w. RIALTO—Ninth near G n.w. AMBASSADOR—18th and Col rd. a.w APOLLO—624 H street n.e. AVENUE GRAND—645 Pa. ave. s.e. CENTRAL—Ninth street. AVALON—Conn. ave. and McKinley. COLONY—Georgia ave. and Farragut HOME—1230 C street n.e. TIVOLI—14th and Park rd. n.w. | YORK—Georgia ave. and Quebec n.w ! STANTON—515 C street n.e. , HAPPYLAND—1020 7th street n.w. Maryland and Virginia. MARYLAND—Hagerstown, Md. OPERA HOUSE—Leesburg, Va. RE::EATION HALL—Indiap Head. | REPUBLIC THEATER—Annapolis, Md | UNIVERSAL—Shady Side, Md. MARYLAND—Frederick. Md. TOME SCHOOL—Port Deposit, Md. ! MARADA—St. Michaels, Md. | BETHESDA—Bethesda., Md. | MELVILLE—Sykesville, Md. STATE—Westminster, Md. ! IMPERIAL—Brunswick, Md. PALACE—Frostburg, Md. ASHTON—Clarendon, Va. JEFFERSON—Charlottesville, COLONIAL—Winchester, Va. STRAND—Staunton, Va. MASONIC—Clifton Forge, Va. OLIVER—Crewe, Va. Va. REGAL—Urbanna, Va. TOWN HALL—Trappahannock, Va. WEISS, Emporia, Va. RITZ—Chatham, Va. RELEE—Relee, Va. NEW-—Woodstock, Va. STRAND—Strasburg, Va. NEW MARKET—New Market, Va. | The latter appeared in a New York | such gentus we are dumb.” | resting. L] G poet; he's an actor. Therefore his | acting shouldn’t be judged by his poetry. theatrical newspaper in the form of a Christmas greeting, accompanied by a large photograph of Hunter. It runs: There was & young dandy named Glen ‘Who. felt as though he were ten. He filled every house When sober or souse, And charmed all the ladies and men. A New York critic remarks: “Before Have an Easy Life. AB Ethel Barrymore is acting two plays this season, G. Martinez Sierra’s “The Kingdom of God” and Lili Hatvany's “The Love Duel” and as the cast of the former play requires 15 players more than does the latter piece, whenever “The Love Duel” is being played, there are 15 Barrymore actors unoccupied. For five weeks in Chicago, these people are said to have received thelr weekly salary and spent their eve- nings at other plays, or at home, or as pleased them best, but all of them say | they would prefer to be playing than | | - Seeking the Play. i NEW “Long Play Tournament,” to be conducted in New York, spon- sored by the group which annually con- ducts the National Little Theater Tour- | nament, has just been announced. | The plays will be presented five con- secutive evenings and the winner will be selected by a jury. The successful group will be awarded $1,000 and a cup, 1ccm;dlng to Walter Hartwig’s announce- ment. WHERE % PERFECT XA I[X[oJF A MUSICALDRAMA OF BROADWAY. / ROmance / 3PREVAILS 5 GLITTERING SPLENDOR/ 3 AUTY VIBRANT B oy o1 SWEE MING, QiNTAm7 e EXTRA ADDED TALKING FEATURE. GRAHAM M¢NAME NTLANT RICE ?.ka unees GRA VELTY.” A /2 Commu@ Drama Guild. T}IE Community Drama Guild of| Washington has its fourth annual one-act play tournament scheduled to begin January 22, with finals February 7, at McKinley Auditorium. All clubs and drama groups in the District of Columbia, the metropolitan area of Maryland and Arlington County, Va., are invited to participate. Last year| there were presented 28 different ama- | teur groups in a widely varied and in- teresting series of one-act plays. The Columbia Players won the first place in the local tournament, and later took part in the Belasco Cup tournament in New York City. Player groups must register with the Drama Guild on or before January 4, and application blanks may now be ob- tained at the office of the Community Drama Guild, Pranklin Administration Building, Thirteenth and K streets, or from Mrs. Marie Moore Forrest, execu- tive secretary, Community Drama Guild, ‘Washington, D. C. In addition to the one-act play tournament, the Drama Guild will sponsor a “play-writing contest” in one- act plays, open to all authors and play- wrights in the vicinity of Washington, which will begin at once and close Februsry 15. An outstanding commit*- tee of literary and stage experts will serve as judges. A prize of $25 is offer= ed for the best play. If, in the opin- fon of the judges, the winning play is worthy of production, it will be pro- duced by the Drama Guild at the Spring drama conference, the week of April 1. February 28 and March 1 the second full-length play of this season will be presented with an all-Washington cast, chosen after a new system of try-outs, early in January. Directors of all drama clubs and groups in the city are in- vited by the casting committze of the guild, headed by Maj. Philip Hayes, to meet with the committee for consuita- tion Tuesday evening of the present week at 8 o'clock in the board room of the Franklin Administration Building. The play to be given February 28- March 1 is John Tobin's celeebrated comedy of 100 years ago, “The Honey- moon.” It requires a large cast, which will be chosen from groups from all parts of the city. The director for “The Honeymoon” will be chosen from among those in New York City who have had outstanding success in stag- ing revivals. HOLLYWOOD spends its odd mo- ments combing its hair, and that typifies to a degree Hollywood in the mind of George Abbott, New York play- wright and director, who has just re- turned from the West Coast. Mr. Abbott thought it odd, he con- fessed, that on a motion picture set every actor, freed from the camera and microphones for the moment, rushed to the community hairbrush and ap- plied it. “These people have been so trained,” he said, “to keep the ‘perfect pose’ that even during the course of physical com- bat the looks remain in place, coiffed to idyllic perfection and resembling ad- vertisements for hair oil.” Abbott, co-author of “Coquette” and “Broadway,” directed two pictures for Paramount, and is to return to Holly- wood later to direct a third, starring Nancy Carroll. He returned to New York with the conviction that many practices which have sprouted in the talkies must be eliminated. He was specifically outspoken against the use Its Hair. of large choruses in the many pictures built on stage life and employing revues copied from the stage. “One is anxious to see dancing girls, rows of them, only when they appear in person, framed in a proscenium and only a few feet from the audience,” he declared. “It is probably the basic appeal of dancing feet and swaying bodies that holds one_through the boredom of the routine. But in pictures it is different. “Even color adds not a whit to the appeal of dancing girls, and so many films recently have included stage cho- rus numbers that it is almost impossi~ ble to bear with one now for any length of time.” Despite his criticisms, he said he found Hollywood an attractive place to live and that the screen colony is af- fable to the invaders from New York. Before leaving the West, Abbott re- wrote the dialogue for Erich Maria Re- marque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front,” for the picture to be produced by Carl Laemmle. Saying It With Colors. COLOR pictures seem to be all the rage along Broadway. A prome- nade along New York's celebrated rialto reveals technicolor productions as the features in no fewer than five thelters.‘ This condition seems all the more | remarkable when it is recalled that just | a year ago only one natural color film, | “The Viking,” was on view, and this was hailed as a distinct novelty. Incidentally, the five color pictures on Broadway represent just about the elite of New York's cinema entertainment. | With the exception of “Gold Diggers of Broadway,” which is having its first Manhattan showing at popular prices. all of the productions are attractions of such merit that they are being pre- sented as $2 shows. | These pictures, two of which already have been shown in Washington, are “Show of Shows,” Warner’s revue with 77 stars of the screen and stage; “Gen- eral Crack,” showing John Barrymore in his first talking role; “Rio Rita,” from the Ziegfeld musical hit, a Radio | production with Bebe Daniels and John | Boles; and “Hollywood Revue,” Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer's presentation of John | Gilbert, Norma Shearer, Marion Davies, | Conrad Nagel and a score of other pop- i ular stars | Inquiry among Broadway theater managers ylelded the additional infor- | mation that at least half a dozen other color features are slated for presenta- | tion before 1930 is ushered in. They are: | “Devil May Care,” starring Ramon | Novarro and giving his admirers their | first opportunity to hear his speaking voice heard him sing in “The | he Mysterious Island,” an- | e from | “Sally,” | Marilyn Miller in First Na- | production of the Ziegfeld mu- | GALA OPENING | THURSDAY with | “Married in Hollywood” WESTERN ELECTRIC SOUND SYSTEM Al.o_?‘l‘-{% I/ ANRLE ™) ::%h“cifi GORGEOU! IORUS BEAU'"ESS T MELODY WORLDS GREATEST RADIO ANNOUNCER S CPOTLIGHT sical hit; “Paris,” the Irene Bordoni pic- ture which was seen here recently; “Pointed Heels.” a Paramount picture, with Willlam Powell; and Mae Mur~ ray's Tiffany talking and singing film, “‘Peacock Allev.” STANLEY-CR/NDALL THEATERS (Direction Warner Bros.) Delighful People With an Intimate Problem You'll Love to Know RUTH CHAT.ERTCN WILLIAM FOWELL CL'VE BEROOK MARY NOLAN A Master Cast in W. Som. erset Maugham’s Spark- |- ling All-Talking Comedy “CHARMING SINNERS” ! 1 Pa What _is the Love-Racket? See | and Hear a Daring Girl Fxposes Hy to_ Nave the Life of a Girl Nhe Never Met. I's a First National ana |f! Vituphone Talking Picture. | AMBASSADOR co!*a. "% TODAY and TOMORROW — DOR- OTHY MACKAILL in ““THE LOVE RAGKET" 100" TALKING! APOLLO 621 B St. N.E. TODAY and TOMORROW—_WILLIAM POWELL in "THE GREENE M DER_CASE"_ (100" LKING) Conn. Ave. and AVALON McKinley St. D. C. TODAY and TOMORROW—LILA LEE and JACK HOLT in “FLIGHT" 1007 TALKING). AVENUE GRAND Sk REVUE' (100' GING and _DANC- CAST OF SCREEN 00! TALKING. ~SIN ING WITH A __FAVORITES). E CENTRAL A sefeecrm TODAY and TOMORROW — JOAN CRAWFORD in " "UN'T AMED ). COLONY st TODAY ' and TOMORROW — THE OUR _MA! BROS. in “THE COCOANUTS” (1007 ' TALKING, SINGING and DANCING). HOME 1230 © St. N.E. TODAY and TOMORROW W in “THE SATURDA' D" _(100% TALKING). SAVOY st TODAY ahd TOMORROW—_NORMA and_ ROLAND ~YOUNG _in RLS” (A~ TALKING — CLARA Y NIGHT Park Bd. N.W. TODAY _and TOMORROW—_NAN TARROLL and SACK. GARIE On B TALK! TODAY and TOMORROW-_ POWELL 1n THE GREENE MUR: DER CASE" (1007 TALKING).