Evening Star Newspaper, December 29, 1929, Page 56

AMUSEMENTS. In Capital Theaters NATIONAL—“Trevelyn's Ghost.” Tomorrow _evening, at the National ‘Theater, A. L. Erlanc-r and George C. Tyler will introduce to Washington their most recent production “Trevelyn's Ghost,” an amusing farce by Dwigit Taylor, son of Laurette Taylor, Amer- ica’s famous actress. Probably in- heriting_his sense of the theater from | his mother, ard aided and abetted by the craftmanship of his stepfather, the late Hartley Manners, young Mr. Taylor has been writing plays for 10 years' al- | though “Trevelyn's Ghost” is the first | to receive professional production. How- ever, as is perhaps natural, the theater is his hobby, and it is to playwriting | that he is planning to devote the future. | The story is laid in an old English | castle. The owner is desirous of selling | it, but her flance objects. As the castle | 1s supposedly haunted, a spurious ghost | is produced. The outcome, of course, must not be told in advance, but the situations are said to be fraught with comedy possibilities which the author has utilized to perfection. A brilliant cast has been assembled by Messrs. Erlanger and George C. Tyler, including Frederick Kerr, Phyllis Povah, Patricia Barclay, Rea Martin, Percy Ames, Harold de Becker, Charles Brown, A. J. Herbert and Percival Vivian. GAYETY—"Speed Girls.” “Speed Girls,” a high-powered Mutual Burlesque attraction at the Gayety The- ater this week, is sponsored by Fred (Falls) Binder, Hebrew character come- dian, who played the leading comedy role. “Speed Girls” is heralded as one | of the best shows on the circuit. Evelyn ‘Whitney is the featured woman, a pret- | ty brunette with & penchant for odd dances and a singing voice that is high- ly praised. With Binder and Miss Whit- | ney are players gathered from the fleldsl of musical comedy and vaudeville, as | well as a few expert burlesquers, and two leads who have won notices in the world of the cabaret. They include | Earl F. Meyer, Irving Jacobs, Harry Seyon, Sunshine Prichard, Vern Moore, Margie Thomas and Joan Tan: Mi Tanya contributes an outstanding dance, and the “Speed Girls” chorus is de- scribed as young and fetchingly garbed. ‘The “Oriental Slave Market” is one of the big highlights of the scenic panorama. Special matinees are given on Mon- days, Wednesdays and Pridays for the ladies, and a special midnight perform- ance is announced for Tuesday at mid- night, to “ring out the old year and ring in the new,” with special features added to the show. METROPOLITAN—“Show of Shows.” Enrobed in splendor, framed in mag- nificence, studded with more stars than there are in the Milky Way and liberal- 1y besprinkled with song hits, laughter and beauty, Warner Brothers’ super- , “Show of Shows,” has begun its ‘Washington engagement at the Metro- politan Theater. Such are the proud claims for it. Furthermore it has been recorded by Vitaphone and photo- graphed completely in Technicolor. Just & few of its 77 stars are John Barrymore, Ted Lewis, Irene Bordoni, Dolores Costello, Nick Lucas, Douglas Fairbanks, jr, Winnie Lightner, Betty Compson, H. B. Warner, Hobart Bos- worth, Bert Roach, Bull Montana, Jack Mulhall, Patsy Ruth Miller, Monte Blue, Loy and Lila Lee. Add to these twice as many more, for there are 77 in -n.d and mclr: than 300 lovely dancers and showgirls. It has no plot, but is claimed to be a carefully constructed revue of an un- usual type, yerxm in every detall, and . It should FOX—"Hot for Paris.” New Year week attraction at the Fox will bring Victor McLaglen in “Hot for Paris,” with El Brendel and Pifi Dorsay. That is the screen offering. On the stage will be Horace Heidt and his Cali- fornians, announced as “the greatest Fanchon and Marco Idea.” In “Hot for Paris” McLaglen is still “chasing the demes” but with a new partner, Mr. Brendel, who will be re- membered for his comedy performance in “Sunny Side Up.” The particular “dame” in this production is Fifi Dorsay, ‘whose Frenc! in “They Had to See Paris,” with ‘Rogers, was one of the highlights of that successful production. Those who were responsible for “The | Cock-Eyed World” are the producers, | writers, etc., of “Hot for Paris.” For instance, Raoul Walsh did the direction, he also wrote the story; Willlam K. Wells wrote the dialogue, William Fox is the producer, Walter Donaldson wrote several songs, one of which Victor Mc- | Laglen sings, his first burst into song on | the screen. ‘The Fanchon and Marco stage attrac- tion presents Horace Heidt and his Cali- | fornians, a“most entertaining combina- tion of musicians. The Fox Orchestra and its director, Leon Brusiloff, will have an overture in the spirit of the New Year’s coming, and the Fox Movie- tone News will offer interesting “shots” of world events. ‘There will be a special midnight per- formance, including both stage and screen offerings, New Year eve, begin- ning at 11:50 p.m. PALACE—“Navy Blues” ‘William Haines in “Navy Blues,” Met- ro-Goldwyn-Mayer talking picture, is the first of a series of “bigger and bet- | ter pictures” at Loew's Palace to mark Loew's January festival. Anita Page, Karl Dane and J. C. Nugent appear in the cast. Haines plays the part of Kelly, a ‘hardboiled gob aboard a destroyer. With a group of other sailors he is ordered to attend & Y. M. C. A. social while on shore leave, much to his disgust, and meets a pretty girl who takes him to her home. hen her mother arrives she brings trouble with her for the pair and the girl decides to leave her home. s Kelly takes her to a boarding house, but when he returns with the intention of marrying her she is gone. The fleet leaves on a cruise and when he returns again he locates the girl working as a singer in a cheap cabaret. After ups and downs the skies clear and the pic- ture closes with a happy ending. On the stage Allan Rogers IDE)IGH for his “farewell week” in the W production, “Miami Nights,” a presen- tation that takes you where the Summer. | breezes blow and presents lavish and | varied entertainment. Heading the cast are Burns and Kissen, comedy singers, with Llora Hoffman, concert singer; Horton Spurr, an exponent of slow mo- tion: the Andre De Val Foursome, in adagio work; the Chester Hale Girls, and the Palace Syncopators. The Hearst | Metrotone News, the Palace Orchestra | with Charles Gage at the organ, and house features complete the program. EARLE—"“Second Choice.” Dolores Costello returns to Washing- ! ton via the Earle Theater screen this eck in her latest Warner Brothes nd Opera in English | Third Washington Season AMERICAN Vitaphone starring feature, “Second Choice,” described 2s a unique story of | modern love, with Miss Costello portray- iny in a thoroughly captivating mai ner the character of Vallery Grove, girl of toddy. Jack Mulhall and Ches- ter Morris, at the head of a splendid cast, are seen as her suitors. ‘The girl's mother objects to her daughter’'s penniless lover, but Vallery champions him until he deserts her for a rich woman. Then, piqued and shocked, she accepts the attentions of Owen Mallory, who proposes marriage. Vallery accept him. Then her for- mer lover returns and tries to persuade her to leave her husband. A dramatic situation of considerable force develops from this unusual triangle. Also in the cast are Edna Murphy, Charlotte Merriam and Ethlynne Clair, with Jimmy Clemmons, Edward M tindel, Henry Stockbridge and Anna Chance in important parts. ‘The bill will be supplemented by Vitaphone Varieties, The Evening Star- Universal and Pathe news reels and music by the Earle Orchestra. R-K-O KEITH'S—“The Vagabond Raver™ Rudy Vallee in “The Vagabond Lover” will be held over at R-K-O Keith's Theater for a second week. Rudy is sald to have drawn more fans into picture theaters than any other player making his first screen appearance. His great popularity on the radio brought tremendous crowds on the first day’s showing, and com- ment on the excellence of the picture keeps them coming. As a crooner of love songs which have melted the hearts of Miss and Mrs. America Rudy seems to have no peer, and he is heard as delightfully in “The Vagabond Lover” as when on the air. An excellent cast supports Rudy in spotlight with love songs. The hyp- notic quality of his voice is heard to its fullest advantage in his rendi of “A Little Kiss Each Mornin, Love You, Believe Me, I Love Y "It You Were the Only Girl” and “I'll Be iss | Reminded of You.” The rich clowning of Marie Dressler adds much to the enjoyment of the pic- ture, and Sally Blane makes a lovely heroine. A colorful orchestral background is furnished by the Connecticut Yankees, who, under Vallee's leadership, also have charmed over the radio. COLUMBIA—"Condemned.” Ronald Colman, Ann Harding and Louis Wolheim, a trio of stars, appear at Loew’s Columbia this week in “Con- demned,” the first picture of a series of super-productions to be presented dur- ing Loew’s festival month. It is a United Artists picture, produced in sound and dialogue. ‘The plot of the story centers around Devils Island, & grim, menacing jungle land with shark-infested waters, where Michael, a debonnair and fearless youtl, is sent to serve a sentence for stealing once too often. The demon-faced Jacques becomes his pal, and when the warden installs Michael in his home as & servant, much to Michael's disgust and to Mme. Vidal's fear, trouble begins to hatch a lot of strange and exciting situations, born chiefly of the attach- ment between Mme. Vidal and Michacl. The enjoyment of the picture will not be enhanced by telling too much in ad- vance, ‘The Hearst Metrotone News, the Co- lumbia Orchestra, Metro Movietone Acts and short subjects complete the pro- gram. RIALTO—“Hell's Heroes.” Tuesday night the world premiere of the Universal special produ , “Hell's Heroes,” sf Raymond Hatton and Pfld"“ xogler, with & lpechlfi“ cast of s and screen occur at the Rialto Thnuh't.n’ “The Shannons of Broadway,” star- rtn: the Broadway stage stars, James and Lucille Gleason, will be shown to- day and until Tuesday night. “Hell's Heroes” is a tal remake of Peter B. Kyne's story “The Three Godfathers.” It is announced as an- other demonstration of what can be done with characterizations in talking pictures, intended to have a definite and universal audience appeal, with a grip- ping and interesting story that calls forth both laughter and tears. ‘The picture is practically of the all- outdoors type, and that it will prove a sensation is the prediction of the Uni- versal officlals. Was! will have the honor of presenting picture for the first time anywhere in the world, as the general release date of the pro- duction is the latter part of next month. | The United States copyright office has | just given the picture its al approval, TAKOMA—“Sunny Side Up.” The Takoma Theater, at Fourth and Butternut streets northwest, is making “Sunny Side Up,” starring Janet Ga; nor and Charles Farrell, its outstand- ending Friday night. “Sunny Side Up,” a Willlam Fox sound picture, was recently featured at the Fox Theater and proved to be one of the delightful attractions of the year. The fact that the Takoma management has secured it for the patrons of the Takoma Theater is evidence of clever business policy which has given the suburban residents of that community more than one of the big features of the downtown theaters recently. JANET RICHARDS—Tomorrow. Miss Janet Richards, who will re- sume her Monday talks tomorrow after the holiday interval, will review “The Outstanding Issues of the Day” for the past fortnight, touching upon a wide variety of subjects of keen political in- terest both at home and abroad. The subjects under discussion are greatly clarified by the use of large maps, These lectures are given every Mon- day morning at 10:45 o'clock in the Masonic Temple, Thirteenth street and New York avenue. Next Week's Photoplays. PALACE—The Duncan Sis- ters in “It's a Great Life!” FOX-—Janet Gaynor in “Christina.” & EARLE—Billie Dove in “The Painted Angel,” a First Na- tional and Vitaphone pro- duction from a Fannie Hurst story. COLUMBIA—Ronald Colman in “Condemned.” METROPOLITAN —(If “Show of Shows” is not held over). Warner Bros.’ Vitaphone production pre- senting John Barrymore in i “General Crack.” | smAhNti'THEXT’EliV Week MOND AY December Com. 30th Twice Daily—Phone Met. 9694 SOCKO ROCKO OPERA COMPANY POLI'S THEATER, § 0'CLOCK = and One M: 20, 321, 32 Artistie Direct s, Stage Des Yolanda of Cyprus Mme. Butterfiy 3 Faust Wed. Mat., Jom " Carmen ISAAC VAN GROVE. Conductor. Beason prices. three eve 9.00. $4.50 nE nE e i being filed Concgrt Bureau, Droop's. 1300 G st.: L Eve.. 2 JIMMIE LAKE PRESENTS The Premier of Colored Shows “SEPIA VAGABONDS” A MUSICAL REVUE Rollicki~z! Creole! Jazz! Creole Beauties Mamas Hol Entrancing 60 On Boy! Fall in Line! Dow't Miss This Revue—It's the Cat’s Pajama: Hot! I'll Say. You Can’t Afford to Miss Our Midnite Show New Year Eve. THE SHOW OF SHOWS the comedy drama, while he holds the | ing feature today and all this week, | THE SUNDAY Coming Attractions, NATIONAL—William Gillette. Wililam Gillette, who is saying fare- well to the stage in his famous creation, “Sherlock Holmes,” under the manage- ment of A. L. Erlanger and George C. Tyler, will bring this revival to the Na- tional Theater for one week only, be- ginning Monday night, January 6. Only seven performances will be played, in- cluding one matinee on Saturday. Mail orders are now being received. The box office sale will open on Thursday, Jan- uary 2, at 9 am. Mr. Gillette's farewell tour is undoubt- edly the most distinguished theatrical event of the season. Opening in Spring- fleld, Mass., November 18, Boston saw it the ensuing week and it then went into the New Amsterdam Theater, New York, for an engagement of three weeks, but the demand in New York was so great that the engagement had to be extended an additional three weeks at the sacrifice of time that had been booked in several cities of the West. “Sherlock Holmes” comes to Washing- ton direct from New York. ‘The return of the veteran' actor for a tour of farewell has proved to be a real occasion in the theater. Although 74 years old, it is said, he plays the role of the famous sleuth with the same skill and precisely the same manner as in the past. The great detective is just a little older, but in all other respects he is the same, GAYETY—"Oriental Girls.” Next week's attraction at the Gayety ‘Theater will be Jack La Mont and his “Oriental Girls.” Among the featured players are “Chubby” Drisdale, Frank O'Rourke, Oscar Snult, Joe Allen, Alma Mack and the Wallace Sisters. This is a big 1930 attraction that carries a chorus brim- ming with pep and personality and scenery, lighting effects and costumes reflecting the modern ideas of art, according to advance notices. NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC, Jan. 7. For the first concert of the season to be given by the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, under the local management of T. Arthur Smith, on Tuesday afternoon, January 7, at 4:45, in Constitution Hall, with Willem Men- gelberg conducting, there will be of- fered a beautiful program, with the as- sisting artist, Alexander Brailowsky, at | the piano, playing the three movements of the Chopin concerto, No. 1, in E minor, opus 11, for piano and orchestra. The first movement is the allegro maes- toso. This is followed by the romance, larghetto. The third and final move- ment is the rondo, vivace. ‘The orchestra will open the concer with the lovely tone poem, “Don Jua: opus 20, by Strauss. The third part of the program will be Tschaikowsky's “S8ymphony No. 5,” in E minor, opus 64. | ‘The second concert of the Philhar- monic will be given January 28 and the third on March 4, all being after- noon concerts at 4:45 o'clock at Consti- tution Hall. Tickets may be had at T. Arthur Smith’s concert bureau, 1330 G street northwest. Norma Talmage in Du Barry. 'HE famous play “Du Barry” is com- ing to the screen, with Norma Tal- madge in the leading role, according to announcement by United Artists. This prominent production had its world’s premiere in Washington at the National Theater in 1901. After its successful reception here it was taken to New York, where it opened Christ- mas day of that year. ‘The character of the milliner girl who became the favorite of a king was enacted on the silent screen by Pol Negri in the picture called “Passion.” It was her first great American success, although produced in Germany, and re- sulted in that rare combination of Ernst Lubitsch and Pola Negri. The film, however, was not based on th: original play, in which the chief role was enacted by Mrs, Leslie Carter, The new picturization will be, it was an- nounced. Sam Taylor will act as adapter and director. Starting of production awaits his klrflvll in Hollywood from New York. Hollywood Bride JEANETTE LOFF As a bride of the studio. She wears this costume in her newest picture, which has not been named. Second Ameriea IN UNRIVALLED, Seat Sale—T. Arthur Smiti Prices $60.60, Beats Now Selling—T. Art) n_Homer I Kiit's: FIRST CONCERT~— CONSTITUTION Tiekeis, . Arthor B STAR, ]| “Trevelyn's Ghost” WASHINGTON, D. C, The newest photograph of Myrna Kennedy, the film star. Myrna is crowned with Titian tresses. DECEMBER 29, Like Clara Bow, must hang heavily on Rudy Vallee's hands. After he went to Hollywood to star in Radio Pictures’ musical production, “The Vagabond Lover,” now at the R-K-O Keith’s Theater, he had nothing to do but work every day and many nights in the picture, keep up a fast social pace, and fill frequent requests from theaters, night clubs and civic affairs. So he decided to write a book—a story |of Rudy Vallee's life—and that “be- tween times,” as it were. For many months a well known pub- lishing house in New York had urged him to write his lutoblognghy, d the trip to Hollywood, he thought, gave him | his opportunity. So that, throughout the day as the camera halted and the tuneful strains of his Connecticut Yan- kees Band were followed by the clamor of a new set-up, Rudy released his clinch on Radio Pictures’ baby starlet, Sally Blane, and dictated to a stenog- rapher. His office was any sort of “prop” that would serve as a seat. Rudy Writes Life Story. “I majored in English at Yale,” he explained when questioned about the book, “so I might as well use that knowledge to straighten out many ab- surd impressions of me that have gotten into print. “For instance, I am often called a song writer. I did write ‘The Vagabond Lover’ and ‘Deep Night,' but I do not| expect to write another—I am essen- tially a musician. “It also comes to my ears that my fan mail reached the total of 20,000 a day and that 8,000 girls proposed mar- riage to me. Well, I should say that the truth is nearer 200. And as for the proposals, they are things we shouldn't discuss.” So that was it. Rudy wants the pub- lic to have accurate picture of him- self. He hasn't any bugs buzzing in his brain. However, he admitted later that he was principally interested in transmitting to music lovers many of the things he has discovered in his several years’ study of jazz effects and orchestration. Many of these he dem- onstrates in “The Vagabond Lover.” DWIGHT 'TAYLOR, author of “Tre- velyn's Ghost,” which comes to the National Theater Monday night, is not only the son of Laurette Taylor, one of America's best beloved stars, but is an artist of considerable prominence. His silks, designed for a prominent silk house, modern and very American in pattern, have already established his artistic qualities. Brought up in the atmosphere of the theater—his step-father was Hartley Manners, who wrote plays for his mother—it was inevitable that Dwight should turn to the theater in one phase or_another, It might have seemed more natural for him to have become a scenic de- signer, for his drawings have gained considerable notice. He studied at the National Academy and the Art Stu- dents’ League and did some work abroad. He has dabbled in murals. But he has always thought in terms of words, of actions, as a result of child- hood days spent back-stage. When only 16 years old he began writing plays, writing and destroying. How- ever, three of them struggled through to completion. Two will have almost simultaneous production — “Trevelyn's Ghost,” on the stage, under direction of A. L. Erlanger and George C. Tyler, and “Hail Break,” in the talkies, under sponsorship of the Warners. The third, | also completed and being considered for production, bears the title “Lipstick.’ was first pro- duced at Scarborough, N. Y., last Spring for a tryout, and there it was seen by | Mr. Tyler, who arranged for its metro- | politan production. | . “Trevelyn's Ghost, Mr. Taylor says, | “is pure nonsense, pure farce, approxi- | mating, I hope, these farces of others idnys—’chnrhe Aunt,’ ‘What Happened | to Jones' and plays of that type. I be- OHIO GIRLS’ CLUB Dance New Year’s Eve COLONIAL HOTEL Admission $1.00 ~ JANET RICHARDS | Public Questions: Home and Foreign Every Monday Morning at 10:45 Masonic Temple, 13th St. and N. Y. Av A on, 75 and $1.00 _ THEATRE Big Midnite Show Tuesday | Welcome 1930 1\ Show Starts at 12 O’clock S. HUROK bas the homor to present Tour Season 1929-30 ERMA GRAND OPLPA COMPANY EPRESENTATIONS ¥ VT Q . RICHARD“WAGNER," MASTERPIECES OF MUSIC-DRAMA Monday, Jan. 6—DIE WALKURE. Wed., Jan. 8—TRISTAN UND ISOLDE. Friday, Jan. 10—~MOZART’S DON JUAN. Tues. Mat., Jan. 14—THE FLYING DUTCHMAN. POLI'S—Four Performanc 330 G 8t .00, 5040, B0 oo Sabe COMPLETE CHORUS AND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ————— THREE PERFORMANCES—POLI'S— gar. sfi"%% 388 Sa. 11 ISADORA DUNCAN DANCERS F o PLAYING TO c-fir‘-’m:yg.’;fi?-‘."-mm: %, 130 G PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF NEW AueXANDER BRATOWERY, £ TUES. o 1800 6 Bl Wemer O ki, YORK Fotoist y 4:48—JAN. 7 Artist Turns Playwright. lieve that audiences want to laugh, and although I have written one serious play, which will be produced in the talkies, I hope to find that farce and comedy are my mediums. Comedy is difficult to write, for few people laugh at the same thing.” el a2 All English bui the Girls. )WIGHT TAYLOR'S first play, “Trev- elyn’s Ghost,” which Messrs. A. L. Erlanger and George C. Tyler are pre- senting here this week, is an English comedy. There are nine characters con- cerned in the merry, nonsensieal story of & haunted English castle. Strangely enough, although the male portion of the cast is English, the three women are American, Frederick Kerr was born in London, as were Charles Brown, Percival Vivian and Percy Ames. Harold de Becker calls Brixton, Eng- land, home, and A. J. Herbert comes from Melbourne, Australia. Phyllis Po- vah was born in Detroit, and Rea Mar- tin and Patricia Barclay are real New Yorkers. However, each of three is familiar with English roles. AT The enly theater in Washington offéring exclusively forelsn stars of the first rank. American ai 1929—PART FOU [] IZlegf ld Premiere Here | I ANAGER 8. E. COCHRAN of the National Theater, from New York City, heralds the information that Flor- enz Ziegfeld has selected Washington as the place, and January 20 as the time, for the premiere of his newest pro- duction starring Ed Wynne, “The Per- fect Fool,” in “Simple Simon.” Mr. Wynne will be supported by one of those super-excellent Ziegfeld casts including Bobbe Arnst, Alan Edwards, Doree Leslie and Will Ahearn. The of the production was written by Ed Wynne and Guy_Bolton, the music and lyrics by Richard | Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, the dances will be staged by Seymour Felix, the settings will be made by the famous Joseph Urban, the costumes by John Harkrider and the production will be directed by Zeke Colvan. ‘This is, it is believed, the first time that Washington has ever been hon- ored with a Ziegfeld premiere, and the fact is regarded among theatrical peo- ple as most significant in “the dying days of the stage legitimate.” Differ as to "Old Ironsides." CANON WILLIAM SHEAFE CHASE has just been called “a leader without an army” in return for his demand before the committee on in- terstate affairs in the Senate last year that Will H. Hays and the alleged pro- duction of improper plays be investi- gated. The charge was made by Carl E. Milliken, secretary of the Motion Pic- ture Producers and Distributors’ As- sociation of America, who added that Canon Chase has already leen Con- gress one example of the “illuminating quality of his mind.” Canon Chase, according to Milliken, used the film ‘Old Ironsides' as an example of an appeal that had been made to “the gutter on the theory that you will get more profit if you appeal to the gutter instincts of humanity.” Milliken said the.picture “Old Iron- sides” had been made with the co- operation of the United States Navy, and won the indorsement of the New York Board of Education, the New York City Federation of Women's Clubs, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and other goupm “It is probable,” he declared, “that no other mind in the wide world found filth vin“ ‘Old Ironsides’ except Dr. . YGoodl TimeatAtes Hevas T'D LEWIS came to Washington with the mental suggestion that every- body should be happy, and if everybody wasn't happy he wanted to know it. Representative Sol Bloom, keen in his day and generation, now seeks to broad- cast the slogan, in order that everybody ,T:Z be happy, that “good times are In a letter to Nicholas M. Schenck, president of the Loew enterprises, he compliments Loew's Theaters. generally in responding to the appeal of the President to arouse and spread broad- cast to the widest limiis throughout the Jand the spirit of optimism and en- thusiasm for the coming year. In the opinion of Mr. Bloom a wonderful op- portunity to do this is seen in the Loew Good Times Festival, which will run through the month of January and enlist the interest of a great host of our N:ood ml:hhe;: ln; |l.klewhere4 “‘Now,” says the New Yorl nt- ative, “that you have mma“:r':'umm work, it would be appreciated, I know, if you could have the other theaters throughout the country work with you with this wonderful idea.” Speclal programs are being worked out, it s announced, at both the Palace and the Columbia, Loew theaters, to impress the idea suggested upon the minds of the general public, and those who know, from President Hoover down to the humblest thinking eitizen, also knows that “there is notl good or bad, but thinking makes it so.' It is sometimes well to be scientific even with apparently the simplest of situations. e Roxy to Entertain Byrd. A special radio program will be staged in the studio of the Roxy Theater in New York tomorrow night for Rear Ad- | miral Byrd and his Antarctic expedi- | (ROXY. charge of the pro- , which will be sent to the !opulh le _over the short-wave station of WGY, in Schenectady. AL TOMORROW NIGHT S0 P.M NIGHTS: 50c, $1.00, $1.50, $2.00 & $2.50 MATS. WED. (NEW YEAR'S DAY) & SAT. 50c TO $2.00 A. L. ERLANGER & GEO. C. TYLER OFFER WASHINGTON THEATERGOERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR WEEK THE JOYOUS FARCICAL COMEDY ‘TREVELYN'S GHOST’ By DWIGHT TAYLOR WITH A DISTINGUISHED CAST OF PLAYERS A. L. Erlanger and Geo. . Y. The W Amsterdam; Mrs. Unele Dudley,” Cort. NEXT WEEK, BEG. MONDAY, SEATS THURS. MALL oRDERS THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF THE SEASON Nights: Orch.. $3.001 Bal., 3250, $2.00 & $1.50 ONLY MAT. SATURDAY: Grehs, u.lo.f l!..l‘t ] iressed and Stamped Envelope for Return of Tickets WEEK BEG. MONDAY JAN. 13th. GEO. M. COHAN IN HIS NEW AMERICAN PLAY “GAMBLING” DIRECT FROM A v-luun!A“. SN ARQADWAY. 1. Pleate Enclose Self- IRy 0y B e T N T L e WEEK BEGINNING MONDAY, JAN. 20th ™AL ororns ED WYNN THE PERFECT FOOL”) in ZIEGFELD’S SIMPLE SIMON tive Casty 'S, DOREE o R S8 T, e WEEK BEG. MONDAY JAN. 27th. OTIS SKINNER» PAPA JUAN | BOBBE ARNST, AIXII:.I:I' Priess: Eves., Oreh., 35, -, 34, 0!0:» &~"I AIO..‘B“OIA “Mr, Skinner iam Gillette in Fiske in “Ladies of the Jury,” ves one of the most compelling of his performances in recent .00, B .08 i Gicoor 34 Bebe ohl, Meb S0% Wed. and Bt C. Tyler Succ “Shy MAIL ORDERS NOW ACCEPTED ORIGINAL N. ¥, CAST i 34 Bal, §1.00. Wed. and Sat. PRODUCTION LESEE Sae Wi amEARN MAIL ORDERS Now | | AMUSEMENTS. The Moving Picture cAlbum By Robert E. Sherwood. be nothing more thin a me- chanical imitation of a stage play. One year ago that no- tion was being broadcast from house- tops by all those sensitive souls who ac- cepted the invention of the movietone as a personal insult. “The talkies are murdering the high art of the cinemal” they cried out— although this was the first time that most of them had ever mentioned the words “art” and “cinema” in the same sentence. ‘There are, fortunately, very few of them left, and those who still utter feeble protests are animated by perverse petulance rather than by sincere con- viction; they consider it undignified to admit that they could possibly have changed their mighty minds in so short riod of time as 12 months. he vast majority of intelligent ob- servers, who go to the movies regularly and appreciate them, will now cheer- fully concede that not only has the screen lost nothing by the additicn of sound, but it has actually gained a great deal and stands to gain a great deal more. Hollywood has had to work terrifically hard to achieve this recognition, and be 1t said that Hollywood has worked with thoroughly unexpected and un- characteristic intelligence. Before the dawn of 1929 there had been only three or four all-taking pic- tures, including such dreadful exhibits as “Lights of New York” and “The ‘Terror” and the smooth but drearily motionless “Interference.” Since last New Year day there have been: m: e 'The Broadway Melody.” ‘The Letter.” ‘Alibi.” Close Harmony."” ‘Madame X.” ‘Bulldog Drummond.” ‘Thunderbolt.” ‘The Dance of Life.” OING out with 1929 is the no- G tion that a talking picture can Flight.” “The Last of Mrs. Cheyney." “The Sky Hawk.” A few of these were palpable repro- ductions of stage plays, especially “The Letter,” “The Last of Mrs, Cheyney” and “Disraeli” But most of them: then goes on with his song, “Oh, You Beautiful Doll.” The technical expert, Ralph Mam- meras, has done an_ extraordinary job with the Zeppelin effects in “The Sky Hawk,” but John Blystone, the director, and Llewellyn Hughes and Campbell Gullan, who wrote the dialogue, also deserve laurels and praises for the faith- ful manner in which they have recorded the British character in times of stress. Nineteen hundred and twenty-nine | has been a surprisingly satisfactory year | on the screen. And when one considers | the gratifying start that has been made, | there is every reason to hope that 1930 | will be materially better, | ,, At any rate, optimism is cheap, as | they say on Wall Street. (Copyrizht, 1920.) From Jazz to Comedy. 'OMEDY is being taken up seriously by Paul Whiteman, the dance or- chestra man, with his advent into the musical pictures. Early reports that he would refuse to abandon his established rolc as & serious-faced orchestra conductor, in- dulging only now and then in a bit of polite humor between dance numbers, were refuted a few days ago in Holly- wood by Whiteman himself. In his talking picture for Universal, “The King of Jazz,” now nearing com- pletion, the round-faced, small-mus- tached musician will be seen as a come- dian, off the orchestra platform as well as on, according to the story. “I believe I have a funny photo- graphic personality,” the band conduc- tor admitted. “‘Comedy,’ he added, “is something that I never would have thought of on the stage, but in talking pictures one can feel safe. Attempts at doing any- thing that turns out badly can be de- stroved. It never needs be seen by the public. Only what has been tested and what one can be sure of can be brought to_the audience.” ‘Transformations of other performers from one type of role to another were cited. Al Jolson, for instance, began to acquire a great deal of pathos when he began making talking and singing ictures. John Barrymore, now that e has found his voice on the screen, is said to give promise of bringing his and certainly all the best of them— ‘were genuine motion pictures. As further proof that the art of the cinema still lives—in fact, that it thrives—there have been the Laurel and Hardy comedies, the Harry Langdon comedies, the Walt Disney animated cartoons (with perfect sound), and, above all, the news reels, Who can see and hear the pictures of Elder's 97-yard run in the Army- Notre Dame game and then say that the microphone has taken all the old primitive thrill away from the screen? £ SPIAKING of thrills, the talkative members of the Keep It Silent Club used to maintain that the use of dialogue would necessitate the elimina- tion of all the glorious, spechcuhr‘ melodramas of heroic action that used to thrill the film fans and fill the film parlors, ‘The answer to this is “The Sky Hawk,” one of the most ambitious of the spectacular melodramas and also one of the most successful. There have never been any melodramatic effects on the screen more exciting, more moving or more convincingly truthful than are the air raid scenes in “The Sky Hawk.” Any one who saw London in the dark days of the Zeppelin and Gotha raids | knows that these scenes are startlingly realistic. Indeed, it seems to me that the whole tragedy of war-time London is told in the one brief sequence in a music hall when the red-nosed comedian steps out to make formal announce- | ment to the audience that they all may | be blown to bits at any instant and native ironic humor along with it, MME. SIGRID CONTRAL Constitution Hall, S, Jan, 11—8:30 ) Droop's District 6493, Harvard University Instrumental Clubs Mayflower Hotel (Garden Room) MONDAY EVE., DEC. 30, 8:30 Tiekets on ale Mrs. Wilson-Greene's Coneert Bureau, | 31 t_6403, POLI'S Mon., Jan. 13, 4:30 Seats Mry LUCREZIA Prima Donna Mot. Opera Greene's 1300 St.—Distriet 6403, || WALTERS ART GALLERIES The P nu'c'x‘.lmé"’ of Baltimore 1s. sion may be ordered throu t Family Wellare Association, Calvers Lombard Streets. at. any. fime. oF DUr- ohiaed at Entratice Door of the Galleries | § on days when Galleries are open. - HELD OYER 21 WEEK To Accommodate Overflow Crowds A Mignigl:t Show me, usher in ti e50c ‘ New Year h your friends All Seats Reserved—On Sale Now i JANUARY Doors Oven at 11:30 Celebrate Beginning of the TIMES” JUBILEE Starta Promotly at 1 Teudly Radio’s GREATEST Personality in'his FIRST Feature Radio Picture THE VAGABON LOVER with SALLY BLAINE, MARIE DRESSLER and HIS CONNECTICUT YANKEES (Direct’ From Its $2 Showing at Globe Theatre. N, Y. Cd ...,