Evening Star Newspaper, June 28, 1931, Page 48

AMUSEMENTS.’ Flashes From the Screen News and Comment of the photoplny. By C. E. OLLYWOOD gossip of the past few days has been much concerned with the remarkable statement of P. G. Wodehouse, writer of fiction, who has been holding down =& mahogany desk in one of the elaborate scenario departments of the West Coast. It was just a year ago that the well known author was signed to a contract calling for his writing services. His salary, rain or shine, was to be $2,000 per week. Each Sat- urday he was to draw his pay envelope, and all he had to do was write stories for the movies— preferably funny stories of the Wodehouse type. Well, in the past 12 months Mr. Wodehcuse has drawn—according to his own figures—$104,000 in cash from the cashier of his studio. Yet, he says, he has never seen one of his stories in the movies. “Twice during the year,” he says, “they brought me com. pleted scenarios or other people’s stories and asked me to write some dialogue for them. I estimate that at least 15 or 16 people had tam- pered with these stories before they reached me. The dialogue was really quite adequate, and all I did was to touch it up here and there. Then they set me to work on a ‘story which was to have some musical numbers. It was a pleasant little thing and I spent three months on it. When it was finished they thanked me politely and remarked that as musicals did not seem to be going so well they guessed they would not use it. That about sums up what I was called upon to do for the $104,000. Isn't it amazing?” The Wodehouse bombshell has struck Hollywood as rather bad taste. The author, according to studio standards, should have drawn his salary and said little about his job—what he did and what he did not do. However, the Hollywood methods of conducting business affairs struck Wodehouse as unique, and thus his statement. His case is an outstanding one but it is only one of many. There are dozens of expensive authors living on the West Coast and associated by contract to the| movie industry who have never really earned a buffalo nickel. A couple of years ago, B. D (before depression), that marvel- ous screen comedian, Charlie Chaplin, employej a New York columnist as JF« “gag Jman,” signed him to # contract calling for a salary of $2,500 per week and shipped hién to Hollywood. This particular Writer had always been a rather busy newspaper man; he had absorbed the atmos- | phere of a newspaper office until he was a bundle of nervous energy. He made the trip to Hollywood was welcomed by the film colony and had his typewriter thorough- ly overhauled in order to start work for his famous employer. But Mr. Chaplin was not ready to take up the idea of a new picture. Life in Hollywood was quite pleasant as the weeks and months rolled along, but the former Broadway columnist became a nervous wreck from sitting around and journey- ing to the cashier’s window each Saturday afternoon. Finally, he cornered his employer and announced: “Charlie, I'm quitting my job.” “What's the trouble?” asked the comedian. “Well,” answered the writer “I'm going back to my newspaper job. I can’t stand the strain out here. I've been here for months and have not moved except to draw my salary. You say you don’t know when you want to start another picture. Please ac- cept my resignation and tear up my contract.” During the past months econ- omy has been heavily stressed around Hollywood; hundreds of workers have been discharged in the studios, and all this makes the Wodehouse statement more interesting. One film writer comes forward with an idea ‘that the author was employed to keep him from signing a contract with any .other film company. If this is true, the scheme cost just $104,000 In any case, the Wodehouse story checks with other yarns of Holly- wood extravagance and inefii- cien and in a year which has seen great distress in other industries. * ok K % The Fox producing company hereby formally announces that it has discontinued the filming of gangster pictures. The state- ment was made just before Winfield R. Sheehan, vice presi- dent in charge of production, left New York for the Pacific Coast a few days ago. Two rea- sons are behind this move—the first, beause of an overprodu- tion of this type of picture, and the second, general public dis- satisfaction with the wunder- world subjects. & ONE of the monuments of Holly- wood, the first Mack Sennett Studio, is being razed, and the ground is to be turned into build- ing lots. In several ways this; Sennett Studio made film history. In the building, some 20 and 25| years ago, experiments were made which aided materially in placing the motion picture upon a sound foundation as an entertainment medium. Many of the film stars of today were bathing girls and comedians on the Sennett lot. Several of the well known direc- tors of today received their first assignments and learned the technique of the photoplay. In the Sennett studio Charlie Chaplin was employed at a salary of $100 a week. Gloria Swan- son was a bathing girl, and others who were associated with her were Marie Prevost, Vera Rey- nolds, Mae Busch, Phyllis Haver, Louise Fazenda and Mabel Nor- mand. Among the comedians were Mack Sennett himself, Mack Swain, Ford B8terling, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Chester Conklin and Harry Langdon. The “Key- stone Cops” became an institution, and comedy reigned supreme. In those days few interior scenes were made around Hollywood Everything was “shot” out in the sun light. Scenarios were not heard of, as they are known today The continuity of a picture was arranged as the comedy developea and the cameras clicked. In many instances, players, director and cameragmen worked togethe: . Nelson. occasion demanded. Nearly all of the comedies were two-reelers. The claim is made that Mack Sennett has unearthed more screen material than any other director. Only a few years ago, he “discovered” Alice Day, Carole Lombard and Sally Eilers. The coming of sound pictures resulted in a complete reorganization of comedy mechanics. Work was started on a new studio, and the old monument to the movies is fast disappearing. L O According to Photoplay Mag- azine, “the motion picture public is practically unanimous for the return to the screen of ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle” The p¥ - ical states that it has received thousands of letters from movie-goers in all parts of the United States in response to a question of his return. If you remember, Arbuckle was barred from the screen 10 years ago. In recent years he has been working in Hollylood studios as director and assistant direc- tor. Any return of the comedian would have to be sanctioned by Will Hays and his organization. . * x 2 ‘BEAUT‘I is becoming a drug in the motion picture market, and some of the highest paid |classed among the platinum blonds and the seductive bru- nettes. Among the character players who have signed big con- tracts lately are Marie Dressler Polly Moran, Edna May Oliver | Louise Fazenda, Charlotte Green- wood and Zasu Pitts. Not a single one of these has ever contested |in a beauty parade. * x x % gencfl, has figured out that she as appeared in ezactly 265 pictures. The list begins with a long number of comedies in which she appeared with Har- old Lloyd. She became his leading lady when she was 15 years old, and she took part in 28 two-reclers. After that she was featured or starred in four Jull-length pictures by Famous Players. She is now at work in “The Honor of the Family.” *wi & Short Flashes. ‘THERE is an epidemic of red- | heads around Hollywood's ‘Warner Brothers Studio. Among the most prominent are Winnic Lightner, Mae Madison, Doris | Lloyd and Barbara Stanwyck. | _Willlam Powell and Edward G. | Robinson, both numbered among | the stars, were students of a dramatic school in New York at the same time. They separated |at graduation, to meet again in {minor parts in the Richard Bar- helmess picture, “The Bright |Shawl.” Now they occupy adjoin- |ing dressing rooms in a Holly- wood studio. If you should care to know: Douglas Fairbanks, jr,, and Joan Crawford have just celebrated their second wedding anniversary. “Gutlibi,” which is claimed to | be a powerful play by Giovacchino |Forzano, active head of the Scala | Theater, in Milan, has been ac- | quired by Warner Brothers. The play has created a sensation on the stages of Italy and Germany and the writer is supposed to rank with Pirandello. “The Lady From New Orleans,” starring Lillian Bond and David Manners, has been changed to “Safe in Hell.” The story is based upon a stage play. A few changes are to be made in the George Arliss picture, “Alexander Hamilton,” before it is released. A preview was held in Los Angeles last week. Arliss has gone to England for the Sum- | mer. Here is a good one from Lil Dagover, German actress, who ar- {rives in Hollywood in the Fall: “All European stars in American pictures,” she says, “gauge their appeal by sex. Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich never go into a picture without intriguing their public with sex. I want to do something different. I want to portray on the screen the society | woman of the Continent, who is | aristocratic, polished, refined, and | whose a&wg al i3 to the mind.” | _Doris Kenyon, Lewis Stone and | Una Merkel are players in “The Bargain,” the title of which h been changed from “You and Clara Kimball Young has a part in the Tiffany preduction, “Wom- | en Go On Forever.” Others in the cast are Marfan Nixon, Paul Page, Morgan Wallace, Yola D'Avril and Maurice Black. “Daddy Long Legs” is being hailed as another “Gaynor tri- umph,” the various box offices seeming well satisfied with the production. Among those in the cast of the new Tallulah Bankhead picture, “My 8in,” are Lily Cahill, Scott | Kolk, Ann Sutherland and Harry | Davenport, all well | Broadway theaters. South Africa has passed a cen- sorship bill, and provision i8 made for the prohibition of “films de- icting in an offensive manner & ist of scenes which are regarded as undesirable, such as the im- Bersonlmon of the King, scenes uldln% up to ridicule or contempt of military officers, etc.” John Boles will not have the leading role 1n “Strictly Dishonor- able” on account of an_ absessed tooth and swollen jaw. When the tooth is pulled, Boles will start work in “Back Street.” Bebe Daniels, busy with her queen,” filling the places once held by Pearl White, Grace Cunard and Ruth Roland. No, the serlals are not &s popular as they once were. Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer an- nounces that Bir Harry Lauder has signed one of their contracts to appear in four one-reel mono- logue films. essie Love has signed & con- tract to apk{ear 0p] te Conway Teatle in “Morals for Women.” In case you have forgotten: Norma Shearer and Dorothy Mackail once appeared in supgort of Johnny Hines in “Torchy’s Millions.” best known as a swimmer and diver, and she np?ured for the Prince of Wales at the Montreal Athletic Club in 1921, Doug Fairbanks, jr., is to ap- ear in another war picture, "“Fly- n{ Eagles.” fonel Barrymore * the “plsts,” changing them as site Elissa - Landi- in- * Ticket,” | players of today are not to be‘ known in; Lucile Brown is the new “serial| And Norma was once Sh Amazing Clara Bows. “MICIOYHONI-P!O ," a'studle report states, forced Clara Bow to leave Paramount. Fear of her own voice and a mervous ‘“stammer’ were responsible for the canceling of the | $5,000-a-week contract. “It is absolutely true that Clara hates talking pictures,” says Photoplay Magazine. “She ha: jed Paramount to release her from her contract. In one letter to Ben Schulberg, highest mogul of the West Coast studio, she even offered to allow Paramount to take all she has owned, her entire sa which amount to a quarter of a million dollars, of which $210,000 is in a trust fund and $40,000 in other holdings—Iif they would allow her to retire from pictures. She promised that if she ever returned she would make pictures for no one .but Para- mount, if taey still wanted her. “Clara talks very rapidly,” so runs the story. “She gets thoroughly cited when telling & story. Her citable mind works so much more rap- idly than her tongue that her words can’t catch up to her. The result is equal to a stammer—aithough it is not an impedient of speech but a psycho- logical reaction. “Clara has had nervous fright before every recent picture. She goes into them with a mania of fright. When eome other girl is put into the pro- duction she begins to get well imme- diately. Within four days after Sylvia Sidney was given the Bow lead in ‘City Streets, Clara was saving, ‘I'm all ‘right now. If only they had waited.” Roxy.l Successor. TWO important announcements have - come from the Pox offices in New York. Charles E. Kurtzman to take charge of the New York Roxy Theater, the largest in the world. Kurtzman has been field director of the Fox Eastern circuit and received his new appoint- ager, upon the former’s return from a vacation trip to Bermuda. known in Washington, having visited here on many occasions in_connection | with the operation of the Fox in this city. The second ‘announcement Teveals that Panchon and Marco, whose stage resentations are seen regularly at the x in this eity, have been selected to produce the Chicago 1932 World's Fair spectacle, The show, not yet named, will cost approximately $400,000 to produce and will engage the services of some 300 performers. It is expected to be the most elaborate thing of its kind ever known. Fanchon and Marco have already posted a $100,000 bond with the World's Fair Committee, xulr- anteeing that the production will be ready on time. Doris Is Starred DORIS KENYON, Who has the leading role in & new ‘Warner Bros.' picture, “Fame.” H\lbby.s Gift. A was presented to Joan Crawford by her husband, Douglas Fairbanks, jr. when the began work on ‘“Laughing Sinners,” now at Loew’s Palace. It was A dressing room on wheels, de- signed and furnished by William Haines, Hollywood’s authority on Georglan architecture and decoration, and has the appearance of a tiny Southern home. It contains a dressing table, lounge, wardrobe, kitchenette, ironing board, hot and cold water and other homelike conveniences. “Laughing Sinners” is a picturization of Kenyon Nicholson's “The Torch Bong,” the story of & young woman who becomes involved in the dizsy whirl of big-city life and who decides that life is not worth living, urtil rescued and teught over again the things that mean life and pleasure of living. B;ck to 'the WIVL L. WYNN WYNN (not Ed Wynn), retired British Army officer, has been assigned the post of ‘“technical war adviser” on “The Sphinx Has Spoken,” Radio Pictures’ love-war ro- mance, which 18 to have one of those all-star casts, to wit and viz.: Adolphe Menjou, Lily Damita, Erich von Stro- heim, Laurence Olivier, Hugh Herbert, Frederick and Geoffrey Kerr and Rosco Ates, And as a fitting complement Ruth Weston has been assigned a role in a_ featured role. Ruth “The Woman Between." ROAD MINDED,” with Joe E. &« Brown to illuminate the theme, will laughingly enter- taln the patrons of the Earle ‘Theater in the week begin- ning next Saturday, with a supporfing | stage show headed by Joe Penner in his side-splitter, * u Norma Shearer’s new picture, “A Free Soul,” is scheduled to f low “The Lawyer's | Secret.” with its five stars, at Loew’s Columbia, but .the date of its coming 18 as yet indefinite. The Palace The- ater, however, will start the new week Baturday with Gary_Cooper’s lat- est Parsmount, ‘Take This Wom- an,” reinforced by & New York Cap- The Holy Terrol O'Brien, with Sally Eilers, ville show, Fanchol id Marco's *“Head- liners,” with the blackface comic, Mel Klee, as the stage attraction, is an- nounced &s the new bill at the Fox The- ater, starting Friday of this week. Eddie Quillan’s new racing picture, we:rhku with a s cast headed by James ouuun”ob 50 o fonati ey will be the - much is sent out from One concerns the appointment of | UNIQUE dressing room “bungalow” | ment from Harry Arthur, general man- He is well | | to the theaters. GLEN ECHO PARK. ORE than 50 first-class amuse- ments_are provided at Glen Echo Park, including a unique | and original old mill, speedy airplane swings, thrilling roll- er coaster, fast Ferris wheel, mirthful | midway and dozens of other trouble- chasers. |~ There also is the crystal pool, where something extra will take place to- | morrow evening at 9 c'clock—a “erys- |tal pool swimming meet.” sponsored by the District of Columbia Amateur Athletic Union and open to registered athletes. The D. S. A. U. will fur- nish the judges, starters and time- | keepers. There will be events for men | and women and gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded. No entry fee is necessary, but all contestants must be registered. In the interest of better swimmers, the management also announces free swim- ming lessons by expert instructors every Monday and Friday for women and children from 10 am. to 12 noon. Free instructions also will be given !on Tuesdays and Thursdays to women, | children and men by these instructors, | for men particularly, in how to im- prove the crawl stroke. The swim- ming pool is brilliantly lighted every | evening. Starting today, the pool will open | daily 2t 9 am. and close at 11:30 p.m. | Every evening, except Sunday, danc- ing_may be enjoyed from 8:30 until 111:30 to thie music of McWilliams' en- larged orchestra. Cars marked Glen Echo and Cabin John reach the park and plenty of | parking space is available at the free | ndmission resort. | | SEASIDE PARK. REEZES from Chesapeake Bay help | 2 to make Seaside Park. the beauti- ful new resort at Chesapeake Beach, & delightful recreation ground for Was ingtonians, more and more regarded as | “Washington's Atlantic City.” Sunday is a gala day at the beach, large erowds erriving from Baltimore nd the Eastern Shore on the steamers State of Delaware” and “Calvert,” | Baltimore trips being made five days each week now, while Washingtonians | find the ride via the Chesapeake Beach Railway, or the new motor road, vided by the many amusements at the park ftself. These inclide bathing in the beauti- ful new pool. dancing in & cool ball- room and various rides that please youngsters and grown-ups alike. There are also picnic grounds available, over- looking the bay and swept by the breeze off the water. | OUT OF DOORS pleasant prelude to the enjoyment pro- | ALAN MOBRAY, | As George Washington in the new George Arliss picture, “Alexander Hamilton.” The picture was completed a few days ago and is about ready for general release New schedules via the Chesapeake | Beach Railway provide five trains week | days to the beach and six on Sundays. Popular trains are the Plcnic Special, leaving District iine at 10:30 week mornings; the Seaside Special, at 11 a.m. Sundays, and the Bathing Express, leaving District line at 2:30 in the | afternoon, daily. The run is one hour, | without stop. | MARSHALL HALL. | MIANY features to delight visitors | this season, may be found at Marshall Hall | such as the aeroplane| | swings, the whip, roller coaster, shoot- | ing_gallery, ete. The ride down the river is delighttul | {on the steamer Charles Macalester, passing many historical spots on the way. Roy Boyd and his orchestra play for the dancers in the open air pavilion, and this feature is entirely free to | guests. Picnic groves located under | large shade trees with tables and | benches, and s playground for the | children, with swings, sand pile and slide, are available without charge, for | families seeking all vl:r-y and evening | outings in the open air, The steamer ~Charles = Macalester makes three trips daily and Sunday to | Marshall Hall, leaving the Seventh| street wharf daily at 10 a.m., 2:30 and 6:45 pm. and on Sundays &t 10:30 am, 2:30 and 6:45 p.m. i WILSON LINE AFLOAT. “HE Wilson Line has inaugurated its second year of service to Washing- ton on the Potomac. The fast steam: City of Washington, capable of carrying 2,200, is now in dally service from the Wilson Line wharf at the foot of | Seventh street, meking four trips week- | 1y to Chapel Pecint and Colonial Beach, on a fast schedule, the vessel having a crulsing speed of sbout 15 knots, with a | maximum about 3 knots faster. This | ervice s specially suited to week end | visitors because of its great conven- fence. With the exception cf Saturday and Sunday nights, the steamer makes | moonlight trips down the Potomac, leaving at 8:45 o'clock. Although the season hes just about started, a number «<f organizations have already taken ad- vantags of these cruises, on Wwhich | music and dancing are features. The Wilson Line has made the City | of Washington available to the District of Columbia Department of the Ameri- ‘ can Legion, free of a1l ccst, to take the disabled veterans in the three veterans’ hospitals here on a day cruise tomor- row beginning at 1 o'clock in the after- noon and lasting several hours. | :Tm.:: habit of hiring a press agent | * is not always wisely practiced by | the feminine of the specles. Take, for | instance, Sophie Tucker and Texas | Guinan, Now, neither of, these ladles is lack- ing in' knowledge® of the ways of the world. Both have hiked the imagina- tions of 1il' of' N'York from the Battery to Harlem and points beyond. And both, ltke Alexander, sighed for other worlds to conquer. So both decided to g0 to Yurrup. The venture was an | even break for both. But Sophie got there first. And what happened? Was that N'York had been exploiing for— ON THE HORIZON Keith's attraction for the week start- ing Friday. “Men of the Sky,” a First National- ¥itaphone production starring Irene Delroy and Jack Whiting and featur- Bad Publicity | ing the stars in_the roles of sples, is | announced for Warner's Metropolitan | for the new week beginning Saturday. New Jupanese Comedian. SINCE the days of Sessue Hayakawa there have been few if any Japanese players on the American screen. Of re- cent months, however, a Japanese can- didate for comedy honors has been galning recognition in Hollywood. Otto Yamaoka in “The Black Camel.” now at the Fox theater, plays the role of Kashimo, the industrious assistant to Charlie Chan. His blundering dashes after “clues” throughout the film afford many laughs. ‘Warner Oland and Sally Eilers are featured in “The Black Camel,” which follows the recent “Charlie Chan Car- ries On,” in presenting the further ex- ploits of Earl Derr Biggers' famous Chinese detective, Much of the pro- duction was actually filmed in Hawall and a notable cast includes Bela Lugosi, Dorothy Revier, Robert Young, William Post, Murray Kinnell, J. M. Kerrigan, Marjorie White, Violet 'Dunn and C. Henry Gordon.’ The film was directed by Hamilton MacFadden. DANCING. )1t -BA D5 the floon, Met. 3000, i | but what does time matter in enter- talnment types? | | Sophte, however, like the wise gazabo | | she is, hired a very competent, & very | | discriminating and very feminine ex- | the poor thing, enlisted the entire jour- | | nalistic talents of Greater Manbattan, | |1t not the lands beyond. But note the | outcome. | " Sophie sailed, landed an | true she is sojourning for the nonce in i Switzerland now: but hot until she had he nobility | first captured “Should Wives Work?” in which Mary { she sent home because she failed to in- | Britain, even tdyed with the Prince of( Astor is the star and Robert Ames has | dicate that her type of enteriainment | Wales' neckiles and made th-m wine | just completed | was the honest-to-goodness French type | and dine her until there was no peace ! in that land which Sophie had not had | and held to her heari's content. And while Sophie was busy conquering Eng- | land her busy little press agent was spreading the joyful news far and near in her native land—if this is her native fand. And has it made the home man- agers enviously bid against one another “for her services when she shall come again into her own? Texas, however, let literary journal- fsm fling itself to the four winds of Heaven telling of her echarms and coun- ter charms until nor man, nor womai nor even child of understanding in thi outgrowth of Colonial Colonies couldn’t | tell you not only what was what, but where and when and how to find it, not even to mention whom to see in order to reach her regal majesty of the night- fall society of N'York. And what hap- pened to poor Texas? Well, first, it seemed to make Eng- land afraid and France suspicious, and between the two what wonder is it that ‘Texas had to turn right around and sail | right back again? Tha fault unquestionably is in the | choice of the press agent. s 0 LA Helen’s First Talkie. Hm HAYES and little Mary, the famous “act of God” baby, are get- ting well settled on the Leo Youngworth estate. Miss Hayes has already started work on “Lullaby,” her first talkie, directed by Edgar Selwyn. : MARSI;!TQ‘LL. HALL | | | role of this deseription,” | ploiter of her fine points. While TeX, | mopy; o1 welcome the opportunity of | “m 9 b “P ‘ [ ipt Girls Also Help. (OUNT has doubled the num- ber of its script girls. ‘This- was necessitated because it is important that the director should have complete notes on every scene filmed. No one girl could do all the work. One now handles the dialogue, the other the pro les and “business.” The girl charge of the dialogue scr making shorthand notes of every word spoken in each “take” of & scene, and also acting as prompter at rehear- ls. Often a vgl’d or two is changed from take to take/ and the director must know what “take” was changed. ‘The rsecond script girl keeps full de- scriptions of the scenes, noting any pe- culiarities of dress, the location of all properties, the movements of the play- ers. A week later she might hzve to tell the director in which hand El Boardman was carrying a_ handbag or row far Paul Lukas’ handkerchief was sticking' oat of his pocket in scene B-30 of “Women Love Once.” She also keeps track of all the scenc: filmed so that the director will not overlook any of them, Wilhout script girls the director might be shooting in the derk, for directors are so forgetful, T A ARY COOPER and Carole Lombard, the studios tell us, lose two or three hours’ sleep every morping when the weather is uncertain. So do m‘n{fl. porting players in Paramount’s * e This Woman.” ~Likewise the directors, cameramen and technical workers con- nected with the film. It 1t looks like & clear day, Cooper, Miss Lombard and the others must be at the studio at 6:30 and leave for loca- tion sites many miles from Hollywood. On rainy mornings they usually do not ;ep.olit :nr work on interior sets until o'clock. When the weather is uncertain the | 6:30 call is observed. If the morning be not sufficiently clear for location work, the whole crowd can just turn over and snatch an hour or so of sleep in their dressing rooms before facing the cameras. Isn't it interesting' Comegy Write;'l ;t Worl(. J CARVER PUSEY, author of the “Benny” cartoon strip, and Arthur Sheekman, former dramatic critic and recently a Broadway musical comedy sketch writer, have reinforced the com- edy writers on “Monkey Business,” in which the Four Marx Borthers will star. The writing comedians for “Monkey Business” ‘now inciude, besides Pusey and Sheekman, S. J. Perelman and ‘Will B. Johnstone, who wrote the origi- nal story, and Al Shean, of the famous Gallagher and Shean team, writer of comedy lines and situations. At the Earle MAXINE DOYLE, Who has made a decided hit as “mistress of ceremonis at the Earle. AMUSEMENTS. Plays on By Percy ARK VAN DOREN, drama critic 0y fered to the public, the public has de- cently responded.” Walter Prichard Eaton writes that Willlam Bolitho's “Overture” is the only good plece that has’ fafled in two years. Prank Craven, author, producer and rctor, tells me that 1930-31 has been the most satis- fying era for intelligent theater-goers since, at the age of 5, he began his ad- ventures on the stage, 'way back in 1901. For many weeks I have been at- tending Cosmo Hamiiton's radio revival services in which that sleek ambassa- touched his golden lyre and hymned constructive praises for the present drama and its works. Other longheads, amateur and professional, are similarly exultant over the recent achievements fidence that, in the lingo of cptimiism, the tide has turned. These pronouncements are cheering, especially because they are justified ny the current roster of Broadway success. Conditions on that chastencd boule- vard are now so propitious that any drama-lcving walfarer, if he is not too {dumb, may go to a theater with com- parative safety. Most of the weeds have been exterminated, but the herbs and posies remain. “The Green Pastures” is still with us, and so :s Miss Kath- arine Cornell in the subtle simplicities of “The Barretts of Wimpole Str |“Once in a Lifetime” continues gayly | to surgeon the diseased ‘ginema and Miss Rachel Crothers’ bfight, senti- mental and expert comedy, “As Hus- | bands Go,” is available for the enjoy- ment of any adult spectator. “Prece dent,” an honestly theatrical transcript of the so-called martyred Mooney persecution by sagacious California courts, may be seen with satisfaction nd with little trouble or expense. Noel | Coward's fiimsy but_effzctive “Private Lives” is a Teasonably safe bet; and even if you have attended “Grand Ho- tel” and “Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” you may ‘do so sgain without fear of ennui. For those whose fastidious ears are atiuned to clean melodies and dirty librettos, there is gretification in the umorous, urban and soiled processes of funny, and they, too, are favorites with dor of faith, hope and charity has | of their favorite art, and express con- | Broadway Hammond. the average amusement rover. One doffs one’s hat to Chic Sale as the missioner most responsible for the theater’s current trend toward deca- dence. It is an old-fashioned enter- tainment, these days, that does not show decay, efther slinkingly as in “The Band Wagon” or brazenly as in the fashion of Jimmy Durante. George advised his fellow men to nothing but being ashamed. The Broadway librettists and minor playwrights are 20w emphaaizing that admonition, and the popularivy of the playgoers might @ pall even the most eager of the apos- tles of eandor. Mr, Ziegfeld, the old master of spec- tacle ‘and extravaganza, is approaching Broadway with a new and more auda- cious edition of his “Follies.” From the news| of Pittsburgh, where first he tried it out, it is learned that the play is, s Kin Hubbard said of the Russian ballet, ornery but nice. Mr. Ziegfeld tried to be respectable in'th late if not lamented “Smiles,” and that. efiort at reformation cost him and his ponscrs upward of $200,000. After the ‘Pollies” we are promised Mr. White's | new “Scandals,” bigger and barer than |ever, ‘and Mr. Carroll's “Vanities,™ | wherein that valorous entrepreneur will |go as far as complaisant censors will | permit. Tke outlook is pleasant for those who are true sons of the drama’ desert. Cosmo Hamlilton's radio reviews of the plays and players heve been so helpfully illuminating that I wonder why the magnates of the air do not employ hini permanentiy to criticizz tne drama. It would be a valuable enlarge- ment of their service to the public if, during the first performance of a play, Mr. Hemilton would transmit o myri | ads of listeners the news of tre enter tainment and his own keen impressions thereof. Station him and a microphone in the wings of a theater and he will give a waiting multitude hot and grace- ful messages about what is happening upon the stage. Mr. Hamilton would be no faltering Graham McNamee non- piusing our ears with amiable but awk- ward inaccuracies and corrections. He would describe the events sleekly in his musical Oxford accents, and with no errors in diction, taste, judgment or fact. When, for instance, he might say “Betty is now in the arms of Raoul, and his caresses cause her to forget the Jowan embraces of Henry, her hus- band” it will thrill the radio playg ers as thoroughly as Mr. McNamee’ hop. skip and jump approximation of a foot ball game or a darl A“ the movies playing international politics? A strange symposium of the condi- tions in Europe was presented in the program shown last week at the Em- bassy Newsreel Theater in New York City. Drowning out an impassioned plea for peace by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald of England were the sounds of the marching feet of Europe’s armies and a strident warning of immediately impending war by Gen. Erich Luden- dorff of Germany. program took its audience from street, London, where the prime min- ister delivered an exclusive talk to Fox Movietone News, to Moscow, where 500. 000 soldiers of the Red army were show- ing their might to Stalin in a parade past the famed tomb of Lenin in the great Red Square before the Kremlin; thence to the Invalides in Paris, where France is honoring her 16 dead mar- shals in a symbolic burial ceremony; to Italy, where the Italian army is parad- ing before King Emmanuel and Musso- lini acknowledges the salute of an army | of Fascist youths; to Berlin, where Gen. ! Von Hindenburg reviews a parade of former members of his command in the great war: to Chemnitz, in Saxony, ORD from Carl Laemmle, Universal president, is to the effect that not only will Carl, jr., return in sole charge tests of a number of embryonic screen | icy an opj of production but that having been elected second vice president of the company his duties and authority will be greatly increased. While “resting” in New York, young Laemmle, jr. it s also reported, has visited a st=ge productiop each night, held conferences with sales executives from America and Europe almost every after- noon, discussed stories with his father: R. Cochrane, vice president; Phi Young »Laemmlre Exalt’ecilr N. L. Manheim, foreign sales manager, and viewed the performances and screen players. His only rest has come on one Sunday when he visited Atlantic City | keeping beyond reach of the telephone or_the telegraph. | Young Mr. Laemmle's record at the | helm of Universal production has been | brilliant. but organization executives | believe that the 26 features he will pro- | duce during the current production year will surpass any program of pictures . H. | Reisman, general sales manager, and ! previously undertaken. Innocence Dare CREEN characterizations of an actress actresses as Ethel Barrymore and the | are, as a matter of course, not a reflection of the actress in her own private life. Genevieve Tobin is pictured as Myra. the soclety editor of a newspaper and the sweetheart of a cub reporter in “Up for Murder,” Universal's production, now at R-K-O Keith's Theater. And Gene- vieve rises to explain. “Though I had never before played a says Miss The charaeter is older in d more sophisticated than before. broadens an actress’ trying it. experience an any I have essaved “It, of course, characters, and prevents her from be- coming a ‘type.’ Besides, there is just of Great!2s great interest in seeing and under- | standing undesirable -people as in those who are perhaps better members of so- ciety. To the actress a cenvincing por- | trayal of some one whose ideas and | ideals do not accord with her own is a great source of satisfaction, es it is greater test of her ability than playing & role which merely calls upon her, in effect, to play herself. ‘Similar characterizations by such Caruso's Thrill STHRILLS that come once in 8 life- time” were being_discussed by the cast in “I Take This Woman” dur- {ing a lull on the set at the Paramount Hollywood studios. Charles Trowbridge, New York stage actor, who is making his film debuf, told of this one. “I believe an experience in the San Francisco fire was my greatest thrill,” related the actor. “I was watching the conflagration when I recognized Enrico Caruso. Suddenly in the midst of the panic he started singing one of his fa- | mous arias. The crowd forgot its terror and calm was restored as it listened to the immortal ténor.” TODAY at 5:30 ary ATIONAI LAST TIME S B $11 84 Bt 00| The Theater Guild’s “STRANGE INTERLUDE”. Charles M":cllester Lesves Sevent) Whart ly, 1 ncing— Bathing—. v ba 4 T i R Late A Seated s et 25, St S te Jeanne Eagles have always fasci- nated me. I only hope that I have been | able to put into my role some of the | quality of convincing reality that they have put into theirs. ‘The this historic cakinet room in 10 Downing | Ominous Sounds where Adolf Hitler thrills a great gath- |ering of his uniformed followers, and to Sweden. where flag day is responsi- ble for a display of militaristic might. | Gen. Ludendorff makes his talk from the veranda of his bungalow in the | heart of the peaceful Bavarian Tyrol. | He speaks in German, and his remarks are translated by his wife, Frau Mathilde Ludendorfl. | , In his Movietone talk, which, in addi- | tion to its release at the Newsreel Thea- ter, will be distributzd all over the world, | Prime Minister MacDonald says, in { pa |~ “I'am very pleased indeed to deliver a message on peace from this historic room, the cabinet room at No. 10 Down- ing street. “There 18 no issue before the world of greater importance or of more press- ‘Inl strenuousness than the fssue of peace and war. And here, where every decision that ever has been taken on | war has been taken, where cvery prime ‘mmuwr has set and where th> ghosts of our prime ministers anl the minis- ters of state are, I am perf certain | they would all support me in what I am about to say. “War is a failure, not a triumph, of |government. It is a waste of national calth. So far from securing peace, it defeats every influence that makes for world settlement and world agreement. “But I must say that by way of warne ing: No one country can secure peace. Peace is an international venture. Gre: | Britain cannot disarm while other coun ‘lrlu re arming: Greet Britain cannot trust to the security of peace and co- | cperation and good will while other | countries are pursuing an opposite pol- posite spirit. Therefore, the | question at Geneva is this: Do we trust | each other or not? Are we going to | pursue our problems in the spirit of | 890d will and with the determination | to co-operate in order to secure peace | rather than to arm against each other 7] a venture to make war im- possible? [ MORGANTOWN And Most Beautiful Picnic Grove Around Washington 1'% Hours’ Drive Via Anacostia Bridge—Waldorf and Crain Highway to Entrance | Dinners—Dancing : Refreshments § WITH d stayed. It's' repertoire to play sharply contrasting | { FREE ADMISSION TOoDA THESE KIDDIES 1 AMUSEMENT PARK CRYSTAL POOL WITH SAND BEACH FROM 9 A. M, TO 11:30 P. M. ALL OF THE MORE THAN FIFTY OTHER AMUSET{ENTS OPEN 1 P. M.