Evening Star Newspaper, May 25, 1937, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS. Stage Told It Must Live By Hollywood Methods Living Theater, in Convention, Hears It Should Go for Business and Truth, All at Once. BY JAY CARMODY. session of the American Theater Council convention, is going to follow Hollywood. After a couple of thousand years or more, it has NBW YORK, May 26.—Broadway, you would gather at the first day’s decided that there Is more room—and profit—for realism than illusion in the business of entertaining the public. So, while illusion will not be scotched altogether, Broadway will stop regarding itself as the address of art and see itself finally as a place of ¢— business. ‘The 500 delegates of the living the- ater assembled here yesterday at the | Astor in the first convention of the legitimate stage were agreed on the one point—that they had better start regarding themselves as persons with something to sell. More than that, that they might more wisely see them- selves as the possessors of something that was salable only when the pub- lic was given its money's worth in its own terms. ‘The session, the first of four days of such things, brought together every element of the theater. The drama- tists were represented. So were the producers. And the stage hands. And the scenic artists. The press agents were there, too. And all of them were willing, today at least, to meet Hollywood on its own terms; strictly business terms, even down to the point of selling shows at $1.19—or more or Jess—if that is what they seem to be worth. ‘Tomorrow, or at least by the end of the convention, the stage may go back to its old superciliousness. Yes- terday it was very respectful in its attitude toward the motion picture industry and what that industry has learned about pleasing its patrons. * ok K K WARD bringing light into the darkness which the stage has known for more than a decade, Helen Hayes had something to say. So did Burgess Meredith. These two, the former a Washington girl, spoke for the stage player. Nowhere in what they had to say was there scorn for the overgrown, and inferentially il- legitimate, child of the entertainment fleld—the motion pictures. On the contrary, there was complete respect for the achievement of the most de- lirfously successful of the entertain- ment industries, arts, or whatever one prefers to call it. ‘The old contempt for Hollywood was really displaced by something akin to awe; "0t merely as Miss Hayes and Meredith voiced it, but in the words of Worthington Minor, the director; ‘Willlam A. Brady, the producer, and all the others who fitted into the first day’s program. Among the latter were Paul Hollister, the advertising execu- tive; Oliver Sayler, the personal repre- sentative of Morris Gest, who spoke on the annual theater festival (which ‘Washington will see if it materializes) ; Prank Gillmore of Actors’ Equity, James J. Brennan of the Theatrical Stage Employes and Sidney Howard, dramatist. That the stage had better drop its old ways was the substance of the! Femarks of each of these. If one were to choose which spoke with the greater emphasis in this direction, one would have to name Howard, Meredith and Hollister. They were decelving no one, least of all themselves. The stage, they all were agreed, has come to its present estate (low or high) because it has chosen to regard itself as superior to any other gorm of entertainment. The stage, Where and When Current Theater Attractions and Time of Showing. Natlonal—“Lost Horizon,” at 2:30 and 8:30 pm. Capitol—“The Good Old Soak,” at 11 am,, 1:35, 4:25, 7:15 and 10:05 p.m. Btage shows at 12:45, 3:35, 6:25 and 9:15 pm. Earle—"The Go-Getter,” at 11 am,, 1:35, 4:25, 7:15 and 9:55 p.m. Stage shows at 12:45, 3:35, 6:30 and 9:05 pm. Palace— Romeo and Juliet,” at 11 am., 1:40, 4:20, 7 and 9:35 p.m. Metropolitan—“A Doctor's Diary,” &t 11:20 am, 1:25, 3:30, 5:30, 7:35 snd 9:40 pm. Keith’s—"Shall We Dance,” at 11:50 em., 2:15, 4:35, 7 and 9:25 pm. *“March of Time,” at 11:30 a.m,, 1:55, 4:15, 6:40 and 9:05 pm. Columbja—“Wake Up and Live,” at 11:15 am, 1:20, 3:25, 5:35, 7:40 and 9:45 pm. Belasco—“Ladies” Lake,” at 1:20, #4:45 and 8:15 pm. “Happiness,” at 31:30 am,, 2:55, 6:25 and 9:55 p.m. Rialto—The Ghost Goes West,” at 11 a.m., 2:05, 5:05 and 8:15 p.m. “Bar- bary Coast,” at 12:35, 3:35, 6:45 and 9:55 p.m. Little—"Crime Without Passion,” at 11:55 a.m,, 1:50, 3:50, 5:50, 7:50 and 9:50 p.m. Trans-Lux—News and shorts. Show runs 1 hour and 15 minutes, contin- uous 10 a.m. to midnight. Ambassador—“The Go-Getter,” at 6, 7:45 and 9:40 p.m. Tivoli—‘Waikiki Wedding,” 3:50, 5:45, 7:35 and 9:30 p.m. Uptown — “History Is Made at Night,” at 2, 3:55, 5:50, 7:45 and 9:45 pan. at 2, Overseas Personals. EU‘ROPEAN personal appearances offer film stars more than a chance to see the world “on pay.” Invariably, they cause film folks' films to zoom to greater box office successes. Some years ago, Jeanette MacDonald sang throughout Europe and toduy she is tops as a favorite there. Now Jean Harlow is seriously considering a six- week tour of France starting in June. And Joan Crawford and Franchot Tone still are trying to work in their contemplated theatrical appearances in England. LOANS 71 years of buying, selling and lendingondiamonds, jewelry, etc. Liberal Loans st Lewest Pessible Rates CASH FOR OLD GOLD (Government License) Oftice Retail Store %"fi" 1715 H St. N.W. oovnvnu lessons any time. and they all were agreed on that, too, had better drop such an arty idea and get down to business—you know, business! * ok x X EVEN Brock Pemberton, who pre- sided at the afternoon session of the convention; was of the same mind on that point. Far from happy about @ great many things, Pemberton never- theless could see the situation as con- siderably better than hopeless. He initiated the convention, after the amiabilities of the luncheon, with a concrete five-point program for pute ting the stage back in its old alluring place. He would follow the technique of the motion picture industry, for ex- ample, to the extent of self-regulation. Non-conformists, or rugged individual- ists, would be brought within the scope of Pemberton's arrangement. That was his first point. His second was that Hollywood's publicity methods should be copied to the extent of going in for “10 best” plays, performances and the various other items by which cinema- dom manages to corral so much pub- licity every year. For his third suggestion, Pember- ton asked that the living stage sell its product—especially road shows— with the frank statement that they were, like movies, class A, B or C pro- ductions. In other words, he recom- mended complete honesty as the best possible policy. Hollywood was recognized in his fourth point, namely, that an agree- ment be worked out between the two segments of the entertainment trade whereby the same artist could serve the two masters. A new type of contract, he thought, might be de- vised to give dramatists and actors a chance at both Broadway and the kleig lights every year. Without it, he intimated, Hollywood would get everything and Broadway nothing. The fifth point in the Pemberton scheme was the most radical of the lot. With the distinct probability that it will be answered, perhaps nastily, tomorrow when the ecritics speak, he suggested that stage pro- ducers should have the right to call off reviewers when they had a show which they felt could not stand the test of critical opinion. * X X x THE crities, incidentally, fared none too well at the hands of most speakers on the program. As a major reason for the problems of the theater, only agents (those representing actors and authors) came in for a more se- vere denunciation. But, before the convention ends Thursday, the critics and agents will be given a chance to reply in a con- vention devoted to calling a spade a spade, Hollywood Hollywood, and the critics any handy name that comes to the lips of the speaker. The first session was substantially amiable, Later ones probably will not be! HECHT-MACARTHUR FILM AT THE LITTLE “Crime Without Passion” Is Re- vived With ‘“Man of Aran.” THE Little's revival bill this week | is not exactly what you would call light-hearted. It combines Ben Hecht highly successful and excellently pho- tographed saga of life on a barren | and rocky isle, “Man of Aran.” “Crime Without Passion” is the Hecht-MacArthur written-produced- directed piece wherein the two mad satirists decided to devote their tal- ents to proving that ‘“crime doesn't pay” and “you can't get away with it™ They proved it all right with an exciting tale of a lawyer who thought he could be the cleverest criminal of them all but found out there wasn't any such thing as a perfect crime. They also proved (if it hadn’t been proved before, which it probably has, or is this getting to deep?) that you don’t need “names” to make a good photoplay. They cast roles for play- ers not box-office attraction. They took Claude Rains, who was not too well known (except for “The Invisible Man”), and they took Margo, who up until then was known only as a Mexican dancer, and they got a pair of top-notch examples of photoplay acting. Both items in the Little program are well worth while. H. M. THEATRE GAYETY c..i'mom am. to 11 P.M. STAGE AND SCREEN PRESENTATION “ROAD TO SIN” FRANK—' -TRUE ON STAGE Living Models | !BDWB FOR ADULT MEN MOONLIC DANCE CRU!I EVERY NIGHT AT 8:4S P. M. STEAMER POTOMAC Delightful 3-hour eruise. Free Dancing. Large dance floor, refreshment bar. dining room. Loud speaker system. Free parking. SUNDAY GOe °“\ilhave 3¢ POTOMAC RIVER LINE Tth aJ_d\Mr Sts. . W) THEATRE PARKING sPM.TO 3G 1AM. CAPITAL GARAGE g st s 0% — DINNER DANCE " Diree 5 Cabit Vdditonal | Y o‘celam and Charles MacArthur's | “Crime Without Passion” with that | ING STAR, SIMONE SIMON May be seen today and through Fnday at the Belasco Theater in “Lac aur Dames” (“Ladies’ Lake”), one of her French film successes made before she came to Hollywood now being shown here for the first time. “THE GHOST GOES WEST” IS REVIVED AT RIALTO Rene Clair Film, With Robert Donat, Shares Program With “Barbary Coast.” DIRECI‘ED by Rene Olajr. That tag on a film insures that it will be entertaining, for M. Clair is one of the cinema’s greater artists today. He is one director who remembers that motion pictures are essentially that and not vehicles for dialogue, and M knack for telling a story with his cameras instead of micro- phones is a true delight. He uses dialogue, to be sure, but he has the good sense not to subordinate visual entertainment to it. M. Clair has also a flair for comedy that's top- notch, a deft skill at combining keen satire with humor that is human and natural and down to earth. His “Ghost Goes West,” the first English-speaking picture he made, now being revived at the Rialto, is filled with that comedy at which he _— THEAT TRANS-LUX i THE CORONATION And Latest News SHORT SUBJECTS recuur suecreo shines so brightly. It's a delightful fantasy with a laugh a minute and 8 tale that's bright and new and & fine performance by Robert Donat. It has also some good work by Eu- gene Pallette, Jean Parker and Elsa Lanchester, and it's something you're sure to enjoy. The supplementary feature on the Rialto’s double bill really isn't “‘sup- plementary.” The name is “Barbary Coast,” and this Hecht-MacArthur film had its share of success not so long ago, when it was new. It's a lusty, gusty tale of the gold rush days, when 8an Francisco was no place for people who couldn't take it, and it’s well played by Miriam Hop- kins, Joel McCrea and Edward G. Robinson. Licas PALACE .. €irst populor-priced gogement NORMA' SHEARER LESLIE HOWARD - JOHN SARRYMORE FeAT p “«. COLUMBI [FR WASHINGTON D. C, Publicity Lads Carry On a Battle Stage and Screen Continue the Old Feud. BY HARRY MacARTHUR. HAT feud between the stage and the screen seems to be carried on principally by the publicity departments. The stage peo- ple seem a little more polite, though. A while back one of the studio tub- thumping departments announced that Margo had returned to her la- bors on the West Coast after a vaca- tion in New York, calmly overlooking the fact the “vacation” had been de- voted to playing in “High Tor” with Burgess Meredith. Now comes news from Ray Hender- son, who's always full of news about Katharine Cornell, Guthrie McClintic, Maxwell Anderson and other New York notables, that “High Tor” is closing. He goes on about its 21-week run, the drama critics’ prize and the possibility that the Anderson fantasy may tour next season. The movies he kisses off by saying “High Tor” has to close because “Buzz” Meredith's contract with R-K-O calls for his presence in Hollywood. Much more polite than the movie lads. He could have leered that Meredith was to “vacation in the West.” Today you get your last chance for 8 while to see Fred Astaire nad Ginger Rogers battling amiably over whether or not they should be married, for | “Shall We Dance?” the latest of their sprightly musicals, gives over to “As Good as Married,” which moves into Keith's tomorrow. “As Good as Married” is the tale of & young architect who marries his secretary s0 he'll have an income tax exemption, an idea a lot of people probably have had but failed to carry out. The cast is topped by John Boles and Doris Nolan, Universal's “find,” who was launched upon her cinema career in “Top of the Town.” Fanchon and Marco, largest of the stage unit producing outfits left in what is left of show business, has be- come an institution, possibly a revered old institution, no less. For now there’s an F and M Alumnae Asso- ciation, formed by the girls in “Turn ELASCO — NOW SHOWING — 2 DELIGHTFUL FRENCH HITS ON 1 PROGRAM— 4 DAYS ONLY SIMOME | CHARLES simon | BayeR UAnEsLAEHiApFiss WITH Complete English Dialogue Titles Yy Don't They Do Things Like This n Hollywood—N Superb—N. Y. hmu. Ezcelent—N. Y. W, Tel. OPPOSITE WHITE HOUSE ALL SEATS 2S¢ TILL 1 P. M. EVENING, BALCONY #0¢c NOW—LAST 2 DAYS—Paul Whiteman & Orch. in Person and “Good Old Soak” He waos o circus barker — and they gave him a gunl She was o home girl -~ and they gave her a Red Cross uniform! TONE He was from thy streets of the city — ahd they gave him a guni Back on the side- walks of the city— after the last can- nonroars—after the last bugle sounds — heroes return from the war...What happens then?...See this drama of war buddies back home ...a tale of tender love and roaring adventure... Produced by HARRY RAPF A M.fio-Gold\m,'n-Mcyu Picture Directed by W. S. VAN DYKE 11 The Director of “San Frencisss" -:h"mu Thin Men" scores againi o Screon play by HUME, Richerd MAIBAUM end Mevrise IA'! Teeming with thrills—vi- brant with deep romance! [J covers "mmenu. isa mohlerl::“; Stage, PHIL REGAN "“Starts FRIDAY at Loew’s CAPITOL N\ TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1937. Off the Moon,” which Friday comes to the Earle. Seems when the girls hired for the picture, which marks Fanchon’s debut as a film producer, met there were 30 in the group who had started to work under the Fan- chon and Marco banner. Not s0 large an organization yet as that Ziegfeld alumnse group which M-G-M organized, but the F and M girls probably will be a lot more ace tive. They have to be to work for Fanchon and Marco, for that outfit thinks nothing of putting the poor lassies on ice skates or making them tap dance atop balls 2 feet high, We can picture the two alumnae as- sociations now, crowded in their em- battled green rooms, sending out man- ifestos and ultimatums, debating the respective merits of being glorified by Ziegfeld or taught to ride unicycles by Fanchon and Marco. Tonight at 8:30 o'clock the curtain at the Wardman Park Theater will g0 up on the Washington Civic Theater's last first night of its first season. The play, as you probably know, will be Dorot.hy Bennett and Irving White's “Fly Away Home,” which had con- siderable success not so long back when presented on Broadway. After the performance tonight (or tomojrow or Thursday) you can go backstage and meet all the people you've seen in the plays the group has done this year. If you don't recognize every one right away it will be be- cause the chap you expected to see looking like & leading man has per- haps been turned into a stage hand. They're versatile, these Civic Theater people, and when not acting they are sure to be laborsng behind the scenes. “Carnival in P‘landera" the gay French farce, returns to the Belasco | for a repeat engagement, Saturday . want robbers «+ + . at least they want people who can sing a bit and dance 2 bit and act like robbers, for roles in “All Baba and the Forty ‘Thieves,” which is to be revived June 16 at Cen- tral High School . .. The ‘Treasury Accounting Division Drarnu Club will present three one-act plays tomorrow night at Langley Junior High School « + . The Little Theater's program starting next Sunday will include “a visual lesson in the cartographic his- tory of the turning points of the World Wa It really will. starting GED BRENT & ANITA LOUISE In Warner Bros —Cormapolitan's Comady “Ihe 6o Gflter" llIY LOMBARDD = bi MII Canadians “TURN OFF THE MOON" A Paramount Puture With PHIL MARRIS . . KENNY BAXER —on stage— | “CALIFORNIA' COLLEGIANS LOWSE MASSEY & THE WESTERNERS 25cto 1P. M 'METROPOLITAN usT 3 wars “A DOCTOR'S DIARY" A Parameunt Prcture with JONN TRENT Coming Friday “PRINCE & THE PAUPER" A Warner Bros. Hit With MAT. 25 EVE 25 & 10 Sirens scream = 2s he flees the walls of prison .t0 go to the wo- man he loves! . The Washington Players | AMUSEMENTS. TOMORROW Love was & business to figures he to tract his wife . . . and then addahwo'hm...l /z«/'flédwf comeedis “'s 1gmag 4 %%fyf.fl/ 4 KATHARINE ALEXANDER °* TALR BIRELL Che this Special ADDED Attraction .. DIONNE QUINTUPLETS NOW THEY TALK! in a special featurette graphically and interestingly disclosing the develop- ment of these world-famous babiest I.A!‘l‘ DAY o PRED ASTAIRE e GINGER ROGERS in “SHALL WE DANCE* | EXCITING NEW FILM ““JUNGLE DEPTHS OF BORNEO '’ NATIONAL THEATRE NAtional 0501 2:30—Twice Dmly-—-8 30 All Seats Reserved Mats. 50c & 75¢ | and some at $1.00 | | | MRS MARTIN JOHNSON IN PERSON MG CLARK M GETIS tac Friday, May 28, 3:30 & 8:1SP. M. CONSTITUTION HALL Matines prices: 35, GSe, 8Sc. Box 10. Evening prices, 85c. 85¢, $1.65. Box seats, $3. Reserved. Tickets on s . Arthur Smith Ticket Bure 910 G St. N.W. OPENING TONIGHT Washington Civic Theater May 25-28 at Wardman Park Theater “FLY AWAY HOME” Tickets on Sale Dally, Hotel Baleich Lobby. Prices st 50, $1.00, 50c. Eves. at Reicrve by phone, DI. 1600 CADEMY Of Perfect Sound Photeniay . Lawrence Phillips’ Tnemu B nulllul Continuous From 4:30 “MEN ARE NOT GODS," With GERTRUDE LAWRENCE and MIRIAM HOPKIN. “NIGHT WAITRESS,” With MARGOT GRAHAME and G JONES. ARLINGTON, VA. ASll!‘JLBI.:I'?I..OVED EMY 7 Also_Big Comedy Num and some at $1.50 (Plus Tax) FRANK CAPRAS’ ‘" RONALD COLMAN LOST HORIZON 3th St Abeve G om- n nomn DONAT d«a/m.rroofswzsf R SOETARL-3STRANG IN ADDITION TO ALL THE MORE THAN 50 FEATURES EVERY DAY 1 TO MIDNITE GLEN ECH() [ParusemenT panc | SWIMMING IN Crystal PURE WATER STARTS HERE NEXT THURS. Adults 40c, Child. 15¢ HIPPODROME o575 2t 'llnd in “Bulldog Dr TummM " Helen Broderick, on the Jury CAMEO Simone “Seven ARCADE "yAfrsyiii, vo- e MacDona Vume WA = Doris Nolan. George Murphy, ‘“Top of the To: Today-Tomorrow Paul Mun!, Miriam Hopkins, “Woman 1 Love.” Direction of SIDNEY LUST CAROLINA Xy ROCKYVILLE, MD. Joseph Calleia. “Man o( the People * 11th & N. C. Ave. S.E. “APRIL, Ro).umcx- and HNUTS AND SOCIETY.” CIRC Penma. Aver &t 21s Matinees Tues.. Thurs.. Sat.. Today and Tomorrow. JEANETTE MacDONALD. NELSON EDDY, “MAYTIME.” sday. 6:30 and K:4; Shogines Wednesdax. .30 and £ TARTLLS FOR YOUR EARS, With “MAYTIME: we Introduce MIRROPHONIC SOUN! A REVELATION. TOR THE RENEPTT OF U—OUR PATRONS. THE CIRGLE 13 PROUD TO BE FIRST OFFER THIS MARVELOUS DEVELOP- o T TO" WASHINGTON H, of Mirrophonic Sound P t St ‘MAYTXME" is & wonderful production: R and hear it several tim Trasp ail its b beauty and glorious mn(s etc. DUMBARTON 14w DEANNA DURETN A'agxl‘ s b meay FAIRLAWN vxe?é‘é“l?fii‘m?m in bl ure Do’r‘il:‘fl«fi Vith WAL- NE. _ Also . with DORIS MAN NOLAN. _Comedy. LITTLE 608 9th St. “Crime Without Passxon Also “Man Ot Ara PRINCESS RLTE CHAN AT “CHAL “‘"u,‘u%“m EARBARA STANWYCK ® A PLOUGH AND THE STARS. N Lo Featu APOLLO n?n.?.'v'..., JEAN ARTHUR. CHARLES ASTORY T3 MADE AT so Popeve Short. AVALON **'2,conr. AVENUE GRAND & OSCOE KARNS. MARSHA HUNT n MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE. A5 Mareh of Fime CALVERT s BING CHOUB ARTHA RAYE 1n 1 W'E.'DDING " News, CENTRAL m Phone Me JEAN ARTHUR. CHARLES BOYER n HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT." Also Cartoon. Ave. N.W. COLONY “°% & 855 ANETTE MacDONALD, NELSON TEANEY T MAPIME Y No HOME 1220 Ph SIMONE SIMON i umss mw- ART in “SEVENTH HEA PENN ‘RAYE in Y. THA TKIKI WE’DDING News St. LG 850 Pcnn Avenu SE L k1) 4 in 8214 Georgia Au, Silver Spring. 8 SECO Continuous From 6. "Ready Willing and Able & RUBY xn:x.m lnd LEE DIXON. ¥ BAUR, LAURENCE OLIVIER With HARRY m (CE CHEVALIER “The Beloved Vagabond ” STATE BETI{ESD nerda, o Bethesda, M NEY in “YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.” JAMES DUNN in “COME CLOSER, FOLKS.” SPECIAL CORONATION FEATURE AT 9.45 ONLY. TAKOMA ‘%, whrmn it AMBASSADOR BILL. “CRIMINAL | TAWYER.” FALLS CHURCH. VA STATE "“WEiSHES ‘WILL ROGERS 0 " UJMBARD in 3 4th St N.W. Phone Col. 4968 JOSEPH CALLEIA and FLORENCE RICE in THE PEOPLE." SfilfllfiN & s B JEAN AR YRR CHARLES BOYER | AJUSTORY 1S HADE AT NGHE WARNER BROS. THEATERS UPTOWN Phene B n M. N ARTHUR. CHARLES BOYER | TE A TORY Ts MADE AT NORT. Also Popeye Short JAMES SEVENTH HEAVE vogx it A e g:;;.w b BERNHEIMER’S DAVIS and 1 With BETTE DAVIS and HUMPHREY,