New Britain Herald Newspaper, March 17, 1923, Page 4

NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1923, NEWSY NOTES OF THE SPOKEN STAGE, THE SILENT DRAMA AND MUSIC Old Humphrey House Hall Home of First Plays In New Britain City Clerk A. L. ThomPSON o1 of the lurgest stngen i the eus Recalls Days When Opera " "ci House and Lyceum Thea- Charter Members Living When the Histrionte society wa ters Were First Opened to Public. one tormed in 1870, Colonel Thompson was one of the charter members, and he as well as five other charter mem. hers of that society are still living They are A, H. Stearns, employed at the Stanley Rule & Level plant; Wil llam FE. Stevens, at the Stanley Works; John Stack, of Plainville; N, 1, Deming, Ly Muss,, and George Morgan, of y street Isaac Murray was the first presi- dent of the association and I'rank Seymour was stage manager. . U, Thomipson was the husiness manager tor that organization his office at g a pile of Thompson, a century slerk o Rritain, gave up a few moments of to talk over, with a repre-|for ! ¥ A the Herald, the days The grin on Colonel Thompson's When there wore no theaters in New | face broadened when mention was A b A e made of the rehearsals for the various in which piays or entertainments| Plays given by the Histrionic soclety Avare mtagad, The city clerk expressed the opinion Mr. Thompson, although born | that he, as did most members of the in New Britain, has resided here| COmpany, enjoved the cvenings spent most of his life and came to this city|in rehearsing the plays as much as Shen voung man. At that time the evenings when the plays were pre- there were no theaters and all enter- | S¢nted. He spoke of the happy times tainments were given in the so-called | the "bovs” had together and told of “Humphrey Hall" of the Humphrey Many tricks they used to play on one house theu situated on Main street amother. = where the Park hotel is now located Colonel Thompson eXpressed re Church a Hall. gret at the fact that New Britain no FFor a number of years this hall was '0Nger is the home for good dramatic the home of amateur shows given and ]nusn‘al shows but he says the | here as well as any road production POpulation of the city has changed; | which ventured to play in New Brit- there was not the industrial class of ain. A few years after the erection PeOPIe here then as there is at pres- desk in serutinizl Alfred quart Seated at City Hall closely figures, Colonel for more than a town and city willingly his time sentative his r of Vew of not GHAPLIN AS PILGRIM INPALAGE PICTURE' Jluimilable Charlie's Latest Re- lease Here Next Week The Palace will ofter next week a great big bill of fun and jazz featur- lng three attractions that should prove \ery popular with Palace patrons who |are also guaranteed many laughs and }fun galore, Enter Charles<€haplin in the pulpit! The inimitable comedian has been a tramp, a soldier and a dude on the screen, but now he blossoms forth in the full regalia of a parson, | In “The Pilgrim,” the First Na- tional picture which will be shown at |the Palace theater on Sunday, Mon- day, Tuesday and Wednesday he dis- leards his battered derby and swagger cane of other film triumphs for the |clerical hat and frock, Charles’ ministeriai garb is stolen property, however, for he portrays an |escaped convict who exchanges his | prison stripes for the clothing of an, ‘unauspec"ng parson in swimming. | The complications which ensue {when an eloping couple endeavor to |get “The Pilgrim"” to marry them and |when he is unwittingly forced into the WORTHINGTON AND GAGE In a Scene From “The Sun Temple” at Parsons Theater Monday Evening of this hall still another one came in- ®ht and the “movies” did not provide to existence. This one was on East|the thrills then that they dn now. Main street the the old| = " STAGE ALL SET FOR FIRST LEGION SHOW Eddy-Glover Post Revue at Ly- cenm First Hall of Week stage is all set at the Lyceum theater for tho prasentation on Mon- ¢ and Wednesday by the r post, American legion, of the musical comedy revue “Don’t Ask Me.” This production is being staged in several acts and scenes and | promises to be one of the hest ama- | teur shows vet seen in New Britain. . given under the direc- George V. . Lord assisted by Bdward Irving of the Stanley Wor Miss Catherine White w nd George Smedley, s Leon Bull is the costumer Robert Craig. Miss Dorothy McCann of it - who supervised the making of the Tiiha Burritt school building. 1t !\asy‘(,“umw Tonl the Fevial 14 iR Naw the old North church renovated and, pritain and will remain through the | used for hall purposes. performances to take charge of the uw the old South church on the|ecgstumes. In addition te Miss MeCann, | ny f the Porter and Dyson store, | e Bull and Mr. Craig others to as- | son, converted into what Was|gist with the costumes are Gertrude|pan, 1. known as Union hall, where many of | Anderson, ¥. W. Irving and Evelyn! Pponies the famous Histrionic society produc- | cioons. et tions were staged. This hall was de-| ye’ procecds of kol stroyed by fire at about the time the| . \onday, Tuesday Anderann, old North chureh huilding was moved qvenings will be for the aadlk.. Mabel across the street from its old location | qqy_Glover post, state Mary 8tac to where the Palace theater NOW|fung The Wednesday matinee pro- h Romancy, Bmma Osberg, D stands. ceeds will be for the Salvation Army.|n Weiant, Mamie Wesler, Ia LULE SRR GI WY _@nd U The principal characters in the| Webster, Anna_ Rittner, Hazel made _mm' ‘\- hat I:r ime Kknown as play are f\\-mm'. I.ouise Weineck, Dorothy Hanna's hall. Here many of the brilliant social events of several gea-! sons were staged until the hall was ciosed and entirely renovated. Tirst Theater Opened. When the doors of the building| were thrown open again New Britain | people “'set foot” inside the first th ater over constructed in this city, known as the “Opera House.” | The great opera “Taust” was pro-| dueed on the opening night, and as| Colonel Thompson recalls it every seat in the house was taken and scores of people were turned away. The the. ater was a novelty for people in this city and the attendance at all of the productions during the first few ycars| was great. Lyceum Opens Doors. Colonel Thomspon also recalied | when the Lyceum theater threw open | its doors in 1893. This house was considered one of the most heautiful LYCEUM Sunday Night EARL WILLIAMS n “RESTLESS SOULS” Connell, James O'Bonn Ilaymond Watkins; Con O'C ‘\\'ll o site of Moily, M Mild Miss Jean Blair Chamberlain; Sister, Hellberg; Jack, Robert Loomi [lock Sholmes, Wiililam Humason; |4, Mark, Edward Ogren; Wai Henry Pfeiffer; Servant, Anna tuskis; Van Astor, George I"lash, Iaymond Walker. Those in the Chorus. Following is a list of those appe: ing in the various boys and choruse Da - Works group——Misses M Gertrude Lundg Ethel Holcomb, olti, Linnea Kallgren, N Josephine Orsie, Margan aldt, Roselyn Hanrahan, Bthelyn Brown and Vi lddy- (.ln Ma Rizzic, | Sowka Corbin Olga Recano, t Granquist, Molchan, Helen G erson. Marion Young, e Cronin. ] Irary & M. Mulvihill, Nelson, A. Kroll, Timbrell, Mary cothy Weigand, Murphy, M Gertrude 1eore. and others— Kilbourne, Pfeisick, grotp—Mis Hamilla, Agnes Kather] assisted by Susan Sejem Boston, A, L. THOMPSON, COi uth Anna He e And site Han was rhr‘n Lill Hu Fve as group Doris Pauline v Petus! Barrett, Pernice the performances and Wednesday henefit of the convention Ruth Jacks renovated and e VETERANS of FOREIGN WARS FIRST ANNUAL CARNIVAL =xd DANCE March 15, 16 and 17 ODD FELLOWS' HALL, ARCH ST. All New Ideas and the Latest Noveltics MAC’S NOVELTY ORCHESTRA “DON'T ASK ME” AMERICAN LEGION REVUE Lyceum Theater MARCH 19, 20 and 21 Pre-War Prices—Evening Performance-—25¢ to $1.50 Wednesday Matinee Benefit Salvation Army—25¢ to 75¢ “AMERICAN LEGION NIGHT"—MONDAY Reserved Seats at (‘rowell’s Drug Store ENID BENNETT Husband's Friend” in “Her Thuns., l'll., hal “PAWNED" With Tom Moore THEATER, HARTFORD. PARSONS’ 3 DAYS COMMENCING THURSDAY, Direct from Successful Ru MARCH 22 n Boston Kn loute to New York of Peppy Comedy and Jingling Tuneful elier— Roston Mg Joun Jay ScHorrs Swift Pefi'p&hm s J/:'al Comedy Senssation s By CHAS. W, BELL Funny te Attenti e to $2.5 Ma Melodics St. Patrick Dance Given by Sports’ Club March 17, in Y. W. C. A, Gymnasium New Departure Orchestra Tickets 50 cents PALACE—Watch for That Big Smashing Photoplay “THE CHRISTIAN” DOMINATED . BY THE NATURAL ~'Vl'l'Al. SH.EDMO' is ton e ape Hlmv”n ~ m.q. sat. Mag Doris Mary Pet- mgrnw ssic W Jurin- | Xda | Dorothy Mary Link, Reindall. Rackliffe, ell; Dorothy Kent, Helen Wexler, and Gertrude Boys chorus — Leslie Raymond Walker, Bernard Dough- erty, Leonard Jackson, Raymond Penks, George Davis, Ernest Wi rlg]u Henry Prniff‘*r and Charles Wright h, gul Cones liss yvvl ter, Pe- vis; —LYC ceum theater has a most ":Q- Sunday evening program, | featuring two of filmdom's favorite | Earl Williams and Enid HPn—‘PUH’“! h)’ a (hain of r\Lr'\oNImar\ , the last named famed for her work in Robinhood, in which s Tairbanks played such a| tractive ar- | OlPs crous ever screened. Fans who iike mountain stories, Miss Bennett is the |outdoor scenery and red-blooded wom- Wife in the domestic/en have a treat coming to them in s IPriend.” A Question of Honor” the First Na- rl Williams as James Parkington, | tional attraction starring Anita Stew- {da | [Pading character in this screen adap- (art which will epen a three day en- nln"‘“” of the famous comedy drama|gagement on Monday, as an added ng Dead”—written by the |feature photoplay. late ward Harding Davis, is an| The captivating star has the role of ctor whose work is a treat to wateh, [Anne Wilmot, a leading society debu- The story as filmed is called “Restless | tante who is brought to the west as a Souls.” i [bait for a stalwart engincer whom | Theso is no Lyceum show the first | Anne’s uncle hopes to bend to his use. Jtt hree days of the week as the Ameri-{In the wilderness of the High Sierras » l.egion has leased the theater, but |Anne discovers her uncle's scheme. hursday Che playhouse will open, How the girl's decision to test her th 2 fine pregram of vaudevilic unts and, "‘|I‘|h\ “Pawned.” in- | Doug | prominent part, hel | Misunderstood Hlie | AT ret ine nan len York interests is visualized in or- ra- iw 1d lyn Helen Han- on, Bruemmer er- me M- al- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 2——Big Features—2 Charles Chaplin ~in ““The Pilgrim” 4--Reels of Laughs-—4 Better Than “The Kid” Added Feature—Mon., Tues., Wed. Douglas Fairbanks’ Only Rival Dick Talmadge in — “Wildeat Jordan” Full of Pep, Action and Thrills Excellent V;iudeville ALLEN AND RAYMOND SISTERS Big Dancing Revue—Special Scenery Thursday—Friday- -Satlu"day LON CHANEY Man of a Thousand Faces in “SHADOWS” The Greatest Story Ever Told in Motion Pictures e N it B AT LB cumstances, are among the most ludi- | own mettle is worked out in the com. | as a picture, the famous|bat between the settlers and the New | al Anmans) drama as gripping as any that has come to the sereen, The Keith vaudeville attraction for Monday, Tuesday and brings the new Keith headliner “Val- entlno's Orchestra” with Mary Lee and Ireddie Kelly, sensational ball reom dancers, Another fine bill will be offered the iast half of the week featuring DI | Vito's band, famous throughout Con- | necticut as a leading dance orchestra, ‘I'ney have heen appearing in vgude. ville but for a short time and have already gained for themselves the titie of headliners, The photoplay attrae- tion on this bill present NDorothy Dal- ton in her new production “The Siren Call.” CHARLIE [}HAPLIN Opens Sunday for Four Days ini “The Pilgrim’~Other Big Features Charlie Chaplin, the super-comedian in “The Pilgrim,” his greatest comedy since “Shoulder Arms"” and conceded by critics to excel his famous * Kid,” opens a four night run at I’ |theater tomorrow night. On the !bill, as an added Sunday feature, ¥ !gen(‘ O'Brien in “Prophet's Paradise jwill be shown. This is a drama in |which a young man becomes en- amored of an emotional woman who imagines she loves him cnough to de- | sert her own husband. is murdered and suspicion points | triangle. Throughout Wednesday's pgrformance Chaplin's comedy will be the headliner, but after Sunday will in a veritable whirlwind drama “Wild- cat Jordan.” For the last halt of {next week that King of all character lactors, Lon Chaney, will be exploited |in “Shadows.” In this Chaney does |some of his greatest character acting in the role of a Chinaman and en. tirely without makeup. The vaude- ville is changed on Meondays and Thursdays. 5 | In “Wildcat Jordan,” Richard Tal- imadge is the energetic leading man who thwarts all opposition by the Wednesday ', ATFOX'S TONORROW The husband ! strongly toward the other man in the | |share honors with Richard Talmadage | right of might, His fight scenes are stirring and some of the spectacular |athletic feats he performs are astons ishing, It has a punch in every foot« age of reel, “Shadows,"” a really delightful ple~ ture, is a motion picture drama that lovers of real artistie aeting and pro« |duction ean 11l afford to miss. It has all the cssential elements——love, touch of villainy, romance, passion and excitement-—so Interwoven as to make a pleture that holds the interest from beginning to end, It is a peculiar ples {ture Inasmuch as the leading charac- ter 18 raally quite a mediocre persons iage as far as the obvious happenings are concerned, lLon Chaney, who has made a remarkable reputation, has ithe part of an old Chinese laundry- man, but humble as this character, it lis great in its deeds of kindness to- ward those who live 'in the shadows, or three days beginning Margh 206, Wnunm I"'ox 1s sending to his local theater one of the greatest motion pice ‘(uw Npm' acles of the generation—- “Nero.,” This had a long run in New \ork nnd Chicago and is one of the hlneu! in point of scenic effects, number of persons engaged and ex- !pense incurred, that has ever been 1|lmer| It deals with the historical Nero, emperor of Rome, whose drink (erazed mind finally made the mighty {empire totter and who, while Rome burned, is said te have fiddled in | fiendish glee., | When the great mob scenes were {filmed the Italian government cooper- ated with Mr, Fox to the extent of dispatching a squadron of cavalry to |maintain order. Of the 225,000 feet {of film exposed before the picture was |completed, 50,000 feet was special . panchromatic film, that the wonder- ful colors of the Ttalian skies, sunsets and cloud effects might not be lost, Two important steps were taken by the Anti-Narcotic league of T.os An- geles this week in starting a nation {wide crusade against the drug men- ace. The first was the decision to send Mrs. William A. Fitzgerald, of San Francisco, pdstdent of the Cali- fornia IFederation of Women's clubs to Washington, there to cooperate with the federal anthorities in the na- tional campaizn agalnst the drug evil, The second was the actuzl com- melcement of work on the Wallace Reid Memorial propaganda film at the Thomas H. Ince studios with Mrs, Wallace Reid in the principal role, This film will be made under the ac- tive supervision of the Anai-Narcotic league, | PALACE i SUNDAY NIGHT and The C hnldlen (‘an See ONE BIG WEEK OF FUN AND JAZZ! COME PREPARED TO LAUGHT AS YOU HAVE NEVER LAUGHED BEFORE ! MON.—TUES.—WED. Charlie After School ! Added feature Sunday only GEORGE CHESEBRO in “THE RECOIL” SEE—The big explosion of the dam ! art as a gun-toting heroine of the hills ! upon thrills in this drama of the new west! Added Photoplav Attnactlon Mon.—-Tues.-—Wed Anita Stew- Thrills —KEITH VAUDEVILLE— “If its KEITH’S—| It’s the Best Show in Town !” Presenting for your approval a real musical treat VALENTINO’S ORCHESTRA OFFICIAL DANCE ORCHESTRA TO RODOLPH VALENTINO with MARY LEE and FREDDIE KELLY Broad\\ ay’s sensatwnal hallloom dancclsl LLAH'Y BROS. Novelty Workers the Ice “He7s DOROTHY DALTON in “THE SIREN CALL” The Man Off Tenor” HOIER and AYLOFF Comedians Wagon some Thurs.-—l“n.——bal»—l\lme Fun and anz Connecticut’s Favorites DI VITO’S BAND