The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-17
IN THE
FRONT ROW
HEApLINERs ToNIor

drome to see the Lewis Oliver players
IN the most delightful comedy drama
they have yet put ON. An unusually
large cast appears in this play, includ.
ing six children-nice little boys and
girls-who have been loaned to MIR.
Lewis by their mammas. And they
are Q clever little company In them.
selves, each one having speaking
part in which they acquit themselves
with much intelligence for children so
young. But the big folks OF the show
are certainly grand lot In this most
~ comical-but sometimes pathetic
vehicle which has been selected for
the first half Of the week.
Miss Mile Beland as the timid
spinster and Charlie Montgomery as
the spouse she acquires. are a laugh
provoking pair and interpret their
lines splendidly.
Miss Leroy takes the leading role
and Is the real sunshine OF the piece.
Mr.. Lewis and Miss Grandin, both
have very good parts. but with the
possible exception Of Mr.. Chancellor
are less in the lime light than the rest
OF the company. Miss Grandin's Dor.
trayal Of the runaway orphan asylum
attendant, who Is accused of kidnap.
ping, Is the strongest dramatic feature
Of the bill. Bob Milton is good in the
two parts he plays, but his character
.ixation Of the prudish woman was a
continuous ticker for the audience.
Two other "hams"-that's a short
word for actors-in the piece are "a
perfect scream" We reefr to Mr..
Dave Heilman and our own fellow.
townsman Reno Fleming. 1t would
take too much space to say what
COULD be said about them, and for
the present, having In mind the cost
OF white paper, we must refrain.
George NJ. Cohans new American
comedy. "Hit-the.Trail Holiday"
which comes to the Grand tomorrow
night, appears to be one Of the real
successes Of the past season. The play
was inspired by the activities OF "Bil.
" Sunday, although its hero is a re.
formed barkeeper instead Of a retired
baseball player.
The idea was suggested by George
Middleton and Guy Bolton to Mr.. Co
han. who has written a story that has
great deal to do with princely re-,
ward OF doing good in a sensational
way; Holiday having success in
finance as well as in reform.
Frank Otto, clever comedian, plays
the title role and is supported by Ar.
thur v. Gibson, Harry Hubbard, Ho.
ward Hull Gibson, Franklin Hall, Dan
Anderson, Chauncey Causeland, Louis
Eagan. Sam Burton, Ben Sweeney,
John Daley, E. N. Lewis. Bert Sam.
mis-, Lola Merrill, Mildred Beverly and
10 Robinson Haywood.
Either by accident or design Dave
Holman plays a part In the Hippo
drome play this week that is said by
his friends to have actually occurred
to him In real life. As the story goes,
Dave" has habit Of getting OF street
cars backward. In this instance a con.
ductor who was not paying any too
close attention mistook Mr.. Heilman's
effort to alight for an attempt to get
aboard and yanked the bell, taking
this portly passenger beyond his des.
ttnation and requiring considerable
explanation to convince the conductor
Of his mistake.
Reno Fleming sings Mother" from
the back part Of the house right after
the slides are shown on the Hipp
screen and while the house Is In semi.
, darkness. He does 1t so we'll that we
can't understand why Mr.. Lewis
doesn't permit him to sing on the
stage, and turn the lights on.
There is considerable rivalry for
honors among two OF the Hipps su.
pernumeraries. 1t is impossible to
Judge the merits by the attitude of the
audience, because 1t is very often the
part and not the party that gets the
applause. However, we will probably
toist our expert opinion upon our read
/. ers after few more observations.
A very clever advertising stunt is
put on the Princess screen by the
Western Electric Company. We were
alert for any words OF condemnation
that might escape from the audience
but heard none. The growing popu-
larity among advertisers Of the movie
as q means Of extolling the merits of
their wares has arrived to a point
where the public is apt to register a
kick. Anticipating the condition OF
the public mind movie managers are
distributing their slides" between
breaks" In the show instead of group
ing them and keeping one waiting for
as long as ten minutes to look at ad-
Verusements that are without inter-
est and too nat to create any. In this
instance a complete little playette Is
introduced and Is undoubtedly very
enective one. from the selling point OF
view. The Princess management has
SHOWN the proper regard for the pub
Hes desire by advertising this feature
30 that those who wished to avoid It
were fairly warned. We are inclined
to think that those who saw 1t en-.
1oyed 1t and those who remained away
missed treat OLD STAGER.