The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-27

specie "critic," sat in fat mems
row yesterday afternoon and look.
ed on while Carter G Roses Sun.
shine Girls were putting their best
foot forward in an effort to please
Q crowd Of law-abiding citizens who
went out Of their way to prove to
House Manager Burka that they have
the fullest confidence in his attempt
TO set high standard OF amusement
81 the Hippodrome. Bill Bailey, hav.
ing once or twice differed with some
things we chronicled, went to the Hip
podrome yesterday to get line on
the aggregation. Filled with the If.
repressible fat mans joviality and be.
ing in his usual high spirits, he sat
that we were close by to detect any
evidence OF approval on his part We
did not get clue as to what was in
Mr.. Bailey's mind, but when he de-
parted we ducRed. And we have seen
neither hair nor hide of him since,
but we will admit we are tipping this,
somewhat under the influence of his
sense of right. We are moved to
think Bills big man--not SO much in
point OF circumference as In his down
right determination to be honest. So
Bills hand is in ours when we step
to the front to express or grief for Man.
ager Burka. We know he's doing
his darndest to give patrons a big
moneys worth, but yesterday Gus Sun
sent him a show that we could all
we'll afford to miss. Why such an
experienced booking concern should
send to a town that Is having eighteen
musical comedy performances a week,
a show like the Sunshine Girls" we
can't understand. 1t might go with
a get 'em in, get EN- out. get the mon
ey' policy on a one.night stand; but
never will 1t pay to send anything
like 1t to Fairmont where we are
eating three full meals OF musical COM
ey every week day. Burka is not so
much to blame. He has to buy these
shows on the pig in poke" plan. He
tied UP to the Sun Agency because
I It is the best that serves this section.
However, Burka's business is not our
business; neither Is Suns.
1.-THE Sunshine Girls" are a pretty
lot. Nice, sweet looking girls, we'll
costumed, dance all right and sing
not bad. The show opens with the in
PRODUCTION of the chorus which is good.
The leading lady sings an appealing
song entitled "Shes the Sunshine OF
Virginia" and 1t is fascinating in mel
ody and words. No one need to do
any better with it than she does to
make hit. So far we witnessed a
good show. Then a couple of com.
edians" get on the stage and the show
drops flat. Probably one would do
an injustice to say anything degratory
TO the ability OF these alleged fun.
makers, but they certainly do have
bum" parts. The comedy is not com.
tedy, 1t is spurious, amateurish, but
thank Heaven not unchaste. Just
how any comedian could expect humor
to come from a pistol, or from the
lips Of one who is celebrating on a
pitiful physical defect in a human
being has never been explained to
me. Is there anything funny in be-
ing blind, lame, deaf. a hunchback, or
having an impeachment in speech? No
intelligent audience would witness u
second performance knowing before
hand that they would have to draw
their enjoyment from the things said
by Suffering" Jehu.
x; The Prince Carl feature is not bad.
but we had a similar performance two
weeks ago and that was enough to last
for a time. The whole thing strikes
sAus that possibly it's the play and not
the players that are at fault. If so
the management of the Sunshine
2 Girls" will change the bill promptly.
What say you Mr.. Bailey?
y 9-LT,. k;1,,,;r ,Irrt, Cka lar,, - na,kkD
the Equitable feature which will be
shown at the Nelson theatre today
and tonight, the directors OF the Equit-
able made 1t plain that they wanted
"a company Of actors in support of
G Carlyle Blackwell that was second to
none. The result was that one of the
best-balanced supporting companies
ever given in support of star will
appear with Mr.. Blackwell in 1.-THE
Shadow of Doubt"
1.-THE Shadow of Doubt" is one of
the most perfectly produced motion
pictures yet shown. This is due to
careful direction, wise discernment Of
actors and addresses, an excellent We
3 hicle of the type bes6 suited to Mr..
/ Blackwell, and an atmosphere pre-
vailing throughout the denouement of
the play which makes the spectator
feel the play as though he or she were
one OF the actors on the screen. That
IS what serves to make real features.
Z "a single star does not make picture,
nor does good story make a good
film. The Interpretation of the story
by company of players judiciously
selected to characterize the different
roles as the author intended they
should be Is what makes pictures good.
The new millinery on display by
( Hippodrome attaches is sure sign
OF spring and a proper sense of the
fitness of things. The little "turban''
with the tassel is to have an outing
as soon as Prince Carl gets through
with his open air stunts. The event
has been arranged to avoid conflict
Of interest. OLD STAGER.
Will Keep Up Fight
s& IT. NJ