Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-01
The PLAYCOER'S
WEEKLY TALK
Observations on Plays and
Photoplays Of Interest
to PhilodeIphi0ns

z VertlSCmentS III New lo"k nrNSphOCrS
Are the movies going backwardf
That is Il question of interest, The
Capitol Theatre. which uptncd IN \rW
York last week. announces PRYOR. =
Band. a ''Dcmi TasSe Revue staged
by Ned Wayburn. aud Soloi>tS rs we'll
NJ other features ASIDE FROM THE
K MOVIES. There was time When the
movie was the feature mt vaudeville
show or as an unaidcd magnet at the
cinema houses. but now. in New York
anyhow, it seems that something more
Is needed to bring the quarter to the
box Office window
ToRe the movie productions them
selves as made today. They repre-
sent the highest type of Photographic
skill and the authors who supply the
stories are paid large sums ior thea
ideas. Salaries of the players now
reaches thousands per week as against
the hundreds of few years ago for the
same actors. The cincma plays are
averaging 5000 feet of film now as
against 900 some ycarS ago when the
movie alone was an attraction. But
the managers seem 60 think that pa
irons want Il lot uf EXTRAS with their
film fare and they are tryimg out all
kiuds of things as added attractions.
What with good movie plays, com
petent players and realistic back
grounds AS against the old painted
"stone walls of canvas and artificial
shrubbery. there should be no ncccS-
sity for added attractions There are
enough of new film products coming
out to insure screen novelties. as is
evidenced by the Goldwyn Bray colored
cartoon, show motion photography of
Pathe. natural color movies of Przma
Literary Digest savings and the Scien
tific Magazine reels.
The craze for eXtraucOuS "nOyplty'
has not yet affected Philadelphia To
be sure our houses have their organ or
orchestral music. But this is supple
mentary and belongs 1t is not II
rival dividing honors. aud maybe re
ducing the pictorial and theatrical
values of the film by its competition.
lNE UNDERSTAND that Good
Morning. Judge recently staged
ere. is booked for a long run in the
& torehouse.
Based on 'inero's amusing farce.
THE Magistrate, with almost all the
original lines intact and lightcncd with
tuncful dittieS and dances. it had the
elements of success had it been left to
appeal on its own merits. But no !,
Broadway producers and play doctors
had to jazz it and "Amcricanize it
ike any other alien.
So it Good night. Judge
s CSEClL LEAN, starring in Look
* Who's Here" had several interest
ing things to say after the mat inee last
Wednesday on the genera of laughs
encountered by the comedian in his eff
forts to amusc the audience.
There are two varieties of .dughS
with which stage comedian comes in
contact. Mr.. Lean conidcd. ''One
is as welcome to him as the first breath
of spring. while the other is like a
sudden cold spell on the road before he
has had his winter clothing sent on
from home.
YThe first laugh is a laugh that every
virtue comedian strives for. the sponta
neous and hearty Ha ha !. that comes
as a reward for his work. Or again ii
may be chuckle from fat man in the
baldheaded row or ripple OF qulet
laughter through the entire theatre.' but
whatever the nature of it. 1t Is just as
pleasing to the comedian when he knows
that il is due to his acting.
s.The second one is of an entirely dlt e
ferent sort and ii is the one thing that
the comedian breads. This is the laugh
that results from some unforeseen mis-
hap. Then there is the person that
laughs at the wrong time: the hysterlca
woman. the local comedian or the WI
lage cut -up II is these three types
that make life a burden for the stage
Z comedian. 1t is not honest laughter
and that is what he works for.
'Some years ago ! was playing III 4
piece in which | handled the role OF Il
youthful lover who was counting the
daughter of an irate old father lh'
old man did not approve of his daugn
ter's choice and showed it very torciolI
in which had very pretty llttle love
z fest with the girl.
..J'he scene was dramatic and quiet
one of the prettiest in the play lmaG
+ inc nv discontinue one night to nav,
4 chan in the orchestra begin to laugi
,Iproariously and continued until NJ
broke up the scene ] walked TO TN
footlights and addressed nm
.Will YOU be kind enough to let M
in on this laugh" ! asked. =.
). .Sure. -. replied ,nrnfflcd. =
was lust thinking what would happel
IL the gals old man came in and ketche'
~ found out too late that he wa
the village comedian.
..The laugh was on me.
TadH. SOTHERN and Julia NARROW
so. will present Hamlet" in thei
\ engagement here later in the season
tThe arrival in America this week o
Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson. Wh'
Is giving series of Shakespeareal
lecture rectals at the Academy o
Music. and Lady Forbes Robertson
fiertrude Elliott recalls an inter
esting coincidence. II was lust 81
years ago this month that Sir Johnston
and Lady Forbes Robertson were ap
nearing in this country in repertoire
the occasion being his farewell to IN
stage, while Il. II. Sothern and Jun
Marlowe were appearing IN SNAKE
spearean plays. As it developed, thi
\ was also the last joint appearance O
Sothern and Alarlowe, for Miss Mar
loves illness that season resulted i
her withdrawal from the theatre. J
was during this period that bot
Forbes Robertson and II. ii. Sother
PLAYED 'Hamlet' on the same cvenin
n New York and both taxed the ca
pacity of their respective theatres. -
this occasion. too. Julia Marlowe an
Gertrude Elliott were the ophelias
Now Sothern and Marlowe. again go
stars, are having triumplml seaso
and Sir Johnston Forbes Robertso
returns with his wife TO make lee
ture tour Of the country.
TOSEPH G.. DOUGIlERTN this wee
~ ass1lleed management Of the Nixo
STrand Broad street ard MOntgomer
foxpnue He succeeds w: Dayton Wege
4 <ertl, who has been appointed manage
m Keith's new theatre at Syracuse
Mr.. Dougherty has been with tn
* altb forces since boyhOod. He wa
ar many years manager of keiths Ri
f{.,, on Eighth above Race street