Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-01

OF Nat G. Goodwin, one OF the most pol
ished. resourceful and sympathetic
comedians that America has contributed
10 the stage; and Ermete Novelli, the
Italian tragedian. upon whom, in the
opinion of many critics, fell the mantle
OF Salvini. For many years Mr.. Good
win met Philadelphian favor in his
starring ventures. and his illness aud
death prevented his appearance here
this week in why Marry" Signor
Novelli was less well known here. but
is well remembered by those whose
memories date back a decade, as he APP
peared here in two engagements Of
Shakespearean and Goldoni repertory
r. l. p.
THERE has been much speculation as
i to the meaning of the title of the
play "The Better OLE at the Broad,
but 1t is made clear by William Allen
White in his recently published book
THE Martial Adventures of Henry and
Me" Mr. White saw this play with
music at the oxford Theatre in London,
where it has been running for nearly
two years, and here is how he describes
it:
1.-THE Better OLE a farce comedy
with musical sllits in IT, staged entirely
at the front could be put on in any
American town and the fun would raise
the roof.
"A soldier squats shivering in a shell
hole, while the bombs are crashing over
him and dirt threatens TO bury him.
A comrade looks in and to his captlous
remarks the squattlng soldier answers:
IF you knows of a better ole, go to it
Three men are seated on a box
during a terrific bonbardment. Trees
are falling. buildings crumbling, the
landscape heaving, and Bert says: Alf.
we'll miss this old war when it's over
"As the shells strike nearer and
nearer and a great crater yawns at
their feet, they crawl into it. are all but
buried alive by the dirt from another
shell, and Bert exclaims, Say. ALI, scare
mel got the 'iccoughs" And so 1t
goes for whole evening"
So 'eres 'ow "The Better ole"
horiginated
CRANT MITCHELL, star of "A
VI Tailor-Made Man" at the Garrick,
is a great favorite with his fellow play
ers Now, such distinction is generally
bestowed for two reasons-a man Is ex-
pert at his work and modest about it.
Consider these characteristics, divulged
10 the playgoer the other night.
Here is a man who really doesn't
like to, talk about himself.
Who believes the part and the play,
not his acting, have made "A Tailor
Made Man" successful
Who admits he was a fiat failure at
newspaper work, which he first at
tempted when he left college.
Who again admits he was a fatter
failure at the law, which he practiced
for three years in Ohio, his native State.
Who, after having served in the
Spanish-American War. went on the
stage just for the love of the theatre.
convinced he would never set the
theatrical world afire.''
If actors hate conceit-in other. ac-
tors, Mr.. Mitchell ought TO be well
beloved in every greenroom.
DECORDS show that Lew Fields. who
IN is starring at the Lyric in Friendly
Enemies" appeared here only once be-
fore in a dramatic production. That
event occurred several years ago, when
the popular comedian starred in a pro
fusely spiced farce called "The High
Cost of Loving"
II need hardly say that 1 much pre-
fer Friendly Enemies" remarked Mr.
Fields the other day. Nevertheless, the
role of Pfeifer. which take in this new
comedy, is much more difficult to play
than anything I ever attempted before.
II requires finer comedy and more deli
cate shadings. / can't afford TO let my
audience slip away for minute. II
they don't realize that I am really a
warm-hearted human being, though
suffering temporarily from Teutonic
deluson. then something is wrong. But
feel that they do understand, and so,
when the delusion wears away Pfeifer S
newborn Americanism becomes all the
more plausible and likable.'
The records here. of course. fail 10
show that Fields had no end of expert
ence In comedy drama, generally in
tabloid form, when he and Joe Weber
we're running their famous music hall
IN New York and taking the Weber
Fieldian variety shows on the road.
AIR. Fields plunge into drama is
minus music. but, Of course, not de-
prived of dialect
COME months ago there was a private
~ demonstration of Prizma pictures
given in Camden. At that time 1t was
predicted that they would not remain
very long in the novelty class, but
would be found soon upon the screens
of theatres throughout the country as
part of the program. The announcement
is now made that they are to be shown
next week at the Stanley and Arcadia
Theatres.
There is a big field for color motion
Photography Unless companies promot.
ing such processes are organized for the
sole purpose of selling stock, il is pos
sible that they may give the industry
just the sort of nearness TO nature which
is lacking at the present time. ManS
companies have been formed for th'
purpose of making colored photography
In motion, but none of them has at
tanned the success required for perma
nent place in the movie world.
In explaining the process the Prizms
Company announces il uses four color
made up of two Complementary colors
The first pair Is composed of red anC
green-blue and the second OF yellow ant
blue. Ptotographically, these four com
binations cover the entire range o
visible colors. A color wheel similar I,
one used when the pictures are taken 4
attached to the projection machine whei
the scenes are being shown, and thu
the same colors are brought out upol
the screen. Next in order will be tn
perfection of synchronlzed pictures an,
words, and It is rumored that tn
process is complete at one OF the Pacifi
coast laboratories.
The movies are moving to new
marvels.
CEoRGE NJ. YOUNG will sever hi
VI connection with the Public Ledge
on February 8 and devote his time en-
tirely TO the b. +. Keith's Theatre In
terests in this city. Mr.. Young has bee
for twenty-five years. "A He began hi
x.rft1 y, IA fpFp "a a. raj arfA