Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-01

ing IFS own. why not WASH
" ington? The opening of the
regular theater season this
week at the Shubert-Belasco is heralded
with glowing accounts of a new play
by the Hattons, with a story of pluck
and perseverance which won final sue
cess for the leading man. But an item
of quite as much interest to local
theatergoerS is the fact that the play
will introduce for her debut as an
actress Miss Dorothy Smoller. a Wash
ington girl of the Army circle. who has
already won fame as dancer. having
returned only last winter from South
America after a thrce-year tour with
Pavlowa. Miss Smoller is we'll known
in her native city a dancer par ex-
cellence. and she is now being afforded
her first opportunity to display her
ability as an actress. Besides her home
folks there is very wide circle of
friends and acquaintance who are wish
ing the young woman success. and. in
the language of the sporting circles.
are plugging hard for her with all
the mystic power of their individual
mascots.'
Though the world be dry, there is still
burlesque, proverbially known as mans
amusement" in spite of the fact that
in later years the women. who are
breaking into all circles, even into the
political campaign committees. are grad
ually sideing up to the attractions of the
Columbia Amusement Circuit
The Gayety. the Washington pal
ace of burlesque," also is announcing
the opening of its regular season
next Saturday evening Manager
Harry o.. Jarboe has made every
thing "spick and SPAN. and is now
waiting only for the onrush of pa
tronage. He says he has arranged
his theater and his regulations so
that the burlesque patron need not
fear to bring his wife. his mother,
his sister or his daughter to see
wholesome and amusing entertain
ment that has been provided for the
coming season While the shows will
not be opened with an invocation,
he adds. they will be found to be
such as to please the most fastidious,
and their environment will be that
of any other first-class theater in
the land. All of which indicates that
buriesque has reformed and that it's
present task in the worlds recon-
struction will be simply to accustom
its patrons of old to new and bet
ter order of things
X + +
News comes that the B. F. Keith in
terests have acquired the B. S. Moss
vaudeville and picture circuit of
theaters. eight in all. in the city
of New York, which will be merged
with the twenty-four Keith houses
in Greater New York, affording a
total seating capacity of $4,000 peo-
tend to invade vaudeville are said to
kave brought about the firing of this
the first gun in a vaudeville war
which promises to be waged on big
scale
~
Manager I. Stoddard TAYLOR, of the
Shubert Belasco-in q circular which
he frankly states. contains an adver-
Using proposition, because "the. au-
tumn theatrical season is opening
unusually early and the play is new"
sounds a keynote in reduction of
prices" Those who present the cir
cular at the box office will be able
10 procure 80 and $3.50 seats for $3.50
is made only for the performance
made again. But it is worth while
considering in the days when prices
are said to be going up instead of
coming down.
Samuel Taylor. a Washington man
and formerly first sergeant in the
Motor Transport Corps, has been ap-
pointed business manager of the Old
Homestead Company, under the direc-
ton of Augustus Pitou. producer.
Mr. Taylor is still in his twenties and
his rise in things theatrical has been
rapid. He began at the old Columbia
Theater under Manager Fred Berger,
but this side the footlights. as a wa
ter boy at $3.50 a week. Mr.. Berger
secured him his first start on the road
with the Chauncey Olcott company in
1916. He was for two seasons secre-
tary with the Fiske O'Hara company
and during the 1919 season was in the
Army.
THE Broken Wing" a new play by
Paul Dickey and Charles w. Goddard,
authors of 1.-The Misleading Lady,
and The Ghost Breaker" is to be pro-
duced by Sargent Aborn, of operate
fame, and will be the attraction, it is
announced. at the National Theater.
in this city, August %. prior to its
entry into the metropolis. 1t is a ro-
mantle story of an aviator who was
brought down in Mexico by broken
wing on his airship.
y X X
Poor Little Ritz Girl" the Original
musical novelty" presented for the
first time last week by Lew Fields is
poor girl who goes to New York to
help her family and make her fortune
and finds the object of her visit and
more through profiteering janitor,
who rents her, at ridiculously low
figure, a richly furnished bachelor
apartment, whose owner Unexpectedly
returns.
Visitors to New York who want to
see the sights and have an expert
ence find their way, if they can. to
the Century promenade atop the Cen
tury Theater. where, as early as $50
pm, they can dance and dine in the
open AT pm. the first entertain
ment, The Century Revue" a big
two-part show in nineteen scenes,
with upward of twenty-five princi-
pals. starts. and at 1870 the second
show, The Midnight FOUNDERS" de-
scribed as the greatest late-hour pro-
Aiuction ever staged. with thirty-fiye
.fcenes and $50 principals and beau
ties" starts and holds forth until
sleep time"
A feature of Little Miss Charity"
TO be produced by Richard G. Hern-
don, at the Belmont Theater New
York. on Labor day, will be a replica
of Angel Town" a full-fiedged and
functioning village where there are
only homes of happiness" 1t will
be the seasons novelty.
x
Ethel Clifton, who is said to have
the distinction of having written
produced and acted more successful
playlets than any woman on the in
ternational stage, may open pro-
ducing firm for that sort of enter
tainment in New York. Next year. it
is said, long play written by her
will be produced.
Came With Bernhnrdt.-No other
player on the American stage so well
kI"wn. perhaps, has had more diff
N rs N a of ha l1d