The Washington herald., 1920-09-26

Theodore Roberts. who plays the
role of the loyable and absent
minded Prof. Phenyl in Realart's
presentation of Sweet, Lavender,
which opens weeks engagement
at Moore's RiaIto Theater today, is
one of the greatest character actors
in the business. During the forty
years of his stage and screen ex-
perience he has acquired remark
able wardrobe of over a thousand
nondescript garments, which MI
over a dozen trunks. The intrinsic
value of this clothes collection is
not tremendous, however, as most
OF the garments are of the tat
tered and torn" variety, suitable for
the bum" and drunkard roles khich
he portrays so wonderfully.
He has bought secondhand
clothes, old shoes, blacksmith S
aprons, funny looking old hats,
crumpled suits, etc, in hundreds OF
cities, often astonishing the orig
insl owners of the garments by the
surprising offer of a brand new ar
ticIe in exchange for the old one.
Usually they think he is crazy.
And so he is-abOUt his profession.
which he thiHks the most fasci-
mating in the world.
It is to be hoped that he will
some day write a book reCounting
his stage experiences, for he has
played many kinds of roles, and all
ways in distinguished companies.
His first role in q Minter picture
was Grandpap ketChel in Judy OF
Rogues' Harbor," very repellant
role, that OF a morose old drunkard,
in sweet Lavender" as the kindly
old professor, he has a chance to
make up to Miss Minter for some
of the honest-to-goodness bruises
he inflicted in Judy" and he says
ne was glad Of the chance to show
in the picture how fond he really
is of the pretty little star.
Some valuable old tapestries and
paintings will be seen on the screen
at Moore's Garden Theater this
week. beginning today. when Dor
othy Dalton's latest picture. based
on Sir James BaTrie's Half an
Hour" will be exhibited.
Part Of the scenes occur in the
home Of an art COnnOisseur. and
Director Harley Knoles, with his
usual insistence on realistic de-
tails. actually rented some mar
picture. Worth many thousands OF
dollars. these were transported to
the studio under guard and a heavy
insurance was placed on them while
they were used.
Crandalrs Century Theater in
Petersburg, Va. last Wednesday
night was thrown open to the
amusement lovers of that city and,
like the Strand in Cumberland,
scored an instant hit. The open
ing was supervised by Joseph P
Morgan. general manager of the
Crandau enterprises. and Nelson b
Bell, in charge Of advertising and
publicity.
Boston has been looking at two
new musical pieces during the last
week-the multistarred "Hitchy-
Koo. 1920" and the musical Caught
in the Rain" now called "Pitter-
Patter." OF the former Mr.. Parker
has this to say. among other things
in the Boston Transcript:
For the eye there are moments
of splendOr near the beginning OF
the new review now exhibited at
the Colonial for the first times on
any stage SnOEIly DelCTe Ine emu
come moments of like visualized
magnificenCe BetwiNt and between
in this "Hitchy-koO. 1920" is much
mixed matter. variable in enter,
tanning quality, employing not toe
wisely or too well the diverse abili-
ties bestowed upon it. Like price
lists ana railway time tables, this
mixed matter is subject to change
without notice" For "Hitchy- X CO. >
shunted upon Bostonian side track