The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-27
'Lest AS ItWnz|
Attic The zyterI
ByKi andhark.

AT THE GRAND a packed house
greeted "Hail the Woman" for what has
been ad vertised its tw first pub
, lie showing in America" Tho this
effort on the part of Thomas Ince to
crafty the public wish for bigger and
| better pictures is an excellent picture in
every phase of its development and pre-
sentation, it is by no means the Big
picture in the common acceptance or the
term.
The theme a protest against the double
moral standard for men and women, is a
big one and well presented. The story
rings much like that of Way Down East
tho its continuity is much better than
that of the Griffith picture and its ideallsm
| of the '.American Woman" Is greater Sun
Hail the Woman" does not have the big
scenes. the spectacular mob scenes and
cabarets, to make it Big"
It is big, however, in that It rings true.
1t is human to the core and there is not
one false note in its entirety.
AT THE ISIS a good lesson is corr
yeyed in Ladies Must Live" a George
Loane Tucker production that proves to
be quite absorbing. The contrast in So
ciety is wildly drawn and in most cases
the acting is excellent, while in others it
aDDears slightly forced and aTerdraXyu.
Robert Ellis and Betty Compson play
very creditabie parts in this production
cult part.
There is some great mountain scenery
in the picture end the story runs smoothly
from start to finish. This is the last of
the productions of George Loane Tucker,
who produced 1.-THE Miracle Man." hailed
at the time as one of the greatest screen
triumphs. The cast in this play is IN
usually large, but every one fills an i'm =
portant place in the story.
AT THE CRYSTAL an adoption of Peter
B. Kyne's story, 1.-The Sheriff of Cinnebar'-
is, shown as. Red Courage" with Hoot
Gibson carrying the leading role. Here's
n n
daredevil who fought. and laughed as lie
fought an entire town. It's a mighty
good story, considerably different from
the usual western story. in many respects
and the crowd enjoyed 1t immensely. A
fair comedy follows
AT THE NOVELTY. the bill is just av-
erage tho it is filled with the sort. of
"hokum" that the Topeka vaudeville fans
seem to like and the program got all the
applause a critical actor would ask.
Jess and Dell, open with a humanized
real singing of the bill included. They
were followed by Robert and De- Mont.
who try to sing but should give their en-
tire fifteen minutes to the dance steps
they have in stock. This is a pair Of reai
dancers and the Woman especially is more
than ans eleysr she Is an artist +sat
cupies the feature part of the program is
well written and contains some mighty
good lines.
Joyner and Foster, do some mighty good
chatter in blaekfaee. These negro boys
are clever on their feet but unlike most of
the colored performers, are unable to vo-
caIize TO any great extent. Jack and
Jessie Gibson, do considerable stafling
about on the unicyeles;, They have one or
two good stunts but all that is worth while
in their offering could be presented in less
than five minutes.
AT THE ORPHEUM a story full Of ac-
ton is found in 1.-The He'll Diggers" The
theme of this play is decidedly new, being
laid in the gold fields of northern Cali
fornia where the giant gold dredging ma
chimes convert the fertile soil into desc
late wastes in the search for the hidden
treasure. Around this Byrsn Morgan has
built a good story in which Wallace Reid
is the here.
Reid combines a little of Douglas Fair
banks and Bill Hart tactics in this play
and it evidently pleases his audience ex-
tremely. Lois Wilson plays opposite Reid
and they are supported by a cast of famout
players There are some corking fights
and plenty OF humour
The vaudeville is a decided improvement
over last week. Princess Wah-Nee- Che
really has a voice of good tone and deep
Fvr4f NINA