The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-04-23


abandoned the Postofrice portfolio to be-
come the Delphc oracle OF the movi.
makers. has been broken at last by HIS startling
pronunciamento which prohibits. from hence
forward. the screen caperings OF Arbuckle. the
screen pie-slinger.
The effect Of this Mr.. Hays FIRST major act
screen dictator. definitely marks ArbuckIe for
the slaughter Arbuckle is be offered up. FIRST.
sacrifice TO American moral prejudices who
profess to in her very pe-sIinging a sinister
menace TO American morals, and second, as a
grim and unmistakable warning to other poten-
tal sinners in the movie ranks who might be
encouraged by ArbuckIes rehabilitation, TO take
further liberties with the moral code.
The hapless Arbuckle. who. following his
acauittal in San Francisco stands more than
even chance to rehabitate his fortunes 81 allowed
the opportunity. will not be consigned 10
the dubious mercies of the populace. The popu-
lace. in its contrary fashion. is aIthogether too
his status quo ante. The terms OF the Hays
decision forestall this possibility completely.
ArbuCkle Is 10 be led the nearest vacant
lot and privately cruciied, after which his
mangled professional corpse will be nailed 20
the nearest barn-door a warning to others
who might be encouraged, otherwise TO pursue
the hectic tenor OF their moral ways.
Arbuckle. of course. has been shamelessly
maltreated by the authorities in San Francisco
who finding themselves unable to convict him
OF murder. set themselves the business OF
running him financially Despite their efforts
Fatty has survived the hangman and the
sherin's sale and but for Hays drastic decision
might conceivably have staged comeback.
Mr.. Hoys, By his decision, only goes
a long coy totcord restoring public conJideHc,
IN the moral purity Of the actor but he
also posts a grim earning 10 those ScithtH the
HoUie ranks tcho still banker for the flesh
pots Of Frisco and Hollywood. II IS q harsh
and Drastic but MdchiaveIidn decision that
Hays has made for his employers and 1t may
be all for the best tH the long
~oME OF III. really subtle stag. humor OF the
past week was unconsciously furnished by
Fred Stone and Olga Potrova without the
least consciousness OF their own partcipa-
tiOn in the fun. In Stones case. it took form
in his attempt TO live up TO the title OF COM
edan" and in the OF Petrovs, it mani
Tested in her frenzed efforts TO engraft the word
Madam" the already familiar Olga"
1t is really difficult to understand, after
watching Stones efforts 10 be funny in "Tip-Top"
last week, how he ever managed and
maintain the tradition OF humor. As matter
of fact, there few comedians the American
stage who labor stupendously TO be funny
with less success than Stone. As a master Of
Iarat-throwinE, whip-cracking. target-shooting
and acrobatics. Stone is a highly proficient
tertainer. but insofar any appeal ones
humorous intelligence IS concerned Stone is sadly
and remarkably inferior to any OF a dozen
third-rate clowns whose coming TO the thester
excites commotion at all
Petrovas efforts drop the "Olga" and
other bit OF spice from a rather dull week.
Petrova, always good showwoman, is earnestly
striving TO annex the Bernhard atmOsphero
without altogether approximatinG the Bernhardt
art and genius.
Nevertheless. her nomenclature campaign IS
pushed with great assiduity by a press agent
who persists in spelling it Madam" This is a
great mistake, for it gives the a dress
making flavor and lays bare, at one stroke, the
labored nature of the whole effort
There ANY number Of more
eligible for such hioh-SoUHdiHg professional
prcfiz thar PetroUG, yet Frances Starr, Maud
Adams, Ina Claire aud a doseH other superior
stars tcorTy along cirhoHt Il. The really
humorous part Of the attempt IS the fact
that st IS highly likely TO impress gUlIible
percentage Of those tcho attend the thedter.
~ YER since the Knickerbocker disaster dis
l. organized theatrical conditions in Wash
ington last February, the physical aspect
of the local thester has been constantly
changing, and today. altogether new aspect
of the situation is presented.
With the week. current, the GsrTick definite
ly abandons its struggle with intermittent book
devotes itself TO presenting the stock offerings
OF. Arthur Leslie Smith and his associates. who
open the Garricks fourth consecutive season OF
summer stock with the presentation OF The
Boomerang"