New Britain herald., 1922-12-30
Review of 1922 Dramatic Season Places Rosa Pon- selle and Louis Mann in the Local Limelight.

The offerings of the 1922 theater music and motion picture world, hav' been exceptional in so far, as New Britain people are concerned. Th' officers of the local musical clhp' have done their utmost m bringing many of the best concert and opera ,tars to this city and the theater man ncers have provided the Hardware City with the best there is to be found In motion pictures; with two stock companies and one great legitimate actor, Louis Mann. The city has also been offered vaudeville each week throughout the year. Some of the acts have been highly entertaining and have been worthy of repeated engagements while others have been very poor and 1t would have been better had they not been presented. Amateur theatricals have also enter tained those who seek that form Of amusement.
 Ponselle and Mann Here.
 Perhaps the outstanding features of the 1922 year has been the appear ance of Louis Mann in Friendly Enemies" his own production, at the Lyceum theater, and Rosa Ponselle. Metropolitan Opera star, in a concert at Fox's theater, the latter under the auspices of the New Britain Musical club. As for moving pictures, "or- phans of the Storm" Burning Sands" "Manslaughter," "Grandma's Boy" "Disraeli," -Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" Pay Day." "Smilin' Thru" "Blood and Sand" and Monte Cristo" and '.The Prisoner of zenda" have no doubt been among the best offerings.
 First Stock Company.
 At the opening of the 1922 sen on In January of last year, Hoyt's Musi- cal Revue was playing at the Lyceum while vaudeville and moving pictures provided the entertainment at the Palace and Fox theaters. Later in the month, January 23 to be exact, the Joseph Payton Stock company started a winter season of dramatic stock at the Lyceum theater, opening in 'The Storm" This play was very capably presented, but the attend ance was not as it should have been. and as a result the company closed after five weeks. It is also possible that the selection of the last two plays presented, Her Unborn Child" and lover the Hill." had much to do with the failure of the company
 Many Good Pictures.
 
 again left to vaudeville and moving pictures for entertainment. The Gild- ed Lily with Mae Murray at Fox's; "Mother O'Mine" at the Palace; "Molly-O," Palace; Saturday Night" Fox's; and Fool Paradise" at the Palace were some af the best films offerings during the first three months of the year.
 Fox's theater observed anniversary Not Yet Marie" was the first big vaudeville offering of the year at the Palace theater On March 16, IT and IS, Edward Samlow, local lad ,ap- peared in an act at the Fox theater. M Cormican Returns
 The James Cormican Players opened a season of dramatic stock in "A Tailor Made Man. on Monday, April IT. The play was very poorly presented and the majority of play CTS in the company did not come up to the standard of those appearing in former companies at the Lyceum.
 Mann In Own Play
 Louis Mann, who it was rumored at the time was financially interested In the company, came to New Britain the following week and played in "Friendly Enemies the production in which he played for a full season in New York. Ir. Mann was well re- ceived by local people and his acting shone way above anything which has been seen ill New Britain in the past few years: in fact since the Lyceum ceased to become the home of legitimate attractions.
 First "tooJisI Wives" showing
 It was also during this month that "Foolish Wives" Universal's greatly advertised film had its first showing in Connecticut at the local Fox thea fer and registered such hit on the opening night that hundreds of peo- pie were turned away. The picture, however, did not appeal to local movie fans as as result the attendance dropped daily for the remainder of the week.
 Amateur Production
 Two amateur productions were staged in May. One was that of the "Gingerbread Man" at the LyceIm by the Masonic organizations of New Britain and the other "A Pair of Sizes" at the high school auditorium by the Amphio dramatic club.
 The Cormican Players closed on May 27 and the Lyceum remained dark until late fall. For the last of the stock company the players appeared in "smilin' Thru and at the same time the film yer sion of this play was showing at the Palace theater with Norma Talmadge as the star. The stage presentation at the Lyceum was worth while but did not draw the crowds as did the film at the Palace. This is the first that that film and stage version of the same piece played in New Britain In two different theaters at the same time.
 Lee Kids in Person On May 29 the first All Girl' bill was presented at the Another noteworthy vaude- vile attraction was the personal ap- pearance of Jane and aKtherine Lee | 1t the Palace in Movie School" the lct in which they played at Keith's Palace in New York.
 One June :, Fox's theater changeI |