The New York herald., 1922-12-31
BY FRANK vREELAND

known before the footllghts. Incl
dentally he has discarded the piratical
theme on which he was to embark for
his next picture, and instead he will
have THE Talisman" turn over before
the camera President Obregon's pri-
vate car, which had been sent for
Fairbanks's use in his proposed trim
to Mexico, and which had been quietly
lying In wait for him in the yards OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad, has had TO
return to the southern republic with
out having Doug leap roguishly upon it.
The week just passed has been one
OF the most monumental in theatrical
history, even from the standpoint of
i ticket speculator. After tepid at
tendance on Christmas, both after
noon and evening, business picked up
with a rush toward the end Of the
week. And aside from the long
awaited appearance OF Ethel Barry
more in Romeo and Juliet" the OPEN
ing OF eight attractions on Monday
evening presented the largest crush
of dramatic talent ever known to fall
uppu all d. OliSe.
Then there have been the attacks
on the Moscow Art Theater, as a re-
suit of which Norris Gest's advance
sale has risen TO a large sum, vari-
ousIy quoted from $4,000 TO $1,000
depending upon the natural optimism
OF the informant.
A. II. Woods contemplates present
ing Lowell Sherman as a star as soon
as "The Masked Woman" has been
completely revealed. 1t Will be In one
of those Edgar Allan Poe plays. which
seems TO be the only survivor of the
epidemic of Poe plays season ago.
This was written by Edward Knob
lock, and as Woods was lighting a
cigar the other day he decided TO call
it '"Tbe Divine Spark" 1t deals with
the writer's DAYS in Fordham and his
devotion TO his wife, though Helen,
the other woman. naturally appears IN
il prominently FOR the sake OF those
who crave excitement In the theater.
Woods was frustrated in his dark
designs TO capture johannes Kreis-
Ter" after he saw it in Berlin by Crosby
Gaige, representing the Selwyna who
was first on line with the cash. But
rs Woods philosophically remarked.
1T cost the Selwyns $4,000 to soc 1t
here. whereas only had 10 pay SILL
1.-The Fool" was another Selwyn ven-
ture which Woods might have had.
but he waved II away. lie admits
freely that II is the one play turned
down by the Woods office which has
proven a success, and is willing TO con-
cede receipts Of 100000 TO the pro-
ducefs. When he was asked why he
rejected "The Fool" the manager an
swcred: Because l was the fool"
It was rumored last week that Lau-
rette Taylor was bound for the George
VI. Cohan Theater with "Humoresque"
shortly, but as "The Love Child" seems
bound by the closest ties to that house
the rumor failed to make good IN the
pinch Pauline Frederick in "The
Guilty One" will try conclusions with
New York in about a month.
Now that David Warfield in The
Merchant Of Venice" has been in
trusted 10 the American republic
David Belasco is taking steps to see
that Lionel Atwill marches on the
provinces in 1.-THE Comedian" by the
same Sacha Guitry who shed his lus-
tire on "'rhe Grand Duke"
incidentally every one around the
Belasco establishment became SO alb
sorbed in the preparations for "The
Merchant OF Venice" that 1t affected
the usually reserved stage crew. When
some one asked the property man on
the opening night after he had been
busy all evening setting each detail
in place how he felt. he replied feel
ingly: "My little body is aweary Of
this great world"
Frank keenan, has come 10 town