Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-20
THE MOVIE FANS
LETTERBOX
By HENRY NJ. NEBrY

them.
''In the first place I would like to
know why Harold tloyd's latest and
greatest picture, 'Grandmas Boy did
not have downtown shOwing7 Lloyd
always takes his comedy situations with
such a lifc.like touch Of his very own
originality that his real ht,ihan ror
trayals are always character that
stands alone on the screen. Who was
Ills enthusiastic little old grandma?
| II suppose we Will have the terribly
silly slapstick comedies Just as long tis
the five reeler exists. The first class
theatres are probably now using them
In place Of serials to chase the crowds
'" us n' 4 true trs that that pebe Daniel, 1, a
baby talk lady? Her pout ofthe lips
sure is the eats rubbers.'
WHO would yOu consider. the most
versatile character act0r ON the screen
today? My favorites are Theodore
koslof. Lon CLANCY, Theodore Roberts,
Claude iillingwater. Raymond Hatton
and Lillian leighton. Of whom have
| never heard mention IN your columns.
''lf remember rightly, was 1t not
Glenn Hunter who played the brother
in the stage version Of Clarence seen
here several seasons ago? Glenn Ger
tainly il great, and It won't be his
fault II his pictures don't prove to be
"What is his latest picture and
whenever are they to be shown in Phila.
delphia? thoroughly. enjoyed the
highly farcical netting pf Wallie Reid
and the cute wiles Of Mary McVvoy in
Clarence She IL such d romantic look.
ing, winsOmc Harrington ideal that any
young fellow would fall for her whim.
steal, charming little mannerisms:
'Chere enfant' (whew), I would model
my peach CO. ed aapper friend after her
IL possible"
I'vc said several times that I do not
feel that We have the right. In this
column. to discuss the strictly in-
ternal affairs Of the local movie houses.
Any house manager would naturally
as "Grandma's Boy" If he doesn't
play it, you can depend upon it that
there's some mighty good reason.
Usually it is matter Of price. Re.
Gently distributors have gone away be.
yond all bounds in placing vnlua-
ton on their pictures and personally
Nm always glad to learn that theatre
owners refuse to "fall for It," I'm not
making the assertion that that was the
case with "Grandma's Boy" because,
being only movies editor. I'm not
supposed 10 know. But. every time the
exhibition valuation Of pictures Is shov-
cd another notch upward, the theatre
owner has to boost prices OF admissions,
or cut down on comforts or attehdahts
or the rest Of the bill--Or so out OF
business. l am strongly in favor OF
asking all our theatre owners to let
us do without certain pictures rather
than submit to further increase IN
rental prices. which are already as high
rs present admission figures will cover:
II they go any higher. YOU and will
have to pay for it.. You didn't know
/ paid; I frequently do. l paid three
Anna Townsend was the grandmother
in "Grandma's Boy" She Will also
be in DIR. Jack" though her part
will not be- SO prominent.
! imagine that. under certain con.
ditIons, 1.sbe D%niels m M SS" YOU'D ttar talk baoy
tHik hadSt mddey at seem no. 40 aSn Have and To
Hold" I might have said consider
Theodore Kosloff the most versatile
character actor. But he'll have to
stigma Of that oifense. The only thing
that would induce me to see that again
would be just one flash Of Betty Comp:
son in one sequence. still. this Isn't
n guessing contest. Good thing, too;
everybody would guess right.
With KosloF temporarily out OF the
running. I'll have to let Theodore
Roberts head the character list. espe.
cially nfter'Old Homestead" Hail the
III 7 La
and "The Man Who Saw Tomorrow"
We wos the only tolernble spot in that
last namrd---er, what cnn call it
that's polite?
Yes, Glenn Hunter was the brother in
the stage "Clnrence. But young
Robert Ashew was really wonderful in
the saline part In the Aim version. And
I ssrce With you about Mary McAvOy.
Altogether I thought the Aim "Clar-
enceb pretty close TO the perfect photo.
r,lay comedy. though ] mourn for my
lost love, Agnes Ayres.. every time !
see her now. Hunter will be seen here
in all his Aims. but nobody knows when:
He has made "Ths , Cradle huster.'
"Second Fiddle" "The Lap OF Lux
ury,' and "1,he scnrscrow;" rsu W. ,o , ,,,,
davis work, haven't you? II all my
Correspondents were like you, this job
wouldn't be so soft;
Theoilocia: I'm so GLAD YOU asked
me about Jack Holt. because | got a
brand new biography of him few days
ago. and this gives IL" chance to
srring it. And. by the way. thanks for
the treat. She made big hit with me.
Jack Holt Is the son OF an Episcopal
clergyman. lie was born in Virginia
and lived there until he wns nine years
ojd Ills father was then called TO II
nor,sh in Fortlbam, which is just out
siIa 80 New York City. Jack was sent
r. n nriyate school In New York. Later.
ofter his fathers health had failed and
thc family had again returned to Nir-
,,nla he was sent to the Virginia Mill
tnyy Imstitute to complete his educn.
tion.
After graduation he obtained posi-.
tion as a civil engineer with railroad
company. This position took him TO the
ranching section Of the United States,
and the horses and cattle punching
proved more attractive to Jack than the
engineering. 30 he abandoned his orisl-
nal plan and became O cattle punchcr.
II is TO this experience that he owes his
expert horsemanship.
Il was as a rider he happened into
his first motion picture. Many expert.
ences, however, had INTERVIEWED between
this and his cattle punching days; lie
had explored for copper IN Alaska.
awaiting 4 boom which never came, and
he had appeared IN many stock COM