The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-03-27
COLUMBIA.
George Beban IN persea ana In ssrh
Sign o. the Hose.o

.~~ss~ .toan - R1EW0M 8no - Use
sign % the Rose
To MI George Beban. long since
famous as one of the most promi-
nent vaudeville stars In america,
must 60 the credit for bringing to
Washington at Loew's Columbia
Theater this week one of the most
brilliant, forceful and engrossing
theater novelties that has ever been
offered. Mr.. Beban has enhanced
the natural dramatic appeal of the
stage and the screen by using both
mediums of expression in the mar
ration OF a story, without breaking
or interrupting the continuity OF
the theme Of a disadvantageous de-
gree. The production. "The Sign of
the Rose" was presented for the
/ first time in Washington yesterday
afternoon.
The Sign OF the Rose" is a story
OF deep pathos and heart interest
that could be presented with equal
! force either on the screen or In the
pictures. Mr.. Beban, however, has
elected to use both mediums In pre-
senting II at least three times a
day, for at three de luxe perform
ances daily. Mr.. Beban and his cast.
which includes Miss Helena Suili-
van, Dorothy Giraci. Charles Ed
Ter. Gene Cameron. Jeanne Carpen-
ter, Louisa Callamenti and others,
present the most tense scene of the
story in stage form while the in
PRODUCTION and conclusion OF the
narrative are carried forward in
cinema form.
The story opens, OF course. as q
picture. 1t reveals the love OF Pie
tro, a humble workman, for his lit
tie daughter. who was left him when
his wife was presumably lost in
a disaster at sea. The little daugh-
ter. despite his watchful care of
her. is made the victim OF an auto
mobile accident that brushes out her
life and by curious coincidence,
the automobile was owned by a
man whose own daughter has pre-
sumably been kidnapped and held
for ransom.
Plerto. heartbroken, goes out to
find flowers to lay on her grave and
strolling into a florist shop. Is mis-
taken for an emissary OF the kid
nappers. who has come to collect
the ransom for the child who has
been stolen This Is the scene that
is interpreted in stage form by Mr..
Beban and his cast. When the story
reaches this scene. the theater Is
suddenly darkened. the screen Is
lifted out OF sight and when the
lights go on the same scene is re-
vealed on the stage. with the same
characters in the Identical roles
they appeared in on the screen. This
scene shows how Pietro, mistaken
for a kidnapper. Is cruelty mis-
treated. only to have the truth OF
his innocence established by the en-
trance of the frantic father with
| the lost child. His gratitude Is so
great that he bestows upon Pietro
$4,000 reward offered for the baby's
return and Tony. thus with his tu-
ture assured. also has restored to
him the wife that he believed lost
at sea.
The production is intensely thrill
ing through this stage scene and II
continues for about twenty five
minutes. At the conclusion OF the
scene, the curtain is lowered, the
screen flashes back into place and
the camera carries the tale through
to its conclusion. 1t is almost GER
tain that Mr.. Beban's production will
meet Win the great SUCCESS tnat
has been its portion in other cities,
where II was rated as one of the
greatest film-and-stsge novelties OF
the year.
The management of Loew's Co
lumbia has embellished the program
with a notable list of added screen
! selections while the Columbia SYM
phony orchestra. under the direction
| of Mr.. Brusilof. contributes a spir-
tied and delightful musical score
A new Sennett comedy is the chief
added feature.