The Washington herald., 1922-09-24
Rodolph Acquires
Hollywood's Idea
OF Small Change
Hence MIR. Zukor's Star Now Pouts
And Demands a New
Contract.
By EARLE DORSEY.

rF RodoIph Valentino Honywood's spoiled kid.
was ten years younger than he seems To be
Il someone might turn him over their knee
and spank him. Being. however. presumably
grown up, Valentino will probably continue his
petulant didoes until New York court passes
his now-famOus squabble with Adolph zukor.
Valentines latest trouble. Of course is
salary matter. Quite suddenly he has discovered
that his film contract calls for the starvation
figure Of 1920 week. Realizing that screen
popularity is heeting and not always so enduring
three-year contract, Valentino has gone on
into a corner sulk vowing that he'll never
work for Zukor He has carried the
TO the New York courts to what they
think Of it and in the meantime civilization
stand around listening 20 his woes which
would be tlresome IL they weren't droIL
Believe Valentino. sheiking for ZukOr Is
bed Of roses. For example. Zukor 10 said 10
have provided Rude with nothing resembling
couch which he might rest between scenes
Furthermore, location, great star
Valentino forced dress in IN open motor
lizzie" think yOu?-instead OF a limou-
sine. Additionally. the hard hearted Zukor Is
alleged to have forced RodOIph to separate from
his wife, Winfield Hudnut and then. ii is further
alleged refused reimburse Valentino for her
fare to New York. All OF which is cited
show that Valentines contract at $1,000 week.
presumably made in good faith. longer pays
Rodolph what he thinks he's worth
Here apparently. is another example Of what
Hollywood does them. This is what comes
of too much talking in big figures. / ventur-
to say that Rodolph almost swallowed his chew
ing gum when Zukor offered him l.2OO a weel-
and had Zukor said fifty years instead Of three
] refuse to wager that Rodolph would have
refused.
Whatever the outcome OF Mr. Valentines
latest outburst Of temperament il is high time
this young fellow down TO earth and
stayed on the reservation. Only month two
ago he was courting excommunication because
of matrimonial flyer and now he's toying with
the patience Of public that makes possible
salary of $500 day.
A few more outbursts from the sutry-cyod
Rodolph and VIII Hays may start for California
with business in his eye.
~ NoUGH however Of Rodolph and his woes.
- What for instance. Of Rabbit" the
new novel by Sinclair Lewis author nr
Main Street" and its chances OF attain
ing the footlights?
1t might appear. at first glance that the
Broadway entrepreneurs were already mentally
casting a stage version Of a novel which j. not
only an appreciably better piece Of writing than
Main Street" but a novel which promises to
achieve a real popularity before the year is out.
On the other hand. l seriously doubt whether a
single member of the play making fraternity
has even considered seriously the matter Of
staging Rabbit"
To become eligible at all for broadway pro-
duction Mr.. Lewis novel must first achieve
the record breaking vogue Of Lewis Main
sales Of Main Street is questionable. but
momentarily admitting that il may. there stiI
remain numerous and deep-seated obstacles 10
its stage appearance.
Primarily ''Babbitt" lays naked the soul OF
the modern business In a fashion that
can hardly be called hatterinP. The same
searchlight that Lewis turned on the small town
and its pretentions TO culture in Main Street"
is turned the similar pretentions OF the
sound business man. the city booster. the pilia'
of the church. the 100 per cent urban american
IL exposes him in fashion that lar from
upholder of civic law in breath. but as the
abject supplicant Of bootleggers in the next II
reveals him FIRST at his devotions and in the
next flash, his profteerinG
As much a l desire. personally to see an
adequate stage presentment Of "Babbitt" by
such honest intelligent producer as Brock
Pemberton. say. there seems mighty little chance
of realizing such desire. Broadway puU-
duced Main Street in the belief that the
books popularity would carry the play. To a
certain extent this true while Main
Street" additionally, never asked one do more
than laugh at the elaborate, aimless suhter-
fuges of the small-town hick-that classic butt
Of stage humOr. II is. however. quite another
matter to ask so per cent of the seat-buy lHE
males Of America to sit for two hours aud
thirty minutes in a theater and observe a novel;
list pilory their habits, traditions and even
thasr