San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-09
BY ROBERT T. SMALL

by HUBERT Il. SMALL
Copyright, by the San Antonio Light.
New York, Sept. S.-"The first
night" of a new film ON Broadway
They call it n. world premiere.
That makes it cost you $3.50 for a
seat. The star of the film, the most
wistful, pathetic little figure on, the
American screen, IS to appear ''in per.
son." You have to fight your way into
the theater. The lobby is filled with
the fans of this particular girl star
They are nearly all women. Some
of them are carrying infants in their
arms. They have been standing in
the lobby ever since the doors opened,
to catch a glampse of the movie
queen" as she enters to watch from a
box her own performance on the silver
sheet.
Inside, the theater is damned. The
women are gorgeous creatures in their
glittering evening gowns. "Where do
they get all the money to dress that
way" inquiries a man from the
sticks" His companion, New
Yorker, shrugs his shoulders. The men
are in dinner jackets mostly, but a
few are in old-fashioned evening
clothes with white ties. The boxes
are filled with personages of prom
inence in the world Of theater, fl
nance, business and politics.
l. James NJ. Cox There.
In one box is former Governor
James NJ. Cox. "Yes. / have many
Republican friends" Re is overheard
to remark to a member of his party.
But why shouldn't II" he adds.
Didn't l roll up the greatest Repub-
lican majority ever reco ded for a
PRESIDENT? In another box is Gov
ernor smith of the sovereign state of
New York. "Al's here" i, the word
passed around and everybody who has
seen or heard of THE Old Soak" grins.
Later Governor Al and Ex-Governor
Jimmie are to be seen in earnest
consultation. Maybe they are talk
ing of Murphy, or Tom Taggart. or
George Brennan, or some of he other
Democratic bosses" Who knows?
Dotted all through the audience are
men and women familiar to movie
goers the country over. The decol-
letage of the women is extreme. 1t
must be extreme if there is to be any
marked contrast between the armless
and reckless costumes on the streets
these days and the ''undress" of full
evening gowns. 1t is easy TO see.
however, that the movie queens have
succeeded N obtaining the contrast.
Easy to see and ever so much easier
10 look. The theater buzzes with COS.
sip and excitement and EXPLANATIONS
of recognition as one after another of
the big-wigs of the screen are picked
out.
Like Former First Nights"
1t Is all suggestive of the great
first nights of the dramatic pro-
auctions OF the past. The audience
could be no more brilliant. the atmos-
phere no more vibrant or tense. IL
Bernhardt or Duse or Retan or Mans
field were producing a masterpiece. Yet
this first night is all tonor of the
silent drama. the unro1Iing Of n MIC,
ture made by a wisp of a girl who
never knew anything of the experience
or the craft of the sneaking stage.
There is touch Of personality in the
fact, however. that the little star is
present, looking on with becoming
modesty from the seclusion of stage
box-an awfully poor place to see a
picture.
The audience s dynamic in its en-.
thusiasm. The orchestra leader gets
n big hand. The name of the girl star
is flashed on the screen. IT'S a knock.
out. The audience applauds for
minutes. Then comes the name of the
producer of the scenario writer. the
director, the assistant directors. the
man who arranged the musical score.
the head camera man and the LITTLE
camera man. There is an outbreak Of
approval of every name. Clearly This
evening there is glory enough for all.
Craft applauds craft. Clever actors
cheer clever acting. Snappy canton
writers vociferously voice their appre-
clatlon of snappy captions. 1t re-
minds you of the old days Of profess
sional matinees when all the actors
and actresses would come to give the
performers the friendliest and most
appreciative audience they had ever
appeared before. The profession NAV
Knock a bit now and then in the Sc
clusion of its clubs and apartments.
but in public it acclaims its own neo-
pie with loyalty that is inspiring.
AT last the fadeout. Pandemonium
breaks loose again. The star has
scored-heavily. The projecting light
dies out, but the audience does not
move.
Star. star" hey call. The star.
OF course is waiting for the cue. But
first there appears the producer.
Hooray. hoorayi He. bows his ac-
knowledgement and then he reads
sheaf of kilograms. They are con-
gratulatory. They wish the star every
success in the new rtlc. 1t is lust
as II she were essaying n spoken role
not as if her part in the production
was completed long ago, Most of the
kilograms are from brother and sister
stars. There is one in particular which
IS quite long and well-worded. The
writers are sorry they were called
west before the premiere. Who are
the senders? Have they gone West