Evening star., 1924-11-09
The Playhouse IN a
Moment of Politics
By Ph;1ander Johnson.

II has not been d time TO take the
thcater very seriously, with the pub
lie called upon to render the final
decision on 7-to-l bet i'll Wal
Street Whether Wall Street cxcr-
cises a dominant influence III poii-
tics may long be debated. as it has
been heretofore. but there is no.
doubt about it having considerable
Influence in the Broadway thcater,
whose performances arc SO lavishly
cmbcllished. regardless OF cost. as
to suggest that only concentration
OF world money could afford the
risk.
A growing tendency on the part
of politics and theatricals to take
each other seriously is likely to pro-
ducc curious effects. The actor has
recently abandoned the old restraint
as TO partisan expression. Formerly
he feared to offend admirers whose
political prcjudices might be stronger
than their appreciation OF art. Now
he organizes demonstrations. The
questions of Equity and Fidelity
having been disposed OF. inquiries as
to whether the latest revue is Re-
publican or Democratic may next be
in order. In the poet laureate con-
test, it looks as ii Al Jolson is like
ly to be depended on for melodious
inspiration for the Republicans; as
George Cohan was for the Demo-
Gratis. OF course. the theater has
its politics, but it is not as interest
ing as the kind that fills the first
page OF the newspaper. SO long as
the people get a good show once in
a while, they do not care who gives
it. Nobody cares muct, whether the
producing managers association has
dIsbanded or not. SO long as its
president, Sam II. Harris. can keep
The Music Box Revue" properly
supplied with new records. Nobody
cares what has become OF the. the
aer1cal dictator who was to exercise
the same authority over the drama
land for much less money! as Judge
Lands exercises over base ball. and
Mr.. Will Hays over the movies.
There are men OF political consc-
quence actively engaged i'll theatri-
cal business. such as Joseph Rim
ock. Representativ from Kentucky.
who has been Importantly identified
with the business affairs OF the Shu-
berts. and Rud H. Hynicka, mem
Der Of the national Republican conf
mittec. who is also treasurer of the
Columbia Amusement Co., which
supplies the Gayety Theater of this
city with its attractions. The pub
lics does not care, and the enter
tanner may rest pretty sure that his
political assertions will not hurt his
popularity. provided he does not Let
them interfere with his more impor-
taht intellectual responsibility of
looking around and trying to get a.
good act.
:: 4 x x
And this The Music Box Revue"
succeeds i'll doing. Phil Baker has
a genuinely good act with comedy
accordion that harks back to the
days when Joe Cawthorn was con-
sidered incomplete without his con-
certina. They called him "Concer-
tina Joe" He had hard work get
ting rid of it. A musical instrument
is fine booster for young come
dian, but as his career advances it
becomes something of ball and
chain
Il x y I:
"The Music Box Revue frankly
puts. 1928 label on 1924 program.
1t goes back farther than that:
Some Of the humor is midyictorian.
But it is a good. proper show, con-
tanning nothing to offend the most
delicate scnsibilities. The police
could view it through without
aualm. 1t has its sonlnolent cpl
sodes, creating a suspicion that in
evading the attentions of Nina Van
Winkle it is falling into the arms
of Rip. You can take that Rip
either way, - old old Dutch nick