Evening star., 1926-10-10
NATTONAL-"Ben-Hur."

The cinema version Of Gen. Lew
Wallace's immortal story. "Ben-Hur."
begins the third week Of it's Wash
ington engagement at the National
Theater at the matinee today. The
picture will not be shown in any
other theater or city in this territory
until the Autumn Of 1927. 1t seems
probable that "Ben-H Hur" will achieve
a record-breaking run in this city
Older theatergoers of Washington.
who remember the several noteworthy
engagements here Of "Ben-Hur" as
spoken drama. are especially in
terested in the cinema version. since
1T offers a fine opportunity for COM
pairing the older art with the new.
"Ben-Hur" as a play. was the great
est achievement the American stage
had known up to the time OF its
presentation. The splendor Of its
pageantry and the marvellous me-
chanical effect Of the chariot race won
admiration. But where there were
2 chariots in the play, there are IL
in the picture: where 80 super
numeraries appeared in the drama
there are 5000 in the cinema. and
the sea battle between the Roman
triremes and the pirate ships, which
could not be adequately represented
on the stage. is in the picture version
declared to be the most overwhelm-
ingly exciting scene ever reproduced
on the screen.
The presentations Of "Ben-Hur' are
accompanied by a musical score ar
ranged by David Mendoza and VIII
liam Axt, and performed by a tour
ing orchestra Of 80 musicians. Two
performances are given daily. at ESQ
and $50, with Sunday matinee at 3
o'clock.
-"They Knew What
They Wanted"
Out Of all the plays that spun their
webs on Broadways play horizon In
1924 the one picked as the Pulitzer
medalist play for that season was
"They Knew What They Wanted. y
which was produced by the Theatrical
Guild, and in which starred Pauline
Lord and Richard Bennett. The play
of the California grape valley never
reached Washington. but 1t will be
produced by the President Players
next week, beginning Monday night.
,"The shirt-sleeved version of Iris
tan and Isolde salted TO modern
taste" one reviewer calls 1t. has three
central figures who are triumphant
opponents Of the grande manner In
writing-a waitress In spaghetti
joint, an old grower of grapes and
his adopted son. an 1. w. W. vaga-
bond, in whose veins the California
sun revives the hot blood of his an
cestral cline.
Amy. the waitress, famiShed for
love, is courted through the ink well
by old Tony, but with Joe. the young
er's photograph. What follows In
that Napa Valley farmhouse. where
age battles with youth. is blending
of tears and sunshine.
KEITH'S-Anna Fitziu.
Anna Fitziu, American prima donna,
who headlines the bill at 3. F. Keith's
Theater this week, has an enviable
record with both the Metropolitan and
Chicago Opera Cos. For her vaude-
vile premier in Washington she
brings Drysdale, the we'll known Eng
lish pianist Ida May Chadwick.
champion tap dancer. will take the
featured spot with her dizzy blondes
"Six Reasons for a Gentleman's Pref
erence"
Others will include Harry Jams and
Harold Whalen, 1.-TWO Good Boys
Gone Wrong; the three kemmys,
a novel act from Europe. in an artis-
tic display Of strength: Lew Reed
and Paul le We're, 1.-TWO Gentlemen
From Nowhere" entertaining with
music and dancing;
Harry Holman, assisted by Edith
Manson, with his 1925 comedy version
of Hard Boiled Hampton; Jerome
Mann, Juvenile mimic. in "impersona-
tions," and an original novelty, In
PRODUCING some blue ribbon French
poodles, offered by Sylvia Loyal and
company.
On the screen will be the Aesop's
Fables, Topics Of the day and Pathe
News Weekly.
EARLE-"Sunny Spain"
A colorful musical comedy will
headline this weeks bill at the Earle
Theater, Sunny Spain," which has
a large cast of principals and ensem-
Bile.
Others will include. Kay :kody and
Olive Wilson in Moments Of Song
and Music" Emma Earle Harvey In
| "Past and Present" David Ferguson.
character comedian, in Paul Gerard
Smiths 1.-The Lucky Stiff" in which
also appear George l.. Spauldlng,
Geraldine Wood and John Lester. and
Bert Walton in You'll Do the Same
Thing to Someone Else"
The photoplay will be First Ma
tional's, THE Brown Derby" in which
Johnny Hines Is the star. supported
by Diana Kane. Ruth Dwyer. Flora
| Finch, Edmund Breese. j. Barney
| Sherry and Herbert Standing. The
! story was adapted from the musical
| comedy by F. S. Merlin and Brian