The Washington times., 1926-07-31
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Observation-Disclosures" Bill
Jones. the character who drove
a swarm OF bees across the
prairie without losing q bee, VIII
stalk the National stage this new
week in the experienced hands OF
Percy Winter who has played the
role over one thousand times.
Mr.. Winter was understudy 20
the late Frank Bacon. who wrote
the play and starred in It TOT
nearly three years on BroadWays
Following Bacon's death IN Cnl-
cago Mr.. Winter took over the
part In the first Of five companies
that were touring.
Producers. critics and playgoers
are quite convinced there never
has been q play quite IKE
ssIightnin'." It is exceptionally
well.plotted as d drama. though
its forte is misunderstanding; the
character in question being a
Iucklcss and picturesque civil-War
veteran whose penchant for re-
manning half soused most OF the
time and telling harmless lies
all of the time. gets him into
trouble and almost wrecks the
domestic happiness he has cher
ished for fifty years.
The story is laid on the bound
ary line between Nevada and Cal
ifornia. Here Lightnin' and his
wife run a hotel refuge for
divorce seekers, the structure so
situated that half of 1t is in
Nevada and the other half in
California. The boundary line.
painted on the floor OF the lobby
plays q significant part in another
development OF the story.
The courtroom scene wherein
Ma Jones. wearied OF Bills shift
lessness and furtive drinking. is
plaintiff in the divorce appeal. IL
one OF the strongest ever COM
posed for the stage: alternately
funny and sad and. finally down
fight sorrowful when Old Bill.
escaping from the Soldiers Home.
appears in his faded blue uniform
and acts as his own lawyer.
KETTH'S The first Of . Sc
ries Of Joseph SantIey Produc-
TONS viii be seen at B. r.
Keith's beginning Sunday at 3,
when a colorful revue called Lon.
don, Paris and New York, win top
the bill. The ensemble supplies
prize collection Of IL dancers and
comedians, and q bouquet OF beau
tsful girls.
Announcement is made OF the
return to vaudeville Of Helen
Trix. who win be featured for
the week with her sister Matte,
in Songs at the Piano Other
acts include John Miller and
James Mack, The Bing Boys
the singing comics, Bud and Jack
Pearson, in Don't Tell the Doc
tori; La Fleur and Portia, the hui
man top: Loren Raker, comedian;
Jack Fulton and Peggy Parker in
q playlet by Paul Gerard Smith.
EARLE-James 3. Jeffries and
Tom Sharkey. two Of the greatest
heayyweights that ever squared
off in ring, win appear in per.
son and in action at the Earle
Theater beginning tomorrow. While
not in any way infringing upon
the Districts code with regard to
ring bouts, the former heavy
weight champion and the ex-
sailor who gave him q few of his
toughest battles. viii demonstrate
the blows and the form OF STRAIT
egg that comprised their respec.
tive qualities OF superiority in the
squared circle.
The extra attraction will be
supplied by Verna Haworth, with
Fred Martin, assisted by Fred
erick Wobett and Mickey O'Con.
nor in That's All There Is"
<lan
Rogers and Company in Show
Ne the Way Home; Keller and
Layland, two charming vocalists
who announce themselves az
that lyric duo" and others.
The photoplay attraction will
be Universal's latest production
for Norman Kerry, The Love
Affair" just the sort of thing he
does best. Greta Nissen is in SUPP
port.
STRAND-Next week win in.
augurate the new vaudeville sea.
son at the Strand with q gala
opening on Sunday at b. m. Big
ger and better things are on sched.
ule for you this season than ever
before, with next weeks program
doing full credit to this statement.
Heading the vaudeville pro-
gram will be the Primrose Four.
a talented quartet of male voices
in 900 Pounds of Harmony"
Holding second place on the pro-
gram is a large and elaborate
song and dance number entitled
the Speak E-Z Revue" present.
ed with cast of eight, including
the Sidelf Sisters. Then there
will be VIII H. Ward with his
company of comedians and song
sters in AT the Stage Door:
the Beautiful Beasley Twins in
a violin and piano number, "Mu.
sic Symphony and Charm" and
last but not least the thrills
added by daring mid-air feats Of
Louis Leo. The photo feature will
he "Lost at Sea, with Jane Novak,
Lowell Sherman and others.
COLUMBIA-Dorothy Gish, the
whimsical little comedienne OF
such films as Hearts of the
World" appears on the Columbia
screen next week in the English.
made success, Nell Gwyn." Ju.
liette Compton, a new British
beauty, and Randle Ayrton, also
from the isles, contribute impor-
tant supporting roles, those of
Lady Castlemaine and Charles II,
respectively. Miss Gish is report
ed to play with smart abandon the
role of the roguish. flirtatious
orange girl, whose charms caught
the amorous eyes OF Charles IL