davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-11-28
Back-Stage Atmosphere

MONTA BELL, former Washington
4'A newspaper man and now a
Metro GoldWyn- Mayer screen director.
in his new Norma Shearer prOduC
ton. "Cpstage," undertakes to intro
duce his audience to the back-stage
life in vaudeville.
"I was fairly familiar with the back.
stage area in the average vaudeville
theater before I began this picture"
said Bell, in discussing it, but | want
ed to duplicate the real thing. I want
ed to show the cautionary signs and
notices back stage that are SO inter
esting, although but seldom familiar
to the public. the helter-skelter con-
fusion of conglomerated acts and set
tlngs. the bulletin board. the ropes,
the pulleys, the canvas and all the
rest.
We found the best way to accom-
pliSh this was to build our interior
sets direct from photographs Of a real
vaudeville stage and afterWard idealiZe
and embellish the set as we thought
advisable. Much of this minutiae may
seem eXtraneous, but it is my idea
that atmosphere is best created with
a thousand and one 'trif1eS, no one
Of which is important, but all of which
work together to create the much
desired illusion.
"One of the signs in this artificial
back-stage set we built reads: We
know our stage is bum. How is your
act?' Another reads: Don't tell us
how good you are: show US A third
reads: City laundry. Rush work for
professional people These are just
a portion of the signs that are made
visible to the audience, and not all of
them ever appear in any one theater.
but they serve TO create the back
stage feeling. along with the crates
Of 'Gregory's trained tigers and other
paraphernalia that goes along with
the stage, before and behind the cur
tain"
Evening star., 1926-11-28
The Story of "PiqueDame,
Tschaikowsky's Opera

DETER ILJTTCII TSCHAIKOWSkY,
the composer who has stood out
in the individuality OF his compost
tions from among Russians as Richard
Wagner has from among the German
rompoScrS. will make his debut in
Washington as an opera tic writer in
he first presentation here of his
work. "Pique Dame" by the Wash
'ngton Opera Co. at the Auditorium
= week from tomorrow night. DeCem-
her g. This opera has been rarely
heard in this country. 1t was pre-
sented at the Metropolitan Opera
House in Italian. Jacques Samossoud,
the Russian conductor of the perform
ance here, announces that this is the
first time that the opera will be given
in the United States in the Russian
language by a Russian east. although,
saws Mr.. SamoSSoud. this is the most
popular of all the native operas with
the Russian people. and he believes
that American people. too, will find ii
fascinating.
The story of the opera was inspired
by q poem hy The great Pushkin. The
first performance of the work was
given in Moscow at the MarienSky
Theater December ~, 1890. The. opera
is unique in having the hero'S struc-
cleS principally mental, rather than
physical as is the case in the melo-
dramatic stories of most operas. Her
man. a young Russian officer. is a
veritabl Hamlet of opera. with men
tai alterations to such an extent that.
in early American. he sees spirits
not infreQuently. This mental unrest
is strikincly portrayed in the music.
In fact, the score seems. even from
the piano version. to be amazingly
vivid in its pictorialness and tells the
story, forecaSting each episode and
mood of tte principal characters in a
way that the average operasoer.
trained slightly along these lines
with the musical scores for motion
pictures. should find enlightening and
entertaining.
Briefly, the high lights OF the story
are: Herman has seen "a girl and fallen
madly in love with her. In the open
ing scene. a garden setting. he tells
a. friend, Count Tomsky, who has
chided him upon his downcast and pre-
occupied air, about this mysterious
beauty. Prince Yeletsky. a wealthy
nobleman. approaches accompanied
by two officers, who congratulate him
on his approaching marriage with
Liza, the heroine. At this moment
Liza, accompanied by her grand
Evening star., 1926-11-28
Coleridge-T aylor Choral
Group Recently Reorganized

THE Samuel Coleridge-T Tia ylor Choral
Society was organized in 1901 by
local colored musicians. incorporated
in 1908, under the stimulus of q pro
posed visit to Washington of the COM
poser Of that name. In a conference
at the home of Mrs. Mamie T.. Hilyer
it was discovered that the formation
of choral society among the colored
singers of Washington had long been
in the minds Of many of them and
only needed the stimulus of the pro-
posed visit of the composer and the
opportunity to sing "Hiawatha' to
give it tangible shape and permanent
form.
It's object is to develop wider in
terest in the masterpieces of the great
composers and especially to diffuse
among the masses higher musical
culture and appreciation of works that
tend to refine and elevate.
Since it's organization, the society
has rendered "Hiawatha' on seven
different OcCaSionS-four times in
Washington zone of which it was ac
companied by the United States
Marine Band of 50 pieces). twice in
bdllillloIe anu ollCe III hLdiSl piiie'
In November, 1904. the society had
Mr.. ). ColeridSe Taylor as its guest,
when it gave a festival. The society
consisted of 200 voices and had among
its patrons Eugene f.. Stevens Viii
liam Bruce King, Reginald de Koven,
Percy Foster, Lieut.. William Santel-
mann, Edward II. DrOop, Bernard r.
Green. Mrs Coralie +. Cook and Mrs.
William Bruce King.
After having been inactive for
number of years the society has been
reorganized and is now rehearSing at
the Phyllis Wheatley Y. w. G. A, 901
Rhode Island avenue northwest, every
Tuesday evening at pm.
They are making an effort. to per
feet a larger and more efficient organ
ization and are inviting all interested
in choral work to join them.
Evening star., 1926-11-28
WESTMINSTER CHOIR-WED-
NFSDAI.

The Dayton Westminster Choir,
made up of so professional men
and women who sing sacred choral
music without accompaniment and
from memory, reaches Washington in
it's annual tour Wednesday, and is to
give a concert in the auditorium Of
Central High School that evening at
SIS o'clock. John Finley Williamson
is the conductor, 1t has been attested
that this choir has artistry. sincerity
and simplicity and compares favor
ably with any choir in the world to-
day. 1t appears here under the man.
agement of r. Arthur Smiths Concert
Bureau.
The program follows:
'Hodle Christus natus est $500. Palestrina
Christmas motet for double chorus;
'CruclfiXus' tfor double chOruSl -. .LottI
BE Not Afraid (motet for double chorus
Bach
Jesus: Friend of sinners .,..:....;. Grieg
Gritty first Psalm" "............ Brahms
Easter motet ("Christ Is Risen
For double chorus.
swing Low. Sweet Chariot" Hall
"
The lords Prayer" first performance
Gaines
List to the Lark" ........ Dickinson
Praise to the Lord .,..,... .Chrlet1ansen
Evening star., 1926-11-28
Nine. Schumann-Heink
December Z

MAIE. ERNESTINE SCHUMANN-
IIeink will appear in Washington
during her golden jubilee tour with
the New York Symphony Orchestra
December Z. The famous singer is
celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of
her opera career by giving concerts in
cities from coast to coast. She is MAX
Ing only four appearances with orches-
train New York, Washington, Balti-
more and Philadelphia with the New
York Symphony under the direction of
Walter Damrosch. Her association
with Dr. Damrosch dates back many
years.
Reviving her most celebrated oper-
attic roles. Nine. Schumann-Heink will
sing Erda's warning from "Rhein-
gold" and Waltraute's narrative from
act I of "Gotterdammerung." The re.
mainder of the program is also Wag-
merriam, with selections from Tam
hauser." "Siegfried," Flying Dutch
man." die Meistersinger" and Iris.
tan and Isolde
Walter Damrosch, speaking of Schu-
mann-Heink, said:
THE famous artists from abroad
who are attracted to this coluntry may
be divided into two classes. There are
those who arrive week before their
opening concert and leave again for
Europe together with their much en-
larged money bags the day after their
last appearance. There are others who
develop gratitude and affection for our
country and our people and make
their home here.
"Of the latter, Nine. Schumann-
Heink is a shining example. She has
been an American citizen for many
years. She has given with prodigal
generosity of her great art and Of her
marvellous vitality to American chari.
ties. During the war, although of Ger
man extraction. she felt that her alle-
glance was with the American people,
and appeared in countless concerts at
our soldiers hospitals"
Evening star., 1926-11-28
Nordica Clubs Present
Benefit Concert Dec. s

THE Nordica Mandolin and Guitar
Orchestra and the Nordica Banjo
Club, Walter T. Holt. director, will
present a program at the First Bap-
tist Church a week from tomorrow,
December 6, at 8 pm. for the benefit
of the church.
Soloists who will participate include
Miss A. f. Hill. Annie Moffat. Mrs.
Howard Blandy (accompanist), Charles
A. Conrard. B. w. DeLoss, r. A
KoontZ, Raymond A. Hart and Philip
Gloria
Evening star., 1926-11-28

Karl Holer announces that he is
having success with individual in
struction in the art of composing
music. as he is working the system
out with the members of the Young
Composers Club of Washington, of
which he is director.
Evening star., 1926-11-28
LEMON QUARTET-FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY.

The second pair of concerts of
chamber music by the Lenox String
Quartet of New York will be given in
the auditorium Of the Library of Con
eress Friday evening at $50 and Sat
urday afternoon at 4:30.
. Admission to these concerts is free.
but by card only. Cards my be called
for at the music division of the Libra
ry of Congress. beginning tomorrow.
between the hours of 10 am. and 4
pm. To insure admission, cards
should be called for early. Requests
by telephone cannot he honored, nor
those by mail. unless from out of
town. Persons unable to use any
cards that have been issued are re-
queSted to return the same at least
one day before the concert. Children
under Is will not be admitted. The
doors will open 80 minutes before the
hour of the concert.
The Friday program will be:
Quartet in minor. Op. 16"
For two violins, viola and violoncello
Zoltan Kodaly--,
For violin and viooncello
III.
Franz Schubert
Quartet in A minor Op 30"
For two violins. viola and voloncelo.
Saturdays program will include:
Hugo Wolf
italian Serendde.
For two violins. viola and violoncello.
H.
G.. +. Handel
sonata in G. minor"
For violin and piano.
Evening star., 1926-11-28

A vision Of Pique Dame tortures Her
man and he picks up the queen Of
spades instead of the ace. Realizing
his error too late. he knows all is lost,
and in utter despair kills himself.
Evening star., 1926-11-28

Yola d'Avril, charming young Parish
enne, who was recently signed by
First National. possesses a name that
looks tricky. but isn't. 1t is pro.
nounced exactly as 1t is spelled. Only
the apostrophe is silent,
Evening star., 1926-11-28

LA SALE SPIER,
Washington pianist, who will play
Handel's "SOnata i'm G Minor" with
Wolfe Wolfinsohn in the program.
Saturday afternoon at the Library of
Congress under the auspices of the
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge FOunda-
ton.
Evening star., 1926-11-28

Nina Norman, Christine Irish and
Blanche Kerr participated In the
Luther pageant. given at the Wash
ington Auditorium Tuesday night.
Evening star., 1926-11-28
VEDNESDAY-CLAUDIA MUZIO.

Claudia Muzio. brilliant Italian So
prano of the Chicago Civic Opera Co.,
whose triumphs in '"Tosca" at the
Metropolitan preceded her appearance
with the famous Chicago organization.
will make her first concert appear
ance before a Washington audience at
Polls Theater Wednesday afternoon
at 4:30 o'clock. as the second attrac-
ton in Mrs. Wilson-Greene' artists
course of concerts.
The program. with Charles Lurvey
Evening star., 1926-11-28

Charles Martin Loetlier--
Music NMs!., for four stringed instruments.
For two violins. viola and violoncelIo.
The LenoX String Quartet is COM
posed of Wolfe Wolfinsohn. first vic.
lin; Edwin Ideler, second violin; Her.
man Borodkin, viola; Emmeran Stoe-
ber. violoncello. La Sale Spier will
be the pianist.
Evening star., 1926-11-28

at CTt pIdIIO, VIII De.
.-Piaeer Fanciuie4chi'' Mozart
'Se tn m ami ............. Pergolesl
"Spirate pur. spIrate" ........... Donaudy
Aria Pace. Pace MIo Do LA Forza
del Destlno \ l................ Verdi
'NOcturne ................. Franck
'Lheure delicieuse". "................S Stauh
"C'est Mon Ami Old French
Les Temps des Fees .......... kOechlln
Come, Sweet Morning Old French
(Arranged by A. L. Crist.l
"Yesteryear' .....,.......... Fainhrdgc
"Charity' ................. Hageman
'The Little Shepherds Song ...... Watts
Aria. Mia Pccirella' ('Salyatore Rosar).
Gomez
Evening star., 1926-11-28
Pipe Organ Tuiion-T. Guy Lucas

Concert Orgsnist Graduate of Cambridge
University and Royal College OF OrTanists.
London. Addrese So. Johns Church. 18th
and NV. MAIN 704S.
Evening star., 1926-11-28

Pre-holiday events at the George
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
ANEARLY T IIREAT WHO
MADE GOOD

Child prodi0ies disappearing from public view
hectic years the hmeght Only rarely does
develop fully maturity thereby lending truth the old aage
that exception proves the rule
Pollard the delightful little comedenne who to
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13

Iris March. How can you put
an Iris March in the clothing Of
her retearsals ] do not know. /
can measure blank verse and
write 10 syllables to the line. but
can not tell you by what magic
poetry creeps into it, or by what
misfortune stays out. do not
believe the Almighty. Himself.
could tell you why he succeeded
in Plato and missed in a plow.
man.
lone thing more. And that's
this matter Of sincerity. / do
not know what most people mean
when they talk about sincerity.
II they mean emotional sincerity
think they follow a. snare and
folly. For my own part, there
is but one sincerity in the theat
or in art. and that is the sincerity
: Of imagination. The very word
means. literally. without wax
that Is. something that has not
been cracked and. hence. in need
OF mending wax. From ceramics
to the imagination is but a step
In a little world that must play
Its whole symphony In six or
eight stops. A sincere imagina.
ton. like a sincere pot, Is one
that is whole. the image uncrack-
ed. do not suffer with iris
March, but l can imagine her
suffering. have not wanted
her lovers, but / have sincerely
imagined her wanting them. II
had broken my heart on the
opening night of The Green Hat
because she could not get the
man she wanted. ! could not
have played a second perform.
ance."
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
BELASCO OFFERS
SOTHERN HERE
NOV. q

David Belasco will present e.
n. Sothern In the premiere. of
what Never Dies" a comedy by
Alexander Engel, translated by
Ernest Boyd. the week Of Novem.
Der 30. in the Schubert Belasco
Theater.
Mr.. Be!asco's presentation OF
Mr.. Sothern will be his third here
this season and the premiere
hero will precede the New York
engagement.
In Mr.. Sothern's support viii
appear q distinguished company
including Haidee Wright. Rosa
lind Fuller. Moffat Johnston.
Guido Nadzo. Ernest Cossart. Al.
bert G. Andrews, Campbell Gul.
Ian. Hilda Spong, Frances Bendt.
sen. Carolyn Ferriday. Katherine
B Standing, Myrrha Alhambra,
Betty Brenska. Margaret Knapp
Waller. Santos Ortega. Rose Far.
rell, Eleanor Shaw.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
! BLOSSOM TIME !
DUE BACK AND
WHY MOTT

blossom Time. z the perennial
musical comedy of smiles, tears
and .wondrous music. win BE- the
Thank siving week attraction Il
poli.s commencing Monday eve.
ming. Novenlbar 81
This raro musical gem has
proven that ii can outlivs every
thing n the operetta line. that has
been known Tor the past decade,
q thsi II the sixth year of its BE.
irlg On tour. ana IL ii welcomed
each year with 1ust TIE same -
claim = II VS. - its flrnk appear
ance Il this city. with tie
mortal melodies the s
viennssa composer schu
bert. Il Ii d relief 10 ST through
this musical offering ii which
one musical number Il followed 81
another Of even greater beauty
sigmund Romberg. who adapted
the composers exquisite TN.
ished GymphOny, e the ssereatade'
and the Song of Love, deserves
d great deal og credit Tor presarve
iaa the masters haelodious and
musicianiy charms. The story 09
FRANK Schubret's life 81 filled with
love interest, with now and then
3 tear. which soon passes away
with the clever comedy that il iRls
troduced.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
THIS JUST GOES TO
SHOW, IT DOES

There is law in Hollywood that firmly in
mind of extra the law of and the Persian
and that law is Never get in front of
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13

&S~SA0AAG AO 1&ObA1AhO S@pPSoAS do
the heroine Nadia. She entered
pictures in France five years ago
and has played in some Of the
most famous foreign productions.
Among these are Thousand and
One Nights" Carnival Night
Prince Charming" and THE
Masked Lady"
The part OF the arch traitor.
Ivan Ogareff, is played by M.
Chakatouny. He fs q tall supple
figure with burning dark eyes in
a pale face, black moustache, and
with gliding step, owning some
thing Of the fascination of the cat
which is at once indolent and
vigorous.
Tina de 1zarduy, a famous
as an actress is rapidly equa ing
the fame Of her flying feet, ap-,
pears as the beautiful gypsy
woman. Zangara.
The heroic and courageous
mother OF the hero. Maria Strogoff,
Is played by Nine. Jeanne Brin-
deau, one OF the best known char
acter actresses In France.
The producers in seeking an
actor to play the role Of the car
were fortunate in securing e.
Gatdaroff, a Russian whose re-
semblance to the famous Alexan-
der II Is striking. -
M. Defas H. the role Of the
Grand Duke Feodar Is the coldly
cruel Oriental who watches with.
out the flicker of an eyelash the
torture of a man or woman. Y
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13

Beresford began walking up the
long driveway.
AS the principals saunte-ed
along. the extras were told to
crowd about them. just as hurry.
Ing students might brush by
strollins freshmen. The extras
poured out on the walk from the
side lines. carefully gkIrted the
two chief pla yers. and left a wide
margin OF empty space about
them. That space was just what
Newmeyer wanted to fill, so he
called through his megaphone:
Walk in front Of Mr.. Dix-get
between him and the came "a
Come on. push and crowd himr'
But the extras had been trained
never to get in front of a star.
1t was necessary to stop the &C.
ton. and place assistants along
the line OF march, to urge them
on before they'd overcome their
reluctance to stand in Dix's light.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
SCREEN TRIUMPH
OVER STAGE
SAYS DAVIS

"a revolt against the pesslmisEiC
realism of present day drama,
both On s3age and SCREEN and d
return 60 the romance S01 the
ninstiea.s minus its sIush and
enthusiastically, win soon sweep
the country clear OF shopworn
tlaeatricaIs and leave IN its place
@ theater virtually rebuilt with
radically new ideas.
Such was the prediction Of
Owen Davis. eminent playwright
and chairman Of the Authors
League OF America, In an In.
terview on the eve OF the ma
tiof1aI release of Forever After.
First Nationals film version Of
his stage success, closing tonight
at the Metropolitan.
Movfng pictures are due 10
play an important role in this.
revolution against rot and the
return OF true roraance." he de-
elared.
sThe highest mission Of the
theater is to inspire, TO spin
illusions that win create for the
audiences a land Of if" that
they know could be tire, phan.
fasticaI and fanciful az Il may
seen1-a land of romance to
which they may be drawn out
OF their workaday livese.
The pictures offer a splendid
medium for this mission and more
and more dramatists are begin
ming TO write directly for the
screen. ternpering their tales to
the mood OF the movies.
s'For dramatists. rafter suffer.
ing the mistaken urge to portray
realism realism that was only
pess.misnn colored by the fnflu.
ences Of Toistoi. Gorky. Molnar
and other European writer's, who
dipped their pens in Oriental
bleakness-are now realizing that
only true romance viii be ac
cepfed by the American public.
Such raw realism which has
been rampant on the boards OF
the stage for the last last ten
years is due to meet the same
fate as the siushy sentirnentaIity
OF the latter part OF the last cen
fury.
new theater is going to be
deveIoped-a new drama char
acterfzed by tenderness without
tush. sweetness without slusl,
truth instead of truck and real
plays instead of platitudes."
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
Talking Figures

The only figures available re.
1.-THE Green Hat" coming to the
Germ the first 100 performances
of the drama on Broadway. At
the end of. that time the receipts
had amounted. according to A.
Fl. Woods books, to $319 1874.
This made a weekly average Of
S26.122. or s3.265 a performance.
a unique record for a non-n1us.
zeal show.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
THOSE DENIZENS IN
mike STROGOFF"

Concerning cast Of Michael Sogo the spectacular
production of Jules Verne famous masterpiece opening today
the Riato
michael Sogoff" Moskine has greatest
his since the showing of the film Paris and London
he has Europe all
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13

B. r. Keitll's Theater next week.
il just such an exception.
She was stage star at six
years. and now. 20 years later. she
not only retains that distinction.
but with each successive year adds
another leaf to the laurel crown
which her profession awarded to
her when some artists were play.
ing In the nursery.
It was In her native city of Mel.
bourne, Australia, that Miss Pol
lard made her first appearances.
She was q tiny bit Of girl. Just
turned six. when she stepped Into
the glare OF the footlights and
went through her well.rehe
PAGES for the first time. Her sue.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13

cess was instantaneous. for she
promptly became q ''featured''
member Of the cast. ana before
the run Of the piece was over they
were calling the company the Pol
lard Lilliputian Opera Company
Under that name the production
went on d tour Of the cities Of
Australia and South Africa. and
later was brought to San Fran
cisco. where little Daphne made
her American debut.
The company toured up and
down the West Coast for several
years, where it is still recalled ~
one Of the most successful o9 all
attractions ever presented out
there.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13

All OF which explains perfectly
why Director Fred Newmeyer not
only outraged the technical train.
tpg of score or more of "ex.
tras" during the filming of Rich
ard Dix's new picture, "The
Quarterback" but had a lot Of
trouble making the extra players
violate this supposedly lnviolate
rule in some of the campus
scenes of The Quarterback"
which comes to Loew's Columbia.
The sequence was laid on the
shaded grounds OF st. PauIs
School at Garden City. Long Isl.
and. which served as Cotton Col.
lege for screen purposes. The
camera, mounted on a rubber.
tired, portable platform, was TO.
cused on Dix and his cinema
father. Harry Beresford. Huge
oblena mirrors placed at strategic
points reflected the sunlight that
filtered through the trees. On
Newmeyer's cue, as Dix and
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13

to Loew's Palace. went there In
the hope OF filming q tropical
storm for his picture. but not
at all sure that he'd get 1t. Tour.
neur had hardly set up his ap-
paratus before q ripsnorter OF
a West Indian storm came along
and gave him wonderful scene
for his film.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-13
Chance for Alice

One of Washington's erudlte
dramatic critics described the
dimInutive Alice Skelly as cameo
Daphne Pollard. Ever since then
the tiny Miss Alice has been eager
for comedy role with the st.
Patrick Players. She gets her
chance in the new musical comedy
which opens at Carroll Hall on
November %. It's a maids part
with plenty OF funny lines and
business.