davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-04-11

anything impromptu should be thor
oughly rehearsed. An effort was
made to use the theater auditorium
as a part of the mis-en-scene in a
spirit of historic tragedy when one
of the boxes was set aside for the
purpose of depicting with greatest
possible realism the assassination OF
Abraham Lincoln. This play was
not success.
"The Gorilla trite and fimsy, as
most of its material is, claims the
distinction of employing the front of
the house with the most startling
effect yet attained, when the big
anthropoid leaps the footlights and
makes his way through a panic
stricken audience in an effort to es-
cape. During the final rehearsal the
house manager, Stoddard Taylor, in
quired: why not let the animal
loose in the theater and give the au-
dience genuine scare?" It was just
one of those offhand queries, but ex-
pert showmen agree that it was the
touch of novelty that makes the big
difference.
X X X X
While two or three of the best Of
ferings of the regular season are still
in prospect, the National Theater
Stock Co. makes its bow with grace
full confidence, proceeds merrily on
its way, and fears no competition. 1t
picks up the story of popularity
where it left off in the Fall of 1925
and resumes its program of popular
entertainment at apparently the
point where it left off.
A good stock company shares with
motion pictures the advantage of de-
veloping a large clientele of depend
able fans. Reservations for the Ma
tional Theater Players performances
for Wednesday matinees, including
the entire seating capacity of the
first floor, excepting the last four
rows, and have already made it de-
sirable to provide for some extra
Friday matinees. All of which, no
doubt, will help to strengthen the
philosophy of the players in contem-
plating the theory that happiness
depends in large degree upon hard
work:
X y u n
The opening National Stock num-
Der was farce by Avery Hopwood,
and it is, of course, the duty of every
theatrical highbrowser to reprehend
this author in most unequivocal
terms. 1t is also duty to commend
the ancient classics to the respectful
contemplation of studious youth.
The Russian players gave US an op-
portunity to view typical example
of ancient Greek burlesque in "Lysis-
trata." Candor compels the admis-
sion that Hopwood, even at his
worst, compared with Aristophanes,
is considerably the more refined of
the two.
Evening star., 1926-04-11
DAINTY
MARIE.
Earle~
As Old as Her Hair.

I EONA ROBERTS of the Thomas
Herbert Stock Company at Ward
man Park, like all women, has her
own special trick of the trade. SHE
likes to look young, and many think
she does: but how?
Tt must not be imagined that Miss
Roberts belongs to the old school. Not
at all. There is nothing old about
her. In fact, she is only just old
enough to be the mother of Josephine
Hutchinson, once a favorite Ram s
Head Player. but now a successful
young star of the professional stage.
But Leona has heard insinuations,
and she also has heard more than one
guess how she does it. And she
doesn't mind telling.
1t is simply the trick of dressing her
hair after the latest mode.
For practical reasons, Miss Roberts
doesn't dare shear her crop. That
wouldn't do for her oft-played spinster
or old lady roles, which require either
a topknot or long wisps in dignif1ed
folds.
But off stage and also when she has
to climb in the really younger class
Miss Roberts, by trick entirely her
own, merely Stimulates a smart bob by
dexterous manipulation which any
debutante would envy.
A woman's as old as her hair; a
man as old as he feels.
Evening star., 1926-04-11
Stock Homecoming Week.

pie reason that the dressing rooms
proved too small to hold the interested
well-wishers and, finally, player and
guest merged for q genuine talk.fest.
The old "green room" was missed.
Yarns about the Golden Gate, about
the subway circuit, about December
stock in New England, in Ohio, in
New Orleans; about road tours and
such were swapped for reports as to
what each member of the local group
had been doing through the Winter.
Potomacs hot winds Of last June
never looked better to Kathryn Givney
than in that third week in November
when she and the rest Of the company
playing Cobra" arrived in Milwau.
kee, and the most conservative ther-
mometer in the city registered 20 de-
grees below.
Glad to be back?" asked Kathryn
in counter question to one put to her.
I'm tickled to death. Bring on your
humidity"
Evening star., 1926-04-11

DOLLO LLOYD has been engaged
~ to play the role Of Matthias in the
revival of THE Bells" now in re-
hearsal, for a. E. and r. r. Riskin.
Storm" by c. X. Munro, is an
nounced for production in New York
late this month. Estelle Winwood
rected by Segourney Thayer.
"At Mrs. Beams" the New York
Theater Guilds final subscription
this season, will open at the Guild
Theater Monday night. April 20.
Edgar Selwyn is directing rehears-
ais for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes -
the Anita Loos-John Emerson play,
which will have its premiere in Detroit.
THE Stranger in the House." sched-
uled to open in New York last Monday
night. was indefinitely postponed be-
cause of the sudden illness of Henry
Miller. The house had been sold out.
Mr.. Miller caught cold in Baltimore,
but insisted upon going on, and col
lapsed in his dressing room.
Cyril Maude made his last appear.
ance in THE Charming People" last
night in Philadelphia The project to
give farewell evening Of various acts
from his successes in New York has
been abandoned.
Justin Johnstone has withdrawn
from the cast Of flush Money" and
her part has been assumed by Flor.
ence Moore, the Greenwich Village
Follies comedienne.
A new play by George Abbott to be
produced by Jed Harris is called "Slim
Foot" 1t is described as a melodra
matte farce dealing with the adven
lures of a cowboy bandit, who spreads
terror. romance and general excite
ment through small town in the Fan
West.
William Harris, jr., has accepted
"Sour Grapes" a new play by Vincent
Lawrence, for production next season
Katherine Brook has replaced Ali
son Skipworth in Edgar Selwyn's
production of Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes"
Amelia Bingham arrived in New
York last week, after a vacation in
Europe. to play in Just Life." which
Evening star., 1926-04-11
WARDMAN PARK-"The Circle"

"The Circle" in which w. Somer-
set Vaughan put the best Of his cre-
ative powers at subtle, witty dialogue
and intriguing situations, will open
tomorrow night at Wardman Park
Theater with the Thomas Herbert
Stock Company.
Walter w. Beck, we'll known actor,
has been engaged to play the part Of
Lord Porteous, which was originated
by John Drew and in which Mr.. Beck
was featured with a later company.
Leona Roberts has been cast in Mrs.
Leslie Carters former part, that of
Lady Catherine Champion Cheney.
Parker Fennelly, leading man, will
play Give Champion; Ruth Russell
will be seen as the young wife, Eliza
beth; Robert L. Clear will play Ar.
mold Champion.C Cheney, NJ. p; Anne
French will be seen as Mrs. Shen-
stone; Edward Luton will be played
by Ranald Savery; John Schelhaas
will play a servant and Thomas Her
bert, director, a butler.
THE Circle" is the story Of a 70.
mantle and frivolous woman who re-
turns for a visit to her family after
an elopement some 80 years since.
She is in no way chastened or un-
changed, but flaunts her lover in the
face of her family and aids in a plan
to ruin the domestic happiness of her
son. The scene, which is laid in the
drawing room of fashionable Eng
lish country home, is being designed
by George w. Reynolds, antique au.
thorlty, who will use several pieces
Of rare old Sheraton furniture.
Evening star., 1926-04-11

fayette Opera House on Lafayette
Square, and the present Shubert-Be-
lasco Theater, leaving the Shubert-
Be,asco for his present position as
manager of the Gayety Theater. His
present season, Mr.. La Motto states,
has been the most successful and the
greatest season Of the Columbia brand
Of entertainment ever offered at the
Gayety. In addition to the regular
twice daily performances at 2:15 and
SIS PM, there will be a special mid
night show Friday night. beginning
promptly at 1870, one-half hour after
the ending of the Sis performance.
The regular show, "Rarin' to Co." will
be presented complete.
Artists appearing at the local thea
ters have been invited to attend this
special show.
Evening star., 1926-04-11
Historic Settings for Melody

ENGLAND'S famous Bolton Abbey,
which now stands in picturesque
ruins. provides one of the beautiful
backgrounds for the love story told in
"Songs of England" one Of Pathe's
famous melody series.
This ruin is the only one in northern
England that bears any semblance to
its original architecture. The film
shows the stepping stones that the
monks used to cross when going from
the abbey to the vineyards. The Fox
and Grapes inn that has stood for
generations is the scene of much mer-
making in this picture which fea-
lures Peggy Shaw and n tally-ho of
Dickens time adds to the gayety.
James Fitzpatrick took his company
to England to make Songs of Eng
land" \ --....----..
Evening star., 1926-04-11
Slight Effects Make All the
Difference.
By Ph;1ander Johnson.

IT has been Washington's privilege
to observe some remarkable de-
velopments in theatrical way from
small beginnings. For instance, there
was "The Gorilla" which opened the
doors of the Belasco Theater with a
good deal of doubt as to whether
the week would find the public COM
ing in or the troopers accepting their
notice and going out. That was
many moons ago, and "The Gorilla"
not only returns to the city of its
origin from time to time, but is en-
joying long runs in several parts of
the English-speaking world. All of
which means plenty of money for
Mr.. Donald Gallaher, who had been
a stock company player in this city,
more conspicuous in the popular eye,
but considerably less prosperous in
purse.
"The Gorilla" is a remarkable ex-
ample of the luck of the theatrical
game. 1t was generally regarded by
those who saw rehearsals as some
thing of a weakling that trailed in
the rear of large procession OF So
called mystery plays" AS a thriller
it utilized, shotgun fashion, all the
thrills known to that type of drama,
most of which had become as ia
miliar as a pack of firecrackers on
the Fourth of July. By rare stroke
of luck it hit upon a big surprise
which overwhelmed all the familiar
devices employed for hairraising
and spinal tremors.
* i x 4
And even the carrying OF the &C
tion out among the audience was not
precisely unprecedented The Shu
berts had introduced "the runway"
on which chorus girls promenaded
through the audience, and The Beg
gar on Horseback" had sold daily
papers through the auditorium as a
part OF the plot. In fact, the use OF
the auditorium in connection with
the stage dates far back, as far, in
deed, as the old mystery plays" SO
different from the modern ones.
"Everyman" was an example of this
method. The idea is at present most
elaborately employed in the produc-
ton of "The Miracle" in New York
City.
For purpose of comedy, the idea
was utilized in an old English piece
called THE Manager in Distress" in
which the producer advanced to the
footlights. apologized to the audience
because OF strike among his play
crs and requested volunteers to come
upon the stage and complete the
cast. The effect was exceedingly Inn
promptu and afforded an early illus
tration of James Barrie's famous re-
mark that in order to be successful.
Evening star., 1926-04-11

a SIGN language that none could
"A help but understand was trans
mitted from auditorium to stage by
audiences at the National Theater this
last week. At every performance the
applause meeting the first entrances
Of last years favorites was loud and
Enthusiastically sincere and seeming
to say from every applauding indi-
vidual, "Glad you came back and hope
you stay a long while
Flowers in the dressing rooms eX-
pressed in equally tangible terms the
esteem in which the homecomers are
held locally. Not one member OF last
years company but who felt a re-
newal of personal contact, either by
flower, by wire or by personal visits.
Following the opening performances
Of 1.-THE Alarm Clock" last Monday
night healthy young procession
wended its way stageward to greet the
troupe. The stage looked like the set
ting for a large reception for the SIM
Evening star., 1926-04-11
In 1000 AID.

ONE of the outstanding pictures
promised for the coming season
will be Metropolis" a Paramount
production that tells the story Of New
York in the year 1000, when sky
scrapers will have risen to a height
Of 500 or more floors. driveways for
automobiles will be found as high
above the ground as the 290th floor,
the rich will have gained control Of
the city and live above the ground,
while the poor are forced below the
earth's surface and used to maintain
the tremendous machinery necessary
to keep the world above in motion.
The magnitude of Metropolis" 1t
is said, viii surpass that Of any pic
ture heretofore made.
Evening star., 1926-04-11
Love Is Wonderful.

A LIMA NELSON, eccentric toe
dancer at B. F. Keith's this week.
says that although it is rumored there
isn't any Santa Claus, she is quite
sure that there is such a thing as love.
Il married" she added, when was
16, because was in love. I.married
a vaudevillian, and neither Of us was
very far advanced in our profession
and we didn't have much money.
Whatever Quarreling we might have
done we never got around to; we were
too busy earning a living together.
"a single ambition, fortified by real
love and a hearty respect for one an.
other, has kept us sailing along
smoothly"
Isn't that pGetty in this day and
generation?
Evening star., 1926-04-11
Current Attractions
At the Theaters This Week.

WASHINGTON AUDIToRIUMI Secrets of Suzanne"
Thursday evening.
NATIONAL-Ttree Live Ghosts comedy Opens tomorrow
ming
BELASCOThe Kiss in Taxi farce. Opens this evening.
POLrS-"Blossom Time, operetta. Opens this evening.
WARDMAN PARK-"The Circle drama Opens evening.
KEITHS-Alma Nelson, vaudeville Opens this afternoon.
EARLE-"Dainty Marie vaudeville. Opens this afternoon.
STRAND-"Pasienne Novelty" vaudeville. Opens
GAYETY-"Rarn Go" burlesque. Opens this afternoon
Evening star., 1926-04-11
La Motto Anniversary.

a ANNIVERSARY Week begins today
at the Gayety Theater and for
this gala event Ira J. La Motto, man.
ager of the Gayety Theater, chose as
the weeks attraction one of the Co.
lumbia circuits great shows, Ed f..
Daley's Super Black and White Sem
gation, 'Rarin' to Co." really two
uomplete shows in one, which are de-
scribed in detail elsewhere.
This week marks the ending of the
eighteenth year in Washington as
manager of various local theaters for
Ira J. La Motto.
Mr.. La Motto managed the old La
Evening star., 1926-04-11
Coming to Keith $.

4 ANNOUNCEMENT is made of a few
- of the headline artists who will
appear at Keith's in the near future.
These will include Nora Bayes, the
great Nazimova, Ruth Chatterton,
Ethel Barrymore, Willie and Eugene
Howard and Percy Granger, the
famous concert pianist, who recently
made his vaudeville debut in New
York under the Keith-Albee banner.
Evening star., 1926-04-11
KEITH'S-Alma Nelson.

The current bill at B. f, Keith's
Theater ushers in a new era. Of prices
and a popular Washington girl, Miss
Alma Nelson, toe dancer, and her
company to share headline honors with
Ed. Healy and Allan Cross, who prom.
ise the smartest styles in songs. Miss
Nelson will be assisted by Dan B.
Ely and Dave Rice and company
including the frivolity five.
George Weist and Ray Stanton, as
sisted by Gladys Gerrish and company,
will present Eye and Ear Entertain.
ment," prepared by William K. Wells.
Others will include 1.-TWO Good Boys
Gone Wrong" Harry Jams and Harold
Whalen; 1.-THE Hill Billies' from the
Blue Ridge Mountains, in an exposi-
ton Of American folk music; Lew Muir
dock and Mildred Mayo, dancers, in
'Footloose''; the Zellias Sisters in
aerial elegance, and Gautier's Ami
mated Toyshop to entertain the chill
dren.
Miss Virginia Bacon. from Ned
Wayburn's School in New York. will
continue her demonstrations of the
Charleston. and Topics OF the Day.
Evening star., 1926-04-11
WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM
WASHINGTON Opera.

The Washington Opera Company
will close it's season Thursday evening
at the Washington Auditorium with
a double bill composed Of two one-act
operas, 81 Pagliacci" and ''The Secret
Of Suzanne"
Ellen Dalossy of the Metropolitan
Opera Company will sing the role of
Media in "Pagliacci," with Mark Mar
koff, Russian tenor, singing the part
Of Canio. Ivan Ivantzoff will sing
Tonic and George Cheshanovsky will
sing Silvio.
Dora de Philippe, soprano, OF the
Chicago Opera Company will sing the
leading role of Suzanne, with Ivantzoff
singing the part of Count Gils.
"Sante," the dummy butler, will be
portrayed by Cheshanovsky.
Jacques Samassoud, in whose honor
the double-bill will be sung, will con-
duct both operas.
Evening star., 1926-04-11

mammoth Offering of musical comedy
with an effective tinge OF color and
scenic splendor.
Heading the white division will be
Billy Foster, he of the Dutch dialect,
misfit clothes and humorous quips,
with Elmer Redmond, Hebrew charac-
ter impersonator, and Joe Kilsch, char
acter man of many roles, along with
Billy Gray, who fits into the many
comical situations.
The woman principals, led by Mid
gle Gibbons, include Eleanor Marshall,
prima donna, and Lola LaMond, in
genue, with solo offerings of song and
dance and lead numbers with a chorus
Gibbons. Nearly two score good look
ing girls are in the ensemble.
Featured among the colored folk Will
be Jimmie Ferguson, late star OF THE
Chocolate Dandies," and Tim Moore,
in various colored organizations; Jazz
Lips Richardson in comicalities, and
an outstanding musical feature by Joe
Jordan's "ten sllarps and flats.
There will be songs and dances in
Producing colored girls to lead the
special chorus Of 20 creoles, high vel
lows and seal skin browns among
them. Florence McLain, Izzy Ringold,
"blues" singer; Susaye Brown, Lovey
Taylor and Gladys Smith.
WILSON PLAYERS THURSDAY.
The Wilson Players will present
their second play Of the season. Mrs
Runpstead-L Leigh" a three-act com
edy by Harry James Smith, Thursday
at $40 p.m., at Wilson Normal Audi
torium, Eleventh and Harvard streets
northwest.
Elizabeth Dyer, who played Olivia
| in "Mr. PIN Passes By" and Nancy
in Booth .Tarkington's Country
Cousin" win be Mrs. Bumpstead
Leigh. Edith Dresden will be the
sister and Irene Neikirk the mother
This "Sayles Trio" will be supported
by Frank Lowman, Frank Rotella
Arista Huber. Sylvia Hutt, Melville
Shorey, Herbert Lacey, Lahuna Gin
ton, Jack Pollard and Wendell Raw
lins.
The Players first offering of the
season, "The Intimate Strangers" by
Booth Harrington, has been repeated
for various organizations in the city
Leroy Bendheim. tenor, will give al
| entr' 'acte program.
The Players are directed by Aurora
NJ. Poston, and are working under
the auspices of the Columbia Height:
Community Center
Evening star., 1926-04-11
NATIONAL PLAYERS-"Three Live
Ghosts"

A plot limitless in idea possibilities
is said to distinguish the comedy,
Three Live Ghosts" which the Ma
tional Theater players will offer this
week, the second Of their new season,
commencing Monday night. The
author, Frederic Isham, has taken
three war veterans, posted them in
the official lists as KILLED in action, -
brought them home to England and
then let them weave q web of ludi-
crous circumstances from which they
cannot extricate themselves.
The prince of these fairly lawless
D'Artagnans is one Spoofy, whom the
battleflelds equipped with a mania for
all the forms of larceny. Spoofy's two
companions, having had ultraviolet
Populations before the war. are tickled
with the new arrangement, which
finds them dead" but their goose
hangs lower and lower in proportion
to the growth of Spoofy's kleptomania.
Their fear of apprehension is doubled
by the fact that the Stepmother of
one has collected his insurance, the
other is wanted by the police, and
Spoofy has no identity at all. But,
ironically enough, it is this seemingly
half-witted fellow who, encompasses
the expose Of the three when he makes
two thefts bloom where one should do
stealing in one sWoop baby carriage
and a peck Of diamonds.
"Three Live Ghosts" one Of the
ripest plums in the comedy field, ran
New York, and has been in constant
demand throughout the country foI
, stock purposes.
Leneta Lane, John Warner, Kathryn
Givney, Charles Hampden, Romaine
Calender and others of the National
players all have roles of broad oppor
| tunities.
Matinees, as usual. on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. ...s
Evening star., 1926-04-11
GAYETY-''Rarin' To Co.

Ed E. Daley's black and white SEN
sation, "Rarin' to Go" will appear at
the Gayety Theater today, to open a
week of double entertainment. Seventy
players are programmed, 35 white and
an equal number of colored, blending
the two sections Of the fraljc into q
Evening star., 1926-04-11
STRAND-"Parisienne Novelty. !"

Beginning today, the Strand Theater
has for it's headliner on the vaudeville
bill "Parisienne Novelty" presented
by Jack Allyn and Alice Tyrell, as
sisted by. their group of "Apaches"
and little Peggy Hoffman. The act
is said to be beautifully staged and
costumed, offering many unusual
turns and surprises.
Following is a comedy songalogue,
entitled wedding Bells" in which
Lorraine Howard and Florence Lind
offer songs, melody and comedy.
Other numbers include Jose Saxton
and Jack Farrell in comedy skit,
1.-THE Elopers"; Cliff Nazarro with
Bob Geraughty, Columbia recording
artist, in a series Of popular songs,
apd the Pickfords in a novel Offering
Of juggling and acrobatics.
Rim -Tin-Tin, the dog, will be seen
in the photoplay feature, THE Clash
of the Wolves" a thrilling melo.
drama, laid in the forest covered hills
of the high Sierras. The cast includes
June Marlowe. Charles Farrell. Heinie
Conklin, Will Walling and Pat
Hartigan.
Short films and orchestral numbers
will complete the program.
Evening star., 1926-04-11
EARLE-Dainty Marie.

Aesop's Fables and the Pathe News
will complete the bill.
Evening star., 1926-04-11

Dainty Marie will headline this
weeks bill at the Earle Theater in
an offering presented in Washington
for the first time and billed as
Teaching Women How to Reduce. -
This act, contributed by the skillful
young woman, whose real name is
Marie Meeker, will be found to en-.
body rare combination of humor,
thrills and Informative material for
those threatened with a tendency
toward embonpoint.
The added attraction will be 1.-THE
Final Rehearsal" presented by C. B.
Maddox, with James Mahoney and
Ellen Cecil leading a cast Of come
dians. singers and dancers, includ-
ing B. J. Murphy, Melba Carlton,
Franklin Crawford, May Falls, Olive
Vernell, Aiyce Hartt, George Spell.
vim and William Hennessy.
Other vaudeville offerings will in
clude Stanley Gallini and company in
"Shadowgraphs in Colors'; Billy and
Eddie German in their Topics Of the
Day in Songs; Ward and Raymond,
who combine music and merriment
as "The Mirthologists,' and Sally
Beers. ''the little lifting lady," who
sings character songs.
The photoplay is Producers Made
for Love-" a tale of old and new
Egypt, with Leatrice Joy starred and
Edmund Burns in support. The bill
also will include house features,
short-reel films and a pipe organ re.
cital by Alexander Arons.