davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-05-15

NOT very long ago director baked
in reading a script containing
scenes in which animals acted.
He said he was not lion tanner and
was too old to learn.
Today almost every motion picture
director is something of a lion-giraffe-
chicken.goose crocodile -orwhat have
you tanner.
All animals harken to the command
of the megaphone. sometimes strength
ened by the demand Of appetizing
meats temptingly displayed before
their hungry eyes.
There is a casting directory in Hol
lywood which lists all actors and
actresses, and also has a complete AMI.
NAL advertising department. This
manifests a seeming plutocratic situa-
tion in the motion picture animal
world, otherwise known as film-dumb.
Competition between befurred and
befeathered brethren is just as keen
today as between their more lightly
epidermized human friends. OF course,
Rin-Tin.Tin, a Warner Bros. star, is
a kingpin Of animal actors.
Where do all these artistic creatures
come from, one wonders. The prop
erty man of any large studio will tell
you that they have come from all
parts of the world to become screen
stars. Just as Susie GlutZ Is lured
from Keokuk, Jenny Giraffe is tempt
ed to emerge from her haunts in the
Kongo to come to Hollywood and
fame.
Sometimes these animals, imported
for a special picture, have displayed
their artistry and have waited long
and anxiously for more pictures with
out success. For it Is not every day
that a studio needs a hippopotamus
Evening star., 1927-05-15
The Moving Picture Album
BY ROBERT e. SHERWOOD.

| Variety" by all odds, the leader
directed by f. A. Dupont.
| what Price Glory" directed by
Raoul Walsh.
'The Fire Brigade" directed by
William Nigh (who was also response
BILE for "Mr. W." which l have not
seen as yeti.
"slide, Kelly. Slide" directed by
| Edward Sedgwick.
1.-THE Scarlet Letter" directed by
| Victor Seastrom.
stella Dallas" directed by Henry
King
stark Love-" directed by Karl
Brown.
Chang" directed by Merriam Cooper.
"Moana," directed by Robert Flah-
erty.
Loves Greatest Mistake" directed
by Edward Sutherland.
considered, Mr.. Sutherland must be
rated as the greatest of them all.
With Behind the Front" Were in
the Navy Now" Its the Old Army
Game" and Loves Greatest Mistake"
in one twelvemonth he has estab-
lished a pace of almost incredible
swiftness.
Since the success of THE Spoilers. ="
many years ago. fisticuffs have always
been popular on the screen. and actors
with bulging biceps have ever been in
demand.
There have been times, of course,
when the more social type of movie
hero has enjoyed vogue-when male
stars went in for high hats, teacups
and spats, rather than for scientific
slugging, These phases, however,
have all been temporary; the silent
drama invariably gets back to ele-
mentals.
The season has yielded many pic
lures in which stalwart heroes of
Hollywood have stripped to the waist
and gone to it, and there are more to
come. AS instances, there are Buster
Keaton in Battling Butler" Richard
Dix in Knockout Reilly" Richard
Barthelmess in "The Patent Leather
Kid" George O'Brien i'll ''Is Eat So"
and Milton Sils in any or all of his
pictures.
In Shakespeare's time, the en-
blem of the actor was the sock ana
buskin. Today, in Hollywood, it's
simply the sock.
Bulletins.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.-Two years
ago, Warner Bros. decided to convert
George AIDES THE College Widow
into a gag comedy, with sgd Chaplin
(skirts and ain as star. Now 1t Is
to be made into a sentimental drama,
with Dolores Costello as star. Its
wonderful what can be done with one
manuscript. Betty Compson
is at work again in Midnight Rose,
which is in process of manufacture at
Universal CITY. Adolphe
Meniou's next picture is now entitled
with Their Eyes Open but the odds
are approximately 110 to that new
name will have been applied before
release date rolls around.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
New Routes to Fame.

WHEN Douglas Fairbanks starts
w shooting "The Gaucho." about
June !, after the burning at the United
Artists studios in Hollywood Of much
midnight oil in preparation of the
story by Lotta Woods. he will intro
duce the novelty of two leading ladies'
in one picture, another typical and
laudable Fairbanks gesture.
The two players upon whom he has
caused fortune to smile are Eve South
ern, who will interpret a spiritual
role, and Lupe VeleZ, recently from
Mexico City, who will appear in a
vibrant, passionate part, the direct
antithesis OF that portrayed by Miss
Southern.
The story of how these girls gained
their opportunity in this instance is
one of the human interest highlights
Of Hollywood. Miss Southern, who is
under contract to Edwin Carewe, was
'1unched' to fame as the result Of an
impromptu luncheon engagement be-
tween Carewe and Fairbanks. Miss
Velez gained her opportunity because
she danced at a charity benefit. She
is under contract to Hal Roach, and
has appeared in one Roach comedy.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
How Arlen Broke In"
"I BROKE into the movies by break

ssI BROKE into the movies by break
ing a leg" says Richard Arlen,
now a rising light in the picture
world.
another way Of saying it is: 4
crashed the gate by crashing motor
CYCLE Both are quite true.
when I landed in Hollywood / had
two desires-one to become an actor
and the other to eat.
II took care of the latter first by
obtaining a job as a delivery boy.
transporting films from a laboratory
to the studios.
"One afternoon, in front of the old
Brunton studio-now the home OF
Paramount production-I was hit by
a passing automobile. My leg was
broken and the closest hospital was
one on the studio lot. landed there.
SO did a casting director who had
minor injuries. / was promised a
bit upon my recovery.
bits. however, were not forthcom-
ing and I lived on SO cents a day
for three weeks while awaiting a call
from my friend. -
FINALLY it came-one days work
as an underwater swimmer. There
are many other tales of interest be-
fore / really landed, but the fore
going is the story Of how / crashed
the gate"
Once by. however. Richard ad-
vanced very rapidly-wilich seems to
show that gatekeepers don't always
recognize genius.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
University Theater.

LAWRENCE, Kans., R).-George
Pierce Bakers theatrical work
shop at Yale University has little
cousin in the Kansas Players, dra-
matte organization at the University
Of Kansas.
Without a theater, the organization
has produced IL plays, with 45 pres
entations, including dramas ranging
from Shaw and Galsworthy to three
oneact plays written by members or
the troupe.
Stages used by the company have
varied in size from 16 TO 40 feet. neces-
aitating the revision of the action in
each case and the remaking of the
scenery for the same play several
times. One play was produced on
four different stages with four differ
ent dimensions. But despite the diff
culties the play given by the Kansas
group was rated second in the ma
tional dramatic tournament at Evans
ton, ILL.,, in 1925.
The organization has no officers ana
no written constitution. 1t is COM
posed chiefly of faculty members and
students or ex-students Of the univer-
sity. Prof. Allen Grafton, director, or.
ganized the company in the Fall or
1924 with the aid Of Mrs. Jessica
Royar Grafton. The Craftons have ex-
perience on the legitimate stage, and
in the Little Theater movement Prof.
Robert Calderwood joined the com
pany in 1925 as assistant director. He
also has experience on the stage. in
vaudeville and in motion pictures.
Scenery is designed and built by
Prof. Grafton in the studio shop. Mrs.
Grafton designs and makes the cos
TUNES and many of the properties.
Last Summer the players organized
into cooperative stock company
producing six plays in six weeks. The
group never has been subsidized and
never has received any backing. Re
ceipts from the performances must
pay all expenses. The organization
never has been in debt, however.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Cecil Cunningham.

CECIL CUNNINGHAM, Amazonian
blonde beauty, star Of divers mu-
sical comedies. lately with Eddie Can.
tor in kid Boots" and more recent
ly feature in fashionable New York
night clubs, is a local attraction of
the current week in vaudeville.
Miss Cunningham has tried the two
a-day before and found it to her lik-
ing She knows the sort of song that
makes a hit and has assembled three
or four particularly diverting ones,
gowned herself in a Paris frock. Sc.
cured an able accompanist. and is
faring forth for an indefinite stay in
variety.
She does popular songs in charac-
ter, is a skillful mime and comedienne.
Her particular purpose in life Is
amusing people. She is not at all in
line with the tradition that all comics
want to play serious drama.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
St. Pats on Tour.

THE st. Patrick Players are in the
midst of their annual May tour.
Thursday and Friday evenings Of last
week they played the Alcazar Theater
in Baltimore. Though the house seats
LOO the demand for seats could be
met only by having two performances.
1t is, perhaps, the first time that
Washington amateur organization has
ever been asked to play two success
sive evenings in Baltimore.
Friday of this week will be spent
in Norfolk. where two performances
Of the "Washingtoniana" revue will
be given at the old Academy of Music.
Rockville also will be entertained by
the same revue.
Eighty-nine people are being car
ried in the cast.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Mary Pickford's Next.

As the result of title contest con-
Quoted within her own organiZa-
ton, Mary Pickford's new phoptoplay
is no longer nameless. 1t will be
called my Best Girl"
This story written especially for
the star by Kathleen Norris. deals
with the adventures and romance of
stock girl in a 5-and.10-cent store
Undertoned by rich vein Of whim-
sical humor, it also features a love
story which is said to surpass any
past Pickford effort
Sam Taylor will direct and Miss
Pickford expects to commence pro-
duction within six weeks. Hope Lor-
ing is preparing the script and James
Johnson, production manager, is pre-
pairing the schedule for sets.
Charles Rogers has been selected
as Miss Pickford's leading man.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Washington Little
Theater

MISS EsTELLE ALLEN, general
director. in charge of Washing
toms Little Theater. recently returned
from a visit to Boston and New York,
in which latter city she attended the
Little Theater tournament, held at
the Frolic Theater, under the direc-
ton of Walter Hartwig.
In Boston, she met members Of the
famous Repertory Theater, whose
new million-dollar playhouse is a
striking witness of what civic
| theater can accomplish in that city.
In New York she met other well
known little theater groups and looked
into their playhouses, from all of
which experiences she brought back
new ideas for the benefit of the Wash
ington group.
The Washington Little Theater's
production of Austin Strong's "The
Drums of Dude" as it's first offering
of one-act plays given April S at
Pierce Hall, she found was among
those given at the tournament. Com
PARSONS may be odious, but neverthe-
less they are sometimes encouraging"
says Miss Allen, but the Washington
Little Theater, looking back on its
own performance of this famous play
let, mas 1O ISSu 10 Dc dSIidillcu VI llS
work in comparison with the New
York production.
What was strongly brought out in
the Boston and New York experiences,
she says. was the fact that, after all.
the plays the thing, and that it
counts far more than the accessories.
If the Washington group, in its
earlier efforts. uses from necessity or
choice) what has been described as "a
few yards of material to show q
room," it is in good company. All the
little theaters are busily working out
the same problems of scenery and
stage effects in the very same way!
The Washington Little Theater has
admittedly started with the status of
an amateur group, but its ultimate
aim is to lift istelf to professional
and finally to full professional status
In acting and production.
Activities planned for the near fu'
ture include a series of weekly get.
together meetings Thursday after
moons at 924 Seventeenth street.
when the group will discus plans and
problems, with we'll known exponents
of the stage and drama as honor
guests and speakers. All interested
are welcome.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
asst year the Film Daily, movie
trade paper, asked the United
Brotherhood (and Sisterhood) of
INiI,,a Critics to name tho III

Asst year the Film Daily, movie
trade paper. asked the United
Brotherhood (and SisterhooD o.
H. Film Critics to name the II
foremost directors. This pol
was duly recorded. and revealed a
preponderance of admiration for Erich
Won Stroheim. who is not so popular
in Hollywood.
Following Mr.. Won Stroheim were
Ernst Lubitsch, James Cruz, ID. w.
Griffith, Herbert Brenon, King Nfdor
and other obvious selections.
Now Film Daily is asking us critics
to vote again on the leading direct
tors of the year. 1t is not an easy
task.
Starting out with the idea of select
ing the foremost directors, I should
nominate the following: Won Stro-
helm, Lubitsch, CruZe, Brenon. Fidor,
Grifith. Rex Ingram, f. w. Murnau.
Malcolm st. Clair and. for the other
position. l should have terrible time
deciding between Robert Flaherty
(who made "Nanook of the North,
Merian Cooper (who made Grass"
and "Chang'D and Karl Brown twho
made Stark Love'D.
This list, however, must be con-
adhered in the light of directorial
achievements between May Is, 1926,
and May Is, 1927.
What have the masters accomplish
ed in that time?
Erich Won Stroheim has done moth
ing since THE Merry Widow al
though his next picture, THE We'd
ding March" is promised for release
in the Fall.
Ernst Lubitsch has made one feeble
farce. $50 This Is Paris
James CruZe has contributed "Old
Ironsides."
Herbert Brenon has scored heavily
with Beau Gests,' but has weakened
his position with 1.-The Great Gatsby"
and God Gave Me Twenty Cents"
King Vidor has done two-La
Boheme" and "Bardelys the MaGnifi-
cent"-neither Of which was particu-
larry impressive.
d. w. Griffith has offered "The Sor
rows of Satan" containing some OF
his greatest work and some or his
(or any other director'sl worst.
Rex Ingram has been represented
twice-by Mare Nostrum" Can oc-
casionally fine picturel and "The Ma
sician" "a thoroughly terrible onel.
F. w. Murnau has had Faust
a tremendous let-down after 1.-The
Last Laugh"-and is now working on
Sunrise said to be a masterpiece.
Malcolm ST. Clair has produced
s'The Show-off," Knockout Reilly"
"Good and Naughty and THE Popu-
lar SIM"
This, generally speaking, is sorry
showing for the leaders.
Aside from "Old Ironsides," Beau
Geste" and THE Show-off no really
notable productions are attributable to
this distinguished list.
X
These, 1t seems to me, are the best
tobs of direction that have been done
in the year under consideration:
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Owen Davis, Jr. z
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK-Owen Davis, Jr., son
of the prolific playwright, is unde.
cided whether to follow in the foot
steps of his father or act in the
plays someone else writes. 1t is pos
sible that he may combine both play
writing and acting.
He has the juvenile role in the
Chicago company of "The Barker"
but began his characterization of the
part here when Norman Foster Of
the original company was i'll.
Young Davis has appeared in small
parts in several of his fathers plays
and spent two seasons on the stage
at Plattsburg, N. Y. While at Yale
he studied playwriting in Prof. George
Pierce Bakers class.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Interesting State Lore.

4 KNOW YOUR OWN STATE" Sc
"A ries of short pictures is to be pro-
duced by the Fox Film Co.
California. Oregon, Washington, Vir-
ginia. Louisiana and Kentucky will
be visited this Spring and Summer
and the historical and interesting
geographic spots photographed for
the screen. Public schools are said
to be especially interested in this
series of pictures. Every State in
the Union will be visited and photo
graphed.
Miss Elizabeth Pickett, manager Of
the short subject department for
Fox, will personally superintend the
making of these Fox Varieties" as
she calls them. She made Kentucky
famous on the screen with Kings of
the Turf" a race-horse story she gave
to Fox as the basis for Kentucky
Pride" my Own Carolina" also
gave its history and beauty to the
Evening star., 1927-05-15

not been seen In Washington. Yet each
has been a hit and should appeal tt
the public cross-section, whether that
cross. section resides in New York
Washington or Butte, Mont.
For the first two seasons the man
agement treaded cautiously. buyins
insured hits, and. in most cases, hiti
that had heretofore been seen here
This practice OF sounding out" ii
now dispensed with, and a wider and
newer variety OF productions will bt
the order, because "the public pulse
has been registered"
The new weeks attraction, Tor In.
stance. THE Enemy" was the hub OF
excited discussions In New York Q
season ago and Is expected to STIR up
talk in Washington an well ~ pro
vide entertainment.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Snatched From Obscurity.

ETHEL WALES, veteran character
- actress, who was one of the first
stage players to cast their lot with
Cecil B. DeMille when he came to
California to make motion pictures,
has been secured for long term by
the DeMille studio, and Immediately
cast for a featured role in "The Coun'
try Doctor" Vera Reynolds new star
ring feature, which is screen yer.
sion Of 1.-THE Bar Sinister" by Richard
Harding Davis.
Ethel Wales formerly appeared on
the stage with Cecil and William DE
Mile. Since joining the film colony
she has appeared in % pictures direct
ed by the two brothers, but has never
been under contract to any studio.
Her recent pictures include Ladies at
Play" 1.-The Cradle Snatchers' and
THE Satin Woman"
Evening star., 1927-05-15
More New Plays

SOMETHING on the order of a new
policy Is being tried out this sea
son by the National Players.
The system Of play presentation has
been altered to a rather broad extent
in that more plays, new to Washing
ton, will be offered. The idea is not
experimental, because every play on
the schedule is said to have record
Of a good sized run behind it. But it
should interest playgoers. because
each season New York has a great
number of plays that are never seen
beyond Broadway because their pro-
ducers are timid about the matter of
transportation and out-of-town theater
problems.
OF the first IL plays to be offered at
the National this Summer, eight have
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Wavs of War and Peace.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HOLLYWOOD. Calif.-Albert Cont
is finding it difficult to keep out OF
Michael Pleschkoff's outf1t.
During the war Cont, tnen an
Austrian cavalry captain, was taken
prisoner by the 18th Hussars, Rus-
sian organization commanded by
Pleschkoff. He escaped and made his
wav back to Austria through Sweden
eventually arriving in Hollywood
some time after the conclusion of hos
tilities.
Now Cont, a character actor, is
playing in Love" a screen version Of
Anna Karenina," Tolstoy's famous
story, the same film for which Plesch-
koff is acting as technical director.
This time they are good friends.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Animal Stars and Extras

or a boa constructor. Such animals.
waiting together with 10000 human
extras, entertain great hopes for the
future. Is not "Noah's Ark" to bt
made by Warner Bros early next sea
son? Certainly there will be room Tor
all in the we'll built ark. The Bible
specifies that one Of each sex entered
the ark.
There are only two boa constructors
in Hollywood. both males. But VINO
in the average audience can tell
whether the boas are both beaux or
one OF each?
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Clifton to Make Sea Film.

ELMER, CLIFTON, who directed one
~ of the greatest of sea pictures.
Down to the Sea in Ships" has been
engaged to produce a sea story for the
De Mile studio. Just what this pic
ture will be has not yet been decided.
Clifton has had a wealth of expert
ence, both as director and actor. He
assisted D. w. Griffith in the produc-
ton of Intolerance" 1.-THE Birth of
a Nation and "Way Down East" di-
rected Dorothy Gish in IA pictures and
started Priscilla Dean on her way to
stardom in THE Two Souled Woman. y
His experience as an actor includes
leading roles with Lillian Gish, Doro
thy Gish. Mae Marsh, Constance Tai
madge. Norma Talmadge and numer
GUS other prominent actresses.
Clifton recently returned from trir
around the world.
Evening star., 1927-05-15

cinema public under her direction.
Uncommon Clay" made at Cincin'
natti, told the story of the famous
Rookwood potteries. "Old Virginia"
showed Washington's home, the IA
nous historical spots and its Blue
Ridge Mountains. Rocky Mountain
Gold" made a Cripple Creek and Tel.
luride, revived the interest in the old
lore Of the gold rush. Under Colo
RADIO Skies" was of the States beau
ties, and THE Desert Blooms" will
this Fall. be released to explain the
reclamation of the Arizona and New
Mexico deserts.
The Indian tales of Miss Pickett,
such as "Sky Tribe" and Cliff
Dwellers Of America" have not been
surpassed.
Before she finishes the new series,
she will have visited and photo
graphed all the interesting and out-Of-
the-Way spots of America.
Evening star., 1927-05-15

Ice skating, skiing and a boxers
training camp scenes for Richard Dix's
starring vehicle Knockout Reilly"
were shot at Lake Placid, n. Y,
world famous Winter sports resort in
the Adirondacks. Among those partici-
pating in the healthy outdoor life
there were Larry McGrath, Billy
Viderbeck and four pugilists, and
I.assie, a 10-year-old dog, who acted
as Dix's friend and companion during
the strenuous training scenes.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Others Remember Our
Own.

7 UCIEN HUBBARD, Paramount
- supervisor of wings" the epic
of the air, leaves Hollywood shortly
for San Antonio, Tex, to handle ar.
rangements for the premiere of the
production which is scheduled for one
performance in the Alamo City.
Paramount officials agreed to the
showing at the request of the War
Department, which is attempting to
raise 100000 toward the erection Of
a memorial to the famous End Division
at Washington, D. c.
All funds obtained through the
benefit performance are to be turned
over to the memorial subscription.
Evening star., 1927-05-15

The director who was honored as
producing the prize winning picture
of 1926-"Keeper of the Bees is
to click again for 1877 and
believes that Judgment OF the Hills,
which is engaging his attention 20
out of "a hours a day, will turn the
trick. Judgment of the Hills is
from a story, Down Our Way" by
the brilliant Larry Evans, the last
story by him prior to his death.
Evening star., 1927-05-15

There are no night clubs in Chats.
worth, little crossroads town so
miles northeast of Hollywood, but Di-
rector Tom buckingham has taken
Viola Dana and company of screen
players there to film exterior scenes
for THE Lure n the Night Club" !"
an r. Il. O. pictH,%.
Evening star., 1927-05-15

"The Drop Kick" foot ball story.
will be a l926-27 release of First Ma
tional for Richard Barthelmess. The
story was adapted for the screen by
Adela Rogers st. Johns, and Xinifred
Dunn In writing the eentinNely,
Evening star., 1927-05-15
DANCING.

PROF. AND MRS. L. A. -ACHER STUDIO.
1l27 10th NV. Glasses Mon. Fri. to IL
pointment Frank. s567. Est 1900; ls.
PRIVATE LESSONS BY YOUNG LADY.
colegiate Yalencina. North 1881. To-
DAVISONS Teach Teach you to t.a dance fs..cos eos-
Prof. Mrs, Strictly private any hour.
Thomas CIRCLE. Glass dance Sat. eve.
1929 NJ 81 NV. with orchestra. Fox Trot.
Main 1882 Waltz. Collegiate. Tango.
Evening star., 1927-05-15
Mrs. Mae Dawson

1929 NJ st. NV. Phone Main 1882
Ballet. Taps Waltz-Clog. Spanish. Gypsy.
Russian French Tango as danced abroad,
&fesk Bottom, Charleston, Valencia.
JSNS~'~atG Iesn daS ov0nin9@'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-12
DR.. HERSON TO PREACH.

to Attend in Body.
Rev. DR.. Joseph r. Herson will
preach at Hamline Methodist Episco-
pal Church, Sixteenth at Allison
street, at the morning service to-
morrow on True Manhood" The
mems Bible class will attend this
service in a body, as will Boy Scout
Troop No. 80. At 8 pm. he will
preach on 1.-The Christian Corona
ton"
The church school meets at $3.50 am.
and the Epworth League at z pm.