Evening star., 1927-09-25
Wonderful Material Waiting
To Be Harmonized.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

wandered over broad StalrWayS ana
through vaulted galleries offered a
mute appeal for mercy to patrons
who carry their chewing gum into
places of public entertainment, and
when they have exhausted its flavor
refuse to swallow it.
| * X X X
The Fox Theater opened its heart
on Monday night and its box office
on Tuesday. In spite of all the
architectural glories and the decora-
tive novelty, it remains true to mo-
ton picture tradition from the ticket
window to what limited and per-
verse linguist referred to as the
wiener -Wurlitzer organ" This,
too, was idealized in a costume of
ivory tints and with voice unim-
paired that met the rivalries of sur
rounding gorgeousness with man.
moth harmonies.
The Fall opening of this city's
theaters has been made period of
feasting; feasting for the eye and
for the ear, hopefully expected to
deliver pecuniary calories safely into
the box Office, yet not altogether
free from perils of indigestion. Legi-
innate fun, with the fat and the slim
comedian bandying repartee, MINI
bic redheaded soubrette (GailS Bev-
erly) giving one of the best gro
tesque impersonations on the cur
rent stage, squadrons of classical
dancers on half a dozen stages, the
undraped figure of a pretty girl as
part of a romantic plot. and other
ingredients which chefs have often
utilized in many ways, have made
the theatrical district of Washington
seem like glorious mince pie. Never
before has the spirit of Thanksgiv-
ing made so early and impressive
an Autumn start.
The dream of the legitimate player
has been the career of an actor
manager in entire charge of his own
theater. The dream has usually
ended in awakening to financial dis
appointment. Mr.. Rothafel ap-
proaches this ambition from a new
angle and asserts himself immediate
ly on terms of glittering opulence as
the announcer manager. 1t is a new
function made possible by dawn
ing era in entertainment; entertain
ment for the eye and for the ear
designed on lines to dispense, as far
as possible, with the spoken word
and to depend for literary express
sion upon the voluminous and adroit
vocabulary of the advertising expert.
Circumstances favored a wonder
full opportunity for publicity, owing
to the fact that the National Press
Club, the theater's upstair neighbor
assembled to give greeting, prepared
to scatter the tiding of notable
event in the art world by dispatches
to all points of the compass, reach
ing every community from metropo
lis to hamlet. The splendid publicity
stroke was one of Mr.. Rothafels
characteristic Napoleonisms.
* X
1t seems the last word has been
spoken in beauty of architecture and
elegance of furnishings whenever a
new pictorial vaudeville house is
built The last word has never been
reached and the public has always
managed to make the more extended
investment profitable for those who
seek TO amuSe it.
The old friends are never deserted.
New arrivals in the field add to the
impetus of interest, and it may be
predicted with great confidence that
Keith's, the Strand, the Earle, the
Palace, the Metropolitan, the Colum-
bia, the Rialto and many other, all
different, yet all using pictures, will
continue to prosper and perhaps de-
velop keener competition.
"Stone walls do not prison
make" nor do mural decorations by
! themselves constitute the playhouse.
! The public has come to take velvety
luxury as matter of course. The
tendency is to demand more and
more features on the line Of what
is known as the revue" In the
meantime the producers OF musical
spectacles and ballets have something
to ponder about in the program of a
de luxe picture house. Lights, cos
tunes. dancing are offered in ava
| lanChe. never at an excessive price
as you turn every corner. The fear
has often been expressed that mo-
ton pictures would overwhelm the
legitimate stage.
This has happened. The picture
industry asserts its competitive spirit
with a manner of lavishness that
makes the legitimate show look like
small white chip tossed into the
game which utiizes the map of this
country a roulette board.
\
And yet the legitimate theater
may be depended on to assert itself
with unostentacious vigor. Along
the highways again travels the cart
of Roscius, and audiences assemble
to enjoy its wares. The so-callec
'jtney theater." rural wanderer
has programmed some OF the most