Evening star., 1927-09-25


responds to what economist
refer to as period OF so
cial unrest. 1t has during the early
weeks of the seasons been a revolu
tionary theater that effaces distinc
tions, introducing entirely new ele
ments of responsibility and preCe
dence At last in the person of Mr.
Rothafel it accomplishes marve
and is linking radio directly with the
visible stage of the speaking and
singing stage.
Two plays of the familiar farcica
type serve to make traditional effort
to entertain seem a little further
toward the past than it has ever
been until this season. The dramatic
theaters are no longer consistently
dramatic" The National holds the
picture "Old Ironsides" for two
weeks of Photographic magnihcence
and patriotic thrill. Vaudeville the
aters are not strictly vaudeville,
for they, too, have pictures in addi-
ton to song, dance and sketch. And
the so-called picture theaters are
often distinguished more by the en-
tertainer himself" than by the
films.
One eminent motion picture pro-
ducer has stated desire for actors
with brains. One article which even
Thomas Edison cannot manufacture.
Another has complained that the
best authors do not know how to
write for the movies.
II has been a hard year for au-
thors. During the New York furry
regarding offensive shows they were
roundly denounced by producers un-
der fire. The producers insisted that,
regardless of their screams, authors
were forcing wicked manuscripts
over on the stage managers.
No doubt this hint has been needed
by many playrights. 1t would prob
ably have had a reformatory effect
if it had been whispered. 1t is sell
dom necessary to bawl man out
in order to fire him with an ambition
to distinguish himself in legitimate
line instead of writing in perfume
tory key for the unexpurgated mar
ket. Mr.. Avery Hopwood in some
of his more recent dramas and adap-
tations has shown a slight tendency
to let the sunlight in and sweep the
dust and cobwebs of literary past
into the corners, where they will no
longer be conspicuous. 1t is too
much to expect an author trained
to the needs of the Broadway foot
lights to become suddenly evange-
lized into q state of prudery Wild
plots and erratic expressions have
won the money prizes. No author
likes to write unsuccessful plays. No
producer likes TO put them on Each
blames the other and calls on the
police for the privilege of turning
States evidence, and so the buck
passeth.
Then, above all the illumination and
glare and railing of the regular the
ater," struggling and beset, came
the mild, persuas sive voice of radio
1t was not merely persuasive; it was
compelling. 1t reached not merely a
few thousand people in a single audi
torium, but went countrywide into
thousands of homes at all hours oi
the day and night, with all kinds oi
material, even including the highly
educational lecture, as we'll as the
conical duo. While it cut caper:
for the mild, childlike mind, it took
advantage of an opportunity to en-.
list attention for demonstrations
tending to lead upward and onward
in the domain of intellectually
Sometimes the expression was really
intellectual. Sometimes it pompously
purported.
It was Mr.. Rothafel who perceived
the potentialities Of the radio pro
grams better than any other man
His was demure and decorous pro
gram worthy sometimes OF the piece
speaking hour on Friday Afternoon
at the old high school. A certain
genial trick OF intimate personality
which no one yet has succeeded quit,
in initiating, enabled him to maxi
TWO WOIuS Sldiiu Jul WIN iuhiOi
ously pleasant effect. When he sait
Hello, everybody" everybody re
sponded "Hello!' in thought, an,
waited for the light waves whicl
brought to the imagination glimpse
of some far-away corner in Bohemi
where players laughed spontaneous
and seemed to work for the love o
,,,t.at thew were doing
There is a Napolconic suggestio
in the personality of Mr.. Rothafe
as he marches on to new and NOR
magnificent conquests. He starte
his campaign in the very highway
flooding F street with glare tha
had the populace standing hypnno
tied on both sides of the street 70
the entire block. Even the usua
ticket kiosk appeared to have NOR
ornan1entation than usual. The vel
vet pile that softened footsteps tina