Evening star., 1928-12-23
METROPOLITAN Haunted
House."

A special holiday program, arranged
with a thought of the young folks as
well as their elders, will be presented
all this week at Crandall's Metropolitan
Theater. The featured screen attrac-
ton will be First Nationals mystery
comedy thriller "The Haunted House."
in which all Of the spooky noises as
sociated with mystery plays are record
ed by the sound devices. Several Short
reel features have been picked as COM
Elementary to the featured screen sub
jects.
Owen Davis stage play was the basis
of the screen story of 'The Haunted
House." but the scenarist has departed
from the original text and with end
less ramifcations impossible within
stage limits has provided enough hap
penings in the old spook dwelling to
satisfy all mystery lovers.
Chester Conklin is cast as the hem
pecked old husband, who is forced by
his Shrewish wife to enter the old de-
serted and haunted house to search for
hidden treasure. ThelmaS Todd. Larry
Kent, Montagu Love, Flora Finch, Bar
bara Bedford, William v. Mong and Eve
Southern complete the cast and also
help in plentiful supply of mystery
and thrills.
Other features on the Christmas week
program will embrace an Our Gang
synchronized comedy, featuring the Hal
Roach rascals and titled Spanking
Age" Christmas novelty reels, "The
Wooden Soldier" q late issue OF the
Metropolitan Topical Review and new
Vitaphone presentation, the title OF
which is not given yet.
PALACE-"The Woman From Moscow"
Pola Negri, in what is announced as
one of the most powerful dramas of her
career, the Paramount sound picture
1.-THE Woman From Moscow" VIII pro-
vide the screen attraction at LoeW's
Palace during Christmas week. Norman
Kerry plays opposite her IN TINS story
The story is built around woman
who sets out to avenge the murder Of
her fiance and then falls in love with
the slayer. 1t is elemental drama and
shows Miss Negri in all the dominating
power that won her the spotlight OF
fame in Passion" The scenes showing
the stars efforts to detain Kerry in her
apartment through the night in order
to save him from the human blood
hounds she has placed on his trail are
said to be the high spots of the picture.
On the stage Wesley Eddy and the
Palace Syncopators will be presented in
the Loew-Publix unit, staged by Paul
Oscard, "Topsy- -Turvy Town." which
features Ferry Convey, Ford and Whitley,
the Phelps Twins and the Gamby-Hale
Girls.
The surrounding program includes
contributions by Harry Borjes and the
Palace Orchestra, Charles Gaige at the
organ, with the Fox Movietone News,
the M-G-M News and several novelties
presented under the personal direction
of Colby Hartman, managing director.
FOX-"Prep and Pep"
Youth will take possession Of the
Fox screen and stage this week, in
cluding today, when a prep school
story, "Prep and Pep" will be the screen
feature, and 1.-THE Circus" the feature
| for the stage.
In the first named is gathering
of the younger Fox stars, Nancy Drexel,
David Rollins, John Darrow and Frank
Albertson, who portray the principal
characters, and many youthful aspirants
for Hollywood honors also appear in the
story, which is described as a comedy
drama of youth and the making OF
men in a famous military school. In
this instance it is about mothers boy
who achieveS~}aonor through sheer grit
and the will to win.
On the stage, "the greatest show on
earth" is announced. With the worlds
best entertainers all gathered under
one big tent to amuSe you." The true
atmosphere of the circus will be created
with many real stars of the big tops
featured.
High light of the stage program will
be the return of Mary Reads Is Fox
Tilerettes, group of dainty precision
dancers; the talking crow, Jocko; the
seven Daredevils, group. of whirling,
twirling Arabs: John Maxwell, the Paul
brothers, creating thrills high in the
air; the Dackshing troupe of Japanese
acrobats; Ber and Walhl, comedians,