The Washington times., 1928-09-12

>Monkey-glan0lng Che eStao-
Iished film favorites of another
day with a set of up-to-Gatc
sounds is the latest rumor In the
movie industry.
I heard yesterday that the
brother of D. w. Griffith has
enough faith in the ability of a
revivified "Way Down East" to
bring in the shekeIs that he is
planning to have it go out in
its ultra modern trimmings as a
road attraction.
"Way Down East" is one o.
the outstanding Hollywood sue
cesses of an earlier era. 1t cost
$685., 900 to produce and up to
date has crossed 81, 500, 900,
ranking among the most success
full pictures of all time.
The Earle Theater will steal
page from Broadway's book. 1t
has scheduled an 1880 p. m.
Friday night performance with
Colleen Moore's Lilac Time"
given its first Washington
screening.
The midnight show is now an
established institution in the
big New York picture houses.
The Broadway showmen bark
back to carnival days and sta
ton a ballyhoo man in front of
their palaces who harangues the
passing throngs on the desire
ability of stepping right up to
the box office for the IL a. m.
screening. These early morning
audiences are composed largely
of actors and night club regu-
lars.
In scheduling the first 1880
movie performance for Wash
ington, Supervisor Payette, of
the Stanley Crandall houses,
makes it plain that the plan is
an experiment. If it attracts
enough patrons to be profitable,
first screenings of other specials
may occur late Friday night.
Otherwise, the regular Saturday
premiere will remain.
There were 80 dark theaters
in New York on Labor Day
week, which partially explains
why the regular legitimate sea-
son in Washington is getting
a delayed start.
EN- no prophet but if there
are not many dark weeks dur
ing the regular season here l
will be one of those surprised.
New attractions are scarce and
the production schedules are
lighter than they have been in
many seasons.
Another difficulty for the play
houses in filling their books is
the absence of So pictures. The
majority of the big specials
originally planned for road show
have been taken over by the
regulation movie houses. Aside
from "Shew People," with Will
liam Haines and Marion Davies,
co-starred, and super special
made by Paramount whose de-
tails are guarded. there are no
films in sight to play legitimate
theaters.
The Actors Equity Associa-
ton explains that it was good
old John DAILY Murphy who dug
up the necessary bail bonds to
release Henry Dixey and 10
other players in "The Night
Before" when the cast was most
unceremoniously thrust into the
BOBBY hatch for playing an
alleged dirty show.
The arrests were made at
11:3O a. m. and the actors
toted to the calaboose in the
regular hurry-up wagon. "Get
$4,000 in cash or $1,000 in
property Deeds" was the ulti-
matum of the desk sergeant.
Frank Gilmore, of Equity,
started out after midnight to
find somebody with $4,000 i'll
cash in his pocket. 1t was no
easy task, even among the
Broadway crowds. When he
was finally about ready to
despair, John Daily Murphy
hove in sight. He had in his
pocket the deed to his Long
Island home-just how it hap
pened nobody bothered to ask
and he put up this collateral
and released his fellow thes-
plans. They had been confined
in cells until s a. m.
Equity has started an in-
vestigation and is raising
merry hob over the treatment
given the actors. The associa-
ton contends they should have
been released on their own
recognizance or on nominal bail
upon this technical charge.
"Coquette," when made into a
movie, will have Marie Pickford's
voice. In this connection it is
interesting to note that the
Paramount studio, when giving
voice tests, brings out a record
Of the Pickford sounds and ad-
vises actors: "This is perfec-
ton. Try and equal it,"
The voice of Mary was regis
tered with Paramount as a
courtesy some time ago in the
Pomeroy department, which is