The Washington times., 1928-11-22
IGLEANINGS
AND
SCREENINGS
By ANDREW r. KELLEY

even II IL is on nImSelI.
Seated in the front box at the
National Theater he heard Jack
Donahue of "Rosalie' spring q
nifty about the nations Chief
Executive and the house roared
with laughter.
It was in the first act. "The
King is delayed. He's been
listening to President Coolidge
talk over the radio" was the
line fed to the comedian.
"That's a fake, Coolidge never
talks to anybody, = replied
Donahue.
Gales Of laughter and every
eye turned on the Presidential
box. The White House occu-
pant joined in the nerriment
and the testimony of Walter
Brownley and others of the
front rows is the Coolidge grin
was never broader. Mrs. Cool
idpe was all smiles.
Manager Harry Howe Of the
Columbia Theater, who was
watching Donahue, swears the
comedian turned so white it
could be noted in the back of
the theater. At that, ! am
told, there was little confer
ence back stage before they
decided to use the joke. 1t is
one of the regular laughs in
the book and gets a big re-
sponse at every performance.
Al little jaunt around the
theaters found the Belasco
Theater packed for "The Trial
of Mary Dugar," and Polls
comfortably filled for shivers
and thrills at The Silent
House."
These crepe hangers who in
sist that Washington is dead
as q show town it seems to me
are little too eager to start
the funeral.
Washington is a trifle cold to
those attractions of feeble merit
which endeavor to reap divi-
dends beyond their power to
entertain. But let something of
established reputation and gem
uine value come along and the
Capital .theater-goer digs down
generously to be amused. 1t
resolves itself into a case Of
show shopping by q discrimin-
ating public.
The problem this season has
not been so much a dearth of
plays but q woeful lack of good
plays. The attractions which
registered hits on Broadway
last season are encountering no,
difficulty in crossing profitable
business on road tours. They
will unquestionably be well pat
ronized when they reach our
precincts. The indifferent sue
cesses are confronted with in
different business and are de-
touring to Gains storehouse
with unpleasant regularity
victims of financial malnutrI-
tion. .
Washington will not buv new
attractions unless the reputation
which precedes them indicates
quality, or unless they have the
pulling power of some recog-
nIzed star. But Washington
never has been enthusiastic over
the untried plays. recall sit-
ting in the National Theater
some IL years ago at a Wednes-
oay matinee. The attraction
was Frank Bacon in "Liphtnin'" !"
playing try-out week before
gong into New York. Business
was terrible.
| met Al Strassman. advance
representative of the show ss
the audience exited into an earl,
wlnIer WI snow. 1T looks like a
MT, / said. "Well, everybody
seems to like it, but business Is
away off. 1t appears as though
Washington won't buv now
shows" replied Mr.. Strassman
Three years later "Liphtnin"
came cam back to play to the big
gest weeks business for a NAV
iisted in the National Theater;s
DOCKS up to that time. Tried
and found 18-karat was the an
swer. :"
You will observe that the New
York Theater Guild has no mis-
apprehension bout booking
Eugene O'Neill's Strange Ins
terlude for a week in Wash
Ington. To be sure, it comes
with reputation of being a
great play, but on the other
hand, it rings up the curtain
at $3.50 p. M. gives nine acts'
and it is 11:15 p. m. before the
flnal bows are taken by a tired
company. This is a long eve
ming in the theater and those
who buy tickets can be safely
catalogued as dyed-in-the-wool
lovers of the drama. While the
business of prediction is treach-
erous, | venture "Strange Inter
lude" will hang up a walloping
box-office record here. Helen
Hayes, in "Coquette" and "The
Royal Family" two Jed Harris
productions, booked for Polls
are other early attractions
which can be depended upon to
prosper. Bearing the hallmark
of merit, the matter of attract
ing customers is no difficult
problem here.
Miss Gray at Main $3.50 has . H.HUo.
OF very desirable uHfurnlshed ana rt,,s ant
vacancies IT what you want is not J,st.S