The Washington times., 1928-04-02

The two straight dramas that
are making Broadway ticket
brokers thrive are. singularly
enough, the plays that are domi-
mated by two, native Washington
actresses. / refer to "Coquette"
which has been a smash hit for
Helen Hayes since late October
and Our Betters,' which is the
highly, profitable revival that Ina.
Claire Is showing to- nightly ac-
claim. 'Coquette'' is described as
an excellent example of extraor-
binary acting taking in and blind
ing those who come to see 1t.
without the sterling performances
it receives "Coquette" would be
another Of those rather mild, but
tightly staged evenings.
Jed Harris. It's producer. gam-
bled on the Helen Hayes talents,
and the faith has paid him hand.
some dividends. He made Helen
an extremely attractive offer
when she was trouping with the
Barrie revival of What Every
. woman hHOWSy 4IIu 6hS ~
cepted. Producer William A.
Brady was wrathy over the pros
pectiye loss of his star and took
The matter to Equity, but Harris
won in the arbitration. He pays
Miss HAYES $4,000 a week and
makes money besides.
Ina CIaire's play was tried out
in 1917 by another actress ana
lasted a few weeks on Broadway.
Ina had faith in the Somerset
Vaughan comedy and when her
uuest for a suitable new play was
unsuccessful. busted it off and 10.
II went right away into the hit
column. George M. Conan lost
his usual good nature when all
Of the first string critics went TO
the Claire opening instead OF 70
the premiere of his latest farce.
The controversy that developed
also helped get Our Betters' OFF
to a great start. ~
While Fred Stone Is reEanng
nightly in "Criss Cross" at the
National Theater. Producer Dill
bingham is busy on his plans for
the next Stone musical. Jerome
Kern is working on the tunes and
Ann Caldwell will, of course, do
the book. The interesting news,
however, is that Paula, the sec
ond of the Stone daughters. will
make her stage debut in this
show. There will be a nice part
for Dorothy. who has definitely
established herself as an essential
for all of her fathers future pro-
auctions.
AL Jolson Is in Hollywood again
and it appears that the stage VIII
see him in the future only at
such times as he is not engaged
with the phone wielders.
When Phil Baker was suddenly
taken sick in Chicago J. j. Shu-
bert wired Jolson a flat guarantee
of $4,000 week and a percent.
age to Join "A Night in Spain
at Chicago. Jolson was ready to
take the train for the Coast but
he yielded and went into the show
for two weeks. No financial in
ducement was strong enough 10
. make him break his Hollywood
engagement and so the show
closed with his departure.
Jolson's film. THE Jazz Sing
err" now at the Metropolitan on
a second return visit, has been
a sensational success. AL Is de-
lighted at the film outlook. When
he first tried pictures under the
guidance of d. w. Griffith he
was sorely disappointed. AS a
matter OF fact, he walked off the
lot after seeing the first flashes
of his likeness on the screen. AL
said he wasn't suited for pic.
lures. Anthony Paul Kelly, who
wrote the, first Jolson screen
play. was furious over the losses
Of prospective royalties and Inn
mediately started a 100000 law.
suit. This litigation has yet TO
be finally settled.