The Washington times., 1928-12-15
GL-E.A NlNGS1
Nm
SCR EENINGS
By ANDREW R. KELLEY

tious scenic production, "Mima, =
which is the adoption of Ferenc
Nolnars ''The Red Mill" has
had its Broadway premiere.
Lenore Ulric is the star with
Sydney Blackmer the leading
man.
Those who profess to know
say that the Belasco bank bal
ance was nicked for $500, 600
before the opening perform
arce. There were eight weeks
Of rehearsals at full salary for
all the company and heavy
overtime for the back stage
! forces. About 500, 900 was
spent in structural steel for
i the massive sets and the
i Belasco Theater was completely
remodeIed in back of the curtain
& 10 fit the production. Inc
play will be shown only N
New York. Z.
If I had invested $500, ,OO0O
odd in a theatrical property l
/ should like little more eIl-
3 thusiasn than the critics dis
played in their first night
i observations. Ventures like
ssNima" are what make the
business Of producing plays
lust about the greatest gamble
In the WORLD. Reproducing
Hades in the theater (which
Is what Nina does), is q
novelty, but as some of the
smart shock troops at the
premiere probably said: It
costs like -" You supply the
missing word.
Speaking Of big money. one
Of our pleasant diversions
the Rev. Francis ]. Rurney.
local chaplain of the Catholic
Actors Guild, paid friendly
visit to tell Of the amazing
success of an attraction which
asked $40 for the rush seats
and 500 for the privilege J. OF
parking space in q box.
It was the society tableaus
of Lives, of the Saints given
at the Hotel Plaza ball room in
New York. The one perform
ance netted $50, 900 FOR the
Franciscan Foundation. Lady
Isabelle Howard Of the British.
Embassy sponsored the ultra
fashionable show and the
daughter Of the French AM
bassador was among the grouD
Of Park Avenue debs who took
part. The gorgeous pictures
were staged by Estelle Allen
Of Washington. with the Rev.
Hurney acting in the capacity
Of director.
John Gilbert will continue as
an occasional cause Of box
office traffic congestion at
Thirteenth and F Streets.
Which is another way Of say
ing he has come to terms with
Metro Goldwyn- Mayer and is
tied up tight to a new contract.
Gilbert ranks No. / as the male
star for. attracting patrons to
Ioew's Palace.
Since 1.-THE Big Parade" Gil
bert's salary has hoped up
ward so fast he can now s,sp-
port a 92-foot yacht called
"The Temptress." i" without over
drawing his account. There
were threats he was going to
produce his own pictures and
others that he was flirting with
Pathe and United Artists. Out
Of it all came another pay
raise.
Gilbert, / am told. has no
love for the red-hot ronoorces
which give him loyal follow
ing. He would like another
"Big Parade" role but Santa
Claus can't fill such orders.
Jim Tully. revealing Hollywood
author, in a blistering article
declared that John suffers from
an aggravated case of "high
hat" But / prefer to take the
appraisal of Monta Bell, who
has directed the star often and
is one of his intimate friends.
"Jack is the most regular of
fellows" is Monta's opinion.
Director Bell, who is just
now in charge of all of Para
mounts activities at the
Astoria. Long Island, studios,
is probably bitterly Gisap-
, pointed by the Ziegfeld edict
that Eddie Cantor cannot re-
turn to. the movies. Not while
he's making "Whoopee." Mr..