The Washington times., 1928-12-12
IGLEANINGS
AND
SCREENINGS
BY ANDREW X. KELLEY

In the midst of the mistletoe
and holly wrapped bundle sea-
son, business at the boxoffice
of the Washington theaters is
just a little below normal. The
week before Christmas and the
seven days of Holy Week are
two periods in the theatrical
calendar when the flow of
amusement money is the lowest
in the year. Still it doesn't
always work that way.
Just a few seasons back
vaudeville unit troupe played
Washington before Holy Week.
1t drew $6,500 but was sched-
uled to lay off for the last
week in Lent. The actors got
together, agreed to accept a
cut in salary, and the engage
ment was offered if $4,000
could be guaranteed. Then and
there this department came
closest to being producer or
a theatrical magnate. | agreed
to take an interest if Duke"
Fosse, Ira LaMotte and others
of wide knowledge would invest.
While we were scurrying around
to dig up the money, the Messrs
Shubert reconsidered, decided
to take a chance and play the
unit Holy, Week. 1t crossed
$500 in the seven days. Prov
ing you can't delay when OPP
portunity knocks at the door.
Or something like that.
Commended as certain to
please the small army of am
bilious investors who are MAX
ing Christmas merry for the
Washington bookmakers, is a
film featuring thoroughbred
turf stars on view during the
supper show at the Fox Theater.
At least it was unreeled about
6:40 last night and may be
one of those extra plums tossed
in for good measure at the
Scotchman's matinee.
1t shows the kentucky stock
farm of Miss /DaingerfielG,
famous as breeder of blue
blooded horse flesh. Norwich,
Mars, American Flag and
others of equine royalty are
filmed with the headline honors
given to none other than Man
O. War. The king of all the
turf fliers is also shown in
slow motion giving real
closeup on that marvellous
grace and action which en-
abled him to throw those four
flying hoofs faster than any
animal who ever faced the bar
rier.
Paramount's announcement
that Emil Jannings pictures of
the future will be all silent, is
tip off that the German star
has found it difficult to master
the English language, although
he was born in Brooklyn.
Jannings has been spending
his spare time for months with
the highest priced English tutors
but he still speaks Americanese
with a Berlin brogue.
In spite Of the fact that the
flappers claim Jannings has no
"H' and give his films a
naughty go-by he is the highest
paid actor on the Paramount
lot and one of their biggest
box office cards. His foreign
popularity outweighs that of
any of his cinema rivals.
In his latest picture "Sins of
the Father" he has the assist
ance of Ruth Chatterton. The
story tells of the evils of boot
leg rum and Herr Jannines is
seen as a bootlegger who sold
the poison booze which caused
his son to go blind. In the
last sequences of the picture he
portrays. waiter.
Ever since Jane Cowl in
Jealous Moon" played Polls |
have been curious to know the
exact meaning of a huge hand
that hung suspended above the
scenery as an enormous papier
mache menace.
symbolism or something" was
the only explanation | was
vouchsafed when / sought more
definite information from sources
that ought to be informed. Now
that the play is in New York the
explanation is forthcoming.
The hand was intended to
keep the spectators constantly
in mind Of the fact that they
were witnessing a dream fan
tasy. But there was also
another idea back of it. Jane
CowPs original intention was to
make her entrance" in the
dream portion of the play. let
down from above, standing on
the hand. They even tried the
stunt at a dress rehearsal in
baltimore. But the final nldg
ment was the actress was too
precious mortal to risk life
and limb on the strength of
few piano wires and 50 the
plan was reluctantly aban-
doned.
In movie circles tongues are
buZZlng over the rumOr that the
Marcus Loew interests, which
include the control Of Metro
Goldwyn- Mayer, are negotiating
to combine with the William
Fox enterprises. Right here it
might be said that the proposed
com,ine is denied by those pre-
sumed to know what's doing in
the inner circles of both organi-