The Washington times., 1929-11-20

Italian fantasy. Death Takes
Holiday" now on view at the
BelaSco Theater. is an appre-
ciative author. as the letter bc-
low will testify. He wants to
keep the record absolutely
straight and accordingly take
the liberty of reprinting his
billet doux containing an
amendment to paragraph
printed in yesterdays Gleanings
and Screenings.
+ MY Dear Mr.. Kelley:
Thanks so much for your
carefully considered and we'll
written review of Death Takes
a Holiday" 1t is a pleasure to
wake in the. morning and find
ones work dealt with in a spirit
Of exact criticism. This, I am
sorry to say, is a rare expert
ence.
In your column, "Gleanings
and Screenings, you suggest
that Basil Rathbone was con-
sidered before Philip Merivale
for the role of. Death. If this
information was sent out by
the Shubert. office there has
been an unfortunate mistake.
The play was originally adapted
for Basil Sydney and Mary
Ellis at the time they we're
under the Shuberts' manage
Ynent. After that association
was terminated no one but Mr..
Merivale was considered for
the lead.
by the way we are playing
tomorrow afternoon the origi-
nal ending of the play which l
consider the only proper one.
The third act curtain last night
was forced on me for a trial
after long and bitter argument.
so If by any chance it would
aInuse you to get into the scrap
and comparative merits come
In for q moment and see the
change. should like very
much to know what you think.
Gratefully yours.
WALTER FERRIS"
ObStreperous patrons bob up
ever so often at the movies and
frequently annoy others besides
themselves. It was one o.
these who used his 200 or more
pounds to thrust aside ushers
at the Columbia Theater and
Insist upon his right to a seat
in the orchestra. although they
were all occupied and the avail.
able standing room was filled
to the last inch.
felt. as a witness of the Incl,
dent, that the management
would have been justified in
giving him . ride in the paddy
wagon. In the first place the
ushers we're only carrying out
instructions and there are fire
regulations which must be
rightly observed. He had a
right to make his protest if he
considered he was the victim
Of discrimination and the
further privilege Of getting a
refund but he had no right
to start a disturbance that
might have been transformed
into a stampede with serious
results.
Personally / have seldom
found a movie alluring enough
TO compensate for prolonged
wait in the lobby throngs.
Nevertheless thousands of pat
rons do consent willingly to a
certain amount of inconveni-
ence for the privilege of at
tending particular perform
ance and in the main they
are well behaved and con-
siderate. They realize. by a
glimpse at the lobby crowds,
that some delay is certain and
they buy tickets with this
understanding. F furthermore at
most of the first run theaters
the policy has been inaugurated
Of Stationing an attendant in
proximity to the box office to
acquaint customers with the
exact conditions as to avail
able seats.
AN seats IS cents" does not
necessarily mean that the pa.
tron walks at once to his favo-
rite seat in the orchestra. un-
less it happens to be untitled.
1t does mean that when these
certain pushes are unoccupied
they are at the service of the
customers but until such time
it is necessary that the audi
ence conform to the rules of the
house management which are
fixed and regulated for the
safety and comfort of the
many. The District fire laws
are, str,icteSt of any city in the
United States and they are alb
solutely aand firmly enforced
or the management is called at
once or, the official carpet.
/ mention these things be-
cause at another theater. a
thoughtleSs individual unlocked
the rope barrier which held the
lobby crowd and permitted the
throngs to rush pell NELL into
an already overcrowded orches-
ira. Such conduct, If it became
a practice, would result IN con-
slant turmoil and danger, Ush-
crs are not permitted to lay
hands upon patrons. Their only
recourse when a patron be-
comes recalcitrant is persuasive
argument or an appeal to the
management.
To those who find this fire..
ouent overcrowded condition
something of an inconvenience
Il might be pointed out that