The Washington times., 1929-02-27
.GLEANINGS
AND
SCREENINGS
Ry ANDREW R. KELLEY

GredS or 0OlIafS the week DuSl-
ness for William Haines in
"West Point" which held the
. title for seven days trade since
early in 1928.
III claim no credit for that" Z"
said M Cullen. "It all belongs
to George Washington and the
fame which made his birthday
a holiday. February % has
long been known as the best
holiday of the year for show
business, and so it is just living
up to reputation"
Colby Hartman, in his limited
sojourn in Washington, amassed
a considerable air public with
his radio talks on the motion
picture industry. 1t is Major
Edward Bowes, of the Capitol
Theater, who wants them re-
sumed in the big city, and it
will be welcome news to the
Hartman fans that they will
soon be broadcast from New
IOrk SCaLl0n.
The holiday of last Friday
with its capacity matinee crowds
made it possible for the Ma
tional Players to roll up the
greatest opening week in a five
year history.
A change in booking brings
The Doctors Secret" into the
Columbia on Saturday instead
of "The Bellamy Trial" This
Paramount 100 per cent talker
was another of the box-office
surprises. The wise-acres of the
industry figured it was just
real good picture but the pub
lie reaction was such that it
was held over at the big Para
mount Theater for a second
week, and is the first feature
to win such a distinction. The
figures were: $82, 300 and $780,
910 for the fortnight of turn
away trade.
Tonight, health and weather
permitting, this department HES
to the auditorium of Mckinley
High School, where it will be a
pleasure to pass upon the his
trionic capabilities of the actors
in the one-act play contest of the
Community Centers.
The little journey is under
taken because the activity of
Miss Bess Davis Schreiner in
behalf of the community drama
has made it difficult to forget
the booking to be a judge, but
also because of belief all true
friends of the theater and it's
mines should encourage a move
ment which is inculcating a love
for the play in the growing gen.
Grafton. The tabloid plays to
be presented are "Will O. the
Wisp" by the Cleveland Park
players; ''The Monkeys Paw" by
the Columbia players; "The
Duchess Sa1s Her Prayers" by
the Montgomery Federation of
Women's Clubs, and the New
comb Club, of Bethe ida, pre-
sentation of "The Failure"
Comes to hand an invitation
from the Theater Stage En-
ployes and the Motion Picture
Operators Union to attend as
invited guest their inaugural
week bali at the Auditorium on
the night of March 6. These
back stage boys know a few
tricks about effective lighting
and the men in the projection
booths also have their ideas
about interior decorating. To-
gether, they promise some nov
elites that will turn the Audi
tcrium into a mazda fairyland
for the dancers, not to mention
the notables invited for the
grand march. All of the Broad
way performers playing in the
city will be enlisted to entertain
for their co-workers in the
theater and it is hoped to have
a picture star or two present.
for the whoopee.
It is good news that Archie
Onyun, who reviewed the Ma
tional Players Monday night,
brings anent Mrs, Adelaide Hib-
bard, the sterling character
actress Of the troupe. She is,
he says, adding to a deep
grounded popularity by q fine
performance.
Although Harold Phillips once
accused this prying paragrapher
of seeking Mrs. Hibbard out in
quiet haunts and boring her
with Bostonese for hours, the
truth is ! have yet to meet the
charming actress socially. 1t
was my good fortune to be writ
ing of things political at Boston
City Hail during the reign of
George Albee Hibbard and,
though he was an Ashmont Re-
publican and 100 per cent G.
o. P. as postmaster and mayor,
he was an intimate friend of
this Dorchester Democrat. l
learned to admire and respect
Mrs. Hibbard as Boston's first
lady-and a notable one she
made-and I get glow of sat
isfaction now that the oppor-
tunity sometimes arises to say
nice things about her activities
in a beloved profession.
All the Washington first-run
motion picture houses are as
suming that the Inaugural
crowds will be up late on Sum
day night and seeking diversion,
L