Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

~ oIl CAle 1lISli i1aI III WoSAA-
~ ington. There are few
4 n cities in the entire country
where the picture loving populace
will consider the 80 top" when it
comes to watching their favorites
cavort upon the silver sheet, and
the National Capital will stand it
only once in great while-but
these "once in a whites" are
events. At the reopening of the
Rialto last Friday evening, when
broadway was the featured at
traction, a large part of Washing
ton turned out for the ceremonies
and paid two one-dollar bills for
the privilege. There was blare
of trumpetS (thiS time in the
shape of loud speakers, a burst
ing of bombs flashlights of the
photographers and Hollywood
atmosphere. High hats, dinner
coats spreading an odor of moth
ballS-and far cry, indeed, from
the first nickel picture palace,
where the 'flickerS" attracted
those who searched for something
new in entertainment. Days do go
by and times do change
FROM present indications Wash
ington is in for a big theater
season, at least as far as motion
pictures are concerned. re-
ceived definite word from New
York Friday morning that the
Keith Theater would reopen in
October with the spectacular pic
ture, Rio Rita" Although the
letter does not mention the mat
ter, it is presumed that the Radio,
Keith and Orpheum organization,
combined and mentioned most
frequently as RKO, will enter the
Washington field with vaudeville
presentations, in addition to the
featured films. The exact date
of the Keith opening is net an
nounced.
With the Rialto running full
blast, this adds two first-claSS
picture palaces to the downtown
list. There will be many attrac-
lions and much competition,
which is splendid news for the
local theatergoer.
In tour Of states to the
Westward, it has been inter
eSting to see 1Ohat the theater
managers in the small to1UnS
are doing 7Uith the sound pic
lures. Up to the present time
sound equipment for the thea
ter has been expensive, and
many theater o1Uners 1oere u1-
able to meet q demand for the
tGlkieS. Also, in the small
to1UnS 1Chere the pictures must
be changed each day in order
to accommodate the same
cro1Ud of cash customers, the
tdIkieS haze been too erpen-
size and too fen. So that, in
most instances, the small thea
ter managers are cOnfning
their sound pictures to ShotU-
ingS on Saturdays and Sun
days. During the remainder
OF the 1Ueek, silent pictures
7Ohich, By the 1Oay, draU the
usual cro1UdS-Gre the attrdc-
tons.
1T is the opinion of this writer
that 1.-THE Last of Mrs. Chey-
ney' is the first real talking pic
ture. That is, it is all-talkie and
nothing but talkie. The only ac-
ton of the piece, aside from the
Skillful handling OF, cups at tea
table, takes place when Mrs.
Cheyney attempts to throw a
stolen string of pearls into the
garden and Lord SoandSo grabs
her wrist.
A study of the picture is quite
interesting, and it settles one
Question-Whether the screen can
reproduce stage vehicles with sue
cess. THE Last of Mrs. Cheyney,'
a success as originally produced
on the stage, has met with much
favorable comment from screen
audiences both in Washington and
other cities. However, a lack of
action, as action is known to fic-
ton, screen and stage, prevents its
becoming anything more than it
really is-a talkie.
Morgan Farley. an actor of
the Ne1D York stage Tho has
signed 1Uith Paramount. states
that more actors from the le-
ultimate need coaching in mo-
ton picture 1Uork than picture
stars need study NTH those of
the STAGE. Quoting him brief
IL: "Stdge actors 0UerGct on
the screen at first, due to the
fact that they are closer to the
audience than aOhen on the
boards. Picture acting calls
for much effect 1Uith the eueS
and general expression and q
good Uoice, but it cannot &C
cept the many gestures and
feeting expressions Uhich all
good performers use 1Uhen be-
hind the tootlightS. I kno1U
that I could learn much from
a seasoned film star, could I
find one 10ho Mould take
pupils"
A PERSONAL letter from Carl
Laemmle, king-pin of the Uni