The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-11-25
GLEANINGS
::AND.
SCREENINGS
By ANDREW X. KELLEY

board, as was more than init.
mated in these columns Friday,
gossip now turns to the future
of the Lafayette Square temple
of the drama.
It may surprise some to know
that the MesSrS. Shubert had no
intention of opening the theater
this season until the Philadel
phia labor trouble developed.
That changed the situation and
made it imperative that the
playhouse be available for test
ing the new dramas.
The suggestion was made to
the Musicians Union before the
Philadelphia strife, that if
week to week policy was per
mitted in Washington. the Bel
asco would reopen. The must
clans we're able to grant this
concession. A similar PROPOSE
ton made to the stage hands
found no favor. The strict let
ter of the contract was called
for bye the back stage boys.
Thus when the theater closes
on December 7, if it be found
desirable to reopen it again
say in January-the back-Stage
crew must be paid for the dark
weeks. Obviously it will not
relight under these conditions,
nor is there any indication if it
did there would be enough avail
able attractions to keep it's stage
occupied.
When the Belasco goes dark
after December 7, it will prob
ably be crossed off the legiti.
mate theatrical books, except
of course, for rentals such as
recitals, dancing exhibitions and
similar entertainment.
Attractions which in the
ordinary course of events would
be booked at the BelaSco will
find a haven at Polls and some
at the National Theater.
This news brings closer the
theatrical Utopia desired for
Washington by that experienced
and aStute producer, A. H.
Woods. 1t was Mr.. Woods who
some weeks ago ventured that
the solution of the legitimate
theater problem in Washington
was one playhouse offering the
choicest output of ALL produ
GERS. This. he contended, would
give the National Capital a sea-
son of some 35 or 40 weeks of
generally superior attractions.
would concentrate playgoing
patronage on a single theater,
and enG opposition bookings
which quite often spell box
office disaster.
I ventured to take issue then
and still feel-that Washing
ton would provide patronage
for two legitimate theaters in
the event that harmonious book
ing arrangements could be
made. However, since it ap,
pears almost certain that
Polls Theater is enjoying its
last season as shrine of
Thespis, the millennium outlined
by Mr.. Woods may come to
pass sooner that even he ex-
pected.
My personal reaction to the
changing theatrical scene is of
more than passing regret.
have found within the portals
of the Belasco Theater a honey
feeling which is all too rare in
the eXpanSes of the modern
amusement houses. There is
a spirit of Camaradie, a small
town neighbOrly contact, a feel
ing that you are company"
to most agreeable and happy
host.
If Mr.. L. Stoddard Taylor'5
artistic urge resulted in a new
plaque with a Sculped tribute
to David Garrick or John Drew
it was instantly deteced by the
regular callers, even as new
oil painting in the family draw
ing room would command i'm
mediate attention. My first
visit to the theater was on that
memorable night when Wood
row Wilson took up his occu-
pancy of the adjoining Execu-
tive mansion. Bought and
Paid For" was the attraction
with many of the intermission
strollers directing their foot
steps towards the friendly
warmth of the nearby Shore
ham grill.
I can look back with con-
scionable pride to the night
that President Harding in the
Executive box paid graceful
compliment to the art of Ella
Shields. English music hall
favorite. That was during the
all too brief season of Shubert
vaudeville when this editor di-
rected the publicity tympani
for the playhouse.
Another evening Of rare en-
joyment was that when Percy
Mackaye'S short lived George
Washington" had its premiere
with that polished veteran
George Marion in his before
the curtain narrative as Quill
uuon, the strolling minstrel.
President and Mrs Wilson with
Chief Justice White were the
honor guests.
Turning to more recent pages
the night that President Cool
idge ventured across the high
way to sit through the premiere
of John Drinkwater's thought
full but + unsuccessful play,
Robert E. Lee" was truly one