davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10

that the guest is to take the grass
widower away from the grand
daughter and somehow or other save
the situation.
When the rescuer is presented to her
intended victim. who should be turn
out to be but her own ex-husband (the
audience has seen them quarrel and
separate in q prologue), and the prob
lem then becomes quite as much that
Of whether the husband (who, plainly,
in spite of his Irritation with the young
girl, is really in love with his wife) can
win her back again.
Here, also, Miss Crothers Is very much
in earnest and fair to the womans side,
in her modern way. as she is in the
case OF the young girl. The wife is no
once clinglng vine, now Tapping in the
wind and only waiting for chance to
be taken up by its sheltering oak again.
She is woman deeply hurt and disillu-
stoned. She has regarded marriage as
a sacrament and her husband as the
embodiment of her ideal.
Everything comes out happily enough
although not without some hard
knocks for the young girl-but not un-
til both women have had a fair run and
put before the audience points of view
which, If Miss Crothers chose, could
have been beloved across the foot
lights with much fuss and defiance
The main characters are assisted by
several minor ones, all amusingly and
truly conceived and acted, and the tone
throughout is crisp and spirited. One
of those occasional pieces which make
you feel that the theater has a real job
in life after all!
Here, actually, Is something new I'M
der the SUM leading lady who doesn't
choose to be seen. on Broadway! It
would be Just our luck to have her
change her mind before these words are
read, but at last accounts Miss Mollie
Picon, the idol of Second avenue, pre-
fers to play In Yiddish before her own
adoring audience of East SiderS, in
spite, as we are assured, of all sorts OF
brilliant offers from further uptown.
Miss Picon Is dynamic little woman,
somewhat after the manner of Mitzi;
her face suggests Elsie Janis, and when
she comes out In top hat and evening
clothes, as she does in the last act of
Hello, Molly" she recalls the bright
days of Vesta Tflley. This, in itself, Is
tradition, where weight had a certain
Oriental value, and leading lady who
lacked breadth and high specific gravity
could scarcely be listened to with COM
plete seriousness.
She was born in this country and
played Topsy with an Uncle Toms |
Cabin" on the road, but had to go |
abroad like the opera singers and make
a name for herself-she played in !
Rumania and elsewhere in Eastern
Europe-before she really caught on
here.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10

many times; that of the woman
deeply hurt by knowledge of the
mans disloyalty, yet for her own
self-respect, making the pretense
OF happiness and entire ignorance
of things she knows only too well.
The theme has been treated in
sparkling comedy, as well as in
serious drama, and has come to
depend more on the player than
on the playwright. A large share
of our new plays have in reality
been old plays rewritten.
u X
Many producers have decided
to retrace the way toward the
sources of drama. The National
Theater Players will stage a revi-
val of Madame X" by Alexandra
Bison, a typical example Of
French emotionalism akin to that
which Sardou was accustomed to
utilize in so masterful a manner.
The situation which discloses the
boyish advocate in court where
his mother is the prisoner on trial
is one that needs to be well
played. william Elliott scored a
triumph in it, a triumph which
his subsequent successes have not
eclipsed. Following Madame X"
the National Theater Players have
in contemplation other standard
favorites, among them "The Vir-
ginian," Girl Of the Golden
West" and-this one will cause
many grandsire to abandon fire.
side and slippers-"The Old
Homestead"
New York producers have about
exhausted the list of influences
which they assert are responsible
for stage depletion.
The public has been blamed for
demanding unrefined drama, in
spite of repeated display of per-
feet willingness to remain away
from the theater that offers only
dull vice without wit or clever
ness.
xIlCl1 OiLC dIGO1o WCIC bldItlCu
for demanding very large salaries,
the actors knowing quite we'll that
such salaries could not be paid
unless they could bring the money
into the house.
Then authors were blamed for
forcing questionable manuscripts
into action in the hope of larger
royalties.
Stagehands and musicians came
in for their share of reproach.
and, in order not to miss anybody
the newspaper is made the subject
|. of a melancholy protest which
suffers no one connected with
print to escape.
X " X
A recent publication in the Of
fetal newspaper of one of the
largest producing firms suggests
that the newspaper situation
could be Influenced by mana
i. gerial solidarity" Complaint is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
NATIONAL PLAYERs-"Madame x"

NATIONAL PLAYERS-"Madame X"
In all the category of emotional crea-
tions, perhaps, none surpasses Madame
X" which the immortal Sarah Bern
hardt first made an outstanding sensa-
ton of the world theater and brought
to Washington about 20 years ago.
Since which time, it is believed. it has
not been presented in the National
Capital.
Manager Cochran has selected the
famous Madame X" which was piayec
in the National Theater 20 years ago,
as his attraction for the current week,
opening tomorrow evening and with
day, Friday and Saturday Of this
week.
Moreover, Manager Cochran is pre-
senting his new leading woman, Miss
Mary Newton. in the role made famous
by Bernhardt, because on three occa-
sionS when she has eSsayed this Cruel
ing part she has been acclaimed as
fully meeting its demands and as out
standing In the ranks of those who
have essayed it in America This Is a
big claim, but Manager Cochran In
sists he is justified in making it.
The play is presented in a prologue
ana three acts. IL involves a man VINO
has been deserted by his wife for a
lover when their son is but years old
The woman sinks lower and lower into
the depths of degradation until she
eventually murders the man who had
betrayed her. when he was about to
hlackmail her deserted husband. The
son, now grown to mans estate and
a prosperous young advocate at the
bar, his relationship unknown to the
woman and to himself, is engaged to
defend her. The great moment of the
play occurs In the courtroom when the
truth finally Is disclosed.
John Glynn MacFarlane, former lead
ing man of the National Players. and
a real favorite with their patrons, will
return to play the role Of the deserted
husband. Wilfred Lytell will play the
part Of the young son and lawyer
who is called on to defend his mother.
Charles Hampden, Mrs. Hubbard. Helen
Wallace, Freddy Sherman and Arthur
Rhodes will have important roles in
the large cast of the play.
For the adequate production ana
presentation Of MADAME x'@ Manager
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10

Cochran announces a David Belasco
effort in that his outlay will far exceed
what he hopes to receive In return
from the box Office receipts in order
that his production may be great ana
memorable. having In mind the Bern
hardt performance at the old National
20 years ago.
POLPS-"Ned McCobb's Daughter"
One Of the distinguished dramatic
intervals In the course of the current
theatrical season Is announced for Polls
Theater, beginning tomorrow night,
when Mrs. Wilson, Greene will present
several performances by the New York
Theater Guild Repertory Co. of three
of its outstanding New York successes
Ned McCobb's Daughter" by Sid
ney Howard. George Bernard Shaw's
The Doctors Dilemma" and st. John
Ervine's John Ferguson"
Ned McCobb's Daughter will be
presented tomorrow and Thursday eve
nings. This play achieved a brilliant
success when presented in New York
by the guild, as 1t combines high-tension
excitement and melodrama in a con-
trasting arraignment of the sturdy up
right character of a Maine woman
and the harsh sophisticated lawleSsness
of an East Side bootlegger.
THE Doctors Dilemma" which will
be presented Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday evenings and Thursday matinee,
is one of the best known of all of George
Bernard Shaw's plays. 1t is described
as an amusing satire on the medical
profession, in which Shaw pours out
in prodigal measure his genius for situ-
alton and dialogue TO point his theme
that medicine, instead OF being an exact
science, Is really an art which depends
a great deal upon the skill and know
ledge of its practitioner.
The third and final play of the series,
John Ferguson" by ST. John IRVINE,
English dramatist and
critic, who is currently criticising the
New York Theater, will be presented
for the last two performances of the
week, at a Saturday matinee and Sat-
urday evening. This play, Irish in To-
Gale, has been called one of the finest
studies in human cowardice ever pre-
sented on the English-speaking stage.
It Is an outstanding example of the
20 Continued on Second Page.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
Influences Affecting the
PLAYHOUSE.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

%LAYER folk had as much
- difficulty in guessing the
weather as the general pop
4 ulace. Old theories as to
the effect climate may have when
the city is thronged with visitors
were brought out and inspected
anew, with no reliable results. The
idea that certain amount Of
inclemency would bring indoor
amuSements into preference was
tested, but the inclemency was
too much overdone to be practical.
When the sunshine arrived the
visitors had gone their way, most
Of them eager to catch the first
train after the public demonstra-
tons were through. Inauguration
made but little difference in the
playhouse. Attractions had to de-
pend on their merits as before.
- *
The Savoy Musical Co., having
ended its run at the Belasco,
slipped smoothly into gear at
Keith's and proceeded on its way
as If nothing had happened. ALI
the seat reservations were trans
ferred to the handsome theater
which resumed the nightly illumi-
nations which made it for many
seasons a gladstone spot in con-
trast to the auSterity of the
Treasury Building just opposite.
y X
Her new play showed Margaret
Anglin to extraordinary advan-
tage. She has not been so we'll
cast in anything Washington has
seen since the scored personal
triumph in this same theater as
leading woman with Henry Miller
in "The Great Divide"
Security" will hardly be rated
a great play on its own account,
but it is much to be admired as an
Anglin vehicle. It's plot displays
no novel ingenuitieS. but de-
velops in a well measured man
ner situations calling for the emo
tional tenSity in which this star
peculiarly excels.
X
"Security's" author, Esme
'Vynne Tyson, has not solved the
question of play shortage which
producers now unhesitatingly ad-
NIT is causing anxiety. 1t cannot
be said even to establish model
which might serve to suggest de-
parture from the usual. "The
Strange Interlude'' made the most
startling departure of any play
seen in years, "a departure, how
ever, that is hard to initiate, for
its abandonment of chart and
compass to embark on the tenn
pestuous seas of theatrical adven-
ture is beyond THE courage of au-
thorship that REGARDS itself as a
profession, with \ standards of
construction to be\ respected, not
contemptuously fio1lted.
Security" retelld a story that
has BEEN untolded on the stage
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
RUDOLPH ROGGE
Lille Jhea+er

made that men are sent to review
plays who are not qualified by
knowledge or experience. THE
idea seems to be-" the article goes
on, that any cub is qualified to
express an opinion on any show"
X X X
Mr.. Producer should be more
generously reminiscent. In most
instances he was himself once a
cub, and, in many cases, the tastes
that animated his days of cubdom
still survive in his selection for
material to be exploited. A very
youthful reviewer is certain, in
time, to acquire literary stand
ards and a sense of responsibility
in his contacts, but examples are
known of theatrical cubdom
which absolutely refuses to grow
IN
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
A Pickering spotlight which prc

"A PICKERING spotlight which pro-
duced Kissing sound not audible
to the human ear forced the retaking
of an important scene in the Pathe pro-
duction Mothers Boy"
Downey, the Broadway tenor, was
singing popular air when ". S. Ash
down, the sound engineer, rushed from
his soundproof van In which the re-
cording instrument is installed with a
stentorian command to stop shooting
Director Bradley Barker demanded
what had happened Meanwhile the
motors operating the cameras were
halted.
There's light Pickering somewhere
and the thunderous noise is drowning
out all other sounds" said Ashdown.
An investigation was ordered and
every light inspected by the electricians.
On the staging above a solitary light
fiickered, but no one could hear it. AS
an experiment it was turned of. The
noise at once stopped. A sound in
audible to the human ear had made
the roaring of a cyclone in the record
ing instrument. ---e
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10


lady, returns to Broadway
after comparative silence of several
years. with comedy which illustrates
how much better one can be as light
person of the theater If one has it in
ones power to be a heavy person as
well. It is like the case of the concert
pianist, who, before he can trill through
cadenza as lightly as flumming- bird,
has done enough five-finger exercises
TO lift the whole piano to the top of
Pixies Peak.
Miss Crothers has always been in
telligent and abreast of what people of
her day were thinking; she inclines to-
ward the "feministic' way of looking at
life and social relations.
In her new play, Let Us Be Gay"
she Is just as much up to date as ever,
and in the underlying points of view
presented just as much in earnest. but
in this instance she chooses to be light
and amusing, and succeeds so admir-
ably that the piece is one of the most
consistently entertaining and civilized
entertainments of the Winter.
The tone is that of smart" comedy;
the scene a luxurious country estate in
Westchester County-one of those
places which are adorned by an ancient
and more or less ineffable butler; where
the woman servants are spoken Of in
the English fashion, by their last names
Perkins" williams" and so on
and where the hostess never does know
very clearly whom she is entertaining
at any one moment, and whether this
or that guest is sleeping in the north
wing or the bachelors lodge.
This hostess, Mrs. Boucicault, delight
fully played by Miss Charlotte Gran
vile, is a show in herself-one of those
strong minded old dowagers who go
stamping about on a stick, can look the
facts of life" in the face quite as fear
lessly as any of the younger generation,
and, in this case, smoke. after dinner,
little black all-tobacco cigars.
Mrs. Boucicault loves her grand
daughter better than anything else in
the world, and is in despair because this
youngster has gone and fallen in love
with a dashing grass-widower included
among the house guests, notwithStand-
ing the fact that she Is engaged to be
married to nice young boy OF her own
age and crowd.
The girl. one of those cool young
Dianas Of the moment-very naturally
done by Miss Rita Vale-WhO seem to
know more about human relations at
90 than their great-grandmother
learned at 40, If ever is very fond of
her fiance, but not crazy" about him
as she is about the Older man.
In this dilemma the grandmother in
vites to her house a charming young
woman lately met in Paris, with the
whimsical understanding between them
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
Attractions in Washington
Playhouses This Week
IN LOCAL THEATERS THIS WEEK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS X" drama Opens tomorrow evening
POILS-(N. Y Theater Guild, Ned McCobbs Daughter"
Opens tomorrow evening.
BELAsCO-Dorothy Gish Young Love- Opens evening
WARDMAN PARKA Kiss for Cinderella" Barry play. Opens
Friday.
sTRNDspeed Girls of 1922 burlesque afternoon and
evening.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
On the Broadway Stage

M ISIS RACHEL CROTHERs, who
mn might be spoken of as a vet
wv eran of our theater If it were
1 Y L not ungracious to say so of a
lndHr oAa.ss 10 n..rn
Imperial Valley press., 1929-04-12
CONE OUT, MR. PRESIDENT

In extending invitation to President Hoover to
open the state fair at Sacramento next August, the
directors of the fair not resorting to the usual line
of cheap bayhoo that is ony too often attempted by
those seeking to make of undertaking by
linking the name of notable with it.
The state fair has legitimate right to invite the
President and equally legitimate right to hope that
he will accept.
The President is a Californian Nothing is more
Californian than the state fair which this year observes
its 18th anniversary and the directors Of which have
made plans for display which shall eclipse all other
fairs.
Mr.. Hoover has expressed desire to pay visit
to his home state this to keep up custom has
observed for the past 20 years spending at least
portion Of each year at his home in Palo Alto.
Also, Mr. Hoover will be a legitimate exhibitor at
tie fair His large ranch in Kern county will have
an exhibit, not representing the President Of the
United States, but representing Herbert Hoover
California rancher.
In addition to exhibits from all parts Of the state
all the states Of the Pacific coast and Rocky Mountain
region have been invited participate in the fair in
honor Of its diamond jubilee
1t is to be hoped that Mr.. Hoover can see his way
clear to come ont in time for the fair Not that his
presence is necessary tc insure its success but Caor
mans want to Chief Executive whom they can
really call their And incidentally Mr. Hoover
will see a mighty fine fair.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-04-12
PLACING THE EX- president

Senator Fess of Ohio appears to have good idea
IN suggesting that eXpresidents be given office,
sc that the country could receive the benefit of their
experience IN governmental affairs also to preserve the
dignity of those who have been honored with the high
est office in the land and make it unnecessary for them
to seek private employment.
We agree with the senator that the country should
avail itself of the former presidents experience but
90 not think much Of his plan that they enter the senate
as senator's at large. In this capacity eX-president
would have AZ states and few territories looking to
MIN TOR tavCrs and imposing their burdens upon him.
tie would also have 96 hostile senators, who would
accuse him of buttng in their private domain if he
acted in behalf of their particular states and would
fay him numerically if he did not take up each
guest they made upon him, and act favoraby on it.
Ihe poor senator at large would be about popular
and as useful as an unwanted orphan.
But there other places in the government into
which he might fit with great satisfaction. For in
stance, as director of the budget who has
served four eight years in the White House. should
have mighty good idea OF the necessity of controlling
the public money. Why not have All eX-presdent auto
matcally assume the post of budget director?
This would some complications, perhaps
where the expresdent happened to be of the opposite
political party from the administration yet it could
be made non-partisan office through proper egsla
tion Senator Fess suggests constitutional amend
ment for his idea. Might not the director of the bud
get be provided for by constitutional amendment?
If not director of the budget there must be other
places where eX-president could fiji in, but do
not think that place is the United States senate
Imperial Valley press., 1929-04-12
A SPLENDID RECORD

On several previous occasions, this column has
made the statement that Boy Scout is the makngs
of good citizen, and that few boys who Join the
ganzation fall into serious trouble.
This statement is supported by Judge Lloyd E.
Griffin OF the San Diego superior court addressing
the LEGAL chamber of commerce.
The Judge told his hearers that of $500 Juvenile
handled in San Diego county in given period
not of the delinquent youths had ever been affat
ed with the Boy Scout organization. He further
stated that recent survey of the inmates San Quen
tin prison disclosed the information that not of
the men doing time there had ever been Boy Scout.
This is certainly a splendid record for any
ganzation. But like all remarkable achievements it
creates twofold duty. 1t becomes the duty of every
Boy Scout and every boy who may join the organiza-
on to do his utmost to keep the record clean by keep
ing clean himself and by helping his fellow scouts to
be clean.
1t also becomes the duty of the older citizens of
the community to lend their aid and support to the
Boy Scouts in every way and respond any call they
may make for assistance The calls few, the Boy
Scouts thriving on the theory that "Heaven helps
those who help themselves" However, there times
when the boys need the help of their older brothers
When this call should be readily answered.
The father who does not take interest in the Boy
Scouts by having his boy join the organization is
looking exceptional chance to help his boy become
the sort of man fathers want their sons 20 be.
incidentally, what Judge Griffin said about San
Diego county, applies to Imperial county According
to the best records available there have been Boy
Scouts among the juvenile cases handled here.
Imperial Valley press., 1929-04-12

:. 1t is lovely, Hut wish yuu could
horpod home with the dandelion.
get the old alarm clock fixed. 1t
rang again and we thought it was
the doorbell.
"I'n get it fixed tomorrow, -
promised the rabbit gentleman.
That night, very late, there was
the sudden ringing of a bell in the
hollow stump bungalow. Uncle
Wiggiiy awakened.
q wonder who is at the door
this late?' he said as he sliG down
the hanister railing
''It's the alarm clock, very
hkelv,' said Mrs. Longcars. Aud
50 it was. The bell kept on iingling
until Uncle Wiggily stopped it fol
time. He went back to bed but,
about an hour later, the bell rang
again.
4" Pear me. said Mr.. Longcars.
- | wish had taken that clock II
be fixed yesterday. IN do it the
first thing in the morning.
- hope so, murmurtd his
wife.
So carly next morning Uncle
Wiggi!y put the alarm clock in his
coat pocket and ran to catch a
trolley car to ride to the drug store
where he could have the funny
ringing stopped. He sat in the
trolley to read his morning paper
and, all of sudden, there was a
loud jingling.
1t was the alarm clock, going off
in Uncle Wiggily S pocket. so all
the Other animal passengers
rooster gentleman and pig lady
looked at Mr.. Longears and laugh.
ed. Uncle Wiggily got off the car as
soon as he could for the alarm
clock kept ringing all the while and
he started to walk to the baker )
where he was going to get t fix
ed
Bat, as often as your tooth will
Imperial Valley press., 1929-04-12
INHABITANTS OF
CITY DOUBLED
IN EIGHT YEARS

The population of Fl Ccntro
township which includes fiNt pc
cincts besides the townSitc is, 50
far as Judicial purpose are con
cerncd, exactly 2,229.
The population OF the town,itr,
for the same purposes, is 1925.
These figures are arrived at b.
the simple method of multiplying
the registered voters at the last
election by three and one half That
~ stuff is legal because the state
legislature recently passed bin
telling the Justices of the peace
their salaries depended upon doing
as explained above.
Judge Mayfield, Justice IF the
peace here, started figuring and
got the above results. And "a, thatI
according to other ways of deter
mining the population of any given
area, the Judge : arithmetic is ap-
proXimately correct.
All justices of the peace in Cali