The Washington times., 1929-01-05
GLEANINGS1
SCREENINGS
AND
By ANDREW R. KELLEY

Tux mON1pLOHeN III luuuClHS
President Coolidge to talk in
formally for the newsreel. 1t
is a feature of the current
release at the Fox and Palace
Theaters.
The voice of the White House
occupant is heard engaged in
informal conversation with
Howard E. Coffin, his host last
week on the Island of Sapelo.
In assuming a histrionic role
the President took occasion to
toss off some of his Yankee
witticisms while driving along
the quiet country road of the
island off the coast of Georgia.
Negro spirituals are first
heard, then several dusky natives
pass by. The President and
Mr.. Coffin appear seated on
a wooden truss in an OK cart
drawn by a bullock and driven
by pickaninny. The follow
ing conversation takes place
between the President and Mr..
Coffin:
President: Zine horseless
carriage you've got here, Mr..
Coffin"
Mr.. Coffin: "Well, this is the
latest thing"
Mr.. Coolidge: yes"
Mr., Coffin: Sand now that
the American people are get
ting away from the automo-
bile, getting too dangerous, andA
getting back to something safe
like this, why l think we ought
to put a tax on hay"
Mr.. COOLIDGE: "Well, I'm
glad to hear you say that as
q business man. But Pm very
much opposed to taxes, you
know. l want to have 'em
people,
Mr.. Coffin: "Well, but we
have to create a market for
this sort of transportation
facilities"
Mr.. Coolidge: "I'm afraid that
would be a great damage to
this mode of horseless vehicle
and ! wouldn't be in favor
of it."
Mr.. Coffin: We'll. why not
take the tax off gasoline? (No
answer). Make it up little
bit that way. Let's see how
they'll do anyway. Come on,
hep, Billy"
l must admit / burst no but
tons reading this dialogue-and
still vote, for Tad-bnt those
privileged to capture a prelim-
mary peep guarantee that with
gestures, expressions and the
screen pauses, the reel pre-
sents a Chief Executive in
rare good humor and one
bound to tickle the average
movie audience.
On Thursday the suggestion
was made by Eleanor Buckley
through these columns that the
short reel showing the death
fight of the cobra and the
mongoose be given a return
engagement on the Washing
ton screen. 1t was Miss Buck
ley's only nomination for the
ten best short reels of 1928.
"I'm taking you up on that
suggestion" phones the scholar
ly Colby Hartman, managing
director of the Loew Theaters.
within two weeks / expect to
screen it again on one of our
programs. In due time | will
send you notice and Miss Buck
ley is invited to accept box
for any performance as the
honored guest of the manage
ment." And that's that.
Clara Bow has her coronation
as queen of the Paramount stars
confirmed by vote of the
theater owners and managers
OF the country. In nationwide
poll conducted by the Exhi-
bitors' Herald and World with
2,70O ballots tabulated the fas-
cinating flappsr emerged the
most popular star of the movies
with plenty to spare. Colleen
Moore won similar contest
one year ago.
suppose Eugene O'Neill ac-
CURED many new followers in
the wave of discussion created
by the engagement of Strange
Interlude. :" They will be inter-
ested to know that the New
York Theater Guild has started
casting for the next O'Neill
opus to be produced in Feb
ruary. Claudette Colbert. who
made a reputation as the valnp-
ing "Lou" in "The Barker" has
already been engaged. The
play is called Dynamo"
The theme is of mans search
for a god completely satisfy
ing. 1t presents in one sense
the conflict between the divine
belief and atheism with the
central figures a clergyman, his
wife and son ana the athcistic
superintendent of a hydro-elee-
! tric power Plant. One of its
scenes, from which the play
title is apparently taken, is in
ibis huge electric plant for the
manufacture of energy
Much of the play provides
same technique as that of
widely debated Strange
serlude," although the action
three parts and the story
lpy only the space of a con.
ional theater evening.
nd if you think Mr.. 0'Neill
~ I