The Washington times., 1929-06-14

pee" ] referred TO IL In
WinehelIesque bulletin yester-
day and Prof. Philips accepts
it as q debate challenge. Let
him have the last word.
Dear Mr.. Kelley:
Winchell is great and miss
= guess If he doesn't add 10000
to The Herald circulation with
in three months. There are two
tribes who reflect the Wmehell
influence-th ose who initiate
him and those who criticize him.
I belong to the latter class so
long as / bow loud string in
the interests Of historic accuracy.
You say "the dispute still
RACES as to whether the wild
Western cowboys, or Mr.. Win
chelI, gave birth to the word
'Whoopee',"
aThe Girl Of the Golden West
now being put on at the National
by as competent . troupe as ever
graced a repertoire stage, was
first rehearsed in 1904 and pro-
duced ii 1906. The players fol-
low the Belasco script religi-
ously. Addison Pitt wouldn't
tolerate anything else. The dia-
logue is fairly replete with
''Whoopee's!" Walter WinchelI
was then about six and had
never been to California--it be-
ing VIGOROUSLY known that boys
of six seldom have transporta-
tion across the continent.
To my mind the >origin Of the
term is not so important as its
revival because its revived popu-
larity indicates just how strong
a personality Winchell's is.
Cordially,
HAROLD PHILLIPS,
eye Happy Antiquarian"
Bugs" Baer, whose toddling
journalistic footsteps were taken
ON The Washington Times, has
been signed for the movies.
Bugs" will write and not act.
He leaves for Hollywood to
author a story for Van and
Schenek which Metro Goldwyn
will produce. The yarn will be
written around baseball, although
it is fair presumption that the
tpennant winning battery of
songland" will be heard some
where in the feature.
Bugs" once wrote, or was CO.
author of a musical comedy for
Nora Bayes, "The Family Tree.
It was 4 flop and the humorist
claimed he was ''cRred" Of want
ing to write for the stage or
screen. His present contract is
a side issue for his daily column,
will continue during the three
months he is in Hollywood.
Pictorially / find none on the
screen who can surpass Billie
Dove as Exhibit A in the gal
lery of beautiful women. She
is always q soothing menu for
the optics and for such short
comings as are manifest in her
first talking picture, Careers"
the blame appears to set best
on the shoulders Of Director
]. John Francis Dillon.
Billie Dove has a good speak
ing voice and in repose her act
ing was all that could be de-
sired. However, the story Of
Careers" calls for highly emo
tional work and the series of
shrieks and sobs and hysterical
moaning which issued from the
sound boxes had the Ambassa-
dor Theater audience tittering
the night / saw this picture
unreeled.
It was very evident that Bill
lie Dove was oveYacting a high
pressure scene, and the fact
that the director approved
these violent paroxysms ac-
counts for the laughter instead
Of tears.
One of the National Players
who witnessed this feature told
me that a good stage director
would never have permitted
such q frenzied spasm of emo
ton. His particular grievance
was over the acting rather than
the mechanical squeals which
came from the beautiful lady in
distress. Nevertheless. his APP
praisal of the Dove speaking
voice was o. K. and the final
verdict was a "no bill'' on Billie
and guilty" for Director Dill
lon.
Roxy has yielded to the pass
ing fancy. A master of cere-
monies goes on the Roxy Thea
ter stage, beginning Saturday.
Lou Holtz wins the assignment.
He is a clever songster with a
tendency to insert soiled humor'
into his lyrics. He is also
Broadway's champion crap
shooter and q heavy real estate
owning actor.