davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1929-12-15
CRAWFORD MwRedA \
Rial+o
One Play and a Picture
The Quiet Season Along Broadway

the movies and movietone and rather
hoped to be enlightened further there as
to the artistic possibilities of the talkies.
The only person present, however, who
spoke as a practical participant and
inSlder, gentleman engaged in the
editing side of production, breezily dis
claimed any interest in such matters.
There's lot of 'boloney' talked about
art" said he, "and whether the films
are really 'theater.' OF course, they're
theater. 1t all boils down to this
the producer, old style, new style, is out
for the kale. The only difference be-
tween the two is that the old-fashioned
producer was limited by the number of
people he could get into his theater,
while the film producers are limited
only by the number of people to whom
they can carry their films
The 'kale,' ay, there's the rub!" as
Albert Carroll says in the parody of
Hamlet'S soliloquy with which he bur-
lesques Mr.. Barrymore and his supposed
musings about Hollywood, in the same
program with General Crack" The
net impression of the days brief excur-
sion into new fields was that it was
rather pity that anybody whose voice
and presence and real dramatic fire
could make such good show of "Gen-
eral Crack" should be taken away from
the theater which his family have so
long adorned.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Sidney's s New Palace.

THE Cameo Theater, in the flourish
ing Washington neighbor. Mt.
Rainier, has been taken over by the
Sidney Lust Theaters Co. and activities
have begun toward making 1t one Of
the most, modern and completely euuip
ped neighbcrhood movie palaces in and
about Washington.
Entirely new sound equipment ca
pable Of projecting both Vitaphone and
Movietone pictures to the edification
and enjCymentof the most sensitive ears
and eyes, is being installed.
All the big musical shows, comedies
and mystery plays for which the talk
ing screen is famous are being booked
following their downtown Washington
showing, including such successes Us
Will Rogers "They Had to See Paris. {"
Sunny Side Up" Pour Feathers" and
their like. Each week also thrilling new
talking Westerns, will be shown with
Vitaphone shorts, talking comedies and
other sound novelties appearing regu-
larly on the programs.
Mr.. Lust. one Of Washington's master
showmen, has announced IN the same
breath that the Cameo will purvey the
same excellent quality of film entertain
ment that characterizes his chain of
theaters in Washington, Maryland and
Virginia
Evening star., 1929-12-15

mortalized the humble Carriers
Address" to a ranking place in
ngliSh-Speaking poetry, began
his remarkable blank verse pro-
duction with reference to Time,
the Tomb Builder" Many great
ly admired stage personalities
have made their exits" Time
condescends even to take upon
himself the cares of the scene
shifter as cherished landmarks of
dramatic art are gradually caused
to crumble and fade.
X :. X
Reports of the disappearance
from the electric landscape of the
Shubert-BelaSco Theater proved
only too true. Mr.. Taylor and
Mr.. Bonneville are both to remain
in Washington under present ar
rangement, in general supervision
of Shubert properties, but the
Taylor office rooms, which had
become shrine of cherished me-
mentoeS, where pictures and SOU
venirS seemed to smile with a
serene superiority on the endeav-
orS of those who made their "en-
frances" upon the scene in more
recent years, have been diSman-
tied, and the little bit of theatric
setting built by the loving hands
is on its way to the StorehouSe.
X 4 y k
One of the souvenirs in the
Taylor Office was bust of Edwin
Booth in the role of Hamlet. 1t
had been presented to Charles B.
Hanford, for a long time promi-
nent in association with Booth,
who gave it to Mr. Taylor, through
whose kindly thought it now
finds itself newly owned where it
will be cherished not only because
of admiration for it's subject. but
of affectionate remembrance of
those who have cared for it in
reverential estimation.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Stage Star Enters Talkies.

4 NEW star has come to the talking
screen with the appearance of Will
liam Boyd in United Artists all-talking
picture "The Locked Door," adapted
from Charming Pollock stage thriller
and under the direction of George Fitz-
maurice.
This is not Hollywood's own William
Boyd, the playboy of the cinema, but
William Boyd of New York. He is the
William Boyd who was a sensational
success as Sergt. Quirt in the stage
presentation of What Price GIory?"
opposite Louis Wolheim; the William
Boyd who has been on the stage since
infancy, the William Boyd who has
played leading roles with Mrs. Fiske,
Ethel Barrymore, Margaret Anglin,
Emily Stevens and others, and who has
also made pictures with Miss Barry
more, Anita Stewart and Justine john
Ston
He was born in New York, the son of
William Boyd and Florence Richman,
both of the stage. He began his theat-
rical career as an infant in Led
Astray," in which his mother was
starring.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Revue the Survivor
In Electric Lights
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

All the benefit that could arise
from a monopoly of the theatric
field was placed by the varying
influence of Fortune at the dis
poSal of the "VanitieS," an enter
tainment of the revue type made
famous by its own magnific
as well as by episodes quite apart
frcm the work of entertainment
which found eager celebration in
the printed pages that depict the
playhouse as realm of perpetual
establishment, defiant of all the
usual rules by which human rela-
tionShipS are regulated.
X %&
One of the difficulties confront
ing the perennial producer of
spectacular novelties is the obli-
CATION arbitrarily assigned to him
by popular patronage to maintain
q perpetual climax This years
edition does not assume to over
top the pinnacleS of pictorial
grandeur that have made other
issues memorable. 1t rather drifts
into the lines of revue of which
the "Chauye-SouriS" has offered
so widely accepted an inspiration
X Il
"VanitieS" has no incidental
feature corresponding in droll
humor to the Parade of the
Wooden Soldiers" but it has a
point of corresponding unique in
tereSt, as 1t touches upon serious
modern economics with interpre-
tative intensity. The theme set
forth by the Theater Guilds
Robot play is taken up from the
angle of music and the ballet, and
the result is an overwhelming i'm
preston which causes an audi
ence, alert thus far only for light
song -rhythmS or a laugh, to ap-
plaud with eager appreciation a
ballet number unlike anything
the ballet has hitherto known
ead presenting in new terms the
cold, uncompromising thought of
the mechanistic drama.
x y
so far as comedy is concerned,
"VanitieS" this year is a one-man
show, with w. C. Fields as it's
otl1ef reliance and group of per-
FORMERS willing and energetic. but
whose fame in electric illumina-
ton is still to be won. Like SO
many musical comedians, Fields
began his career by physical ac-
compliShments and not by any
great claim to artistic thought
fulness. But ever in his Juggling
he manaseA to assert whimSi-
cal personality, and he finally
emerges entirely Independent of
previous gymnaStic limitations. 1t
is quite possible that if he had
been better juggler he would
not at last have proved so good
a comedian. 1t is in this way that
a seeming temporary diSadvan-
tage often DISCUSSES itself as the
opening to a new and more de-
Eirable career.
\ - 4
The playhouses to which Wash
ington people have been turning
for so many years with confident
expectations of liberal endow-
ment toward the Winters enter
tainment recall with grim en-
phaSiS the Shakespearean adage
"All the worlds a stage"
George D. Prentice of Louis
vile, who, one New Year day, i'm
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Mel kLEE- Fox (S7a9e) RuTHLEvINE- Gzyety
Good Times Festival!

4 NATIONWIDE festival" of opti-
mism and good cheer, with slogan
of Good Times Are Here!" is to be
launched in January, with Loew's Thea
ters in Washington taking an important
part.
Heeding President Hoover's vigorous
attempt to spur the country on to big
ger things in 1880 and especially the
Presidents idea that the mental atti-
tude of the Nation needs cheering UP.
the Loew'S Theater organization, with
hundreds of playhouses from coast to
coast. including the Loew Theaters in
washington, is planning to provide es-
pecially ambitious shows for "Loew's
January Festival" with talks and stunts
directed at the audiences to make
them see that most of the depression
is mental and psychological.
The photoplay producers are cooper
ating with Loews to release exceptional
pictures during January and enlarged
vaudeville and stage programs are be-
ing arranged.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Bootblack Gets His Break.
XNoRKING for 12 wears as studi

WORKING for IL years as studio
bootblack while waiting for his
break" as a screen actor had its re-
ward for William Allen Garrison, other
wise known at the Metro Goldwyn-
Mayer studios as "Slickem," in charge
of the studio bootblack stand
Slickem," then a Small-time colored
vaudeville dancer, came to the studio
for a chance to act, but when this
wasn't Forthcoming took the shoe
shining job and waited
When King Vidor filmed "Hallelujah,"
Metro -Goldwyn- Mayors all-talking pic
ture, "Slickem" not only was given the
role of heavy" but because of his long
acquaintance with studio operations
was made second assistant director, and
handled the colored extras in the plan
tations on the Mississippi where the
talking picture was filmed.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Viewing" a Thankless Job.

MOTION picture and stage critics
A'A have the failing sympathy of
ore of the outstanding stage producers
and newest motion picture directors,
Robert Milton, who has just completed
the filming of Paramount's all-talking
perturbation of w. Somerset Maugham's
Charming Sinners" now at the Metro
politan Theater. Milton considers re-
view writing the most thankless job in
the world.
Lured from Broadway, where he pro-
duced many plays and musical shows,
Milton has had the experience of hav-
ing profited and lost by printed criti-
cisms and is qualified speaker.
Critics are the despair of actors and
producers because their writings often
jeopardize regulations and money" he
says. mo one likes to be told that ne
has financed or is identified with a
failure. 1t is the unhappy lot of critics,
reporting the truth as they see it, to
break the bubble of hope. know from
experience that criticism which appears
after productions premier is almost a
final verdict"
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Rose From the Movie
School.

JOSEPHINE DUNN, now an actress
of reputation. who appears in the
Pathe picture RED Hot Rhythm" fea-
turing Alan Hale, was born in New York
City, and her first contact with motion
pictures came through an invitation to
join Paramount's Junior Movie School
at the Long Island studio. She appear
ed in the first picture made with the
junior stars, Fascinating Youth" and
her work was regarded as so clever that
she was given good roles in several
other Paramount pictures. Subsequent
ly she appeared in pictures for M-G-M,
and later for Fox and Universal.
Among the photoplays in which she
has been seen are Loves Greatest Mis-
take Fireman, Save My Child"
Swim, Girl SWIM She's a Sheik,"
Rolled Stockings" EXCESS Baggage"
with Al Jolson in "The Singing Fool"
also in Sin Sisters" and others.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
NEW YORK, December IA, 1929.
THE life of Isadora Duncan-splen-
did and tragic, radiant and ma

NEW YORK, december If, 1879.
THE life of Isadora Duncan-splen-
did and tragic, radiant and ma
cabre. 1t was poor play and,
Il to some, rather ghouliSh at
tempt to dance, and supremely
pitiful-waS the subject of one of the
weeks plays, on the grave of a great
artist.
Under the title DIANA" the story
picked up in Paris, at the height of
the Great 1sadora's success; and carried
through four episodes, including a bit
of the bitter Russian adventure, and
ending with the fatal motor ride in
Nice. No dramatic theme knit the
separate episodes together, the lines
were without lift of light. One listened
to an exposition in which everybody
assured us that Diana was perfectly
wonderful. One watched Diana tor a
time rhapSodizing about art, love, Gre
alton" and so on. And one saw her,
finally, broken and diSillusioned, at the
end of the road
Miss Mary Nash, who essayed the
title role, is not as much at home In the
grand lyrical manner called for in the
circumstances as she might have been
in more strenuous, natural1St1c and
topical drama, but the task of giving
warmth and persuasion to a mere emu
meration, so to say, OF some OF the
objective high spots of the great
dancers career was all but impossible.
It would have taken the golden voice
and the conquering personality of a
BernhaEdt to give the lines the life
that was supposed to lie behind them.
VOHN BARRYMORE'S new "talkie,"
~ General Crack" (the word Crack"
Is made from the initials of its hero,
Prince Christian of Kurland, who has
a string of names-Christian, Rudolph
and so on), strikes us as a f1rst-class
show of its kind. Barrymore plays the
part of q daredevil, eighteenth-century
fighting man, illegitimate son of gypsy
girl by the Duke of Kurland He ranges
about Europe as a sort of free-lance
Naponeon, wins a throne for the de-
cadent Emperor of Austria and then
because the Emperor f1irtS too seriously
with Cracks own gypsy wife, takes the
throne away from him again; runs,
rough-shod and debonair, over pretty
much everybody and everything and
ends as Duke of Kurland himself, with
pretty Austrian archduchesS to share
his principality with him.
1t is all crisp, swift, witty and well
done-romantic bunk, but intelligent,
sophisticated, flrSt-claSs bunk.
Mr.. Barrymore'S voice came over ex-
cellently, as did that of Lowell Sherman
as the Austrian Emperor. The ladies,
Miss Marian Nixon as the archducheSs
and Armida as the gypsy girl, were less
happy. The enunciation of both was
rather cloudy. and their words marred
by that lisping which seems common
failing of the talkies. We are anything
but an expert in the new medium, but
must confess that, lively as the show
was, it didn't change our impression
that the talking films, while unques-
tionably popular and obviously useful
for news and educational purposes, as
an art form, seem simply to initiate
more or less imperfectly something bet
ter done on the speaking stage.
X y X
1T happened that We were invited to
attend, on the same day as that on
which we saw Mr. Barrymore's picture,
dinner discussion on the subject of
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Filmed Without Songs.

VINCENT YoUNANS, writer of songs
and producer of plays with songs,
is to produce a play without songs, ac-
carding to advices from New York.
The play. "The Treasure" was writ
ten by Bayard Veillers, with the assist
ance of Becky Gardiner, who went
East from the Hollywood movie colony.
1t has entered rehearsal and Youmans
said 1t should be ready for presentation
about the first of January.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Otis Skinner Wavering.

Otis SKINNER, after nearly half a
~ century on the stage, is to appear
in the talkies, according. to reports
from New York. He has been signed
by First National to make five talking
pictures in the next four years.
Details of the contract were not dis
closed. but it was said Skinner would
not leave for the West until he has COM
pleted his appearance with Mrs. Fiske
In a New York play the title of which
has not yet been announced.
SINNERS last play in New York was
"A Hundred Years Old" Previously
he had appeared with Mrs. Fiske in an
all-star cast in The Merry Wives of
Windsor"
Evening star., 1929-12-15
News Reel Theaters.

THEATERS for the exclusive showing
of sound news reels are sto be built
by the Fox group on the West Coast,
according to announcement from Los
Angeles.
Eventually the chain is to be extend
ed across the country, with about 100
houses. The first theaters will be built
in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland
and Seattle.
Evening star., 1929-12-15
Stage and Screen Attractions This Week.

CoLUMBIA-"alelujah King vidor epic This after
and evening.
FOX-"The River" This afternoon and evening
R-EO KEITHS-The Great Gabbo" with Eric Strohem
This afternoon and evening
METROPOLITAN Sinners" This afternoon and
evening
PALACE-The door, with Rod La ROGUE This after
and evening.
EARLE-The Love Racket" with Dorothy Mackai This aft
and evening.
RIALTO-"Red Rhythms" This afternoon and evening
WARDMAN PARK-"The Cock-Eyed World" This afternoon
evening
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27
WATER FOR GARDEN

It is rather heart-breaking to watch
the flowers and vegetables gradually
dry up from lack of rain, especially in
view of the excessive moisture that was
present in the Spring. In many cases
it is not possible to water large gar
den with the ordinary equipment Of a
garden hose, and usually the everyday
home owner does not feel justified in
going to the expense of installing wa
tering equipment. In this case the
gardener must resort to the age-old
practice of faithful cultivation, namely,
keeping mulch of loose soil on the
surface. The mulch need not be very
deep, possibly only an inch or two, just
enough to break the upward movement
Of the soil moisture. Paper mulch has
been found by DR.. L. H. Flint and
other workers to conserve soil moisture
Plenty of moisture entered our soils in
the Winter and Spring, and If paper
will aid in keeping it there, it is a
strong point for the use of paper. The
presence of organic matter, such as
rotted leaves and decayed manure, Is
a material help in retaining soil moiS-
ture. Such material tends to hold
moisture itself and also separates the
clay particles and slows down the rapid
movement of water. 1t is evident that
gardens well supplied with humus and
plant food and we'll cultivated are better
able to Withstand droughts than neg
lected gardens. Also it is we'll to recol-
lect that sprinkling is of little value;
one good soaking Is worth a dozen
slight sprayings.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27

may be secured from the chairman of
the show, l.. M. Clarke, 2440 Monroe
street northeast. -FII n
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27
SUMNER AND ROSES

Color of roses seems highly variable
at this season Of the year. So much
so that no one could take color as the
principal means of identification and
be at all sure of the varieties. For
example, it is not at all rare to see
light pink tinges in the odd flowers
that appear on Frau Karl Druschki,
that purest Of whites in the cooler days
of Spring. The yellow varieties also
change their color decidedly. The
Duchess Of Wellington blooms may be so
would not classify it as yellow rose
at all.
Just what is it that intensifies the
colors? 1t is probably the complex eff
feet of several factors such as heat and
extra long days. At any event, one
should not Jump at the thought that
he has discovered q new sport or muta-
ton, for 1t is certain that with the
return of Autumn days the roses will
return to their normal color. The
roses that we grow are best adapted
to the moderate weather of Spring and
Autumn.
It is not good policy to neglect the
rose bed in Midsummer and allow in
sects and disease to defoliate the plants.
The leaves are the factories for con-
that taken from the air into FORKS
which it can utilize. No amount Of
manure and fertilizer and spasmodic
care can offset the loss Of leaves. Last
week in this column there was dis
cussed Miss Waterman's paper, Farm
ers' Bulletin No. 1547, on the control
of rose diseases. In this she tells how
to keep this queen of the garden in
healthy and vigorous condition.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27
THE GARDEN CLUBS

Charles E. F. Gersdorff, nationally
recognized authority on gladiolus varie-
ties, was the judge at the seventh an
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27

species, Is another Midsummer bloomer
which possesses inherent vigor and abil-
ity to survive where better plants fail.
The vines are often 10 or IL feet long
and make an excellent Summer cover
for fence or bank. The flowers have
no fragrance and are almost useless for
cutting because Of their poor keeping
quality. but are really very beautiful
when growing.
II the raspberry bed was q failure
this past season, dig It out now, burn
prepare the ground for other purposes.
Next Spring, II all of the old plants
have been thoroughly destroyed, It will
be safe to start again with new, healthy
stock.
The tiger lily, 80 popular in the old
fashioned garden, is worthy Of place
in the modern garden as well. There
Is no more regular bloomer in the
whole array Of garden flowers, and none
Of the lilies equals this species in abil-
ity to thrive under adverse conditions
In fact, the tiger lily suffers in popu-
larity from the very fact that 1t is so
easily propagated and grown that 1t
has become almost too common in GER
tain localities. Planted here and there
among the low-growing shrubbery and
in the perennial border, the tiger lily
will add burst of color in Midsummer.
An old theory that still holds strong
in the minds of certain gardeners Is
that pumpkins or squashes will in
some way affect the quality of musk
melons II grown in the same garden
area. Actual tests at the Iowa Expert
ment Station have shown the impossi-
bility Of crossing melons with squashes
and pumpkins. Apparently there Is no
foundation whatsoever for the theory.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27

nual gladiolus show Of the Takoma
Horticultural Club, held Wednesday and
Thursday at the Takoma Park Branch
Of the Public Library. Those attending
the show came away with added esteem
for this fine Midsummer flower, which
Is fast taking a place with the iris, rose
flower of its season. The gladiolus is
admirable for cutting. The committee
In charge Of this show was Walter M.
Peacock (chairman), Miss Marjorie
Hansen, Mrs. Marjorie Waters. w. L.
Holt. r. I. hewitt and F. J. De Moll.
Mrs. George B. Allnutt. publicity
chairman for the Rockville Garden
at the home Of Mrs. George A. Ninas, at
Gaithersburg. A paper on Flower Ar
rangement," prepared by Long Island
garden club, was read, with interesting
subsequent discussion. Papers on the
phlox and sweet pea were given by
members. It was brought out that
phlox should be lifted and divided every
three years. and that the period tmme-
diately following blooming is a desirable
flower stalks before seeding will often
induce a second crop Of blooms. These
informal talks were highly appreciated.
A small flower show was staged. The
meeting closed with the serving Of re-
freshments In Mrs. Ninas' beautiful gar
den.
The Woodbridge Garden Club, accord
ing to President Clarke, will hold its
third annual gladiolus show August
in the Sherwood Presbyterian Hall, at
Twenty-second street and Rhode Island
avenue. The hall will be open from
to $50 pm. to receive exhibits and will
be open to the public at 8 pm. This
show should be Of special interest to
John Poole, president Of the Federal
American National Bank, a great lover
Of flowers, has offered cash prizes total
ing S25 for the three best baskets of
gladiolus to be exhibited at this show.
Mr.. Poole has done this in order to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27

home gardeners, the yellow sweet corns
were not utilized at all. Yellow was
considered characteristic of field corns
and the very color was evidence of its
lack Of suitability for human food.
Now the situation Is quite changed.
Yellow corns are at premium and
white varieties accepted as a necessity
rather than a choice. No vegetable
ever experienced greater revolution in
demand. At the present time yellow
varieties are supreme in flavor and are
fast replacing the white varieties.
Golden Bantam was about the first If
not the first of the yellow varieties to
gain popularity but, on account of small
size, failed to satisfy commercial gar
deners. Now there are dozens of yellow
sweet corns, some approXimating the
finest white varieties in size Of ear and
yielding capacity. There seems little
question but that yellow corns are su-
perior in sweetness to the white va
rieties when grown under the same con-
ditions. Hence it is little wonder that
most home gardeners were quick to
adopt the yellow varieties.