The Washington times., 1929-06-12
By ANDREW z. KEILEY


attention of the big cities is
having your voice recorded for
25 cents. It takes only a few
minutes and you get the metal
record to be played on any
photograph with the help of
special needles. Caruso's widow
has opened up a fancy studio
in New York and has interested
society in the fad.
Mr.. A. L. Erlanger, who owns
a controlling interest in our own
National I'heater as we'll as
chain Of playhouses throughout
the country, is not disturbed by
down-in-the-mouth talk about
the dramas future.
He has just written the check
which gives him control of
Ford's Thester, Baltimore. and
over in that city it is Norman
Clark who expresses a hope the
new ownership will give the
town as good attractions as the
National in Washington enjoys.
Robert NcLaughlin's stock
company in Cleveland is pre-
senting "An American Tragedy"
and advertising it as "the play
which the movies are afraid to
touch"
All Of which is only part
truth. Paramount spent 500, 900
to acquire the Hollywood rights
to Theodore Dreiser's novel and
100000 more for q series OF
adaptations which would de-
odorize some of the incidents so
that the censors would pass the
pfotoplay. VIII Hays said mo"
and that negative from the film
Judge Lands still stands.
Sam Janney, who wrote
'Loose Ankles" the farce which
the National Theater will offer
next week, was killed in an
automobile accident out West
last Friday. loose Ankles"
was his most successful play.
Ten minutes talk with any
actor will acquaint you with
the fact that they are all an
ticipating a knock down and
drag out fight between the Ac-
tors Equity Association and the
Hollywood producers.
The movies can't get along
without the Broadway show
folks is the way the actors view
it. They claim that President
Frank Gilmore, of their or
ganization, will make the penalty
for any Equity member who de-
serts when the battle becomes
hot, expulsion for life. Also
threats of calling out the motion
picture operators when it is ex-
pedient are being whispered
and not so low either.
On the other hand one of the
National Capitals most promi-
nent exhibitors told this de-
partment yesterday, Broadway
actors, unknown to movie audi
ences, are not worth a dime a
dozen at the box-office. Their
performance may be the last
word in acting but if they have
not previously appeared in pic
lures. their reputation with
cinema patrons must be built
up"
Jeanne Eagels and Ruth Chat
terton were cited as actresses
of platinum quality in the new
dialogue features but producers
will not realize the full value
of their talents until they have
been definitely established in
favor and become familiar with
screen fans.
There may be some of the
F Street regulars who would
like a little inside on the screen
programs due in the air cooled
cathedrals devoted to the gabby
celluioids. Through the agency
of Hardie Meakin, ! am able to
present this lineup of June and
July features booked for the
Fox Theater:
June is. "The Valiant" all
talker, with Paul NUM-. .
June 20. "Father and Son"
(dialogue), with Jack Holt and
Kf;aI-o1y RFnnonv
June 49,, Victor McLaglen in
his first talker, ''The Black
Watch"
July 6. Behind That Cur
tain," an all-talker of Earl Der
Bigger's mystery novel.
July So. pleasure Crazed." |"
July 20. Masquerade" the
feature directed by Russell Bird
we'll, former New York motion
picture critic, Leila HyamS
- ttSry NRa -