The Washington times., 1929-05-03
NINGS.
SCREENINGS
By ANDREW K. KEi.LEY


and one can hardly blame Mr..
Och's dignified journal for TAX
ing up the matter in legal
way.
For instance, of "Messin'
Around" an all-colored show,
the New York Times reviewer
said: although it is many cuts
below the long-lived Black
brids,' which still sets the stan
dard of excellence for the towns
negro song and dance pieces,
it has some fairly good hoof-
ing"
For advertising purposes the
producers used the following
quotes: "Sets the standard of
excellence for the towns negro
song and dance pieces.-New
York Times"
Accordingly the newspapers
legal department has been in
structed to enjoin Producer
Louis Isquith from broadcast
ing billboards and advertising
using such quotations.
Conflict" which debuted here
as Sears" and which Warren
Lawrence failed to rewrite into
hit, has closed in New York.
What is more interesting is that
Ed Arnold, who acted in the
play, is released to spend the
summer in Washington, and
accordingly has accepted M, Dill
lingham Cochran's contract to
rejoin the E Street troupers.
An easy way for a lazy
writer to fill a column is to
run letters from his public--if
any. At my elbow are four
missives which arrived in yes
terday's mail and which | might
be tempted to convert into type,
except that they would fill
much more than a column.
Benny, of Gil Rittenhouse St.,
has some nice things to say
about Wesley Eddy and appre-
citation of d. M. S. as a letter
writer: w. A. Young wakes
trifle petulant about the quality
of a particular drama review;
Mrs. Anna V. K. Hyatt COM
ments on screen stories and
plays, and last, but by no
means least, Picture Addict
tosses some verbal brickbats
and bouquets.
Occasionally readers have
something much more interest
ing to say and read than the
regular contents of the daily
grist. l get a considerable kick
from reading these letters, and
1t really pains me that l am
not always able to pass along
the enjoyment to Screenings
and Gleanings" addicts. What
/ really propose to do is to have
a particular corner of the Satur-
day dramatic pages devoted to
opinions from Times readers on
the current photoplays, the do
ings in the theaters, the gossip
of the drama and small talk.
What do you think of the idea?
If you like it, start the ball
rolling with a letter. Make
them good-natured and sign
your name (not for publication,
unless so desired) and address.
Leneta Lane made her first
appearance as a Broadway lead
ing lady on Tuesday night in
Morgan Wallace's play, "Con-
gratulations." The critics were
kind to the former star of the
National Players but not so en-
thusiastic about the play.
''The Little Show" went over
big at the Music Box in New
York, ratifying Washington's
judgment which gave it $4,000
in a week, once the news got
around that a hit was in our
midst.
The modest writer of the
smart lyrics for this revue is
Howard Dietz, whose regular oc-
cupation is publicist for Co.'S
mopolit..n Pictures. One of my
manifold duties is to open sun
dry press envelopes from Mr..
Dietz usually containing items
of interest and pictures of stars
for whom he Graves attention.
Mr.. Dietz never said a word
about his own part in "The
Little Show nor did Archie
Onyun, who caught the opening
for these columns, suspect the
lyric writer was the same cul-
tured gentleman he corresponds
with in a business way con-
stantly.
However, it is not too late to
extend congratulations to Au-
thor Dietz and to hope that the
reports he has been signed up
for another revue are true.
What | like is his becoming
modesty and disinclination to
WOO friendly words, unless his
work deserved it.
This eyes" story comes from
the Coast and is shipped from
Mr.. Silverman's newsy organ,
Variety, as is:
One of the choicest yes-man
stories coming out of Holly
wood is that of a picture man
who had a screen test of a
promising girl which he wanted
a certain West Coast producer
to review for an opinion.
The executive was agreeable,
and said, "Sure, my committee
and l will take it up at our
usual o'clock projection room
sittings any afternoon you say"
The agent, trying to sell his