The Washington times., 1929-10-08
|GLEANINGS
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By ANDREW r. KELLEY

Queer A. H. Woods had the
good fortune to witness a pre-
view of Gloria Swanson's pic
ture, "The Trespasser," and was
so swept with enthusiasm that
the decision was immediate such
talent was worthy Of the speak
ing stage. Seeking out the
glamorous Gloria in her Plaza
apartment, he poured forth such
Inducements that the star has
consented to look over his plays
and perhaps try her luck. Mr..
Woods has commissioned Eugene
Walter to draft a drama for
Miss Swanson, and if it suits
terms will be discussed.
1t all sounds very alluring,
and yet l doubt much whether
it will ever come to pass. In
the first place-as Mr.. George
White lamerted at the premiere
of "Scandals"-the stage just
can't compete with the fat movie
checkbook. In the second place,
if "The Trespasser" clicks as
sensationally as all signs indi-
cate, depend upon Producer Jo-
seph P. Kennedy to rush an
other picture right into produc-
ton. For another thing,
play is a much greater finan-
cial gamble than the film story
and there is no assurance that
the nationwide following of
Swanson comprises folks who
make up the $40 audiences.
Laura Hope Crews. who is
now Miss Swanson's constant
companion and who coached her
for the acting trials Of the talk
ing pictures, is the power said
to be coaxing the film star to
attempt stage triumphs. Miss
Crews is a veteran actress and
is firm in the belief that Gloria
can be a footlight sensation.
Mr.. Kennedy looms as a hard
headed business man wished on
to Miss Swanson when she
secured production loan in
Wall Street. He supervised her
finances and as a penny watcher
is credited with being highly
successful. One of his feats
was taking the Pathe company
"out of the red" and putting it
on a notwithstanding basis. If
it comes to a financial war be-
tween Mr.. Woods and Mr.. Ken
nedy for the Swanson services,
put a small wager on Mr.. X.
to be the winner.
Unless my memory falters, it
was Mr.. Woods who conceived
the plan Of turning the popu-
larity of Theda Bara into dol
lars extracted from the patrons
of the legitimate theater. The
play was "The Blue Flame"
rather weird mystery drama
which had a hoorah opening at
Polls here.
As it turned out, Theda
Bara's fan followers, who were
legion at the time, failed to
turn up at the box office win
dow and the attempt of the
greatest film vamp of all time
to become a legitimate star
came a cropper.
Later Mabel Normand. as her
screen fortune took a turn to
the left. decided to try the
stage. This was another open
ing at the local Poll Theater
which just failed to jell and is
written in red on the producers
financial books. Lillian Walker
(the dimpled beauty Of a late
screen era), Doris Kenyon. Con-
way Tearle and Estelle Taylor
are others who found that
screen popularity did not neces-
sarilv imply assured success in
the speaking theater.
The actual merger of Para
mount and Warner Brothers
will be announced this week,
according to those presumably
on the inside. Since the gossip
on this picture combination has
been rife for months. the au-
dience of first night sophisti-
Gates who witnessed the pre-
miere showing of George Arliss
In "Disraeli' on Broadway got
a smoker when out of the sound
boxes came this line from the
star:
"And when they grow up
your sons will Shold paramount
positions"
1t is in the play but it sounded
like prophecy.
Jack Oakie who runs away with
most of the honors in Fast
Company" the baseball feature
at the Earle Theater, is a screen
comedian destined to come into
his own through the glowing
notices his work in this picture
attracts. Ell Brendel is another
one of the film laugh manufac-
turers who has always delivered
the order but somehow never
attained the attention his work
deserved. In Sunny Side Up"
with Janet Gaynor and Charles
Farrell, the Swedish pantaloon
produces a riot of laughs. Per-
haps you remember him as the
horse laugh Marine in Cock
Eyed World or before that the
Swede who made the tatooed
American Flag on his arm wave
by muscle manipulation in
Wings" Before that in vaude-
vile where | can still laugh
over the thoughts of Brende's
dress suit which fell apart in
pieces until he was down to his
red flannels. Yes, Mr.. Btendel
has the stuff to make a fine
comedian and Fox is belatedly