davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
CLARA Bow and HARRISON FORD.
Palace
In the New York Theaters
BY PERCY HAMMOND.

legs, says this to me: THE road thea
ter has been dying for 10 years But
1t isn't dead. Ever since the beginning
Of recorded time the civilized mind has
craved the Theater. Starve 1t for years
and 1t will come back again. Feed it
now with the birdseed of Holiday and
then with the hamburgers of Nina
and Wings Over Europe 1t will con-
tinue to seek dubious nutrition from the
most arid of the second-rate arts"
X X X
IN Caprice" the Theater Guild is on
its usual easy terms with an urbane
comedy from foreign parts-a sort of
satiric shifting of the GaIahad legend
to modern Vienna. Played with ali the
irresistible guile known to Miss Fon-
tame and Mr.. Lunt, 1t is q willy and
successful effort to amuse. Mr.. Lunt,
for instance, Is a Viennese barrister of
loose morals, humorousIy and irrespon-
sibly pursuing his way among the
amourS. Miss Fontanne Is frivolously a
serious woman of the world, who, as his
favorite lady, enchants him by her wit.
her beauty. her charm and her bad
habits. Both players are as expert as
ever. blending the dizziness of the artist
with the dexterity of the performer.
They swim smoothly through the enter
tainment, much to the satisfaction Of
the onlookers.
Philip Moeller's version of Sil-Vara's
NIT Der Liebe Spleen is almost feline,
so velvety are the speeches and the &C
ton of Caprice" Miss Fontanne and
Mr.. Lunt were never more gayly, more
virtuously and more artistically naughty.
and it seems safe to hint that Caprice"
is another reason for the Theater
Guilds triumph in show business and
the drama.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Murnau's Masterpiece.

UCUNRISE," F. w. Murnaus d.
rectorial masterpiece. was road
shown" at So admissions in New York,
Philadelphia, Detroit and Los Angeles.
It ran for many months In all of these
cities prior to its general release in the
picture theaters.
It is the picture that brought stardom
to Janet Gaynor. Previously all billing
of the star had first the name of the
picture and then that of Miss Gaynor
Now Miss Gaynor comes first and the
name of her picture follows.
For Sunrise" Murnau selected the
simplest kind of story in order to bring
the reactions of the country husband,
the country wife and the city siren into
sharp contrast.
Throughout the entire picture the
thoughts of this trio are clearly
brought to the screen. Added to what
one sees OF their actions these produce
an exciting and stimulating effect. This
is admittedly great step forward in
picture production. 1t is for this reason
that Sunrise" has been acclaimed the
forerunner of new kind of motion
picture.
Murnau's success along these lines
accounts for the fact that he finds sub
titles almost useless. 1t will be re-
membered that the picture which
brought him world recognition, THE
Last Laugh" had only one subtitle.
Sunrise" has "a. which is said to be
the smallest number ever put in a special
pictare feature produced in this coun-
try.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
ANTONIO MARENO
and COLLEEN MOORE
Earle.

Hopkins, a fact worthy of note,
since it is the manner of preSenta-
ton that seems much more de-
serving of credit than the mate
rial; story of a woman with an
Grant husband, loved by a pros
porous and straightforward man
Of the West, yet returning at last
to redeem from his designations
the irresponsible, dancing big boy
whom she has learned to care for
like child. It's heart story is set
forth with unerring appeal, and
the glisten of a tear remains su-
preme in competition with a hun
dred laughs.
X X * X
"Burlesque" does not convey a
very accurate meaning for the
patrons Of the play who do not
bark back to the time when bur
lesque," not long since emerged
from variety" with it's musical
and acrobatic potpourri, called an
"olio," was often referred to as
''burleSt" and sometimes as bur
licue." Nearly every road show
had a courtroom scene in the
spirit of rough extravaganza. The
corresponding scene in this play
out-trayestieS travesty. It goes to
that form antedating even the
ballad stimulating the heart
throbs of the sentimental throng
by means of an illustrated song
sheet. In some of its reminiscent
moments arrives almost at the
era when the "silver clog" dancer
from a cornucopia scattered sand
on the stage, and, after doing his
graceful and agile share of foot
work, withdrew and allowed a
humble supernumerary to ap-
pear as a momentary star while
he scattered moist Sawdust and
swept vigorously to rhythmic ap-
plause of an audience desiring to
hasten his labors. The Arthur
Hopkins play does not risk being
quite so archaic as to introduce
this "silver shuttle" as a contrast
to most modern rhythms and syn
equations. But it knows it's bur
leSque, and through a long metro
politan run proved that truth is
mighty"
X X X X
In a system of "turnabout"
adopted by the Cook Savoy Musi-
cal Comedy Co., Robert Capron
took possession of the scene and
shone with compelling luster in
the constellation revealed by
Lady, Be Good" 1t would be diff
ficult to name a comedian who
could have excelled him in the
genial role uncompromisingly HUI
morous and using no extrava-
gances of makeup. Lady, Be
Good" was the smoothest and
most sparkling of any of the Of
ferings by this unique organiza-
ton which, in SO short a time, has
made a multitude of friends.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06

constitute SO large an element of
interest in life for the vast popu-
lation beyond Jersey City.
| X X
Some of the plays are written
with so direct an appeal to New
York interests that they depend
very largely on the local electric
sign bulbs for their illuminative
yield. Plays about theater life
have immense interest for people
of the theater themselves, an in
terest which brings a large paying
clientele, for the rule was long ago
established that actors must pur-
chase tickets; for the ancient in
terchange of courtesies which ad-
mitted them to playhouSes as
schools and studios to be enjoyed
by them for their arts sake be-
came impractical.
"Burlesque," although it enjoyed
high favor during a long Broad
way run, did not establish any
buying line here that turned the
corner. In spite of the fact that
'Burlesque" follows a long line of
back stage dramas, such as James
Ford wrote SO we'll, among them
''The Chorus Lady" and the
"Showshop," not forgetting much
more recent plays 1.-THE Barker
and 1.-The Spider" "Burlesque" es-
tablishes a distinct identity of its
own. It has a descriptive fidelity,
which even those not familiar
with incidents and personalities
disclosed recognize with that in
tuitive sense of verify, asserted by
popular taste as tales told from
f1rst-hand knowledge and with
close human sympathy.
So delicate becomes the pathoS,
even in the midst of an uproar of
slang and turbulent contest for
survival, it holds tenaciously to it's
main theme. story of sorrows
and native idealism that brings an
impression - vastly syncopated -
not entirely apart from that con-
veyed even by SO eminent a work
as He Who Gets Slapped"
X X X
In aspirations to legitimate art
too many accomplishments may
be dangerous. Perhaps, had not
Hal Shelley and Laura Hamilton
been SO adept in singing and dane
ing, not emitting credit for a fine
sense of pose and emphatic fun,
! their minute understanding of eff
fects in pathos and in dramatic
force might easily have made
them eligible to roles calling for
more ariStocratic ideals of literary
delineation. In view of the diff
cultv in securing suitable plays for
good actors, they might now be
tempted to regard such opportu-
nifty rather as q misfortune not to
be paid for by the distinction
however, Of complimentary -
couragement from a group. Oft
rather limited, of well Informed
and discriminating admirers.
r II
The play was staged by Arthur
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
IS A CERTAIN number of closeup

~ n CERTAIN number or clOSe-upS
y are indispensable to a picture, f."
says Archie Mayo, director of "On
Trial II couldn't conceive of making
picture like On Trial without them,
but like la-dissolves and odd camera
angles, they have been abused
"All the tensely dramatic situations
In On Trial which involve two or
more people in a group, are made in
scenes which include them all instead
of being cut into big close-ups. There
were some interesting reactions in large
groups of people that were necessarily
singled out in close-ups.
Most of the close-ups, however. are
OF characters hearing the words of the
speakers and reacting to them. They
were usually widely separated. For in
stance, In the courtroom scene when
Pauline Frederick is recalled to the
witness stand by Jason Robards. AS the
attorney for the defense be believes he
can wiring testimony from her that will
aid in the acquittal of his client, played
by Bert Lytell. Bert. with Lois Wilson
as his wife, and Vondell Darr as their
little daughter sit eagerly listening at
the counsel table. When the examina-
ton proves failure, their reaction Is
shown In medium closeup"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06

w WHILE the producers are wiring
n ing their hands at Broad
NV ways bier messages arrive
from other capitals bidding
them to cheer up. The So
called road" which has been moribund
since the early years of the war shows
signs of awakening, they say, especially
when melted to do so by the proper
stimulants. Mr.. Tyler, Mr.. Gest and the
Theater Guild are said to be response
BILE for this stir of life in places where
1t was least expected. According to re-
ports, their enterprises have resulted in
a renewal of interest in the drama else
where than New York. Having studied
conditions in other cities, they minister
to them with the canny skill of spe-
cialists. THE Miracle "Trelawney OF
the Wells" THE Rivals" Diplomacy
and the Guild Shaw and Eugene
O'Neill stunts have kindled slight but
hopeful blaze in the frigid breasts of
out-of-toWn drama lovers.
no you care to listen while Mr.. Sayler
talks to me about the road? Most
New Workers were born and bred upon
that dusty thoroughfare and may be
concerned with its experience. New
road to those early English compa-
MES which migrated to our shores from
London. Forrest, the Booths and Sol
Smith spent most of their lives on the
pioneer paths. Belasco, Frohman and
Brady earned their producing spurs
upon it. Until 10 years ago 1t was
soft spot of show business. New York
was the dog-town and the road the
metropolis.
The disaster which reduced cities OF
quarter-million population to the
theatrical status of village happened
almost over night. Wartime transpor-
tation and union labor rates were the
Straws that broke the camel's back. AS
result for the last decade such cities
as Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati
and points South and West have been
served less satisfactorily than the old
one-night stands. Chicago and Boston
continued to tempt the manager to put
his production in hook to the railways
and the labor unions. washington, Bal
timore and Philadelphia were near
enough to Times Square to serve as con-
venient grand juries to new plays. and
thus command both the best and the
worst in seasons time.
But no matter what happens. no mat
ter whether the theater on "the road"
continues to languish, die or spring to
new life, Mr.. Sayler assures us that the
good old days of the travelling company
will never return in the guise with
which we were once familiar. History
may repeat ITSELF he says, but econom-
les don't. The old-time travelling
company and its generous profits is
probably as dead as ascent eggs, scent
shoe shines and 1-cent newspapers. The
road" shows now are majestic in their
personnel and they are advertised by
Clayton Hamilton, bands OF dignified
evangelists ballyhooing the virtues Of
their wares. While Broadway
weeps, the road" according to Mr.
Sayler, offers thin handkerchief upon
which to dry It's tears. So long as MIR.
Gest, Mr.. Tyler and the Theater Guild
care in Big Way for the inland play
goer, consolation Is at hand. Mr.. Say
Ter, lighting his pipe and crossing his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Stage Attractions
In Varied Array
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

The custom of selecting titles or
phrases from popular songs is one
which enables the author to evade
responsibility for pulsating orig
anality in an announcement which
is often the most puzzling incident
OF Theatre production. Many a
play completed and apparently
well set has tried one title after
another and in many instances
came forward with one whose sig
nihcance was misleading or en-
tirely repellant.
X X X X
1t was the little ditty which
Bert Williams sang, "You's gineter
git Somethin' dat you don't ex-
pect," which included a reference
of the prize donations threatened
10y an angry foe. "You's gineter
git a wood-kimono lined wifi tin -
This supplies the name for a
new mystery play which, like all
mystery plays, assures the public
that it is even more thrilling and
mysterious than that record-mak-
Ing pioneer in nerve-twisting
roelodrama 1.-THE Bat"
Y X
Numerous stage adventures
have been left behind to perish in
New York City. The tone of some
of the reviewers has become con-
SiStently dolorous, one of them
going so far as to lift a call for
"almS!" preliminary to the an
nouncement, These are darksome
days for show business. Theaters
once full of shoppers are now
empty and the intake of the box
Offices is not commensurate with
overhead" All of which calls for
a deep respiration and sigh.
X X x
If the "Kimona" is an example
of the material forced upon the
road as representing New York
success, a gloomy mental attitude
on the part of those who follow
the theater is quite justiflable,
Actors are rather childlike In
their outlook on the world, trust
full though temperamental. This
years holidays have evidently suf-
feed to convince them finally and
unanimously that for the theateI
at present there is no Santa Claus.
X * *
The New York producer does not
always coordinate with the road
patronage. Belasco definitely at
tempted to abandon the effort to
do SO when he produced the great
est mystery play yet, Nina
whose mystery, according to much
adverse rumor, consists in the fact
that SO great a wizard of drama
should have sacrificed so much OF
drama itself to colossal mechani-
cal effects. Had there been a
unanimous outburst of typograph-
ical applause. the idea of remain
ing permanently in New York, an
idea made inevitable by the mag
nitude of stage equipment, the rest
Of the country would have made
that performance an objective in
the Manhattan Nilgrinlages which,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Colleen Moore's Bob.

THE square-cornered Dutch bob that
is one of Colleen Moores most indi-
vidual characteristics undergoes several
alterations during her appearance In
Synthetic Sim"
The hair dresser curled 1t into a So
nhisticated couture for one episode in
his comedy drama, concealed 1t under
the kinky wig of a Topsy for another,
and finally curled the ends of the bob
attractively for the final sequence Miss
Moore is seen also with her hair In its
customary straight bob
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"

Just as every comedian wishes to play
Hamlet" SO every producer wishes to
produce a play that will win for him
admission to the theatrical hall of fame
"Fioretta," the romantic Venetian mu-
steal comedy, which opens at the Ma
tional Theater tonight, is advanced as
the dream toy of Earl Carroll, who is
noted for his productions of the
"VanitieS," but is not satisfied with his
success in that field. Mr.. Carroll is
primarily a musical comedy or revue
producer and hence his ambition is to
produce the greatest show in that par
ticular field of endeayor.
The high art of the musical comedy
is, of course, the romantic light operetta.
Thus, Mr.. Carroll set out to produce
the finest romantic musical comedy ever
seen upon any stage, and when Flor
eta" opens tonight threatergoerS are
promised the most expensive musical
comedy ever assembled. The cast con-
tains three stars. Leon Enrol of Sally"
Yours Truly and motion picture fame;
Fannie Brice, vaudeville's supreme
headliner. and Lionel Atwill, star of the
legitimate drama, who once played
under the David Belasco banner and
won recognition for himself by his fine
performance In "Deburau." There is
also Tessa Kosta, last seen in THE
Song of the Flame" who will play the
prtma donna role in "Fioretta." The
remainder of the cast includes Dorothy
Knapp, George Houston, Theo Karle,
Jay Brennan, G. Dawson Clark, Charles
Howard, Snow and Columbus. the
Locust sisters. the three Demons and
Giovanni Gurrieri.
In endeavoring to make this dream
toy proud reality Mr.. Carroll did not
stop when he had gathered some of
the brightest stars of the theatrical
sky. His chorus is said to contain the
best looking girls that have ever ap-
peared In any one show before. Some
OF them are noted beauties of the stage.
while others are real beauty contest
winners making their first appearance
on any stage.
Not only will the sets be stupendous
and beautiful. but they will also be
novel. There is, for example. a living
curtain OF arnlor composed of 81 suits
OF individual armor which is occupied
by men. All in all, this evening at the
National Theater play will be pre-
Sented which has been the ultimate goal
OF Earl Carroll since he started in the
producing business
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Jolson to Write Theme Song.

Il NOLOktEo OEL fG1O is 10 nave a
theme song written by AL Jolson
for her newest screen play. "Evangeline, -
which Edwin Carewe will produce for
United Artists.
"Evangeline" Is to be the title. The
melody will be Jolson's: the lyrics are
by Billy Rose and David Dryer.
Having received more than 80 COM
positions from leading song writer's of
America and from hopeful amateurs as
we'll. Mr.. Carewe had new manuscripts
made of each song and enlisted the aid
OF notable committee in choosing the
composition to serve as the musical
theme for the photoplay. -.~
With the identity Of the song writer's
unknown to musicians as we'll as judges.
the 80 songs were introduced by Serge
Malavskys orchestra and Marie Trim
BILE. soprano, at dinner given by Mr..
Carewe, and the judges, Joseph M
Schenck, d. w. Griffith. DR.. Hugo
Reisenfeld. Samuel Goldwyn, Ernst
Lubitsch and Fred Niblo, voted unami-
mouSly in favor of No. IS, which was
Mr.. JolSon's song, because of the SIM
pie, tuneful melody and the originality
and experimentation of the lyrics and
the theme of the film play"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06

ert Capron, as the laundering COB, will
! have a role worthy of his comic genius
! Thelma Parker, Rosa Snowden, Edward
Metcalfe, James Mckay, Robert Burton,
Billy Kelly, the Gorgeous Garden of
| Girls and the male octet will, it is
/ promised, give the most exhilarating
performance yet.
The book by Herbert Fields tells the
story OF Loo Loo. the youthful pro-
prietresS of a coffee shop on the wharves
of Newport. r. l., where she is sister TO
all the gobs on shore leave. "Bilge"
comes along and she loses her heart to
him. Sailor-like. he takes her love
lightly, but Loo Loo. selling a family
money. literally follows him to the ends
of the earth, finds him in China, only
to lose him again because he believes
she IS too wealthy for him He finds
her again in the modest little coffee
house and true love has its INNINGS at
last. This plot is literally favored with
some of the choicest humor ever pre-
sented on the stage
The music of Hit the Deck" Is by
Vincent YoumarIs, ard besides Halle
lujah," Sometimes I'm Happy" the
popular melodies include "Harbor Of My
Heart" Shore Leave" Lucky Bird"
hASS IOA 4WO, JOIN the navy ana
Nothing Could Be Sweeter"
WARDMAN PARK-"QuaIity Street"
In Quality Street." a Barrie play.
the Junior Theater at Wardman Park
offers one of the delicate gems of litera-
ture and of the stage for its three per-
formances this week. a Friday matinee
at $3.50 $50 the school children may go),
ErlHaV he
Saturday matinee at 2:30.
Just as Peter Pan made his universal
appeal in his question to the audience,
DO you believe in fairies?" so in
quality Street you find Barrie again
inviting his hearers into his stage
thoughts by some such dramatic
strategy. There's a sweetness about
this play that fingers in the memory.
1t has to do, too, with school days,
quaint school days of far-off England:
with feminine women. with Phoebe Of
the ringlets," who was too gentle to
handle lot of romping school children.
Then the love story! If you return
to Quality Street." as did Capt Brown
after Waterloo. you will find laughter,
pathos, bravery and delightful drama
that keeps one guessing as to how 1t is
all to end. The Ogle, Tinnin and
Brown trilogy of producers promises
as fine performance as any they have
given.
A newcomer. Sarah Yearly. Is to play
the delicate role of Miss Phoebe with
her dual personality. Miss Yearly
chances to be the granddaughter of
the Episcopal Bishop of Maryland,
Bishop Church, but she Is well known
as an artist of fine Sensibility. Shirley
Horton and Kay Conway have attrac-
tive parts, and Mason Hardy, George
Finger. Leslie Kent and other favorites
of the Junior Theater will again be
seen in Quality Street."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
BELASCO-"Hit the Deck"

Only six weeks after Hit the Deck
was presented here at Broadway prices,
Charles Emerson Cook has secured the
rights to produce this sensational MI
steal comedy success at the Belasco
Theater. beginning this evening, at
stock prices, with an even stronger cast,
It is announced. than the one that
played here originally.
Kate Smith. by special arrangement
with Eddie Bowling, has been secured
for the role of Lavinia. to whom falls
the honor of singing "Hallelujan. :"
Renee Hamilton will appear as Loo Loo.
the little coffee house proprietress who
stakes all for her love of a roaming
sailor. Frank Gallagher. who appeared
in the Broadway production, viii sing
and dance the role of "Bilge" Smith, In
which his fine tenor voice will lend it
sell to Sometimes I'm Happy" Rob-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
STRAND--"Step Along"

One of burlesque's famous box-ofice
magnets, Lena Daley, heads the cast of
Sam Morris new Step Along at the
Strand Theater this week Miss Daley
known to amusement lovers the country
over as a singing and dancing COM
edienne of marked talent, brings a new
repertoire of entertainment of novel
type. one OF her numbers being q spe-
Continued on Third Page.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
NEW YORK. January S.

NEW YORK, JANUARY D.
w WHILE the producers are wiring
from other capitals bidding
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Lois WILSON and BERT lYTELL.
Metropolitan.
Attractions in Washington
Playhouses This Week

IN LOCAL THEATERS THIS WEEK.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" Venetian comedy Opens
| evening
| BELAsCO-"H the Deck" musical comedy. Opens this
evening
WARDAN PARK-"Quaty Street" comedy Opens
day matinee.
POLIS-"One Mile Up" melodrama Opens this evening.
STRAND-"Step Along buresque This evening