The Washington times., 1929-03-05
IGLEANINGS
AND
SCREENINGS
By ANDREW r. KELLEY

a. m. openings, but Jupiter
Pluvius drove 'em in for the
Monday afternoon shows, which
were expected to be light. Last
nights business hurt by the
moist atmosphere. On the whole,
the first day of the Hoover
dynasty satisfying. if not rec
ord-breaking, in and with the
temples of amusement.
"Young Love-" which Dorothy
Gish will bring to the Belasco
next week, was too tabasco for
the Philadelphia censors. They
looked it over, blushed, and
pointed thumbs south. So the
play went to Newark and packed
'em in. And, strictly for Mrs.
Van Wrinkles information, it
may be said that the Samuel
Raphaelson drama has been
toned down some since it was
first shown in New York.
In the lobbies the visitors con-
versation, or much Of it, con-
cerned the difficulty Of getting
giggle water in the Nations
Capital. Bootleggers closed down
yesterday all over town and
those doing business were eau
tious and raised the price. 1t
was not in tribute to Hoover
day but rather the first effect
of the Jones law.
The situation appeared to
offer a greater tragedy to some
than Margaret Anglin's new
play, not so much over the
thought of dry March 4, but
because of the long, arid
stretches just ahead, with the
hootch merchants scared to
death by the prospect of 5000
fines and long jail terms.
am indebted to Lester B.
Isaac, president of the Projec-
tion Advisory Council and su-
pervisor of projection for
Loew's, Inc, for the following
letter:
Sound pictures have made a
remarkable advance in a short
time, but much of the equip
ment is still in an experimental
stage. The proiectionists of this
country have done remarkably
we'll and under extremely diff
cult conditions, and should not
be held responsible for defects
in sound projection. This can
only be done in individual in
stances and after proper inves-
tigation, and anonymous state
ments made by irresponsible or
inexperienced engineers should
not receive the approval of the
press or public.
Individual inefficiency may
in some instances be responsible
for faults, but this applies to
every separate stage in the
manufacture, production and
use of sound pictures and equip
ment. 1t would be far better
to give credit to the enterpris-
ing and progressive spirit which
has created a new source of en-
tertainment in so short a Pc
riod. 1t is a pleasure to state
that Washington has done it's
share in this development, and
no city has a higher type of
projectionists."
William A. Brady, producer
of Elmer Rice's street Scene" +"
which will probably get the 1929
Pulitzer prize, besides netting
him profits of thousands week
ly for long time to come, has
let it be known that for $25 he
presented Christopher Morley
with young fortune.
For the said $25 Mr.. Brady
gave Producer Morley the rights
to produce an old Dion Bouci-
cault play, "After Dark" in Ho-
boken, N. J. How was Mr..
Brady to know that the literary
Morley was to take an unsuc-
cessful theater in Jersey and
by high-brow ballyhoO make
after Dark" a sensational hit
in a mournful season? That's
just what Mr.. Morley did, and
the limousine trade nightly
from New York clogs the Ho-
boken highways. It is "the
thing" to go and see "After
Dark" and the play is going
into its fourth month. 1t is old
fashioned hokum melodrama, but
the crowds are eating it up.
Mr.. Brady bought the play in
1883 for $1,10O cash. 1t cost
him $63, 1000 in legal fees through
lawsuits brought by Augustin
Daily contesting his rights to
the production.
ut looks now, in another de-
= cade, as if | will get lot of
this money back, as l am del
uged with offers for this play,
not only from the United States
and Canada, but from all over
the world" says Mr.. Brady. 81
have just refused an offer from
a prominent Broadway producer
who wanted to do it in New
York city, with an all-star cast.
l declined, because l believe it
would not be cricket as far as
Morley, Gribble and Company
are concerned. They thought
of it first, and are entitled to
all that is coming to them.
~ may add that when / leased
the play in Hoboken for $25 |
thought it was per week, and
aftarUaYd diScnvarad NV error.