The Washington times., 1930-03-22
GLEANINGS.
AND
SCREENINGS
BY ANDREW r. KELLEY

left more than $1,000,00O, was
among the first to invest his
finances with Marcus Loew when
that super-Showman started to
expand his enterprises. But much
Of the Brownley fortune was
made in real estate. The Brown
ley corner at Thirteenth and F
Streets, bought originally some
years ago for slightly more than
$20O, 900, could have been sold six
months after its purchase for
100000. One of the Brownley
customs the box-office men will
miss was remembering the ticket
sellers with confectionery gifts
at Christmas.
william Harryman Rapley,
director Of the National Theater,
with Mrs. Rapley will sail April
10 on the Vulcania for Trieste,
italy, and an indefinite stay
abroad.
Chairman John j. Raskob Of
the Democratic national COM
nittee has made heavy invest
rnents in Warner Brothers stock
and Wall Street interprets this
activity as indicating q merger.
Helen Kane, the boop-a-doop
singer gave the Earle Theater the
biggest Friday in its history. It
marked the Inauguration Of the
new opening day policy. At 9:15
last night I managed to get into
the outfield-that ten deep row
Of standees in the back Of the
orchestra-and can report now
that eight encores rewarded the
singer. I didn't get near enough
to hear what she was singing
about.
Following publication in the
Washington Times yesterday Of
Caleb O'Connor's letter accusing
the Washington theaterS Of
"slackerism" in the community
chest drive, Attorney Milton w.
King for the Theatrical Managers
Association of Washington Of
ficially demanded from the letter
writer an immediate apology with
a warning that the further cir.
culation of the untruth would be
followed by an action for slander.
sat up until 2 a. m. today
to hear the voice Of Lawrence
Tibbett in a preview. screening
at Loew's Columbia Theater. All
that they have said about the
Tibbett baritone is true. Never
before have I heard such sing
ing in pictures as that which
comes from the sound boxes in
1.-THE Rogue Song" Magnificent
and of majestic volume and
topped off by fine acting OF the
bravura school. Tibbett Is surely
q find for Hollywood and If you
enjoy good singing there's a thrill
in store at the Columbia.
Pittsburgh theater managers OBJ
1ected to having their advertise
ments printed in the same sec
tion with radio activities. They
definitely ruled radio "opposi-
tion" and argued the case So ef-
fectively the newspapers yielded
the point.
Offered as one reason why Ina
Claire has not been such riot
with motion picture audiences:
At a recent high school party
where guessing games were in
order one Of the questions pro-
pounded was who is Ina Claire
and for what is she famous?"
None Of the students could give
the correct answer and one girl,
unwilling to be stumped, called
her "the greatest living aviatriX."
Jimmy Lake steps from the
front office of the Gayety to the
stage. beginning Sunday, to play
the lead in the Mutual burlesque
attraction playing the Ninth
Street house. It Is the show
operated on the Mutual wheel by
Manager Lake, who also owns a
franchise with the Herk circuit.
And Mr.. Lake would have you
know that for many years he
was considered the best straight
man" on the burlesque highways,
so he won't have stage fright.
Ted Healey is booked to play
Loew's Palace in the near future
and at $500 a week. His revue
act provides an entire stage show.
Comedian Healey walked out on
the New York Palace when he
was asked to take second billing
for an act booked at $4,000 a
week which had a contract calling
for headline display.
Pictures of the Washington
dramatic editors will adorn the
T. P. r. o. A. benefit performance
program to be given at some thea
ter on Broadway in mid-April.
A friendly gesture from the road
agents which will be accorded
editors in all key cities.
This may be the last season for
burlesque at the Gayety, since the
District officials have ruled the
theater must install q steel cur
tain, costing at least $4,000, be-
fore stage shows can be given
next season.
Julia SanderSon and Frank
Crummitt approached last week
to head a new musical turned a
cold shoulder. Radio is paying
the musical comedy stars twice