Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Picture World
Y C. E. NELSONz

in the music, set among the es-
pecially written songs.
+. 81 y \ :
THE fate of the Western has
resulted in considerable COM
ment among the makers of pic
lures and the audiences who view
! them-and the story of the West
ern" is peculiar one.
When motion pictures first came
into being as a substantial new
medium OF entertainment, the
Western picture, with its roaring
hard-riding cowboys, became a
faYorite. While the pictures were
new, action, and plenty of it, was
the requirement. There was one
feature Of American life which
Afforded this action-life on the
plains and around the ranches
Plenty of cowboy fiction was
available Tor the screen, and so
the producers bent their efforts
toward giving action. Bill Hart
and "Broncho Billy" became the
leading Screen-lightS of the day.
But as the art of the motion
picture developed it was found
that other types of stories might
be turned into good screen mate
rial. Certain producers went on
manufacturing their westerns, !"
but in q rather half-hearted way;
one or two spectacles like 1.-The
Covered Wagon" were made, and
then the. cowboys became about
as scarce as they really are in
Western life. Harry Cary and a
Few more OF the latter-day hard
riders put away their chaps and
saddles and went into other lines.
Ken Maynard is about the only
remaining movie cowboy, and he
stands alone in saying that the
westerns" have not been passed
up altogether. He even goes a
step further and states that his
particular type of picture has
never lost a particle of its popu-
1arlty. Here. we are quoting
Cowboy Ken.
'The public never said it was
tired of this particular type of
picture. It was the producers
who refused to make Westerns.
AS long as there are children in
the world there will have to be
Western pictures, or the euuiva-
lent thereof. The coming of sound
really makes little difference in
the production of the Westerns.
Microphones can be arranged to
take In the dialogue while the
action is going forward. In my
opinion the Western is more
popular than. ever; it is only the
producers who disagree"
Short Flashes.
MARTHA, SLEEPER, who once
performed in the Hal Roach
comedies, has returned to Holly
wood after a year on the New
York stage. She has signed a
contract with Metro Goodwin
Mayer for part in Good News"
Hollywood hears that Lillian
GlSh viii play the part of Nina
In the screen version of "The
Strange Interlude," and also that
she will play opposite Ronald
Colman, with Harry King direct
ing, for United Artists.
Glen TryOn and Myrna Kennedy
are to be featured in Junior
Laemmle,S story, Come Eleven"
for Universal. sN-4 1 ~
Lon CLANCY remains steadfast
in his refusal to talk for the sound
f1lms. He and Charlie Chaplin
are the only hold-outs in the
movie league.
THE Phantom Of the Opera"
remade with sound, is claimed to
be breaking house records in the
theaterS where it has already been
exhibited.
Noah Beery-of all things!-has
a singing role in Golden Dawn"
an all-technicolor operetta made
by Warner Brothers.
And Lowell Sherman PLAYS the
role of a minstrel trooper in AL
Jolson'S new starring vehicle,
Nanny"
Grant Withers and Loretta
Young have been awarded the
leading roles in the Vitaphone
feature, THE Agony Column"
taken from the newSra yer Sfor,,