Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
Flashes From the Screen
News and Comment of the Photop1ay
By c. E. Nelson.
Bye. E. Nelson.

actors to the cinema capital offers
an unlimited resource of talent to
draw from, and in "a comedies
out Of 30 produced by one COM
pany this season 80 vaudeville
and musical comedy players were
signed to play important roles.
AN odd and rather funny situa-
ton confronts the producer
and exhibitor of the David Wark
Griffith picture, Abraham Lin
coln," in Kansas. In the picture
are at least two mentions that
Gen. U. S. Grant drank whisky.
Indeed, one scene shows the gem
eral in the act of drinking whisky,
and audible comment is made by
Lincoln.
Well, this sort of thing is not
allowed in Kansas. Miss Emma
VietS, head of the Kansas Board
OF Censorship, has never allowed
drinking scenes used in the pic
lures exhibited before the Kansas
audiences. Also, she has never
allowed the use of the word
whisky" in any picture. All this
offers a problem for the producer
and exhibitor. If the picture
were a silent one, the problem
would be simple. The scissors
could clip out a portion Of the
film. This cannot be done with
the talkie, and, in all probability,
Kansas audiences will never view
the film story Of Abraham
t1,coly,
SCREEN songs have about done
away with the fabulous royal
ties once made by the tune
writer's of Tin Pan Alley. There
was day when such songs as
when You Know You're Not
Forgotten" and After the Ball"
sold, in sheet music, to the extent
of three million copies. But with
music in the movies, 1000 new
songs have been turned out by
Hollywood writer's during the past
year, and these have not had
big sale, in spite Of the popularity
OF some OF them. The last song
to reap "best seller" profits was
81 Can't Give You Anything But
Love-" and since that time the
records show no song that has
sold more than a half million
copies. Greatly increased produc-
ton of sheet music caused by
talking pictures has re-
suited in greater variety and in
creased competition. And nearly
all the song writer's have given up
their quarters in New York'S Tin
Pan Alley and have moved, bag
and baggage, to Hollywood.
Short Flashes.
PARAMOUNT Publix announces
its Prosperity Week beginning
October S. This, according to an
announcement, will signalize not
only the renewed affiuence of the
Nation, but also the developing
activities of the Aim corporation
which viii hold this celebration
In the numerous theaterS through
out its countrywide chain. Para
mount executives are showing
their faith in reports from ali
their sources of information con-
corning the increasing prosperity
OF America by embarking on an
unprecedented program of pro-
duction."
The motion picture world just
cannot hold Eric Won Stroheim
down. He is coming back as di-
rector of Blind Husbands" for
Universal. This time he is to
make a talking version. The same
company also announces that
Harry Langdon, the comedian,
will be starred in "See America
Thirst" and two of the featured
players will be Bessie Love and
Slim Summerville.
Monta Bell has completed East
Is West" featuring Lupe Velez
and Lewis AyreS.
Lester Vail, well known to the
stage, has been given an i'm
portant role in the Herbert
Brenon picture, Beau Ideal"
Ralph Forbes has the leading
part.
Jean Hersholt is to be starred
in the picture version of a novel,
Suffers Gold" The player is
much in demand for character
parts, having recently completed
work In The Cat CreepS" and
The Royal Family"
Eddie Cantor's "Whoopee" is
to do much toward re-
viving the public interest in musi-
cal pictures.
Washington is not alone in its
muSician-theater troubles. Many
cities report the same sort of
difficulties.
The Chicago cenSorS now have
a complete sound equipment to
aid their work. Heretofore, they
have been judging the films 'in
the SILENT"
The Ufa company is exhibiting
German films in this country
without making changes in the
language. 1.-THE Tiger Murder
Case" now being screened in New
York, Is said to be a mystery with
a fine cast, the thread of the
story being easily followed with
out knowledge of German.
The Amos N Andy picture,
Check and Double Check" will
be ready for exhibition in about
three weeks.