Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-08

SAD note creepS into oul
" column this week, for here
"A in Washington we proba-
\ bly, will not have an oppor-
tunity to view "All Quiet on the
Western Front" until Autumn
This picture, from all advance in
formation, is the best of the crop
of war films. 1t has been handled
in an excellent manner by the di-
rector, and it has met with more
popular success than any of the
fightin' stuff. The closing of the
Rialto Theater for the Summer
keeps "All Quiet" from becoming
a hot-weather attraction in the
National Capital, but it is planned
to reopen the theater with this
particular picture. The war story
Is now having a run in Baltimore,
where it has met with favor from
the theatergoers.
X X X
PRODUCERS are becoming more
or less worried over juvenile
patronage. The arrival of sound
and the production of sophisticat-
ed stage plays has given the screen
a lesser appeal to the younger
generation. The boys and girls
who idolized Tom Mix and the
other hard-riding players of few
years ago find it difficult, to say
the least, to sit through a picture
like Divorce" or Anna Christie"
The younger patrons have almost
been forgotten in the wild Scram-
BILE to produce outstanding stage
plays and best-seller novels. Pic
lures for children are growing
fewer and fewer. and if steps are
not taken soon, they may pass out
altogether. It Is a fact that the
motion picture screen was never
intended for children exclusively,
but there are few theaters that
can do without their patronage,
especially in the towns and small
cities.
On account of the fact that the
younger generation must be
served, some of the theaterS in the
cities are now conducting special
performances for the youngsters
programs made up entirely of
subjects to attract juvenile inter
est. And, again, we may have a
children'S theater some day.
7 OOKING back over the old mo-
ton picture records, one comes
upon some interesting items. Al
though the art of the motion pic
ture cannot be clasSed among the
old forms of entertainment, its
strides during the past three
decades are marvellous. Several
of the first stars of the cinema
are still connected with it-Some
as players, others as producers
and directors.
1t does not seem a long while
ago that the Essenay company,
one of the pioneers, was advertis-
ing the Western dramas, starring
G. M Anderson and Margaret
Clayton. Around about the same
time the Jesse L. LaSky Feature
Play Co. was presenting Victor
Moore in "Chimmie Fadden" and
Knickerbocker Star Features Of
fered Sir J. Forbes Robertson and
Gertrude Elliott in a film version
of Hamlet" The supporting cast
came from the Drury Lane The
alter, in London. Then Alice
Brady was star, coming direct
to the movies from her triumph
in the Gilbert and Sullivan
operas. Her film play was 1.-THE
Cup of Chance" The Pathe COM
pany brought out THE Romance
of Elaine" and Robert Warwick
was starred in a William ]. Brady
production, 1.-The Face in the
Moonlight" The Lubin company,
well remembered by the old
timers, starred Ethel Clayton,
Rose Coghlan and Romano Field
ing, and Viola Allen was the at
traction in THE White Sister"
Other stars of the day were Mary
Pickford, who appeared in IAN
original and incompatible por-
trayal, Little Pal" -; Francis x.
Bushman, Theda Bara, Grace
Cunard, Henry Walthal and many
whose names have gradually faded
from memory.
WHAT is the value of name?
w This question is brought up by
several complaints registered
against the film companies for
changing the names of we'll known
stage plays when the latter are
given screen versions. The latest
and most glazing example of this
is the operetta Mile. Modiste, -
which was once the starring
vehicle of FRITZ Scheff. 1t is an
nounced that the name of this
musical affair will be changed to
THE Toast of the Regiment"
Another we'll known bit, recently
exhibited for the first time in a
Los Angeles theater, is Bride of
the Regiment" and this is the
movie once known to the stage as
LADY in Ermine."
Many old-time Showmen, as
well as theater patrons, claim
there is a certain amount of pull
ing power as well as sentiment
attached to the old names. In
some instances the theater own
erS feel the same way about it.
but the producers have gone along