The Washington times., 1930-03-26
CLERGY PAYS
TRIBUTE TO
PLAYERS
BY ANDREW r. KELLEY

Inc FlaCCeTlnB WOTQ, III WIllCAl
the theme elected to prove that
almost everybody from dominic
to scullery maid at some time in
their lives felt a secret desire to
act. Most folks get it out Of
their system by the time high
school or college days have
passed.
I was reminded of this yester-
day when the Rev. James Shera
Montgomery, Congressional chap
lain, under the spell of the inspir-
ing testimonial luncheon to the
National Players, made a swell
speech in which he confessed he
was once an actor. The play
was Michael Strogoff" and the
Rev. Montgomery failed to elab-
crate on whether the notices said
he was good or just adequate. At
any rate it helped cement love
for the drama which has en-
dured.
Rev. Francis j. Hurney, chap
lain of the Catholic Actors Guild,
said that while in Paris last sum-
mer he longed for Washington and
the National Players. Which
seemed to me the highest kind
of a compliment. Were I in
Paris, 1 am almost positive the
only thought I could give to E
Street would be to send Mons.
Dillingham; Cochran a postcard
Of the Eiffel Tower, saying, wish
you were here"
Now they are whispering that
Florenz Ziegfeld is dickering for
the Correll and GoSden (AmoS
N Andy act as the star attIac-
ton of his new Follies. scheduled
to open in June. Another report
has it that he Graves the Rudy
Vallee Band for his glorified
revue. Interesting because both
acts have acquired the greater
part of their fame and fortune
via the radio.
Bill Ewing reports that Warner
Brothers have made Eddie Cantor
a very alluring offer to play the
w. B. chain of movie houses, in
Guiding the Earle, whenever his
engagement with Samuel Gold
wyn at Hollywood is completed.
Right now Mr.. Cantor is on his
way West and dropping bulletins
at every station announcing his
retirement from the stage. In
his right-hand inside pocket is a
Paramount contract to play the
PubliX theaterS some time next
fall, says we'll founded bulletin,
which sounds reasonable. At any
rate Comedian Cantor is prepar.
ing to make 'Whoopee" for the
talking microphones with Floren7
Ziegfeld having an interest in the
movie production. 'Whoopee," in
cidentally, was made before AS a
silent picture under it's original
Owen Davis title. The Nervous
Wreck"
Some of the new features
scheduled to adorn the Metropolis
tan Theater screen in the near
future are Under Texas Moon,
in which Frank Fay has his
first big role; the latest Al Jol
son feature land his last for
Warner Brothers., Nanny" in
which Uncle Al reverts to black.
face and his beloved singing
character: Hold Everything, -
the second starring vehicle for
Winnie. Lightner. and then THE
Vagabohd King" with Dennis
King, first time at regulation
movie prices. Other than in
Washington "Vagabond King" is
exhibited at 81 top.
The Earle lineup for the i'm
mediate future is Eddie Bowling
in person with his feature pic
ture, Blaze O. Glory" Helen
Kane in Dangerous Nan Nc.
Grew" and Song of the Flame, Il
the Hammerstein operetta in an
all technicolor production.
They are saying right now
among many other things, that
Calvin Coolidge can have the
job as head of the Fox theatri
cal enterprises if he but ex
press a wish to enter the hustling
marts of moviedom. OF course
they are whispering many other
things arising from the Wall
Street struggle for Fox control
but the Coolidge 100000 a yeal
rumor is doubly interesting be
cause some time ago, when John
j.. RaSkob was reported inter
eSted in the Fox enterprises, the
story coupled the name of Al
Smith as likely to be boss of the
gigantic business conceived and
developed by his old friend, Viii
liam Fox.
Donald merry Widow Brian
was entering the WRC broadcast
ing Studio early last evening as
this editor emerged after telling
the radio world the latest in cur
rent events. In the few moments
before his call to the mike" the
juvenile Mr.. Brian recalled the
night when he was the honor
guest of the Centaur social Cluu
Of Dorchester. Mass, and the
pulling power of the Merry
Widow" star was sufficient to
attract enough dancers to Navil
lus Hall to supply the nucleus OF
q fund to equip the ball team
"Those," as Mr.. Brian said, were
the happy days. Can you ever
forget them?"
May say in reply, No" Fol
that was the night this struggling
youth first poured himself into
a dress suit. Like Willie in