davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
The Press Agent.

A FTER all has been said and much
has been concealed, there Is still
much that might be said Of the press
agent.
He Is the friend, or the foe, a. you
viii, OF his public; the pest or the per-
simmon, Of the dramatic editor; . law
unto himself, and one of the worlds
greatest glories. take him as he comes.
But most Of all, he is the salesman-tn-
chief Of what his employer has to sell.
be It play or picture, and nobody can
tell him what his duty Ia or should be.
He Is mild or threatening It all de-
ponds upon how you deal with his prod
uct. And he Is most grateful when you,
by q generous outlay of inspiration and
effort, relieve him Of the hardship Of
his trade. And quick-oh, tremendously
quick-to punish II you should displease
him.
He has an egregious appetite for
newspaper or magazine space. No mat
ter how many idle columns you place at
his disposition, you will find he has the
material to I'LL them up to overlooking.
II he hasn't material Of his own, he
borrows copiously from any and every
source, and dumps 1t into your lap
with the unuttered invitation to help
yourself, and, If you shouldn't like 1t
as It is, to change 1t to suit yourself.
But you must be very careful In chang
ing it not to mar his purpose In giving
1t to you.
Dramatic editors, a. rule, hate the
press agent Critics despise him. But
the Lord loves him, or he wouldn't live.
Besides, he has his virtues, even though
at times he Is cruel. Sometimes he will
threaten you. He has been known to
threaten struggling newspaper publish
ers, declaring he will lessen his adver-
Using II not given more free space.
Critics hate him because he paints
such lurid pictures of what he tries to
sell that sometimes they find it utterly
impossible to criticize UP to the ad-
vance notices.
Dramatic editors despise him because
they are Jealous of him. If the time
ever comes when they want to use q
superlative, they are prevented because
the press agent has stolen them all
And sometimes the press agent doesn't
leave them anything ut all to write
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

FROM the ofices Of Oliver M. Sayler,
l Inc, comes the announcement that
Sidney Ross, formerly associated with
Kenneth MACEDONIAN, has decided to be-
come an independent producing man
ager next season.
Among the plays he hopes to bring to
Broadway are THE Potter's Field" by
Paul Green, author Of I'm Abrahams
Bosom" and new play by Lynn Riggs,
author Of Big Lake." along with several
plays and companies from abroad,
whittier he has gone to confer with
Elmer Rice, author OF street Scene,
with whom he has Effected q contract
ual Arrangement for cooperation in the
presentation Of Mr.. Rice's past and fll-
ture works. It will be remembered that
Elmer Rice Is Pulitzer prize play win
ner. He is now abroad and Mr.. Ross
will confer with him soon.
Mr. Ross also hopes TO secure the
presentation in this country Of Maurice
Browns production of "Othello," with
Paul Robson in the title role, the ad-
vices state.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Ross
was associated with Kenneth Mac
Gowan and the Actors Theater In the
revival of Eugene ONeil's Beyond the
Horizon" He also elaborated in the
production of 1.-THE Grand Street Fol-
lies" Dunsany's "F," Ring Lardner and
Robert Sherwood's 1.-THE Love Nest, !"
and Simon Gantillon's Maya" But
these are only some Of the many pro-
auctions which he has been associated
He plans to make his first Broadway
production In October next.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
The Snoring Picture c4lbnm
By Robert e. Sherwood.

, their cast of characters Any day they
might discover that one Of their prin-
cipal actors had deserted, without q
word, to hunt by himself In parts I'M
known.
Evidently the Indians, despite all
the efforts of the white men to confer
upon them the blessings Of civilization,
have retained a curious passion for
something that they call liberty. They
don't like to be bossed. They would
rather have freedom and starvation
than employment and prosperity.
1t isn't that they're lazy, for nothing
could be more bitterly laborious than
the struggle for survival in the kind Of
life that they choose to lead. It's Just
that they're independent, the poor saw
ages. So no amount of bribery was
sufficient to keep them at the easy
work of acting for the movies. Their
cooperation could be obtained only by
'NS The ss'I e3ce ia q "rhe Silent En-
envy" proves that Mr.. Burden practiced
these arts Skilfully. He completed the
photography in the Spring Of 1929, said
good-by to the Indians, and returned to
New York, leaving one guide In charge
of the camp in Northern Ontario which
had been his headquarters.
The following Autumn some dozens
Of Indians came down the river in
their canoes and disembarked at the
camp to announce that they had re-
turned to spend another Winter work
ing for Mr.. Burden. They thought that
movie acting had become like hunting
and fishing, O permanent institution in
the Canadian wilds.
Strangely enough, the most impor-
tant feature of 1.-The Silent Enemy Is
its silence. No one can tell until the
returns are in whether it Is possible ct
this time for q non-talxing picture to
gain the favor and support Of the pub
lie. 1t may prove TO be just what the
public wants.
hope so, for the production Of pic
lures like "Nanook Of the North"
Grass" and THE Silent Enemy" Is
one Of the cinema's most important
functions. Such pictures will continue
to be Of intense value long after Alice
White and Buddy Rogers have been
forgotten. They are permanent, elo-
quent records Of races and customs
that are vanishing from the earth.
Those who have the courage and in
telligence to make these records deserve
to be rewarded with something more
tangible than the Satisfaction that
comes from knowledge Of o good deed
well done.
In fewer words: Don't fail TO zee
1.-THE silent Enemy"
Copyright. le30l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

NOTHING can more quickly change
~ the obvious meaning of q word
than it's adoption by the user Of slang.
Cuckoos for instance, since the time
when the memory Of man runneth not
to the contrary, has meant anything
but the bird familiarly called by that
name. 1t was long, long ago adapted
to the description of a married man
who had suffered the most serious OF
marital mishaps.
To the movie is due the credit for OBJ
literating that unpleasant meaning,
even though 1t has adopted the word
nut comedy" A nut" in the familiar
theatrical sense describes a player who
utilizes all sorts Of idiocies to serve
as his idea of comedy. Slapstick COM
edy, the most idiotic form OF farce
known up to that time, was never as
idiotic as nut comedy" The term
"nut" therefore came into vulgar par
lance as o synonym for idiot. Now,
however, the term cuckoo" has chased
nut" of the tree and chortles In its
stead in the highest branches.
All hail, therefore, to the movie, &C
companied with apologies to the bird,
for the change.
Of R-K-OS production. THE Cuekoos,"
now at Keith's. is credited with the
the assertion that Gin order to have
dancing girls appear undressed, 1t Is
necessary to dress them" His meaning
Il said TO be fully explained by the
"Caballero" number in THE Cuckoos."
Just where the movie cuckoo comes In
with this declaration must be left TO
Mr.. Sloane, or to those who think
like him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
Them Was the DAVIS"

RACK IN THE GAY 1905, when the
"boop-boops" of the Partisan taxis
were even more Of menace than they
are today, there used TO be such crowds
ut the Moulin Rouge as only the
police could handle. Them was the
days" when q certain favorite Of Paris
called Mlstinguette used to chant her
love ditties to q gentleman who went
by the name of Chevalier. Probably
the high mark Of enthusiasm was
reached by the audience when these
two sang Mon Homme," which later
was appropriated by Fanny Brice and
"drooled" all over this country.
Mistinguette, still the idol of France,
has not ventured to these shores in
quest of cinema fame. She is too wisely
aware that she Is no longer as young
as she used to be-being somewhat
more mature than the Floradora Sex
tette. But her partner, who is, OF
course, nowheres near the pitch OF his
prime, has taken this land by storm.
Maurice Chevalier now reaps more
plums out of his fan-mail basket than
any native star of our own. The
screens Lafayette, however, has not
forgotten his music-hall days. Every
now and then he goes back to his for
nner haunts. And while there he knocks
at distinguishes door, tells her what
Hollywood Is like, then beats 1t back
across 1.-The big pond" which, Incl
dentally, Is the name of his new picture
at the Metropolitan Theater.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
VI0H on the List Of cinema's
nobler achievements are the

" YI6H on the List Of cinemas
nobler achievements are the
names Of "Nanook Of the
Il 1 North Grass Stark Love owe
tributed to the screen by enterpriSine
remote, neglected regions and recorded
the drama that is life. BY such coura-
geous deeds has the movie Justified ite
Now there is another picture to be
added to the distinguished list. 1t Is
called THE Silent Enemy" and the
quality of its reception by the great
film-loving public will be supremely In
teresting to watch. For 1t Is story OF
primitive life among the American In
dams as they were in the centuries
before Columbus. It is acted by the
Indians themselves, with no white skins
In its cast, and photographed In the
Canadian North woods.
Furthermore, It II without dialogue,
although It does possess Q synchronized
eoore and sound effects Ctom-toms,
Wailing Of wolves, moose calls, etc)..
To say that this admirable produc-
ton IN educational" Is to condemn IL
to be shown In empty theaters. There
In no more demand for education among
movie fans than there Is among college
students.
So I shall carefully avoid all use OF
the ugly word in writing Of THE Silent
Evening"" and I urge all other re-
viewers who see this picture to 40
likewise. It deserves to be seen, for
N IS beautiful, 1t is superbly acted and
I'm many of its scenes tremendously ex-
citing. In addition to which 1t has a
love story and happy ending
The principal producer OF The Silent
Enemy is young explorer, William
Douglas Burden, who lives In New
York. but Is constantly searching Tor
excuses to get away from 1t. Severa!
wears ago he organized q successful
dragon hunt In the Dutch East Indies.
Following which he decided to investi-
rate the migration of the caribou In
the waste lands about Hudson's Bay.
This investigation led him to the
preparation of 1.-THE Silent Enemy"
which involved 10 months work In the
Canadian wilds, living in tepees In
weather that was sometimes so degrees
below nero, and dealing with Indians
who had never seen movies, VINO
couldn't speak English and who didn't
much care whether school kept or not.
Il was this Indian temperament that
provided the greatest difficulty, worse
81 far than the hostile weather. FOR
Mr.. Burden and his associates, H. p.
carver and William @. Chanler, were
compelled to display the most consum-
mate tact In the effort to keep together
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
Still Achieving"
PURLEsQUE, which apparentl

RURLESQUE, which apparently has
taken Longfellow's advice, Is still
pursuing its upward climb to the heights,
even If the drop therefrom be terrifying.
I. H. Herk, executive of the Mutual
Circuit, in which our local Gayety The
alter Is marshaled, has welded q new
link in his chain of endeavor-this time
by connection with William Morris,
whose fame In vaudeville was great In
days when vaudeville itself was great.
Mr.. Morris needs no exploitation, but
Mr.. Herk states that he has consented
to ally himself with Mr.. Herk in estab-
fishing a vaudeville background for the
Mutual Circuits 40-odd shows, besides
recommending performers to play lead
ing parts who are adopts in the busi-
ness. There are. however, to be no de-
partureS from the established routine
Of burlesque, but the burlesque elements
are to be brought up to the vaudeville
interpretations quality.
And it really ought to improve mat
ters greatly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
Knows Reporters.

THE role of O. newspaper reporter is
= one Of the most difficult an actor
Is called upon TO interpret, says Norman
Foster, who has the role of Toby, sports
writer extraordinary, In Paramount's
production of Young Man Of Manhat-
tan"
Newspaper men work under such
pressure that their psychological reac-
lions are bound TO be unusual at times, "
Foster explains. THE man who has to
make a deadline at IL, or knows that
his column must appear In print daily
no matter what happens, Is under o
continuous strain that few can appre-
ciate.
"In his search for relaxation he ap-
pears q bad boy at one time and q
nervous wreck at another. but beneath
his hard boiled exterior he will be found
to be one Of the sq,larest. shooters In
American life--loyal, courageous, gener-
Gus and conscientious. Newspaper
ethics are as strict Is legal or medical
ethics, and few break faith"
Foster knows whereof he speaks, for
he worked as q reporter for some time
on the Richmond, Ind, Palladium.
Also he has played In leading pictures
Of newspaper life, 20 reporters-real re-
porterB-have no comeback whatever.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

ager Peck who must control every or
stage effect, timing them to the second
and seeing that they are executed. II
Is the same Peck who supervises the
placement Of every movable piece Of
property and veri1ies that It - In place
ct each performance and In every scene
and act. Such details Is ordering Co.'S
tunes for costume plays, wigs and
various other paraphernalia are also
part Of Mr.. Peck's heritage - stage
manager Of the National TheateT
Players.
Except for these, Mr.. Peck 10 the least
worked member Of the National Players.
Peck's career as an actor was out
standing, however, before he ventured
into the stage-managing department
Among the productions in which he has
appeared in New York and on the road
are THE Spiritualist," with Francis
Wilson; THE Sea wolf," with Charles
Dalton; Madame x" with Dorothy
Donnelly; Personality" with Henry e.
Dixey and Louis Bennison. This Is
Pecks second year with the National
Players.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
BrOoke's Lieutenant.

FAEAOST N ohscured 10 the public
- view - the phantom George Spell
vin--an actor OF many roles, yet Of no
appesxances--is Frank Peck, actor and
stage manager Of the National Theater
Players Yet buster man than Peck,
himself, IL not enlisted in the theater's
personnel.
Occasionally, about three times o sea-
SON, Peck win make q brief appear
ance In minor, role, probably butler
ing, valeting or announcing, "Marster,
the carriage awaits" Those appear
ances are Incidental to the nultifarious
duties that occupy Peek's attention day
and night.
Primarily Peck Is Director Brooke's
Grst assistant, his lieutenant as 1t were.
II Is Mr.. Peck who Is accountable for
delivery Of the scripts for the new
Tuesday morning rehearsals each week.
It Is Mr.. Peck who sits alongside Mr.
Brooke at every rehearsal and follows
the readings. It Is Mr.. Peck who "holds
the book" at every performance, to
guide the performer over the perilous,
but occasional slip. It Is Stage Man
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
United Artists Releases.

UNITED ARTISTS CORPORATION
~ has announced the following sched-
ui9 Of films for release during the sea-
son from August, 1880, to August, 1881 ::
Gloria Swanson In What a Widow"
Ronald Colman In "Raffles"; Lottery
Bride" which Is the permanent title
fog the fiim called up until now Bride
&C.: Eddie Cantor in 'Whoopee," and
Abraham Lincoln" with Walter Hus-
ton IN the title role.
Mary Pickford in Forever Yours" Is
Sthsra are "Whispers a SEQUEL to tn:
successful "Alibi" In the group Of Ro-
land West-Chester Morris pictures;
Irving Berlin's production Of Lucky
Break: "Smilin' Thru" with Joan
Bennett In her first starring role, and
Charlie Chaplin In city Lights" with
out dialogue Of any kind.
Al Jolson joins the United Artists
Corporation with SONS O. Guns"
"Hell's Angels" which has been three
years In the making, is also in the list.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

p OBERT LTTTELL has q word to say
about the potency Of television.
Says he: THE wise playwrights Of to-
day, when turning over new script
to q manager, insist upon adding to the
contract o clause dealing with the tele-
vision rights. For who knowS-tele-
vision may be 10 or 40 years of, but
1t might also burst upon all OF US to-
morrow.
1.-THE idea makes me shudder slightly,
but the shoulders of q few touchy and
fashioned people have not had the
slightest influence on the triumphant
forward march Of the radio and the
talkies. Television will come. and when
1t has come, it will stay. And 1t will
pay absolutely no attention to those
faint screams from the rear which tndi-
cate the presence Of legitimate drama
trying to pull herself out Of the ditch.
Tune In on 1885 for a moment. The
clock over the mantelpiece in that half
of the two-family house occupied by
William B. Citizen registers $40. The
female members Of the family having
washed the dishes and the male mem
bers having lit 7-cent cigars, the entire
family Is about to 60 to the theater.
Momrna and the girls get step ladder
and hang up a sheet at one end OF the
parlor.
1.-THE sheet Ii creased, 80 Momma
takes It back to the kitchen and irons
out the folds. Then the slightly warm
cotton sheet is hung up again to receive
light waves Of actors and actresses NOV
ing about In . Los Angeles television
studio.
For some minutes the Citizens, both
great and small, quarrel over the selec-
ton Of their evenings entertainment,
Momma, for by 1885 that tendency
toward a matriarchate, which is even
now transforming the republic, will
be many Of thousands Of mothers
further along toward Oedipus. Momma
votes for "Eyelashes of Spring" de-
scrtbed as colorful comedy Of love In
the Ozarks; willy, IT., dutifully turns q
few knobs, and the performance be-
gins.
"At this point" wisely concludes Mr..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

was leading lady In the Fox Riddle
Pictures. Since then she has been on
the screen and stage. Dorothy of stage
and night club fame has played her
own act through the South, and won
the Texas Bathing Revue at Sylvan
Beach In 1924. David Sharpe is the
youngest athlete who ever held the
tumbling championship Of the United
States, which he did In 1925 and 1925.
He can boast Of tumbling through two
seasons Of both Orpheum and Keith
circuits. Grady Sutton came to Cali
visit, played bits at Universal for q
year and then went back to Florida.
Hts folks sent him to Europe to forget
Hollywood, but Grady has q good
memory.
1.-THE Younger Set" however, does
not supplant Our Gang"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
New Hal Roach Group.

EAL ROACH, father Of Our Gang"
- comedies and producer Of funny
two.reelers, has collected six poppy
youngsters around the age Of i8 and
% going to star them In Juvenile come
dies under the group name Of THE
Younger Set"
Two Of these youngsters at one time
played with "Our Gang" but that was
years ago. They are Mary Norman
and Mickey Daniels Every one should
remember the little blonde leading lady
Of Our Gang" and the tough I'm with
the freckled pan" Mary is now q
pretty girl of 16 and Mickey, although
grown UP, still retains his freckles.
Gertie Messenger, Dorothy Granger.
Grady Sutton and David Sharpe COM
plete the set. Gertie, q petite brunette.
started at Universal before she could
walk, and when she was years old
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
Heading for the Hot Goals

7 ORETTA YOUNG and Emily Fitzroy,
- both appearing in John Barry
more'S picture, THE Man From Blank
ley's," ut Warmers Earle, have attracted
attention through widely different
channels.
Loretta may be said to be the latest
Cinderella of the screen, and Emily Is.
and always has been, the most villain
Gus" of the three sisters" In other
words, Miss Young is, as her name I'M
plies, eminently youthful, and Miss
Fitzroy has been made to assume the
most unpleasant roles on the Holly
wood lot Hence, the former is much
praised, and the latter Is much con-
doled with as well as praised-for she
is in more demand for character parts
than any one around.
1t must be rather hard to have a
name "the most unpopular of all
screen actresses" and yet thus Emily
Fitzroy has been nicknamed, her fan
mail being charged with malicious
dynamite and her eulogies a collection
of curses. Perhaps some day her roles
will change for the better. In that case
she may have paeans of praise and a
glimpse Of the pearly gates. At pres
t-celluloidically speaking-she is
heading straight for the neither regions
and the great, big hot Goals.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

Awe read about the thrills that are
supposed to come from Stardom."
sAys Jack Oa1kie, but the first thrill
got out Of 1t was a punch In the jaw.
"They put me In ring out at the
Paramount studios, laced some gloves
ca my hands and a guy in the other
corner Jumps up and sticks his mitt
in my face. Next he comes through
with right to the jaw and / find my
self sitting on the canvas. That's my
drst scene as star"
The scene Oakie describes occurs at
the start of his first starring picture,
'',The Social Lion" In which he por-
trays q ham prizehghter who decides
that polo u more In his line.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
"Atmospheric Music. "

THE stimulation OF love scenes with
pipe organ music Is talking pic-
rector Of THE Devils Holiday"
Love scenes" he says, will be en-.
HANGED by organ music, because this
puts them on q religious basis, for all
religion which has survived the ages
II built on love.
Fifty per cent Of the value Of pipe
organ music In that II systematically
reminds an audience of church. They
remember o wedding, o funeral or the
church days Of their youth. The music
calls to their hearts"
Atmospheric music was used In the
old days Of silent pictures to inspire
the players mood In intensely dramatic
scenes. It Is being used by Goulding In
a new combination, he thinks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
Talking Come-Backs.
TALKING and singing motion

TALKING and singing motion PIC
to the screen q lot Of old favorites
One Of these, who returns In THE
Gear of Broadway" now at the Rialto
Theater. is King Baggot. It Is q good
many years since he has been seen
on the screen, but he was q prime
favorite in his day. Betty Conpson,
star Of the picture, is another who
left pictures Tor some time and then
came back very decidedly when talk
ing pictures became the vogue. Incl
dentally. she IL seen In 1.-THE Czar Of
boy lover in "The street Girl" In which
Miss Compson registered her screen
comeback.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
Benny Sings and Picks Stars.

PENNY DAVIS. among other things,
- IL said to be considerable as
tronomer. He has discovered q guam
tity Of stars One Of them Is the ef-
fervescent Helen Kane and another Is
Paul whiteman,' whom he brought to
the East from Los Angeles.
Mr.. Davis, however, Is even more IA
nous as a song-writer. He has turned
out such song hits as "Margie," Good
bye Broadway, Hello France" "Yearn-
ing" and Carolina Moon"
He will be seen this week ct the
Palace as chief mogul in the stage pro-
duction, Broadway Stars Of the Fu.
ture."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
Just Ahead.

b always Q natural desire
to know what Is going to hap
pen In the future, especially In
4 the matter Of motion picture
bills.
ioew's Palace next Saturday expects
y,resent A new Ruth Chatterton pic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

themselves. And that hurts them with
their employer.
But there are exceptions to all this,
and they sleep in the quiet churchyard
some place,