The Washington times., 1930-01-30
GLEANINGS
SCREENINGS
BY ANDREW r. KELLEY

the talking celluloidS on the
site of the old British Embassy
on Connecticut Avenue, the To-
cation is regarded as too far
removed from the bubbling
heart Of Washington's motion
picture sector.
Right now an enterpriSing
District realty man is in New
York endeavoring to interest
the MessrS. Shubert in another
Connecticut Avenue location.
The promoters are prepared to
build if J. J. and Lee will take
a long-term lease for new
legitimate theater.
The argument for getting
away from the accepted theatri-
cal district is the convenience
of parking and the fact that rs
per cent of the reserved seat
trade is in the northwest Sec
ton. On the other hand, drop
in trade would be negligible, an
asset which cannot be ignored,
particularly by the motion pic
ture interests.
Fred Stone, in "RippleS," has
been cancelled at the National
Theater for the week of Febru-
ary 10. The new musical goes
into New York without a tun-
ing-up week here. Mr.. and
Mrs. Martin Johnson's travel
picture will fill the Cancelled
week.
Florenz Ziegfeld's return en-
gagement of SHOW Boat" has
been moved back to the week
of February "a.
Marjorie Joesting. the Miss
Washington of 1924" makes her
debut in pictures in Chasing
RainboWs," the Metro-Goldwyn
musical co-starring Charlie King
and Bessie Love and opening
at the Columbia Saturday. Miss
Joesting is shoW-girl in tae
feature.
Ziegfeld's Simple Simon"
opened Monday night in BoS-
ton and the critics call it a
great show that needs wealth
Of polishing. The first-night
curtain came down at l a. m,
which leaves a margin for much
pruning. Ed Wynn's work in
this Mother Goose tale is called
immense and as a dancing show
it rated the greatest of ziegfeld
productions. The usual lavish
ness is evident with the artistic
flash. a dancing number for
Harriet Hoctor. which one critic
calls "a scene of yavishing
beauty"
The Rialto Theater has in
stalled one of the huge screens
for the showing of the magni-
fled films. Universal has It's
own method of producing these
wide-angle pictures and at
present has in production a
feature which will take the
oversize films and call for new
projection equipment.
Olga Steck'S performance as
maid Marian" in Robin
Hood" so impressed one of this
city's motion picture executives
at Polls on Monday night that
he sent a long letter to his
producers advising the prima
donna be considered as a bet
fop the singing cinemas. Miss
Steck has looks, robust and
sweet singing voice with a
curved figure that should take
to the camera gracefully.
Incidentally the Robin
Hood" revival is worth a visit
from the most meticulous play.
goer. De Koven's music is de-
lightfully sung by a highly
competent cast and the pro
duction throughout is credit
to all concerned. 1t deserves
first class business.
Out in Hollywood the gossip
has it that D. w. Griffith is
much peeved over delays on the
United Artists lot over the
shooting" of his new feature.
Abraham Lincoln" Stephen
Vincent Benet wrote the dia-
logue for this talking feature
on the martyred Presidents life
in which Walter Huston is to
star. John w. Considine, jr,
is said to have turned down
the dialogue as "trite and child
ish" and ordered it rewritten.
Abraham Lincoln" when
made as silent film by the
Rocket brothers. was con-
sidered fine artistic achieve
ment and landed the brothers
who produced it on the top
rung in Hollywood. The pic
ture, however, made little
money.
The John Drinkwater play,
"Abraham Lincoln" recently
flopped when Producer William
Harris attempted a revival. He
took it off after one week.
When first produced it ran
three seasons with Actor Frank
McGlynn as Honest Abe.
Mr.. McGlynn never had the
luck to get good part since
and is now in pictures.
While Actor McGlynn was
universally praised by critics as
an ideal Lincoln, Woodrow
Wilson was one American who
considered the Drinkwater con-
ception of the Civil War Presi-
dent as an exaggerated ana
false stage character. After
he saw the play President Viii
son wrote q blistering letter to