davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Current Attractions

Belasco Theater this week, opening to-
morrow evening, prior to its Broadway
opening. In London at the present
time, this sparkling comedy Is said to
be one OF the biggest hits in years.
Told with delightful mixture of wit
and satire" with its action laid in our
own Washington, THE Improper Ouch
ess" recounts the efforts Of the King Of
Poldavia to float loan for his coun-
try. In his encourage is the lovely
Duchess Of Tam, wife of the old chan
cellor, but the personal companion Of
the King. At the height Of the negotia-
lions, a prying preacher and a hard
headed senator discover the relations
OF the King and his fair mistress
and threaten to have them elected
from their hosiery. From this point
on, the play is concerned with the eff
forts of the duchess to avoid scandal
and yet complete the desired business
arrangements.
Miss Bordini. in the title role, is said
to call into play her most bewitching
style, adding another superb character
ization to her long list of fine stage por-
traits. In her support will be seen
Walter Connolly, Charles Bryant,
Thomas Findlay. Reginald Darlington,
Royal Beal, Florence Edney Betty
Byrne, Jefferson Hall, Hal Clarendon
and several other@
Not only is the authorship Of the
play credited to Mr.. Pagan. but also
the designing of the artistic settings
and the direction of the production.
GAYETY-"Rumba Girls"
livery feature Of the new bur-
lesque" is promised In "Rumba
Girls" with Harry Steppe and Jerri
McCauley, the burlesque attraction
coming to the Gayety Theater for next
week with a matinee Sunday.
Steppe is noted for fast-moving He
brew character comedy. and the beauti-
full titian-haired Jerri McCauley for an
inimitable style of singing and dancing
In the company also will be Ned
Dandy, character comedian: Jim Hall,
who seems to know how to do every
thing; Palmer Cody, singing Juvenile.
and Tim Benson. character artist, along
with Gladys Mccormick, a singer and
dancer Of personal beauty; Arda Kar-
Iowa. high voltage" dancer, and Sally
ODonnell. prima donna. with a chorus
said to match good looks with dancing
ability.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Rouge and Lipstick.

FACIAL makeup for women, COM
monty regarded as a comparatively
new art in female adornment, was
common practice in China more than
1000 years ago, according to Anna May
Wong, the Oriental actress, who ap-
pears In Paramount's Daughter of the
Dragon
The somber expressions Of Chinese
women" Miss Wong declares, lis due to
the thick white lacquer with which
they covered their faces. The lacquer
would crack If woman INDUCED in a
real smile. Oriental women always
have used cosmetics more freely than
Occidental women. Face powders, lip
rouge and coloring have been common
in China for untold centuries.
II was not allowed to use cosmetics
until I entered motion picture work at
the age of Is years." Interestingly
continues the Chinese lady, but when
my mother was girl, her morning
toilet required three hours each day.
She was awakened by servant with a
bowl of water perfumed with a water
lily. This was used for the bath.
Then came a massage with perfumed
oils, followed by the lengthy facial
makeup. Two servants assisted in
dressing her and arranging her hair
Her numerous undergarments Of hand
embroidered silk were tied in place, and
then she donned the trousers and
tunic which composed the outer cos
tune.
Until recent years, Chinese girls
were taught the two paramount duties
of the carefully reared Oriental girl
to be obedient and to be beautiful"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

A DESIRE to pioneer In dramatics"
n and to produce new plays in his
own little theater is said to have led
Irving Pichel to decline one Of the most
coveted stage directorShips America has
to offer-that Of general director of all
plays presented by the Theater Guild Of
New York City. Pichel, who recently
signed q long-term contract with Para
mount, at the time was a member of
the advisory board Of the guild and
stage director for the Shubert company,
is in his middle twenties and one Of the
youngest men ever to hold two such
important positions in the theater.
After declining the offer Ptchel went
to Berkeley, Calf, where, in associa-
ton with Sam Hume. he produced the
first plays presented in the Greek Thea
ter at the University Of California.
Later his hopes we're realized in the
foundation of his own theater in
Berkeley.
Pichel, who is said to be q capable
actor as we'll as director. resorts to no
makeup even in portraying the most
grotesque character roles. He Is a firm
believer in pantomirne and studied de-
livery" as the two most important
requisites to finished performance.
He made his screen debut as the hide
bound husband of Ruth Chatterton in
THE Right to Love-" and appeared also
in AN American Tragedy" Murder by
the Clock" and THE Road to Reno"
He will have the title role in Para
mounts THE Man With Red Hair"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
PLAYERS of the Stase.

AN entire cast selected from stage
players of national reputation was
chosen to support Ann Harding in De
votion," the picture now at the RKO
Keith Theater.
Miss Harding herself comes from the
speaking stage, as does Leslie Howard.
who plays the masculine lead, and so
do Robert Williams, Dudley Digges,
Allison Skipworth, o. p. Heggie, Louise
Closer Hale and Olive Tell. To make
it complete, Robert Milton, who has di-
rected many stage productions, was
given that assignment for Devotion"
The career of Miss Harding is too IA
miliar to patrons of the worth while
Leslie Howard has appeared in "Berke-
ley Square" and Her Cardboard Lover
with Laurette Taylor, both plays that
had their first performance in local
theater; Mr.. PIN Passes BY" THE
Green Hat" and outward Board "
Dudley Digges first came into promi-
nence with the Irish Players, and o. P.
Heggie is a name that has graced many
theater program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Fate of a Barrie PLAY.

S1NCE 1903. when Charles Frohman
~ presented William Gillette in its
title role, the fate Of j. M. BarTie's 1.-THE
Admirable Crichton" has been left to
dramatic groups, little theaters and
occasional stock companies, chiefly be-
cause Of the difficulties Of casting and
OF expensive production. Revived by
George c. Tylor. it has magnetized New
York.
Mr.. Tyler's current cast includes the
distinguished Walter Hampden as
Mary, while Fife Shannon and Sydney
Greenstreet are among the large and
important supporting cast.
The Barrie play. which followed close
upon Quality Street." had its first per-
Torrance on any stage under Mr..
Frohmall, at the Duke of Yorks Thea
ter in London, November 4, 1902. with
a cast heared by H. B. Irving and Irene
Vanburgh. Produced under the direc-
ton Of Dion Boucicault, the cast at the
London premiere also included Henry
Kemble, Gerald du Maurier. Clarence
BlakiSton, Carter Pickford. Sybil Car
Isle, Muriel Beaumont, Fanny Coleman
and Pattie Browne
Its success was instantaneous, and
Mr.. Frohman entered into arrangements
with William Gillette, then electrifying
this country with Sherlock Holmes"
to make a New York premiere Novem-
Der II, 1908, Crichton's single bow to
Broadway prior to its present revival.
To support Mr.. Gillette, Mr.. Frohman
imported four members of the London
cast. Henry Kemble retained his role
of Lord Loan and Pattie Browne hers
Of Tweeny. But here, Sybil Carlisle
played Lady Mary instead of Lady Cath
crime and Carter Pickford PLAYED Ernest
Woolley instead Of Lord Brocklehurst.
Others were Harold Heaton, Soldene
Powell, Frederick Morris, Beatrice Irwin,
Rosalind Coghlan, Kate Meek and Sybil
Campbell. 1t ran for IS weeks at the
Lyceum Theater and the following sea-
son Mr.. Gillette took it on the road for
another 80 weeks
1t is q very delightful, If profound,
comedy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Very Little to Attract the
New York Theater-GOers
Mae Vests New Play, The Constant Sinner,
Not SO Carefully Watched by Police-Guild
Attraction Is Study of Life in Old South

pert, and I suspect that she knows as
much about life as BalZac, Theodore
Dresser. Victor Hugo, Samuel Shipman
or Eugene O'Neill. At any rate, she Is
wise enough to surround herself with
a company of real actors, recruited
from Heaven knows where. The boy
who impersonates the sappy pugilist Is
good enough to act for Arthur Hopkins
or the Theater Guild in any of their
more natural plays. And the vivid and
veriStic chap who appears as the prize
fighter manager belongs in loftier en-
vironment.
Miss West, though she may be I'M
proficient as player, is apt at writing
the raff1sh dialogue prevalent in the
wickeder territories. I am forbidden
by the U. S. A. and a fundamental
timidity to repeat the franker remarks
made by Miss West and her associates.
One Of her more printable observations,
however. refers to the ,myriads of
racketeers and gangsters operating in
and around the Broadway hotels.
ing" says Babe Gordon, five Of them
fell in. wouldn't have minded, but
two Of them was sdead."
THE first intelligently attendable play
Of q so-far insane season is THE
House of Connolly" a study by Paul
Green Of the life in 1905 of the ebbing
old South and its contact with the
new. The play and its players are pro-
teges of the Theater Guild, and that
institution may be proud Of its sponsor
ship. In introduces Franchet Tone. a
remarkably veristic actor, and Miss
Barker, a legitimate emotionalist, to
wider and more appreciative public
than they have met before. The
House of Connolly" is recommended to
such visitors as may enjoy excellent
acting in a picturesque theatrical and
fairly good play
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
By PERCY HAMMOND.

N YOT 50 long ago Miss Mae West
was happy outlaw, making
merry with the shocked police.
The sentinels who guard us
from evil kept her under rigid
surveillance and she found it well-nigh
impossible to express herself" without
being Jailed therefor. 1t became neces-
sary then for her to bootleg her per-
formances. "Lookouts" were stationed
at her theater's doors to warn her
whenever a dick" approached. In
case there was suspicion that enemies
we're on hand she deftly omitted the
dangerous elements from her play and
substituted items more cautious. I re-
call that when went to see Miss West
in Sex" 1 was detained for moment
at the box Office 1t was explained to
me next day that the watchdogs at the
gate. fearing that l was a spy, rushed
those apprehensions backstage to Miss
West. So she reformed her entertain
rnent temporarily, and the Sex" that
I saw could have been presented at any
chapter of the Y. M. c. A. Her man
ager apologized to me later.
But there has been a change In the
attitude Of government toward Miss
West. No longer do her exhibitions
afront the forces that make for good
They are still vigilant. but where once
they were hostile they are now acqui-
escent In The Constant Sinner" at
the Royale, she is free to go as far as
she likes, an artistic liberated. This
she does, a little wistfully, perhaps.
regretful Of the good old days when
an actress could be arrested for public
nisbehavior. The police are there. but
they are interested only in the audience
The Constant Sinner" Is an adept
dramatization Of Miss Vests widely
read noval. Babe Gordon" the saga, as
it is called, of a sexologist. I still be-
lieve that Miss West is the worlds worst
actress. AS a show-woman she Is ex-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
COLUMBIA PLAYERS,

ct TNCLE TOMS CABIN" has been
~ selected as the annual melodrama
to be presented this season by the
Columbia Players, who held their first
meeting Of the new season at the Will
son Teachers College last Tuesday
evening.
The first offering Of the players, how
ever, is likely to be They Knew What
They Wanted" and it will be directed
by Orris Holland, who directed Hell
Bent for Heaven" last year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Fun From the Newspapers.

TWO well known cartoonists and one
l. mad wag are responsible for the
hilarious story and gags Of the Marx
brothers latest picture Monkey Bust
ness" now current at Loew's Columbia
Theater.
The mad wag is S. ]. Perelman, gag
maker emeritus Of Judge and other
magazines. The cartoonists are Will
liam B. tombstone of the New York
World-Telegram and J. Carver Pussy,
the creator OF the Benny" comic strip.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Next Weeks PLAYS

the National Theater next week, OPEN
ing Sunday evening, with matinee Sat-
urday only.
After more than seven months in
New York this eighth edition OF Van
tiles" Is on tour "in It's entirety with
the original New York production and
company Of 100 people"
"VanitieS" is staged in 90 scenes Of
comedy and lavish spectacle. Three
stars head the company, all comedians,
Herb williams, Jack Benny and Chaz
Chase. All types Of feminine beauty
are represented among the IS girls Of
the ensemble
The song hits include Hitting the
Bottle" and Love Boat" The Ter
race of Color with the So dancing
prisms. "A Field of Daisies" and The
Curtain Of Splendor" are high spots
of elaborate scenic novelty, and
Strange Inhabitants Of the Skies"
with costumes designed by c. Boehm
Of Germany and made by the Kauff-
man studios of Berlin, is said to rank
high for artistic beauty.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Washington's Players
What Various Dramatic Organizations Are Doing
and Propose to Do.

including Mrs Marie Moore Forrest, Mrs.
Edith H. Hunter, Miss Maude Alton and
Madame Vasa Of the Americanizatior
School; Miss Sibyl Baker Mrs. Gertrude
Lyons Of the District of Columbia FEEDER
alton Of Music Clubs; Miss Erba Birney of
Neighborhood House, DR.. Raphael Man
ganaro OF the Lido Club, James Mallos
OF the Greek Community, Curtis A.
Hodges OF the Greater National Capital
Committee Of the Washington Board of
Trade; Harold Snyder, technical expert
OF the Community Center Department,
and others.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Pineapple Realism.
HERE'S realism.

HERE TeaIIsm.
IL They tied real pineapples en-
trees for a replica of a Cuban jungle
in The Cuban" Lawrence Tibbett's
new picture. at the Metro GOODWIN
Mayer studios Ever since than the
company has been feasting on pine
apples between scenes Finally the prop
erty department put up a sign, Don't
Pick the Fruit"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

Mr.. H a m p d e n
will, Of course, play
the role of Crich-
ton, the butler who
becomes ruler over
his former aristo-
cratic employers
when they are all
wrecked on a pic
turesque South Sea
island. Miss Balm
ter has the role of
Lady Mary, who
falls in love with
him on the island,
only to revert to
the conventional
life of the daugh-
ter of a peer when
the party is res
clIed Fife Shan
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

in Paris, achiev-
ing a run Of more
than a year and a
half, and 1t was
later staged by
Max Reinhardt in
Berlin. AS I h e
title suggests, it is
a refutation of the
outw orn fable
that women are
the weaker sex.
The cast in
cludes many cele-
brate d players,
among them Mrs.
Patrick Campbell,
the noted English
actress: r o n a ! d
Squire, Helen Haye
InAt %hA onrfCa
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

as StoWaWayS VINO
refuse to be caught.
A situation Of this
kind should be an
ideal background
for the boys who
run and play all
kinds Of pranks on
the ships officers
a nd passengers,
but the real fun is
said to begin when
they are hired as
bodyguards for two
gangsters intent
upon killing one
another.
Besides the four
brothers, Groucho,
Harpo, Chico and
z eppo, Thelma
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
LANTERN FESTIVAL. OCTOBER FL.

HE colorful Lantern Festival. orig
inally planned last August for the
Sylvan Theater and postponed twice on
account of Indictment weather. will take
place october 81 at Central Community
Center, under the auspices of the Com
munity Center Department. The event
will be under the direction of COM
mittee headed by Mrs. Elizabeth K.
Peoples, director of the department, and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
"PARISIAN BEAUTIES"

GEORGIA soTHERN and her "Pari-
- sian Beauties" with Harry Boob"
Myers as a strong background, is the
thrilling but brief announcement Of
the Gayety burlesque house for its at
fractions next week
The music and lyrics are by Jay
Gornev, E. Y. Harburg. Harold Arlen
and Ted Kohler. The orchestra score
is by Domenico SAVING and Is played
by Charles Ruddy and his "Vanities"
Band
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
ON THE HORIZON

Saturday will bring William Powell
in Road to Singapore" to the Warner
Earle Theater. with the Lovejoy
dancers heading a great stage show.
Lew Ayres in The Spirit OF Notre
Dame" will be the new offering at the
Rialto Theater, starting Saturday also
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

Helen Hayes, Margaret Dale. Derek
Williams, Helena d'Algy. Ethel Borden,
Constance Trevor and Anthony Ireland
Eliza" Bernard Shaw's "Pygma-
lion" was written for Mrs. Patrick
Campbell, and she played 1t in this
country. She is generally spoken of
as one Of the trio Of the great actresses
Bernhard, Duse and Campbell.
EARL CARROLL's "VANITIES."
zach year Earl Carroll produces a
new "Vanities" The eighth edi-
ton OF this annual revue will come to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

CLQe felIOWS anu ben 4dBBdIL are
seen In the cast.
The program Is rounded out By q
select group Of short subjects.
EARLE-"My Sin"
TALLULAH BANKHEAD, former
l. Washington girl, is the star Of MY
Sin" the Paramount picture at Warner
Bros Earle Theater this week. The
Boswell Sisters, noted radio tavorites,
head the vaudeville show on the stage.
MY SIM which stars Frederic
March, tells q thrilling story of the
regeneration of a man and a woman;
one crushed by bitter circumstances,
the other demoralized by wild living.
It Is said to be filled with dramatic in
cidents that reach a smashing climax.
The supporting cast includes Scott
Kolk, Harry Davenport, Anne Suther-
land, Margaret Adams, Lily Cahill and
Jay Fassett.
The Boswell Sisters, who head the
stage show, are known as The Singers
Of the South" They started radio
virtue Of their harmonies and rendi-
tons are now prime radio favorites.
They will present a cycle of songs and
novelty tunes. Other acts are Joe
Browning, Broadway comedian, in "A
Timely Sermon; Betty and Jerry
Browne In rs That Funny?"; Happy
Harrison's Circus. novelty, and Max
Inc Doyle, mistress Of ceremonies.
Short reel subjects and the orchestral
prelude, conducted by Freddie Clark,
will complete the program.
FOX-"Skyline."
HSKYLINE," adapted from the novel,
- East Side, West Side" Is the
screen attraction at the Fox this week.
It presents Thomas Meighan, in his
second talking picture, starred with
Hardie Albright, Maureen OSullivan
and Myrna 10y.
Skyline" concerns an ambitious
youth who hated his unknown father
until he was brought to realize that he
had come dangerously close to COM
uniting the same sin of which he ac-
cused his parent. 1t is tale of vice
and virtue combined with romance in a
great metropolis.
On the stage are presented the Mexi-
can star Of picture successes such as
Shadows of the South Seas" and
bridge Of San Luis Rey," Miss Raquel
Torres in person in an act in which she
sings, dances and displays that she Is
quite humorist.
Fanchon and Marco offer THE Great
Raymond" Idea featuring Raymond,
one Of the worlds great magicians, with
a versatile group of Sunkist Beauties
assisting, who dance and play trum-
pets, comets and snare drums
Al Mitchell presents a novelty over
ture, and the Fox Movietone News and
a new episode of The Vanishing
Legion" at the morning and supper
shows round out the bill.
METROPOLITAN-"F Star Final"
"E1vE STAR FINAL" which is
being shown this week at Warmers
Metropolitan Theater, has been de-
Scribed as "one of the greatest, If not
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

non has the role of the Countess of
Brocklehurst; Sydney Greenstreet is the
rotund and specifically democratic
Earl of Loan, and others important in
the cast are Maurice Wells as the Hon.
Ernest Woolley; Esther Mitchell, as
"Tweeny": j. Colvill Dunn, as the ath-
letic young clergyman. and j. P. Will
son, as Lord Brocklehurst.
There are 26 acting roles In THE
Admirable Crichton." which, with the
expense of the production required is
probably responsible for the fact that
it has never been revived in this coun-
try before. 1t is % years since William
Gillette was seen in the original Ameri-
can production.
The revival had unusual success at
the New Amsterdam Theater, New York
City, last Spring. and broke several rec
ords in brief tour that followed.
BELASCO-"The Improper Duchess"
MAURICE BROWNE. under the
Ava auspices Of the Professional Play
ers OF Washington. will present Irene
Bordoni in The Improper Duchess. I"
by James B. Pagan, at the Shubert
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
! FF with the old and on with the
4 new is a favorite aphorism in
the realm of talking nictlre

~ FF with the old and on with the
new is a favorite aphorism in
the realm of talking picture
~ theaters And so the following
announcements proclaim the
offs and the ons at the downtown
palaces for the new week starting at
some houses on Friday and at others
on Saturday.
Sob Sister" featuring Linda Watkins
and James Dunn. is booked for the Fox
Theater, starting Friday, with the
Fanchon- Marco "Once Upon a Time
idea for the new stage show.
new version of Get Rich Quick
Wallingford," with william Hsines as
its star and Leila Hyams opposite, will
come to the Palace Friday, with Blue
Echoes" as the New York Capitol
Theater revue for the stage.
The Marx Brothers in Monkey
Business" at Loew's Columbia. may not
depart Friday, but when it does 1t will
be replaced by Eddie Cantor in "Palmy
Days" some other Friday.
Bad Company" a new Jack Lait
story, with Helen TwelvetreeS and
Ricardo Cortez is booked for R-K-O
Keith's Friday, starting a new week.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

"44V4LL5' "NOIIIb d1IU PLOUUO11IB
OF plays. They are known as the
Workshop" Some evenings they have
read their own plays for criticism
Sometimes they have produced these
plays or others, as If in the class room
without scenery or costumes. Again
iShed performances of selected one
act plays, choosing from the best Of
the work done by their members.
This year the Workshop will open
its season October II with the pro-
duction of two one-act plays, st
George of the Alley" and wells" both
from the pen of Mrs. Alfred Schaublin,
who is better known to some by her
pen name of Andre Dorynoss. Mrs
Schaublin will direct "St. George" and
Wells" will be directed by William F.
Baker.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
JATIoNAL-"The Admirable CrichtOn. /"

Admirable CrichtOn."
TIME distinguished actor Walter
Hampden. and Fay BANTER will
head a typical George G. Tyler
Il cast for five nights beginning
Tuesday, with matinees Wednes-
day and Saturday, at the National The
alter in THE Admirable Crichton," q
delectable Barrie fantasy that can be
looked upon as a comedy or O tragedy.