davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21

THE perplexities Of Luigi Pirandellos
play. "As You Desire Me" which
Washington already has seen and which
in all probability will come again next
season have penetrated the businesses
of France, where the play has not yet
been produced.
Philip Carr, well known correspond
ent, it appears, bearded the lien Piran-
dello, in his den on the Avenue Mon
taigne in Paris, and the New York
Times subsequently printed this inter-
view:
"I tried to lead him on to tell me
something about his play AS You De-
sire Me, but he would not be drawn.
Which Is the real wife, or, rather,
which do you consider to be the real
wife?'
1.-The one who believes herself to be
the real WIFE came the answer
but the real wife, physically?'
continued At that he smiled and
threw UP his hands.
1.-The theme of all my work he said,
is that imagination is stronger than
actuality. What is real for each one
of us is what he or she believes to be
feal'-and he would say no more.
"Other things Pirandello was quite
ready to tell me. He told me that the
ShubertS had commissioned him to
write five plays, of which AS You De-
sire Me- is the first The titles of the
cthers-of which two are already writ
ten-are Tonight We ImproviSe,' The
New Colony The Giants of the Noun
TAIN When You Are Somebody
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Summer Theater

A FEW seasons ago mere half
dozen Summer theaters functioned
casually at widely scattered resort,
where Broadway actors repaired for the
Summer season, to appear in "tryouts"
of hopeful new plays or in established
Broadway successes. The idea of gain
ing experience in a variety Of roles, at
the same time enjoying vacation in
the country or at the seashore, had
natural appeal to actors.
The Cape Playhouse at Dennis, Cape
Cod, which opens its fifth season on
June 49, Is probably one OF the most
successful of the Summer theaters. It's
owner and managing director Is Ray
moIld Moore.
When Mr. Moore was an art student
at Provincetown, he bought at bar
gain a seventeenth century church in
the little town of Dennis. He consid-
cred using it as a studio and art GAL
lery, then he became interested in the
idea of a theater. Artist friends as
sisted him in designing a stage. He
wrote to certain actors whose work he
admired and asked if they would like
to come to the Cape and act that Sum-
mer Acceptances came promptly from
such Broadway well knowns as Basil
Rathbone, Janet Beecher, Peggy Wood,
Minor Watson, Robert Montgomery,
Violet Kemble Cooper and Laura Hope
Crews. The transformation Of pulpit to
stage was fastened. and the success of
his first season amazed no one more
than the youthful Mr.. Moore.
THE Cape project, which began so
humbly five Summers ago, now ex-
tends-in actual real estate-over 81
acres. Besides the Playhouse, young
Mr.. Moore has another theater, the
Cape Cinema-called by art critics and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
About Myself and Others
By Percy Hammond.

| his own soul in the theater, as coun.
seled by Anatole France. was repeating
the observations Of some one else.
Drama reviewers, like women and
princes, have few friends, and even
their closest pals sometimes are cruel.
Last week F. P. A. publicly uDbraided
me, his ancient Chicago crony, for be-
ing obscene and tncomprehensible in my
sentences about the acting in "Prece-
dent" and Crazy guilt" I had said
that Mr.. Mooney, the innocent and per-
secuted hero Of Precedent" was, &C
cording to his acquaintance in, real
life, something beneath a noble martyr.
That even If he did not throw the bomb
he was the type of refcrmer who would
have done so had he thought Of it. Mr..
Adams complained that this was gibber-
ish to him, as was my description of Mr..
Phil Bakers ridiculs of American Big
Business In Crazy Quilt as a humor-
Gus 'hoi poilci." meant to say that it
was a hodge-podge, but in the hurry Of
newspaper composition I got the sylla-
bles mixed and was guilty of ludi-
crous lapse in concentration.
Eager to improve my style, I make
pilgrim ges to F. P. AS THE Coming
Tower" there to learn lessons in clarity,
conciseness and deep-thinking. In It !
find the appended example of limpid
English-a sentence of 81 words, five
commas, q semicolon, a dash and,
eventually full stop:
THE Coming Tower has a COED deal
Of respect for Mr.. John S. Sumner Sec
rotary of the Society for the Suppress
sion of Vice, end we share his opinion
that the tabloid press cverpublicises
crime and criminals, and that head
lines like the Mirrors They Killed a
Dat xr,fkt. n
picture of three Chicago boys eyed from
IS to IS, makes heroes of criminals; or
make adventurous and romantic life
Ct gun-play and of triumph over au-
thority."
Also this neat model of blended words
and thought from THE Coming Tow
er" will help me, hore, to remedy my
pens confusions:
Our recent tenant, Mr. Sinclair
Lewis, failed to take with him three or
four books all terrible. If the Yale
Library, which, no matter what the
facts were, has not in its possession the
Nobel Prize medal. wants to do scme-
thing handsome, it will send somebody
to our farm-New Haven to Bridgeport,
then take the Black Rock Turnpike to
TIE Blue Bird Inn, turn left on Lyons
Plstn-and take away those four books,
which otherwise will be chucked into
the incinerator to pay storage charges"
The late Kyrle Bellew once gave his
manager, George c. Tyler a cigarette
case on which is inscribed the following
prayer: Dear God: Please make me a
better actor, fer George C. Tylsr's sake
Amen" 1 have ordered a similar gift
for The Coming Tower" and on its
jeveled surface will be engraved a petit
ton, parap hresing Mr.. Bellows. Dear
F. P. A." it will say, please continue to
help me to be a better writer for the
Dramas sake, Amen"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
The Snoring Picture cAlbum
By Robert E. Sherwood.

luxurious limouSineS and dwelling In
stately palaces. On the contrary, when
they don't use undernourished horses
for getting about they use 1907 flivvers,
and their residences are just what the
homes of Mexicans are traditionally
presumed to be. Probably they have
sense enough to soak their money away
against the next revolution.
Aqua Caliente is a brief mile beyond
Tia Juana and very different 1t is a
recent development, promoted by Ameri-
can capital (much of it from Holly
wocd) and done on a lavish scale with
surprising amount of good taste
There are an enormous and pleasing
hotel, surrounded with bungalows. an
elaborate gambling casino with disdain-
full croupiers. and swimming pools sui
phur baths. tennis courts. golf course
and two race courses. one for horses
and one for dogs There is plenty of
entertainment. and ell of it is costly.
can't imagine why there aren't more
film stars about the place. After the
general aviditv of Hollywood land I'm
not speaking solely of alcoholic liuuor)
this handy oasis should be a great
gathering place. It has everything that
bored cinema celebrity should love.
including the atmosphere of continental
depravitv Nevertheless, those who were
there when was there were emphat-
ically not stars. They looked more like
truant BaptiSts from the environs of
San Diego, escaping from the surveil-
lance OF the local pastor and determined
to boost Mexican beer stocks to a new
high.
I should like to dwell on Aqua Cali
ente and tell how I planked the ulti-
mate dollar on No IS, and it came up
but, after all, the avowed purpose of
this column Is to provide the vast
reading public with information rela-
tive to moving pictures, so perhaps I'd
better return to my subject As I
haven't first-hand knowledge available,
must turn to the ever-reliable fan
magazines.
In the current issue of Screen Play
is an article called Love Came in the
Nick of Time" by Norma Shearer Gas
told to Walter A. Rashick") In the
course of her remarks on her marriage
to Irving Thaiberg, and on the son
with which that Western union has
been blessed, Miss Shearer says:
Love in my life is my audience.
Babys coming doubled by audience"
Everything do now do with the
hope of pleasing these two I'm in love
with. want them to applaud me. to
be proud OF me, and to know that ]
want to do-and try to dNgreat and
good things because of them"
This is splendid, admirable! Miss
Shearer is obviously a great rarity in
this cynical age, for she values the
respect of her home folks above the
plaudits of the great, gross multitude.
But what want most to know is this:
Just what were Baby Thalberg's re-
actions to mothers performances In
1.-THE Divorce" "A Free Soul" and
Strangers May Kiss?" Did he real-
ize that great and good things were
being done solely for the benefit of
him and his brilliant father? Or was
he just the least bit puzzled?
Copyright, 1917
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21

A PHILADELPHIA newspaper
~ grieves editorially over the i'm
~ projections of New York play
goers, and is inclined to blanc
the sorry state Of things on the drama
critics-this one in particular. How
much taste may be expected of the
ordinary piaygoer,' it asks, Swher
Percy Hammond, for instance, devotes
the greater part Of a column to sneer-
ing at one of the acknowledged master
pieces of English Congreve's
The Way of the World?' {. With
comparatively few exceptions-an out
standing one being j. Brooks Atkinson
these writers too often reveal little
comprehension of the fundamental
principles of drama, and simply record
their personal reactions to the work of
the dramatist or actor"
Rebuked thus paternally for record
ing my own reactions instead of those
of others, set out to discover what
had been said in the near past about
THE Way of the World" by holier re-
porters than I. 1t was my intention to
amend my earnings by substituting.
therefore, such praise as I might find
in the opinions of A. B. Walkley, Will
liam Archer, Clement Scott, Max Beer
bohm, Bernard Shaw, James Agate, c.
e. Montague, Hammer Swaffer and sim
liar wise men of the English stage
But nowhere in my library If their
collected reviews was there to be seen
any mention of Congreve or THE Way
of the World save short paragraph
by Mr.. Beerbohm. / read again my
American books of drama criticism
the works of Burns Mantle, James
Huneker, Walter Prichard Eaton, Rob-
ert Benchley, William Winter and
George Jean Nathan. In them. also.
there was a silence about THE Way of
the World" 1t seems that the writers
dismiss the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 1t is
too great for their comprehension.
So here / am still unable, despite my
arduous investigation of the book shslves,
to replace my own impressions, how
ever little, with great products from
the less mildewed of the archives Con-
greve himself admitted to Voltaire. If
one may believe a statement made by
the classic Mr. Taine, that as play
wright he was not so good. 81 am not
a drsmatist." Congreve confessed; IT
am a gentleman According to Mr.
Beerbohm, en- aloof critic whose sane
reactions are not to be heckled, great
artists are never gcntlemen"-a remerk
that might be objected to by such art
lists and gentlemen as Walter Hamp-
den and Otis Skinner. Mr.. Beerbohm
asks in Around Theaters" (KnopD
who really and truly, in his heart of
hearts, wants to see a play by Con-
greve or any other Restorationist? They
are dead utterly and a theatrical pro-
ductiop of them is mere rafting of
dry bones" 1t may be that Mr. Beer
bol1m, when he wrote this, was filling
the Philadelphia newspapers naive pre-
scription for drama reviewing, and in
stead of naIrating the adventures Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21

architects the most beautiful small
motion-picture playhouse in America
This year garden lovers have come
from far and near to see the gardens
surrounding the theater, for Mr. Moore
has already developed six acres of gar
den and handicapped woodland.
The Summers program for the Cape
Playhouse, which may be taken as rep
resentative fare of the best Summer
companies, includes the appearance OF
Arthur Byron in Megrues "Tea for
Three" Crystal Herne in Kelly's
"Craig's Wife" and in Lonsdale's 1.-THE
Last of Mrs. Cheyney." Edith Barrett
in Molnar's THE Swan" and Henry
Hull in Mines 1.-The Perfect Alibi, y
with the later half of the seasons
schedule still to be decided among
Philip Barry's Holiday" or Paris
Bound" Grace George in THE First
Mrs. Fraser" and possibly starring en-
gagements of Basil Rathbone, Madge
Kennedy, Edith Taliaferro, Basil Sgd
ney and Mary Ellis and Helen Gahagan
and Melvyn Douglas.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Theatre Art.
THE best way for an actor to bull

THE best way for an actor to build
himself up toward stardom from
the ranks of featured players is by the
character, role route, according to
Paul Lukas, who expressed his views
while filming "Vice Squad" now at
Loew's Palace.
"I have always said I do not care
what sort of a part 1 have been asked
to play as long as it requires marked
characterization" Lukas said. "A role
which requires definite Characterization
always has plenty of possibilities for the
player to stand out
ION the other hand. a leading man
often does nothing but appear at the
right moment, make love, and finally
win the girl.
IT have always found that most Of
the great stars of the screen insist upon
character roles. George Bancroft, Marie
Dressler and william Powell are classic
examples. not overlooking Lon CLANCY,
who, of course, was always a character. :
Besides aiding in getting the player
recognition, a character role compels
him to disclose his talents, his skill and
his theatric art-and that is all there
is to acting"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Greta Nissen's Accent

TALKING pictures sent Greta Nissen
= into concentrated course of elocu-
ton to remove a charming Norwegian
accent which, she believed. would
handicap her success en- the screen.
After a year of constant application,
amplifed by vaudeville and stage en-
gagements, she succeeded in eliminating
all but the slightest trace.
Then. anxious to make up for lost
time, she eagerly accepted the leading
feminine role in Women of All Ma
tions," which is now showing at the
Fox. Arriving en- the set for the first
days rehearsal, Greta was astounded
when Director Raoul Walsh asked her
to use her accent, only to find that she
had done such thorough job of elimi-
nation that IT was really a task to re-
gain her original accent. that had been
lost in the shuttle Her knowledge of
languages, it is explained, had made the
perfection of English easier.
Before coming to this country Greta
Nissen had established herself as a
dancer in the foremost theaters of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Where Are the Ghurkas?

HAY kingdom for 25 Ghurkasi
4EA This is the longing of Lal Chad
Mehra, high-csste Hindu, technical ad-
visor on Oriental matters and actor IN
Radio Pictures THE Sphinx Has
Spoken"
It seems that Mehra summoned all
the East Indians, Arabs and Hindus in
Hollywood, but no Ghurkas were forth
coming. Since the Ghurka Is notice.
ebly shorter than the other tribes OF
India. Mehra tested group OF Chinese
end japanese to use them as GhurkaS.
But their facial characteristics elimi-
mated them.
Then call went out for Filipinos and
Hawaiians. They we're perfect. and are
now being put through the drill and
arms manual Of the Ghurka soldier OF
the Himalayas.
Corporal Lal Chad Mehra says they
will be as fit as their counterparts OF
Indian when Trey appear in the picture,
1.-THE Sphinx Has Spoken" being d.
rected by Victor Sehertzinger.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21

European capitals. Fokine, leading
Continental dance teacher, regarded her
as his prize pupil and personally ar
ranged her act. The Queen of Den
mark. it is said, looked upon her as
prodigy.
Her work on the stage in this coun-
try helped to conquer her original ac-
cent She made her debut in The
Beggar on Horseback" as the Princess
End caused a sensation. So much so
that she was sought by many producers
the movies then being silent. When
she embarked on her picture career she
already had won a large following, and
then came the advent of sound.
Now she is of to a new flying start.
R3oul Walsh, who directed her in
two silent pictures, THE We nderer' and
THE Lady of the Harem. personally
selected her for the leading role in
Women of All Nations"
In her next picture, Transatlantic"
Miss Nissen will have the real oppor-
tunity to display the accentless English
she worked so hard to perfect.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
The Mighty Fallen.

A FORMER prince of royal Russian
blood today earns a livelihood in
slapstick comedy roles. David Mir, he
is listed on the credit sheet of Radio
Pictures twc-reeler, THE Gland Pa
arade.."
In the archives Of old Russia, it is
said, he was listed as Prince Vladimir
Serannin overload of many fine
estates, godson of Grand Duchess Ma
RE and cousin of Prince Yousopoff,
who dispatched the powerful Rasputin.
Il am quite happy in comedies, .
modestly says David, for through them
my mother and live IN this beautiful
country"
In the days of silent pictures Mir
was featured in a number Of Elinor
Glyn productions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Answer to Prayer.

p Ado PICTURES, be it said to its
~ credit, is the first unit of the great
motion picture army to resort to prayer
in time of distress.
William lie Baron. who had to post
pone the date for the opening shoot
ing" of Consolation Marriage" the
picture in which Irene Dunno is to be
starred, exltingly announces the prob
lem has be4n solved. Pat O'Brien, he
states, is the answer to prayer, for Pat
is going to be the first masculine lead
in the picture-a hole that seemed to
cape hopelessly at all plans for the
completion-of the film
Moreover, but probably not in answer
to prayer, Airline Judge, who has been
rapidly climbing into film favor, the re-
port states, will play the second femi-
MEN lead in the Ruggles- Estabrook
metropolitan tragedy, Are These Our
Children"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
lPhotoplay

Betty Compson. is the girl, Conrad
Nagel the husband and Robert Ames
as a new-type villain.
The story is by Martin F1avin and
the direction by George Archainbaud,
who has many successes to his credit.
In addition is another of RKO Radio
Pictures Toby and Pup cartoon SERIES,
"Toby's Halloween; an RKO Pathe
Franklin Pangborn; journey with Co
Father Nile" and the current issues
of RISO Pathe News.
PALACE-"Vice Squad"
0XIICE SQUAD" is the current
screen attraction at Loew's Pal
ace Theater. Besides being an expose
of city vice and the workings of a
crooked police department, it serves as
the first starring picture for Paul Lukas,
whose recent performance as Ruth
Chatterton'S leading man has won him
a contract to star on his own.
LukaS plays the role of a former
society man who has turned S,ool
pigeon. He loves the magistrates sis
ter. Kay Francis.
Besides Lukas and Miss Francis the
cast also includes Helen johnson and
Rockcliffe Fellows.
On the Palace stage a home
coming celebration" is being held for
Wesley Eddy, who heads the stage revue
titled Bouquet of Melodies" with the
Three Sailors Olive Sibley and other
Loew acts featured.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Art and the Director.
T yENk 8 81
WRL1ND directing" is cropping up a'

0RLlND olrectlng Is Cropping up 9S
the latest directing vogue in Hol-
lywood according to studio reports.
Harry Beaumont, pioneer mega
phoner, is credited with being the origi-
nator. for in his latest picture, THE
Great Lover" featuring Adolphe Mem
lou for Metro-Goldwyn-M Mayer, he
adopted a policy of hiding" from his
players. That is, when scene was
about to be shot he would turn his
chair around behind-a camera or a
fiat" so that he could see the action,
but not be seen by the players.
81 know that experienced players say
they get used to the director in full
view" says Beaumont, but do not
believe this is so. The presence OF some
one as close to an actor as director
gets when he is in front of the camera
is bound to affect the player. subcon-
sciously at least. If the effect Is sub
conscious it may cause the player to
blow in his lines.
IT may be wrong, but scenes seem
to have gone more smoothly since ]
have deserted my old chair, in full sight
of the players. and have gone into
hiding"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
indicating a Fish Yarn.

1T may be a fish story when papa
comes home with string OF what
have you, when all the finny cnes show
the earmarks of being fresh from. the
butcher shop, but, declare the studio
reports, it is no fish story about the So
pound halibut Leila Hyams landed on
her day off during the filming OF
"Cheri-Bibi"
Just meet the old fishing smack
that docks at Malibu in front Of the
Hyams home any day that the Metro
Goldwyn-Mayer actress has off, and the
odds are that the demure blonde OF the
screen can show you batch OF big ones
still giving a few last kicks"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Pirandello Explains

He also told me that j. J. Shubert
was thinking of taking to America an
italian company, headed by the famous
Martha Abba, to give repertory Of
six or seven of his plays in North and
Central America and perhaps after
ward in South America. The tour
would probably start in October, and he
himself would perhaps accompany it."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21
Getting Out of Underworld.

WITH Tommy Boy his principal
w equine actor; Ernest Terrence
and other players, Director Charles
Brahin has gone to Lexington, KY, to
film scenes Of "dorseflesh."
Brabin Is also taking a battery of
camera men and sound crew direct
from the Metro Goldwyn-M Mayer Cali
fornia studios, and expects to spend
from 10 days to two weeks in the Blue
Grass country to make sequences for
the pictures on and around the Lexing-
ton race track and paddockfand also on
several Kentucky race horse farms.