davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Memories at the BelascO.

WEARS and years ago-how many
doesn't matt-r-when the then
handsome Lafayette Square Opera
House, after more or less fitful career.
was taken over for a nobler fate, it
was christened the Belasco Theater.
Located almost at the front door of
the White House. it seemed to take on
a sort Of exclusive personality. 1t was
| during these days that David Belasco
was gliding the frame that already
circled around his CRAVING hairs and
preparing for the later portrait Of the
venerable and clerical looking master
craftsman of the American theater.
During these times. also. Mr.. Belasco
was constructing some of his finest
masterpieces for world premieres in
the Capital of the United States. It
was one of those visionary dreams Of
the National Theater of America that
came to the great master One Of
these productions, Sweet Kitty Bel
lairs." with Henrietta Crossman in the
title role, was conceded to be as rare
and beautiful q work of dramatic art
as Washington had ever seen.
1t was at the Belasco also that David
Warfleld, Francis Starr, Leonore Uric
and others famous on the Belasco roster
appeared in productions that are among
the proud memories of the American
theater. william Crane in The New
Henrietta" and Tom Wise in "The
Gentleman from Mississippi are like
wise linked with those memories,
through Douglas Fairbanks. now the I'M
comparable of the, American screen,
who in those plays served his eariv
apprenticeship, and who was starred
by William A. Brady at the Belasco
in q newspaper play of the Southern
mountains called THE Cub" On the
| opening night of this play. young Doug
las Fairbanks, jr., who has since SCARED
to the heights. was held back stage in
| his mothers arms, thus early absorb
.ng the atmosphere of the tl1eater which
later was to open the portals of fame
| to him.
Here, too, Jane Cowl, who was later
destined to enter the magic circle OF
| the gods and goddesses of the new
world stage, appeared as the leading
lady OF q now quite forgotten Summer
stock company. and bemoaned that the
| local critics Of the day rapturously
praised her beauty. when she was 50
strenuously endeavoring to attract their
attention to her dramatic ability. She
vowed then to reverse their angle of
view-and did she?
Conrad Nagel now one Of the real
stars of the cinema, got his first chance
| at real part on the stage of the Belas-
co, one Saturday matinee, when he
replaced the talented william Elliott as
youth in the famous symbolical pro-
cuction called Experience"
Lionel Atwill, the Belasco star. back
in 1915. then a newcomer In America,
was brought to Washington for the
premiere at the Belasco in one of Mr..
William A. Bradys productions. Later
repeating under David Belasco in De
burau."
There have been many plays and
many players whose names brilliantly
adorn the scroll of the old Belasco in
modern times and which are so fresh
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Youth and It's Drama

life he viewed upon the stage had
mtracuously become real. OF course,
no audience Is completely tluded. They
know in their hearts that the setttng4
are mere strips OF painted canvas ana
the actors merely mimics. That Is
why the play must grow OF itself. It's
life must spring from its own roots
then and only then will the imitation
wear q semblance Of truth. Drama
as an art seeks to create It's authors
vision and persuade the audience into
its acceptance.
John Van Druten does not indulge In
manufactured plots he takes piece
OF familiar life and initiates M he
aims at and hits the target-the COM
edy and tragedy of life itself Elmer
York tenement s wi life street IS scene ne%
followed q similar line OF action in
the construction Of his play; so did
Bob Sheriff In his amazingly realistic
picture OF front-line trench life in
Journeys End" And they won the
highest praise because they were con-
vincing. Such Is the real aim of dra-
matte art--to absorb. to convert. to
make the audience one with the per-
sonages on the stage.
Mr.. Van Druten is great admirer
of his contemporary Benn w. Levy,
author Of Mrs. Moonlight" which the
Professional Players will bring 10 the
Shubert- Belasco Theater during the
coming Winter. with Edith Barrett and
Sir Guy Standing IN the leading roles.
Mr.. Levy ranks high in the group
Of young Englishmen who have lately
invaded these shores with q number
of successful plays. Ten years ago, at
the age Of 20, he made his first trip
to Broadway with his first manuscript
tucked securely under his arm. Per-
haps the less said about It the better.
The play was not a success.
OF course, every young playwright
believes that his flrst play win set the
world afire. bue when Mr.. Levy found
that the world did not share his en-
thusiasm. he resolutely set about doing
better job the next time, and in
1928 his dramstization Of Hugh Wal
poles novel. The Man With Red
Hair" was produced. Later came his
excellent adaptation of Marcel Pag-
noPs ''Topaze, Art and Mrs. Bottle, :"
which Jane Cowl included in her
repertoire. and during September, 1891,
Charles Hopkins produced hts Mrs.
Moonlight" Mrs. Moonlight" closed
In New York June 6, 1881, completing
run OF 3i6 performances.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Goldwyn Attracts Lewis.

CINCLAIR LEWIS, the only Amer
~ lean novelist ever to receive the
Nobel prize for literature, has entered
the ranks of writer's of Samuel Gold
wyn's screen productions. The agree
ment made with Goldwyn conveys To
the picture producer the righs to Ar
rowsmith" as q future screen story for
Ronald Colman 1t was for Arrow
smith that Lewis was offered the
Pulitzer prize in 1925, and which he
then refused
Goldwyn he's invited Sinclair Lewis
to Hollywood to prepare his own adap-
tation and treatment of the story.
Lewis probable acceptance comes al
a time when Theodore Dresser Is wag-
ing war on one Of the picture studios
for q controversial screen transcription
Of IAN American Tragedy"
During his Metropolitan Club frAcas
with Lewis, Dresser claimed that DR.
Paul De Kruif had asked him to write
the story of "Arrowsmith" before he
had conferred with Lewis This was
emphatically denied by the noted bac-
teriologist.
Arrowsmith,' says Lewis, "is the
most flmahle Of my stories-my own
favorite. Even to the new incidents In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
BY IMoGEN TAYLOR wALCoTT.

THERE is today In London . young
moved from his kindergarten days,
who, nevertheless. has six successful
plays already to his credit.
The career Of John Van Driten Is
itself romance suf1cient for q play.
Born in London June !, 1901, his
works produced in the past seven years
should inspire young American writer's
Or, for that matter, playwrights OF al
nationalities-to renewed efforts.
The ranks Of successful dramattsts
have always boosted more than 9 fair
proportion of youth. Many OF the best
plays ever written have been composed
by their authors before they had passed
maturity II would be absurd. of
course, to suggest that authors in their
late 30S have passed their zenith;
that those in their 40s are back
numbers whilst those who have passed
the ripe old age of so are mere dod-
derers-for with the years comes q
keener vision, a more appreciative un-
derstanding Of human nature, and thus
maturity brings ats own reward, for
then great masterpieces are oft con-
ceived
Managers and producers, however,
are skeptical of playwrights in their
early 20s. They argue that there
has not yet been suficient time in
which to acquire thorough working
knowledge of the theater.
Yet 1t Is because young John Van
Druten In so short q span of years
has acquired such an uncanny COM
prehension Of the true technique and
craftsmanship of his theater that he
has been hailed as born dramatist,
with the vision of a true artist, and
a creative power which enables him
to give that vision compelling light
Young Woodley" is the only one of
Mr.. Van Druten's plays thus far to
reach America. Glenn Hunter and
Helen Gahagan played the leading
roles in it several years ago. His most
recent successes have been London
Wall" and After An, both produced
in London since the coming of 1881.
Hailed abroad as the apostle of nat
uralism," he has that rare power of
giving real significance to everyday
happenings of drawing his characters
with a perfection Of observation and
understanding and making his dialogue
spontaneous.
Every playgoer must have upon some
rare occasion felt that the fictitious
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Fannie Hurst, Student.

this impressive array Of books, Miss
Hurst, has written several plays and
hundreds of short stories, as well as
magazine articles.
To write these stories and books, 1t is
said Miss Hurst made special studies OF
the women Of the stage, especially the
shop girl and her environment. She
herself has worked as q saleswoman
waitress and has even taken a trip
across the Atlantic N the Steerage in
her search for the drama of life. In
1924 she visited Soviet Russia and wrote
a series of articles on her findings.
In private life, Miss Hurst is the wife
of jacques s. Danielson. At ONE time,
her experiment in separate quarters for
husband and wife, attracted a great deal
OF newspaper attention.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

the treatment outlined to me, the spirit
of the story remains what it should be.
Transcription of the novel to the
screen is intrusted to Mr. Goldwyn and
his stan with absolute confidence.
Prom Goldwyn and his associates, Sid
ney Howard, Herman Shumlin and Ron
aid Colman, know that there win be
q notable work done out of Arrow
smith"
Even though he habitually disdains
both the theater and the screen as a
means of his own personal amusement
and entertainment. Lewis Is said to
have admitted that the screen might
easily become 10 him q stimulating
and fnvigorating work.
Goldwyn wishes TO hold up any def
mite plans for the perturbation of AR
rowsmith' until Mr.. Lewis can make
a personal visit TO Hollywood to discuss
treatment, adaptation and production
details. 1t is possible that Dr. Paul
De Kruif, noted bacteriologist and au-
thor Of The Microbe Hunters and
THE Hunger Fighters" may also go to
Hollywood with Lewis for the filming
Of "Arrowsmith" Dr. De Kr1Iif sup
piled Lewis with much Of the scientific
background for the novel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Filming as Played.

FILMING the scenes of a motion pic
tlre drama in the order In which
they appear on the screen is said to be
growing in favor in Hollywood.
During silent picture days. and even
since the advent of sound, motion pic
lures were filmed in whatever sequence
was most convenient and then put to-
gsther-edited. as it were.
Stuart Walker, the director, strongly
favors the new idea.
1T enables every one to comprehend
the story more accurately he says
land makes II possible for the story To
be built up to more terrific climax
since both the director and the players
experience a constant acceleration OF
tempo"
And then too. it may be added, the
players are less apt to forget their parts
in the story.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

FANNIE HURSTS position as short
story writer and novelist was not
gained without battle.
Miss Hurst was born in st. Louis in
1899 In 1909 she received her A. B.
degree at Washington University and
then took post graduate work in Eng
lish literature at Columbia University.
1t was not until three years after she
had left school that her first novel,
Just Around the Corner" was publish
ed. Then came large number Of sue
cesSful works: Every Soul Hath Its
Song. "Gaslight Sonatas," "Humor-
esque." "Stardust, - THE Vertical City"
'Lummox," "Appassionata,' Song Of
Life" A President Is Born Back
Street" and Five and Ten" Beside
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Soft &c" Please!

T>AMARA GEvA, the Russian dan
4 seuse. who is making her first pic
ture appearance In The Girl Habit, :
pronounces her name with a soft C.
just like IN lest"
For the past few weeks the little bal
lerina, who was one Of the chief attrac.
tons of "Chauye SouTis" and ziegfeld's
"Whoopee.' has been dividing her time
between THE Girl Habit" at the Para
mount New York studio and the Selwyr
Theater. where she is appearing on the
stage In "Three's a Crowd"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

FEW DAYS after the last scene OF
~ a feature picture has been shot
A the film is shipped to some in
4 u conspicuous tfeater in the vast
environs of Los Angeles and dis
nlayed suddenly before an audience.
The tfeater is permitted TO make no
announcement OF the identity of this
added item on its program, though II
may hang out banner inscribed with
the promising words 'Preview Tonite.
tThe denizens of Southern California
derive q sa6istic delight from the act
Of mutilating the English language
On q hot evening last week / jour
neyed to Glendale for one OF these pre-
views. It was an exciting. occasion. For
when. without warning. the news was
flashed from the screen that the extra
special attraction was to be the four
Marx brothers in Monkey Business" the
audience broke into an authentic tu-
mutt of applause. This coatless Cali
fornia gathering provided convincing
proof of the fact that the Marxes have
made good in the movies.
am happy to be able to report that
in Monkey Business" they. Justifled
the audiences optimism. Their pre-
view was a rousing success. 1t isn't
easy or wise to be relative in any con-
alteration Of the complicated MARKHAM
philosophy. but I think that Monkey
business" is better as a picture than
were THE Cocoanuts" and Animal
Crackers 1t has nowhere near as
large a quota of quotabla wisecracks,
but It's action gags are superb. There
Is a scene wherein Harpo crashes In
backstage at Punch and Judy show.
and Joins the puppets in the knock
shout performance, but took an oath
long ago never to try to retell in cold
type an episode Of pantomimic comedy
so I'll leave 1t to your imagination until
such time as you can see for yourself.
Nor will I try to set down the plot
of Monkey Business" Sufflce 1t to
say that the boys are stowavays on a
eargantuan ocean liner and are chased
ell over the ship. When they reach
Quarantine In New York Harbor they
have one passport between them. They
stole 1t from fellow passenger,
Maurice Chevalier, and when each Of
them appears before the immigration
authorities. he wears straw hat and
sings, you Brought a New Kind OF
Love to Me-" with accent.
The really big news concerning
sMonkey Business" is that 1t imposes
the burden Of the love interest on the
hitherto understressed shoulders Of
Zappo Marx, 1t is prodigious response
biiity. for Zeppo has to be dashingly
romantic and, at the same time, the
brother Of Groucho, Hsrpo and Chico
an impossible task which he Under
takes with his usual accomplishing
1ortitude.
some day, some one should write q
character analysis of this heroic soul,
zeppo, who is content to 60 down to
posterity as that other Marx" There
Is the famous story Of how, during the
rehearsal Of "Anin1el Crackers" Sam
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

ing. The Fancnon Marco submarine"
idea Is announced to share the honors
on the stage.
"DIRI0IBLE," the production made
with the cooperation Of the
United States Navy Department. which
had its oficial presentation In Washing
ton some time ago, is announced as the
new attraction for R-K-O Keith's. Jack
Holt, Fay Wray and Ralph Graves are
the outstanding characters In the cast.
WTNABU," the production said TO have
been made in the South Seas,
featuring Reri now a Ziegfeld beauty,
will come to Loew's Columbia Satur-
day. unless Marie Dressler's political
pull keeps on drawing capacity crowds.
"CPoRTING BLOOD" one of those
greatest racing pictures since
THE Whip" with Clark Gable in the
leading role and Madge Evans and Lew
Cody in the cast. will open It's engage
ment at Loew's Palace Saturday. Ted
Claire In New York Capitol fTheater
revue viii be the stage attraction.
BEGINNING Saturday, Warmers Earle
- Theater viii present on the screen
Dorothy Mackaill in the First National
Vitaphone drama, THE Reckless Hour. -
and on the stage a bill headed by the
Grooming Troubadour." Nick Lucas.
In THE Reckless Hour" Conrad Ma
gel, Walter Byron, Joe Donohue. H. B.
Warner and Joan Blondell are cast in
important roles.
other acts in the stage program are
Lew Pollack. Broadway song writer, and
Ernest Charles, Priscilla Quincy, Mary,
Bobby and Evelyn Dean; Sidney Marion
and Marie Duvall in Bits Of Musical
Comedy" Gilbert Brothers, athlete9,
and Maxine Doyle.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

THE Comtesse Margot de la FalaiSe,
wife of Comte Alaim de Ia Falaise
of Paris, will make her Aim debut in q
minor role in THE Common Law,
Constance BENEFITS latest R-K-O
Pathe picture. Although 1t is her first
picture effort, she hopes it will not be
her last, as she is really in earnest about
trying for a screen career.
The countess, 1t is explained. found
herself at home In the bit she played
in THE Common Law" as the action
has q Paris setting. 1t was in Paris
that she, an American girl. met and
married Count Alain. AS screen
actress, the countess is giving up her
title in favor of her maiden name, Mar
got Webb.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Launching a New Star:

CHEsTER MORRIS has simultane-
~ ously launched a new picture and
a new screen star. The former is Cor
sair," in which he is presented as a So
ciety pirate on the high seas, and the
new star Is Alison Lloyd"-Thelma
Todd to you.
In the story, which Is an adaptation
OF the Walton Green novel, Thelma Todd
leaves her old semi-sensationa roles be-
hind her and becomes a dramatic
actress. She and producer Roland West
look upon the occasion as of such i'm.
portance that they have changed her
name as well as her personality.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

HOLLYWOOD'S latest Cinderella
= halls from Nebraska she Is Hazel
witter. former art student at the Uni
versity OF Nebraska and alumnus Of
York College in Lincoln, her birthplace
Miss witter was selected by Samuel
Go1dwyn as one Of the Ia most beauti-
ful girls In Hollywood to appear in
"Paimy Days" and 1t is considered a
tremendous tribute 10 the young Ne
braskan that $500 applicants we're in
terviewed before the IL were chosen.
Hazel found her way 20 her career
by obtaining Job as seamstress in the
Unit.d Artists Studios Many times in
those weeks Hazel has pricked her IN
gers accidentally. but today she Is de-
iiberately pricking them Just 10 see II
this Is q dream or that she really Is
going TO be motion picture actress.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Passes on to New Hands.

DEFINITE announcement has been
made that Katharine Cornell, the
brilliant actress and star Of The Bar
rstts of wimpole Street." and her hus-
band, Guthrie McClintic, who ranks
" tn the higher type of producer and
manager, have definitely leased the
Belasco Thester in New York, their
lease becoming operative September 81
This Belasco Theater is the famous.
artistic workshop Of David Belasco, and
where his last production, Tonight or
Never" was playing when the venerable
master Of stage wizardry passed away.
While the report states that Miss Cor
nell will continue with her noted play
az the Empire, where 1t Is now being
presented. yet her future productions
viii be made at the Bslasco. which will
be reopened in October, however, with
s. n Behrmans Brief Moment" with
Francine Larrimore as its leading
player.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

novel, Is the screen
attraction. TIL e
esaee show Is head
ed by .Hilly Giasen,
Broadway jester.
Murder by the
Clock" Is the story
Of the unhappy
marriAge Of a
young man who Is
murdered twice in
q single evening.
Several hours after
he Is found dead in
his home. he Is
alive again. due, 1t
is presumed to the
revtving effects of
Adrenalin treat
imGnts given him
AuW.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

in the memory that they need not b
named.
Washington, the Capital Of these United
States, certainly has . proud record
for dog town" In the matter Of ap-
probation and patronage Of the worth
ter, in these fond memories Of other days
In the Belasco Theater. that still nestleS
close to the front portal Of the Prena.
dents home, the National White HOUSE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

HOWARD HUGHES latest enterprise
is the construction Of 50 sets for
"Scarface," his meiodrama of the UNDER
world. For this purpose, Hughes has
taken over almost all the facilities OF
the Metropolitan studios In Hollywood,
SUFFICIENT space not being available at
ploy his own newly acquired sound
equipment upon the picture.
The title role of "Scarface." which "a
based on the novel by Armitage Trail,
will be portrayed by Paul Muni
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

Friday. young as
You Feel" will be
the play, but
whether it Is burn
ing romance, thrill
ing mystery, or just
go-as-you please il
net advanced fol
publication. vii,
will be in it very
much to lead the
current star parade
at the Fox, and Fiji
Dorsay and Lucier
Littleheld will also
be in 1t to help
him. 1t is a George
AIDE story and
ought m bo aYVaf.e
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

tor. Some minutes after he has re-
gained Iife-and Just as he Is about 10
tell who killed him--he Is slain for the
second time and for keeps. Directed
by Edward Sloman the cast includes
william Boyd. Llyan Tashman, Regis
Toomey. Irving Pichel, Martha Mattox,
Blanche Frederick and Sally ONeh
Billy Glason, Broadway jester, pre-
SCENTS songs and sayings that are said
10 be the 81 word in drollery. Other
acts are the six Lido Ladies in q speedy
novelty. Maddox and Mack offering q
laff-a-minute in The Life of Any
Party; Sandy Lang in "A Skating
Classic" assisted by the Emralde Sis
tiers and Patti Lee. and Maxine Doyle,
mistress OF ceremonies. Bobby Jones
tenth golf lesson. Trouble Shots; the
@Rchestral prelude complete the bill
R-K-O KETTH's--"The Miracle
Woman"
BARBARA sTANwYCK is the star
Of the current screen attraction at
R-K-o Keith's, The Miracle Woman, :"
and David Manners Of Journeys End"
her leading man. Sam B. Hardy and
Beryl Mercer are featured players
Reeeneration through love forms the
theme OF the story. which centers about
q girl whose goodness was exploited, but
in the exploiting she, and those back
ing her. fooled everybody but herself.
II was her love for blind war hero
that brought about an open confession
Of her deceit.
Prank Capra. who directed 'Diri-
yib,e," also directed The Miracle
Woman
FOX--"TranSatian tie."
TcOx greater movie season, with a
= parade Of stars. II nov in progress
ct the Fox Theater, where Transit
lantic' opens the new movie season.
Transatlantic" with cast headed
by Edmund Lowe; supported by Lots
Moran, John Halliday, Greta Nissen,
Myrna 10y. Jean Hersholt, Earle Foxe,
Billy Bevsn and others, was directed
by william X. Howard from the story
by Guy Bolton with additional dialogue
by Lynn Starting. The entire plot takes
place aboard a transatlantic steamer,
where the lives Of all are held in
balance through 3 sinister plot.
Lowe plays the role Of master
gambler, whose kindness gets him into
all sorts OF trouble However, just as
the ship Is about TO dock the plot IS
cleared up and every one is made
happy, as usual--dramatic picture.
Fanchon and Msrco bring 20 the
stage their talent" idea, starring
Harry savoy. clever comic; George
p. Wilson with Adele Beers, Jeanne
Carr, the Six MarinelIi Girls and the
Two White Flashes. AS an added at
traction at the ii am and $50 pm.
shows. the third episode of The
Vanishing Legion win be shown. Bob
Hamilton. organ iTnpresario: Al Mitch
ell and his music, the Fox Movietone
News and select short subjects conf
plete the bill
mar Arg ssss... - x..a.. %