Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02
Viewpoint in Washington
Touching Gotham Opinion
Of Improving the Theater
Better Plays and Fairer Treatment Are Hoped for
The Prospect Is Not Promising just Now.
Managers Seem Wary.
By w. H. Landvoigt.

New York so frequently sends 1t.
The suggestion as to "the tons OF
brass" may be an inSidiouS dig at
our alien population, or even at
Congress, and we feel afraid to
tackle it. The advice to purchase
a million gallons OF petrol, also,
seems to belong more appropr1-
ately to our Traffic Department,
if not to our Public Utilities Com
mission, and, for the same reason.
will be permitted to Slumber with
out response.
WITH all the hullabaloo that has
w been raised by the ardent pro-
ponentS of the IS. o. S." move
ment, who strive to bless Wash
ington with better plays, we'll
played and with even "the original
New York casts" when promised,
at lower admission prices, it might
be suggested that this particular
note lacks a responsible indorSer
thus far. Beyond the dubious
hints that some day we may see
THE Green Pastures" and even
1.-THE House Beautiful" the only
positive assurance that has thus
far drifted on to this desk is that
Mr.. Myron Fagan'S comedy, Peter
Flies High" will be presented here
at the National Theater Monday
evening, September IA, to be fol-
lowed by two weeks in Philadel-
phia prior to its New York open
ing" which is probably to be
somewhere about october S. Mr..
Leonard Bergman is the sponsor
of this first offensive dash in the
IS. o. S." campaign, and his ad-
vance herald also adds Mr.. Berg
man contemplates, for Autumn
and Winter display, Hollywood
Be Thy Name and new play
upon which Mr.. Pagan despite
the warmth of the dog days., is
now working" True, there have
been any number of evasive and
indiStinct hints, but not even the
hintieSt of them all has borne
a guarantee tag that they will ever
become realiZationS. washington
has had so much of uncertainty
in other matters mingled with its
fate that it has grown wary Of
promiSsory notes that are not
backed by indorsers with tangible
real estate security.
WITH a due semblanee of
" humility and profound defer
ence for the dreams Of the mighty
beyond our voteleSs but richly
taxed personality, the foregoing is
respectfully submitted as the rea-
son for the element of belief that
fingers in us that thus far the
metropolitan makers of American
drama, by whom our stage is to
be saved, are still in the depths
Of that lethargy suggested by Mr..
Hammond.
There seems a probability it will
never break until they can see,
beyond the peradventure of a
doubt, which way the wind is
going to blow to cheer their box
Offices. If they lack confidence
in Washington patronage and its
appreciation of the worthwhile,
that patronage and appreciation
forgivingly reciprocateS the COM
pliment. We know, as with the
faith of Job of old, that we shall
have Legitimate" dramatic en-
tertainment during the Fall and
Winter, perhaps no better, GER
talnly no worse, than has been
allotted US during the Saddened
years that have fallen away into
eternity. Whether we be hopeful,
or simply and Sufferingly sad, we
may still hoist our hands into the
air and keep them propped there
with the thought that the talking
picture, like the poor, will never
fOrSake lis.