davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Walter Hampden as 'Cyrano

WALTER HAMPDEN, with his MAN.
w moth company will be seen in
that most glamorouS of stage romances
"Cyrano de Bergerac," aptly called
heroic comedy" of Edmond Rostand, at
the National Theater for only three
days, beginning Monday, February g.
with a matinee on Wednesday, Febru-
ary 10.
To say that this will be an event of
the theatrical season is but stating the
obvious. "Cyrano" Is one of the worlds
great and popular plays and Walter
Hampden's portrayal of the title role
one of the masterpieces of contempo-
rary acting.
"Cyrano" has been presented in but
few cities outside of New York because
of its magnitude and the expense Of
taking it on a general tour Is so heavy
that never before has Mr.. Hampden
been willing to face the hazard. Only
by playing to enormous audiences in
every city can the cost of the venture
be covered. A special train of seven
cars is required to transport the pro-
duction.
But Mr.. Hampden, now emulating
Cyrano himself in daring, feels that,
paradoxical though it may seem, these
days of depression are the very time
when people are most in the mood for
romance and illusion and that they will
most gladly welcome the opportunity to
be thrilled by Cyrano's prodigious deeds
of valor, inspired by his courage in ad
versity and enthralled by his heroic
self-sacrifice.
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Child of Theater Guild.

They had many admirable concep-
tionS of acting and these we're ex-
planned to us. They planned, for one
thing, to rehearse their plays as care
fully as possible and to spend the Sum-
mer (these plans were all made last
Spring. in intensive work intended to
test their company. Knowing this, the
| Guild entrusted to them Paul Green's
play, The House of Connolly for two
reasons: First, because it was admira-
bly, suited to the methods which they
intended to pursue, and, second, because
they had a keen enthusiasm for the
play.
so they went ahead, on an under
standing with the Guild that if the
play was produced in a satisfactory
manner they would be given the priv
ilege of presenting it in New York with
the cooperation of the Guild In
September the Guild saw the results of
its work and was happy to proceed
With its agreement"
This statement was made after the
Group Theater had attained genuine
success with The House of Connolly"
at the Martin Beck Theater, and the
same spirit of proud cooperation still
maintains as witnessed by the spon-
SOrShlp which continues.
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Done With Stage Fright.

MO more cases of stage fright fol
Lew Ayres.
The youthful star, pictured here this
week as the hero of Heaven on Earth,
at the Rialto Theater, feels that he has
been cured" once and for all time.
I'm over all that" says Mr.. Ayres
mo more nervous picture studio fren-
zies for me. But until I learned my
lesson and fought out a tough emo
tional battle, I nearly died OF sheer
fright when I faced trying scene.
"In The Kiss I played with Greta
Garbo. She was big star, be-
ginner Imagine the contrast! And
imagine my surprise when told I would
play a very tender, sentimental scene
with the Swedish lady! I ducked off In
a corner after the scene had been out
lined Was I shaking? I was trem-
bling from head to foot. I became
numb when I thought of the ordeal
But there was nothing to do but wait
and battle with my nerves.
IT sat in that corner for Is minutes.
MY head buzzed. My vision wasn't any
toe clear. 1 was self-conscious to the
point of being listless. Then when the
scene was announced I stepped over to
the stage to begin the task. Embarrass-
ment fell from me like an old coat.
Suddenly I stood there calm and COM
posed. The fright had been literally
scared out of me. From then on /
never suffered stage fright
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Weeps to Order.

FEATURED at the Fox this week, in
L the Fanchon & Marco Vacation
Days Idea, is Zelda santiey. "a "a
vear-old beauty who is celebrating her
twenty-second year as performer,
having been discovered" at the tender
age of 2. ,, -.
Sitting in her dressing room, her
black eyes glistening with tears after
her final ballad, Miss Santley mur-
INJURED:
to If I could!"
She wae speaking of her ability to
turn on her tears when she sings a
ballad. 1t is one of her finest ac-
complishments. Large, glistening drops
roll down the cheeks OF this youthful
impersonator whenever any sort OF
nlaintive music is requested.
II don't mind it bit" said ZELDA
"I Just turn them on and turn them
off. Crying comes as easily to me ,a as
laughing-besides I never sing a ballad
I don't like"
Perhaps that accounts for 1t.
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Edna May Oliver Scars
To Heights as Star in
Mrs. Fiske's Laugh Riot
Noted Comedienne Brings Down the House in
Ladies of the Jury Shearer to Play
Strange Interlude."
By E. de S. Melcher.

! planted firmly on her brow. Long
life and a hoop-la to Miss Oliver
and may she play bigger and
Ladies of the Jury-or any other
kind of lady which comes within
her reach.
TT seems that Strange Inter
lude" Is to come to the screen
at last, promoted by the energetic
and particularly fiourishing M
GIN. forces, as one of their sea-
sons chefs-d'oeuvre. This news
prompts all kinds of speculation
namely, how long it is to be-if
the audience will be allowed to
eat in the middle of it-or if it
will be cut and tortured by the
shears and emerge merely as a
program picture-with Nina Leeds
spanning a lifetime in an hour.
Whatever the results, Norma
Shearer has fallen heir to the
coveted leading role, and should
by now be knee-deep in her O'Neill
and is thus rewarded with the
fattest role of the year. This
comes too with the announcement
that the erstwhile half of Private
Lives" has just added a few more
figures to her contract and will go
on acting to the tune of larger
checks in the future.
Other news of the week includes
the announcement of the astound-
ing cast which has been assembled
for Grand HoteP'-the complete
roster of talent now including
GretaL Carlo, John Barrymore,
Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford,
Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Jean
Hersholt, Tully Marshall, Frank
Conroy and others. This is with
out question the most astonishing
merging of talent which has ever
been attempted. And what a per-
formance it should be-if some of
the stars don't get temperamental
and scratch out each others eyes
before the picture is finished.
Remaining tidbits gathered here
and there claim that Greta Gar
bo's first English word used over
here was "appleSauce"; that Wal
ter Winchell was far from the
truth when he said that Ramon
Novarro was dissatisfied with
"Mata Hari";; that Clark Gable
will play opposite Marion Davies
in Polly of the Circus; that
Robert Montgomery,s latest star
ring picture will be Lovers Cour-
ageous";; that Sylvia Sidney and
Frederic March (WhO does SIch an
Al job in "Dr. Jekyu and MFR.
Hyde" this week. will be eo-
starred in Il, Jerry, Take Thee,
JOAN" and that Tallulah Bank
head will soon start Thunder
Below" out in Hollywood, whittier
she has travelled recently.
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Has Played Many Parts.

A CHECK of Jack Holt's career for
the past two years reveal him as an
actor of many characterizations.
First known to screen fans as west
ern star, he had an opportunity later
to play other types.
Recent roles for Columbia have found
him playing an astute detective in THE
Donovan Affair" and typical business
man in Father and Son" In Flight"
he was an aviator, in "Vengence" a
trader in the African slave belt and a
hardened jailor in a prison colony in
"Hell's Island" A racketeer in THE
Squealer" and a police inspector in
Subway Express" are two other notable
portrayals From commander of a
Zeppelin in "Dirigible" he went deep
sea diving in Fifty Fathoms Deep"
and was again detective in "A Dan
gerous Affair
In Maker of Men" his newest Co
lumbia picture, he is seen as a popular
athletic coach of Western university.
Evening star., 1932-01-24

pAUL GREEN'S play, "The House Of
Connolly" which comes to the Ma
tional Theater this week, as an inde-
pendent production of the Group
Theater, a new unit that has emerged
on Broadway this season with consid-
cradle eclat, is nevertheless sponsored
by the Theater Guild in the brief tour
it is making of few Eastern cities
following its run on Broadway.
To prevent confusion and give credit
where it is due, the Guild has made a
special statement as follows:
THE Group Theater is an independ-
ent organization, Independent of the
Guild and other producing manage
ments. 1t grew and was developed,
however, by three persons connected
with the Guild; Harold Clurman, Of
the play-reading department; Cheryl
Crawford, casting director and now
assistant to the board of managers;
and Lee Strasberg, who often acted
with or stage-managed our companies.
This trio was conSumed-one might
fairly say consumed-With its own ideas
concerning the theater and theatrical
production, and they wanted to form
their own company and to let its pro-
auctions be their medium OF expression.
Evening star., 1932-01-24

1T is a pleasant task to be able
to sit down and crow about
i the accomplishments of an old
favorite. So seldom nowadays
do the films pay attention to merit
in their elder ranks that when
one of the old guard suddenly
crashes to the top, one gets the
kind of elation that comes with
cruising to the summit of the
Empire State Building and looking
triumphantly over the world.
Edna May Oliver has Swum the
long theatric race, had her shoals
and her breakers, and now emergeS
with all the earmarkS of a we'll
earned victory. Those who saw
her last week at Keith's in Mrs.
F'iSke'S erstWhile starring play,
Ladies of the jury" will agree
that she has definitely reached an
acting pitch and that the more of
her and the more pictures of this
sort we see the happier will be our
cinematic insideS.
Miss Oliver has been modestly
IN the background for years-that
is, her roles have never been large
but she invariably managed to
make them juicy. On the stage
and in the films she has always
been a wit whether by word of
mouth or by gesture. And the
TACT that she was chosen to play
the part of Mrs. Livingston Bald
win Crane is a grand tribute to a
genius which has for too long
blushed modestly among theatric
highways. Miss Oliver has, of
course, made her small roles al
ways seem larger than they were.
For that reason is was possible
to keep track of her. But
this is the first time she has been
allowed to romp the length of a
picture as its chief player-and
the results prove that she wasn't
misjudged.
She is very definitely one of
the screens most capable come
dienneS. She is a reduced Marie
DreSSler. Her laughs come from
being a lady of meager proper
tionS-in circumference, that is
while Miss DreSsler'S come from
her generous avoirdupois. Both
OF them are endowed, however,
with sense of humor which is
nearer the surface and more
pungent than most of their sister
laugh provokers. They do not
have to fight for humor, the way
Louise FaZenda does-we regret
to mention the fact that in 1.-THE
Mad Parade" Miss FaZenda tried
to be funny and failed miserabIy
but their SillyneSs is so natural
that they have only to appear, say
nothing and do nothing to be i'm
funny.
Miss Oliver is a long, lean, en-
gag1ng lampooner. Her charac-
terizations are deft and precise. |
She exaggerates cunning1y and |
overacts sparingly and Is never
but what she Is meant |
to be. Her acting in Ladies of
the Jury" for instance, is and was
a glorious burlesquerie which grew
more cunning as the performance
progressed, and the wonder of 1t
was that after such a long and
exaggerated role you and I and
every one else was not in the least
tired of her. .-..
In other words, here's a grand
trouper whose laurels now are
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Politics and New Taxes
Wend by Devious Ways
Into Theatre Thought
Managers Shy at Congressional Danger Signals
Staging of Tragedy on Capitol Steps-Music
in "Smilin Through Other Comment
By w. H. Landvoiet.

beautiful and most appropriate
If it be well sung, it is likely to
prove charming asset. The play
has been undergoing changes
during it's presentation here, and
it is doubtful if the desired re-
suits have yet been achieved. 1t
is now called Love Is ALL" and
it's most recent performance in
dicateS genuine progress in light
ening the emotional pressure, al
though it is more than doubtful
that acrobatic dancing or, in fact,
any dancing save that of the most
ethereal type will improve mat
terS. Certainly eXtravagant, or
low comedy, will not. And there
will always be the imperative de-
mand for the charms that only
the talents of a Jane CoWl can
impart. 1t is possible, also, that
close attention has not been given
to the age makeup of some of
the characters. Fifty years is a
long stretch of time-and men
look very much younger when it
starts that when it closes, if you
catch the Idea.
WHEN the heroic press agents
failed in their herculean eff
forts to melt the frozen assets in
the pockets of the magnates-if,
indeed, they have failed-discour-
agement turned to despair, and
the tottering stage apparently
ventured into politics for a res
pite and perhaps renewal of
it's pristine vigor. This is popu-
lar year for politics and it may
be that the shift was wise, in
view of the poor product of the
Sulking playwrights. At any rate,
the notion seems to have taken
hold, for the time-honored
Show Boat" Of the radio has now
sailed into the Port of New York
with Ten Nights in Bar Room, "
and one Of the most gifted of the
metropolitan writer's Of the the
ater is suggesting the staging on
the steps of the Capitol in Wash
ington of tragedy setting forth
the ills that threaten the play
house and conveying the warn
ing to our lawmakers that "if
they do not desiSt the Art will
have an unhappy ending" This
it would seem is the response to
our national Legislature in its
endeavor to help out the current
deficit with the restoration of the
theater tax, which was more or
less popular during the World
War and after. Just why the the
ater should shudder at the seat
tax is difficult to comprehend, in
aSmuch as whenever such a tax
is levied the managers always gal
lantly pass it on to the consumer.
Can it be that they propose to
forego this iniquity at this late
day?
a MERICA is making a desperate
effort at the present time to
pull itself out of the slough of
depression. Already there are dis
cernible signs of progress that
appear to grow brighter each day.
1t would be pity to have the
luckless thespian throw monkey
wrench into the works just now.
1t is true the happy heart is prone
to jest even when the world is at
its saddest, and the power of
facetious expression never over
looks a bet. But in all seriousness
the present moment doesn't seem
the most opportune to goad the
OK that is trying to trample out
the corn. Besides it requires
more than mere courage to over
come an over-goaded bull. If we
want to present a good front to
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Lucky Washington.

ONLY five cities outside of New York
~ will see THE Band Wagon" which
is just bringing its record breaking
Broadway run 10 a close. The five
favored cities are Boston, Washington,
Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago. be-
cause, it is said, they appreciate ultra
sophisticated musical entertainment and
also because they have stages which are
sufficiently large and well enough
equipped to accommodate the vast
scenic and lighting production-the
largest ever constructed for a stage
show.
Inc local appearance Of The Band
wagon Will pc at the National Theater,
and in it will be seen Fred and Adele
Astaire Frank Morgan Helen Rroderick
and the other Broadway favorites who
participated in the New York run of
this famous revue.
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Praising a Good Kid.
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr., pictu

DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr, picture
star at the Earle Theater in Union
Depot" First National and Vitaphone
production, though but "a, has become
skilled in many things.
He has appeared with equal success
on stage and screen and his terse
biographies Of famous people, articles
in prose and clever bits of his verse
have appeared in the magazines. He
paints, works in clay, plays the piano,
sings well, flies, boxes, fences, swims,
dances and is clever conversation
alist 1t is his ambition not only to be
an actor but a director, and in due
time producer of plays and pictures
With q keen sense of humor, much
good win and absolute freedom from
conceit, which have made him SO gen.
orally liked, he is happily married, Sc
cure in an enviable position won by his
own efforts and free to follow whatever
new dream possesses him, hale young
Doug Is a lad to be envied 1t Is doubt
full that his famous daddy can surpass
this record very much
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Soldier and Actor.
GEORGE HAssELL of THE

GEORGE HASSELL of THE Stu
~ dent Prince company-or rather,
Jeffrys Halse, for that is his real name
was born and reared In England, and
at one time fought IN the Boer War.
After his experience as a soldier he
went to Australia. Finding himself in
8, strange country, with nothing to fall
back upon, his mind turned to the
stage, where-he had heard some one
say-"A person didn't have to work for
a living"
He was engaged on probation, the
manager agreeing to give him what he
was worth" It wasn't very much, but
1t was enough to keep Hassell Sin the
profession" till T. Daniel Frawley came
along with his touring organization,
when Hassel was engaged and thus
reached the United States.
HasseI has been part Of Broadway
ever since In number of Passing
Shows" at the Winter Garden, and
otherwise. His original creation of the
role of Lutz, the omic valet, merits
special notice in THE Student Prince"
Evening star., 1932-01-24

N RAMA, with perhaps less
of the intellectual than
~ that which so recently
preceded it, awaits the
Judgment this week of those
who may be interested in the ro-
nance of the South and the pass
ing of it's landmarks. 1t should
afford emotional relief and, per-
haps, the pleasure of reminiS-
cence to some. At least it will
carry the burden of a thought,
which, though grounded in the
soil, need not sink to the level of
the drain. The House of Con-
nelly" received generous treat
ment from the critics in New
York, where it ran its course in
spite of the prediction for the
modern. The greatness of drama,
to those not SO familiar with the
tricks of the ancient Greek, is
sought by the general run of
theater patrons rather in its eff
fective appeal to the emotions,
its power to convey a helpful les
son, or to tighten the burden of
worry that sometimes drives its
bearer to the playhouse, than
merely in theatriC construction.
Sometimes novel experiments in
the art Of play design furnish a
fitting compensation for the at
tention bestowed Folks have been
known to adore the word
puzzle, others love to play with
politics. It is all a matter of
taste-perhapS of higher educa-
ton.
"A TREASURE of the olden
times, as it were, The Stu
dent Prince" the exquisite love
story of "Old Heidelberg" set in
a delightful arrangement Of his
own composition, by Sigmund
Romberg, one of our popular
modern composers, is announced
for the Shubert- -Belasco, with
George Hassell, who created the
role of the valet in the original
production" and company, in
cluding a students chorus
Vouched for by MeSSrS. Shubert.
It is not difficult to exploit an
old gem in the theater when it
has attained the perennial rank,
and with the desperate press
agent so apt to grow unduly
enthusiastic perhaps it is best to
rely upon the memories of those
who do not forget beautiful
things for further encomiumS of
the present production IN oper-
eta form. The story of Old Hell
delberg used to be most faScinat-
ing.
SPASMODIC and sometimes &C.
centric efforts in the booking
Offices betoken the uncertainties
in the theater and tend to weaken
faith in the things that are yet
to come. Several attractions al
ready have been heralded and re-
heralded. Somehow the story Of
what is to happen often proves
so much more attractive than the
reality when it arrives. The con-
%arsion OF "Smilin' Through
from a tender, tragic romance
into musical comedy, or into an
operetta, is still in its laborS. The
original, as play, was probably
not designed with the hope of a
musical setting ahead, and the
tragic character of its prologue
too strongly leaves its impress to
admit of an easy transition to
comedy, especially that of the
rampant or acrobatic type. And
vet the Youman's music, in part
at least, which has been pro-
yided for the new version, is very
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Must Know What's What

A CTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION
has adopted bylaw requiring all
new members to attend series OF
Lectures on Equity's history, ideals, con-
stitution, etc. And it is not unlikely
that they will be required also to pass
an examination upon these matters
before they are admitted to full mem
bership. The obvious purpose is to
make certain that they know why they
Joined the institution, which is not so
bad In this day and generation of the
bucoIc intelligentsia.
Evening star., 1932-01-24

February b. inns
will be her first
appearance in her
home town since
her big success on
the radio, although
Kate Smith had
cut a big figure in
the realm OF the
theater even prior
to her now ia
nous S / G n a t u r {
song, when the
Moon Comes Over
the Mountain.
Washington is
one of the few
cities to be played
by her for Radio
K e / t h Orpheum
during her yaude-
Evening star., 1932-01-24

our turbulent overseas neighbors
we really should show some sipns
OF discretion. Then, too, it Should
not be forgotten that we are en-
deavoring also to celebrate the
Bicentennial of the Father of
His Country, our own George
Washington, and we need their
good opinion, even if we NAV not
get our money back from them,
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Actress-and Sculptress.

linda CARBON, playing an impor-
- tant role in Blessed Event" com
ing to the Shubert- -Belasco Theater for
the week OF February /, is well known
as a sculptreSS as well as an actress
She studied at the Chicago Art Insti-
New York
during the war she made a large
propaganda purposes.
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Sonsbird of the South.

WAsHINGTON'S own Kate Smith,
w 1.-The Songbird of the South" is
coming to R-K-O Keith'S Saturday,
Evening star., 1932-01-24

vile tour. Her usual broadcasts will be
made from the local Columbia station,
WMAL, during her personal appear
ances at Keith's in this city.
Evening star., 1932-01-24
Stage and Screen Attractions This Week

NATIoNAL-"The House of Connolly" Opens tomorrow
BELASCO-'The Student Prince" Opens this evening.
GAYETY-"Bily Arlington Show" This afternoon and eve
ON THE SCREEN.
EARIE-"Union Depot" This afternoon and evening
COLUNIBIA-"Dr. Jekyr and Mr. Hyde" This afternoon
evening
R-K-O KETTHS-"A Woman Commands :" This afternoon
evening
Chans Chances This afternoon and evening
PALACE-"Ths Reckless Age" This and evening
RIALTO-"Heaven Earth" This afternoon evening
METROPOLITAN-M of Men" This afternoon
ming
Evening star., 1932-04-05
CARELESS DRIVERS
ON BUSES SCORED
Chamber Transportation Committee
Hears Howard M. Sterling Tell
of Resulting Hazard.

Washington bus drivers were ad-
moniShed for careleSsness in a gen
eral discussion yesterday at a meet
ing OF the Transportation Committee
OF the Chamber of Commerce in the
Raleigh Hotel.
Explaining he had in mind the re-
cent bus accident which caused three
deaths, Howard NJ Sterling. a COM
mittee member, said a lot Of hazards
to human life had resulted from viola
ton of public and company regula-
tions by bus drivers. He cited ex-
ampleS in which buses stopped without
warning on busy streets. No action was
taken on the matter, however.
Mr.. Sterling was named as chairman
OF q subcommittee to consider pro-
posalS for legislation calling for removal
from the streets Of all automobiles
found mechanically unsound. This
plan was approved By the chamber
more than a year ago, but new details
are to be worked out.
The committee reiterated its approval
Of taXicab regulation by the Public
Utilities Commission, including an
order to require the use of meters.
The committee again went on record
as opposing any move by Congress to
curtail the powers Of the commission.
This action was taken after a report
by Allen V. deFord, chairman of
Subcommittee on Taxicab Regulation,
which made the original study on which
the chambers position has been based