The Washington times., 1933-01-27
Black Declines s
Job As PLAY
Censor
BY ANDREW r. KELLEY

Representative Loring M. Black,
jr., Of New York was invited to
serve on a public policy censor
committee which plans to see
"Of Thee I Sing" with view to
inviting the management to elimi-
nate lines which might cause
diplomatic embarrassment or ire
stately Senators.
But Representative Black, hav-
ing seen the satirical comedy in
New York, said he enjoyed it
thoroughly, would not favor cut
ting line. The passage which
particularly arouses a minority is
one which comments in a flip
pant but timely way on the
French debt problem. Some sal
lies on ex-President Coolidge have
been revised but otherwise the
play will be seen here exactly as
presented in New York.
An extra performance for Sun
day night, February S, has been
listed to take care of an unprece-
dented demand for seats.
Speaking of Coolidge jokes,
Jimmy Cagney's picture, Hard to
Handle" at the Earle Theater,
contained a few that Warner
Brothers figured might seem in
delicate at this time. So they
brought the picture back to Holly
wood and made the necessary re-
visions before it's general release.
Tallulah Bankhead is a Force
School girl, attended the Convent
Of the Visitation; in fact, secured
the most of her scholastic educa-
ton in Washington. But old-time
Keith patrons remember Tallulah
and her sister as the venturesome
lassies who we're the first girls to
smoke publicly in the commodlous
Keith lounge. And did it cause
tongues to wag.
The Bankhead opening in "For-
saking All Others" will bring out
the greatest Congressional turn.
out in the history of the National
on Monday night, February 6.
George Price, who began his
career as precociouS juvenile
with one of Gus Edwards COM
panies of talented adolescents, is
the headliner at Loew'S Fox
Theater this week. In his Gus
Edwards days he shared attention
in the act with a brunette charmer
known as "Cuddles" and later
destined to a degree Of Hollywood
fame as Lila Lee.
My own recollection OF Enter
tainer Price dates back to the
Shubert vaudeville days and the
time when this budding star in
sisted he was worth as much to
the Shubert-Belasco Theater as
the rope twirling Will Rogers.
The Price contract, sure enough,
called for headline billing and top
mention in the electric lights.
Thus fortified Mr.. Price insisted
upon his rights from the local
manager and press agent, and
Mr.. Rogers be hanged. In the
emergency it was necessary to
call Mr.. Lee Shubert on the long
distance telephone to decide what
should be done. Mr.. Shubert
decided that Will Rogers was
bigger headliner and that was
that.
Whereupon George Price after
various threats about not appear
ing, filled his regular spot and
occupied the rest of the week in
Washington trying to learn how
to twirl lariat as good as Will
Rogers. With some assistance
and advice from the Oklahoma
sage he became proficient enough
to give a Rogers imitation.
Nowadays actors and head
liners don't have to worry about
billing. Usually the picture gets
1t.
Broadway is getting closer to
"see a good show for 10 pins
plan" of the neighbors' chill
dren. An empty toothpaste car
ton will secure free admission to
the old Roxy Theater this week.
A press agent tie-up, but it makes
the venerable showmen of the
Main Stem shake their heads and
wonder what show business is
coming to. what further ignominy
will hit the box office.
The old Roxy Theater, still
among the most magnificent of
amusement edificeS, drops its
scale of prices today to IS cents
all over the house up to p. m.
and 35 cents from 6 p. m. to, clos
ing. This includes Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays.
For that new low in prices for
Broadway entertainment the Roxy
will offer a first run picture, one
hour of stage show to be supplied