The Washington times., 1933-12-18

cludes j o h n
c h a RI e S 8ss
T h o m a S,
Lawrence Tib- ~
bett, John Nc Andrew h. Kelley
Cormack and Morton Downey.
I like, too, a voice that is not
servile to the microphone. So
when Tenor Melton stepped away
from the instrument to deliver
that quaint folk lyric, "Shortenin'
Bread" he made his Earle The
ater performance 100 per cent
for me.
Jimmy Melton is still a country
boy at heart. He doesn't like city
noises or hotels. SO he drove his
coupe across the bridge into
Arlington county and hired him
self a little cottage with a fire
place, kitchen n'everything for his
Washington engagement. In this
peaceful Virginia retreat, Mrs.
Melton will cook his favorite
dishes and it is only Is minutes
removed from his four-a-day job.
New Star Arrives
Nothing illustrates better the
tremendous power Of the motion
picture screen for making a celeb
rity almost overnight than the
phenomenal box-office power of
Katharine Hepburn, who makes
her real debut as a stage star at
the National Theater tonight.
For Katharine Hepburn has ap-
peared in but four pictures over
a space of less than two years
and today the urge to see her in
person is exceeded only by the
established audiences attracted by
the presence Of katharine Cornell
or Helen Hayes.
Remarkable, because the Hayes
and the Cornell following Is pred
icated upon many former stage
successes while Miss Hepburn has
yet to stand in the full glare Of
the stage spotlight. Her earlier
appearances have been in minor
roles and generally in feeble
plays. Thus she can truthfully
say, Hollywood, I owe you every
thing"
What has she got? Surely not
beauty. Her features are angular,
her figure lanky. her stride some
what awkward, her voice not par
ticularly pleasant. AS against
that is a rugged individuality,
that queer indefinable quality
which spells charm and whole
someness, a force and magnetism
that enable her to stand out
over shabby and inferior photo
plays. For alone as 10 in Little
Women" has she been adequately
star-fitted by the Hollywood
tailors.
Examining the screen record we
find that Katharine Hepburn was
the beneficiary of ridiculous over
praise for average work in "A Bill
of Divorcement." Her second pic
ture, "Christopher Strong" was
the product of mediocre authors.
In Morning Glory" one found an
assured actress tremendously su:
perior to an incredible story and
in Little Women" star mag
nificently capable in a we'll
rounded characterization.
Tonight she appears in The
Lake"-described as a thoughttuA
drama with intellectual appeal
and faces a hurdle over which
earlier movie stars such as Pola
Negri, Mabel Normand, Theda
Bara, Nancy Carroll, Corinne
Griffith, Estelle Taylor, ELISA
Landi have faltered, if not stun
bled.
Jed Harris is so certain she will
triumph that seats are already on
sale for the first eight weeks OF
the play in New York.
Spectators are asking $1OO a
pair for first night seats at the
Broadway premiere. That should
provide sufficient stimulation for
the best performance and tonight
she will be further fortified by
the Bryn Mawr Alumni to whom
La Hepburn is a gorgeous crea'
ture who can do no wrong.
The Difference
Odd that Arthur j. Levy, the
Hepburn agent should have
planned the station welcome and
photographer greeting from which
his star fled so precipitately on
Saturday. Odd, because for many
seasons Mr.. Levy did ballyhoo
work for the lamented David Be
lasco who also developed stars out
none who wore high hats or were
annoyed by the publicity he In
spired. Among others Frances
starr and the great Blanche Bates
who. by decree of fate, are return
ing to the wars tonight in the Hep
burn play.
Miss Hepburn dislikes reporters
who are inaccurate. On the other
hand newspaper men dislike celeb
rites with feeble memories. Such
as the ship news reporters of New