The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-23
in
New York
nv PAUL WARRIgON

Now x0fk,~-NoW 20Tk nus HuHs
dredg Of theater.goerg who never
SEQ d show. They're tho blind, 70
whom al sound In drama.
And they're better critics than
you or could be OF performers
skill In delivering the lines. Yet
when some critical bit OF action ID
done In pantomime the blind seem
TO share tho emotional intensity OF
spectators around them. ! never
shall forget watching sightlcga
woman nc "Tcn Minute Abb" Bhc
gasped u little and ciutched her
chair VIGOROUSLY ~ n pistol Wa
drawn, silently. 10 dispatch the VII.
lain.
Movies Preferred
Plays are expensive entertain.
ment, and relatively few Of the
blind are able TO attend. They like
musicals, especially operettas, and
next 70 those tho conversational
problem. plays such % THE WIND
and tho Rain" and mo More
LADIES'" MARY OF Scotland" In q
favorite because Of lts long
speeches and delightful prose.
Movies are preferred by most
OF the sightiess, because they can
be heard more clearly. And for.
tunateiy many film theaters admit
blind persons and their guides
without charge. sitting In their
perpetual darkness--and perhaps
vlsuaiizlng the scenes as moro ex.
citing. the herotnes more beauti-
fol, than they actually are--the
blind have formed some very dcfi.
mite ideas about t0.day's stars and
stories. Marie DreSsier " the fa-
vorite, by long odds. Then come
Helen Hayes, Jnnet 0aynor, 0rctl
Garbo, Mae West, Kay Francis. Of
the men. Lionel and John Barry
more lead George Arligs, Wallace
gecry, Robert Montgomery, Clark
Cable.
Comedies arc most popular. I'm
told. with romance Iaggard Sec
gard second. Lrama and detective
pictures hre last choice. Animated
cartoons sound pretty silly 10 the
blind, but narrated newsreeis arc
well liked.
Young Song.and. Dancers
incidentally. There's still another
class OF theater.goers who never
see o show. They're the song-Gnd-
dance urchtns who gather In front
OF the theaters, especially during
internissions, TO charm and
wheedle patrons into tossing them
nickeis and dimes. Strange little
nOmadg OF the streets, some are
more grotesque than IVORY
Wart." that younger brother In the
"Out Our Way cartoons. ~
The weil-trained trOupes attract
attention by stamping and ciappins
O. barbaric sort Of rhythm. One boy
will do q tap dance, another q
snake hips; then there1i be the
chorus Of q popular song, Lookouts
keep watch for the unappreciatiye
police, and collectors circulate
among the onio0kers, tugging visit
fully at sleeves and holding 40
grimy palms. Almost always the
tiniest kid In set upon by couple
OF DULLES who snatch his few coinf
and nee. The victim sobs mo-
ment, then goes into his dance
again. And it's hard-hearted
crowd that doesn't shower more
coins in appreciation. OF his pluck,
OF course this IL oil part Of the
act. The DULLES are around the
cVTueF WuAluB W Utvyy tuSiE pEV.
ceeds and go on to the next the
ater. ~
AcrObafic to Opera =.
1.-The Biggest SHOW on Earth
| (for the PRICE," has moved into q
1 theater ON Columbus Circle. And
although It also Ii probably the
worst show on earth. I'm wishing
II luck. After all, the Cherry Sis.
tiers made money.
This house Is controlled by un-
employed professional players who
prefer work to charity" says q
banner o nthe marquee. And In.
side are some 60 performers, from
acrobats 10 grand opera singers
who keep the program going with.
out repetition from noon to mid
night. There's magician, = ven.
triIoquist. some Irish singers and
I1igsers. q taxz orchestra and Choir
us in the "Hot Pepper Revue" as
sorted comedians. an adaeIo team
and q score Of voeaIists. Some o.
tho latter are incosnito here be
cause they hav0 sung In wei
known opera companies.
At first there was 30 little none,
In the tiiI that they weren't Away
able 10 buy coffee for the cast. Ie
alone doughnuis aII around. no.
NOV the customers are coming u
fair numbers. Ana best o. Al, thel