davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-10-21

the best of them, whether a one-time
hit ON Broadway or a trouper with
so years Of tank towns and rep
shows behind him, must learn what il
is to act before the cameras. Josephine
Hutchinson discovered that when
Happiness Ahead" the First Ma
tional picture in which she appears
opposite Dick Powell, went into pro-
duction.
Miss Hutchinson, on the stage for
most Of her life and with a silent
film made II years ago as her only
motion picture experience, had to
spend day after day under the tutelage
Of First National studio experts be-
fore she was ready to step before the
cameras for her role in Happiness
Ahead" Before that she had been
screen-tested innumerable times. But
the actual familiarity with the produc-
tion Of movies had to come from
observation and instruction.
The "breaking-in" process Is one
through which all screen players must
go, no matter what their previous
position and experience on the stage
The studios have found it profitable to
explain the technique of their in
dustry thoroughly before sending a
recruit before the lenses and the
microphones. They know that camera
assurance Is necessary even to people
who have never been the victims of
stage-fright. The entirely different
experience of working before an audi
ence Of millions, represented by the
single cold eye Of the camera and
the mechanical ear Of the microphone,
makes it necessary for players ac-
cuStomed to theater audiences and
stage technique to acclimate them
selves in the new realm of their art
Miss Hutchinson, therefore, had to
learn what the screen was all about
before she went into the cast OF
Happiness Ahead" Realizing that
herself. she went out to Hollywood
two weeks in advance of the date
required in her First National con-
tract. There she reported to the
studio and asked for a guide who
could explain cinema procedure and
answer her questions. One day the
studio would have her make her
tours under the supervision of a
director. The next day she would
go around the sets with a cameraman
Even the electrical and other techni-
cal departments furnished a guide to
the fledgling film actress at one time
or another in the course of her
novitiate.
After being shown the details of
studio operation and the technical
processes of production in a general
manner, Miss Hutchinson was guided
onto the sets where films were
being made. She was shown actors
at work before the cameras and di-
rectors working behind them. She
was shown how all the units Of pro-
duction operate on the set and how
their work is co-ordinated and planned
to move the picture ahead swiftly
and with as little lost motion as
possible.
After several days Of watching
dramatic players and comedians,
"heavies" and ingenues, directors and
cameramen, Miss Hutchinson knew
Evening star., 1934-10-21

WIN an OrcneSCra, playing IOr QdnceS
in and around Waukegan. He was
16 then, and after one year with the
orchestra he decided he had suffi-
| cient professional standing to go on
the stage. With partner who played
the piano while he played the violin,
Benny launched his first vaudeville
| act.
For six years he toured back and
forth across the United States, play
ing his violin and saying nothing.
Then the United States entered the
war and Benny joined the Navy. AS
musician he was soon drafted for
sailor shows for the Seamen's Bene-
fit Fund. His violin playing brought
| applause, but no contributions. AZ
ter all, reasoned Benny, if you want
money, you have to ask for it, He
put the instrument down and broke
six-year silence.
He got contributions. But what
surprised him more, he got laughs.
Gingerly he tried few more gags.
A wave Of laughter swept through the
audience. At the next show. Benny
played less and wise-cracked more.
When the war was over he returned
to vaudeville as a monologist.
"In the years that followed, Jack
Benny, glib young man carrying a
violin he never played, became a
celebrated comedian. He was head
liner in vaudeville and one of the
first and most successful masters of
ceremonies in Broadway revues. He
was a popular night club entertainer.
apparently, he was permanently
attached to the theater when the end
Of transcontinental vaudeville tour
brought him to the Orpheum Theater,
in Los Angeles, the port of Hollywood
Benny stayed at the Orpheum for
eight straight weeks, establishing q
new house record for single artist.
Meanwhile talking pictures and the
first wave Of screech revues came to
Hollywood.
ITO keep the talking Jack Benny out
Of talking pictures would have been
real problem. Nobody tried to.
Metro -Goldwyn-M Mayer promptly Of
fered him contract and he made his
screen debut as master of ceremonies
in the Hollywood Revue" Other fea-
ture pictures and comedy shorts fol-
lowed in rapid succession. Benny
might have been in Hollywood yet,
if he hadn't met Los Angeles girl
and continued to talk. The young
lady just nodded her head and said
they would go East for their honey
moon. tNow she is doing some talk
ing for herself and you frequently
hear her on the air with Benny.
Her radio name is Mary Livingstone.)
'The Bennys arrived in New York
just as Earl Carroll was casting the
annual edition of his vanities. At
CAROLS request Benny dropped into
witness rehearsal. When the cur
tain went up on the opening night
Benny was still there. He was, in
fact, the star of the show.
For two years he was the leading
comedian and master of ceremonies
in the Carroll revue. Then came
radio, and now the comedian is making
his debut in the first straight play
in which he has ever appeared. His
weekly broadcasts are now being made
every Sunday night so that they will
in no ways interfere with his playing
on the stage"
Evening star., 1934-10-21

AlUeT MOHQdy IuBIlt llISI peIlUln-
ance of Lost Horizons" was tempted
to seek an interview with Mr.. Dowling
and Mr.. Astor, in which I might have
implored them to baptize their temple
anew and name it THE Miss Jane
Wyatt" For Miss Wyatt, recent
recruit from the Junior League to the
drama, fulfllls all the promises Of act
ing, and by her innocent sorcery
makes many Of the theater's incredi-
bilities seem believable. In the begin
ming act of Lost Horizons" she is a
Los Angeles ingenue about to abandon
a career upon the screen for marriage
with shifty, thin-lipped young law
yer. She has been living in the hope
that eventually he would make her an
honest woman. When he quits her
icily after his appointment as an as
sistant district attorney in New York
she goes into the bath room of HOl-
lywood bungalow and kills herself with
a pistol. Miss Wyatt is very rare, a.,
the saying is, in that scene, receiving
the tragic news in luminous silence.
You may feel afraid that she will
break the spell by a single uttarance;
and when she picks up a plate and
stumbles blindly about the stage you
tremble in fear that she will drop it
as usual with loud noise. But she
doesn't, whether you like it or not.
1t is the purpose of Lost Hori-
IONS" anonymous authors to illustrate
in ingeniously agitating and intricate
terms how much better it is for one
not to commit suicide. They almost
persuade you to believe that life's tap
estry is so definitely interviewer that a
single disarrangement of its pattern
will change the destinies of far-away
and innocent persons. They show you
why, if Miss Wyatt hadn't killed her
self in the initial scene, a guiltless lad
would not have been sent to the chair
for murder, and that a number Of
other interesting catastrophies would
not have happened. The dim
scenes illustrating Eternity's outskirts
are done with pleasant absence Of
angelic smugness, and the bright ones
in New York and Kansas City are en-
livened with the snappy atmosphere
and conversation common to those
metropolists. Messrs. Kaufman and
Hart in "Merrily We Roll Along"
show that they know life backward,
but the unknown composers of Lost
Horizons" suggest that their acquaint-
ance with it extends up and into,
around and about it. 1t is, in my
opinion, better and honester feat of
playwriting and acting than the classic
"Merrily We Roll Along" even if it
Evening star., 1934-10-21
x 1sCHIEvoUs, gay, spectacular

NJ ISCHIEVOUS, gay, spectacular
M and glamorouS, Radio Pic
wv lures musical comedy, 1.-THE
4 L Gay Divorcee," is currently
being shown at R-K-O
Keith's. 1t is high-speed entertain
ment with no time for parking and
co-stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rog-
ers. The cast includes Edward Everett
Horton as a dumb Englishman, Alice
Brady, who causes him to try every
device to avoid marrying her; Erik
Rhodes as a debonaire professional
Romeo, and Eric Blore as the fun
niest English butler seen on the screen
in ages. The outstanding musical
number, "The Continental" was writ
ten by Con Conrad and Herbert Ma
gibson.
food wholesome fun and romance
- dominate the current program at
Loew's Fox Theater. Amos m Andy
appear in person, together with Bill
Hay, to lead q stage program that in
cludes Charles King, Alexander and
Santos revue and other acts.
On the screen Jean Parker sky
rockets to her first starring role in
Have Heart" James Dunn plays
the leading male and Una Merkel and
Stuart Erwin are also featured.
Phil Lampkin and the Fox Concert
Orchestra, a newsreel, with Lowell
Thomas narrating, a comedy and
short subjects augment the stage and
screen features.
X
"THE BARRETTS OF wIMPOLE
STREET" is being held over a
fourth week at Loew's Columbia The
ater. Boosting three of Hollywood's
most brilliant stars, Norma Shearer,
Fredric March and Charles Laughton,
this picture tells the poignant, dra-
matte story of the great romance of
Elizabeth Barrett and the poet, Rob-
ert Downing. News events with Edwin
c. Hill interpreting; a comedy and
selected short subjects round out the
current Columbia entertainment.
"ERENcH MODELS" will open a
weeks engagement at the Gay
ETY. with a matinee today at ais
The cast is headed by Jerri McCauley,
one of the most alluring and talented
charmers in the burlesque game. 9th
ers include Hap Freyer, Fred Fails"
Binder, Sammy Weston, Jimmy Fran
els, master of ceremonies; Art ellison,
Mary Brown, Boots Rush, Joe Ahee.
Juno and Hilda Allison, speciality
dancing beauty.
X X X y
CELEBRATING four years Of its sue
cessful vaudeville picture policy,
Warner Bros Earle Theater is now
presenting its fourth anniversary
Vaudeville Frolic, with a cast of SO
entertainers headed by Maxine Doyle,
former Earle mistress of ceremonies
and now a rising screen star; Guy
Kibbee, favorite film comedian, and
Paul Ash, genial giant of Jazz" Songs
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Local Players.

IN THE forthcoming production of
Quality Street" by the Pierce Hall
Players, the set for Susan Throssels
blue and white room" is being de-
signed by Richard Harr. Barrie's
delightful play will be this groups
first production Of the season and
will be presented in Pierce Hall No
vember and 2. Mrs. Marie Moore
Forrest Of the Community Center De-
partment will costume the cast. The
! cast will include Charlotte Tilley,
Priscilla Bogue Hixson, Martin r.
Haven, Ada Louise Townsend, Mae
Jameson Bryant, Ruth Hansford
Snodgrass, James Kelley and. Kath-
crime Kammerer.
Concentrated efforts Of the men,
bers of the Blackfriars Guild during
the past few weeks have resulted in
important arrangements for its perma-
nent future and an interesting pro-
gram for the 1934-35 season. Jerome
K. Jerome's The Passing of the
Third Floor Back" will be the first
play of the season. Casting has been
completed and rehearsals. under the
direction Of Bess Davis Schriener, will
begin on Monday, october %, 1884.
Election Of officers which took place
at the Guild Hall, September 80,
vested E. Francis McDevitt with the
presidency. Nell Orton is secretary,
Frank O'Connor treasurer, and Frank
Clark technical director.
The Little Theater of Takoma Park
will present at an early date as its
first public three-act offering of the
1934-5 season a comedy of sentiment,
Sweet Lavender" This is a Ptnero
play, which met with astounding
success when it was first produced
at Terry's in England In 1888. H.
M. Smythe will direct. The next
monthly meeting of the Little Theater
will be held on Wednesday evening,
November 7, at the Takoma-Silver
Spring High School.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Jean and Clark Co-Starred.

THAT popular co-starring team -
= Jean Harlow and Clark Gable
soon are to make temperance, ac-
cording to present Metro Goldwyn-
Mayer plans.
The story Is "My Brothers Wife"
an original by George Auerbach, as
sistant to Producer Lawrence Vein
garten, who is to produce the new
Harlow vehicle. John Meehan is
adaptaing the new picture, described
as strong modern drama, and E. A.
Dupont Is to direct.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
80" Hutchinson Learns

as much as it was possible to know
without having had the actual ex-
perience of working before the cam
eras. Meanwhile. too, she had been
given a dozen different scenarios to
read, principally to give her an idea
Of what it was all about, from the
directions for stage and camera busi-
ness which outnumber the lines in
script.
1t was only after she had had the
pre-camera experience which must be
acquired by every newcomer to the
screen that Miss Hutchinson was cast
in Happiness Ahead"
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Plans Lecture Series.

EMILE SIMON, cellist, announces the
reopening of his studio at 1884
K street northwest. Besides instruc-
tion in cello, Mr.. Simon will conduct
classes in theory and ensemble play
ing with analysis of standard compo-
sitions. A graduate of the Royal Brus-
sells Conservatory. with first prize in
cello, and former soloist with the
Geneva Symphony, Mr.. Simon plans
to repeat the successful lectures on
How to Listen to Music" which he
gave this Summer, illustrated with a
musical program.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
THE Tavern" at Belasco.

~ Der 5, the Mask and Bauble Club
of Georgetown University will present
the well-known play THE Tavern" at
the Belasco Theater in Washington
Last week, under the direction of
Joseph S. Kirby. '35, Of New York
City, president of the club this year,
members of the student body at the
Hilltop tried out for the different parts
in the play, and several Of the main
characters have already been chosen,
although the whole cast will not be
selected for several weeks.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
With Mady Christians.

DEWITT JENNINGS, whose hit in
Little Man, What Now" was fol-
lowed by his outstanding role as the
mad groundkeeper in Death on the
Diamond has won another fat role.
He was chosen to play the kindly but
duty-bound sheriff in Wicked
Woman" in which Metro Goodwin
Mayer Is bringing Mady Christians,
famous Viennese star, for the first
time to American pictures.
Evening star., 1934-10-21

Such varieties help the flow of the
theater. Surprises behind footlights
are always welcome. If you have seen
"Merrily We Roll Along" in New York,
you know that even controversy
breeds success, and that the much
mutilated Elmer Rice play, "Judg-
ment Day." is holding its own.
So when we hear that radio wag
Jack Benny, is coming here in theater
disguise, minus music, minus songs,
and presumably minus impromptu
gags, then we must take that as part
of this years matter of course, putting
this event in the files along with Mr..
Stone, Miss Barrymore, Mr.. Fairbanks,
jr.; Miss Lawrence and Mr.. Lederer.
X X X
John PETER TOOHEY, sage hench-
man of Sam Harris, knowing more
about Mr.. Benny than we do, we
herewith give you his own words of
the somewhat great man:
Jack Benny, who was declared
the most popular comedian on the
air by more than three hundred
radio editors in a census taken early
this year, is coming to Washington
this week in the flesh He is to be
the bright particular featured player
in the new George Kaufman-Morrie
Ryskind farce, Bring on the Girls
which is to be unveiled tomorrow
night at the National Theater and
which is to be offered to metropolitan
theatergoers three weeks hence as
successor to the same authors tri-
umphant OF Thee I Sing
''Mr Benny makes his living, and
a right handsome one, with his voice
at the present time, but it took the
World War to start him talking. Be-
fore joining the Navy he played a
violin in vaudeville and said nothing.
After one attempt to raise funds with
a musical appeal at a seamens benefit,
Benny dropped the violin and started
talking. Since then he has talked
his way through several Shubert
musical revues, two editions of Earl
Carrolls 'Vanities,' half a dozen fea-
ture motion pictures and into radio
over broadcaSting networks as
laugh-getting master of ceremonies.
"He is noted as a wit, monologist,
comedian. HIS Qu1pS and stories have
enlivened stage, screen and air. But
habit is a hard master. For years
after he deserted music for speech,
Benny carried the old violin on and
off the stage at each appearance.
He never played it, just carried it
along and looked at it wistfully now
and then. Some day, he says. he's
going to use it again, providing he
can stop talking long enough.
"Mr. Benny always had ambitions.
His family lived in Waukegan, ILL.,,
but he was born in Chicago. Then
they carried him back to Waukegan,
and he stayed there for II years. He
was not idle, by any means, during
those years.
my father gave me a violin and
a monkey wrench explains Benny.
He told me not to take chances, that
plumbing wasn't a bad business
Young Benny didn't get far with
the monkey wrench, but he was prac-.
ticing on the violin before he was 6
years old. When his 18th birthday
arrived he was still at it, and by the
time he was IA he had determined
to make it his profession. He started
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Two New Musicals.
DAVID o. SELZNICK. Metro Gold

/ lAVID .. oELLNICh, MeIIU-OUIu-
wyn-Mayer producer, is to have
two musical pictures filming at the
same time, it was revealed when he
announced plans for making "Picca-
dilly Jim" an intimate song-and- dance
show The other musical is to be an
untitled original co-starring Joan
Crawford and William Powell, with
Franchot Tone as the third member
of the cast. In this picture Miss Craw-
ford is to introduce new song hits and
q sensational new dance.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Allen Studio Reopens.

ESTELLE ALLEN will reopen her
studio Of acting, radio technique
and public speaking October %. Miss
Allen is negotiating for studio build
ing with a larger stage than the one
she had last year. Until arrangements
have been completed and the neces-
sary repairs made, she will teach at
2l51 California street northwest.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Tickets for "Pocahontas.'

TICKETS for the first play in the
Children Theater series-'Poca-
hontas"-will go on sale tomorrow. The
Women's International League, spon-
sor for the plays in Washington, an
nounces a number of good seats avail
able in spite of a heavy demand.
Tickets are on sale at the box Office
of the National, at T. Arthur Smiths
Mrs. Dorsey's Concert Bureau. the
Willard Hotel ana the Women's Inter-
national League, 532 Seventeenth
street.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
This Season of Theater
Has Plenty of Surprises
Fred Stones Debut as Dramatic Player Was
One of Them, and Now Comes Jack Benny
of Radio Fame Featured" in New Play.
BY e. de S. MELCHER.

ME current theater is raught with surprises NO
acquainted with Fred Stone straight
wonder if the late Mr.. Montgomery would have
the same) than flood of announcements comes to
that
going musical that comedians turning tragedans
and that Hamets turning into the Four Marx Brothers
Beyond that we find Miss Ethel Barrymore once the brightest
"LAigon," find player like Douglas Fair
banks L coming back with former musical comedy performer
Gertrude Lawrence to play Moonlight
Silver which has been written by the increasingly popular
star the star of Pursuit of Happiness Francis
Ledeer coming Broadway produce kind of show
of his
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Plays Opposite Young.

RETTY FURNESS will play opposite
- Robert Young in "Backfield," !"
which Russell Mack will direct for
Metro -Goldwyn-Mayer. Others so far
selected for the cast are Ted Healy,
Lo Garlic, Stuart Erwin, Preston Fos-
ter and Russell Hardie.
Evening star., 1934-10-21
Newest Broadway Play Has
Plenty of Scene-Shifting
Lost Horizons" Goes Through 90 Acts, and the
Stage Hands Are Required to Labor
observation-disclosures in BACKGROUND
BY PERCY HAMMOND.

YOU open the paybl Of Lost Horizons" you are con-
fronted with catalog of 20 acts appalling thing
~ amusement seeker to contemplate This think
preparing yourself for hard nights work will be another
exhibition laborious shifting, interrupted occasionally
sayings and dongs of the usual kind The players will
and then merely long enough to allow the hands
change the pictures from Los Angeles to eternity and inter-
mediate points, including both pen and lodging house the
theater board walk Atlantic
pleasure that moment just before the rises
frayed affections youth banker scrub guide
will that about to
the performance Of aegory Adding perhaps to
prosecuted stage will perspe its heart to make
for dramass laZness Altogether the prospects will
pleasing have suicidal incnations you
suspect that good time any end it all.
Evening star., 1934-10-21

doesn't stand chance of being half
so prosperous.
THERE is, by the way, modest and
comparatively reasonable murder
play, entitled Small Miracle" on view
at the John Golden Theater, formerly
known by the fancier name, the Royale.
Nothing much is to be said about 1t,
except that its thrilling episodes occur
in the lounge of Broadway play
house populated by first-night puppets,
under the direction of George Abbott,
a master at pulling the stages strings.
Perhaps it wouldn't be worth tinker's
dam were it not for the fluent per-
Torrance of Joseph Spurin- Calleia as
an honorable and vindictive Sicilian-
American bent upon assaulting q
friend vehemently who has annoyed
him. Mr.. Spurin-Calleia's imper-
sonation flows oilfully through the
melodrama and fills it in the last act
full Of subtle blood and thunder.
Small Miracle" and Spurin- -Calleia
may be looked upon with profit some
night when and if time hangs heavy
on your hands and head.
Evening star., 1934-10-21

Y OLLYwOOD, Calif-All the
IL stage experience in the world
does not place newcomer to
i i the screen beyond the rank
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-05

eighteen moles of a thirty-six-hole
match and gained top-heavy lead.
Playing against Fritz Cox of Terre
Haute in the final thirty-six-hole
match, Mcclure found it tough to
shake his young opponent in the
first nine holes but banged cut a
snappy SO again on the incoming
nine to hold a commanding lead at
the halfway mark of eighteen holes.
Put together, those two rounds of
33, one scored on the first nine
against Simpson and the other on
the lin" nine against Cox, gave him
an unconnected Sc, six strokes under
par for the course, perfect figures
being SO out and SO in for 70 total
Bill Heinlein did the arranging of
the Sunday match and together
with the other three issues an invi-
tation to all golf fans of the city to
witness the match. Admission to
the course will be free.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-05

The correct answers for the four
pictures appearing in The Times
are as follows: Learn to Groom, -
from college Humor";; PLEASE, .
from 1.-The Big Broadcast" -;
Thanks" from Too Much Har-
mony":; and Love Thy Neighbor,
from Were Not Dressing"
Mr.. Behrens awarded first prize Of
SO and a pair of tickets to "She
Loves Me Not" at the Indiana, to
John E. Kleinhenz, 1916 Kenwood
avenue.
Second prize Of SIS and pair Of
tickets goes to Ruth Peterson, 4400
North Pennsylvania street.
Third prize of So and a pair of
tickets was won by Dorothy Stout,
925 Fairfield avenue.
The following each receive 81 and
pair of tickets: Mrs. Helen Sim
mons, 5134 West Thirteenth street;
John B. Dux, ia North Tenth
street, Beech Grove; Virginia Knarr,
322 Fulton street; Archer Shirley,
R. 9, Box 442, City; Katherine Jones,
861 Linwood avenue; Jeanette
Swisher, 1884 Cottage avenue, and
Roberta BowSher, $40 Whittier
place.
The following forty each received
a pair of tickets to the Crosby
movie: Miss Irma Stanich, 765
North Holmes; Miss Harriet Ryan
235 Leota street; Mrs. Alice Daley
Sunnyside Sanitarium; Betty Cooper
1406 North Alabama street; Ruth
Rootstein, 2247 North Pennsylvania
street. Joan Clevenger, 135 West
Thirty-third street; Betty Hancock,
1903 Finley street; Colleen Cook, It's
Sanders street; Doris Stern, 1927
North Riley: Betty Jane Gibson