The Washington times., 1934-12-18
Edwina Wise

Is a gradute OF Chevy Chase s.
Honor lrishman
When the Irish Players left
New York for the road last
Saturday night Barry Fitzgerald
took away precious souvenir.
1t was a scroll with these words
inscribed upon it:
"In token of his distinctive
contribution to the theater in
his widely varied interpreta-
tions of such roles as Capt.
John Boyle, Fluther Good,
Michael James and John Duffy
and many others, we present
this scroll with our signatures
attached expressing our con-
victiOn that he is the most
versatile character comedian in
the world today"
The signatures included John
Anderson, of the New York Jour
nal, Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuarola,
Eva LIE Gallienne, Robert Gar
land, drama critic of the World
Telegram; Richard Lockridge, OF
the Sun; Walter Winchell, of the
Mirror; Whitney Bolton, of the
Literary Digest; Frank Norris, OF
Time; Prof. William Lyons Phelps,
Henry Goddard Leach, o. o. Nc
Intrye, Vilhjalmur StefanSson
and a host of others.
Within the memory of the old
est inhabitant of the Main Stem
no other actor has been similarly
honored.
This is a good point to remark
that Barry Fitzgerald and all the
Irish Players will come to WASH
lngton and the National Theater
the week of January 7.
The departments first Christ
mas present arrives. A framed
and autographed photograph Of
George M. Cohan but the First
Actor has gone further. He turns
song writer again and indites a
lyric to the glory of the name
of Kelley. The same to you
George M. and more "Ah Wilder
ness"
It's Hayden Again
They had a lively election at the
Musicians Union on Sunday and
when it was over President A. C.
Hayden was elected for his
twenty-eighth term. He seems 20
enjoy something like Roosevelt
popularity. Once was a time
when Mr.. Hayden played the bull
fiddle for Dan Breeskin's Orches-
ira at the Metropolitan, but the
business of the local union has
long since become such it occupies
his entire time.
Chief contest in the union elec-
ton was for the office of secre-
tary-treasurer. John E. Birdseil
was chosen by heavy majority.
He replaces Bill Lynch who de-
feated him for reelection one
year ago. Secretary Birdsell IS
the scholarly looking clarinet
player in the Earle Theater Or
chestra.
Three Star Movie
Rudy Berger, of Metro -Goldwyn-
Mayer, received a print by air.
plane of "Forsaking All Others"
and rushed it over to the Fox ex.
change for a critics screening
yesterday.
This picture, which was re-
viewed in the Hollywood on Pa
1ade section last Saturday by
Jimmy Starr. is expected to be the
No. hit on M.-G.-M's 1885 sched-
ule. 1t comes to Loew's Palace
Theater on Christmas Day.
Actually it has the two No. l
stars of the M.-G.-M. constella-
ton. Yes, Joan Crawford. Her
pictures are doing better than
Garbo's, and Chained" looks as
though it will surpass in takings
the much-praised "Barretts of
Wimpole Street." with Norma
Shearer. Gable is the No. male
star, having nudged Waliy Beery
out of the top spot. Robert Mont
gomery also has his wide fan fol-
lowing.
"Forsaking All Others" was a
play that opened here with Tai
lulah Bankhead. The playwright
blamed the star because it was
not a bigger hit. Miss Bankhead
insisted that the lesser role played
by Ilka Chase be whitfield and
thus reduced the power of the
story. Fred Keating played the
role which now falls into the lap
of Clark Gable.
Nate Stiefel, of the Howard
Theater, took the fat rubber band
off his bank roll yesterday, came
down town and bought 1000 toys
for the needy colored children in
the neighborhood of his play
house.
The Howard is enjoying very
prosperous season, but there are
many little ones in the territory
for whom Christmas will be bleak
unless somebody like Papa Stiefel
becomes Santa Claus. He will
give his show next Monday morn
ing at the Howard Theater with
every little guest seeing an extra
coaniol ,oorf nN,oa MA IoNo 1T - n