The Washington times., 1935-10-26

when she first clicked in MAE WEST
Hollywood in "She Done Him Wrong" 1t didn't take her
long realize cut the gross takngs would mean more
for the West exchequer than weekly pay envelope So
Mae now has every incentive to that each picture she
makes is box office winner
Grace Moore made cone Night Of Love" for Columbia
on flat sum Had she shared her return would
have 10 times the amount she received for one OF the
inustrys most successful features When came time TO
sign up for Glove Me Forever Miss Moore had the facts
and the figures demand guarantee plus contract anu
she got It, .
Fred Astaire has salary and percentage deal with
Radio Pictures and will profit hansomey from t9e sensa
tona success of his last picture, top Hat Producer
Sam Goldwyn who is partial to- these take-acnsnce
agreements with writers and stars has given Rachel
Crothers ace playwright, sharing contract 1or
her first screen writing job First OF us kno'
Buster Keaton could really be called Of the tragic
victims of sound pictures Like John Gilbert he passed into
tho ranks of HOLLYWOOD unimportant when the screen be-
audible.
Broken in fortune and health, today Buster Keaon
probably his troubles to the fact that the movie masses
accepted him favorte after he tried to adapt NM
self the technique and become more tnan oeao pan
pantomime comedian.
Comic Keaton had long career in the movies before the
sound blight ruined his He began in pictures in 1917
and bv 1928 was in the $4,000 week class The money
rolled in for nearly all of his long comedy features made
call Steamboat Bill Jr'' "The Cameraman" and The
Navigator" full length frolics made when he was travelling
with the first flight stars.
NV first recollection of Buster back to the early
DAYS of vaudeville when he toured the Keith circuit as the
kid member of the Joe Myra and Buster Keaton act n
voungser wore red whiskers in Irish makeup and his
father tossed him all about the stage knockabout act
that was rotous comedy The Keaons had standard head
line act so that Busters has been generally associated
with prosperity The later chapter his appears to
reveal that Buster Just couldn't stand prosperity For his
bankruptcy plea dscoses he has of the fortune left
that passed through his hands since 1917.
Tap tap tap The boys tapping And the girls
Hoping their taps will reound through the movie theaers
Paul Draper the latest go Hollywood He is social
ite with rhythm in his toes and just recently closed with
Eddie Dowlngs Thumbs Up" Draper s think, No. as
male tap dancer Yes know all about the rhythm and
grace and the speed of Bill Robinson but waitu you see
Mr. Draper.
Warner Bros is teaming him up with Ruby Keeler and
they should make sizzling dancing team 1t is my conten
ton that the Brothers Warner have really capitalized
on the dancing talent of Ruby Keller Her ability to beat
tattoo with the steel taps has invariably been subordinate
to love interest in her pictures
With Eleanor Powell showing Metro -Goldwyn-Mayer what
good tap dancer do for picture, e. in Broaway
Melody of 1885, all rival producers busy looking over
their dancing talent. hope it doesn't that in six
months the movie public will be turning away from the
dancing pictures or in other words that the will
suffer from overdose Of dancing
am looking for something substantial in dancing way
from Jessie Matthews though MetroGodwyn has not
been able her up with Fred Asaire. also expect
that took tip from this column and signed
the ballet twrer Paul Haaken that they will tit him to
something where he be graceful and humping MT
he did with Jeritza's ''Annina"