The Washington times., 1935-11-28

theaters. This is at = dividend
rate of $4.53 per share. and I wish
I had bought some of the stock
when the late Walter Brownley
told me it was a good investment.
After talking with Frank La
Falce, of Warner Bros, I am
happy to report that HagerStown
is doing magnificently for "A
Midsummer Nights Dream" This
is one of the important tests for
Shakespeare in a small city stand,
and bass drummer La Falce says
that the Maryland business ex-
ceeded Zone Manager Payette'S
fondest expectations. In fact this
territory is really entitled to q
laurel wreath for culture. 1t sup
ported the Bard on the screen bet
ter than any other to report in the
national standings.
I am delighted at the prospect
of seeing Anything Goes" for
strange as it seems, I missed this
top hit on my last seasons New
York journeys. want to be there
next Monday night, for I under
stand that Billy Gaxton and Vic
tor Moore are going to pull a
stunt that will surprise j. Edgar
Hoover, chief Of the G-men.
I'm just a little down when I
read the notices for Ernest Trucks
new play, Whatever Goes Up"
which opened in New York on
Monday night. For Leona Powers
played the wife for Mr.. Truck, and
here is an actress I am eager to
see catch up with the right Broad
way role. However, the critics
couldn't find much to praise, and
all I can do is wish Leona better
luck. The former e Street lead
ing woman is still my dark horse
to wake Broadway up with bang
some day.
THE S1.5O CHAMPION
I am glad that Mrs. Louise Moo
nan Miller is going to revive "Din-
ner At Eight" at the Little Thea
ter. For between you and I and
the gatepost (as Harold Phillips
used to say), this picture made
more as a two-a-day attraction in
Washington than any ever shown.
Yes. more than Birth OF A
Nation" If you don't believe it,
don't bet me. Because I have the
actual receipts. Dinner At Eight"
ran four weeks at Loew's Colum-
bia Theater with reserved seats)
and rolled up a lalopaloosa Of a
gross. However, more will prob
ably want to see the picture be-
cause it is the first revival Of a
Marie Dressler feature. What it
does in Washington will probably
determine what M-G-M will do
about re-issuing this picture ma
tionally.
AUTHOR LIKES 1T
1t pleases me to read that
Author Stark Young is tickled to
death with the way Paramount
filmed his best seller novel, $50
Red the Rose" Usually, authors
have murder in their hearts when
they see what studios do with
their brain children. Mr.. Young
is different, for Eileen Creelman,
of the New York Sun, caught him
just after he had seen his picture
screened. Said he: "If it had been
really terrible, I was going to say
that nothing so original could be
bad. If it were just fair, I would
have called it charming. And If
it proved to be fine, as it did, well,
I was going to say So" So he
said SO, and those who cherish the
novel may approach the Earle
Theater, beginning tomorrow,
hopefully.
I am glad that good.looking
Donald Woods (who was first
recommended to Hollywood by
this critic) is to have q distin,
guiShed stand-in. He is Bryan
Hargraves, 19-year-old grandson oi
William Jennings Bryan, and son
Of the former Grace Bryan oi
Washington.
Lastly, I'm grateful to Holly
wood, the down town theaters and
the neighborhoods, the Cochran
shrine of the legitimate drama,
and to the Wednesday night
Variety, for without them am
afraid it would have been harder
work to prepare this column,
which hope you enjoy as much
as the holiday bird and what goes
with it.