The Washington times., 1935-11-25

enough, but darned if it belongs
in the news reel.
Incidentally Halle Selassie and
Mussolini are making it tough
on the camera lads in Ethiopia.
Like the correspondents they
complain that, despite their long
preparation and terrific expense,
the news reel war expeditions
have a hard time getting screen
material. 1t seems that the
Ethiopians have an idea that
anybody with white complexion
must be an Italian and Halle
SelaSsie is wary Of accepting
the consequences. So he keeps
the camera squads away back
and what they get is the same
old procession of night-Shirted
and barefoot armies with occa-
sional glimpseS Of the air activity
War, of course, is just what
Sherman said it was. But this
is the first time that the CORE
spondents and the camera men
have really complained.
IT EXPIRED QUICKLY
There's always something new
in show business. Satellite" a
new play opened in New York last
Wednesday night. Before it was
over half the audience had walked
out. Accordingly the alert Mr.
Winchell was able to write his
first night piece and attach to
the end of it a funeral notice for
Satellite" First time this ever
happened. Opened at 8:45 p. m.
Closed forever at 11:10.
A CHAMPION SHORT
Hearken to Hardie Meakin, of
Keith'S who nominateS Metro
politan Nocturne" as the best
short of 1895. And not because
there are no words in it and be
cause it tells the story in music.
Unless my faulty memory is
leading me astray Keith's had
the best short of 1884, La Gu
characha.";
CAGNEY GOING IRISH
Jimmy Cagney tells Jim Tully
that when his present contract
with Warner Bros. expires he will
leave Hollywood flat and join
the Abbey Players. I think Jimmy
is kiddin'. More money will
probably make him change his
mind.
This isn't to say that joining
the Abbey Players would be
other than an artistic stepping
up. However, unless I have
been badly misinformed the
Irish thespians strive for con-
Siderably less than Hollywood
pays. In fact the actors from
Dublin have never had anybody
in their productions who re-
ceiVed as much as $1,000 a week.
They strive for art and their
national theater, with the finan-
cial reward incidental.
What I would like to see is jim
my Cagney, using his influence
and his talents to bring the Abbey
Theater plays to the screen. About
six months ago Hollywood was en-
thusiaStic about the Irish plays of
O'CaSey, Keats Synge, etc. Then
"The Informer' died at the box
office with it, apparently, Holly
woods enthusiasm. 9th e rwise
what has become of Radios plan
to produce Juno and the Pay
cock" with Barry Fitzgerald,
Metros plans for putting on THE
Far Off Hills" with Maureen
O'Sullivan.
Meanwhile make haste and you
may see Actor Cagney'S latest pic
ture, Frisco Kid" at the Earle
Theater. It's an exciting Barbary
coast Sago, and like all Cagney
pictures, the red head gives a
great performance. I agree with
Jim Tully that Of all on the Hol-
lywood lists, Cagney knows more
about timing than any of them,
with the possible exception of
George Arliss.
ALEX AND HIS SONG
Uncle Alex Woollcott, who is
about the best air story teller
extant, almost broke into song
last night. That is while he
was reeiting a No Mans Land
story he suddenly reached
Give My Regards to Broadway"
interlude.
I thought Alex was going to
try for high C but instead he
was content to keep it recitative.
Later he announced George M.
Cohan'S favorite song of all
favorites as Dave Marion'S
There's Only One Girl in the
World for Me-" The Woollcott
troubadour sang this.
Which reminds me that George
M. will be back to the Broadway
wars next month with a play all
his own. It is called Dear Old
Darling" and Playwright Cohan
managed to finish it after the
world series was over. The new
Cohan play, in which he will star,
is a comedy.