The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-13

Star, Nelson Bell of the Washing
ton Post and Andrew R. Kelley Of
The washington Times.
ST. FOR A HIT
Alex Yokel is in town to super
wise the final dress rehearsals Of
his new play, Julia the Great"
opening tomorrow night with
Beth Merrill featured.
A Superstitious fellow, this Pro
Queer Yokel. A year ago, he sat
down in Manager Steve Coch-
rams office and read him the
story of Three Men on a Horse"
a couple of days before the open
ing performance. He got hit, a
sensational hit, as you know. SO
on Saturday he bolted the office
door at the National and read
Mr.. Cochran the John fainter
Foote script of Julia the Great"
Let's hope the charm works
again.
BY the way Philadelphia is ter
rifically cold to new plays and
don't be surprised if Washington
gets more premieres. The big
gest New York comedy hit Of the
present season, boy Meets Girl"
played to exactly ST. for it's first
performance, On the full week
it failed to reach $4,000, al
though all Of the Sleepy City crit
les did fancy shouting for the
play. Every performance since the
opening in New York has been a
Sell-out.
THEY LIKE STEPIN
Stepin Fetchit'S box office
power at the Earle last week
opened the eyes of the bookerS.
The Earle did a bang.up seven
days with Joe Penner's picture,
Collegiate" but the languid
sepia is credited for aiding some
Of the sell-out audiences
The lamented Wilson Miner,
one Of Hollywood's natural wits,
was a great friend of Stepin. He
considered one statement made
by Stepin in a court arraignment
to be the perfect gag. AS Edward
Dean Sullivan in his Miner
biography sets 1t down:
Step had been having some
drinks and was brought into
court for giving his complete
repertoire on q street corner with
full sound effects. Miner heard
Of it and went over to lend a
hand.
The Judge had given Step q
lecture, telling him it was a pity
that so talented and highly paid
a performer would be foolish
enough to lose dignity and money
through dalliance with the extra
lumber full.
"Ah nebber drink nohow," said
Step.
why, you've been arraigned
before me twice BEFORE" said
the court. Don't talk nonsense"
Wal" faltered Step, "Ah
nebber takes no drink les Aim
so drunk All don't know whut
Abs doin'."
On another occasion Miner
asked Stepin why he fired his
chauffeur. Said Sleepy Step:
THAT coon jes look too good"
said Step, when we go out ridin'
people think Aim jeS some black
baby dis chauffeur knows and
is giving a ride. All tried to look
important and he tried to look
no account but tw'ant no use.
He look 10000 good"
PLANE SAILING
When George Givot, the Greek
ambassador of fun, oversight last
Friday morning in New York it
looked as though the Fox would
be without a headliner for it's
first show. Givot woke at 1910
whereas he was booked on the
$3.50 plane. He hustled to the fly
ing field and made the 1880
plane, and was able to take his
regular spot at the Fox which was
1870. The only thing he missed
was rehearsal and fortunately his
monologue act doesn't require one.
EDDIE RESTRICTED
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt sent
Eddie Cantor a personal letter in
dorsing the comedians Keep Us
Out of War" contest. He read it
on his program last night but
copyright restrictions kept him
from singing the songs from his
new picture, "Strike Me Pink"
Eddie now goes on the air at
Z .. m. He admits it's a better
hour than bucking Major BoweS'
Amateurs at 8 on the rival net
work. The new Cantor opposition
is Jack Benny who Eddie admits
is the second best comedian on
the air.
..