The Washington times., 1936-06-04

have been wondering how to
go about requesting a revival
of Noel COward's Private
Lives" This picture besides be-
ing highly entertaining, con-
tains names of actors and &C.
tresses who are still "bOx Of
fice," namely, Norma Shearer,
Una MerkeI, Robert MOntgOm-
cry and Reginald Denny.
Now that it seems to be the
fashion to go to see pictures
again and again, it is possible
that enough time has elapsed
since this picture was shown
here to make it just as in
teresting to those of us who
have already seen it, and a
treat for those who had the
misfortune to miss it.
Because of the widespread in
terest in your daily column in
The Times, 1 am sure that a
word from you might be just
what is needed to revive enough
interest in this picture to have
it brought back by popular
demand" Here's hoping any
way.
CONE OF YOUR READERS"
May I suggest letter to Mrs
Louise Noonan Miller at the Lit.
tie Theater, whose policy is
Bring Back the Good Ones" and
next week shows what many re-
gard as Norma Shearer's greatest
picture, "Smilin' Through"
GET SOME SKITS
When the temperature hits 95
in June you just can't help think
ing of the Fox All-Washington
local revue, for which the annual
call to find talent will go out in
few days In this connec'
ton I would like to suggest that
Gene Ford besides rounding up
entertainers corral a few good
skit writer's, for these local shows,
like the professional revues and
George White Scandals, generally
suffer from lack of comedy . q.
There are hooters by the hun
dreds, singers who careSs the
mike and MARBLE straight, those
who give radio limitations, but
rarely does a skit turn up at the
try-out additions Why not a
500 prize for the best five-minute
topical Skit and substantial
money reward for such sketches
as are found available for the
revue?. I would be glad to serve
on a board of judges, for I con.
feSS it would be easier than sitting
through some of the stuff that
paraded as comedy in the local
revueS of the past.
SWINGING ALONG
Benny Goodman and his or.
chestra from Chicago are credited
with starting the current vogue
for swing music. 1t is sweeping
the country, though I'll bet Mae
Breeskin, of WaShington's Hot
Club, half the folks who get high
blood pressure when bands begin
to swing can't tell the difference
between what they're hearing and
jazz.
However, I promised Emory
Daugherty that would call atten-
ton to the fact that the Benny
Goodman band will play a one.
night engagement at Wardman
Park tonight. So swing up that
way if you like it.
I once tried to get Bill Merriam
to explain to me just what swing
music was and wound up with an
invitation to attend a meeting of
WaShintgon's Hot Club. Since
then I found Paul Whiteman's de-
scription, which answers the pur.
pose very well.
"Swing music can't be defined
in so many words, nor can it be
put in definite category of
music. It's a symptom that
starts in the lips of an adept
clarinetist. spreads to the nimble
fingers of a first-rate pianist
and igniteS a flame on the
strings of steel guitar. When
they combine their efforts they
swing and SO does everybody
who hears it. When they get to-
gether they have an effect that's
cOmbuStilbe and contagious. The
hearers feel it right down to
their finger tips, down into their
toes. They know it's good and
yet if you ask them why, they
couldn't tell you in 20 sentences.
It's like putting a recOrd-break-
ing aerOplane motor into an
orchestral arrangement. The
song goes places-and quickly
and it's excitement plus, while
it's on its way.
ut isn't a musical Style-it's
feeling, as elemental as a sum-
mer heat wave, as primitive in
its effect as the wildly beating
tom toms that set abOriginaIs on
their fast-mOving feet in a dizzy
circle"