The Washington times., 1936-03-16

Everything fits. The sound and
effects man pops off with his
noises, including the snoring,
which the unseen audience hears
marks the presence Of the vice
president. Comic Benny is as
nervous as the six flavors he glori-
fieS, but the continuous flow into
the microphoneS is smooth as the
jelled product. Mary, it is whis-
pered to us, is delicate, and an
underStudy is ever ready to pinch
hit for her. But nary a stumble
last night. They measure it all
by the ticks Of the clock and 1t
comes out to the split second.
There is, however, just as much
fun watching an audience at one
of these broadcaStS. Not even
Hollywood'S most eminent inspire
such fealty from the fan public.
Say something nice about Jack
Benny" said my charming George
town seat neighbor who was COM
pletely enraptured for half an
hour. I can't say anything nicer
than that I was thoroughly enter
tanned by the baritone voice OF
Kenny Baker. the glib announce
ments of Don Wilson, the tune
fulness Of Johnny Greene'S band
and Mr.. Benny's Savoir faire as
he shed page after page Of his
printed memoranda after it had
served its purpose.
Were I to make any wish 1t is
that the radio stars give as much
attention and thought to what
they offer on the vaudeville stage
as they do to their national broad
casts. Jack Benny is very proud
indeed over being elected the No.
l program of the air by the ma
tons radio editors, distinction
acquired in two annual polls. I
wouldn't like his chances Of being
chosen the No. l program Of the
vaudeville stage. Not If he had
to compete with Dave Apollon,
Benny Davis, Ted Lewis and some
others I could name capable OF
spotting him half a dozen bows.
Probably it's because their forte is
the stage rather than radio.
INA CLAIRE INVITED
Ina Claire has been invited by
R-K-O to play the role Of Eliza
beth for Katharine Hepburn's
Mary of Scotland" but it is
doubtful if she can get release
from the Theater Guild to which
she is bound in S. N. Behrman's
hit play, End Of Summer"
Hollywood assures her that all
of Elizabeth's scenes in the play
could be filmed so that she would
not be away from Broadway for
more than 10 days but shutting
down a stage success for even
that short time is too precariouS a
gamble with prosperity. Hence
Helen Gahagan is now likely to
play Elizabeth since the Hepburn
picture is in the midst Of produc-
ton.
LUNTS FOR REVUE
Irving Berlin, so they say, has
importuned Alfred Lunt and Lynn
F'ontanne to drop the drama in
it's more serious form to play the
leads in the next Music Box
Revue. This is planned for next
season and the stars are said to
be intrigued by the suggestion.
Whether the Lunts will even
tually frolic in musical comedy
will probably depend upon how
Broadway receives idiots De-
light" That Robert E. Sherwood
play succeeded in selling out COM
pletely in its weeks engagement
in Washington. Last time the
racks were swept completely clean
for a play here was when Katha-
rine Cornell brought her Bar
retts of Wimpole Street" to the
Belasco Theater.
I see no reason to change last
Tuesday afternoons printed opin.
ion that Idiots Delight" is des-
tined to be a mild hit on the home
grounds of the Theater Guild.
Chiefly because Of its song and
dance diversion rather than for
the serious content of Sherwood'S
play.
COBB is NOW STAR
You can hardly blame Fox
Twentieth Century Pictures for 60
ing out after the considerable pub
lie that found the homely features
of the late Will Rogers ideal screen
entertainment. Inasmuch as the
successful Rogers celluloids made
as much as $4,000 per issue.
Irwin Cobb, author, humoriSt
and story teller, who became an
actor for short comedies, later was
first aid to Will Rogers in Steam
boat Round the Bend" has been
picked to wear the Rogers mantle.
Cobb begins by saying he Is not an
actor and merely plays himself.
That, if memory serves, was what
Will Rogers used to claim.
The first Cobb picture is called
"Everybody's Old Man" It offers
chance to contrast a star who
claims he is not an actor with one
whose histrionic fame is estab-
liShed, since "Everybody's Old
Man" is new version of "The
Working Man." one of the last
pictures made by George Arliss
when he was toiling for the Broth.
A,.. TRYa