davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1936-12-15

Actors divide, and critics, too,
on whether the dark-skinned
Othello, or the fiendish monster
that is Iago, is the real star role
of the Venetian tragedy. Quite a
few eminent of the past have as
sayed both roles as a test Of YER
satility.
In this production there is no
doubt of the Huston dominance.
Iago, played for all of its mon
StrouS deviltry by Robert Keith
with fine skill, has the abundant
lines of a voluminous role. Othello
has the dramatic action.
Walter Huston is among the
foremost exponents of the "natu-
raj school" of acting. None real
ICES better the value Of gesture,
the purpose of expressions, the
power that rests in a voice, Of
good diction.
A CURTAIN SPEECH
Under the Swarthy veneer of
the Moor he gave last night a
striking if not an epic perform
ance. Could it be Shakespeare'S
writing or the acting that made
it's most moving and tense mo-
ment the Slapping of DeSdemona'S
face with a parchment letter,
rather than the horrifying climax
in the palace chamber when life
is smothereda from the unhappy
wife by the frenzied warrior?
His few moments Of tenderness
were exquisitely real, the long
speech before the Duke and Sena-
tors, recalling his courtship of
Desdemona, magnificently pro-
jected.
Nan Sutherland was the Des-
demona, playing with delicate
charm and realizing fully her
fruitful opportunity in the scene
with Emilia, very effectively
played by Natalie Hall.
Truthfully can say I enjoyed
the Robert Keith, Iago and the
well rounded voices heard in the
Cassie of G. P. Huntley, jr., the
Roderigo of Arthur Pierson, the
Brabantio of Edward Fielding
and the Duke of Venice as por-
trayed by A. P. Kaye.
The two acts and 10 scenes of
the play moved with celerity and
there was remarkable smoothness
in this first performance. In re-
sponse to curtain calls Walter
Huston made a gracious speech of
appreciation.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
Makes Seek Horse

The Marx Brothers, who would
like to own race horse, are more
concerned over what they would
name their thoroughbred than
what one to purchase.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
II Features on
Way to Earle

With II pictures in work, the
Warner Bros. First National stu
dioS in California this week
reached their top production peak
for the year.
During the past six days, four
features were started. Two COM
menced work on Monday-"The
Prince and the Pauper," with
Enrol Flynn and Billy and Bobby
Mauch; and THE Go-Getter."
Bette Davis began work We'd
nesday in Marked Women" and
Marry the Girl" started Thurs
day.
Already under way were Love
Begins" Her Husbands Secre-
tary," "The Case of the Suffering
Bishop" Slim" Call It a Day."
"The King and the Chorus Girl"
and Cherokee Strip"
When completed these attrac-
tionS will be presented in Wash
ington at the Earle and Metro
politan theaterS.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
Hit Comedy Is
Here Dec. q

That merry lark, boy Meets
Girl" which Broadway has been
cheering for a year, comes to the
National Theater for one week,
starting Monday night, December
81, with matineeS Wednesday and
Saturday. It's a Hollywood holi-
day.
What this play doesn't do in
the way of joshing the films isn't
to be done. The cowboy ham, the
baby star, the studio moguls, the
comic scenarists, the strange song
writer's, the actors representative,
the hard-boiled studio secretary,
and even the movie extra will be
found in this Jolly comedy. It's
all in fun.
George Abbott is the producer
and director. Abbott is currently
represented on Broadway as the
co-author and director Of Three
Men On a Horse" and as one of
the authors Of "On Your Toes"
Bella and Samuel Spewack are
the authors. For five years they
have been prominent on the Metro
lot, writing scenarios. Their char
acters in boy Meets Grip are
drawn from real life, even as to
the Songsmiths. Irving Berlin de-
clared that the tune writer's of
the show are prototypes of two
celebrated song makers.
The Hollywood theory in max
ing pictures is that the boy meets
the girl, boy loses the girl and
finally the boy gets the girl. It is
on this premise that the SpeWacks
have based their jolly carnival.
The boy of the story is a movie
extra; the girl is a studio waitress.
He loses his job; she has a baby.
It is the fun concerning making
a star of the baby and the boys
catching up to the girl that re-
wolves the mirthful wheels.
Abbott directed and personally
selected each member of the cast.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15

HUSTON DOMINATES
It was the Jones direction, the
handsome decor, and the flood
rays which poured on the actors,
that left an enthusiastic first
night audience talking points and
memories.
Two earlier "Othellos" have
paraded for these critical eyes in
seasons that have gone. My best
recollection is of good Equity
members struggling against scenic
investiture and shabby costumes
that put the main burden on the
art Of the actor.
Walter Huston faces no such
handicap in portraying the Moor.
Indeed he brings to the role the
ripe experience that took him to
the top in vaudeville, that made
him one Of the greatest footlight
puppets for Engene O'Neill'S
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
Back Stage News and Gossip
Gathered BY Bill HoyIe

Although the Star Theater, Port
land, Ore, began the career of the
late Roscoe Arbuckle as a thirty
a-week baritone for their illus
trated slides feature, it was Leon
Enrol, then top-man with the
Baker theater playerS-George
Baker is Portland's mayor today
who gave him his first stage
assignment and helped smear
burnt cork for his opening role.
Later Leon went into Frisco'S
famed Belvedere music hall and
within a month did "Olivette"
during the 1906 quake.
AS "The man with the Rubber
Legs" he made his Washington
debut in ChaSe's vaudeville house,
18th and the Avenue, twenty-five
years ago, and each day broke an
average of thirty-five dollars worth
of statues and dishes on the stage.
The most expensive upkeep Of any
contemporary act he finally car
ried a crockery expert who, for a
century note a week, moulded the
ware used. Many will recall at
this same time the act of Whip
pie and Huston wherein Walter
Huston, current star of "Othello"
at the National, appeared in a
frock coat with red fez and wrote
all the lines.
Young Dave Appollon bought
his first mandolin, at the age OF
six, for four and a half rubles
($2.25). Years later he left the Rus
sian homeland and travelled
through Siberia, China, Japan, and
the PHILIPPINES until he reached
this country, having paid his way
by the strings and inaugurated in
each country the first concert
mandolin recital.
In 1921 he became the initial
artist to play a mandolin concert
in New York's Carnegie Hall, ap
pearing there with the Russian
symphony. Two years ago he was
made the first honorary professor
of mandolin by the noted New
York Conservatory of Music.
His collection now totals 35 Of
these instruments and is valued al
approximately twenty thousand
One of the rarest won Grand PriH
at the International Exposition
in Paris and another took the blue
ribbon at the Italian art exposi
ton in ROME, several years ago.
On the Capitol bill in his revue
the Lambertons are classed as the
only deaf dance team in vaude
vile. In the six years both
Charlotte and Charles studied
dancing it was necessary thai
their mother be with them al
every daily lesson to interpret
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
M OWE
O'CLOCK

R-K-O.KEITH'S-Ann Devorok.
1--WE Who Are About to Die"
1852 a. m; 1852, 1852, 5:52,
1852, 9:52 p. m.
RIALTO-Robert Taylor, There's
Always Tomorrow" 2:10, $3.50,
5:48, 7:48, 9:47 p. m.
LITTLE-Heath Angel Berkeley
Square," II a. M, 12:48, 1885,
4:24, 6:12, 800, 9:3S p. m.
CAPITOL - Barbara Stanwyck,
Banjo On My Knee" 10:45,
1:35, 4:25, 7:15, 10:05. Stage:
1910, $3.50, $40, 9:10 p. m.
COLUMBIA-Joel McCrea, Come
and Get It," 1902, 1925, 4:5O,
7:14, 9:38 p. m.
EARLE-Bing Crosby, pennies
From Heaven" 11:00 a. m,
1885, 4:20, 7:15, 1905 p. m.
Stage, 1890. S:2O, 6:15, 9:o5
p. m.
Observation-Disclosures Dunno,
Theodore Goes Wild" 1900 a.
M, 1:O5, 3:15, 7:30, 9:40 p. m.
HOWARD-Sybil Jason, "The
Captains Kid" 1890, $3.50, $50,
800, 1890 p. m. Stage: Noble
Sissle, 1:40, 4:10, $40. 9:10 p. m
PALACE-Eleanor Powell, "Born
to Dance, 11:45 a. M, 2:15, 4:40
7:05, $50 p. M
BELASCO-Clive Brook, Love In
Exile" 11:03 a. M, 1:13, 1928,
5:33, 7:43 p. m. Edward the
Eighth, 1920, 2:30, 4:40, $50
900, 11:10 p. m.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP

'Charlotte'S Oriental sole dance
started Broadway'S Hollywood res
taurant with a two-week contract
and held for % weeks, the last 10
a duo with her brother.
Bobby Brent, proprietor Of the
unit, might be recalled from the
Earle months back as Tommy
Trent; before that he will possibly
confess to Gus Goldberg of minor
ring fame, his brother being
Jackie Goldberg, middleweight
champ of Central South America.
Stage ambition come when as a
commercial artist in New York he
studied plans in public Libraries
for carving out his Punch and
Judy mannequinS.
LYDIA Sue, personality dancer Of
this unit, broke in her stage shoes
with the six Gym Jam Girls,
standard vaudeville act Of a few
years back, as did Elaine Dowling,
now leader of the Major BoweS'
all-girl band. Johnny Downs, mi
crophone mimic, eight years ago in
the team of Jordan and Woods,
possibly originated radio satire by
their limitations of the ether great.
Six years ago to the week Mar
thadrew Bonnini, daughter of a
Pittsburgh ice cream manufactur-
er, made her stage debut in an
amateur revue at the Penn Theater
there. Within a few months, as
Sunny O'Dae, she made her pro-
feSsional try and this at the Capt.
tol Theater on Broadway, where
her original dance style clinched
her for a full years stay at one
Of the big city's top houses.
Her screen break was Strike
Me Pink" starring Cantor, in
which Producer Sam Goldwyn
spent $4,000 in a glass floor set
ting for her dance sequence. Sun.
ny'S uncle is Judge Drew, superior
court magistrate of Pittsburgh.
On this bill Lou AShe, as a
legal graduate from Boston u,
passed the Massachusetts bar in
1880 and two years later claimed
a master of law degree. His foot
light start came when he won an
addition at Keith's in Boston and
appeared with Jess and Helen
Crawford, organists de luxe. Lou
collaborated on the lyrics for the
music in this unit.
Gladys Blake, of the Greshmar
and Blake team here, just com
pleted the lead in Racing Blood,
Columbia feature. Before this
she had to her credit the role OF
Janet Gaynor's girl friend in "Ser
wants Entrance" and second lead
to Lillian Harvey in my Weak
| ness"
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
/ Cover HOu yWOOd

: the Zukor testimonial dinner TO
be eulogized for what seemed
hours by Jesse Lasky, she did no
more than half rise, and then sit
right down again. The true reason
is that her cousin, who flew out
with her, was sitting on part of
her chiffon dress, and it was all
the farther she could get without
disrobing herself, via the rip syS-
tenn, right before all 900 guests.
Ramon Navarro is being sought
by French film company, to star
in a forthcoming super colossal
picture, which they are planning, to
try and regain their lost prestige on
the film market. Ramon may &C.
cept, since he has many friends in
Paris, and Is great idol there.
But what became of his being
made head of the Mexican Hol-
lywood?
The cast Of "Robber Barons"
at RKO is becoming overpower.
ing. They borrowed Edward Arnold
to star in this life of Jubilee
Jim" FiSke, the most daring Of
the powerful railroad financiers
Of the gay nineties, and now they
are also borrowing Frances
Farmer and Cary Grant from
Paramount to co-Star with him,
and reborrowing Jack Oakie to
I'LL the cast to bursting.
The cutter Tahoe, used in
Coast Patrol" at RKO, having
gone back East for overhaul, its
entire decks are being reproduced
on the lot and driving the prop
men mad, since it is rescue ship,
customs investigator, war boat,
fire boat, and a few other things
in one. Also, when the prop de-
partment found several second
hand bits Of naval vessels to use,
the Government stepped in to in
veStigate the secondhand dealer,
since only one of the parts found
is manufactured per vessel, and
the Government wants to know
just where these came from.
Grace Moore has heard that her
concert at the Royal Albert Hall
in London on May 3 has been en-
tirely sold out, which is a vast
plume for her operatic bonnet, to
say the least Miss Moore, by
the bye, recently dared her CO.
directors of "1nterlude," Harry
Lachmann and Bob RisKin. to
turn actor with her, so, with Cary
Grant at the directorial post, they
became prop men, carrying a
plank across a back-stage setting.
They didn't get far, however, be-
cause the real head grip, Jimmy
Doyle, had nailed the plank Sc
curely to the floor for them.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
KELLEYGRAMS

day .. On Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights of this week the
National Academy of Stage Train
ing will offer the pupils in three
performances of monologues, pan
tomime and dancing under the
direction of John Mckee, Adelaide
Hibbard and Marion D. Venable.
The performances begin at $50.
RECORD FOR HAMLET
Now that it seems that John
Geilgud will establish a new all
time record for Hamlet" in New
York City, Burns Mantle, writ
ing in The New York Daily News,
reminds statisticians that it was
John E. Kellard who broke Edwin
Booths record Of 100 perform
ances since Kellard played the
Dane for 102 times in New York
in 1928. So John Barrymore
was overlooking Richards achieve
ment when he claimed to have
shattered the Booth engagement
with 101 performances fourteen
years ago. If nothing prevents
Geilgud completing his an
nounced season he will play Ham
let 1O8 consecutive times in New
York.
OPENS AT KEITH'S
David Lamson thinks it might
be a very good idea if everyone
should spend some time in prison.
Lamson himself spent almost
three years in prison. Thirteen
months of that time he occupied
a cell on Condemned Row in San
Quentin, under sentence to be
hanged. He considers it time we'll
spent, although the experience
robbed him of three years of life,
almost robbed him of life entirely.
Prison" said the dark-haired
young man who was taken from
his job as sales manager of the
Stanford University Press and
lodged in San Quentin's Death
Row on the charge that he had
murdered his wife, "iS a very inter
eSting place. 1t gave me a brand.
new set of values. hope it may
do as much for others, although
I concede the utter impracticabil'
ity of everyone spending some
time in jail"
The screen adoption Of the
Lamson book comes to RKC
Keith's today with, what Radio
Picture executives believe tc
be one of the best all around casts
yet assembled. The players in
Guiding John Beal, remembered fol
his Little Minister" Preston Eos
ter and Ann Dvorak.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
at
The Riolto

The Rialto is going musical
this week! Starting tonight. the
theater will present a unique
series of SongfeStS, featuring sew
eral Of Washington's leading
groups. Two male choruses, a
double male quartet, a mixed
chorus, and girls glee club, will
be heard on successive nights as
a special adjunct to the bill feat
uring Robert Taylor in There's
Always Tomorrow" Songs ap-
propriate to the season, and the
characteristic numbers + each
group will comprise the pro-
grams.
Tonight'S guest vocalist at the
9 o'clock show only, will be the
Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company Glee Club, 40
strong, one of Washington's old
est and best known male choruses.
The Mckinley High School
Boys Glee Club, whose yearly
light opera presentations have at
tracted city-wide attention, will
sing at the first evening show at
7::30 Wednesday, while the out
standing double male quartet, the
Schubert Singers, will entertain
at the later show.
Thursday night will offer both
masculine and feminine voices,
the American University Mixed
Chorus at both 1880 and $50.
The Girls Glee Club of woodrow
Wilson High School complete the
roster of the weeks musical en-
tertainers. They will be heard
either Friday or Saturday eve
ming. The definite date will be
announced tomorrow.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
HUSTON AS 'OTHELLO'
Nan Sutherland As Desdemono,
Robert Keith As Iogo In
Support Of Star
By ANDREW R. KELLEY

In scenery richness of costume and beauty of lighting this
latest exhibit of Shakespeares Otheo take its place
with the finest productions of the Bard.
Here broodg tragedy of suen moods and poison eaouses
has been staged by Max Gordon with the dignity and pona
setting that vie with the Craig "acbeth the Beasco Mer
chant of Venice and the Cornell Juliet The slightly clipped
version utilized eliminates of the rdundances and stodg
speech in the interest of smooth mechanics.
Robert Edmond Jones' wizardry with color his facility in
grouping actors striking tabeau that conure the
illusion of medieval tapestries his ability for utilizing lights
for effects that add emphasis the important speeches of the
tragedy are among the triumphs of this "Othelo."
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
BY LLOYD PANTAGES
Copyright, 1895, by King Features
Gvpdicafa Tnc


HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 14.-Mis-
tinguette, who seems almost as if
she had been the reigning star Of
the French stage since the time of
Napoleon, is in New York at the
moment buying up ideas here and
there for a revue, and shopping
around to see what is being done
by others.
Reason being that she has
bought the famous and perennial
Moulin Rouge in Paris, right
across the street from where her
chief competitor for top French
music hall honorS, Maurice Cheva.
ier, is going to open in revue
in March at the Casino de Paris,
MiStinguette has even recently
made a talkie so Maurice could
be said to outdo her at no point.
Interesting to see who comes out
ahead.
Edward G.. Robinson, having
finally finished his English pic
ture, is en- route with wife and
child via Paris to Copenhagen,
whereafter they will sail on the
Normandie for New York, arriving
Christmas Eve and, after a peer
about, back in Hollywood January
5.
Many wondered why, when
Marguerite Clark, reigning star of
Is years ago, now proprie.
tress of airlines and lumber
baronies, had flown 5000 miles to
The Washington times., 1936-12-15

What do the kids like IN the
movies? Not Shirley Temple &C
cording to the vote Of 300 juve-
niles from to II years who voted
in the National Board of Review
ballot for the "Ten Best"
For two years in succession the
Baby DuSe has been passed up by
the children although exhibitors
say Shirley Temple is yet the No.
! boX-office bet. Here is the list
Of winners:
"The Great Ziegfeld"
"Anthony Adverse"
"San Francisco"
"Romeo and Juliet
"The Charge Of the Light Brig
ade"
''Mr. Deeds Goes to Town"
"Story of Louis Pasteur"
"The Devil is Sissy"
"The Last of the Mohicans"
''Mary of Scotland"
Ranking just below the first 10
and grouped closely together in
votes are "The Green Pastures, ="
'Fury," Swing Time" Ramona" "
Modern Times" 'The General
Died at Dawn" and "Texas
Rangers"
MERRY XMAS NOTES
Merry Christmas jingle bells
Sam Stratton for Ringing
Bros, Barnum & Bailey sends
greetings from winter quarters
Sidney Lust calls up to remind
that the Milo IN Rockville, the
Cameo in Mount Rainier and the
Arcade in Hyattsville will have
yuletide shows to provide presents
for the less fortunate, in coopera-
ton with the Times-Herald
Shep Allen is arranging his an
nual "ShoeS For the Needy" party
at the Howard on Wednesday
night. Arthur (Globe Trotter)
Reilly will be Emcee for this spe,
cial midnight performance that
will include besides the Howard's S
regular "hotcha," entertainers
from all of the down town
theaters. Last year Nate Steifel
and the Howard Theater shod 800
who really needed footwear and
didn't have the wherewithal. This
year the need is even greater. So
help out by putting the Howard
at midnight Wednesday on your
schedule and seeing a good
show.
BRIAN AHEARNE
Brian Ahearne who arrived from
Europe last Thursday sat in on
the Othello performance last
night. On Christmas day in
Philadelphia he is scheduled to
play the role of "Iago," when
Robert Keith accepts assignment
with another Broadway play
AS chronicled here ten days ago
Rudy Vallee and his Connecticut
Yankees come into the Capitol
theater for a week on Christmas
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
Costumes Live Up
To Title of Film

Irene Dunno is the lady with
whom Travis Blanton is spending
most of his time lately. Miss
Dunne's costumes for High, Wide
and Handsome" a Paramount pro-
duction, are 1860 models, is in
number. The title of this picture
suits the costumes, for this is the
period in which the hoop-skirt was
in full flower. According to Ban
ton there will be two extra
extravagant dresses from which
modern gowns may easily be
adapted.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
Film Star Will Go
To Xmas Coronation

Francine Larrimore will be
among film notables attending the
coronation in London next May,
sailing from New York after the
holidays for an extended visit in
England, where she may do play
before reSuming her screen career.
She will leave Hollywood i'm
mediately following the press pre-
view of her debut picture, John
Meade's Woman" B. P. Schul'
berg production for Paramount.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15

moody dramas, that achieved
full fledged stardom in the
studios of Hollywood.
His "Othello" will never attain
the popularity of his modern roles,
for the character which appeals
so strongly to our foremost actors
lacks audience appeal. Yet the
Huston "Othello" can be right
fully indexed as among the fin
ished portraits Of a distinguishes
career.
The Washington times., 1936-12-15
Get Off EasiIy

Except for slight cuts and
bruises, not a man or an animal
was injured in the spectacular
comedy battle scenes in Arizona
Mahoney," Paramount's Joe Cook
comedy.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-06-27
Former Socialte
Under Indictment

ST. LOUIS, June 27. (UP).-
Mrs. Nellie Upton Muench, at
tractive red-haired former social
lite accused Of illegally obtaining
the baby of an unwed mother for
use in an alleged S250,00O black
mail plot against a wealthy ST.
Louis physician. was indicted by
a federal grand jury yesterday,
charged with using the mails to
defraud.
Indicted with the plump, 49,
year-old defendant, whose trial on
state criminal conspiracy charge
last April ended in mistrial when
a juror testified he had been Of
fered bride, were her husband,
DR.. Ludwig o. Muench, Mrs.
Helen Berroyer, a friend, and At
torney Wilfred Jones, the alleged
intermediary who transferred the
baby.
The federal indictment charged
Mrs. Muench and the co-defend-
ants perpetrated an elaborate
hoax by seeking to extort money
from DR.. Marsh Pitzman, wealthy
St. Louis physician, after fraudu-
lently leading him to believe that
he was the father of baby boy
which appeared mysteriously in
the Muench home last August.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-06-27
Defense Opens
In Snake Murder
2 Courses Open in Behalf
OF "Bluebeard Barber"

LOS ANGELES. June 27. (UP)
LAWYERS for Robert S. James, ac-
used "Bluebeard Barber" yes
terday started the job of trying
TO tear down the testimony of
Charles S. Hope, his hard-faced
helper in the alleged "Rattlesnake
murder" of pretty Mary Busch
James.
The whole force of defense at
tack was leveled at Hope, only
eyewitness to the grisly scene in
which James pretty young bride
his seventh wife-allegedly was
roped to a table, her foot showed
into a box containing live rat
tlesnake, and finally drowned in
bath tub.
While the red-haired barber
shop Casanova sat calmly in his
chair, James lawyers hammered
throughout a sweltering day of
cross-questioning, trying to tear
loose the framework of Hopes
story. They tried to prove two
things
FIRST, that Hope, not James,
actually carried out the bizarre
deaht plot. Presumably for 500
which he said James gave him.
Second, that James did not
know that rattlesnakes, which
Hope said he bought for him, were
deadly:
Unless the defense can shake
Hopes story, it is believed James
only chance to escape the gallows
will rest on an insanity defense.