The Washington times., 1936-10-09

utes, II seconds. Most box office
men at the count-up place the
stack close to the ear and thumb
the tickets in spiiGs of five. This
is known as the touch and sound
system, and makes for amazing
speed. Outsiders have often won
dered why box office men count
the tickets close to the right ear.
This explains it. Many of New
York's crack box office men, in
cluding Harry Nelmes. Bill Norton,
Lep Solomon, Riv Bisland, Charlie
Bowman, Spence Bethlehem, Paul
Meyer, Frank Prayer, Allen
Schnebbe, Clarence Gray, Artie
Block and Willie Metz, will par
ticipate in the ticket-counting
tournament. DeVrieS' demonStra-
ton at the TreaSurers' Club was
clocked by Lep Solomon, of the
Hippodrome .DeVrieS has a
method all his own in Tipping the
merry paSteboardS. Recently he
gave an exhibition of fast ticket
counting for the news reels. This
veteran operates on touch alone
and does not have to hold the
tickets to his ear as others do. .
Most treaSurers. in counting by
rhythm. flip the speeding tickets
in units of five. But not DeVries.
1t makes no difference with this
expert whether his fingers pick off
three or seven tickets as he zipS
through the stack. DeVrieS adds
by touch. It takes him maybe
eight seconds to count stack of
100.
A GOOD STORY
Joe, incidentally. thinks this IS
a good box-office story:
Mr.. Goodwin came home that
evening in state of obvious ex-
citement. He found his wife sit
ting in the parlor waiting for him.
What do you think has hap
pened?" he asked excitedly.
Il can't imagine" she said, look
ing at him suspiciously.
Well, believe it or not" he re-
lated, "but I stopped in at the Ma.
tional Theater to get tickets for
that new play that's opening this
week. The man at the window
know you won't believe this-the
man at the window asked me
where I should most prefer to sit.
Then he showed me a diagram of
the house and exactly where the
available seats were. After I paid
him he said Thank you and"
Mrs. Goodwin's face had grown
stern.
Edward Goodwin" she said.
you've been drinking again."
A PLAY ABOUT POE
1t is good to see producer Ar.
thur Hopkins active again For
many seasons he sponsored some
Of the finest things in the thea
ter, and recently he has been scan
ming scripts and waiting for the
right play to come along He
thinks he has it now and his press
representative, Dave Wallace, for
wards this bulletin: 1T will be
welcome news to Washington
levers Of the theater to learn that
Arthur Hopkins is to have the pre-
miere of his newest production
at the National Theater. The
production, which has Henry Hull
as its star, bears title of "Plumes
in the Dust" and it is by Sophie
TreadWell, author of "Machinal"
which achieved International fame
as it was done in all European
capitals after Mr.. Hopkins had
presented it originally in New
York. Mr.. Hull will be at the Ma.
tional for the week beginning Mon
Gay. october 26. Though Mr.
Hopkins has not brought any Of.
fering to Washington in the last
couple of seasons he needs no in
PRODUCTION locally after his long
and honorable record of achieve.
ments through other years, in
Guiding the Barrymore Hamlet, !"
What Price Glory" ETC., etc. Now,
as he begins another season, he
turns in this direction with a
drama which he takes pride in pro-
ducing and offers Washington an
initial glimpse before he intro.
duces it to Broadway.
Henry Hull was here last with
Tobacco Road" which proved so
popular second engagement was
necessary. "Plumes in the Dust"
gives him an opportunity to play
Edgar Allan Poe. Miss Treadwell,
writing her biographical drama in
loving tribute to the great Amer
ican author, devoted three years
of research as she gathered ma
terial in New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Richmond. A large
production is necessary for
"Plumes in the Dust" and these
settings have been designed by
Woodman Thompson. Mr.. Hop
kins has staged the play.