Evening star., 1936-08-10

this way. Legally. His father is jazz,
Lips, sr. At present Jazz-Lips, jr., Is
half way between an urchin and being
what he wants to be. He is now listed
in the directories as hoy gambler"
It is a role in a drama like the pro-
fessional urchin business he entered
-everal years ago.
That was in 1929, and he was one
of many children cast in Marc Con-
nelley's 1.-THE Green Pastures" He
played a sort of semi-angelic brat,
who delighted De Lawd when placid
and somewhat grieved that patriarch
at other times. The critics who first
saw Connelly's fable predicted that
it was going to run so long that
some of the smallest fry in it would
grow up into big fry and play the
major roles before the drama was
:orgotten They thought this a
bright way OF approving the produc-
ton. but it turned out to be about
tight.
Caught Shooting Craps.
Jazz-Lips, for example, has gradu-
ated to the stage of being boy
gambler. He is shooting craps with
some other youngsters in a certain
scene, when De Lawd comes strolling
along and reprimands all of them, and
they reply tartly. This angerS De
Lawd and he snatches the boy gam
bier by the ear and drags him to his
feet. Still not much of a role, but
Jazz-Lips has seen De Lawd and
Gabriel done on the stage for years
now, and he also has watched how
other actors worked in the picture.
Its at the Earle now, and We prob
ably should mention the fact some
Where)
One time, with all of his nurs-
cry colleagues, Jazz-LipS put on a
juvenile performance of THE Green
Pastures" And he was Gabriel for
day. They surprised their elders
in the company with this perform
ance on Christmas day in 1881. 1t
would have made a great publicity
stunt, but nobody thought of that at
the moment. Later they did, as you
can see. Doubtless you can also see
how this fable may some day become
a permanent part of the legend of
the American theater, and how the
art of playing its roles may be handed
down from father to son as in the
puppet shows, the old pantomime
shows and the even older morality
and miracle plays which were the
direct ancestors of our drama. At
least it's an idea.
While you lay in bed, or broiled
in the sun or nursed the Sabbath
meemies yesterday morning. our dill
gent press agents were digging up
such stories as the above. They
worked out of sympathy for the blank
and befuddled pains that attend empty
drama desks on Monday morning. and
since Danny Terrell found that item,
and Ray Bell and Hardie Meakin la
bored to bring forth some others for
US. we might as we'll devote the rest
of this space to them also. Kitty
Pritchard of the Roadside Theater
also gets a share.
The first slice, in fact. She offers
the information that during the cur
rent run of Sherlock Holmes" at
the little red barn on Rockville pike
tthe current" is turned on tonight at
S:40), the patrons will be given an
opportunity to select the next revival
to be presented this season. They
may vote for Murder in the Red
Barn." The Drunkard," THE Tav-
ern," ''Trilby," To Die at Dawn"
The Henrietta" Around the World
in 80 Days Under the Gaslight" or
Arizona" Or, of course, Sherlock
Holiness" which would save a lot of
trouble. Maybe it would be the best.
TOO. but not having seen it, and re-
membering the others, this depart
ment tosses out a vote for Murder
in the Red Barn" or THE Tavern"
in the order named. "Trilby' runs
last.
Hardie Meakin says the Trans-Lux
news reel and short subject theater
will be ready about November Is.
There will be no doormen or ticket
takers. Put a coin in the turnstile
and walk in.
Warner Bros also will open a new