The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-03
THE VOICE OF
Broadway
Louis SObOI-
Loo of a Broadwayite!

crash into print. You can name
them on a single hand: Gene
Fowler, Gene Towne, Grahame
Baker, Robert Riskin. Norman
Krasna. Fowler because of his
practical jokes and gags-Towne
and Baker because of their goofy
StuntS-Riskin because of his occa,
Sional fist fights but chiefly be-
cause he is considered the Sure.
Fire scriptiSt of the CoaSt-Krasna
because of his romanceS.
Reminds me. Just heard an.
other one attributed to Fowler
Writer shows Gene a script he has
written for one of the better
known producers. at has radical
Implications" says writer. do
you think my boss will be able to
read between the lineS?" Don't
be silly" treasures Fowler, "he
won't even be able to read the
lines"
March 27th-Sat with M. HELM.
ger today at Twenty-One and we
worked out our theory of the hor-
rible Gedeon murder. Everything
dovetails-and now waiting for po-
lice solution. So certain, in fact,
that every time I read about the
case, a clear picture of the actual
murderer crowds the brain.
March 28th-The boys are sud-
denly aware of Jack White and
Pat Harrington again. He'll, they
were always good-even back in
colorful Chateau Madrid days.
Funny, though-that right now
when Arthur SwanStrom has built
musical just made to order for
White, Jack receives a nibble from
the Coast and can't make up his
mind. Personally, would like to
see him do show here first-with
Pat in it, of course-before NOV
ing on to the Coast.
Wilt. Funk's list of 10 over
worked words amusing. Especially
impact" Don't ever remember
any colmnist using it. What for?
Sock" is so much zippier.
Town still shuddering over the
triple murder. Strange that in
these many years around Broad.
way, only ran into the girl once
or twice-and knew very little
about her. Models are a colorful
tribe and easily the beSt-dreSSed
girls in town. Wish could say as
much for the pretty kids of the
choruS-who overdress-and Ger,
tainly use excessive makeup. Most
of them, Of courSe-not all. The
exceptions are refreshing.
Dropped into the Hollywood to.
highland there was Eddie Leon.
ard. Rather touching. his request
to Benny Fields. Introduce me-"
he pleaded. New minstrel man
introduces old minstrel man. The
people will like that" The veteran
still has plenty of his oldtime
punch and they rocked the room
with applause when he sang "Roly
Boly Eyes" Hear he has been hay
ing a tough time of it.
March 29th-Fields asked me to
get in tough with Bill Hardy of
the Gay NinetieS for a break for
Eddie Leonard I did Bill seemed
tickled to death-and looks now
as if the good old minstrel man
will have his comeback chance.
Hope so.
Must rearrange my schedule.
Checking up, find that in past few
months I have read only only one
book-where I used to manage to
read from two to three a week. So
much time digging through the
newspapers and magaZineS-and
even then, only time enough to
skim through instead Of reading
slowly, abSorbing-and rejecting
Dizzy life, this-doesn't seem to
lead anywhere-except to a weekly
pay check.
March 3O.-Heard that Ilieana,
a Russian singer Of the local
bistros. had an experience with a
maniac in the Brill Building last
night. She claims he stuck a
double edged knife into her side
but when the police arrived she
was too terrified to press charges.
They let the fellow go-but kept
the knife. 1t wasn't very sharp.
Al and Harry Ritz at the party
to Lew Brown and Ray Henderson
last night. Disturbed at the rumor
started by some of the Broadway.
ties that there was discord among
the three-now that they were sue.
ceSSful. AL explained, I'VE don't
go around so much together now
because we're together so damn
much when we're making pictures,
it's a relief to get away and be
with others when we get the
chance"
Jimmy Fidler took terrific Socko
at Martha Raye tonight over the
air for going so completely Holly
wood. Too bad-the girl has so
much to give. So different now
from the eager young hoyden of
only a few seasons ago. Nice to
think how the big ones still stay
the same - Bing Crosby, Norma
Shearer. Claudette Colbert - and
especially Alice Faye-a pet with
all of us.
March 31st-Vague rumors that
Jules Levine is trying to enlist to
fight for the Leftists in the Span.
ish brawl. Hope they reject him.
AE