davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-10-17

parts OF snobbishness, romantic erati.
hcation OF the ego, the desire to show
on and liking for parlor games. That
at least is the institution that Miss
Crothers seems for while to be bent
on scourging with politely scornful
laughter.
1t soon appears. though, that tha
dranlatists purpose Is more serious
one. Showing that her heroine M
making mess OF her own domestic
lie while presuming to fxe up the sex
and spiritual problems of others. Miss
Crothers remakes the sound point that
we should clear the mote out OF our
own eye before getting after the beam
In those of our neighbors. Susan must
fmd. to use the terms Of the PLAYS
title. that God Is to be found in her
home and in herself, and that she
does not have to go rushing about to
spiritual house parties in her anxious
quest. Now. this is an interesting and
valuable enough topic and Susan and
God' treats it attractively. But that
superficial air, which is the authors
greatest misfortune, clings relentlessly
to the play and, although it cannot
destroy the interest of a written
and effective comedy, it provides the
work with a disturbing suggestion Of
the commonplace.
think, too, that, although Miss
Gertrude Lawrence is obviously one
OF the most attractive women in all
the world, she could calm down q bit
in her playing Of half the title role in
Susan and God" and not hurl that
charm of hers about so recklessly. We
all know that she has it. The final
reason for my failure to approve Of
the new play reservedly Is that Miss
Crowthers has made Susan too dis
agreeable a character for comfort. 1t
would have served the moral just as
well II she had been just a little bit
less Objectionable as a person.
Evening star., 1937-10-17

handsome success, then at least two
reasons can be brought forward for the
fact. In the first place, Mr.. Hecht
seems to have = genuine sentimental
affection for the little peasant hero
Of the people, and that emotion caused
him to write Of the revolutionary gen.
eral with = warm glow OF humanity.
The Intellectual liberal he sees with
considerable distaste. mixed with his
other feelings about the character, and
the writer often seems the mere cata-
loguo Of . man rather than the man
himself. The chief cause of the lack
OF success In presenting the nominal
hero, however, is q technical one. The
writer and his complexes and doubts
can only be dramatized in words. The
fellow is a great talker, and to be true
to type he must talk necessarily. Some
OF his speeches are good talk, but a lot
OF them are pompous and boring and
most Of them are undramatic. Then,
In the last scene, Mr.. Hecht decides to
make his futile intellectual a gallant
martyr, who dies for the people, and
with the whole point OF the character
destroyed. the play finally collapses.
OBVIOUSLY. Miss Crothers' play Is
far more competent piece of
work. The author Of Susan and God"
Is one Of the best craftsmen OF the
American theater. and she has q gift
for the comedy Of manners that is deft
and gay. There is, however, a touch
OF glib superficiality about much OF her
writing that often makes it less strik-
ing than its technical efficiency should
cause it to be. 1t is my impression
that this Is what happens in Susan
and God" The subject might seem to
be as vital as that of ITO Quito and
Back" In fact, in a general way both
OF them have the same subject-a hu-
man being in quest of spiritual con-
tentment. The heroine OF the Crothers
comedy is fiighty, addle-headed
woman who comes back to her home
after discovering the oxford move
ment. At first it seems that the work
Is destined to be satirical contempla-
ton Of the new school OF religion,
which. unless the playwright and MIR.
Beverly Nichols-the latter an enthusi-
ast for the movement by the way-are
deceiving us, is compounded in equal
Evening star., 1937-10-17

10 me tuAL tney were QulC0 correct
in their viewpoint both times, but
somehow I cannot 60 along with them
completely. ITO Quito and Back" u
an unsatisfactory play, filled with
self hypnotic rhetoric that sends it,
characters and it, drama into q sort
Of elocutionary trance, during which
the narrative grimly talks itself to
death. "9usan and God" Is the most
expert Job Of dramatic craftsmanship
that the season 70 far has offered,
and II = invariably smart and glib
and proficient. Yet I cannot avoid
the suspicion that there u much to
be said on behalf Of q play that tries
to say something significant to our
times, which cannot be said for q
comedy, however expert, that Is en-
tirely superficial In its treatment of
ideas.
ITO Quito and Back" deals, however
badly, with one of the most vital and
provocative Of present-day problems
The plight OF an unstable intellectual
liberal in . world of violently shifting
social forces. Mr.. Hecht shows as an
embittered and sardonic novelist
(somewhst autobiographicaD who
runs OF to Ecuador and becomes en-
meshed IN q peasant revolution there.
The novelist Is . confused and uncer-
tain fellow, with vague liberal lean
ings and a passion for discussing his
Hamlet complexes, . man given to
words rather than to action, q man
whose subtle mind Is filled with philo-
sophical doubts and questionings
When faced with reality he tries to
talk it out Of existence, and when
presented with 3 problem Of conduct
as in his decision between the sweet
heart, who has fled with him to
Ecuador, and his wife, who still has
great hold over him-he can think
OF nothing but evading the issue and
attempting to flee ANONYMOUSLY from
it. AS perfect contrast to him there
is Mr.. Hecht's most attractive crea-
ton, the little revolutionary general,
who Is simple and direct and honest
in his emotions and his instincts, who
is not afraid Of reality and whose
attitude toward the world about him
is one Of genuine. not academic, love
for humanity. They are admirable
foils for each other, these two ro-
mantle idealists in mad universe;
the one so full Of negations, the other
of affirmations.
If the drawing Of the first character
is rather failure and the other .
Evening star., 1937-10-17
Civic Season Opens
Wednesday Nieht.

Victor Wolfson's comedv, "Excur-
sion," ranked as one Of the ten best
plays on Broadway last year, is the
vehicle with which the Washington
Civic Theater will open its second
season Wednesday night at the Ward
man Park Theater.
The regular engagement Of the play
for subscribers and box Office patrons
will continue through Saturday night.
There are special benefit perform
ances scheduled for October "a, rs
and 81.
This will be the first public ap-
pearance Of the group since 1t re-
ceived national honors from Stage
magazine for becoming in one short
year one Of the best community thea.
ters in the country"
Evening star., 1937-10-17

lowing her long siege in the hospital
she entered and won a personality
contest sponsored by national maga-
zine. The prize was screen test and
a trip to Hollywood.
Acting roles in the cinema city
proved elusive. and besides Miss Dax
loved dancing. No late broken neck
and knee were going to stop her. Those
who have watched her in action on
The Goldwyn Follies" set agree they
haven't even slowed her.
Miss OAK graduated from Edison
High School in Minneapolis and
danced professionally in that city be-
fore her accident. She also taught
dancing for a time at the st. Cloud
Academy in Minneapolis. Her present
ambition Is to be a full-fedged star
OF screen song and dance films.
Evening star., 1937-10-17
New Pictures
Are Coming
This Week
Downtown Houses
Announce Bills
On the Way.

EARLE-The flair for comedy Irene
Dunn exhibited in Theodore
Goes Wild" shines forth again in
The Awful Truth" The farce, all
about married couple who separated,
the wife getting custody OF the FAM
lily dog, the husband being allowed to
visit him once month, starts Friday.
Cary Grant plays the male lead op-
posite Miss Dunno. The stage bill
will be headlined by Helene Denizon,
Americas own Pavlowa," appearing
in new dance creations with the IL
American Rockets and Phil Estes
Neila Goodelle, popular songstress, also
will be on hand.
Palaoe-"Prisoner of zenda," new
screen version of Anthony Hopes
exciting and romantic adventure tale,
fabricated by David Selznick, arrives
Friday. Ronald Colman appears in
the dual leading role. topping a cast
which includes Madeleine Carroll,
Mary Astor, Raymond Massey and
Doug Fairbanks, jr.
Keith's-"Fight for Your Lady" q
romantic comedy filled with what the
press releases call "a series of mad,
hilarious adventures" begins its en-
gagement Friday John Boles and
Margot Grahame share top honors in
a cast which features Jack Oakie,
Erik Rhodes, Gordon Jones, Maude
Eburne, Billy Gilbert and others. Boles
is given several opportunities to sing
during the course Of events.
Capitol-"Lancer Spy" q tale Of
excitement and espionage, is the next
screen attraction here, beginning Fri
day. Dolores Del Rio and George
Sanders are starred and other players
involved are Peter LORE, Sig Rumann,
Virginia Fields, Lionel Atwill and
Joseph Schildkraut. There will be a
new program of vaudeville accompany
ing the screen feature.
MetrOpolitan-"Back in Circulation, :"
new Warner Bros comedy drama, with
Pat OBrien, Joan Blondell and Mar
garet Lindsay, opens here Friday.
Based on THE Angle Shooter" q
magazine story by Adela Rogers st.
John, it has to do with a murder yarn
wherein Mr. O'Brien and Miss Blondell
are involved because they are news
paper people who prove Miss Lindsay
innocent,
Evening star., 1937-10-17

in turning its old laugh makers into
sour faces.
With pictures like Stand In," 1.-THE
Awful TRUTH" Room Service" the
latter with the Marx Brothers, and .
number of others in the immediate
future. it is clear that the era of feeling
good is not yet at an end in Hollywood
There is satire, to be sure, in many Of
the major offerings of the studios, but
1t is good-humored and, as in the case
OF Stand In" self-inficted.
1t will be interesting in the course
OF the season to see how Hollywood
feels about the current Broadway play
cycle. 1t was sad week last year
that did not produce a new record
price paid for stage play. The plays
were comedies for the most part and
Hollywood could not get enough of
them. 1t sprayed hundreds of thou
sands of dollars along Broadway for
this item and that.
The question arises did HOLLYWOOD
act because the plays were good plays
or because they were comedies? That
1t purchased Dead End" Of last years
crop cannot be taken as a criterion
OF its possible purchase of this years
more doleful dramas. Samuel Gold
wyn 1t was who purchased Dead
End" and Mr.. Goldwyn has a way Of
being extremely independent OF the
prevailing fashion. He would rather
make the fashion, so his deal with
sidney Kingsley will have to be
thrown out of consideration of what Is
likely to happen now.
1t probably would make some of
the playwrights only the sadder with
the world to discover that its way OF
begetting sad drama had cost them
their rich Hollywood market.
Evening star., 1937-10-17
Today's Film Schedule.

EARLE-"The Life of Emile
Zola," Paul MUM in a masterful
film biography: 2, 4:30, tbs
and 10 pm. Stage shows: 3:45,
6:35 and 9:20 pm.
KEITH'S-"Breakfast for Two"
gay new comedy romance:
2;40, 4:25, 6:15, sos and $50
pm.
CAP1TOL-"High, Wide and
Handsome" oil in Pennsylvania
set to music: 2, 4:30, 7:l0 and
9:55 pm. Stage shows: 3:45,
6:25 and 9:05 pm.
METROPOLITAN -" This WAY
Please" Betty Cradle stars in
a comedy with music: 2, 1855,
$50, 7:45 and GAS pm.
PALACE-"The Bride Wore Red"
luck tosses a poor cabaret en-
tertainer into a mad whirl of
society: 2:20, 4:45, 7:10 and
9:35 pm.
COLUMBIA-"Dead End" fine
screen translation of Sidney
Kngsley's play: 2, $50, 5:45,
7.45 and 9:45 pm.
LITTLE-"T'he Wandering Jew:
2. 3;55, 5:55, 7:50 and $50 pm.
TRANS-LUX-News and shorts.
Show runs hour and Is min
utes, continuous from 2 pm.
Evening star., 1937-10-17
Newcomer Is Star
OF Gayety Revue.

VALERA PARKS, newcomer to
local burlesque ranks, comes to
town today to appear as the feminine
headliner in the new revue opening
with this afternoons matinee at the
Gayety Theater.
Featured with Miss Parks In the
new show will be Bob Ferguson, q
new comedy addition.
The Gayety also promises this week
"a real dancing and singing chorus ~
Evening star., 1937-10-17
Laughter Turns to Tears
, In This Years Drama
Shift Raises Question of Whether
Film Market for Plays Has
Been Jeopardized.
By Jay Carm0dy.

OUTSIDE OF few items like Susan and God" and "Amphityon
which will
night the National
1878 model drama Whereas
look all
Evening star., 1937-10-17
Dancer FOils
Science by
Her Pluck
Donna OAK Dances
Again, Despite
Injuries.

~ ANCING in Hollywood today
is blue-eyed, red-haired girl
who should, according to
- medical science, be dead,
paralyzed or at the best a cripple.
Donna Dax, who less than four
years ago suffered broken neck
and broken kneecap in an automo-
bile accident, is that girl Miss Dax
survived the crash by near miracle
and spent nine weary hospitalized
months in cast.
Attending physicians, agreeing she
was lucky to be alive, told her she d
never dance again. could count her
self fortunate If she walked without
q limp.
They proved 50 wrong. thanks to
the girls determination and courage,
that when Samuel Goldwyns casting
aides picked the IL tap dancers they
considered best in all Hollywood to
appear in THE Goldwyn Follies" Miss
Dax was among those chosen.
The courageous redhead was en-
route to her home in Minneapolis
after filling a dancing engagement in
Chicago when the accident that al
most ended her career occurred. Fol-
Evening star., 1937-10-17

chantment. In fact, were it not for
adultery, the theme to some extent of
the two plays mentioned above, there
would be nothing for the playwrights
Ato be merry about.
A glance at the playbill, current
and future, indicates that even the
musical shows which once could be
trusted to cast cloying effulgence
over life are OF a more bitter than
sweet in flavor. A snarl set to music
is implied not merely in the author
ship, but in the title of "Hurrah for
What?" The unhappy pattern of
world politics is scrutinized here with
an expression on the face of the au-
Ithors which hints profoundly that
they find it tinctured with imbecility
1inctured? Splattered is better
word.
The Theater Guild definitely seems
back in its mood for serious drama.
thing which its customers and critics
demand. save for the Lunts, who can
do as they please and yet please every
one.
MADAME BovARY," with its
translation of ladys high and
gallant dreams of love into low and
ignoble performance, its march from
a quiet. moonlit balcony into that
= drab chamber in the Hotel Des' En-
pereurs is back in the old guild ira
dltion OF sending them away cogi-
tating. To Quito and Back" In
which Ben Hecht mumbles in a kind
Of Maxwell Anderson melancholia
over the sterility of intellectually. is
another guild number on the morbid
side.
Wine Of Choice" a later guild
starter, is S. N. Behman's dramatic
road map which essays to show the
country how it can detour around
both communism and fascism. It.
with Jane Exyre." another uncomic
bit, must wait until the present swirl
OF guild plays has settled down to
4 good, smooth running.
A considerable dither of publicity
during the plast week has heralded
I'D Rather Be Right" in which the
once amlable, almost jingoistic George
M. Cohan laughs wryly at the current
antics of the captain and crew of the
ship OF state. Such things are to be
expected of George kaufman and
Moss Hart when they are not being
IghtSome in You Can't Take It
with 4ou," but it seems time to pause
and take stock when the composer
OF Over There" knits his brow over
what's happening here
The Maxwell Anderson play, THE
Star Wargon," is a comedy but not
the uproarious matter that comedy was
last year. 1t has intervals of con-
siderable wistfulness as it juggles time
out of its normal course in order to
demonstrate the strange thesis (for
MIR. Anderson) that it is better to
marry for love than any of the things
humans marry for.
1t is queer thing, looking aside for
q moment at. the local situation. that
one OF the comedies in the immediate
ofhng at the National is Leaning on
Lefty" Authorship of the piece is
credited to Wilbur Daniel Steele. who
IS a pretty hard fellow to reconcile
with comedy. Back in the days when
Steele was sweeping publishers safes
clean OF all short-story prize monies,
MS major concerns seemed to be with
lovely ladies who killed kittens. youths
n who played insane melodies on cellos
IN the dead Of night and subjects of
similar dark, unpleasant tones.
HOWEVER, the movies, God bless
them or something. are not going
sad on their huge and ever-growing
following. In fast, they are reversing
the fashion of the legitimte theater
Evening star., 1937-10-17
Boles PLAYS Comedy.

JOHN BOLES, who returned to the
R-K-O Radio studio for the first
time since 1884 to star in Fight for
Your Lady" has light comedy role
in the picture and exhibits a flair for
farce that will surprise many OF his
fans who have come to consider him
only as a serious player.
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24
BY LOUIS F. PAUL

Pres Wrangell Cooperative Asso.
 For the past year application of the Indian Reorganization Act-the Wheeler Howard Act-has been a question of paramount importance to the Indians of Alaska. In 1885. at the request of the Alaska Native Brotherhood, Delegate Dimond in- troduced amendments to the Act thereby bringing the Indians of AL aska within the benefits of the law. In 1886. the Brotherhood in con Neut.on repudiated it's action and oI deTed that its several camps have Iothang to do with the law or its provisions and benefits. Immediately there arose a schism that has not been healed as was evidenced by the recent convention at Rake when only nine camps sent minimum delega- tions to consider the problems of the organization and the people.
 Strange as it may seem, this leg islat4on which has far reaching pos abilities and benefits to the entire territory is hardly even known. and even less understood. The Act as introduced in Congress was for the purpose of:
 l. Conserving and developing In an lands and resources.
 3 Extending to Indians the right to form business and other organi- cations.
 8. Establishing of a credit system for Indians.
 4. Providing for vocational and higher education of Indians.
 Dimond Amendment
 The Dimond amendment to the act was based on the Farm Credit Union and provided that those Indians of Alaska having a common bond of occupation, or association, or resi- dence within a well-defined neighbor- hood. community or rural district" could join together, petition for con- stitution and charter and place themselves within the benefits of the law It is in fact R. F. c. for the Indians.
 Considerable opposition was made on the ground that under this law would be set up a reservation system in Alaska with control from the In. dian office; that the Indians would become in fact wards of the govern. ment and lose their rights of citizen. ship; that the loan feature was in the nature of a bribe to draw the SUD-. port of the people. Hence, through peculiar coalition in the Brother. hood the entire Act was repudiatedI and the Camps ordered "to haveI nothing to do with the Wheeler. Howard Act" While this movement! is progressing under the Bureau of Indian Affairs, it is without any help or support from the Brother hood and in spite of opposition in some quarters.
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24
GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATED BY c. DAHLs OF PETERSBURG

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Dahl oi West Petersburg celebrated theii golden wedding anniversary on De. cember g. They were married in 1887 in Minneapolis and he came to Alaska In 1892, settling in Circle Mrs. Dahl came to the Territory in 1894.
 Later on they moved to Peters burg and built the homes on Sas- by point in 1906. MT. Dahl raised silver foxes for time but now both he and his wife devote most of their time to their very fine garden, being frequent Petersburg visitors in the summer with their fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24
ALASKAN HURT IN FIGHT
 WITH BIG BROWN BEAR

CORDOVA - Saved by his dogs. Alvin Dennis, railroad track walker was in a hospital here with a frac- tured right leg, torn foot and dis located knee after a battle with a bear.
 Dennis said he shot an eagle and stepping to pick it up, nearly step ped on an enormous she bear accom- panied by two cubs. Dennis said she grabbed his right foot before he had time to shoot and swung him sever
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24
NIGHT MUST FALL
 BEST PICTURE OF 1887

NEW YORK Night Must Fall starring Robert Montgomery is the best picture of 1887, 1t has been de- eided by the national motion picture board of reviews committee on sx- ceptionaI phOtoplays
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24

lights to all residents of that town; free water system; they pay a share of the doctors salary; have a fuad for the care of sick and destitute; have a fair city payroll, and each summer employ every resident of that town who desires employment
 The Wheeler-Howard set-up would give to the Indians of Alaska either an identical reservation system or establishment of units of common bond, association or residence. It provides for absolute self govern ment of unit activity; it sets up an industrial system which points the way to industrial and political free dom
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24

the Brotherhood returned to their homes and requested that constitu- tions be written for them and char ters issued. One group planned to build a cannery with crab and shrimp operations on the side; an- other group planned a cold storage; a third group planned along with a salmon cannery a ship yard Through establishment of these industries they planned to undertake imme- diately the employment of resident labor-using only such imported or nonresident labor as would be ne cessary to operate the business.
 In Ketchikan last summer it is said that resident woman labor ay- eraged $9 per person. Many resi- dents were unable to procure any labor. At Tyee some of the Indian workers made as much as $40. Un- der the provisions of the Wheeler Howard Act. it is planned to secure sufficient financial credit to per init the establishment of industrial corporations to provide a market for Indian labor. The provisions of the law are very broad and liberal.
 Reservations Elective
 Tle reservation bugaboo is a mat ter that is purely elective. In the proposal of the Wrangell unit of the IRA movement, it is not proposed that a reservation system be built up, and without the request of the Indians themselves such a system cannot be foisted upon the Wrangell or any other group.
 Whether or not such a system would be of benefit to the Indians seems a perpleXing question to some. The Annette Island reservation IS somewhat similar to the IRA pro- posal. The only difference being that the earnings of the Metlakat- Ia organization must go into the na- tional treasury nd withdrawn through an appropriation bill The IRA fund remains outside of the treasury fund and may be used for operating expenses, improvements and following repayment or original loan the corporation may declare dividends without interference from the government in any way
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24

al times against a boulder.
 Dennis two dogs routed the bear and Dennis crawled to the railroad where he hailed a train five minutes later.
The Wrangell sentinel., 1937-12-24
Nine Petitions

The Demmert group of Klawock comprising 266, sitka 197 are the two largest groups and so far pe- titions from nine communities are before the department for the char tering of those groups.
 The work is being followed very carefully by all the groups to pre- vent any tampering by the Indian department and every right and ev- cry liberty is being protected in ev- cry way possible.
 While the need for such industrial effort in Alaska is apparently urgent still it is also necessary that care be taken that any mistakes through haste be prevented. In the course of the next two or three years, if not sooner. will be seen the first units in operation and the benefits of the law worked out to the advantage of the Indians and to the territory it. self.