The Washington times., 1937-02-17

They gave Harry Hunter, OF
Paramount, royal send-off at
Variety Club late last night and
early this a. m. Paramount ex-
ecutives came down from New
York to honor the washington ex-
change manager who is leaving
to take complete charge {: the
company's interests in Australia.
Rudy Berger Of M-G-M was
chairman of the testimonial com,
mittee and Sam Wheeler OF
Fox. master of ceremonies. Bon
VOYAGE. Mr.. Hunter, and regret
that a combination OF bllzzaro'
neuritis kept me away from tne
guest table.
GETS CHINESE OKAY
Metro Goldwyn-Mayer held the
most important pre-view screen
ing in its history here secretly a
few weeks ago at the FOX ex'
change.
They ran off Good Earth" tor
the Chinese Ambassador and his
staff. with a few invited guests
The Importance Of the screening
reposed in the fact that M-G-M
has more than $2,000,000 tied up
in this precious celluloid and was
eager to have the approval OF
China's accredited envoy before
the picture was nationally re-
leased. !.
Pearl Bucks epic novel is obout
China, depicts the rise OF Wang
Lung. a peasant farmer from pow
erty to wealth, through his talth
in the land. Olan, his faithful
wife, is beside him in adversely
and prosperity.
GOOD Eearth" passed the diplo-
matte censors with colors flying
Not one change was suggested.
The Rialto Theater has booked
a preview screening for THURSDAY
with the sports editors as invited
guests. Picture is "The Amateur
Gentleman" in which Douglas
Fairbanks, jr., is starred. Angle
that interests the sports boys is
the prize fight sequences.
Talbot Haslett came over from
Alexandria in the snowstorm yes
terday and was booked by Gene
Ford to sing at the Capitol The
ater the week OF March 5.
The young blizzard couldn't
stop Theron Bamberger OF the
Theater Guild, who arrived yeSter
day to herald the news about the
approaching Storm Over Patsy
March /.
Roger Livsey, the English actor
who plays the lead in this ne"
attraction, owes his Equity per
init to take this engagement tc
Alexander Woollcott. The Town
Crier saw Livsey play the same
role in the English production oi
the play, wrote to the Actors
Equity it would be crying shame
if he were not permitted to give
America this acting treat. After
Woollcott's letter Equitys council
reversed the previous ruling Tor
bidding Livsey this assignment
under the regulation that foreigt
actors must have a six months
lapse between engagements.
Lvsey. by the way, is the
actor who played the beggar lr
Charles Laughton's Rembrandt
picture. Best acting in that fea
ture. if you ask me, or even If you
don't.
ABOUT PLAY PRICES
One the regular patrons of the
drama here-a Washington CORE
spondent-WantS to know why
some plays cost more to see ir
Washington than in other cities
Baltimore, and Buffalo, for in
stance.
I might answer him by saying
that New York pays more for it!
drama and musical comedies thar
e Street charges, listing Victoria,
Regina" " "The Show Is On" anc
the Noel Coward cycle. '"Tonigh'
at $3.50" or the Gielgud Hamlet,
to name just a few attractions.
This balcony patron further say
he finds difficulty in getting seat!
for hit plays. About this latter
protest I feel he cannot be aware
Of the mail order demand, mol
have observed the lines which form
when the box office sale opens fol
the so-called hit attractions. First