Evening star., 1938-09-16

conferred, for convenience sake upor
"Hey Diddle Diddle.'
In the play, however, there was one
bright spot. She was blond, young
talented, enthusiastic. and her name
was Lucille Ball. When the notice
went up about mid-week that after
Saturday the cast would be free to
go out and starve or get other jobs
Miss Ball was one of the few who, for
once, did not have to worry She was
on her way to Hollywood, which is not
invariably an important place to be
on your way to.
Miss Ball, however, looked like a
practical certainty If given anything
like reasonable break from destiny
which has been artful enough at times
to circumvent even the obtuseness of
Hollywood. Well, destiny and Miss
Ball triumphed. A pretty girl, but
with too much Of an inclination to
gangle to be devastatingly beautiful,
her chance came in the form of
comedy roles. They happened to be
Miss Balls forte. the more so if the
comedy was tinctured with a hard
boiled cynicism born perhaps of ex-
periences like that OF playing in Hey
Diddle Diddle."
Here first big part came in Stage
Door" in which she and Ginger Rogers
were two Of the most sarcastic maidens
ever to circulate among other men,
bers of the species. Miss Ball was
surprise to everyone except those
who had seen her emerge triumphant
over the obstacles laid for her by the
author of the drama which brought
her to the Belasco. To them, her
performance was only what was ex-
pected. So was her portrayal OF the
same kind Of gal in Having Wonder
full Time" Miss Ball just naturally
had to be good and she was.
That's why, in case you are curious,
she is one of the most important Of
the feminine players in the Marx
Brothers first straight" comedy,
Room Service" which comes to
Keith's next Friday. That is why.
too, she Is in the starring role of
THE Affairs Of Annabel which opens
at the same house today. And If one
is entitled to one more that's why,
that's why Miss Ball will undoubtedly
go on until she becomes one Of the
great screen condolences.
SPEAKING of success sagas, there is
- one Of Bobby Gibson, who is sing
Ing with Ben Bernie's band at the
Earle today. And will continue to
sing with Ben Bernie's band.
Mr.. Gibson. who now rates as one
Of the better tenors with orchestra,
was once kind Of plague. Not a
plague to society, understand, but to
those who were in position to use
tcnors. He was page at the Colum-
hia Broadcasting Studios in New York
at the time and his speciality was ask
ing the right people for additions.
The right people. Mr.. Gibson discov-
cred, had singular reluctance to dole
out additions. They almost invariably
said no they could not spare an audi
ton that day and would Mr.. Gibson
see them later.
Mr.. Bernie was the first one OF the
right people who relaxed and agreed
to listen to Mr.. Gibson. The result
was that Mr. Gibson got a job and
the rest of the story you can pick up
by dropping down to the Earle to hear
him sing with the old maestro's band
X
"A TOUCH Of Hollywood came to Sill
= yer Spring, Md. last night It
took the form of the ceremonious
opening of the new Silver Theater,
the latest and most luxurious fashion
In community movie houses. In con-
nection with its dedication, the thea
ter gave Its suburban customers a
weeks scoop on Washington audi
ences in that they were shown War
ner Bros. -Four Daughters" which
will not come into town until next
Friday.
The house. a thoroughly modern
creation that is modernistic in its
every fitment, Is the product Of the in
epiration of William Wilcox. It was
dedicated with ceremonies that were
both brief and simple. They started
with Audrey Seiber's introduction Of
State Senator Stedman Prescott. Miss
seiber was brief. So was the Senator.
Then came the picture. After the pic
fi,re fhero u-ero roporof,,lo tiopc for