davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-02-04

development Of the past decade in
Southwest Washington.
The next important move in the
Southwest development came a year
ago, on January S, 1899, when it
was announced that President
Roosevelt had asked Congress to
provide funds for a $3,500,000 Fed
eral Office building in the block
bounded by Second, Third, C and
D streets S.W. in time to house
workers on the 1910 census. 1t was
rush" job, since taking of the
census is to begin April /. The
Census Bureau is to have use of
the entire building for from three
to four years during the peak of
the work on the 1910 census, after
which the structure will be released
for some other Federal activity, as
yet undesignated It was estimated
that at least 1000 employees would
be required for the taking of the
new census.
Despite recent delays due to the
strike Of sand and gravel workers,
the new Census Building now is
going up rapidly and already is far
ahead of the other two buildings.
1t is to be occupied floor by floor
as they are completed, under an
emergency program dictated by lack
of Office space available for rental
within the District. The National
Park Service long ago advertised
for bids for rentable space for the
Census Bureau and found nothing
available that was not already leased
by the Government for some other
activity.
Further additions to the Agricul-
ture Department building group
also are anticipated during the l940-
1850 decade. The President, in
his budget message, asked for ST.
100000 with which to construct an
addition to the Bureau of Economics
east of Twelfth street between c
and D streets SW. An economy
minded Congress has put the rec
ommendation aside for the time
being, as it has other proposed
building projects. Need for the build
ings exists now, however, and will
continue to increase, it is believed,
during coming years, so that pros
poets for their construction during
the decade are regarded as bright.
All things considered, the 1940- 1850
decade should mean much to South
west Washington in the way of in
creased Federal and non-Federal
building. street, school and park i'm
provements, including a major de-
velopment of its waterfront areas,
and in growing dignity and prestige.
Evening star., 1940-02-04

building group for the Agriculture
Department and Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing south of the Mall
between Twelfth and Fourteenth
streets, extending south to Virginia
avenue, followed as it was in 1888
by the authorization for the new
Southwest development in the vi
cinity of Third street, gave con-
crete reality to a grand scheme of
development which, on paper, had
been as old as the Federal City itself.
Sites for the Social Security Board
and Railroad Retirement Board
Buildings were selected definitely in
the rectangle bounded by Independ-
ence avenue-itself a new reality in
the rehabilitation of Southwest
Washington-D, Third and Fourth
streets. In connection with the
preparation of more detailed plans
for the new buildings and the area
in which they were to stand, the
Park and Planning Commission and
the Commission of Fine Arts were
forced to establish a definite plan
for the future treatment of the
southern border of the Mall. They
agreed on plans for the development
of the new Independence avenue, on
the line of old B street S.W., in a
manner in keeping with the mag
nificent Constitution avenue prof.
ect on the north side of the Mall,
which it paralleled.
It was decided that both Consti-
tuition and Independence avenues
eventually. were to be extended not
only the full length of the Mall, but
on past the Capitol eastward to the
banks of the Anacostia River, so
framing, lending unity and provid-
ing accessibility to the great areas
embraced in the new Northwest
Rectangle, the Lincoln Memorial
and Washington Monument grounds,
the Mall Triangle, the new South
west building area, the Capitol
grounds and the future East Capt.
tol street development.
Beauty and Dignity.
The future curb, planting and
building lines for new and spacious
Independence avenue of great beau-
ty and dignity were established by
the two commissions. Plans for the
Social Security Board Building,
which faces independence avenue,
were developed in conformity. The
Railroad Retirement Board Building
was placed south of the site for the
larger Social Security Board struc-
ture.
BY mid-July, 1888, the Treasury
Department had initiated its land
acquisition program in the South
west area, and city planners were
beginning to look forward to relief
early in the 1940-50 decade from
some of the traffic congestion in the
Northwest. The expectation that
increasing numbers of Federal work.
ers would look to the Southwest Sec
ton for homes, coupled with large
scale low-cost housing program in
Evening star., 1940-02-04
Entertainers Keep
Soldiers Happy

Greatest battle Of the war in
France is that against boredom as
both the French and British Armies
bring up re-enforcements of enter
tainers.
Travelling in huge motor coaches
with all their props" and costumes
theatrical troupes go from town to
town and encampment to encamp-
ment giving entertainments. And
at the same time mobile units travel
among the armies showing the latest
talking pictures, some not yet re-
leased in Paris or London.
Typical of the phantom war is the
fact that war correspondents have
turned into dramatic critics, featur-
ing in their reports singing and the
atrical stars. One chaplain has been
running . movie entertainment Of
his own.
Evening star., 1940-02-04
sport, of which the Westinghouse
Chicago relay race, held while Mr..

sport, of which the Westinghouse
Chicago relay race, held while Mr..
Wilson was President, was a notable
event in sports. The message, which
was sent from Washington, was
handed to Fred G. Reed, now of the
National Museum, then ranking Boy
Scout of the District, by the Presi-
dent on the steps of the White
House. Reed set out on the first
leg of the relay at exactly $50
o'clock. He carried the message up
Connecticut avenue as far as Dupont
Circle, where it was turned over to
Rodney bennett to be carried the
second mile.
Like all of his predecessors, Presi-
dent Franklin D. Roosevelt is very
much interested in the Boy Scouts,
and on next Thursday evening at
10:30 o'clock, on the 30th anniver-
sary of chartering of the organiza-
ton, he is scheduled to give a broad
cast over the air, probably telling Of
their many good qualities.
National Capital Area Coun-
Gil, Boy Scouts, embraces the Dis
trict of Columbia and extends over
into Maryland and Virginia. In
the District alone there are 181
troops with a membership of 1855,
which includes boys only and not
leaders.
officers of the Council are: Presi-
dent, Capt. Chester Wells; vice
president, DR.. Paul Bartsch; vice
president, Ralph A. Van Orsdel;
vice president, Ernest H. Daniel;
Scout commissioner, DR.. Camp
Stanley; treasurer, John Rowland
Hill; assistant treasurer, william B.
Willard: secretary, Linn G. Drake.
Members of the Executive Board:
DR.. Paul Bartsch, Henry P. Blair,
Garlic Bolton-Smith, Washington
]. Cleveland, Ernest H. Daniel, Jack
Gates, Col. Stuart G. Godfrey,
George E. Hamilton, George E.
Hamilton, jr; B. Powell Harrison,
jr.; Arthur HELEN, John Rowland
Hill, Ray G. Hopkins, Henry A.
Huschke, Samuel H. Kaufman, DR..
Cloyd Heck Marvin, Arthur j. May,
DR.. William T. McClosky, David E.
Mccoy, DR.. Walter H. Merrill, Wal
ter F. Mulligan, George Hewitt
Myers, Rev. William c. Royal,
James H. Simmonds, DR.. Camp
Stanley, L. Corrin Strong, Ralph
A. Van Orsdel, Capt. Chester Wells,
william B. willard, Rev. Arthur p.
Wilson, Col. Lester q. Wilson and
Lloyd B. Wilson, jr.
Evening star., 1940-02-04

Aboue:: Architects concep-
ton OF the General Federal
Office Building, noW being
erected on Second street S.W.,
bet1Ueen Virginia aUenue and
D street. The Census Bureau
'Diu haze the use of the Struc-
ture for three or four gears.
Right: Latest photo OF the
General Federal Office Build
ing.
Evening star., 1940-02-04
Raise Southwest Washington Area Dignity and Beauty

Architects draWing of the
Railroad Retirement Building,
10D under construction on c
street S.W., betDeen Third and
Fourth streets.
Evening star., 1940-02-04
Building Plan
nderWay to
Contribute
Major Center Has
Chance to Rival
Mall Triangle

Fifth OF series OF articles on
plans for the Development OF
Greater Washington during the
neIt 10 years.
Evening star., 1940-03-16
Voice Wins Award
For Loretta Yo,,n6

sex appeal that you can hear as
well as see .-.
Loretta Young, says the American
Institute Of Voice Teachers is the
girl with this double-barreled
charm,
The star has received the 1nsti-
tute's 1889 Voice Personality Award.
based on enuciation, clarity, tonai
quality, range and-yes, there is
such q thing-oral oomph.
Unable to get away from New
York, DR.. Irving Gielow, Institute
president, asked Alexander Hall. d.
rector Of Miss Young's current Co.
lumbta picture, to present to her an
elaborately engraved plaque. Hall
did so between scenes Of THE Doctor
Takes q Wife," a new domestic
comedy, with Ray Milland, Reginald
Gardiner, Gail Patrick, Edmund
Gwenn. Georges Metaxa and other
players as spectators.
DR.. Gielow, in announcing the
award. said there Is more to
"oomph" than meets the eye, "How
person sounds is as important as
how she looks" he declared. "Only
telephone operators can afford to
be completely impersonal in voice :"
Others who ranked hieh in the
Institutes 1889 ratings, he said, in
clude Dorothy Thompson, Admiral
Richard E. Byrd and Ted Husing.
Evening star., 1940-03-16
Where and When
Current Theater Attractions
and Time of Showinf

National-"Key Largo" new Max
wel Anderson play, with Paul NUM-:
2:30 and $50 pm.
Belasco Saint JOAN" Shaw's
Of course, with Luise Rainer: 2:3O
and $50 pm.
Palace = Northwest Passage. /"
Spencer Tracy meets adventure in
technicolor: 10:45 am, l:25, 4:l0,
6:55 and 9:40 pm.
.Earie-"Castle on the Hudson, I"
J.. Garfield and B. Meredith in
Sing Sing: IL am, 1:40, 4:25, 7:1O
and 9:55 pm. Stage shows: 1850,
$40. 6:25 and 0:10 pm.
CspitoL'"The Man From Dako-
t." by name, Wallace Beery II
am, las. 4:30, 7:15 and 10 pm.
Stage shows: 1850. 3:35, $40 and
e:05 pm.
Keith's-"Black Friday" chills:
1880 am, 2:30. $50 and $50 pm.
"House Of seven Cables" more
chills, 12:40. 3:40, $40 and 9:lO pm.
Mctropolitan-"Dr Etrlich's Mag.
ic Bullet" dramatic biography Of Z
noted scientist: II am, /, 3, SIS,
7::30 and $40 pm.
Colvmbia-"Broadway Melody Of
1940," with Fred Astaire and Eleanor
Powell: II am, 1:10. $40, $3.50,
7:40 and $50 pm.
Little Fire Over England,
Vivien Leigh W. the. Spanish Arma-
da: 1l:15 am. las, $50. 5:3S. 7:l0
and eAS Pm
Evening star., 1940-03-16
Americana Feature
OF Trans.Lux Bill

Americana holds sway at the
Trans-Lux this week. One instance
is to be found in Country Fair" "
which shows the fun rural America
has at its annual fall get-tegethers,
with shots of cattle judging and
harness racing at the Danbury Fair,
The other item of Americana is
really Hollywoodiana, for it goes
back 100 years to- the first illusion
Of motion pictures in 1888. From
there Birth of the Movies" fol-
lows the cinema through its Holly
wood high lights Of the silent era
and the birth of sounds
The news cameras bring us now
the first views of the Byrd expedi-
ton, including shots of a rather
inauspicious landing, with a tractor
and team of sled dogs falling into
crevasses and the snowmobile
slithering when it shouldn't. Closer
to home, in fact right here in WASH
ington, Minister Hjalmar Procope
discusses the outlook Of Finland
now that peace has gnawed away
large chunks of IT.; the President
and Secretary Wallace speak to
farmers. in Egypt the tomb of
Solomon's brother-in-law is dis
covered and around the world things
go on In the same old way. The
fashion note b for and about dogs. {
Il. NJ.
Evening star., 1940-03-16

sufficient to destroy the souls and
bodies of the brave little band in
volved and their treatment on the
screen has no difiiculty in sustain
ing the interest Of the audience.
Neatly interviewed into the story
OF the remorseless pursuit-in which
men who were unable to keep up
were left to the wilderness and to
death because there was no other
way-are numerous comedy side
lights. Basically character touches,
such as the bearded, philosophical
old soldier or the quaint, innocent
jailbird, these provide nicely con-
trasting interludes for the essen
TALLY grim climaxes toward which
the story constantly is moving.
AS the intrepid Maj Rogers, a
humane man forced to hide his hui
manity on dozens of fateful occa-
sions, Tracy registers another one
of those performances which make
him perhaps the finest acting asset
OF the cinema. Into the apparent
heartlessness of Rogers which makes
him drive men to destruction he
injects dozen intimations of the
essentially kindly man, a chap un-
willingly ruthless in a cause which
has small place for personal con-
siderations. It is quite trick, but
Tracy manages it with a skill which
makes his choice as Maj. Rogers as
fine as anything Hollywood has done
in months.
Color photography as used in
Northwest Passage" heightens the
heroic drama of the novel. The big
climax, the battle at st. Francis, is
vastly more effective than it could
have been in black and white
photography. The Redskins are so
much more Redskins, fire is so
vividly f1relike and the fierceness of
the battle so much more accented
that there is nothing for M-G-M
to do but finish the remainder of
the novel in technicolor. The battle
scene. incidentally, occupies a foot
age that might have represented
considerable waste had not Director
King Vidor tipped his camera
around to cover so many angles
that none had a chance to become
boring.
The homeward march of the des-
perate and starving remnant of
Rogers troop was a more difficult
problem from the standpoint of sus-
tanned interest, but a character
touch here and there plus pictorial
excellence spares the picture in its
closing interludes.
Robert Young, as the young Har-
ward artist (who was to have been
played by Robert Taylor once upon
a time) can feel very happy about
Northwest Passage" in that it gives
him the best role he has had in
several years. He fits the heroic
proportions Of the charcter, quite
snugly. but no more 50 than capable
Walter Brennan does those of
Hunk" Mariner, that sturdily con-
scientious objector to things Eng
Hsh and Indian. The two give ex-
cellent performances in a cast that
is uniformly good.
Admirers of Roberts novel will
f1nd 1t worked into fine piece of
screen adventure drama.
Evening star., 1940-03-16

ind something much to their liking.
For the stage show Is the incom-
parable Blackstone's latest collec-
ton Of demonstrations that his
hand Is quicker than your eye. that
you shouldn't always believe what
you see, even while you are seeing
1t.
Mr.. Beery is his old self In "The
Man From Dakota old self
he has been on 20 many cinema oc-
casions, ambling genially through
that role he wears with the same
casual abandon Is the ragged raj
ment about his shoulders. He
squints. he grimaces, he scratches,
he growls grufny, he smeArs his
hand across his face, he grumbles
''a-w-w-w-w" fetchingly, he busters,
he lumbers all In that becoming
manner Of st. Bernard marked in
early puppyhood by poor environ
ment.
This current manifestation Of
Mr.. Beery as the rough -hewn gent
with the thorny exterior and the
heart Of gold finds him a Union
sergeant escaping considerably
against his will from q Confederate
prison camp. He would be content
to remain there snoozing quietly in
his tent except when dashing to be
Evening star., 1940-03-16

first in line at the mess wagon, the
while his monthly pay Is piling up in
. Union Army paymaster's hut on
the other side Of the lines. He does
not want any parts of q war but
regular meals and pay day.
But in his bliss he reckons with
out Union lieutenant who has in.
formation he must get to Gen.
Grant and . determination to get
it there with the help Of Mr.. Berry,
an old Indian scout from Dakota,
II you have been wondering what
the title means. Before long there
Is Dolores Del Rio with them, she
and the lieutenant, John Howard,
purling to each other prettily, as q
sop to those who are not Beery
fans, though these folk probably
will not wait around to see the ro-
nance brought to full bloom any,
way.
The things Blackstone does Just
aren't possible and that is all there
Is to that. It is a great show he
puts on, one that is absorbing from
beginning to end, but we still are
not going to believe it. We do
not believe that girl floats in the
Evening star., 1940-03-16
Lucille Turner Gives
Folk Ways Program

Lucille Barrow Turner gave .
program Of dramatic interpretations
Of Negro folk ways ut the Willard
Hotel last evening, presented by the
Washington Alumnae Of the Ran
dolph- Macon Women's College. Di-
vided into two groups, her selections
included original songs based on the
traditions and on experiences in the
South and in character studies and
religious motives.
Against the background Of her
own accomplishment at the piano
Miss Turner sang group Of songs
In which the nearly monotone in
toning was Offset by . varied and
rather modern piano setting. Her
voice is deep in tone and color and
flexible in the expression Of the
slightest shade Of meaning. In her
delivery she maintains simplicity
that not only belongs to her type OF
work but enhances the dramatic ef-
feet and allows the picture to grow
naturally with q skillful touch for
high light here and there.
In the character sketches she at
tanned more individuality than in
her songs. Nanny" a study of a
Negro nurse rocking q child to sleep,
was done to the popular "Shortnin'
Bread" and her softly voiced inter-
probation was a revelation in its
antithesis to that made famous by
Lawrence Tbbett. In dramatic
timing, infection and feeling, it was
quite the best number Of her pro-
tram. Others in this division wore
Lilly Belle. Lucy Bellies Mother, u
and among the religious numbers
were traditional and spiritual ex-
pressions and an intoned prayer and
sermon. =. -.. II =
Mrs. Turner has made q thoroueh
study Of the Negro life from early
childhood ana her art carries the
stamp Of truth and genuineness.
Having in addition a fine contralto
voice, expressive hands and q real
sense of humor, she is especially
equipped to a portrayal Of the mar,y-
sidedness Of her subject. While she
Is entertaining most Of the time, she
also brings out angles Of historical
value that most interpreters of the
speciality overlook. A. e,
Evening star., 1940-03-16

air, for instance. even II Blackstone
does pass hoop around her to
show she Is unsupported. Nor do we
believe that horse just disappears
Into space-poof-like that.
Several Of the minor tricks Black
stone manages-the vanishing bird
cage. the disappearing and appear
ing rabbit, the tearing Of tissue
paper until 1t turns out to be hat
have been done by others Of va
rious degrees of skill. But even
these look fresh and more mystifying
under the Blackstone touch.
The Indian rope trick turns out
to be not 50 spectacular as it was
expected to be, perhaps. But when
Blackstone starts producing girl
after girl out of boxes where they
couldn't possibly be, and when he
steps behind a drape on one side OF
the stage only to turn out to be a
fellow on the other side of the
stage whom you thought was some
one else all the time. Well, it
is fun and lot Of fun to be fooled
by Blackstone.
Evening star., 1940-03-16
"Broadway Melody
Now atCOlunbia

Their tapping toes inspired by
some new Cole Porter tunes, put or
their best behavior by some over
poweringly expensive-looking seen.
cry. Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire
and George Murphy dance on thei,
merry way across the Columbia
screen now in Broadway Melody O,
l940.' 1t is quite an event, the we'd
ding OF these three talents. It is
such an event, in fact, that the pro-
duction department never for an
instant has permitted you to forget
you are seeing something colossal
ana when film sets are so glittering
and expansive they almost dwarf
(out not quite. thank goodness) the
dancing of Mr.. Astaire and Miss
Powell. the sets are too elitterinp
and expansive.
These three top-notch tan sne.
CYCLISTS do manage to bring of some
fine things, as any one would expect
both in solo and in sundry duet COM
blnations. Mr.. Astaire's solo tn
I've Got My Eyes on You" is one
OF the best moments he has had on
the screen. Mr.. Murphy's dance
with Astaire is bright interlude.
TOO. And the 1.-the Miss Powell
shines on many an occasion, as a
dancer. 1t must be admitted. and
not exactly as dramatic actress
But Broadway Melody of 1910" is
almost all dancing and that is a lot
OF dancing, even for Astaire-Powell-
Murphy dancing. OF course when
there is respite from the dancing
things get worse, for then the plof
rears Its ugly head, feebly. This blot
never should be permitted to rear Its
ugly head. It should go seek that
secret burial ground of plots, of In
a canyon in the Hollywood hills. and
there give in to its antiquity.
H. M.
Evening star., 1940-03-16


more than the slenderest doubt that
the remainder of the noble adven-
ture of the pioneering Americans
will come along as a sequel in due
time.
In limiting the current picture
to the tale of Rogers Rangers,
M-G-M still managed to fill the
screen with stirring and continuous
action. Moreover, it not only con-
trived to cast the drama with play
ers worthy of 1t but, filming it in
technicolor, gave 1t a striking visual
appeal.
Laurence Stalings and Talbot
Jennings who adopted Roberts
story have taken minimum OF lib
critics with the original. They have
followed the natural unfoldment of
the events with a highly successful
disdain for the conventions of film
writing which insist that history
needs to be pointed up here and
there If it is to achieve maximum
OF palatability. Romance rears its
petty, not pretty, head only In a
short prologue which provides a
neat jumping of place for the story
OF the redoubtable Maj. Rogers and
his valiant 200 who chased the cruel
Abenah Indians to destruction in
Canada.
X X X X
The pictures pursuit of the drama
inherent in that deed is inexorable.
1t deals with that terrific forced
march through swamp land, that
famous portage of the II whale
boats over the mountains, the dan
gerous fording of the torrential riv-
er above st. Francis, the destruction
OF the Indian village, and that des-
perate return voyage. These events
provide a series of dramatic climaxes
Evening star., 1940-03-16

affair, Director Anatole Litvak offers
a fight between Gordan and the
politician who would double cross
him even to the extent of stealing
his grid, Ann Sheridan. The luxuri-
Gus apartment which the pair
wreck must hace cost Warmers
pretty penny. as pretty a
penny as 1t must have cost its
tenant who had no right to be
there when trying to raise money
to free her sweetheart. Miss Sheri-
dan, incidentally. does considerably
less well with the moments when she
is supposed to be drmatic than with
those in which she is supposed to
look ornamental
Small parts, all Of them conven-
tional in the smallest detail, are
competently played. but neither the
skill Of the acting nor the elective
ness Of the direction can make
Castle on the Hudson" more than
one more prison picture.
Subordinate screen attraction on
this weeks Earle program is another
of those historic shorts In techni-
color, this time with the ebuillient
Theodore Roosevelt as its subject.
It is quite up to the standard Of
the series and earns lusty applause
for its subject at the end.
X
Leap Year Flashes" is the title
which Harry Anger has created for
this weeks stage show, q product
which is featured by the dancing
of the Dufflns and the singing of
Wilson. Lang. The Df1ns manage to
inject a deal of comedy into their
part of the bill and Lang lends a
lyric tenor voice to some popular
ballads.
The Three Freshmen are a versa
tile group on comedy bent and
Mark Ballero, imitator, figure in
the rest Of the stage doings along
with the Roxyettes, who are good,
as usual. J.C.
Evening star., 1940-03-16
John Garfield Sees More
Bitter Days at the Earle
Castle On the Hudson Also Has
Burgess Meredith In Prison;
Leap Year Flashes On Stage

Next to the one about Pat and Mike the most venerable story in
the folklore of Hollywood the involving
the most brilliant definitely
with the story of the bitter
Castle the Hudson
OF the Earle to derive whatever entertainment