The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1941-11-06
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BY NORTH CALLAHAN

way this year. As a rojult of this
adverse criticism, a number of ex-
pensive new shows have closed down
after a short run. Latest drama cas-
ualty was the Sinclair Lewis play
which cost $4,000 and lasted n
evening. This may seem a sad situa-
ton to the out-of-towners who hope
to see a good show or two while in
New York. But it should be remem-
bered that the critics are mainly res
ponsible for so many final curtains.
They have killed more plays this
season than Jessie James did Of
ficers. Now because / have seen
some of these plays so stingingly
panned by the critics, and enjoyed
every one of them, / believe these
gentlemen of the front-seat jury
are either war-weary or need some
little liver pills. After all, their de-
cision is mainly their personal op-
inion. And the "first night audien-
ces' here are made up of blase, fed
up New Workers who are certainly
not representative of good American
audiences.
900
For two years | was drama and
amusement editor on a newspaper
and during that time / learned an
interesting thing: that a drama cri-
tic is a person with a pass. Even
with his experience, the free ticket
is mostly the thing which distinguish
es him from other people. His YER
dict on a play should not rise or
fall with his blood pressure. And if
he never was in love, he should not
vow in his columns that the hero
and heroine were as amorous as am
monia. After all, thousands of good
people are weighing his words to
see if they should enjoy the play or
film. Besides the dozens of writer's,
actors and technicians who may be
the reviews are printed, have worked
for weeks or months to perfect their
handiwork. For some reason, l be-
lieve that critics on New York pap
ers contact each other after a play
and before their reviews. Otherwise,
I do not see how their opinions
could coincide so often. Maybe it Is
4 matter Of self-protection. AS q
substitute for these critics deciding
the fate of a new show, why couldn't
PRODUCES invite as guests a num-
Der of peope from various sections
Of the country and let their collec-
tive votes decide?
-oOo-
Stopping in at a radio station here
the other day to see my friend, Joh-
dnnes Steel, the commentator, l ran
into Kenny Baker in the hall. Had
a nice chat with the young singing
star and found him to be as smiling
and friendly as he appears on the
screen, He looks a little older now,
however. Said he was in town for
80 weeks to appear on the Fred Al
len program. He was at the station
this day to meet Johnny Green,
the composer. / listened to the two
over some new songs and they
surely sounded Good. Kenny said
he liked New York but the Holly
wood weather and scenery suited him
better. He introduced me to him wife
who came in later. She is pretty and
very un-theatrical.
-oOo-
At the Marble Collegiate Church
on Sunday, l listened to the Reverend
Norman Vincent Peale tell of his re-
cent experiences in Hollywood as
technical adviser on the new motion
picture, Zone Foot in Heaven"
Ministers of the U.S.A. selected him
their representative for this task.
He had lever seen the filmy city be-
fore and admitted he wal Fascinated.
Sdt he emphasized to- his huge con-
gregation that he found none of the
evil goings-on in Hollywood of which
ne had heard so much. OF course, he
Wisely added, the movie peote might
have been putting on their best be-
hav,or while he was there. Apparent
~ he enjoyed his job as religious
expert on the film in which Frederic
March and Martha Scott are stars.
He strongly struck out at some MEM
bers Of his church who had criticised
his leaving his pulpit to spend the
several weeks in helping with the
film. ut is my spiritual duty" he
declared, Ito go where / can do the
most good, whether it be in your
homes or in Hollywood"
900
Manhattan Musings: after search
ing long and hard the other day,
OFFICIALS found a soldier who had de-
serted = on a ferris wheel at Coney
Island and a ~2O-year-old girl
wrote in to a local draft board ask
ing thai her brother be released
from the Army. Her reason: she said
she wanted protection because she
was a minor and lives in BROOKLYN
: the case of Mae West filing
SUIT for divorce aoainct H. afo-