Evening star., 1946-02-20

encyclopedia fellow who could write
II books about show business and
its people If he were not too busy,
Anger invariably finds Moore his
favorite subject.
His latest spoken chapter con-
Germs the time Moore was elected
head of an actors club located in
an actors community on Long Is
land. There were something like
1000 actors in the vicinity, Mr.. A.
recalls and, in the fashion of such
professionals, they Immediately
formed a club.
"All actors clubs" Mr.. Anger says,
ARE miSmanaged. Not maliciously,
OF course, but just because they are
made up of actors. Well, this one
was the supreme achievement. 1t
was something like $4,000 in the
hole at the time it elected Moore as
Angel. That was what they called
the president and it was funny to
hear him addressed at formal meet
ings as Mister Angel. 1t was fun
nier because in a large roomful of
actors, no one ever seemed to think
it was funny.
well, with that deficit, Moore as
the new Mr.. Angel, called a meeting
OF the membership. He was not the
most decisive presiding officer you
ever saw, not by all the presiding
ofhcers you ever saw. He finally got
the meeting called to order and was
in the middle of explaining about
the deficit and how the club was
going to have to take desperate ac-
ton.
He was just getting well started
when q member jumped up to an
nounce that he had just learned
the club was paying cents a pound
more for butter than was neces-
sary."
Anger stopped there to catch his
breath.
II thought Moore would choke"
he went on. when he finally did
make himself coherent, 1t was pretty
good. 1t wasn't a long speech, but
1t was a good one about a man who
cut in to talk about cents when
the issue was $4,000
AS a comedian should, Mr.. Anger
recalls that Moore was getting his
laughs with every word, but it was
his close that got the real guffaw.
At that point he drew himself up
to his full 5 feet, inches of Alex
n d er Throttlebottom majesty,
pointed his finger at the unchas-
tened member and remarked:
Besides, George, if you'd stop and
pay your bill on the way out, we'd
be solvent"
Looking back on it, Mr.. Anger
thinks it was in the role of Mr.. Angel
that Moore made the toughest
speech of his career.
X X
Jackie Coogan, who distinguished
himself as a glider pilot during the
war, has done quite a job of redis-
tinguishing himself as an entertainer
since his discharge. His professional
career had slowed down to a walk,
or less, before his entrance into the
service, but the speed with which
it is now travelling is the reason he
was Cancelled out of the Capitol the
ater stage show which opens to-
morrow. u
Popular demand is holding him
over at Loew's State theater in New
York, and his Washington date will
have to. be deferred.
In the meantime, John Boles, one
Of the most popular of the singing
fellows out Of Hollywood, will take
over the spot left vacant by Coogan
on the new bill at the Capitol.
~ - X * X ~
Bulletin board: Neighborhood the
aters, those of the Warner, Kogod-
Burka and Lust chains, will have
special matinee performances on
Washington's birthday. Peter
Hamilton, the young man who
danced so Wvidly in such Theater
Guild productions as "Sing Out,
Sweet Land" and "Carousel," will
appear in Washington with the
Charles Weidman group coming
here March 10 under the auspices
of the Cappel Bureau. June
Graham will be another of Mr.
Weidman's specialists. Aside to
M. S.: Yes. Ruth Gordon's comedy
Miss Jones'" is autobiographical
all about how she left Wollaston
Mass, to become one of the bright
est stars of the theater for more
than two decades. But Miss
Gordon will not play Ruth Gordon
>. She is a writer now. The
actress she used to be will be por-
trayed by Barbara Leeds. Latest
intelligence from Metro-G Goldwyn-
Constitution Hall. Tomorrow ut $50