davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03

can be made to stop and start
by voice command.
Through complicated series
of devices a group of words.
properly spaced. is converted
into electrical impulses which
make either robot or dog go
through their PAGES.
Sparkle sits up, wags his tail
and can bark.
Elektro will remain here a
week and strut his stuff on sew
eral TV shows. His itinerary in
cludes visits to Clarendon High
School, a department store and
a finale before the Washington
AID Club on February 9.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03
Civilians From 5 States
To Meet in Richmond

Members of Civitan clubs in
five States and the District will
gather in Richmond Saturday
and Sunday for the winter coun-
Gil meeting of the Chesapeake
district of Civitan international.
The two-day session will in
clude two business meetings and
entertainment features planned
by the Richmond CLUB. Also
scheduled is the nomination of
district officers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03
Lamb Named Virginia
Vehicle Commissioner

RICHMOND, Feb. 3.-Gov.
Stanley yesterday named Chester
H. Lamb of Richmond as State
motor vehicle commissioner. Q
post in which he had been serv-
ing as acting chief.
At the same time, the Cover
nor announced two other MAJOR
reappointmentS - Charles Nj.
Landlord Of Franktown as COM
missioner of fisheries and John
@. Rhodes as unemployment
compensation commissioner
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03
Tax-Rise Data
Drafted for
Congress Study
City Tax Assessors
Prepare information
On Works Program

District OthcialS were busy to-
day compiling information on
what various new tax increases
would mean to the city's income.
Schuyler Lowe. District Direc-
tor of General Administration.
said he hopes the information
will be ready for Congress late
today. The entire Tax Assessors
Office is engaged on the project,
he added.
Members Of the House Senate
District Fiscal Affairs Subcom-
mittee asked for the information
after expressing doubts that the
tax increases recommended ny
the Commissioners to help
finance the $305 million 10-year
public works program would be
sufficient.
The joint subcommittee at a
closed session tomorrow, Is to
study evidence already received
in public hearings. The addi-
tional tax information received
from the Commissioners also
might be considered at that
time.
To Offer No Other Plans.
Mr.. Lowe said the city Off
Gals would not make recon-
mendations for alternative tax
programs or make any COM
ments on whether the other tax
increases would be justified.
He said they planned only to
answer questions raised by the
subcommittee members.
Yesterday Senator Morse. In
dependent. of oregon declared he
is opposed to further increases
in either the District sales or
income taxes.
He also struck a blow in favor
of higher Federal payment
toward sharing the cost of main
tanning the Nations Capital.
Senator Morse is a member of
the Senate District Committee.
Senator Morse declared fatty
he intends to oppose lower
ing income tax exemptions and
broadening the sales tax to in
clude groceries. These were two
Of number of tax increase pos
sibilties raised last Monday by
subcommittee members.
Morse Explains Views.
The Oregonian declared that
what he has heard in Congress
so far about the works program
has convinced him that 1.-The
District is a perfect example of
what happens when the people
are taxed without representa-
ton" Senator Morse added:
1.-THE Congress owes it not only
to the District, but to the Nation.
to maintain a first-class city as
the Capital Of the United States,
with an appropriate share of the
cost borne by the people of the
United States.
II shall vote for a larger share
by the people of the United
States in the costs of operating
the Capital, including a much
larger share of the public works
program.
1T isn't the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia who are the
direct beneficiaries of the public
works program but the people of
the Nation. because the program
is essential to the effective opera
ton Of the business of Govern
ment."
In addition to proposing a $4.5
million annual increase in gen.
eral taxes and another SIS million
in sewer and higher water
charges, the city asks a SO mil
lion yearly increase in Federal
payments over the present $11
million and 50 million in Federal
loans for each year Of the pro-
posed 10-year period Of the
program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03
U.S. Makes S325,OOO
In Rentals With lis
Untaxed Property


The Federal Government not
only owns tax-exemDt 42.8 per
cent of the Districts land area,
but is earning $325.000 annually
on some of its tax-exempt prop
erty.
Public Buildings Services. a
branch of the General Services
Administration. which keeps &C.
count of such things, provided
the data at request of The Star
today.
The earnings are entirely le-
gal. a PBS spokesman assured.
In fact. he said. a basic law
passed by Congress in 1926 re-
quires that all property acquired
by the Federal Government be
leased until used for Federal
purposes.
In the District, this mandate
has been followed to the letter.
according to a Buildings Service
official. Not one Federal prop
erty that he knows of. this
spokesman said, is going idle. All
are either being used as Office
space for the Federal Govern
ment or are being rented as a
revenue producing proposition.
Up $4,000 in Year.
According to figures offered to
the HouSe-Senate District fiscal
subcommittee last Monday. the
1925, 900 Federal revenue figure
represents a $4,000 increase
over revenues Of 1852.
District officials have long be-
moaned the fact that the Federal
Government owns 42.8 per cent
non-taxable portion OF the Ma
tons Capital. That the Gov
eminent should make money off
such non-taxable property seems
intolerable, however lawful. Dis
trict assessment officials feel.
Breakdown Of Rentals.
Here is a breakdown of Fed
eral tax-exempt properties that
collect rentals. effective the fiscal
1854 year:
Parking lotS-including. from
ically. the one-block-square area
just south of the. District Build
ing-11 lots in all for a total
of 1888. 900 rental income.
Four restaurants. one stable
apartment house, 20 rooming
houses and 26 residential dwell
ings. $4,000 annual rental in
come.
Seven stores. six of which are
ground-floor facilities in the La
fayette Building. $4,000 annu-
ally.
Total assessed value has
jumped since 1852 total Of
$4,000 on such rental prop
critics.
And over the years real estate
tax exemptions on private prop
erty has increased to a present
total of $50 million.
Potential Taxes.
Figures released by the Dis
trict assessors Office show totals
Of non-collectible assessments
as:
Religious organizations in-
GLIDING parochial schools)-As-
sessed value. $66.5 million: po-
tential tax, $1.4 million.
Educational - Assessed value,
SAILS million; potential tax,
$888,571.
Foreign governments -$15.7
million: potential tax, 1897, 786.
Charitable-$10.9 million, po-
tential tax $236.283.
Cemeteries - $2.1 million:
$47,067 potential tax.
Hospitals-$15.1 million; po-
tential tax $325.858.
Scientific organizations 500
million; $146.849 potential tax.
Miscellaneous (including spe-
cial exemption legislation) -
$12.6 million: $271, 843 potential
tax.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03
Cos Rate Rise Approved

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Feb. 8
(P.-The Public Service Com
mission authorized the Martins
burg Gas g. Heating Co. yester-
day to adopt new rates designed
to increase annual income by
$500.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03

came on the scene and with Mr..
Kramer captured Jordan. The
suspect denied any knowledge
Of the robbery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
'Coine Mutiny' Production AII-Time, Pre-SoId
Champion Attraction to Reach New York
By Wilton Glover

years ago. They've been a
team ever since.
While working for one of
the big theatrical agencies.
Gregory heard Laughton give
a reading from literature, gave
chase and convinced the star
that he should undertake a
cross-country reading tour.
The alliance burgeoned
from that first success. Then
the two-the youth of 80 and
the star of 50-launched an
unorthodox project, present.
ing Don Juan" as a sort Of
composite reading with Laugh
ton. Charles Boyer, Sir Cedric
Hardwicke and Agnes Moor
head.
Shaw himself once vowed
the episode could never be
successfully staged.
Fhey thought I was just a
show business freak when Don
Juan was such a success"
Gregory reminisces. Laugh
ton and I have laughed over
it many times"
Today Laughton takes
charge of editing the chosen
script and directing the per-
formers: Gregory picks scripts,
stages and-the only thing he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
Coming Attractions

ARENA STAGE-"Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Will
liams. starting February
NATIONA-The Confidential Clerk with Ina Claire start
ing tomorrow.
SAM S. SHUBERT-"My Three Angels" by Sam and Bella
SpeWack, starting March /.
Screen.
ANfBASSADOR-"The Eddie Cantor Story with Keefe Bras
sele starting Thursday.
CAPITOL-Knights of the Round Table, with Robert Taylor
starting Friday.
COLUMBIA-"The BigamiSt" Joan Fontane, starting
Thursday.
DUPONT-"Juus Cesar" with Marion Brando
KEITHS-The of Lives" with Wright
MACARTHUR" Hamlet" with Laurence Olivier.
METROPOLITAN-"The Eddie Cantor Story" with Keefe
Brasselle. starting Thursday.
ONTARIO-"War Arrow" with Maureen O'Hara.
PALACE-Money From Home" with Dean Martin and Jerry
Lewis.
PLAYHOUSE-"The Man Between" with James Mason.
PIAAZA-"Tithed Thunderbolt" with Stanley Holloway.
ROTHS-"Titheld Thunderbolt" with Stanley Holloway.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24

place Of traditional courtroom
fixtures. to heighten the dra-
matte effect.
"As long as the effect is
achieved. and the audience
feels what we are doing, it
doesn't matter whether they
understand exactly how it is
DONE" is the way he explains
his technique.
His unusual methods have
neatly cushioned the cash
box.
Right now two Of our pro-
auctions have a weekly pay
roll of $53.000." he says, re-
ferring to "Caine" and the
still-touring "John Brown"
We're the only manage
ment in the country that can
say to an actor, Wen pay you
$4,000 a week for a guaranteed
20 weeks
But it pays. John Brown
has crossed SIT million. There
hasn't been a week that any
production has taken in less
than 100000"
However. it you try to probe
further into his methods,
Gregory somewhat mystically
answers:
II haven't any idea what the
public wants. but I know what
I can sell them"
The biggest ingredient IN
that salesmanship. he quickly
adds. is: I'VE have never
frauded. We have never prom
ised-like the movies and
sometimes the theater-things
and actors that we didn't de-
liver.
That lack of integrity in
some of the entertainment
business is what has hurt it
most in the past Is years."
The Gregory success story
got its start when his path
crossed that of British-born
actor Charles Laughton six
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
A Cool Million Awaited Gregory on Broadway

insists on doing alone-the
players. .
The pair have used only
their own funds in their shows
to date. Right now they are
planning ahead into 1857.
Among projects lined up are
a musical show starring Marge
and Cover Champion, dra-
matization of Thomas Wolfe's
1.-The Web and the Rock" a
Quaker-set musical Eliza" for
Mary Martin. a play about the
fabulous career of Art Dealer
Duveen. 1.-The biggest minstrel
show any one has ever seen"
and. for next summer, their
first motion picture.
That will be 1.-THE Night of
the Hunter" based on a novel
by Davis Grubb coming out
this spring.
Television has been turned
down.
mo ones worth the kind Of
money television is ready to
throw around. no matter what
they can do" says Gregory. He
implies. too, that video's stric-
lures are too combining.
AS the Laughton-Gregory
combine leapfrogs ideas into
the future. the young Iowan
keeps wary eye on the record.
I've made tons of mis-
takes" he says about the sue
cess score so far. But what's
the difference as long as you
know where you want to go?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
Demand for Donna
Exceeds Supply
HOLLYWOOD


Donna Reed is one girl with
reason to believe the old
Hollywood saw. you're only
as good as your last picture"
She had the misfortune to
make half a dozen shoddy
films in a row. then lapsed
into near obscurity.
Came From Here to Eter-
nifty" and up with the head
liners she leaped again. Holly
wood producers now can't get
enough Of Donna Reed and.
with TV joining in the cry,
she should be triplets at least.
Donna has just taken on
her third successive feature
role since the release. only
four months ago. of "Eter-
nifty" It is a co-starring job
opposite Dana Andrews in
"Gunslinger" for Columbia.
released by MANA,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
NEW YORK.


Broadway tradition got a jolt
last week from a young Mid
weSterner who makes a habit
of disrupting established stage
craft.
He is Paul Gregory, one-time
Des Moines newsboy. fugitive
from Hollywood acting chores
and producer of 1.-THE Game
Mutiny Court-martial."
The "Caine" drama reached
Broadway Wednesday with an
advance box office sale around
the million mark-the biggest
sockful any straight drama
ever racked up before hitting
New York.
One of the unusual things
about "Caine" Is that it hit
Broadway only after a four
month tour Of what Gregory
calls "our n towns"
Giving the road an about
preview. with New York a sort
Of anchor tank town. is a
variation from the arthodox.
That's particularly so now
adays when most irnpressarios
are crying the blues over the
decline of road business.
The road is only as dead as
the people sending the shows
out" says Gregory.
In the three years since his
operations got into full stride,
Gregory has made a speciality
OF staying away from already
prepared plays - the Don
Juan in He'll sequence from
a section of George Bernard
Shaw drama being a single ex-
ception.
But the 32-year-old pro-
ducer's most apparent break
with customary methods is in
the staging of his shows.
Don Juan's performers
played their roles sitting on
high black stools before a stark
backdrop; John Browns
Body" revived a chorus like
that Of ancient Grecian drama
to knit the action.
In Game" Gregory evolved
a series Of rounded props in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
Todoy's Schedules

stage.
ARENA STAGE-"Ah Wnderness": $3.50 pm
Screen
AMBASSADOR-"Publc Enemy: l. $685. $50 and $50 pm
CAPTTOL-'Forever Female: 1885, 3:4O 5:45, 745 and
$3.50 pm
CoLUMBA-"walking My Baby Back Home" l:15 3:4o
5:40. 7:45 and GAS pm.
DUPONT-"Fanfan the Tulip: !, 1855. $780, 7:25 and
9:45 pm.
kndIHS-Mss Sadie Thompson: l. 1850. 4:4O, $685. 1925
1rrTIE-'c t Of Paris: liz. 3. 4:4o e2s, sos
and 0:45 pm.
MacARTHUR-The Passionate Sentry: 2:o5 T. g. 755 and
9:55 pm.
MEIROPOLlTAN-"Publi Enemy: l. 4. Z and 1905 pm
ONIARIO-"Cease Fire: 2:50 4:40 $780, 800 and 10 pm
PALACEKng of the Khyber Rifles l. 3:1O $780, 735 and
9:45
PIAYHOUSE-"The Living DESERT: l. 225 AIS Cos and
$50 pm.
PLAzA-"Gibert and Sullivan: 1870. 1885, $40. 1850
9:55 pm.
ROTHs-"Glbert and Sullivan: 2. 4. 6. 8 and 10 pm
TFANS-LUX-"From Here to Eternity" l. $40. $685. TAO
and 9:55 pm.
WARMER This Is cinerama": 1880 $50 and $40 pm.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
He Stayed Awoy
From Dentistry
HOLLYWOOD.

14SA0J4 WOOOs
Edgar Buchanan. q fine
specialist in comedy charac-
terizations. joins Glenn Ford
as a railroadman in 1.-THE
Human Beast" at Columbia.
This should bring back a
flood OF memories to Edgar.
It was IL years ago that
Columbia prevailed upon him,
then a practicing dentist in
nearby Pasadena, to give up
his practice long enough to
perform a role. Fired by his
experience on the sound
stages. Buchanan never re-
turned to his chair. He sold
his equipment and good will to
an assistant and. through good
times and bad. has stuck with
movies ever since.
tReleased by NANA.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24
On the Air
On the Air
1t Is Not Visual Radio
On TeIevision Thut Picture Should
Take the Place of 1000 Words
By Harry Macarthur

There is a phony premise
being nurtured in the high
places at one of the networks
and something had better be
done about it. It is premise
that holds little promise.
Generally. this department
has felt that the outlook for
viewers was not too dim with
Sylvester L. Weaver. jr.. in
charge of the National Broad
casting Co. He is a strato-
spheric thinker. but he also is
a forward-looking one with
imagination.
Only last Sunday some kind
words were being set forth
here for his tenacity in intro
ducing to television the mag
azine concept" which keeps
program control where it be-
longS-in network hands.
There comes point, however,
where we must part company.
Either Mr.. Weaver has been
misquoted or his view of tele-
vision is not as imaginative as
it has seemed.
A Dangerous Thought
The new president Of NBC,
it. seems, looks on television
and radio as essentially the
same medium - one merely
adding sight to the character
istics of the other" The quote
is from a profile of Mr.. Weaver
in Sponsor, a trade magazine
for sponsors.
Sponsor. of course. is con-
cerned with television as an
advertising medium rather
than an entertainment medi-
UNI. Because sponsors still
control much of the program
content, however, it is an eSpe-
cially dangerous place for this
conception of TV as visual
radio to appear.
It is to be hoped that any
sponsors reading Sponsor take
with a grain of salt Mr..
Weaver's reported view on this
matter, According to the mag
azine, this is:
"The two media Tadio and
television) should be integral
ed in planning. Popular shows
are popular in both media.
Fan magazines and newspa-
pers all over the country talk
about television. It is the rage
of the country-its stars and
shows. It's a diSservice to IA
dio not to make available the
same shows on radio as on
TV."
He thinks, the magazine
adds. that the audio portion of
many television shows should
and will be on radio. This may
be fine for "Voice of Fire
stone" "Your Hit Parade" or
the NBC Symphony. But it
will be too bad if there is not
strong opposition when Mr..
Weaver tries to make some
other shows attractive to
those who only listen.
Mr.. Sornoff Agrees
David L. Sarnoff, board
chairman of the Radio Corp.
of America and NBC, has been
quoted, incidentally. as hold
ing this same view, that Nv
added the quality of sight to
radios sound. It is a legiti-
mate thought, perhaps. to fall
into the mind of a man con-
templating the chronological
magic of television. 1t is a
wondrous thing to snap a
switch in your living room and
look at the Pacific Ocean as
we'll as hear the surf
There is a difference, how
ever, between an electronic
marvel and a television pro-
gram. BY adding sight, the
technicians gave us new TO-
cal point. Now we look at the
picture and the sound supple
ments it. Radio drama, for
example, is and must be writ
ten in an entirely different
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-24

why you don't make pictures
that make money"
Her son explained, zestfully,
that he had always managed
a Champion" or High
Noon" to bail him out and
that the prospects for his lat
est picture were deemed ex-
tremely bright.
He's Also impatient
If this attitude about con-
troversial pictures amuses
him. there is another that Mr..
Kramer meets with quick Inn
patience. There is the notion
that a picture that presents q
definite point Of view on any
subject-say 1.-THE Champion"
represents the only point Of
view.
Life. as he sees it, is not that
black and white. The mere
fact that a well-made movie
has some forceful things to say
does not mean that its view
point is the final, or only valid,
one on the subject.
can eloquent newspaper
editorial can be pretty persua-
sive." he says, 'but it is seldom
the only persuasive thing to be
said on any debatable issue. It
is the same with q motion
picture, q play, or any other
piece of eloquence including q
Fourth Of July grafton. I've
never pretended that any of
my pictures took up an issue
and ended with the implica-
ton that settles that"
Navy Now Agrees
Beyond 1.-THE Game Mutiny,"
which he regards as q pro
Navy" film for all its subject
matter-and on which the
Navy now agrees with him
Mr.. Kramer has another prof.
ect which has It's hair-raising
aspects.
He has purchased. before
publication by the way. Nor
ton Thompson's mot as a
Stranger" a capacious and
vehement report on medicine
as seen through the eyes of a
young doctor. With his taste
for literature that is fllmable
because it makes a point.
Kramer is almost as enthusi-
astic about this one as for
THE Game Mutiny."
If there is a hullabaloo about
it, and he is sure there will be.
he is highly experienced in this
kind of professional in-fight-
ing.
Actually. Thompson's book
is pro-medicine," Mr.. Kramer
says. I'm sure a great many
people on the inside will recog-
niZe it as SUCH"
A Costing Problem
Casting the young doctor
hero, incidentally. is dilemma
that the producer already is
graphing with. He would like
to make it with Marion Bran
do, who. with Montgomery
Cliff, constitutes the full COM
plement of young Hollywood
actors these days. He and
Brando are friends and sharers
of q common point Of view.
The question is will Brando be
available. uncommitted else
where. when Kramer begins
shooting mot as a Stranger.
Mr.. Kramer. in New York
the next three weeks to ar
range the preliminaries for the
Gaines" release, thinks his
OreSent Aim will hit the screen
toward late spring or early
summer.
When the details Of this are
out of the way. he will con-
slider a big change in his pro-
duction program. namely.
whether he should henceforth
direct his own pictures.