Indianapolis Times, Volume 34, Number 164, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 November 1921 — Page 6
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BERNARD AND . MITCHELL TO DIVIDE WEEK Former at English’s First Half, ‘Champion’ Last—‘lrene’ at Murat. BINGHAM AT KEITH’S Thanksgiving week in the local theaters will bring Barney Bernard In “Two Blocks Away” and Grant Mitchell in “The Champion” at English's, while “Irene,” with Dale Winter, will hold sway at the Murat. Amelia Bingham, one of the famous stage people, comes to B. F. Keith’s in a heavy historical playlet, called "Catherine, Empress of Russia.” The Lyric will top its Thanksgiving week bill with a revue called “Nine o'clock Revue” and the Rialto will otter "Bubbleland Girl Revue.” The Park will present Ruth Denice in a musical extravaganza called “Baby Bears.” The Bernard show opens on Monday night at English's and ending on Wednesday night. On Thanksgiving day, Grant Mitchell opens a three-day engagement in "The Champion” at English's. -I- -|- * "TWO BLOCKS AWAY” OPEX3 MONDAY NIGHT. Barney Bernard if Abe Potash fame, will open a three-day engagement beginning Monday evening at English's in Aaron Hoffman’s latest comedy, “Two Blocks Away ” In which Mr. Bernard is being starred under the management of Charles Dillingham. Mr. Bernard played Abe Potash for eight seasons but in his new role of Nate Pommerantz, he is afforded the greatest opportunity of his career to display his ni:-ked talents for character sketching. He incidentally plays the only Jewish part in the piece. The prolific writer, Aaron Hoffman, who wrote this new vehicle, Is probably best known for “Welcome Stranger” which became such a notable success. “Two Blocks Away” is a comedy of homely philosophy—to-wit, that the possession of money does not bring happiness, but that on the contrary, it is quite likely to convert a kindly disposition into a sour one. The comedy shows the rise of Nate Pommerantz, a Jewish cobbier who works at his trade in a basement ■hop in the districts of the poor and is a popular and loved character of the neighborhood. The second act finds him living in nearly solitary grandeur In a house on the park, "two blocks away." Here, “all lit up” by a sunburst of prosperity, he shows himself money mad and a victim ot luxury, turning his back upon all his old friends and eTen changing his name to Nathaniel Orange, but in the end the play sees him again Nate Pommerantz. and his former self without his big fortune but with his old friends. In support of Mr. Bernard will be seen snch players as Edna Hibbard, Anee Carpenter. Wallace Erskin, Harold Rus■ell, John Rutherford, Kate Morgan and many others.
‘•IL.EXE” DEE AT Ml RAT MONDAY. "Irene,” the smart musical comedy, which opens a week's engagement at the Muiat Monday night as Its Thanksgiving attraction with matinees Thursday at S:3O and Saturday, has scored trhimphs Both In New York, Boston and Chicago and presents a pleasing refutation of the statement that musical comedy cannot be made Interesting, tuneful and amusing at one and the same time. The book, by James Montgomery, tella an interesting story of a Cinderella shopgirl who is suddenly elevated to smart •oeiety. Harry Tierney has written a melodiou.v and captivating score with a number of refreshing hits, including "Alice Blue Gown,” "We're Getting Away With It,” "Sky Rocket,” "Irene,” “Castle of Dreams,” and "The Last Part of Every Party,” which lend themselves to exceptional dancing and singing. The lyrics are by Joseph McCarthy and the staging by Edward Royce of the Gayety Theater, London, is of high order. Irene is a shop girl, who, through a visit to the country home of Donald Marshall, to Inspect some unsatisfactory goods, Is introduced to a male modiste In search of models. Clothes maj not make the man but they certainly make the girl in this Instance, for, garbed In her borrowed apparel she wins the heart of both her benefactor and her audience. This shift in the heroine's station In life Is cleverly used to Introduce scenes alternating between the emerald lawns of a Lond Island country house and the back walls of a tenement with Its dreary clgzags of fire escapes. Two of Irene's girl griends accompany her In her social ascent, but their mothers view it all suspiciously and act accordingly in diverting situations. Dale Winter heads the cast In the title role. Other principals In the cast are Howard Freeman, Robert Harrison, Henry Coote, George P. Collins, Walter Croft, Louise Worthington, Erica Mackay, Dorothy LaMar, Mildred Goodfellow, Fin Irwin, Helen Dußois and Teddy McNamara. • -1- -1- -IFAMOrS STAGE ACTRESS TO HEAD BILL AT KEITH'S. Amelia Bingham, ODe of America's most distinguished actresses, will occupy the headline position at B. F. Keith's next week when, with her company of players. 6he will e seen in the one-act historical drama. “Catherine. Empress of Russia.” No player has risen to higher heights than Miss Bingham, and no player has done more for the intellectual development of the stage than she has. She will be remembered for her excellent portrayals of the leading feminine characters In "Mme. Sans Gene.” “The Climbers,” “The Modern Magdalene” and others. In Miss Bingham's support are Frank Ferguson, who wrote her present vaudeville vehicle; Frank Sylvester, and other sterling players. The bill also Includes William Brack and bis company of eccentric artists, Feven in number, who offer an unique routine of acrobatic stunts. Jim and Betty Morgan are a youthful pair of musicians, who also sing their own compositions. They are authors of “Don't Bite the Hand That Is Feeding You,” “Cleopatra Had a Jazz Band,” "Frisco's Kitchen Stove Rag,” "A Roaming Romeo,” and others. One of the “funniest acts” in vaudeville Is that of “Pete and His Pals,” offered by Van Cleve. The act shows the trials that beset a pair of darkeys who try to teach a circus mule some new stunts. The mule has Ideas of his own and himself becomes the teacher. Bobby Folsom and A1 Brown, wellknown vaudevilllans, will present a singing act that is different from the general run of similar acts. Mr. Brown Is eo-compoeer of the lyrics and music of "Town Topics" and “The Passing Show of 1913.” A bit of circus flavor will te given the bill by James and Etta Mitchell, who will offer an aerial act of the dare-devil sort. They work on a revolving and break-away ladder. Other acts and motion pictures will complete the program. GRANT MITCHELL DUE AT ENGLISH’S THURSDAY. Grant Mitchell In “The Champion,” under the management of Sam H. Harris, will come to the English's for three days, commencing Thanksgiving matinee at 3 o’clock.
& WITH PL AYS INDIANAPOLIS IS TO SEE *
Upper Lest —Edna Hibbard in “Two Blocks Away,” opening Monday night at English’s for three da} •. First From t pper Left—Grant Mitchell and Adria Hill in “The Champion,” opening Thanksgiving afternoon at English’s. Second From Upper Left—Dale Winter, who sings the title role in “'rene,” opening Monday night at the M- rat for all week. Upper Right—Amelia Bingham, noted actress, who will top next week’s bill at Keith’s in a sketch called “Catherine, Empress of Russia.” Lower Left—Scene from “Nine O’Clock,” at the Lyric next week. Lower Center —Ruth Denice in the musical extravaganza, “Baby" Bears” at the Park next week. Lower Right—Scene from “Bubbleland Girl Revue” at the Rialto next week.
The critics classed “The Champon” as one of the big comedy hits In New York last season, and now Mr. Mitchell comes here direct from his Chicago engager-.,.::; at the Cort theater. The orlgina’ company. with a cast of twenty-one and the original production will be seen here. "The Champion” Is by Thomas Loudon and A. E. Thomas and they have written a play replete with laughs and with a joyous spirit which is Irresistible. Then, too, the love Interest has not been neglected. The story briefly is this: William Burroughs, who left England fifteen years before, returns to his home in conservative Knotiey, where his family, guided by Lady Elizabeth Galton, is endeavoring to climb into high society. coming of the prodigal is anything but welcome and when he Is recognized as a former lightweight champion of the world, then his father and brothers are scandalized. In fact, William is ordered from the house and every effort is made to keep the news from leaking out. When
I TODAY New York Winter Garden Spectacle LAST “THE WHIRL OF NEW YORK” 2 * Matinee, 2P. M.—so<S 75d. SI.OO. $1.50. TIMES Tonight. BP. M.—so<S SI.OO, $1.50, $2.00. $2.50. | fpgp—^r—wjßßP'■!■ ii i 'hpii hjw m 1 . ■ ■ W> mttf* MONDAY EVE. NEXT WEEK THANKSGIVING ATTRACTION SEATS XOYY SELLING ' MATINEE THURSDAY 2:30 (HOLIDAY), AND SATURDAY SfcARS Over Five Million People IcCk& ,H Have, Witnessed and Acclaimed J in mnm Z 7, ' Chicago gsyampp* —— I. „. , „ -‘Book bn Jdmej flo/rfdoiner!/. . . TME BEST MUSICAL PLAY EVtB. WRITTENII CONTAINS MOilE SONG WITS TWAN IS USUALLY FOUND IN TEN HUSKM CWUCitS. /fas'been seen in [2 A r>r| lai a I BlCES—Evenings, 50e-*I.OO-*LSO-$2.00-;2.50 ! Thanksgiving Day, 2:30, Matinee, ( | 50c-75c-SI.OO-51.50. Saturday Matinee, sOc-75c-SI.CO-51.50-$2.00. Plux tax.
COMING MONDAY—TUESDAY—WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 28-29-30 MATINEE WEDNESDAY “A .H.WOODS za p - M LADiESV W 1® IN /A TURKISH BATH FT 2>y faery ffipfflood&Oiortton Andrews j J DIRECT /rom ONE J/ -■ 'at ELTIKCE THEATRg N.Y? ■ ALLYN KING CLAIBORNE FOSTER EVELYN GOSNELL EDWARD DOUGLAS AND OTHERS. THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION -.-LI FROM ONE YEAR AT THE ELTIN'GE THEATER NEW YORK CITY. MAIL ORDERS NOW. SEATS 9 A. M. THURSDAY, PRICES: EYE., 500-75c-*l ,00-S 1.50-52.00; MATINEE: 50c-75c-SI.OO-$1.50.
lit does get noised about, however that j the sleepy English town has a champion In its midst, the titled gentry turn out 1 to do their hervi honor and he soon has j them shouting for America. 1 The company Includes Arthur Elliott, : Frank Westerton, Gerald Hamer, Gordon Burby, Robert Williamson, Robert Lee Allen, Harold Howard, Horace Cooper. Robert Ayrton, Henry Warwick, A. P. Kaye, Tom Williams, Clara Verdera, Desiree Stempel, Adria Hill and | Phyllis Tillman. -I- -I- -I- ---' ANIMAL ACT HOOKED AT LYRIC NEXT WEEK. Vaudeville's newest animal thriller, Del Mar's lions, will provide the Lyric bill with an unusual beadllue attraction next week. The group of Jungle Vtlngs comprising the act perform In a specially constructed forty-foot steel arena. Captain Del Mar who has long been famed for his handling of wild animals, Is in chargo of the act. Ho has originated a number of new, difficult and sensational feats for his charges. ! Another novelty will be the farcical 1 oddity “Nine O'clock,” a satire on school 1 days in which the school "boys” are five elderly men, and the teacher a very I petite young woman. j The La Velle Four will offer a melange ( of music and dancing, j Completing the show there will be
AMUSEMENTS.
INDIANA DAILY TIMES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1921.
fieorge W. Moore, a Juggler billed as a marvel of manipulation; Walnisley and Leighton in their laughable skit “SimpSon,” depicting the troubles of a small town "boob" in endeavoring to give counsel to a young woman from the city; Billy Tamm, tramp story felling comedian. Morrell and Mae with a budget of comedy songs, talk and dancing, and Rogers and Page In an amusing absurdity "At the Soda Fountain,” while on the screen will be shown a Larry Seraon farce, "The Bell Hop,” and the ever interesting Bray plctograph. -I- -I- -I----“BABY BEARS” AT PARK NEXT WEEK. “Baby Bears” is the title of a musical extravaganza show which will be at the Park next week. The book Is adapted from a French farce aud the company numbers forty, it i said. Lew Talbot will present this show. The members of the “Baby Bears" cast comprise Harry S. LeViin, n Hebrew comedian, and he is assisted by Jean Schuler, Ruth Denice, George Reynolds, Nance Shannon, Billie (Pep) Robinson, Charlie Kane and the “Baby Bear" chorus.
| —THANKSGIVING WEEK— | ENGAGEMENT EXTRAORDINARY J FIRST TIME IN INDIANAPOLIS | | IPL CAPTAIN I leim. Del Mar’s I ||9 LIONS j Tawney Jungle Kings performing new * and thrilling feats In a specially constructed 40-foot steel arena. Ij =“Nine 0’Clock”! I AN AMUSING SATIRE ON SCHOOL DAYS J r !! WAMSLEY & LEIGHTON ROGERS & PAGE | “SIMP-SON” “AT THE SODA FOUNT AIN” _ |j GEO. % MOORE LA VELLE FOUR BILLY TAMM j Marvel of Manipulation Music and Dancing Tramp Comedian . MORELL & MAE I LARRY SEMON \ jf A CYCLONE OP COMEDY | “THE BELL HOP” Qancinq \w<h& Gjricßallßoom. L Uiiemoon&B/eninp ||p jj
MATT MOORE RECOMMENDS By Afatt Moore (Copyright, 1921, by Matt Moore)
NEW YORK, Nov. 19.—“ Enchantment” with Marlon Davies Is beyond a doubt the best picturo Marion Davies has made in her screen career. The story is entertaining. the settings and photography ure magnificent, and tbs acting upon the part of Miss Davies is finished and shows talent. Robert G. Vignola has done excellent work in the direction of this Interesting picture. “The Beggar Maid,” a two-reel production based on Sir Edward BnrueJones' painting and Tennyson's poem, “King Cophatua and the Beggar Maid," is oue of the most beautiful screen productions I have seen in many months. The director, Herbert Blache, has handled his theme delicately and with taste. Romance, permeated with the spirit of art, makes this production a screen achievement of great distinction.
AMUSEMENTS.
“Bits of Life," by Marshall Neilan, is a screen novelty that should prove at- j tractive. It is a collection of four two- ! reel stories, each one of which is Inter- I esting in itself and In no way connected , with the other This attempt to make a I screen production like a magazine in ! variety of interest is highly successful : and deserves to be followed by other j producers. Lika “The Beggar Maid," It 1 shows that the two-reel picture Is Interesting and long enough for torno stories aud I think that this tendency toward better stories and shorter stories Is a good change. (Editor's Note —Matt Moore, well-known film Rtar, who has played opposite Mary Pickford, Elsie Ferguson and other stars, is reviewing the new movie in New York j for the Times. llis reviews will appear j each Saturday in the Times.)
In The Land oj- Make Believe by WALTER D. HICKMAN
Day after day my mall contains letters both from the public as well as from the performers. Some time a line or two Is received from a theater manager or the manager of a show. Some of the letters have been pleasant and others have been the opposite. I have always welcomed honest criticism of my reviews of shows. The other day I received a letter from the YVatson Sisters, who are the headline offering at the local Keith house this week. In my review, I saw lit to I “play up,” as we say in newspaper work, the entertaining efforts of Clara Howard and “Sophie Davenport." I explained j that my opinion of the Howard act In no way reflected upon the headline merits of the Watson Sisters. Did the Watson Sisters resent the exercise of my right In “playing up” Miss Howard ? They did not. I received the following letter from | the YVatson Sisters: j “We read with great pleasure your opinion of our act in today’s Times. We i greatly appreciate all the nice things I you wrote about us and we take this i means of thanking you. I “We enjoyed your review on the entire j bill and note yo-u have a good sense of humor, particularly with ‘Sophia.’ “With best wishes and thanking again, YVe are sincerely, “YVATSON SISTERS. Per Fanny W.” The biggers and more famous the actress the more of a human being she is. Here are two of the biggest headliners on the Keith circuit who enjoy, really enjoy, reading a review of a vaudeville show. The Wat/Son Sisters did not find fault that their names were not spread over the entire paper. I recognized their headline worth. They are the leaders | on the vaudeville stage In their partieu- : lar line of work and yet they are big | enough to enjoy reading of others. | It Is this spirit that the Watson Sisi ters reflect In their letter to me that has ! made them favorites with the managers, ! the men back stage and the public of j every Keith theater. The stage needs genuine people. Let’s i keep the Watson Sisters before the pub- | He until the final curtain. The letter was not written for pnbli- | cation, but I have used It to demonstrate
1011*0 NEXT MONDAY evening tKuLIOIi 5 3 Nights Only Nov. 21-22-23 PRICES 50c TO $2.00 CHARLES DILLINGHAM PRESENTS BARNEY BERNARD (OF “ABE POTASH” FAME) AMERICA’S GREATEST CHARACTER ACTOR, IN “TWO BLOCKS AWAY” AARON HOFFMAN'S BEST COMEDY IPS A WINNER FOR WHOLESOME FUN AND LAUGHTER THURS.—FRI.—SAT. MATS. THURS. AND SAT. SPECIAL MAT. THANKSGIVING DAY AT 3 P. M. GREATEST LAUGHING HIT IN YEARS! \ SAM ft. HAPDiS df&ts f/Sr) OR AMT rJ Me-, MITCHELL V Fa 0 si /M r j “the . \ CHAMPION 1 STEte J" TUCMASIOUDENAETHCMAS A KNOCKOUT Staged s\tA poorest FIRST TIME AT THESE PRICES. NIGHTS, 50c TO $2.00 MATINEES, 50c TO $1.50. SEATS READY MONDAY. ALL LAST SEASON at the LONGACRE, New York 3 BEGINNING MON. NOV. 28 WEDNESDAY America’s Foremost Musical Show The basis of this entertainment is Comedy, and if you can not find Comedy In “THE RIGHT GIRL,” then MARK TWAIN was a pessimist. ONE 0F THE F,VE a./^rHn Kmfo BEST MUSICAL PLAYS / OF THE SEASON QC-AV/TI&9 _ “The igf Girl” BBBBBY direct FROM BROADWAY FULL of Enchanting Melodies ddiuiamt 1 JOYOUS SCENES musical PRETTY DANCES comedy STAGED BY DAVID BENNETT Prices Nights, 60c to $2.00; Matinees, 50c to $1.50 Mall Orders Now. Seats Nov. 24. THURS., FRI., SAT., DEC. 1,2, 3. MATINEE SAT. Sam H. Harris Presents Aaron Hoffman’s Delightful Comedy, WELCOME wail STRANGER George Sidney The Greatest Comedy Success of Two Seasons Mall Orders Now. Seats Ready Nov. 28.
the splendid human side of these two women of the stage. -!- -I- -lThis department has followed with Interest the experiment of the Sotherns In giving a special matinee of “Hamlet” for the school children of New York. From all reports the special matinee was more than a success —it was a great victory. Kay Henderson has sent me the following account of the matinee: “Three thousand youngsters, eager and excited, rejoicing in a holiday from their lessons and a party all their own at the theater, were given a memorable afternoon at the Century theater in New York, Nov. D, by E. H. Sothern, Julia Marlowe and Lee Shubert, when Shakespeare's ‘Hamlet’ was acted especially for/ them. It was the children’s day and their appreciation ot the fact was evident in the festive air and the joyous spirit which pervaded the theater, but it is doubtful If they enjoyed the event more than did Mr. Sothern and his colleagues who declared they had never acted before a more intelligent, inspiring audience. “A unique occasion, an interesting ttperlment, was this representation of a classic drama, and a tragedy at that, before an audience of 3,000 boys and girls, the majority of whom had never seen a Shakespearean drama and never been In a legitimate theater. YY’hat these young folk thought of th spoken piay in contrast to the motion pictures which form their usual diet of entertainment, is best shown by the rousing enthusiasm which followed each scene and the tense interest with which the development of the plot was followed, if ever Shakespeare as an out-and-out teller of a good story was vindicated, he came into his own on this Any qualms that some people may have felt about the choice of this generally considered ‘solemn’ tragedy as amusement for young folk were quickly dispelled by the evident fascination with which the play immediately gripped the youthful audience. As Mr. Sothern remarked, elders sometimes forget Just how wonderful the mind of the child is in grasping vital things, how big the imagination and how unbounded the willingness of the child to enter Into the mood of real mat(Continued on Page Nine.)
AMUSEMENTS.