Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 273, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 February 1927 — Page 5

FEB. 19, 1927

VARIETY HOUSES WILL HAVE BIG BILLSINEXTWEEK Frank Fay, Watson Sisters and ‘Weeping Willow’ on Programs. Broadway’s favorite son, Frank Fay, will play at B. F. Keith’s next week as master of ceremonies, introducing the various players composing the bill in his far-famed monologue style. Sharing honors with Mr. Fay as headliner will be Harry Fox, who has left the movies and musical comedy to come back to his favorite two-a-day. In this act. “The Bee and the Fox,” Mr. Fox is assisted by a chorus of six girls and Beatrice Curtis, who was selected by Harrison Fisher as his idea of a perfect magazine cover girl. The numbers completing the bill are as follows: WILL AND GLADYS AHERN—In “A Spinning Romance”—an act in which romance is captured by means of a rope. Will Ahren plays the part of the rope-sliding dare-devil cowboy who weakens at the hand of Gladys Ahern, the singing spinner of the romance. k HERMA AND .TUAN REYES—"South American pianist and violinist, are offering a program of musical numbers reflecting the warming influence of the tropics. Senor and Senorita Reyes have only recently come from Chili, where they were heralded as “South America's foremost concert pianist and violinist.” DANNY DUGGAN—Presents an act /Os dancing, leading his company as “the mirror- of motion in a frame of melody.” Mr. Duggan has won more than one hundred dance tournaments and is known as America's premier waltzer. Novelty dancing, chorus work, soft-solo and waltzing comprise his program. FRANK RICHARDSON—The joyboy of song, will be seen this week with anew face. He is no longer the black-faced comedian, but himself, a singing comedian. The change was made when a late train made it impossible to make up, for his performance, and as a white man his act went better than ever before. ARCHIE AND GERTIE FALLS— In “A. Few Hard Knocks” open a §cene culminating in a railroad Wreck with a novel posture series. Gertie Falls is a modern Venus, accompanied with a seeming suicidemaniac, Archie Fall3N whose drastic actions are breath-taking acrobatic jump specialties. The Keith’s program is completed with the usual comedy and news features.

WATSON SISTERS TOP LYRIC BILL Fanny and Kitty Watson, comediennes who rank among the foremost Krf! vaudeville fun makers, come to the Lyric next week heading a well balanced bill of quality acts. The Watson sisters have starred in mus&eal comedy, headed their owi. revue productions, and ai-e equally as popular abroad as they are in this country. ■ They have a contagious method of creating -laughter, are original in everything they do, and with all they are always gorgeously’ gowned, never resorting to eccentricities in dress or make-up to create hilarity. The bill will include: AMAC —Celebrated European Illusionist who is offering for the first time in America his latest and most baffling creation, “The Elusive Lady,” hailed as the greatest stage mystery ever imported from foreign shores, and which to date, has only’ been presented in a few of the larger cities throughout the East. ROMAINE AND CASTLE—Blackface comedians and vocal harmonists in anew act, bubbling over with merriment. “THE WHIRL OF BROADWAY” —A colorful revue of music, song and dance featuring Goldie and Eddie, specialty dancers, supported by Francis Stanfield, Burt Leonard, Betty Gardiner and Betty Gray. FRANK BRAIDWOOD Cowboy baritone, banjoist and humorist, popular as a recording artist who brings anew and engaging personality to the variety’ stage. FRALEY AND PUTMAN —“A Breeze From the West,” introducing intricate feats of rope spinning, a catchy line of comedy’ and some fcagile stepping. f STANLEY AND ATTREE—Spectacular aerial gymnasts who give a performance of a most novel and daring character. ON THE SCREEN—A Hal Roach comedy, “Two Time Mamma,” Kinograms and an Andy Gump farce entitled, “Rooms For Rent.” IMPORTANT BOOKING MADE AT PALACE •Beneath the drooping boughs of a weeping willow tree two pairs of lovers come as to an oracle and ask questions pertaining to their future happiness in “Weeping WilloA-,” the allegorica musical legend opening Sunday at the Palace theater. The big tree occupies the center of the stage and vaudeville has made up for its Avon use to legend about the willow that says the lovelorn who seek its advice always find happiness. The questions that the lovers ask and the answers that the hermit who lives in the tree gives are said to provoke mirth. -Co-headlined with the act is the film, "The Blonde Saint,” which stars Doris Kenyon and Lewis Stone. x Bill includes: GRETTE ARDINE AND JOHN TYRRELL—Whose “At the End of the Line,” is a comedy novelty representing them as laugh makers. Harry Delf wrote the sketch. JULES HOWARD AND CHARLES HARRIS —Eccentric and straight comedians who offer their conception of four incidents that would make a (good citizen go insane. These are: an encounter with a policeman, one with the court of justice, one with a waiter and another which everyone has or will experience. LEWIS AND LAVARRE—With their rural classic called ‘;Podunk,” in which an actress and an old station master chatter after she misses her train. NATHAfiO BROTHERS “Just a Laugh,’* in which the two have

Vacationing Lloyd Hamilton ana A1 St. John, Educational stars, are away from the studios on vacations. Hamilton has completed eight two-reel comedies In his star series while St. John has made seven since the start of the season. Hamilton is visiting his mother in Oakland, Cal., while St. John is hunting ducks in southern California. /

mixed their laughs with their roller skating bit. An Orpheum, Jr., roqd show with three big acts comes to the theater the last half of the week. “America’s Premier Piano Ensemble,” with four talented girls each playing a piano is one of the numbers. Day and Aileen have, a revue calied “The Dance Club” in which color, girls ana music predominate. Eight dancing models are found here. Gibson and Price are a juggler and comedienne in comedy bit. Two other acts are included in the last of the week show. On the screen are: Lewis 'Stone and Doris Kenyon in “The Blonde Saint” the first half and Bert Lytell in “Obey the Law” the last half of the week. Pathe News, a comedy and an Aesop Fable the short reels. /

“Robin Hood” for Children

The Indiana Indorsers of Photoplays will show Douglas Fairbanks in “Robin Hood” at the playhouse, Nineteenth and Alabama Sts., on Feb. 22. There will be three performances, at 10 a. m., 2 p. m. and 4 p. m. The showing of the picture is in response to numerous requests from children who have wished to see Mr. Fairbanks’ beautiful story of the Crusades. Although the showing is primarily' for children and has been arranged for a holiday’ so that they may attend, many grown-ups are welcoming the opportunity to see this charming medieval pageant. A number of indorsers and others are planning theater parties for young people. It is believed that the interest in this showing of a film classic will be sufficient to justify a series of such revivals, which the indorsers hope to present in thonear future. Among those who are planning theater parties are Mrs. David Ross, Miti. J. H. Orndorff, Mrs. D. Y. Byrkit, Mrs. 11. C. Fledderjohn. Mrs. Wolf Sussman, Mrs. Janies E. Sproule, Mrs. E. L. Burnett, Mrs. Isaac#Born, Mrs. A. J. Clark, Mrs. Arthur Dietz. Mrs. Carl Day. Mrs. C. Freund. Mrs. A. Oren, Mrs. Edward Ferger. Mrs. M. T. Ault, Mrs. E. D. Clark. Mrs. T. A. Wagner, Mrs. Harry A. French. Mrs. W. C. Bartholomew. Mrs. S. W. Neall, Mrs. John H. Compton, Mrs. J. M. Daily, Mrs. F. H. Knodel and Mrs. Hugh McGibney. STILL VERY SENTIMENTAL Gareth Hughes* so well remembered as "Sentimental Tommy’,” plays the part of a sentimental country youth in “The Whirlwind of Youth.”

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Sunday and Monday * ‘HER Laura Die La Plante in NIGHT” A Comedy of the Stage “Fighting to Win” One of “THE COLLEGIANS’’ NEWS AND FABLE Tiics.. YVed., Thur. | Frb and Sat. JOHNNY , j “S naR g! es ” HINES in spaßgseo “stepping Along” 1 Marion Nixon

JSysUN.JON. FRED'HOMES * “ft ONE MAN GAME” SPEED, ACTION AND THRILLS HAROLD LLOYD IN “KICKED OUT” IMPERIAL COMEDY ' "THE BATHING St'ITOR” WEOKESDAYandTHURSDAY “THE FALSE ALARM” A Speetacular Drama Feature leg Mary Carr. Ralph Lewis and Dorothy Revler COMEDY, “BATTLING KANGAROO'' FRIDAY and SATURDAY VIOLA DANA IN “HOMESTRUCK” A Glistening Story of Kiglit Life In New York City COMEDY, 'MID UFftYEITE” 10c ALL SEATS 10c

Freckles and His Friends

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LOOK OVER A LOT OF SHOWS ON GAY BROADWAY ‘Lally,’ a Comedy of Real Temperament, Opens in New York. By Dixie Hines NEW YORK, Feb. 19.—-Most of tile news interesting to local and other playgoers happens now outside the theater. Mainly, it includes well staged and dramatic raids upon the theaters where plays ot an objectionable character are being presented. and the appearance in the police court of some of our most famous players. It all comes about, as the public probably knows, from the increasing objectionableness of the new plays. Language that would disgrace a. gutter snipe, scenes that would make a longshoreman sick, dialogue between men and women on the stage that disgraces the so-called English language, have become so frequent tjiat the present clean-up was inevitable. What is now happening on Broadwal will have an important effect upon visitors to the city, as it is a well understood fact that these plays are not supported entirely by New Yorkers. Any hotel will tell you that 90 per cent of the guests from out of town, when asking for theater tickets, select those plays that have been most widely heralded for their salaciousness, so whatever may be the final outcome here, its effects will be felt

DOUBLE MlliiriM RocklifFe FeQowes Claire McDowell / Marc MacDermott Gertrude Astor Mk / * TTERE is the true - illm •£ 11 story of a girl who |J ■ j y r ] comes from a sleepy, rFI/fllPl |®Of jl . ":Y(J 1 \ little Southern town to /n tfgTgfc ZTLZIZr, . 'SHOULD MEN. jazz-mad world makes 'WALK HOME? a picture at all times With - ‘SSt' fascinafingi Creighton Hale MLijiv v Oil A l tt bbib u AND HIS GANG "QREtNVKU VILLAGE”

_THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

in every city, town and hamlet in the United States as well. A play of more than usual interest is “ijally.’’ by Henry Stillman, produced at the Greenwich Village Theater by Carl Reed, with a cast of exceptionally fine players, headed by Claude Rains, and embracing Anne | Morrison. Patricia Barclay, Gerald j Hamer, Benedict MacQuarrie, Zola; Talma and several others. “Lally” is a comedy of tempera- I ment. It already has been drama- j tized once this season in “The Con-! stant Nymph.” Lally is a (musician. ! He is beset by numerous progeny, a mistress and a youqg woman who comes upon the scene and proceeds forthwith and most effectively to Inspire him. It is a sort of menagerie ho maintains in his apartment, and to record the events in the sequence of happening would sound banal. It is well worth a visit, however.'-if you are in the mood to sympathize with a temperamental young fellow who lives in a bedlam. The New Producer The new producer, seeking a way to win popularity, invariably decides upoh mystery. Thus we have another mystery play called “Fog.” It is by John Willard, who wrote “The Cat and the Canary,” and Mr. Willard ought to know better than to put his name to “Fog,” which is a thin, pointless, uneventful melodratfia depending entirely upon an occasional dousing of the lights and the disappearance of a member of the cast for Us thrills and excitement. An exception should be made in the scenery devised by Yellenti, however. The first scene is a dock with a boat tied up. The atmosphere is j filled with fog, and the illusion is. for feet. The rest of the play is acted j inside the derelict, --l.pposcd to be in j command of an arch villain whom | no one can find but of whom ail ! know. Most of the people are bent upon , wreaking vengeance upon him for one i son or another, but nothing j

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Some Bull! Victor McLaglen's hardboiled appearance, which was such an asset to him In the making of “What Price Glory,” may prove to be a liability in connection with Fox Films’ production of “Carmen,” in which McLaglen is to play the part of the bull fighter. Word comes from Hollywood that the bull which was cast to play opposite Victor took one look at the star, went pale with fear and turned down its part.

happens except the mysterious disappearance of the passenger list. Anckthcn the least suspected character rums out to be the man they were all looking for, and he had devised to blow up the ship and all concerned, but this was prevented. No one seems to know why. “Sinner’’ is by Thompson Buchanan and Alan Dinehart and Claiborne Foster are the principals. Richard Herndon produces it. and it is located at the Klaw Theater. Merle Madden. Hugh Huntley and others help it along. It ri a marriage problem, and as the theme developed it proved to be highly entertaining and interesting, with some bright dialogue and some amusing scenes most adroitly acted. There is a happy ending to the play, and it docs not tax one seriously to follow-its simple and effective little story. It is a play that, my be enjoyed by obi and young, and wnile New York has acclaimed it. our neighbors of the hinterland may be assured of a delightful evening, too, if they visit the playhouse. "Strawberry Blonde" “The Strawberry Blonde" Is another Martin Brown play. So is “The Dark” and “The Love Thief,” each of which are in and about Broadway. “The Strawberry Blonde”

has its amusing moments. Julie Ring is responsible for most of them, but there :s a good cast, and although the play is not quite up to Broadway standard, it is far above the average of many that seek to make the grade. On form. "The Love Thief.” seems to be the only one of Mr. Brown’s current crop to stand the gaff. This week a now veYsion of that is being acted at the Eltinge Theater, and Mona Bruns, who was so good in the smaller role of Lily, has been elevated to the principal feminine part of Daisy, while Nellie Burt succeeds her in her former part. Frank M. Thomas continues as the leading man. and Edith Ellis having

‘‘MARTHA* j* onrsnoHrn* TOWN” \d l I

MUTUAL BURLESQUE THE A TRE Direction Mutual Burlesque Association of New York BRIGHT EYES A Snappy, Fast Show of “Pep and Ginger’ 1 *!! DOLLY DAVIES a HARRY LEVINE YA7ARA X / mi-i/T. FAMOUS EGYPTIAN CLASSIC DANCER And the Greenwich Village Model Chorus

been called in to do some special directing, “The Love Thief” stands an excellent chance of succeeding. Oh, yes, over in Brooklyn a play called “Ostrich,” which Is also by Mr. Brown, is being acted by an ambitious amateur group. ROWLAND UNDER CONTRACT Director Rowland V. Lee has just been placed under a long term contract by Famous Players-Lasky. TW O OF THE BIGGEST MEN Two of the biggest men In motion pictures are members of the company now filming “Who Goes Where?” which Frank Griffin is pro-

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AMUSEMENTS

PAGE 5

—By Blosser

during for First National. John Kolb. Milton Sills’ ex-truck driver “find.” supports Charlie Murphy, Natalie Kingston and George Sidnoy. He is six feet, seven inches in height and weighs 250 pounds. Ben Sllvey, assistant director to Del Lord, who is wielding the megaphone, ls six feet, and weighs 230 pounds! ANOTHER OPERETTA PRODUCED “The Nightingale,” th® latest of the Shubert romantic operettas now playing at Jolson’s Theater, will be broadcast in a national test, similar to recent sensational opera broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Feb. fi. Station W’JZ, New York, will be the contract unit in the national hook-up.