Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 156, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 November 1927 — Page 7

NOV. 9, 1927.

HODGE AGAIN USES HIS PLAY FORMULA , Author-Actor Attempts to Apply His Philosophy of Life to Murder and Love in 'Straight Thru the Door,’ f Now at English's, BY WALTER D. HICKMAN William Hodge is probably using the largest cast ever assembled for a one-man show. This actor has for years been writing his own vehicles and his new one, ‘‘Straight Thru the Door” is his own work.

Will Rogers has a great one-man show with nobody about but just

Will. It seems that Hodge to put over his idea must have much scenery and in this case fifteen actors and a dog. He has attempted to write a mystery comedy to suit his peculiar talents and to keep the Hodge way on the stage. In this play, Hodge is up to his old trick of putting certain human sayings into his own mouth and most of them register. There

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William Hodge

- isn’t much mystery to Hodge and it is difficult to understand why even a dumb detective could suspect any character he portrays of doing murder. From a strict play standpoint, “Straight Thru the Door” lacks curtains and a climax. It is the quietest murder mystery I have witnessed. About the loudest thing in it is the contractor who gets killed and the guy that all suspicion did it.' , „ . ... The story in a nutshell is this. A wealthy actor is building a summer home and in trying to hurry up the job moves in his large family. The wife nearly falls in love with the architect and a silly woman interior decorator falls in love with the actor. There is labor trouble and the contractor is mysteriously shot. A dumb detective tries to pin the guilt upon the actor and the actor turns the tables upon the detective by nearly arresting the detective. The result is that the guy you never suspect did the killing and the final curtain shows the actor, his wife and children and the foolish interior decorator all very, very happy. As usual, this play being a Hodge play, is a clean play. It is interesting only because the quaint humor and philosophy of the author-actor is present. I doubt if we will remember many of the plays by name that Hodge has written. The only thing of importance is that Hodge is present. But when the final verdict is in, Hodge has always made one's visit to the theater a happy one. That is the real artistry of this man regardless of whether he is a good playwright or not. It is Hodge's aim to make one happier and that he admitted last night in his curtain talk. This man is still popular and he has a formula that appeals. The cast is large and with about three exceptions haven’t much to do. Those having the most in addition to Hodge are Utoy D-Tyl as the interior decorator; William Cullen as the detective, and Carol Perrin as the wife. All the action takes place in the library of the country home under construction. There are many “wise cracks” about labor as applied to building houses. It is my serious opinion that this vehicle is interesting only because Hodge is in it. I know that it is a new play and is being constantly changed. Even the title was changed before arriving here. At English’s today and Wednesday. “LITTLE” EVA MAKER A MIGHY BIG PROMISE “When my teeth are gone and my hair is gray they will wheel me out in a wheel chair,” so promised Eva Tanguay in song this season. She didn’t care about 20 years ago and she doesn't care today. And

then some. They say that institutions never change and that is true with this strange woman of the stage. She hasn’t any voice and she has admitted it for years. She states that if she had taken some people’s advice she would have been washing dishes. “My voice,” she sings, may seem funny, but it is getting me

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Bob Larry

the dough.” She yells and she screams. That is her stock in trade. She wears the most crazy costumes on the stage. She calls ’em “creations” and they are just that. In song, she tells you that “if you can get ’em talking, it will get you the dough.” She is singing a song this season about a woman evangelist, but Eva tells the world that that woman must do some stepping to keep up with little Eva. Eva has an “It” song this season and she admits that she and John D. Rockefeller have it because “John D. is now eighty-three and he still his oil around.” She admits that she does all of her rehearsals in a bath tub and that she has worn out a million bath rugs taking her bows. Eva Tanguay to me has always

been one of the strangest personalities upon the stage. Some call her an accident. I think of her in the terms of being a wonderful showman who has nothing to sell and sells it to millions in the right way. “Nothing to sell?” you ask She has taken the philosophy of life and has made a tapestry of great wisdom out of it. This woman is no fool. She knows life and she knows the . meaning of “nothing” and “I don't care” as applied to life. There is sound logic behind Eva Tanguay and that is the - reason that she is packing ’em into the theater year after year. When I saw her on the stage yesterday afternoon at the Lyric, I realized that Eva Tanguay will never change. To me she is the most “profound” showman in the business because she understands her public better than Bamum. She is a positive sensation in her own way this season. And what an ovation she gets even when her name is flashed in announcing her act. It is wonderful 'to understand life and she does. Bob Larry is present with his entertainers, a jazz band. His act makes good mostly on novel settings and his dancing. The DeKoe Trio go in for gymnastics and human balancing stunts. Shadow and McNeil are eccentric fun makers, generally slapstick in nature, but they win with some strange dancing. Winfred and Mills have a winner in thier skit, “In China.” Here is comedy that is real comedy. Solendidly done. Frank Hughes and company of girls go in for dance and song. A burlesque on various forms of dancing is the winning thing of this act. At the Lyric all week. KEITH MOVIE DEMANDS ATTENTION Another attemot has been made to bring Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserto the screen. It is a very successful ,attempt. Hugo has taken the lives of three characters: Jean Val.iean, Cosette, and Javert and intertwined them with threads of the lives of many others. This screen version has retained cnlv the essential themes. Jean Valjean is carried from prison to death and the many complications are mostly eradicated. His rise from an outcast to a man of wealth and his subsequent fall are portrayed with an exact vividness. Cosette’s life is carried from the time she is found as a druige until she is to marry. Javert is the shadow that hovers over Valjean all the time. Gabriel Gabrles Is Jean Val.iean, the strongest man in Toulon prison. He is an immense man and makes the feats of strength that he performs seem only natural. Gabries is an emotional actor as is clearly shown in his moments of sorrow and remorse. Cosette the child (Andree Rolane) is the kind of homeless little waif that I have always oietured her. She has a wistful, woebegone face that lights up magically when the madam for who she works gives her a little time for pleasure. As the woman she looks as if she stepped out of an old steel etching. Looking at her one would never think that she lived in a modern age. In the womanhood Cosette is not the actor that she was in childhood. The chances are not afforded the woman who takes the part of Cosette the woman. Javert the policeman is the kind of man you see in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the Simon Legree. “Les Miserables” is a movie masterpiece in historical correctness and in emotionalism. “Signor Friscoe” presents his Guatemalan Ensemble in a number of arrangements of classical, popular and native music. Friscoe plays “The Rosary” at the same time it is played on a phonograph. Russian folk dances open the act of Will Higgie. The most novel part of the act was a bell dance in which each of the six girls had several bells on her costume that when -•'ttled in certain rotation carried the theme of a popular dance tune. Then lying on their backs the girls played another tune with the bells

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Many Cash Prizes to Be Given to Winners in ‘West Point ’ Contest

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William Boyd and Bessie Love in “Dress rarade.”

A group of regular army officers in and near Indianapolis, all graduates of West Point, are to judge the prize winners in The Indianapolis Times great essay contest “Why I Would Like to Attend West Point.” Any boy or young man in Indianapolis and vicinity between ten and twenty years of age can enter the contest. A total of thirty prizes are to be awarded, including SSO in cash and twenty tickets to B. F. Keith’s. Starting next Sunday B. F. Keith’s wi.l show a thrilling picture, “Dress Parade,” built around the life of a young bully and braggart who entered West Point. It depicts how his entire attitude of life was changed, how he became a man, anxious to be of service to his country, how he saved the life of his bitterest enemy and fought against almost impossible odds for the girl he loved. Enter this contest boys! Every American is proud of West Point. It is as much of an American institution as the Liberty Bell. It turns out officers and gentlemen

around their ankles. Very clever. Johnny Berkes, assisted by Virginia Sully, pulls some rare comedy. Johnny has a pair of pants that makes you wonder how he manages to keep them on. His burlesque on the Volga Boatman and what his boat amounts to is a scream. Every no ft and then it is the duty of the city to have an act of Chinese contortionists and plate twirlers. Goerge Won gand Company have several members of the company that are contortionists to the nth degree. "Nothing Serious” is the act ot Ernest Hiatt. His brand of humor is rather pitiful. His play on words is crude. However, he makes some amends for this in a fast comedy song that seems to have no end. I agree with Hiatt, it is nothing serious. At Keith’s all week. (Reviewed by C. G.) PLEASING COMEDY ON VIEW AT COLONIAL “What Anne Brought Home” is the current offering of the Berkell

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

to fight for us in war and to guard us in peace. It also develops the youth of the country and enables them to fight the battles of life, for after all every graduate cf West Point can retire to private life if he desires. In writing your essays remember that every West Pointer is the soul of honor, that when he fights he fights squarely, that he puts love of country above everything, that he obeys all orders given by his superior officers without question, that in all he is a man. William Boyd, Bessie Love and the entire cadet corps of West Point are featured in the picture. Here are the prizes: $25 for the best 100-word essay, $lO for the second best, $5 for the third and $1 each for the next ten best. In addition B. F. Keith’s theater will award one ticket each for the next twenty best essays. These tickets will be good during the showing of “Dress Parade.” The contest closes Friday at noon. Mail all essays to the “Dress Parade” Editor, care The Indianapolis Times.

Players this week at the Colonial. This is light comedy that depicts the “sap” that finally makes the

“wise guys” of the town sit up and take notice. Idabelle Arnold is “Anne,” the harum - scarum daughter of staid old “Sam Bennett.” “Anne” goes to buy some dress goods, but she brings home a husband. To start with, “Uncle Henry” gets him all flustrated, but winds up as being his best friend. Larry

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Bernice Marsolais

Sullivan makes “Uncle Henry” a grouchy old cuss that is always going to leave his brother’s house, but decides against it Sullivan puts a lot of comedy in the piece with his action. Milton Byron is “Dudley.” “Dudley” is what “Anne” brought home. Any way “Dudley” makes the family

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like him even though they thought him a nut at first. “Anne” had two sisters who always try to run down “Dudley.” Friend husband gives them all some happiness when he proves that he is the best salesman of the lot. Byron does fine work as “Dudley.” He makes his character seem very real. It lacks the smugness that enters so often in his roles. Idabelle Arnold is a very loving wife. There is just the right amount of quarrel and make up to the part and she handles it in a splendid fashion. Bernice Marsolais plays the younger sister and deftly makes “Alma” the critically observing and high hatting young lady that knows it all. “Herb Hardcastle” Is supposed to be a small town go-getter that has studied all the finer points of salesmanship by correspondence. St. Clair makes the pmi invigorating. He is good. This is the best thing that I have seen inflight comedy that Berkell has put on since he moved to the Colonial. At the Colonial all week. (By the Observer.) LOOKING OVER BURLESQUE AT MUTUAL Several old timers come back to the Mutual this week in the “Social Maids,” burlesque. Rose Bernard is the lead of the company and has by far the best voice in the ensemble. Betty Abbott, who also played here last season in another show, is the dancer of the company. Chuck Wilson and Jim Dailey furnish the low comedy while George Mach and Buddy Abbott assist. The scene in the sultan’s harem is the most extravagant bit in the production. The scenery is good looking in this and the music on a higher plane than in the rest of the show. The girls in the chorus"have some

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(Above) —"And so my house of dreams had come crashing down, wrecking my happiness, blighting my life. Then I was gripped with anew and more terrible (ear that made my heart stand still with terror." (From "The World Never Forgets," December True Story Magazine.)

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Only Real Life Can Produce Such Thrilling Stories

lET the poet, the dramatist, the novelist make their finest J flights of fancy, they can never equal the thrilling realism of life itself. Every day, every hour, there are great human dramas unfolding that belittle the imaginative products of the cleverest pens. From fifteen to twenty of these reaMife stories appear in True Story

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Stage Verdict

LYRIC—Eva Tanguay does not care today and never has. A positive sensation as ever. ENGLISH’S—WiIIiam Hodge again creates his own comedy and philosophy in “Straight Thru the Door.” Verdict in doubt. COLONIAL The Berkell Players are doing splendidly with “What Anne Brought Home.” KEITH’S—A movie version of “Les Miserables” is the real feature of this bill. MUTUAL “Social Maids” has some old timers in the cast.

new steps in drill and ensemble dancing. A soldier thing gives them ample opportunity to show what they can do in drill dancing. At the Mutual this week. (By the Observer.) Other theaters today offer: “BenHur” at the Circle; "Is Your Daughter Safe?” at the Band Box; “The Forbidden Woman” at the Indiana; “Open Range” at the Apollo; Mrs. Wallace Reid at the Ohio in person and on tile screen and movies at the Isis.

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Contents of December True Story Magazine Nature’s Revenge A Divided Heart When Society Sins Satan's Kiss The Girl Who Made Me Maddening Memories The Other Man’s Child Can Love Come Too Late She Played with Fire What Kills Love ? And 7 Other Stories

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