Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 185, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 December 1927 — Page 4

PAGE 4

BOYD AND WOLHEIM IN REAL BURLESQUE

‘Two Arabian Knights’ Is the First Example Toward the 4 Serious Use of Slapstick Comedy as a Big | Time Element in Photoplays.

By WALTER D. HICKMAN • Burlesque' has been used to much advantage on the modern rerue stage and now the movies are beginning to seriously consider its use as an element in putting over slapstick comedy. Probably the most ambitious attempt recently in doing this is found in “Two Arabian Knights,” which exploits the burlesque and slapstick talents of William Boyd and Louis Wolheim. -\

The first gesture toward the use of burlesque on the screen, in my opinion, was used seriousin “Behind the Front.” In the

Boyd-Wolheim vehicle we see a broader use of these several elements of entertainments. Wo 1heim, with liis strange nose and lips that reveal a vocabulary even in pantomime of having unlimited hot words, yields easily to the demands of burlesque. Boyd and Wolheim indulge in a lot of slapstick fighting,

Louis Wolheim

stealing each other pants and the like when they desire to pay a call upon the same girl. They kick each other in the pants, swat each other in the face and then end up with a love feast. All of this may seen rather crude in cold print, but I am sure after closely studying “Two Arabian Knights’ that this sort of entertainment does find response on, part of an audience. It is good theater because through it all runs an element of realism, of course overdrawn, but the element of life is there and most of us are acquainted with that language. And this broad fun does not offend because Boyd and Wolheim put into it the quality of sincerity because, when they fight each other, they fight and when they fight for each other they give the other fellows a terrible beating. The picture starts out with Wolheim as a sergeant, and Boyd as a soldier in the World War. Wolheim is about to pass out in a shell hole and Boyd starts to get even with his unconscious sergeant by throwing mud and water in his face. When the sergeant comes to, fists are the weapons of war until the enemy takes them prisoners. Here we have the feud carried on and yet they are buddies when they

P^

Games. “Pitch ’Em,” a quality rubber horseshoe game for indoor and outdoor play, 98$. Avery complete selection of other games from 25$ to 83.50.

Sand Toys Sand mills, engine houses, eranes, trip cars, dump toys and many others made of brightly colored metal. Complete with sand from 50$ to $1.25.

Pull Toys Sturdy, well constructed wooden pull toys on wheels. A variety of models all of which are brightly colored. Priced from 50$ to $1.50.,

Tea Sets Aluminum tea and percodator sets with cups and saucers from $1 to $3. Also complete line of cooking utensils -of fine quality aluminum, 25$ to 50$.

DOLLS AND TOYS —SIXTH FLOOR—

escape from the prison camp. This escape is a good example in what I call burlesque in realism. Finally, they get on a boat bound for Turkey or some sort of a place and here romance comes into the voyage in the person of Anis Bin Adham, played by Mary Astor, a lady of the harem. From then on we have funny burlesque comedy, broad and very slapstick at times, but always good fun. The stage presentation, “Moonlit Waters,” is way below standard on part of the foreign talent. The cnly really value it has is -the work of Charlie Davis and the Indiana Stage Orchestra. In this presentation, somebody has tried to mix classical atmosphere and small town hokum. They will not mix or do not in this presentation. The talent taking part includes Rosa Marino, Boris Petroff Dancers, Mario and Lazarin (easily the best); Miss Helen Yorke, Fauntleroy and Van, who are all out Os place in this revue and who seriously slow up the action, and Myrio,' Desha and Barte. At the Indiana. n\ * a THE FLONZALEYS PLAY BEETHOVEN The large audience at the Academy of Music yesterday was there to hear the Flonzaley Quartet play Beethoven’s "Quartet in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 131.” Here is a difficult work, requiring around forty-five minutes in the playing, and yesterday it was done without intermission, which added increased interest to this composition. Here is a big and moving work of Beethoven, probably a little baffling in its lengthy adagio, which is full of sadness, and then later on we feel the rich magic of Beethoven. The final movements become mighty in its power and grandeur. The Flonzaleys caught all the beauty, the melancholy and the marvelous coloring of the composer. Here was perfect playing if it ever exists. The first part of the program was

Erector Sets Known to every boy t What every boy wants, so that he can really MAKE things. Educative as well as amusing. We have a complete stock of these sets and our demonstrator will be glad to show you the chemistry and magic sets. Erector sets, $1 to $25.

Engines Complete line of Weeden and Empire steam engines, both alcohol and electric heated. In a full range of sizes and styles. From $1 to sl2.

' <j||j^|§i§©r

Mechanical Kingsbury toys, of very sturdy construction, made of heavy metal. Including aeroplane, street cars, delivery trucks, fire engines, buses, etc. From $1 to $2.95.

Soldiers An unusually complete selection of iron soldiers, realistic in uniform, just’ the thing for sham battles, $1 set.

Sand Mill This brightly colored metal sandmill will fascinate the children. The sand is poured in at the tcp, and as it passes through if. turns the wheel and the little man begins to pump. Complete with sand, sl.

devoted to “Quartet in C-MaJor, Op. 33, No. 3,” by Hadyn. Presented by the Indianapolis Maennerchor. nun HERE WE MEET A BUSY BACHELOR “The Irresistible Lover,” which is the main attraction at the Ohio this week, is a comedy farce of a young bachelor who loved every woman who came into his life. I should say that it had become a disease with him. I think that Norman Kerry makes J. Harrison Grey a bachelor of some

note. At least he makes him famous for love affairs, some of which have a drastic ending. Kerry is most affable and gives the role an irresponsible joyousness as he romps from one affair to another with hardly a breathing, spell. He bumps into a girl and decides, as he has done before, that she is

SS

Norman Kerry

the right girl. Betty Kennedy is the daughter of a policeman, and incidently a tenant in one of the Grey houses. Grey fails for her and as the plot develops the father won’t have anything to do with him, but the brother adds the final touch when he makes them marry. Lois Moran is one of those kind of actresses who can do the homefire girl stunt and get away with it. She is exactly what one would expect Betty Kennedy to be. The fly in the Grey ointment is Dolly Carleton, a Follies girl, who thinks that Grey is going to marry her. This is Gertrude Astor, and she makes a designing gold digger of the worst type. Lee Moran is Grey’s lawyer. He evidently spends all his time, and Grey’s money, buying back letters and a ring that Grey insists that every girl accept. The plot of the thing is nothing much, but it is helped along considerable by the acting of Kerry and Moran. It is a case of a bachelor with nothing to do and doing a lot of it. However, there is a of good comedy in the film, and

They Will Remember — and admire your good taste long after Christmas if you make them happy by selecting something artistic and smart from Dyers. Even though they know it costs no more than good quality stock designed jewelry, they know it is individual and very carefully made, therefore desirable. C. B. DYER, Jeweler 254 Massachusetts Avenue

Every Kind of Toy Is Here at Ayres’

Toyland’s Railroad Yards Are Busy

A American Flyer and Lionel electric trains, $5 to $82.50.

Tree Trimmings Brightly colored Christmas tree ornaments and top pieces in a fascinating variety. From 2 for 5$ to 60$.

DOLLS—A WHOLE SECTION OF ALL SIZES, KINDS, AND AGES LSAyres &Ccr

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Verdict of Screen Events OHIO—“The Irresitible Lover” is comedy farce that moves with great rapidity in showing the loves of one “J. Harrison Grey,” who finally falls for the home girl. INDIANA—"Two Arabian Knights” is a corking good example of how burlesque and slapstick may be used as good theater on the screen. Wolheim and Boyd makee a grand team. APOLLO—Richard Dix has a romantic Doug Fairbanks type of role in “The Gay Defender.” Good entertainment. CIRCLE r -“ East Side, West Side,” is a poor story even more sadly directed.

while some of the situations may be possible, they are ridiculous. The comedy and the farce elei ments are stressed more than the drama element. It is a fair picture. At the Ohio.-r-(By the Observer.) n n n RICHARD DIX BECOMES A ROMANTIC FAIRBANKS Rchard Dix has gone in for that romantic moonlight garden stuff which Douglas Fairbanks has found to be so profitable. And before Dix went into this sort of a thing I began to be a little alarmed over his future. I seriously did not wnat him to be in the same boat with Thomas Meighan who, in rv opinion, is

slipping fast because of bad vehicles and a few other things. You run across the romantic Richard Dix in “The Gay Defe n and e r,” a corking good yam of the Gold Rush days in Southern California, when bad men were worse and good men sang love songs to their

lady loves in the moonlight. As the gay defender, Dix has a role which fits him well as he shows a strong leaning to this sort of thing. It is a costume role of that period when some men were dolled up to be very gay. The chief role is a hero role, or becomes one when our hero decides to fight a bunch of land crooks who were stealing the gold* and the land of his people. Our hero would steal back the same, gold as soon as the crooks got their hands on it. These scenes are thrillers and splendidly done by Richard Dix and Fred

C Double arc electric lights, 9Vz inches high, $2.25.

B Tunnels, finished in waterproof colors, 70$ up.

Balls ~ The most complete line of rubber balls that we have ever had, in a wide assortment of colors and sizes. 15$ up.

Kohler, who is a villain along the Wallace Beery type. The story has a lot of red blooded, he-man suspense and the director, Gregory Lacava, is an artist in creating and holding that suspense. 1 • Here is anew type of a story for Dix and he is mightly enjoyable in it. You will likq it, that I am sure. Bill includes a Hpl Roach comedy, a news reel, Ray Winnings at the organ, Emil Seidel and his orchestra. At the Apollo. u n n LINDY IS IN THE CAST BUT NOT FEATURED Well, well, well and a couple of ! million other wells. We have at last a feature movie using Colonel Lindbergh and he not even featured. Seems strange, but I am telling ou right, because I have just seen

■ 'W nH K V -.Uiu JL..X

a something on the screen by the name of “East Side, West Side” that shows a scene, taken from a news reel, of Lindbergh oeing acclaimed in New Yurk on his arrival after his great flight. This is used in the story to inspire a lad, played by George, O’Brien, to give up j the prize fight, racket and become I an or something who

builds tunnels underground in a big city. Mighty clever these directors—sometimes. Then we have scenes evidently taken in the building of that great tunnel for automobile traffic in New York. Os course the cave-in scenes are studio stuff, but the other scenes look real. And then for good measure the di-

a UH a ® Pound Ilf Monday Tuesday Wednesday ffiL Soft Water ww asia iJI pure v w Main 4597 Paul H. Krauss Laundry

D Semaphores, electrically lighted, $1.95.

Instruments Toy musical instruments include ukes, saxophones and many others, d9s to $2.50.

rector has a big ocean liner going down to the bottom, of the ocean by hitting an iceberg while our hero is in New York putting on his clothes to greet the boat because his gold dust sweeties is on it. Oh dear, such stuff. When I see this sort of thing I am beginning to believe one can see about any old thing on the screen, and about every old thing has been crowded In “East Side, West Side.” Here is a poorly directed picture with a story that is way out of step with the modern pace in movie entertainment. It is the old yam of the slum boy shaking off his cheap surroundings only to land in the house of a wealthy man who, of course, turns out to be his papa. Oh, dear! Oh, me! Oh, my! George O’Brien struggles manfully to do something with a hokum role that never rings true and Virginia Valli plays the role of one of the girls who enters his life. I think this picture is miles off from being anything like a good movie. That is my opinion, but you be your own judge. The music on the bill is contributed by the Tripoli Trio, Vitaphone and the Circle orchestra with Ed Resener conducting. Bill includes a news reel and other events. At the Circle. n n u Other -theaters today offer: The La Cianci New York Grand Opera Company in “Aida” at English’s; Fourteen Parisian Redheads at the Lyric; JJim McWilliams at Keith’s; “The Moonlight Maids” at the Mutual; Dan and Mazie Dixon at the Colonial and “The Cruise of the Hellion” at the Isis.

?! r 4 ■L *

CHAMBER TO REPORT Offlciols Will Tell of Work at Meeting Wednesday Night. Reports on the * activities of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce for the past year will be made at the annual meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p. m. Among reports will be those of President Dick Miller, General Manager Clifford L. Harrod and Secretary Ed Hunter. Election of seven directors will be held Tuesday from 11 a. m. to 7 p. m. Directors will meet Thursday noon to elect officers. Other officers are A. Kiefer Mayer, vice president, and Oscar Schmidt, treasurer.

Virginia Valli

E 3-Piece wooden trestle bridge, with tracks, $3.75.

Velocipedes Well-built velocipedes with plain bearings or with ball bearing in bicycle type. There is a complete line of sizes. $2.95 to S2O.

F Automatic crossing gate with metal arm, $4.

Nice Judge! Bu Times Soecial KOKOMO, Ind., Dec. 12.—1 t looks like a comfortable winter for Theodore, the squirrel who makes his home in a tree on the lawn of the Howhrd County courthouse here. No lesser person than Circuit Judge John paper for Theodore. The judge Marshall built a nest of soft was aided by County Attorney Harry Forehand.

Murder Trial Opens Tuesday Bu Time a Svccial DELPHI, Ind., Dec. 12.—Lloyd Kimble, 45, will go on trial in Carroll Circuit Court here Tuesday charged with the murder of Daniel Sink, aged recluse, whose charred body was found in the ashes of his home west of here a few months ago.

• i <•/ ".v*l Ipnicagp i

Leave Arrive Indianapolis Chicago 12:00 noon 4:55 p.m. 12:15p.m. 7:00p.m. 2:45 p.m. 7:45 p.m. f11:35p. m. 5:55 a.m. •12:40 a.m. 7:05 a.m. 2:15 a.m. 7:35 a.m. *Bleeplng car* ready Bp.ni , tExcept Sundaya

BIG FOUR ROUTE *

Playphones With bright nickel base, nickel plated bell that rings and wood stand in, an assortment of colors, sl. Other phones from 501 to $1.25.

Horses Rocking horses, very substantially built, fully equipped with bridle, bit, saddle and stirrups A complete line of sizes, $8.95 and sl4.

S3B

Friction Friction toys are sure to last a long time for there are no springs; with just a slight pressure of the hand the toy is started running. Large variety of vehicles, 75£ to $4.

Baby Dolls This baby doll Is very life like, has sleeping eyes, and is all dressed even to bonnet and slippers. $3.75. '

Live Long Toys Skeezix, Little Orphan Annie, Kayo and all the other funny paper children and their pets are here, made of imitation leather, 50$ to $1.50.

DOLLS AND TOYS -SIXTH FLOOR-

DEC. 12, 1927

PROSECUTORS ASK PAY Special Deputies File Claims For Salary From July to November. Corporation Counsel John W. Holtzman and Emsley W. Johnson, special deputy prosecutors in the probe into alleged political corruption, Saturday filed a petition for compensation for their work with Criminal Judge James A. Collins. Collins said a hearing will be held on the petition this week. The petition asks for pay fdr work from July 1 to Nov. 15. During this time they worked the following times: July, 23 days; August, 5 days; September, 22 days; October, 22 days, and November, 13 days. They acted in trials for nine dayu and spent seven additional days in arguments before the court, the petition stated.

THESE seven modem trains enable you to leave for Chicago noon, afternoon or night and provide every travel comfort. Parlor cars and dining cars serving excellent table d’hote meals on day trains. Coaches on all trains. The Sycamore — A fa*t, and luxe train Lv. Indianapolis 5:05 p. m. Ar. Chicago 9:45 p. m. Observation Parlor Car, Dining-Lounge Car and Coaches. All trains stop at 63rd, 53rd and 43rd Sts., Chicago. Tickets and Reservations att City Ticket Office, U 2 Monument Circle, Phone Main 0330, or Union Station, Phone Main 4567. J. N. Lemon, Dlv. Pas*. Agent. 112 Monument Circle.

fit ‘

Animals Stuffed animals that are very realistic looking, powder puff dolls and animals, Live Long character toys in an almost unlimited variety, 25$ to $lB.

Iron Toys Buses, racers, trains, trucks, tractors, circus wagons, oil tAicks and a host of other popular vehicles are among these iron pull toys. 25$ to $3.95.

111 k

Fumiture All sorts of doll furniture in ivory and pink finish. Kitchen, bedroom, living room furniture, and then tbere*are rockers and cl: airs for children, too. $1.95 to $22.50.

pr 1

Pull Toys, $1 Attractive large sheet steel pull toys at this one prjce. Dump trucks in great variety; other types as well.