Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 49, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 July 1928 — Page 5

JULY 7, 1928.

BARTHELMESS PLAYS LEAD IN A FANNY HURST FILM STORY

May McAvoy and Lionel Barrymore Are Co-Starred in the Vitaphone Production of ‘The Lion and the Mouse,’ a Former Stage Hit, RICHARD BARTHELMESS comes today to the Indiana in “The Wheel of Chance,” picture of brother love, sweetheart love and that greater love—mother love. It is based on the Fanny Hurst short story, “Roulette,” presents Barthelmess in a dual role. Among those Alfred Santell, the director, has assembled to play with Barthelmess in this drama are Lina Easquette, Margaret Livingston, Bodil

Rosing and Warner Oland. In “The Wheel of Chance,” Barthelmess is seen in two roles, playing that of a successful young attorney, and also the part of a human derelict, without friends in the world. Years before the two were separated, one *.eft for dead. Both grew to manhood, neither knowing of the other. They remained strangers to each other until they were both bought together by their loves for the- same woman. Finding that this worn in was faithless to him the attorney cast her e side. Later the second brother ialls in love with the same woman. When he finds she is faithless to him, too, he throws her from him. She strikes a nail on the wall and is killed. Then the boy is arrested and at his trial he finds, though unknown to him, that his brother is his prosecutor. Charles Davis and his band are feature in “Cameo Capers,” a Publix show. Tommy Wonder, boy dancer; Coscia and Verdi, the comedy violinist and cellist, and Lett Sisters and Louise, harmony singers, make up the talent in this Publix show. In addition to these artists, there is another troupe of trained Foster Girls. Stuart Barrie will be at the organ playing a “Waltz Fantasy.” f bob BIG VITAPHONE FILM AT APOLLO May McAvoy and Lionel Barrymore are co-starred in the Vitaphone production, “The Lion and the Mouse,” opening at the Apollo today, and which is hailed as the first Vitadrama picture in that the spoken word plays considerably more of an important part than it has in any of the preceding “talkies.” It represents, in fact, the very latest achievements of Vitaphone engineers in perfecting the spoken word as well as symphonic musical accompaniment in connection with motion picture entertainment. “The Lion and the Mouse,” famous as a stage play by Charles Klein, is a drama of the business world—the story of a Wall Street king known among his associates as the “lion,” who ruins an aged judge when the latter refuses to give a court ruling according to the lion’s commands. The demure “mouse” of the story, the judge’s clever daughter, undertakes the task of restoring honor to her father at the expense of the mighty lion. To do this she first ensnares the lion’s son, and then proceeds in dramatic fashion to attain her ends, the plot embracing thrilling action, tense situations and a whimsical vein of comedy. Barrymore’s speaking voice, a delight in the theater, registers clearly and effectively on Vitaphone. So, too, does Miss McAvoy’s, and the members of the supporting cast, including Alec B. Francis, William Collier Jr., Emmett Corrigan and Jack Ackroy.d, hence the dialogue sequences are realistic, impressive high lights of the production which was directed by Lloyd Bacon. The program contains Movietone news reels and Vitaphone vaudeville acts, the latter serving to introduce Gladys Brockwell, motion picture star, in his first Vitaphone number, “Hollywood Bound,” Meyers and Evans, comedians, and Freda and Palace in songs and musical novelties. a a NEW MASTER OF CEREMONIES HERE The Palace is today celebrating the inauguration of its new master of ceremonies, namely, Harry Fox, who recently was seen on the Palace stage as an act. He scored quite a hit, and when Mort Harris found that Harry was available as a master of ceremonies, he quickly contracted for the engagement. Fox is well known in theatrical circles as a vaudeville headliner, musical come ly star, and an inimitable Singer of popular songs. Harry has also had a touch of moving pictures, appearing for Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Rome and Dunn are being held over for the second week with Charles Althoff, Accent and Ganiesco, and Lois Reese, newcomers to the program. An Indianapolis group of girls named the Ten Foxettes will show that- our .city can provide as fine a group of girls as any place. Emil Seidel will be seen and heard at the piano in the stage orchestra, but will conduct an overture in the pit as well as the news reel. On the screen, Norma Shearer in “The Actress” will hold sway. It is,the story of the woman who tries to change her station in life, only to find that she can be happy only in her own sphere. That is the story of "The Actress,” Norma Shearer’s production for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, in which the star plays the part of Ro*v Trelawney, an actress at the Wells Theater in Londsn. Through the breakdown of a carriage in which the company are going on a picnic, Rose meets Arthur Gower, an English aristo crat, falls in love with him, anc! eventually goes to live at his home. But here is the point which distinguishes drama from the familiar and sentimental love story of Cinderella. The little actress finds that the home of the aristocrat is too cold and gloomy to bring her happiness and that she can only be happy in the realm of the stage. The problem resulting is solved by Norma Shearer in a manner which, while proving satisfactory to all. is, at the same time, djf'grent fron the conventional ending and makes one of the most entertaining photoplays of the year. Sidney Franklin, who directed

the beautiful and entertainhig "Quality Street” and “Beverly of Graustark,” has taken the story of “The Actress” and engraved it on celluloid with a sureness of touch and a fidelity to custom and manner of a former age that makes the result a masterpiece. Ralph Forbes is the leading man; Owen Moore is the penniless playwright, while O. P. Heggie is seen as Sir William Gower as he did in the same part on the stage in "Trelawney of the Wells,” from which “The Actress” is adapted. BBS SMART COMEDY ON VIEW AT CIRCLE Ramon Novarro, who was last seen at the Circle in the title role of “Ben Hur,” returns in a bright, sprightly comedy, “A certain Young Man.” Novarro plays the role of a philandering young English lord and has the support of Renee Adoree, Marceline Day, Carmel Myers, Huntley Gordon and Bert Roach. “A Certain Young Man,” tells of Lord Brinsley, f-mous for his love affairs, who, after affairs with the wives of many of his fellow club members, leaves London for a rest from women. On the train to Biarritz, Lord Brinsley falls in love with the daughter of an American business man on an European vacation. Meanwhile as his attachment for the girl becomes closer, the reports of his former affairs are brought to the attention, of the girl’s father. However as the two decide on their marriage Lord Brinsley is found in an indelicate situation with a former flame. Comedy predominates in this story. Dick Powell’s stage show Js “Broadway Bits,” a symposium of the best from Broadway shows, with Dick singing “Driftwood,” Broadway’s newest song hit. Special material was written for Dick by Lela Rogers. Pall Mall blackface comic produces the humor for “Broadway Bits.” Margaret Ball, Patti Moore and Sammy Lewis are other stars who add their talent to the show. Ed Resener has selected “First Hungarian Rhapsody” as the overture. Dessa Byrd will be heard at the organ.

New Fad

Corliss Palmer, who plays one of the principal feminine roles in "George Washington Cohen,” started a fad of rattlesnake bracelets. Her husband, Eugene Brewster, while on a hunting trip to Mexico, killed a rattler, had it skinned and made into a cartwheel bracelet. The rims of. the wheel are covered with the rattler’s skin, the spokes and hub are composed of diamond chips, and the wheels are caught with gold links. Leave for Scenes Dorothy Maekaill, Jack Mulhall and Director William A. Seiter will depart for San Francisco in a few days to make scenes for “Waterfront,” their forthcoming vehicle.

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Broadway Is Not So Good Now There Are Fewer Shows Than Usual on the Street, BY DIXIE HINES NEW YORK, July 7.—Although the theatrical producing managers have had little encouragement during the past few months, the plans that are being made for next season are quite as extensive as ever. Try-out towns like Atlantic City, Asbury Park and Long Branch have been booked solid from July 1 to Sept. 2. Stamford, Conn., long a popular try-out place is no longer available, but a few suburban towns adjacent to New York have entered the arena and are securing as many bookings as they can well care for. So we may safely assume that the commercial side is following its usual formulae 'of bemoaning the bad business, predicting the next season will be the best ever known, and laying plans to meet the two extremes half way. There are fewer plays on Broadway this summer than has been recorded in several years, and of this limited number only a minor number is doing business sufficient to declare it profitable. The last play produced was a simple and amusing summer comedy called “Married—and How!” and this has taken its place beside the successful ones on Broadway. Three new theaters are announced for next season. This will bring the total up to approximately eighty One of the new h6uses will bear the name of Ethel Barrymore, which is the first time this famous stage name has ever been used in the theater. John Drew, it is said, will bequeath his name to a forthcoming playhouse, but that is not certain. Two others are to be erected in anew theater district in New York. Persons familiar with the topography of New York may be able to identify the location above FiftyThird St. between Sixth Ave. and Eighth Ave. Already the Ziegfeld Theater and the Gallo Theater and the Hammerstein Theater occupy space in this section, and the new ones will be the Craig Theater and the Vardmont Theater. Visitors to New York have all but been discouraged in trying to reach the playhouses in time for the evening performances with Broadway and side streets virtually choked with pedestrians and motor cars. It is the great problem of play-goer and producer at this time. The new district will somewhat relive this congestion, as it will take the patrons of at least five of the important theaters to another part of the city. Don Mullally, a well-known playwright, who has .been successful in his original method of play presentation. is doing it again. It is Mr. Mullally’s theory that the producer, however experienced, is a novice in trying to visualize a play in presentation, so he has on several occasions organized a company, staged a play and presented it privately for managers and others. Invariably he has sold the rights to the play, and it has become a Broadway success. This week he will experiment with his new comedy, called “Wanted,” which is to be privately presented for three evening performances, and then it will take its place in the Broadway lire.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

1— “Wheel of Chance” will be the featured movie at the Indiana beginning today. Richard Barthelmess has the leading role in this picture. 2 Norma Shearer will be c?en, starting today, in “The Actress,” to be shown at Loew’s Palace theater. 3 The Circle theater will have a“A Certain Young Man” as the feature picture starting today. The leading role will be played by Ramon Novarro. 4 “The Lion and the Mouse” with Shirley Mason will be the full length Vitaphone production at the Apollo beginning today.

Big Stars at the Apollo

Freda and Palace Freda and Palace, favorites around the variety circuits, make their debut as Vitaphone vaudeville stars at the Apollo starting today in a music and song concoction. Other acts are offered by Meyers and Evans, comedians, and Gladys Brockwell. motion picture star, who presents a humorous sketch entitled “Hollywood Bound.”

Noted Men Lecture This Winter

A series of four Sunday afternoon lectures will be given during the winter of 1923-20 at the Armory, under the auspices of the Orchard School. The following four prominent speakers have been secured: Count Felix von Luckner, Lowell Thomas, Roy Chapman Andrews and Graham McNamee. Count Felix von Luckner, who will appear at an early date in the winter, will speak in English of his highly 'colorful career as a sea raider during the war. Because of the very fine humanitarian motives that actuated him, the count, merges from the world conflict as

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cne of its best known and most beloved heroes. Count von Luckner was the mysterious “Sea Devil” who brought terror to the hearts of allied merchantmen in the South Seas during 1917-18. The count was in command of the “Sea Eagle,” a German sailing vessel that captured and sank seventen ships of the ; allies. These boats were captured, the crews were taken fiom them and the vessels were sunk, without injury—in even the slightest degree—to any of the hundreds of prisoners taken. Vague, strange stories were spread around about this modern Captain

MOTION PICTURES APOIiO raanr

Kidd during the last years of the war. He became a romantic buccaneer, a fabled hero of the South Seas and many stories were told of his dashing boldness and also his great kindliness of heart. With the close of the war came the facts—and the truth is stranger and even more thrilling than the fictioned sea stories of olden times. On his arrival in New York some months ago, he was greeted by three former captains whose vessels he sank and who came to thank him personally for his treatment of themselves and their command at the times they wore compulsory "guests” of Count Von Luckner under the fortunes of war He has been given twenty-seven decorations by his own and other countries since the close of the war, including the highest possible decoration from the Pope, conferred upon him because of his kindliness toward prisoners of war. In view of the fact that the Count fought against Italy and incidentally is a Protestant, this decoration is prized very highly. He is in America on a sailing tout around the world. His trip will include visits in Australia and New Zealand as an honored guest. Visits Home William Wellman, moving picture director who made “Wings,” and has just completed “Beggars of Life,” the hebo story featuring Wallace Beery, has come home for the first visit since he became famous. He and his wife and daughter are visiting his parents in West Newton, Mass., near Boston. Use Extras More than 300 extras were used in the opening scene of “The Mating Call.” starring Thomas Meighan. They appear as immigrants coming into Ellis Island, among whom is. Renee Adoree, who shares IcnfN nine honors in the picture with Evelyn Brent. The film is from the novel by Rex Beach. To Be at Opening The Broadway film premiere of “The Racket,” made from the play of the same name, will be attended by John Cromwell, who created the leading role of Captain McQu'gg in the original cast behind the footlights.

Composes

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Edna May Green Two years ago, Mrs. Edna May Green of this city started writing songs, both words and music. Her first was “Roses of Yesterday.” Since then she has composed many, including “Daddy of Mine,” “Funny What A Smile Will Do” and "Mother Dear.” Her numbers have been broadcasted frequently.

Ou La! La! Richard Barthelmess makes a decidedly handsome French officer in his French chasseur uniform for “Out of the Ruins,” in which he is being directed by John Francis Dillon.

IHr~^ m i wtitifc \\s*l fOX^j Welcome mm- i Meet Indianapolis's newest master of cere- J monies, who will thrill you with his dis- . frrent style of breezy entertainment. Mort Harris prod. ' ROME & DUNN HELD I I Also Charles Althoff, EasOVER 3d Wee!; | j ter & Hazelton, others. j ? j LES at h 5 ° Bc 4.V^

Big Event on View Sunday; Riverside Park to . Have Fireworks Display at Night, Indianapolis folks are not to be cheated out of the annual Fourth of July fireworks by a little thing like a cloudburst such as swept over the city Wednesday night, according to the management of Riverside amusement park, and the big pyrotechnic exhibition which had been planned for Riverside on the national holiday will be presented Sunday night in its entirety, it is announced. The display is said by Archie W. Colter, Riverside manager, to be the most costly program the park has provided in many years, and will include numerous patriotic set pieces and aerial bombs of the latest design. The display will be under the direction of expert fireworks men from the factory and will be set oft in the center of the amusement park under the supervision of a squad of city firemen. “Balloon fans” will perk up over the announcement that Miss Ethel Pritchett, Indianapolis’ own feminine balloon ace, will rise over the park Sunday afternoon and attempt three parachute leaps to earth. Miss Pritchett announces she will drop 500 feet before cutting loose her second parachute. Riverside is open every day at noon, and hundreds of mothers are finding the big children’s playground just inside the entrance an ideal place for their youngsters to spend the afternoon. Every kind of playground apparatus has been provided and careful watch is kept over the kids, to see that none is hurt. There is no charge for the use of the playground and no admission is charged to Riverside at any time to either adults or children.

Announce Cast

The cast of Pola Negri’s latest picture, which is completed but about which no anouncements were made during production, has now been made public. The picture is titled “Loves of an Actress,” and it deals with the life story of Rachel, French actress-adventuress of a century ago. Miss Negri has the part of Rachel. The jealousy of three of her admirers involves some of the important motivation of the story, and those parts are taken by Philip Strange, Paul Lukas and Richard Tucker. Nils Asther is the leading man. Added to Cast Jean Laverty and Eddie Dunn have been added to the cast of “The Fleet’s In," Clara Bow’s new production.

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