Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 76, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 August 1928 — Page 5

AUG. 18, 1928

BERKELL CLOSES STOCK SEASON AT ENGLISH’S TONIGHT

[Producer Will Move His Company to the Logan Square Theater in Chicago for a Fall and’Wintei Season, but Will Return Here, CHARLES BERKELL will close his stock season at English’s tonight with the final performance of “New Brooms.” In his final statement of the season, Berkell states that he and his company will return to Indianapolis next spring. Mr. Berkell issued the following statement today: , “After tonight’s performance we shall fold our tents and go SCway for a while. We shall open on Sunday, Sept. 2at the Logan Square Theater. Chicago, for the fall and winter season, but we are coming back here next year stronger and better than ever.

“This season has been our most r satisfying one in this city. Not altogether from a financial standpoint. although the last three-quar-ters cf our season have been very profitable from a money standpoint. “But we are gradually gaining the confidence of the public and that means everything to a stcck company. Each year has found us gaining in public appreciation, and this season has culminated with our place here in civic activities firmly established. “We have brought some very fine things to our patronage this summer, such as ‘Abie’s Irish Rose. ‘Madame X,’ 'The Bird of Paradise’ and ‘Stella Dallas.’ These vehicles have drawn upon our players for a huge amount of talent, and judging from the comrhents' which have poured into our offices, they have all acquitted themselves finely. “They have each had their chance in central roles, or at least in important ones, and I have been proud of their work. They have worked singly and collectively to make our productions a success. "We are much indebted to the newspapers who have given us fair daling. We have tried this year to ascend a rung in the ladder in the way of scenic settings, workmanship and we shall return with the desire and intention to make our enterprise one of service to the community. “We offer our shows at the very lowest price possible, so that prices may be in reach of all, anw we try to kc-ep the atmosphere of our theater informal so that one can run in to our performances in his business clothes, if he chooses so to do.”

New Acts

New acts booked during the past Week for Keith-Albee-Orpheum engagements are: “General” Ed LaVine in “Soldiering;” Fred Carroll in “Look Out Below;” Mildred Crewe and Boys in “Ahead of the Times,” with Bernard and Harry Clyne and Syl Green; Violet McKee and Company in “A Bit of Musical Comedy in a Vaudeville Way;” Henry Fink, popular song writer and singing comedian: Billy Clair, known as “The Broadminded Boy from Broadway;” Jack Irving and Betty Burnett in “In and Out of Trouble,” written by Eugene Conrad; Haley and Joyce Sisters, billed as “The Three Pepper Pots;” Bert Lewis, the “Darktown Comedian;” Tom Fulmer and Mae Wayne, in “A Grand Boy aid Girl;” Estes and Bernice in “A Sp.tirical Dance Novelty,” with the four Kute Kiddies; Frank Cook and Jean Vernon in “Oh Amy,” by Sidney S. Lazarus; Joroy and Aleer in “An Unusual Revue,” with Dorothy Kemdin and Leonard and White.

RIVERSIDE ■ mitt*- ——— ii ' 1 rmmmmmmmmmmummmmmmmmmmmm “It Can't Be Done!” SAY VETERAN BALLOON MEN “FII Do It!” SAYS THE PATENT LEATHER KID what: SIX PARACHUTE LEAPS By One Man From Hot Air Balloon Sunday Afternoon The Kid Tries It If He Succeeds, It’s a WORLD’S RECORD THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME —BE THERE RIVERSIDE

IT’S VACATION TIME AT BROAD RIPPLE INDIANA’S FAVORITE AMUSEMENT PARK Children Free—Free Parking—Free Dancing Added Attraction Week Starting Today The Aquatic Wonder of the Age KELLUM “THE HUMAN CORK” This Man-Fish Eats, Drinks, Juggles, Reads Newspapers, Sings, Boxes in the Water and Defies Any One to Sink Him. Come and Try to Make Him “Take Water.” Twice Daily at the Bathing Beach— FREE. S-W-I-M Oceans of Joy in the Big Swimming Pool Fun for Everyone Along “Joy Lane” Special Program by the* Musical Miracle Hold Your Picnic in This Wonder Park Boxing Thrs. Nite—Dog Race Fri. Nite—Fireworks Sat. Nite

Orchestra Will Top New Bill Rosiman's Alabamians to Open Sunday at the Lyric, MUSIC and comedy and girls galore, considered perfect | summer-time theatrical fare, have been assembled by the management I of the Lyric for the new bill there | beginning Sunday afternoon. Music will dominate in the headline offering, “Rosiman’s Alabamians,” a dance orchestra from one of Hollywood’s principal night clubs. This versatile musical organization was most appreciated in Hollywood, where it graced one of the fashionable night clubs for many months and played for all the stars which are now household names. The bill will include: SMALL’S STYLISH STEPPERS— A company of girls with Cleo Floyd as featured performer. Mr. Small has gathered together a pretty bunch of girls who he has initiated into the art of terpsichore and placed at their head the charming long-haired Cleo Floyd, who seems to be almost a reincarnation of Ann Pennington and Pavlowa rolled into one. ORREN AND DREW—John Orren, vaudeville’s foremost mimic, with Lillian Drew and Vera Orren present an unique comedy classic entitled “Mike-at-the-Phone.” While built for laughing purposes their act is chock full of unusual talent. STANLEY BROS. AND ATTREE —A thrilling aerial display mingled with many wisecracks and finished with a very sensational trick. Mr. Stanley swings out above the audience on his trapeze, whirls in the air and finishes clinging to the bar with his toes alone—he smiles as he thrills. WILLIAM BENCE AND CO—Another clever trio who devote themselves to music and song through eighteen minutes of entertainment. The scene is laid in the interior of a chop suey cabaret, Bence dispensing the comedy while pretty Helen McClain sings and Bobbie McGregory plays the accordion. DIXON AND MORELLI—A two wop comics in a comedy skit titled “Perfect English.” They sing several clever couplets to an accompaniment of banjo and ukelele. THREE PEPPER SHAKERS— Lightning steppers in “Dancing Marvels.” ON THE SCREEN—Fox comedy, “Her Mother’s Back”; Universal comedy, “the Hurry-Up Marriage”; Color Classic and Pathe News reel.

AMUSEMENTS

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1 — Scotty Weston will be seen in “Out of the Dawn,” at the Circle which brings Charlie Davis back home today at the Indiana, starting today. 3—Here is a member of Roisman’s Alabamians, a jazz band, opening 2 Chester -Fredericks as he appears in “Home Again," the stage show Sunday at the Lyric.

ROUNDING ROUND THFATFRS with Walter 1 nILA 1 Hf-DiO R HICKMAN

IT is really too bad that some actors have to make their living by acting in “small towns.” That was my feeling after readyig a letter bearing the name of Frank Livingston. I have been informed by Dick Wright, manager of the Lyric, that Livingston is a member of the Florence Seeley act presenting “Kat Naps.”

In my review of this act last Tuesday, I said: “Two men impersonate cats in the offering of Florence Seeley and company. Very little artistry shown here.” I am still of that opinion, but I probably should have used much stronger language about the cat impersonations. .The letter bearing the name of Frank Livingston is as follows: “My Dear Mr. Hickman: “The biggest laugh of the season is the write-up of the Lyric vaudeville bill this week. “It is very evident that you are entirely bored with living or are too young to know what constitutes a good act. “Had this revue been written by George Jean Nathan or the deceased Alan Dale, we might be led to believe that we are all terrible performers, but coming from one in such a small town, it certainly means very little. “Having met some of your citizens and leading dancing teachers, we have a fine idea of how you stand in the eyes of the public. “If you are trying to establish yourself in the world of theatrical critics, you are picking a very bad way of doing it. “It really is a waste of time to write this, and although I suppose you will achieve some amount of satisfaction from knowing that your article has at last roused a performer, I also will be pleased to tell you. that you’re not getting away with a thing. “Ir. is a very lamentable fact that you know so little about artistry and I would suggest that you leave your stool and desk at The Times office and devote a time to the study of the fundamental principles of stagecraft.

“It is an outstanding fact that you are one of very ordinary tastes and cannot appreciate an actor’s desire to do his best for the audience. You evidently are envious of the talent of performers. “Should you care to publish this letter, go ahead. It may help to establish you with your dear public. “FRANK LIVINGSTON, “Lyric Theater.” It is really too bad, Mr. Livingston, that you have to receive a week’s salary from “such a small town.” ■ It is too bad that a small town audience had to contribute to your salary for a week. I am of Indianapolis and I am proud of it although I am just a “small town” critic. But I don’t squawk at the town that is giving me my living. And I am not full of vinegar against the public. I tell my public what I think about an act and that public has the right to have its own verdict. Not a member of this public has written me this week protesting against my verdict of the Florence Seeley act. tt n tt George Somnes, director for Stuart Walker and director of the Little Theatre Society of this city, sailed Thursday for Europe. He will visit Berlin, Paris and other cities. He has gone to study what Europe has to offer in relation to the little theater. Is Camerman Syd Hickox is photographing “Oh, Kay!” Colleen Moore’s current picture. He was cameraman on “Happiness Ahead” and “Lilac Time” as well. AMUSEMENTS

MARATHON DANCE Continuous Dancing 24 Hours Daily at DAY’S CASINO Southeastern and Emerson Aves. Six and a half couples still dancing. At 12 o’clock noon Friday the contest passed the 110-hour mark. Day Admission 25c Night Admission 50c

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Vivian Tobin

Miss Vivian Tobin, one of the legitimate meater’s favorite comediennes, will make her debut in vaudeville very appropriately during “New Face Week,” opening Aug. 20 at the Orpheum. Brooklyn, proceeding to the Bushwick, and then due for major Manhattan houses. This clever young actress will be seen in a comedy playlet written by Nancy Bradford and called “What Women Want.” Three men, Dwight George, Russell Hopkins and Harry F. Bliven support the star. Miss Tobin’s latest Broadway appearances were in “The Nervous Wreck,” “March Hares,” “The Padre.” Movie Fan Clara Bow sees an average of about 200 moving pictures a year. She sees virtually all of them in studio projection rooms and almost never goes to a theater.

At The Lyric As soon as Alvin (Shipwreck) Kelly comes down from his perch on the flagpole at the Denison Hotel this afternoon he will be taken to the Lyric Theater, where he will make a personal appearance about 2 o'clock. Kelly will tell his audience how he accomplished the stunt of standing on a flagpole for more than a hundred hours. He will make another appearance at the Lyric about 8 o’clock tonight, Manager Dick Wright of the Lyric announces.

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Swimmer Will Be at Park ‘The Human Cork' to Do Stunts at Broad Ripple. ONE of the special attractions booked for the week at Broad Ripple Park, starting Sunday, will be a trick swimmer and diver who is known in aequatic circles as "The Human Cork.” • This athlete, who tips the scales at 300 pounds, was seen at the park last season as an added feature and scored a hit with his act. He will perform .n the bathing pool. Some of the stunts offered by the “Cork” will be eating, smoking, juggling, singing, playing on musical instruments, reading a newspaper and ending his act with a battle royal with other swimmers whom he defies to get him under water. The “Cork” holds the record for continuous floating. The act will be presented both afternoon and evening. Music lovers will find a treat in the program to be offered by the Musical Miracle which will run through out the week. The numbers, which will include several of the latest hits, will be furnished by the Wilking Music Company and will be presented and announced by Frank Wilking. With picnics now in full blast, outing parties are finding Broad Ripple Park an ideal place for such gatherings, and each day in the week finds one or more groups enjoying the many facilities the park offers for an out of doors frolic. At the park tomorrow will be several thousand guests from out of town, including visitors from Madison, Hamilton, Delaware and Tipton Counties. They will come to the park on interurbans, busses, trains and private conveyances. Committees representing the various counties have arranged a special

AMUSEMENTS

program that will run throughout the day.

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New Events on Screen

John Boles, well-known leading man of the musical comedy stage, has been signed by Universal to a five-year contract. Boles’ splendid speaking and singing voice makes him a valuable addition to the ranks of stars on the Universal lot making "talkies.” He has just completed the principal male role opposite Laura La Plante in Paul Leni’s production, “The Last Warning.” The latest additions to the cast of “The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City” are Nora Lane and Tom Kennedy. These selections were made last Monday just before the company, under the direction of William J. Craft, left Universal City for location work at the famous beach resort in New Jersey. Alice Day has been chosen as Reginald Denny’s leading woman in his first talking picture, “Red Hot Speed,” now in preparation at Universal City. Joseph Henaberry is handling the direction of this sound picture, with a cast including, besides Denny and Miss Day, Thomas Ricketts, Fritzi Ridegway and Charles Byer. Casting still continues for various roles in Edna Ferber’s “Show Boat,” even though the production has been under way for several weeks. The latest players to be announced are Grace Cunard, Scotty Mattraw, Joe Mills and Richard Coleman. Harry Pollard now has this Universal company on location on the Sacramento River in northern California. The leading roles are played by Laura La Plante, Joseph Schildkraut, Otis Harlan, Alma Rubens and Emily Fitzroy. AMUSEMENTS

PAGE 5

Beautiful Girls in Contest Miss Venus of Indiana to Re Selected Here. Miss Venus of Indiana will be selected at a beauty pageant to be held at Walnut Gardens on Sunday, Sept. 2. This is a State-wide bathing beauty contest and Indianapolis will have an official entrant. Local girls may enter the contest by filing their application at the contest headquarters at the Denison hotel. Several cities of Indiana have already selected their entrant, either through elimination or by popular acclaim, and many others will announce their entrants within the next few days. In addition to the honor of being acclaimed the most beautiful girl in the entire State, the winner of the State contest at Walnut Gardens will receive a Chevrolet coach. Any girl of this city of good moral character and between the ages of 16 and 25 years is eligible to enter, and will have equal opportunity among all other contestants to win the grand award, or one of the many other prizes that are to be given to those not fortunate enough to place first. Walnut Gardens, where the contest is to take place, is well situated, thirteen miles south of Indianapolis on State Road 67, near Camby.