Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 82, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 August 1928 — Page 6

PAGE 6

THE NEW BROADWAY SEASON GETS MIGHTY GOOD START

Earl Carroll’s Latest Revue Is Full of Glitter and Nice Beauty—‘Elmer Gantry’ Does Not Stack Up as Well as the Book, BY DIXIE HINES NEW YORK, Aug. 25.—Whatever may be the finish to the theatrical season of 1928-1929, it has certainly begun auspiciously. Four new plays, if we include a revue by Earl Carroll, have thus far passed in view ,his week. The Earl Carroll revue is like all other revues, lavish, glittering, at times amusing and always explosive. Os the plays, most praise was bestowed upon a newspaper play called “The Front Page.” “Elmer Gantry” has been adapted to the stage, and like most adaptations of such stories it is far from being satisfactory. “The Song Writer,” inspired by the Irving Berlin and Ellin Mackay nuptials, was less satisfying than was promised, and something called “He Understood Women,” is just another salacious, indecent and dull “French” farce many miles after the Gallic.

“ The Tl ’*ont Page” is produced by Jed Harris, and was written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. It is a newspaper story, the scene being laid in the press room adjacent to Cook County jail on the evening of the execution of a murderer. In this room are gathered the police reporters for the Chicago papers, a lot of wise-cracking, hardboiled, emotional mannikins. It seems that one reporter is absent, and it is reported that he has actually cussed out his managing editor and quit the paper cold. He is going to get married. The entire act, until the last few moments, is given over to “color.” The reporter enters, changes his shirt, answers the phone from his managing editor, bawls him out and announces that he is through with newspaper work. He reiterates this determination until the jail sirens sound the escape of a prisoner, and the trait of the newspaper man being the strongest thing in his character, he forgets everything except the new story and starts out to get it. The second act is much like the first. The irate prospective bride seeks to draw him away from the seething mess of the newspaper, and he promises to join her at once at the train. Then another big story breaks, and it is all off again. There is much amusement in this rather weak story and it makes a tremendous appeal to the newspaper boys. On the opening night this appeal was spread throughout the audience. Few plays have been received with more spontaneous hilarity than “The Front Page.” There is a magnificent cast and the one set might have been stolen from the press room of the Cook County courthouse. The final act brings out the best scenes, but there is strong language and strong scenes throughout to hold the interest. It looks like another Jed Harris success. “The Song Writer,” by Crane Wilbur. has for its theme the romance of Irving Berlin and his present wife, the recent Ellin Mackay. It is

RIVERSIDE SUNDAY AFTERNOON ANOTHER SUPREME THRILL Hazel Bruce and Ethel Pritchett Will Attempt Six Parachute Leaps From the Monster Riverside Balloon THE MIGHTY AERIAL SPECTACLES EACH SUNDAY AT RIVERSIDE ARE THE TALK OF THE TOWN FREE ADMISSION TO ALL—ALWAYS RIVERSIDE

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an amusing character comedy, and Georgie Price, the chiei character, acts it most skilfully. One may pass by the fact that it is not in good taste, but judged aside from its inspiration, it will afford a pleasant enough evening in the theater. Here is the struggling young minstrel, who marries the heiress. She tires of her life and returns to her own people, only to be reconciled in the final scenes. Some catchy numbers are interpolated, and Alex Yokel, a former press agent, who is the producer, has given a fine supporting cast and a splendid set to the affair. This dramatization of “Elmer Gantry,” as done by Patrick Kearney, is not so good as a play. It has its moments of interest, and some of them are really gripping, but it is not the Gantry of the Sinclair Lewis book, but rather one built for stage purposes only. In the first act Gantry seduces a preabher's daughter, placing the blame upon an innocent bumpkin. In the second act he wins the affections of an evangelist and obtains the money for the Atlantic City tabernacle. In the next act he falls in love with his secretary, who turns out to be a blackmailer, and between these high lights he shows religion being sold on highpressure salesman methods. In the second act the stage is filled with converts selected from the sidewalks adjacent to the theater, and if one cares fcr this sort of thing, doubtless it will have a moderate run. The general public refused to treat it seriously, however. The adaptor was wise enough to lighten it up even to the point of adding new comedy, and this may be the saving grace. “He Understood Women” is by Michael Kallesser. It is a bad imitation of a French farce, the sort of thing that this writer does as badly as any writer living. The play has scenes that are spicy, and dialog that is both broad and pungent, but it hasn’t much else ex-

AMUSEMENTS

Gillham Tops Bill at Lyric Noted Radio Star Opens Engagement Here Sunday, “'TpHE Whispering Pianist,” Art X Gillham, heard by almost everyone over someone of the 287 radio stations from which he has broadcast or on Columbia records, will appear in person at the Lyric next week as the feature attraction. Five years ago Gillham originated the style of song-singmg he has made famous. While accompanying a radio singer on the piano, he was dared to sing a song himself into the microphone. He did so and was at once engaged as a novelty singer. His style is the informal and confidential style, never forcing his voice. Each word, though sung low, is perfectably clear, and in addition there are odd whimsical tones that are inimitable, because they are the natural expression of an original and very winning personality. The bill will include: REVUE UNUSUAL—A distinctly peppy revue packed with talent of a very high order displayed with startling speed. Davis and Dwan, who were formerly with “Earl Carroll’s Vanities,” are featured in the act. DOLORES LOPEZ Billed as “The Girl of the Golden Voice,” Miss Lopez has played some very important parts in motion pictures with Jack White, A1 Christie, and Metropolitan productions. She presents her offering in a unique way that speaks for itself. COFFEE POT DOME—A farce ccmedy on the SIOO,OOO graft situation in the famous oil scandal. A hypocritical oil producer, a grafting mayor, a detective and two clever crooks tell the story. Charles Eichman plays the principal role. HILLIER AND FORTE—In a comedy offering, “We Americans,” present a line of nonsense and song. DARRELL AND ROBINSON— Offer a comedy skit titled “Food for Squirrels.” MITKUS DUO—Present an original balancing act in which the lady goes through an intricate routine of dancing feats on a silver perch perilously surmounted on the shoulders of her partner. ON THE SCREEN—A Metro Goldwyn Our Gang comedy, “Spook Spoofing;” Pathe Rarebit, a Krazy Kat cartoon and a Pathe News reel. cept some very good players in the cast headed by Hilda Spong and Peggy Allenby. The music season has closed for the summer in New York, both the Goldman band concerts and the symphony orchestra concerts having finished for this summer. The Goldman band, under Edwin Franko Goldman, will open this week at Atlantic City for a season of four weeks, and the symphony will put away its instruments until the fall season at Carnegie Hall. Athletes for Stage The enterprising agency of Keller & Godfrey is going in for athletes this season. In addition to the aforementioned Mr. Tilden, Keller & Godfrey are presenting “Red” stat in a miniature musical comedy called “SeventySeven” which, as most people will remember, are the football numerals of the galloping ghost. The act opens the week of Aug. 27 in White Plains and Mt. Vernon. Writes Her Own Lines Corinne Griffith herself has written “lines” for her latest First National starring vehicle, “Outcast,” taking them from the play of that title by Hubert Henry Davies, upon which the picture is based. Having adapted the lines of the play to the modernized screen version, she and her leading man, Edmund Lowe, speak them aloud.

AMUSEMENTS

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

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Art Giilham opens an engagement Sunday at the Lyric. He is known as “The Whispering Pianist.”

ROUNDING ROUND THFATFRS with Walter 1 rIEjJA 1 Ko D ' HJCKMAN

THERE is no reason in the world as far as I see it that I can not tell you when any theatrical season opens. Am now talking about the opening of the burlesque season on Sunday afternoon at the Mutual theater in this city. The opening attraction bears the name of “Step Lively Girls” and has the chief services of Elsie Burgere.

It has been my policy to tell you about these shows season after season. Judging from the letters that I am receiving from the Mutual Burlesque Circuit, the circuit desires honest criticism. The mail has just brought me the following: A few weeks ago the Mutual Burlesque Association sent to each of the forty-six theaters contsituting its circuit a blank criticism slip to be distributed throughout the audiences at every performance during the present season. It required five millions of these slips to carry out the idea, which is, to afford the spectators an opportunity to express their opinions of the burlesque shows appearing at those houses, with a weekly change of bill. Words, to be checked off. are printed on the slips such as "good,” "fair,” “bad,” “tiresome,” as relates to the show In its entirety, and other words are supplied having special reference to the scenery, costumes, the music, the dances, the comedy and to the individual work of the various players in the cast. The “critic” thus supplied is requested to check off the words that express his or her opinions, and mail the slip, signed, to the Mutual’s general offices in New York. The object of the device is to obtain first-hand, direct information from the audiences as to the impression the performances make upon the individual spectator, and copies of these comments are 6ent to the association’s traveling censors, of which there are four that regularly inspect the shows at stated intervals during the season. With the signed slips in their possession, the censors are required to get into personal touch with the signers in each city and invite them to be the guests of the Mutual at the performance then current in that city. Although the present season is now only in its third week, the Mutual has already received hundreds of the signed "criticisms,” indicating the plan has met with ready response. The idea certainly Is unique and

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The 111 IA| BURLESQUE THEATRE NEW BWIU I %rf*MLi 1 34 S. Illinois St. UNDER DIRECTION OF THE MUTUAL BURLESQUE ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK 365 DAYS AHEAD OF THEM ALL! .f^ySS -

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indicates the conscentious efforts the Mutual executives are making to give value to and to popularize their shows. This information will be of interest to all those who are interested in talking pictures: Eva Le Gallienne, founder and director of the Civic Repertory Theater, has signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to appear in

BROAD RIPPLE Indiana's Favorite Amusement Fr T '• * Course SPECIAL FOR THE KIDDIE SUNDAY Stars of the Circus World **^ ' Featuring Tom AWj v Walters o i the Ringling Bros.-Barnum .W ' & Bailey Circuses —A Riot of Fun At the Bathing Beach—A Pageant of Pulchritude MERMAID REVIEW Sunday j’:3u—Cone and Pick the Winner ROLLER SKATE MARATHON Now Going at Top Speed—How Fong Can They Stand the Pace See Your Favorites in Action Hold Your Picnic in Our Beautiful Grove Wrestling Mon. Nlte —Boxing Thur. Nlte —Fireworks Sat. Nlte. | Children Free—Free Parking-Free Dancing [

Gus Arnheim’s Ambassadors, one of the Vitaphone attractions opening today at the Apollo.

talking motion pictures. Miss Le Gallienne’s arrangement to cooperate with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer In its project to bring together in one sound program outstanding representatives of the different branches of dramatic art is in line with her recent declaration that she believes firmly in the potentiality of the talking motion picture in carrying true standards of dramatic diction to the far corners of the country. Anglin Very Busy Margaret Anglin biding her time in vaudeville until rehearsals start for George Tyler's production of “Macbeth” in which she is to star this fall, rushed east from Minneapolis after the last vaudeville show Saturday, to spend a couple of hours in conference with Tyler about his forthcoming production. Then she boarded a train again for the coast, for San Francisco, where her vaudeville act, “Smarty’s Party,” is scheduled to open Aug. 25.

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Fanny's Show J. L. Warner, announced this week that their Vitaphone Road Show starring Fannie Brice will definitely be called “My Man.” The story is based on an original vehicle written expressly for Miss Brice by Robert Lord.

Stars for Variety Rumors have it that Oscar Shaw and Mary Eaton, who recently closed in the successful “Five O'clock Girl,” are about to venture into vaudeville as an all-star team, if ever there was one.

SUNDAY ATTRACTIONS AGRES WALNUT GARDENS ACRES BALLOON ASCENSION 3 Girls Making Parachute Leaps DANVILLE BAND CONCERT AFTERNOON AND EVENING SWIMMING—DANCING Many Other Amusements Country Style Chicken Dinner All You Can Eat Admission 10c Entry Blank The contest is open to any young lady, age 16 to 25, single. No entry fee. A resident of Indianapolis, Marion County, or the State of Indiana. To the DIRECTOR INDIANA STATE BEAUTY CONTEST, office headquarters, Denison Hotel Lobby, Indianapolis, Ind„ or Box No. 38, Fostoffice: I Hereby Desire to Enter the Above Contest. My Name Phone ...... Street City Chevrolet Coach Given as First Prize. Purchased from JonesWhitaker Cos. on Display at Our Dance Hall. Second Prize, SIOO Diamond Ring, Displayed at Otto Graff, Jeweler, 151 East Market Street; Also Many Other Prizes.

_AUU. 25, 192 b

Orphans to Have Big Affair Elks Will Entertain Many Children at Park, r YTAZEL BRUCE and Ethel Pritchett, Indianapolis girls who have made numerous balloon ascensions and parachute leaps all over the Middle West this summer, have been engaged to entertain and thrill visitors to the Riverside Amusement Park Sunday afternoon. Both young aorialists will ascend suspended from the big Riverside balloon, each carrying a pack of parachutes, and on reaching the height of approximately one mile they will cut loose from the huge hot-air bag and dash headlong back to Indianapolis, each girl executing three separate parachute jumps on the way to earth. Hundreds of tickets good for free passage on the big rides and other fun devices in the park will be thrown from the air by the two girls as they rise from the ground and the usual scramble of the youngsters on such occasions is looked for. Next Wednesday the Indianapolis Elks Lodge will entertain the orphans from the various institutions of the city at the Riverside Amusement Park. This is an annual affair at the park, where the Elks have been bringing the orphans for twenty years. Free rides on the amusement devices and a big feed will feature the | day. while ther£ will be races and other contests galore with hundreds of prizes and souvenirs for the little folk. Over a thousand children from the various orphanges are expected.

AMUSEMENTS