Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 100, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 September 1928 — Page 6

PAGE 6

CHICAGO CIVIC OPERA WILL START ITS SEASON SOON

Many New Artists of International Reputation Will Make Their First American Appearances During the Winter Months, BY HERBERT M. JOHNSON Manager, Ch* capo Civic Opera HICAGO, Sept. 15.—The eighteenth season of grand opera by a resident company in Chicago ond the seventh since the Chicago Civic Opera was organized, will open in. the Auditorium on Oct. 31, 1928, and will close on Jan. 26, 1929. As this Will probably be the last season in the old house, extra efforts have been made to present the most brilliant season of opera Chicago has ever witnessed. During the season, something over one hundred performances will be given in Chicago and four in Milwaukee, and some thirty-four or thirty-five operas will be presented. It is unfortunate that it should be necessary to give this large number of operas in such a short season, but the Chicago public has not yet been educated to the point where it is willing to hear the same opera more than once during a season.

Consequently, for the 1928-29 season, the Chicago company will limit itself to improtant revivals, among which will be the following: In Italian—“ Norma,” by Bellini, one of the older works which has always been successful when interpreted by a competent cast: “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart, which has not been given in Chicago since 1911-12; “Don Pasquale,” by Donizetti, given during the 1919-20 season, and “II Tabarro” (The Cloak), one of the Puccini “trittico,” which has not been given in Chicago since 1919-20. In French—“ The Spanish Hour,” the one-act opera of Ravel, not given by the Chicago company since 1919-20; “The Tales of Hoffman” by Offenbach; “Lakme” bv Delibes, and “Thais” by Massenet. New scenry has been provided for “Norma,” “The Tales of Hoffman,” and “The Marriage of Figaro.” The scenery for the last named opera has been designed By the same artist who provided the sketches for the “Don Giovanni” which received so much favorable comment when produced in 1926. In addition to the operas men tioned, the standard repertoire will .)e selected from the following ft operas which have proven the most popular in the past few years); “Aida,” “Barber of Seville,” “La Bftheme,” “Boris Godunoff,” ‘Madame Butterfly,’ ‘Cavalleria Rusticdr la,” “Don Giovanni,” “Elixir of Love,” “The Force of Destiny,” “Gianni Schicchi,’ “La Gioconda,” "The Jewess,” “Lucia di Lammtympor,” “Love of Three Kings,” "Mephistopheles,” “Otello,” "II Pag“Rigoletto,” ‘La Tosca,” ‘La Traviata’ ’and “II Trovatore” in Italian; "Carmen,” "Faust,” "Ro meo and Juliet,’ and “Samson and Delilah” will be sung in French, and Miss Garden will appear In one of her greatest roles—that of Melisjande in Debussy's "Pelleas and Melisande.” She will also repeat her success of last season—“Sapho.” Following her usual custom of singing anew role each year, Miss Garden will appear during the coming season in "The Spanish Hour' for the first time in her career, and will provide a very interesting evening when she appears in two contrasting operas “The Spanish Hour”—and in Judith,” Honegger’s ultra modern work which was given its American premiere in the 192627 season. “Die Fledermaus” (The Bat) will be given in English, as will “Hansel and Gretel” and in German, “Lohengrin” and “Der Rosenkavalier” (The Knight of the Silver Rose) Will be heard. This repertoire is believed to be ‘the most varied and interesting which has yet been given, providing words of all classes in English, , French, German and Italian. The casts to interpret these operas will be selected with great care. Many new artists of international reputation will make their first American appearances during the season, selected from the most famous houses in Europe, the list includes: Maria Olszewska, great mezzo-soprano, who is one of the outstanding personalities of the lyric stage and who has met with great success in all the numerous opera houses in which she has appeared; Eva Turner, English soprano, who, with Claudia Muzio and Rosa Raisa, will form the greatest trio of dramatic sopranos in any one company; Marion Claire, the Chicago girl who has been appearing in Italian opera houses and also in Berlin; and Margherita Salvi, a young Spanish coloratura who has been singing in many of the large European opera houses.

At Colonial

•Giants df the Ring,” which starts Monday at the Colonial, should satisfy the appetites of the knockout hungry fight fans. The picture shows the knockout rounds only of the great heavyweighti battles, starting with the bout between Firpo and Bill Brennan. Willard, Sharkey,- Maloney, Paolino, Dempsey, Tunney and Heney are all shown in their different battles, and the /high light of the picture is when Firpo sends Dempsey through the ropes at the Polo Grounds in their international battle. The picture has been edited by a New York sports writer, and of course is filled with action and knockouts galore. In New Drama Betty Compsow, who played the Hula dancer in “The Barker,” is to be a “woman of the ports” in the next Richard Barthelmess picture, “Scarlet Seas.” Miss Compson is now on location with the company at Catalina. I- ■ ■ ■■ - To Do “Dirty Work” Jack Curtis will do the “dirty work" in Richard Barthelmess’s new stellar vehicle for First National, "Scarlet Seas.” He also appeared with the same star in his successful story, “The Noose.”

In Variety Donald Brian, musical-com-edy star of many Broadway successes, more recently in “Yes, Yes, Yvette,” and “No, No, Nanette,” opened a lengthy K-A-O tour at Winnipeg last week. Nicola world-famous mystic, in anew series of bewildering illusions, and Nonette, the “gypsy violiniste,” appeared on the, same bill. It was their first stop on a western tour of K-A-O theaters.

The Boss

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I. H. Herk

I. H. Herk is president and general manager of the Mutual Burlesque Association, a corporation that controls forty-seven theaters located in the principal cities, from Montreal to Louisville and from Boston to Minneapolis and Kansas City, as well as forty-four traveling companies. There are approximately three thousand persons employed pn the Mutual Circuit, of which more than fourteen hundred are engaged upon the stage. TJie companies, by an ingenious system, follow one another around the "wheel” every week from the middle of August to the middle of May, thus assuring a season of forty weeks. Herk personally supervises the operations of this entire organization from the executive Offices of the association in New York. He is 42 years of age and has been actively engaged in show business all his life, starting as a young man at the Valentine Theater, Toledo, Ohio.

Stage and Screen News

Madeline Grey has been engaged for a revival of “The Command to Love.” It will open in Brooklyn. “Potiphar’s Wife,” by Edgar Middleton, secured for American production by a syndicate of Broadway theatrical managers, will place this sensational comedy-drama in rehearsal very shortly for a presentation on the stage of the new Craig Theater, which is the latest playhouse in New York. The premiere is set for an early evening in October. Melville Burke, who has been directing the notable stock company at Elltch’s Gardens in Denver, has closed his summer season and arrived in New York where he will proceed with the first play of his program for the season’s productions. Claude Cooper, rated one of the most skilful actors on the American stage, is giving a well conceived, true and highly amusing characterization of the crooked sheriff in “The Front Page,” the newspaper play that stands at the head of the season’s new successes. H. H. Bonfield, a St. Augustine real estate operator who took a year on Broadway as a theatrical producer, has been bitten * worse than was first supposed. Mr. Eonfield plans to make two or more productions for Broadway before the end of the season. The first will be a mystery play. Ralph Callinan, whose plays heretofore have given him fame and not inconsiderable fortune, is winning laurels in anew field. He is acting in “Goin’ Home” the fine war play that Brock Pemberton sponsors at the Hudson Theater. Mr. Cullinan’s performance is one of the best in the play. Whitford Kane, for the past year associated with the unique Goodman Theater, Chicago, as director and star actor, is to appear in one of the de luxe touring companies of the Theatre Guild. He will have leading roles in “R. U. R.” and “Marco’s Millions,” both rated among the successes of the interesting and successful institution.

RIVERSIDE BALLOON ASCENSION SUNDAY AFTERNOON Hazel Bruce in Five Leaps Riverside goes on its full schedule this coming week and will be flpen Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons and nights as long as weather permits. ✓

Cleveland Puppets to Be Here Marionette Show Will Open Little Theatre Season, Helen haiman Joseph of the Cleveland Puppet Theater, who will present three of her wellknown marionette performances on next Saturday morning and afternoon, Sept. 22, at the Playhouse, Nineteenth and Alabama Sts., is one of the leading professional puppeteers in this country. These performances compose the opening bill of the "Children's Hour,” a series of special children's plays which the Indianapolis Little Theatre is to present throughout the coming season. The Helen Joseph Puppets maintain a repertory of twelve plays for their 1928-29 season, and perform before adult and high school audiences, as frequently as before young children. For her Indianapolis appearance the plays scheduled by the Little Theatre are “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” which will be given at 11 o'clock next Saturday morning; “Snowvhite,” which is the first of the afternoon performances, at 2 o’clock, and “Pinnochio,” which is booked for 4 o’clock. Mrs. Joseph first became interested in the artistry and beauty of the puppet theater w T hen touring through Italy and France, about fourteen years ago. After her return she created a marionete theater of her own in Cleveland, and later wrote one of the first books to be published on puppetry, entitled "A Book of Marionettes,” which chronicles the history of this ancient art which flourished centuries' ago in Egypt, Greece, Rome, as well as in China, Japan and Siam. Mrs. Joseph is also the author of “Princesses,” a drama for marionettes, and “Ali Baba and Other Plays,” a collection of plays for young children, as well as for puppets. Mrs. Joseph has translated some of Ivo Puhonny’s works on “The Physiognomy of Puppets.” For All Children Only plays which Mrs. Joseph, herself, has adapted to the puppet theater are included in her repertory so that the Joseph versions of the well-known fairy tales and children’s plays have become very popular among the school children of Cleveland, more than 60,000 of whom come annually to the Cleveland Art Museum to see these productions. “The Life and Death of Dr. Pohannes Faust,” taken from an old German puppet show, is one of Mrs. Joseph’s outstanding adaptations. A decided revival of puppet-play, whose true origin is buried in antiquity, is manifest throughout the entire world today. In the United States, schools and colleges are taking an interest in marionettes and are producing plays with these tiny manikins as the actors and actresses. But of more significance is the fact that there are at least fifteen professional companies of marionettes touring the country today, which performances involve producing and costuming expenses as elaborate as any Broadway company, and require many months of rehearsals exacting and “back breaking.” Ticket Sale Tickets for the Joseph puppet plays are on sale at the Playhouse, or may be secured from Mrs. A. M. Gall-Sayles, general chairman of' the “Children’s Hour” of the Little Theater; Miss Mosamond Van Camp, vice chairman, Mrs. Benson J. Titus, director, or from Mrs. Raymond F. Mead and Mrs. George T. Parry, advisory board.

Broadway Pick-Ups

Ralph Cullinan, now acting in “Goin’ Home,” is the author of an Irish drame said by Eugene O’Neil to be one of the finest plays ever to come from an American pen. a tt tt Barry Macollum, who has a queer and compelling part in “The Caravan” now being shown at the Klaw Theater, is possessed of a group of plays that have been produced at the Abbey Theater, Dublin. tt a tt Whitford Kane, absent from Broadway for a year, has returned to join the Theater Guild. He wili play in “R. U. R.” end “Marco’s Millions.” Both show;., as well as seven others, are now in rehearsal. Here Is New Star Charles Rogers, Paramount’s newest star, made his one and only radio “appearance” five years ago when his school board broadcast a program from a Kansas City station. Rogers was the leader of the .orchestra. Ready for Work Alice White, First National star, is geeting ready to project her energetic personality into another film comedy, “Ritz Rosie,” which Mervyn Leßoy is to direct. Jack Mulhall will be co-starred in this picture, which is a modern, jazzy metropolitan story.

AMUSEMENTS

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Left—Mack and Stanton, in a comedy offering, will be present on the Right—Mildred Jeanette is a member of the cast of “Sporty Widows,” new bill opening Sunday at the Lyric. * opening Sunday afternoon at the Mutual.

With Davis

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Joseph Griffin

Starting today at the Indiana Joseph Griffin is one of the chief artists to be introduced in the new Charlie Davis stage show.

Takes Trip

Immediately after completing "Cheyenne,” his latest Western feature for Charles R. Rogers, producer of the Maynard series for First National Pictures, Ken Maynard left Hollywood for a three weeks’ vacation. Ken and Mrs. Maynard will ultimately arrive in New York, but expect to make several stops en route to visit friends and relatives. This is the first time Maynard has had the opportunity for an eastern trip in over a year. He has been steadily at work, and, sometimes snatched a day here and there between pictures for a motor jaunt, but never had sufficient time for a New York visit. He will be back in time to prepare for his next Western, starting late in September. Has Fine Time Billie Dove is having what most women would regard as a delightful experience—that of being fitted to some of the most gorgeous gowns ever produced. These, are for her next First National picture, still wanting a title, but presenting the lovely star as a Russian princess. It is to be directed by Frank Lloyd. Visits Radio Stations During his present stay in New York, John Cromwell, actor aand playwright, listens in on Los Angeles radio stations. When he came to Hollywood a few months ago to sign a contract as a Paramount featured player, he immediately set out, to pull in tunes from WEAF New York. To Play Good Role Emile Chautafd, former director and character actor, is to play an important role with Billie Dove in her next First National picture, a story of Russia and Paris, as yet untitled.

MUTUAL BURLESQUE THEATRE 365 Days Ahead of Them All 134 SOUTH ILLINOIS STREET UNDER DIRECTION OF MUTUAL BURLESQUE ASSN. OF N. Y? SPORTY WIDOWS /CHORUS NEARIE ARNOLD ™ OF YOUTHFUL CLEVER DANCING GIRLS

ROUNDING ROUND THFATFRS With WALTER 1 IlhA 1 -LNO D ' HICKMAN

THE announcement that H. M. Warner, president of Warner Brothers, has just signed a contract for George Arliss, noted stage star, to appear in Vitaphone talking pictures, proves that this company is out after the big ones. Warner has already signed A1 Jolson, John Barrymore and Texas Guinan of night club feme. This gives Vitaphone four of the best known names, three of which are real artists in their own legitimate right.

I have received the following additional statement from Vitaphone: Warner Brothers are preparing for the production of the first Vitaphone operetta, “The Desert Song,” based on the musical romance presented on the stage by Schwab and Mandel. J. L. Warner announced this week that Roy Del Ruth will direct the screen version, which will be. Vitaphoned throughout. This assignment goes to Del Ruth because of the experience he has gained through making all-Vitaphone pictures, notably “The Terror” and Monte Blue’s next, “Conquest.” Harvey Gates is now writing the continuity for “The Desert Song.” and scren tests with Vitaphone will be made next week for players to be featured in the leading roles. Camera work on the production will start early in October. a a a Still this department has not received a definite announcement of the opening dates at English’s and B. F. Keith’s. William Hough of Keith's is getting his house ready for an opening, but he is not ready to announce at this time what the policy will be personally. Personally, I hope that it will be two-a-day big time vaudeville. Have received word from Nelson Trowbridge, manager of the Shubert in Cincinnati, Ohio, that the Shubert opens there Sunday night with the stage version of “Excess Baggage.” Mr. Miller at English’s has not made a definite opening announcement as to date. He has told me that he has many important bookings when the season gets under way. it tt it My mail lately has been filled with questions relative to the personal lives of many stage people, I do not care to answer in public print, but I will be glad to attempt to answer these only when request has a stamped addressed envelope. I consider many of these questions of a personal instead of a public

Makes Good Ethel Waters, dusky comedienne, will not make her proposed European invasion until after she has played Proctor's Palace Theater, Newark, this week. The first half of last week at Proctor’s Eighty-Sixth St. was productive of anew attendance record, thanks to Miss Waters’ drawing powers.

AMUSEMENTS

Burlesque Belle Bennett has started another production for TiffanyStahl entitled “The Queen of Burlesque,” from an original story of the same name by H. R. Durant. The supporting cast includes Joe E. Brown, Alberta Vaughn and Charles Byers. It is being directed by Albert Ray.

matter. Other questions I will gladly answer in this department. In Answer to a Question — “The Patriot,” new movie of Emil Jannings, is not taken from the new novel bearing that name. The novel is a mystery-detective story, the movie is not. t Operatic Tenor Engaged Among new important attractions currently in New York K-A-O Theaters, but destined for apearance further afield, is an Italian operatic tenor, Giovanni Gurrieri, who is making his American debut \jla vaudeville. Gurrieri is a World War veteran, twice wounded. After the armistice he returned to his home in Victoria, Italy, went back to his former profession, marble cutting. Money earned he spent developing a fine natural voice. Thus for six years came a successful debut in Italian opera and this year he decided to tour America. Has Had Many Jack Mulhall, wl:o play: in “Ritzy Rosie” with Alice White fo’ First National, has had a longer list of leading ladies than almost anyone in pictures. This list includes Mary Pickford, Colleen Moore, Gloria Swanson, Norma Talmadge, Constance Talmadge, Lillian Gish, Bebe Daniels, Dorothy. Mackaill and many others. Remembered Wife When Adolphe Menjou, Paramount star, returned to Hollywood with his bride, the former Kathryn Carver, he presented her with anew neutrodyne which he purchased as a wedding gift to her before his departure for Europe. A Mission bell aerial is hidden in the rafters of his new Los Felis home. Radio in Movies Radio is now being used to direct mob scenes in motion pictures. Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation has constructed a miniature broadcasting station of low wave length for use in the filming of huge outdoor scenes for their photoplays.

Little Theatre

Mrs. Anna Marie Gall-Sayles

As chairman of the entertainments and plays for children at the Playhouse of the Little Theatre, Mrs. Gall-Sayles is a busy person. The first children’s plays will be given at the Playhouse on next Saturday.

\ J i |/v\ A&lios/f VAUDEVILLES CREAIIST RISLEY SENSATION | GEORGE MORTQN I EE • and | ROSLYN GREEN | M “Beautiful Flowers” = f direct from ttie | //MmiAL VIEMNfA BAIMj IQlorenceo^f#^! 1 Er Cqmpam| v § mQClasskdCapriceßeVuei Bicknell Mack & Stanton Hill Miller and =: in Presenting Nat Peterson “The Mot?era “In the Jail In Baker” House” “What Next?” T~ZZ. Nancy Fair —* —Bits of Life with ,vrr Mildred Moore at the Piano szrr ON THE SCREEN .£== , Mack Sennett, “His Unlucky Night” -' —Color Classic, "Love Charm” Ko Ko Cats Cartoon and Pathe News

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Three Acts Top New Lyric Bill The Five Maxellos Are on Vaudeville Program Here, THE Lyric will offer its patrons a triple feature bill for the coming week, in which comedy will have the leading part. The three outstanding featmes will include the Five Maxellos, Gene Barnes and Mable Drew and Florence Micareme & Cos. FIVE MAXELLOS Known as vaudeville’s greatest Risley sensation, coming to the Lyric direct from New York. BARNES AND DREW—In a comedy skit, “Pressing a Suit.” FLORENCE MICAREME AND COMPANY—In an ultra-modern expressionistic setting, a unique offering consisting of classical dancing, instrumental music and physical accomplishments which are extraordinary in every line. BICKNELL—The “Model Baker,” who offers a novelty displaying the humorous side to plastic art, comedy clay modeling, and presented with personality and showmanship. NANCY FAlß—Possessed of unusual beauty and talent, Miss Fair is widely known on Broadway. She has been starred with Ernest Truex, played Fay Bainter’s part in "East is West” and has been featured in many successful musical comedies. Miss Fair's offering is entitled "Bits of Life.” Mildred Moore is at the piano. MILLER AND PETERSON—Two j dancing comedians whose talents are very diversified. MACK AND STANTON—In a comedy offering, entitled “Home Sweet Home,” in which a tramp attempts to break into jail. They offer some clever harmony singing and close with a surprise. ON THE SCREEN—Mack Sennett comedy, “His Unlucky Night;” a color classic, “Love Charms;” Ko Ko Cats, cartoon comedy, and Pathe News.

Vitaphone

Vitaphone vaudeville acts now presented at the Apollo includes the Foy Family in “Fays for Joys,” Earl Burnett’s Biltmore Hotel orchestra and the Notre Dame Glee Club. The Foys are children of the late Eddie Foy, long one of America's most popular comedians. The younger Foys appeared with their father in vaudeville and are known from coast to coast as talented entertainers. Bryan Foy is now rapidly making a name for himself as a motion picture director of Vitaphone dramas and short subjects.

AMUSEMENTS