Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 209, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 January 1929 — Page 7

JAN. 19, 1929_

THE CIRCLE STARTS ITS FOURTH BIG PICTURE FEATURE

Palace Today Offers Movie Version of a Poem of Robert W. Service—Del Rio Is Featured at the Apollo in a Russian Story, ‘The Red Dance.’ THE Circle today opens the fourth week of “Big Picture Month” with “The Last Warning” as the feature picture. This mystery melodrama is a product of Universal studios, starring Laura La Plante, more recently known for her work in “The Cat and Canary.” another picture of the eerie type. Supporting Miss La Plante are Montagu Love, John Boles, Roy D’Arcy, Bert Roach and Margaret Livingston. “The Last Warning” probably is the most impressive mystery drama ever filmed because of the weird and startling sound effects which are heard throughout the picture. Leading characters also speak and they

have unusually good screen voices. The story is built with an old theater, deserted and almost dilapidated after the first few scenes, as the background and a more spooky setting would be hard to imagine. Almost at the very beginning of the picture there is a murder and then the plot develops as everyone, including the audience, attempts to Identify the guilty party or parties When the revelation is made at the last of picture, the greatest surprise of the production is at hand. There are few theatergoers who can tell at the first of this picture how it will end. Both Miss La Plante and Paul Leni, director of this and of “The Cat and the Canary,” declare that this new production is far better than the other. Dossa Byrd submits something new in the way of an organ solo. Interesting short talking subjects are other numbers of the program. n tt a BIG PICTURE OPENS AT PALACE What has become of the men and money that came out of Alaska in the gold rush days of '9B? Some of the men who knew that territory and lived its days of mad, wild life have carved their names into history. The man who related the “Shooting of Dan McGrew” and “TEfee Cremation of Sam McGee” is one who will live through the ages. Robert W. Service told tales of actual happenings in Alaska and in his “The Trail of '9B” he blended his story with some fiction, much fact and a wealth of romance. The adventures in that rush for gold lived full, thrilling lives and some of them are still with us. Tex Rickard, who was one of the sporting lights of Alaska in the early days, lived to become known in something of the same character here in the states. Rex Beach, Jack London, Allen Doone, Wilson Mizner were others who were heard from later. But none or few ever hear of the fabulous fortunes that were supposed to have been wrenched from the Arctic snows. In “The Trail of '9B”—the Alaskan epic which comes to the Palace next Saturday—we are shown graphically how men and women struggled to obtain the gold which rumor said was so easy to find in the Klondike during the late 'Bos. The world is ignorant of the identity of the man who was responsible for the gold strike in the Klondike. Much of the mighty drama “The Trail of '9B” was mac in Alaska in the actual location where the story was laid. It retains all the glamour i and spectacle of that picturesque country, depicts the hardships that were encountered by the pioneers and through it all runs as interesting a love story ac humans can ask for. Taking into consideration the size of the picture, its wide scope, mammoth backgrounds and the fifteen thousand people appearing in it, this would seem to be . omewhat conflicting. But it is a fact nevertheless. The story has not been dwarfed by magnificent spectacle. Therein does the director score one of his greatest successes. Clarence Brown has made a niche for himself in the hall of fame with “The Trail of ’98.” It opens today at the Palace. tt tt tt DEL RIO HEADS LARGE MOVIE CAST With Dolores Del Rio as its star, "The Red Dance,” romantic, spectacular and vivid drama of Russia before and during the revolution which brought about the overthrow of royalty and placed the Communists in power, is the attraction at the Apollo starting today. A Raoul Walsh movietone production. “The Red Dance” relates the story of a beautiful peasant girl who becomes a favorite dancer in Moscow, assumes leadership among the Red revolutionists, but abandons }ier strange career for the love of a dashing young Russian grand duke. Miss Del Rio has the role of Tasia, the dancer, and many critics have declared that in this portrayal she does the best work of her career.

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Charles Farrell is seen as the Grand Duge Eugene, who succumbs to Tasia s charms, and Ivan Linow, giant Russian strong man of the films, impressively plays the part of Ivan Petroff. illiterate, uncouth peasant soldier, who also loves Tasia, and whom a queer prank of Fate elevates to the position of a general in the Red army. It is around these three that the plot swirls with dramatic intensity, though in the colorful panorama embraced by the story such figures as Trotsky, dynamic agitator, and the sinister monk, Rasputin, arc contrasted with royalty and peasantry. H. L. Gates and Eleanore Browne wrote the story after spending two years in Russia gathering authentic material for their work. Boris' Charsky, Dorothy Revier, Andre Segutola and Dimitri Alexis are in the supporting cast. Additional program features include Joe Cook, famous comedian in a Movietone skit “At a Ball Game,” Movietone news reels'and Vitaphone acts by Jack North and Lipton and Terrell. tt tt tt ANOTHER ALICE WHITE MOVIE HERE Alice White is back again. This time she comes in “Naughty Baby,” First National picture which opened at the Indiana Saturday along with “Lass-O-Mania,” the Publix stage show. Co-starred in “Naughty Baby” with Miss White is Jack Mulhall, who plays the role of a wild, young millionaire whom a hotel hat-check girl is determined to make her husband. The check girl, of course, is Miss White. The antics through which she is compelled to go in order to attain her ambition are ass anny as they are many. It is a refreshing comedy which, when coupled with the stage show, affords a complete program of laughs. She and Mr. Mullhall are supported by Thelma Todd, Doris Dawson, James Ford, and Natalie Joyce. “Lass-O-Mania” is a Publix offering produced under the guidance of Boris Petroff, particularly well known in Indianapolis because of the outstandingly good stage presentations he has sent to the Indiana during the past few months. In it are such Publix players as Bayes and Spec, John Quinlan, Carl Dobbs and company, Chapman and Snyder and Nell Jewell. Dance routines are by the Felicia Sorel girls. The story is built around a comparison of girls of last century with those of this. The comparisons are amusing and provoke laughs throughout. Dale Young offers ap organ solo and a weekly news reel is the other feature of the program.

In Revue

SI

Jeanette Marchal

A member with the revue stock company at the Colonial is Jeanette Marchal.

i—Dolores Del Rio as she appears in “The Red Dance” now at the Apollo. 2 Laura La Plante, John Bode sand Torben Meyer in “The Last Warning, now at the Circle.

REHEARSALS FOR BIG PLAY BEGINS

Choral Work Starts for ‘The Passion Play’—Sophie Braslau Will Appear in Concert Sunday. WITH the choral rehearsals well under way for the music to be sung during the presentation of the Freiburg Passion Play at the Murat theater the week of Jan. 28, Indianapolis is in an anticipatory mood awaiting the performances of this world famous and age old drama. Entirely from civic point of view', it will be the biggest and finest production that the people of the city and surrounding territory will ever witness. The entire cast of the Freiburg players, all of whom have a speaking part, will be augmented by a chorus of 200 voices, an orchestra and supernumeraries, who take part as soldiers, guards, legionnaires and of the mobs. The stage and atmosphere of the Murat theater is going to

lend itself most willingly to this colossal product ion. Despite the wonderful manner in which the players portray their roles, centuries of history and tradition are behind them. For the first production of the Freiburg Passion Play was in the year 1264, 400 years before the first performance of Oberammergau, and the little town of Baden, Germany, has witnessed a performance of the play every ten years. Each member of the cast to present the play in Indianapolis, which will be in its entirety, was in the production of 1910 and also the production of 1920, the latter being witnessed by 61,000 Americans. Adolph Fassnacht, who portrays the role of the Christus, succeeded his father in 1910, the seventh generation of the family to have the honor. In direct contrast to the sublime, majestic and dignified role of the Nazarene, is his brother George, in the characterization of the crafty, shrewd, cunning and subtle Judas. It is the law of Freiburg that the roles descend from father to son and mother to daughter. and in the case of the Fassnacht family, W'hen Adolph, senior relinquished the role, Adolph, junior, was selected because he was the eldest of the two brothers. This course was mapped out when they were children, first appearing in the Passion Play, and all through the years, both men have been educated, trained and tutored for their portrayals. Unusual as the production is in the spoken drama, for it is the only Passion Play, wherein the dialog is used, the chorus of voices, which are now being trained by Percival Owens, will be under the direction of Frank L. Waller, former conductor of the Chicago Civic Opera Company. The entire score of the choral and orchestral numbers have been so arranged that each individual musical number is perfectly blended into the drama. Every number is particularly appropriate to the action that takes place on the stage. Making a life work, as the Frei-

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

burg Players have done in the Passion Play, they are all perfect in their varied roles. The biblical characters or portrayed in their presentation, indicate in no small measure the years of training that each has undergone and to what heights they have reached in giving an extraordinary production. Every set, scene and color has been thoroughly studied and worked out in the approved manner, a manner which shows the studied effort of those in the play to have the entire performance in accord with the historical and tradition of the Passion Play. Each costume has been copied from prints and pictures of the Roman days in Judea and no detail has been overlooked in order to give an authentic stamp to the entire performance. The play proper begins when the Christus, as a grown man, enters Jerusalem, with the entire city thronging at his heels, aiding the poor, healing the sick and wounded, and giving the blind their sight. So on throughout the’ entire drama, the scenes move with a vividness and a dignity that is nothing short of marvelous. The beauteous effect of the Last Supper, is one of the most striking scenes, and the climax is reached in the Crucifixon and the Resurrection, while the massed allied church chorus, from the many churches of Indianapolis, sing the glorious Halleujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.” n n tt BRASLAU WILL SING HERE SUNDAY Sophie Braslau, acknowledged by many to be the world’s finest contralto of the present time, will be heard in recital at the Murat Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. This concert is the second of the Sunday afternoon series of concerts under the direction of the Ona B. Talbot Fine Arts Enterprises. It is a rare singer who receives such ccn • sistently adulatory press notices as Sophie Braslau. Ernest Newman, eminent critic of the London Times, wiote of Miss

3—Jack Mulhall and Alice White in “Naughty Baby,” opening today at the Indiana. 4_ Dolores Del Rio and Ralph Forbes in “Trail of ’9B” now at Loew’s Palace,

Braslau: “Sophie Braslau’s voice is a fine one, rich and powerful in its louder moments and at once Beautiful and penetrating in the mezzo voice, and she has great variety of style. Sha has also a sense of intellectual humor that, if I dare say so, one does not often meet with in a woman. Very few women, 1 am sure, could sing Moussorgsky’s satirical song, ‘The Classicist,’ as she did.” " H. T. Parker, in the Boston Transcript, said: “Rich of voice, keen of musical mind, quick with feeling, warm with projecting imagination—a vivid and risen figure in American concert halls.” In a recent review after one of her Chicago concerts we read: “She gave a stunning program full of stupendous vocal difficulties, but she was absolute mistress of the situation and gave a remarkable exhibition of virtuosi singing.” The following is the complete program for Miss Braslau’s Indianapolis concert tomorrow": Cantata for One Voice "It Amorosa Lontonanza” Bassant “Furibondo" ("Wildly Storming" ..Haendel "Gypsy Songs” Brahms “Vocalise Etude” Ravel "Amuri-Amuri” Sadero "In Mezo A1 Mar” Sadero “Fate” j Eachmaninoff "London Derry Aire” Ar. by Kreisler "Ma L'll Bateau” Strickland "As We Part”.... Ilgenfritz u n n ORGAN CLUB TO GIVE RECITAL The Theater Organ Club of the Irvington School of Music will give a program of pipe organ music Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7:45 p. m. The following program is open and free to the public. "Fantasia and Fugue in D- Minor” Dorothea Hogle. “Love Song” f Cadman Edward Nierman. "Santa Lucia” Edward Moore. "Anitras Dance” Grieg Frances Wooden. "Gypsy Love Song” Herbert Mrs. Mildred Owen. Voice —"Consider and Hear Me”... .Harker “Sheep and Lamb” Homer Mrs. Bertha Macy. Guest Artist. “Powder and Patches” Mrs. Elsie Agnew. “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers Mrs. Moon. , , 'Xargo” Handel Catherine Smith. “Dance of the Hours” .Ponchielli Mrs. E. E. Wooden. Violin—Selected. Paul Mendelssohn, accompanied by Madame Juleson. “Hungarian Dance” Brahms Florence Hinshaw. “Time of Roses” “Stars and Stripes Forever Sousa Mrs. Katherine Price. tt n n HIGHLAND BAND WILL BE ON PROGRAM A Highland band is coming to town with Miss Jessie Charleston, the Scottish dancer. These four

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Here Sunday

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Sophie Braslau

At 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Murat, Ona B. Talbot will present Sophie Braslau in a song recital.

little girls are pupils of hers and they have all won medals for the proficiency in their chosen art. They can ‘trip the light fantastic’ not only in Highland dances but in acrobatic and toe and tap dances. They are here for the pleasure of the Caledonian Club and its friends and will appear at the concert on Tuesday, Jan. 2S, at the Masonic temple auditorium. Besides playing in the band, they dance all sorts of old reels as well as the Highland Fling, and the sword dance. They are Margaret Baikie, with thirteen medals to her credit; Eileen Kenny, who has ten; Betty Barta, who is the youngest of the troupe, but has already four won in competitive dancing at Scotish

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AVENUE SQUARE LAST TIMES TODAY “ONE ROUND HOGAN” MONTE BLUE Comine Sunday—“ The Singing Fool”

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celebrations, and Sadie Thompson, with twenty-one. These medals are given for real attainment in the difficult dances which are part of the recreation of the Scotch in any part of the world where t£ey live. They are great folks for competitions, are the Scots men and women, nun SORORITY WILL SPONSOR RECITAL Kappa chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, national honorary musical sorority, will give the second tea of their, winter series Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 23, in the Woodruff Place clubhouse at 3 o’clock. This is the third consecutive season for the Mu Phi program teas. With funds from the teas as an aid the sorority has been enabled to maintain two scholarships for the help of young students in advanced study of voice and piano for the past three years. On the program this week Willard MacGregor, artist-pianist of the faculty of the Metropolitan School of Music, will be guest artist of the afternoon, Mrs. Jane Johnson Burroughs, mezzo-soprano and alumnae member of Kappa chapter, will sing a group of songs, as will Kathryn Bowlby, contralto, and Maud Custer will play a violin group. Mrs. Robert Bonner and Mrs. Robert Blakeman will preside at the tea table. They will be assisted by the following members from Kappa chapter: Misses Mildred Casey, Bernice Reagan, Mrs. Zelma Flora Hicks, Mrs. AlbeTta McCain Gaunt, Mrs. Leone Kinder Rickman and Mrs. Hazel B. Neal; from the alumnae chapter; Mrs. C. P. Cartwright, Mrs. Frank Forry, Mrs. C. C. McMurtrey, Mrs. H. W. Pe.ttison. Mrs. J. F. Gregorie, Mrs. Edgar Pattison, Mrs, John Fink, from the patronesses; Mrs. James Ogden, Mrs. Howard ClippL.ger, Miss, Ida Belle

SMHIW H-PIIWIU TH^J^E3 IW% *CNLY THE BEST OF THE BIGGEST* iSSrwI iASfl| 1 WARN I N,Q- al SOUND AND TALK THRILLER Laura. La Plante—Montagu Love JB&Stt Marigret Uvlngston—John HIT NO. 1 OF W° PICTLTtE pers . . 25C M ore *;f'Ss Cat and the S|VVwJ|l: ■ '' BimnmuOßa II * SWOWPIACE ©F IWDIA^I^N* fjuiamin! - evil fl See this heart-jugfeler with champagne f[ Charlie Davis* M ' *|*AfP-0-MANIA L : srS / x Featuring such Publix stara as BAYBSiBBpiji J 350 to & SPEC ]i : * bS cst ti° f ! other heßd ' l,ners

Bruce to Be Seen as Werle ‘The Wild Duck’ Will Be Next Offering at Playhouse. WILLIAM AUSTIN BRUCE will be seen in the forthcoming production of the Indianapolis Little Theatre, Ibsen's “The Wild Duck,” to be staged at the Playhouse, Nineteenth and North Alabama streets, throughout the week of Jan. 21, in the role of Old Werle. It is one of the principal parts, portaying a respectable old rascal, who has gained much wealth and influence with the aid of his old friend, Ekdal, who limped through the rest of his life, a wounded soul, “biting himself deep into the tangle and seaweed” of unwholesome delusion. just as wild ducks do. George Somnes, director of the Little Theatre, is planing a careful presentation of “The Wild Duck,” as he feels the organization is offering to local theatergoers one of Ibsen's finest social dramas. “Ghosts,” “Hedda Gabler” and “The Doll’s House” are more frequently done on the legitimate stage than “The Wild Duck,” which, however, is a capitally acting play, rich in character study. Mr. Bruce is well known to Little Theatre audiences, before which he appeared four times last season. He was seen in the 1927-28 opening vehicle, “The Enchanted Cottage” by Arthur Wing Pinero, and also in Shaw’s “Androcles and the Lion,” in which he played the Roman captain. “The Wild Duck” will open Monday night, Jan. 21, at 8:30 and will be repeated each night throughout the week. “The Squall” for Screen Recent additions to the cast of the forthcoming First NationalVitaphone picture, “The Squall,” includes the names of Zazu Pitts and Richard Tucker. Myrna Loy will be seen as the exotic gypsy girl in the screen version of the successful Broadway play and others in the cast are Alice Joyce, Loretta Young and Nicholas Soussanin. Alexander Korda is directing the production. Sweeney, Mrs. R. S. Klnnard and Mr#, Norman Schneider. The public is invited to the program which is as follows: “Widmung” Schumann “Connais-tu le pays" (Mlgnon) ...Thomas "Midsummer” Worth Kathryn Bowlby. Lucille Wagner at the piano. \ “Kreutzer Sonata" Beethoven Adagio Sostcnuto—Presto. Andante con variation!—Presto. Maud Custer and Frances Wishard. (a) “Crying of Water” Campbell Tipton (b) “Pierrot” Rybner (c) “Le Nil” Lerous Violin and cello obligato. Jane Johnson Burroughs. Gladys Valle at the piano. “Prelude and Fugue in A minor”... . Bach-Li6Zt “Petrarch Sonnet in E” Liszt “General Lavlne,” Eccentric Debussy “Barcarolle” ....Chopin “Nocturne in E” Chopin “Scherzo in B minor” Chopin Willard MacGregor. tt tt n MUSICAL EVENTS AT COLLEGE OF MUSIC Andrew C. Haigh’s class in. composition of the Indiana College of Music and Fine Arts will give a reciatl of individual compositions on Friday night, Jan. 25, at 8:15 at the Odeon in the Metropolitan School of Music.

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