Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 239, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 February 1929 — Page 5

FEB. 23, 1929.

‘GOOD NEWS’ TO DRAW CAPACITY HOUSES NEXT WEEK

Musical Comedy Starting Monday Night at English’s Will Attract People From All Over the State —Thurston, Magician, to Close Legitimate Season.

NEXT week, starting Monday night, English's will present Schwab & Mandei's musical comedy of college life, “Good News.” This speedy how has proved one of the mosts- cessful musical shows ever seen in the United States. It is rated even better than Schwab & Mandei’s previous vehicles, such as “Queen High” and “The Desert Song.” The story and lyrics were written by Lawrence Schwab, Bud De Sylva and Lew Brown; the music by Ray Henderson, and the dances arranged by Bob Connolly, all of whose work is well and favorably known to the theater-going public. Among the musical hits are “The Varsity Drag,” .which has become

even more popular than Henderson’s “Black Bottom,” and “Good News,” from which the title of the play is taken, and which is being hummed and whistled by most eveiybody. Ti e piece is presented by a large cast, among them, Bill Ahern, Max Hos /man Jr„ Margaret Breen, Jerry Downes Peggy Bernier, Joseph Allen, Katharine Morris, Dorothea James, Barry Walsh. George Schiller. Edwin Michaels, Ralph Sanford, Gene Sheerin, John McDonell George Olsen's band, and the chorus of Fifty Flapper Freshies. Os course, as it is a college play, there is a football game for the hero to win. but there's the funny part of it, he doesn't win it, although it is won just the same. And therein lies the difference. n n n THURSTON IS BOOKED AT ENGLISH S Thurston, acclaimed the most skillful magician living, is playing a limited engagement in the principal cities of the country in this twentythird year of touring as a magical entertainer. He comes to English’s, opening Monday night, March 4. A season without this suave, amiable Mephisto would be like a holiday season without Santa Claus. The last of the great illusionists, Thurston’s program runs the gamut from sleight of hand to stage-size scenic and electrical effects. The mechanical marvels presented are not only humorous, but have their dramatic effect as well. Interstitially the sleight of hand feats, for which Thurston has been famous for three decades, fill out the program. The most startling of the new effects are “The Million Dollar i Mystery,” “latia,” and “The \ Mystery of the Whippet.” In “latia,” i a flesh and blood young woman act- , ually vanishes in the dome of the ' theater, over the very heads of the | spectators. | “The Million Dollar Mystery'’ is l the latest European sensation and | one of the most baffling magical illusions ever conceived. In “The Mystery of the Whippet,” r a real automobile, loaded down with I pretty girls, is flipped out of exist- | ence on a fully-lighted stage, with fa mere wave of the necromancer’s ' hand. Another new illusion this f season is “The Magic Box Revue,” a sort of Ziegfeldian Follies with a Thurstonesque twist. A dozen charming blonde ladies, garbed in the latest Parisian creations, are produced out of a modern Pandora's box. Then there is the thrilling “Lady or the Lion?” in which a tawny denizen of the African jungle and a very pretty young woman exchange places in a cage. “The Moth and the Flame” is a fantastic pantomime with more than a soupcon of mystery. The plot of “The Mystery of the Bathing Beauties” would make a mystery story and “The Mystery of the Blue Boxes” is a sort of puzzle in the fourth dimension. His daughter Jane is co-starring with her father this season. She does magic with her father and a dancing and singing act of her own. Her song. “My Daddy’s a Hocus Pocus Man,” is one of the song hits of the show.

At Colonial

The Colonial players next week will offer “Help. I’m Married,’’ u manual of domestic warfare. Friend husband dispenses large chunks of cynically humorous wisdom on the subject of whether matrimony is all It is cracked up to be. Friend wife finds out thao marriage is a great institution for the blind, as it opens the eyes quicker than anything else. Paul Workman will enact the part of the husband, with Nelly White as the wife. The show- has a fhorus of youthful flappers, and many new novelty song numbers and vaudeville specialties.

MUTUAL BURLESQUE THEATRE DIRECTION OF MUTUAL BURLESQUE ASSN.'OF NEW YORK Mid-Season Red-Hot Snappy Show CIRLS ™“ FOLLIES FULL O’ PEP AND GINGER FROM START TO FINISH AND SUCH RAVISHING BEAUTY YOU RAVE ABOUT T GLADYS CLARK, JEAN LEROY, SAM RAYNOR, hZONIA DUVAL A r N E D A A T D u D R i D FRANCINE SNAPPY FOLLIES CHORUS

Mutual Show in 2 Parts ‘Girls From the Follies’ Opens Sunday for Run. “T TERE and There,” and “The Three Lovers” are titles that label the two divisions of burlesque “Girls From the Follies,” will present at the Mutual during an engagement that opens Sunday matinee. The featured players will be Gladys (Youth) Clark and Sam Raynor, classified, respectively, as soubrette and comedian. Miss Clark features her dancing, singing and instrumental musicianship, while comedian Raynor puts both of his best feet forward in dancing with the added effectiveness of eccentric nonsense in “comeding.” The array of chorines will be led in various ensemble numbers by Miss Clark as well as Zona Duval, Ingenue: Mae Raynor, and Jean Le Roy, a dancing soubrette. Accenting the score of talent employed in the burlesque scenes, the vaudeville interludes and comedy “bits,” John Crosby, Italian character comedian; Lew Le Roy, singing and dancing juvenile, and Frank Hallahan, leading man, will assist Sam Raynor in keeping mere man from being snowed under by the abundance of femininity on display.

Big Policy

A SIO,OOO policy with the North American Insurance Company was takenout last week by Ken Maynard, popular western star, for his pal and equine partner, Tarzan. According to officials of the insurance rornoany, this is the only policy of its ' in existence, for it covers not only the death of the horse, but any injuries that might occur to him at any time or place. It is also the only policy covering an animal that this company has ever written. Tarzan is now- recognized as the most valuable animal appearing in motion pictures, and the premium on the above policy costs over $2,500 a year. This durance was taken during the filming of “The Royal Rider,” Ken’s current vehicle now being made by the Charles R. Rogers Company for First National-Vita-phone pictures. Appointed Musical Director Frank Harling, composer of “Deep River” and the short grand opera. “A LiLght From St. Agnes,” has been appointed musical director tor short talking productions at the Paramount Astoria studio. He will be associated with James R. Cov an, producer of the short subjects. All Paramount films made in the east will have sound accompaniment with the musical element especially stressed in the one and two-reeiers.

HEY! HEY! Grand Opening Tonite MADISON SQUARE DANSE GARDENS 3500 MADISON AVE. Music by Buck Arbuckle and His Orchestra Perk Plan No Stags JE. tv. MI SHRI SH, Mgr. This coupon and J>Oc may be excharged at Box Office for 12 danse tickets.

AMUSEMENTS

1. Elizabeth Swanson and Frank Alexander as they appear in “Good News,” opening Monday night at English’s for the week. 2. Jane Thurston, who will appear with her father, the great magician, due at English’s soon.

At the Ritz

’*®s§* f-iy J| £sj£l§fc £

Lionel Barrymore One of the best acting impressions made by any member of the cast of "Alias Jimmy Valentine” is made by Lionel Barrymore. The picture opens Sunday at the Ritz. New Dove Film John Francis Dillon will direct Billie Dove's next picture for First National. The story, as yet untitled, is now being prepared by Forrest Halsey, who has just signed a contract with First National to do originals, adaptations, continuity and dialogue.

IBS |i|j|y

TFTE TNDTANAPOTJS TIMES

Big Play Due at Playhouse ‘Machinal’ Opens Soon at Little Theatre for Week. HAD Sophie Treadwell not “covered” the Snyder-Gray trial it is most likely that “Machinal,” to be presented by the Indianapolis Little Theatre Society at the Playhouse the week of March 4, would never have been written. But she did, and during the trial she asked herself, “What impulses prompts a woman to kill her husband?” The subsequent study of the question led to the writing of her new play, though Ruth Snyder supplied only the starting point; the play itself contains no character who can be even remotely identified with her. It is no one man who hacks out the destiny of Mrs. Snyd'”-—c-give her her dramatic alias—Mrs. Jones. It is the Machine Age, and

tike

3. Jean Le Roy is a member of the cast of “Girls From the Follies,” opening Sunday matinee at the Mutual. 4. Virginia Wares is a member of the team of Johnny Barry and company, due at the Lyric Sunday for the week.

the Machine Age's wanton son, the City. Girl, wife, mistress, murderess, driven by hunger for freedom into excessively rash and stupid situations, taking the only lilt of romance from a hurdy-gurdy playing outside the furnished room where she burrows with her cheap lover, killing her Babbitt husband with the desperation of sheer madness of her pandemoniac world—of such are’the ten episodes of “Machinal.” Then, lastly, the court room, the death cell, the unseen execution in the darkness of ghastly implications. The machine conquers. Metal is the last embrace, electricity the final kiss. “Machinal” contributes much to the modern theater. It is a question handled by a person with clear eyes and a pictorial hand. Well Known Writer Joseph Franklin Poland, wellknown scenarist, is writing the adaptation on “Two Weeks Off,” for FirsJ. National Pictures. This is the Kenyon Nicholson play which will co-feature Jack Mulhall and Dorothy Mackaill. Large Cast “Seven Footprints to Satan,” which boasts the largest cast of the year—thirty-five—has been completed at First National Studios. It is a mystery story which features Creighton Hale and Thelma Todd and was directed by Benjamin Christensen.

AMUSEMENTS

ROUNDING ROUND

THEATERS

THE dollar edition high of Fritz Leiber’s “Macbeth” goes way beyond the performance of the same star and organization in “Hamlet” in merit. Where “Hamlet” is traditional, “Macbeth” is just good bloody theater with its big sleep walking scene and the murders and the fights of Macbeth. The modem suggestive sets in draps fit very well into the atmosphere of the play. Leiber read the part with care and energy. He seemed to get much nearer the mental working of the mind of Macbeth than he did Hamlet.

After seeing Leibcr's Macbeth, I am sure that in this play of Shakespeare he’ is giving about three times the value then asked at the box office. The Lady Macbeth of Virginia Bronson was splendid, especially her first scene when she hatches up most of the trouble. Her sleep walking scene was done with majesty that comes with a troubled mind. The cast on the whole was good. It is as follows: Duncans King of Scotland Philip Quin Malcolm, his son Robert Allen Donalbain, his son Harold Robert Macbeth, general of the king.. Fritz Leiber Banquo. general of the king.... Hart Jenks MacDufT John Burke Lennox D. R. Hodgin Ross Jack Forrest Fleance Harriet Russlel Seyton Francis Woods A Doctor Redmond Flood

With WALTER D. HICKMAN

A 5ergeant................J05ef Lazarovici A Porter Robert Strauss First Witch Olga Leeds Second Witch Agnes Winter Third Witch Robert Strauss A Gentlewoman.... Olga Leeds Lady Macbeth Virginia Bronson Lords. Officers, Soldiers, Murderers and Apparitions. Leiber will close his engagement today with a matinee of “Romeo and Juliet” and “Taming of the Shrew” in modern dress tonight.

E ™’ S FRITZ LEIBER PR £ C ES: MAT “ROMEO and JULIET’* 75c vIrHT “The Taming of the Shrew” tl DD NIGHT (In Modern Dress)

ENGLISH’S ALL I COMMENCING |T|fi|yf WEEK I MONDAY AIIVIII laurwtoe §cft*radb & frank. Mardel pfjL v* > iViiTf PRICES: NITES, SI.OO to $3.00. WED. AND SAT. MATINEES, SI.OO to $2.50. SEATS SELLING. ENGLISH’S II ——■—. WEEK Son. MARCH 4 wira?*. Prices: Nites and Sat. Mat., 50c to SLSO. Wed. Mat., 50c, 75c, SI.OO SEATS READY THURSDAY THE ONLY SHOW OF ITS KINOON EARTH Sane 1 ■I SINGING. DANCING COMEDIENNE P! J 100 NEW MYSTERIES 100 See thuhstqn's latest illusion .'The vanishing WHIPPET CAR. AND TEN BEAUTIFUL GIRLS " —• w—mmmmmmmm—mmmim—mm ENGLISH'S .HffJ BERKELL PLAYERS matimees: SOglQQing IN THE BEAgOK .g COMEDY SMASH Wednesday, Sunday Uight, <<TUIO Thing I AlfC” Thursday and INARCH 10 InlO Called LUft Saturday Prices, Kite 25c, 50c, 99c, Mats. 35c, 50c, Seat Saie Thnrs., Mir. 7tfe, Mail Maw

Barry to Top New Program ‘The Lady-Killers’ Opens Sunday at Lyric Theater. Headlining the six-act vaudeville bill at the Lyric for the coming week will be a Broadway comedian, Johnny Barry and company, presenting a farce, “The Lady-Killer.” The action centers around the lady-killer’s visits to ladies who have applied for mates through a marimonial agency, Mr. Barry, as the lady-killer, is supported by Helen Tijan, May Beehan, Virginia Ware and George Goodrich. The bill will include: Fox and Lorraine Entertainers— An eight-piece musical organization offering a wide range of novelties under the billing of “East and West.” Ploetz Brothers and Sister—Two French buffoons and a woman acrobat who performs some perilous and sensational falls from a high ladder, in a versatile act. entitled “Classic Buffoonery,” terminating in an upside-down dance wherein the trio step lively on their hands. Brown and Lavellc—A mixed team of comedians in a “comedy oddity,” closing the laughter and song show with some tuneful zylophone playing. Phil and Fred VaJlain—“Two Aristocrats From Sunny Italy,” present a comedy offering. Grace Darling—" The Personality Girl” will offer a song cycle. On the Screen—" Smoke Bellew,” a tale of the Alaskan gold rush of '9B written by Jack London, will be the feature photoplay for the week. Conway Tearle one of the screen's most popular leading men. has a role to his own liking in “Smoke Bellew.” The story is a tense stirring drama, a human drama, such a story as only a Jack London could have written, picturing the gold rush days in Alaska. The photography, depicting the cold waste of the north in all its glorious beauty, is exquisite and contributes much to the photoplay as a whole. In addition to Conway Tearle, the cast includes Barbara Bedford, J. P. Lockney, Mark Hamilton, A1 Ethier and William Scott. Alaska Jack, the original Alaska Jack, who is one of Jack London's best known characters, is also in the cast. Fred My ton, who wrote the adaptation and continuity also wrote the titles. J. O. Taylor and J. Walters are responsible for the photography which the pro* ducers promise will prove a revelation of the far north in anew and glorious light. Writes Dialog Tom J. Geraghty is writing the cialog for “Weary River,” the First National starring vehicle which Richard Barthelmess is now making. Frank Lloyd is directing.

AMUSEMENTS

PAGE 5