Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 275, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 April 1929 — Page 6
PAGE 6
FIRST SHOWINGS OF ‘THE GREAT NECKER’ STARTS SUNDAY
Wisconsin Alumni Club of Indianapolis to Present Men's Glee Club of Wisconsin University in Concert at the Masonic Temple. A FLAPPER comedy which gives a panoramic view of the modern v girl whom the public ho dubbed ••flapper" i. the attraction at English’s next week, starting Sunday night'. All of the members of the Berkell Players will apnear in this whirn had its initial trpout in Los Angeles, continuing for seventeen weeks in that city before moving to the Eastern seaboard. Later it was produced in Chicago and other large cities. The author. Elmer Harris is publicity director for the Columbia Picture Association in Los Angeles, and the western coast wasf the logical place for him to start his play on its way to success.
As might be supposed. Mr. Harris' association with Hollywood girls gives him a keen insight into their habit3. and he builds his story around a young woman who is a prototype of the average Hollywood lassie. He depicts her. much as we like to think of the modern girl, as entirely innocent of wrongdoing, yet capable of coping with men of careless and worldly motives. She even surprises her mother with her knowledge of the ways of the world, and much more does she surprise the gay Romeo whom she encounters. The play is full of sparkling dialog, or “wise-cracks,” and the many laugh situations inspire many a scream. One may enjoy to the full the petite lassie in her strategic handling of the world's great “necker” who, tiring of his gay life, hopes to settle down with the innocent heroine of our story. He endeavors to picture himself as quite a saintly person in his belief that the girl is the soul of innocence, little suspecting that she is clever enough to believe that the moon is made of something beside green cheese, even though he tells her differently. This is the fifth play on the Berkell program this season. It will appear in seven nightly performances and the usual three matineesThis is its first apearance here. n a tt FINE GLEE CLUB TO SING The University of Wisconsin Men's Glee Club, one of the outstanding college musical organization in America, will be heard at the Masonic Temple on April 13, it is announced by officers of Wisconsin Alumni Club of Indianapolis, which will sponsor the engagement. More than thirty Wisconsin men, selected by competitive tryouts from about- 5.000 men of the university, will appear here on their annual spring tour of the middle west, which occupies nearly two weeks each season. The program to be presented this season, which has Ven in constant rehearsal since e y last autumn, is said to be the nost finished and the most popular in appeal ever to have been sung in the history of the club. Already the club has appeared in over twenty concerts thi,s year, and by the end of the sprirfg tour will have sung before nearly 50.000 persons. An unusually large share of the songs on the program this season will include solos by members of the glee club, and a feature of the concert will be a group of selections by Arthur R. Kreutz. a student violinist who is appearing with the organization this year. George H. Seefeld. piano accompanist for the past two years, will also present a group of numbers. The glee club is one of the institutions of which the state university of Wisconsin has right to be proud. Ir. 1923. 1924 and 1926 it was awarded first place in the national intercollegiate glee club contests at Chicago, a competitive meet in which practically every prominent college singing group in the United States participated. During the summer of 1927 the Wisconsin club toured England and the European continent, carrying the familiar strains of “On. Wisconsin.” in foreign concert halls and royal courts. Plays Captain Role Donald Mackenzie, who directed Pearl White in “The Perils of Pauline.” plays a detective captain in “The Studio Murder Mystery.” full dialogue picture being filmed by Paramount. Cast Is Selected George Bancroft's supporting cast for his newest Paramount starring film. “Thunderbolt." lias been augmented by the addition of .Tames Spottswood. one of the best known character actors in Hollywood.
On the Way
Zane Grey's new best seller novel. “Stairs of Sand." is to be brought to the screen with Wallace Beery in the leading role of a jovial bad man. it has been announced by B. P. Schulberg. general manager of production of the Paramount Hollywood studio. Otto Brower. Paramount's two most recent Grey films. “Avalanche" and "Sunset Pass" has been assigned to do tins new tale of the Western open spaces.
CUPI I0 U * 0 Ni S htl y 8:15—25c, 50c. 99c CIIULIOtI V Mat. Wed.. Thurs. & Sat., 2:15 WEEK COM. SUNDAY NIGHT. APRIL 7 BERKELL PLAYERS With MARIE LOUISE WALKER, JAMES BLAINE “THE GREAT NECKER” Taylor Holmes's Great Flapper Comedy Success Seats Now for Entire Engagement • -smooth l a* 1 bilk ■ Make Season Reservations win* r Phone Your Seat Order, LI. 8273
At Colonial
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Ilia McClure One of the new players with the Colonial players at the Colonial is Ilia McClure.
Wilson to Top Bill at Lyric Comedian to Bring His Company to Variety House. JACK WILSON, Broadway's favorite blackface comedian, with his inimitable clowning and his little supporting company of laughter creating artists, will be seen at the Lyric next week, starting tomorrow afternoon, in a mirthful oddity entitled "A Nonsensical Revue.’’ Jack has lined up plenty of new material in his present skit and is assisted by Warner Gault, the silver voiced tenor; Ruth Wheeler and "Tiny Willie Ward.” The bill will include: Tropical Topics—An amusing laughter show of "blackouts,” song and dance presented by Gene Shiler. a favorite burlesque comedian, supported by the Caron sisters, Wally Brown and Ole Oden. Charles l/. Gill and Company— Present a one-act comedy entitled "Bull Dog Sampson.” written by Harry Holman. Charles Gill, who will be remembered by many Lyric patrons, will be seejv this time in the role of a bullying, blustering manufacturer, who chooses to hide a heart of gold 'neath a forbidding exterior. After cutting off his son with the paltry $75,000 for wishing to marry the daughter of his exbusiness rival he is cajoled by his pretty secretary in relenting to the extent of falling for the girl himself. Hazel Craven. Helen McGrail and Ray Beckley are in the supporting cast. The Perrys—Present a sharpshooting art in which they use .22 ball bullets from all angles at difficult targets. Dayton and Raney—Two laughter makers will present a comedy skit by Frank Oran entitled "Kalamboor.” Exactly what this word means is explained in their act. Lee Barton Evans—Late song star of Earl Carroll's “Vanities” will be seen with Harriss in a "Series of Character Song Studies.” On the Sereen—Warner Baxter and Martha Sleeper will Be seen in FBO's "Danger Street.” an underworld story directed by Ralph Ince, which will be the feature screen attraction for the week. The picture delves deeply into the previously untouched life of the upper-crust of the underworld, showing the workings of New York’s tenderloin district. Baxter is seen in the role of "Roily Sigsby.” a gentleman of wealth. Disillusioned and disgusted with life, he seeks the atmosphere of the underworld, feeling that though he may be the target for a gangster's bullet, it would be better to drift into eternity than to continue as he has. They story is based on "The Beautiful Bullet” Harold McGrath’s popular Red Book magazine novel. Enid Hibbard made the sereen adaptation. In "Show Girl" Cast Charles Delaney, who played opposite Alice White in "Show Girl” and "Broadway Babies,” will be leading man for Dorothy Mackaill in her next First National-V'ita-phone picture, as yet untitled.
AMUSEMENTS
Reiner to Conduct .Orchestra Final Symphony Event of Season to Be Held Monday. c-pHE third and last concert of •*- the Indianapolis Symphony Society's seventh annual season will be given next Monday evening at the Murat, when the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra of 105 men with Fritz Reiner conducting will present an unusual program of lassie and modern works. The program which the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra will play will include anew composition by Ottorino Respighi, famous Italian composer, called “The Birds " Reiner is known in the United States for the immense popularity of his suites, “The Pines of Rome,” -The Fountains of Rome,” “Church Windows” and “Airs for the Lute,” arranged for modern orchestra. His latest composition, which was given its first performance in the United States this fall in Cincinnati, combines the elements of his previous work in graceful and pleasant form. Respighi is a scholar. He has interested himself in the historical foundations of the music of the last three centuries and has been able to bring to light compositions from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries which are little known, but which have great individuality and charm. His “Airs for the Lute” was an important step in bringing to the modem orchestra the literature of the pre-classical period. At the same time. Respighi has been intensely interested in presenting in musical form his impressions of the modern world. He created a sensation two years ago by instructing orchestras thatjiis suite. “The Pines of Rome.” was to be played with a phonographic record of the nightingale’s song. It is a far cry from fifteenth ! century “Airs for the Lute” to the | modern talking machine, but j Respighi bridged the gap. His latest composition, the suite, “The Birds,” combines these two elements in a marked degree. It endeavors to present in the most modern form what is called a “program.” He represents in the orchestra the actual sound of the doves, the hen. the nightingale and the cuckoo. Moreover, the Italian is not afraid of humor in the orchestra, and the section of this composition called “The Hen,” which presents the clucking and cackling of the farmyard v. as greeted with gales of laughter upon its initial presentation in Cincinnati. The program follows: “Freishutz Overture" Weber Suite “The Birds" Respighi “An American in Paris" Gershwin —lntermission—“Francesca, de Rimini" Tschaikowsky “Tannhawser Overture" Wagner
He Talks
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Fbil Baker.
Phil Baker, Broadway revue star and master of the Italian piano accordion makes his bow at the Apollo in a, Vitaphone act that is one of the features of the new program starting today. Baker’s rendition of popular tunes is a rare treat. Vitaphone acts at the Apollo also include Joseph Regan, Irish tenor, an operatic star who ranks second only to John McCormack as a representative Irish singer.
■ MUTUAL BURLESQUE THEATRE Direction Mutual Burlesque Assn, of New York ; GINGER GIRLS WITH FRITZIE WHITE, “RITZIE” VINNIE PHILLIPS RETURN ENGAGEMENT OF SNOOKIE? MISS JEAN WOODS
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
Connie to Bring His Band Here Orchestra Opens Stay at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. INDIANAPOLIS has long had the reputation for being a lover of home talent, and for this reason Tom Devine, manage’- of the Indiana Roof ballroom, makes the announcement that, he is to feature for the dancers of this city an orchestra that is ever popular with them, namely Connie and his band. Devine states that Connie and his band will furnish an abundance of hot-sweet, rhythm that will meet the demands for a Camel Glide tempo, as this dance creation of the Indiana Roof is retaining its popularity with the dancers and gives promise of holding a permanent place among the different types of ballroom dances. He also states that Connie’s band is sure to receive much favorable comment from the dancing public, as their programs never fail to please even the most severe critic. Devine states that Connie has a very talented and versatile aggregation, and this might be proven by the fact that for a time this band lost its identity while recording under the name of Charley Straight, as a Victor recording orchestra. Feature players of this band Include Cuspey Marblestone. violinist, soloist, and assistant, director. Cuspey, a student of Wabash college, possesses ability, plus rhythm to burn and a likeable personality that never fails to get over with the dancers. Thurston Spangler and Henry (Penrod* Watkins are the other members of a trio which will, according to Devine, give Indian- j apolis dancers something to talk j about. Connie and his band have completed a tour through Indiana. Ohio. Illinois, Wisconsin, lowa, Pennsylvania and New York and will play a three weeks' engagement at the Indiana roof ballroom starting Saturday. April 6. This orchestra will be heard over Station WFBM on Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday and Saturday nights during the regular Indiana Roof broadcasting period.
Film in rvodurtion "The Marriage Holliday,” a sereen adaptation of a W. Somerset Maugham play, has gone into production at Paramount’s Hollywood studio with a cast including Ruth Chatterton, Clive Brook. Mary Nolan. Montague Love. Paul Lukas. Florence Eldridge. Juliette Crosby, Lorraine Eddy and Claude Allister. Cormaok Signs Again Bartlett Cormack. author of “The Racket,” sensationally successful stage play, has been signed to anew contract at the Paramount studios. He is now preparing "The Green Murder Case,” for filmization.
AMUSEMENTS
—Photo by National Studio. 1— Harold Wilson has a chief role in the Berkell production of “The Great Necker” at English's, starting Sunday night. 2 Ritzie Phillips is one of the players in “The Ginger Girls” at the Mutual, starting Sunday matinee. 3 Ruth Wheeler will be seen with the Jack Nelson act at the Lyric, starting Sunday.
ROUNDING ROUND
THEATERS
INFORMATION has been dispatched that the lease on the B. F. Keith theater in this city is for sale by the United Theaters Company of Indianapolis. This is taken to mean that big time vaudeville no longer has a home in this city and that brand of vaudeville has few homes even in other cities. There has been talk that certain stock companies were contemplating taking over the house for stock, but all such deals turned out to be just gossip. There was talk that Stuart Walker would return this season, but
Walker has made no visible step to | prove the rumor. And so now, Keith's seems to be on the market for a tenant. Just what, will become of the theater is not known at this writing. n n The legitimate season of Ad F. Miller will close tonight with the ficial showing of “Rio Rita" at the Murat. The fall and winter season closed when Charles Berkell moved in at English's. “Rio Rita” was a fine show, beautifully done. The audiences were away too small when the merits of the show’ are. considered. Many told me that the $4.40 top was too high. Mr. Ziegfeld's agents claim that this show has to do around $30,000 a week to break even. I am told that the salary of the stage hands amounts j to about $3,200 on the week. That j the salary of one principal in the i cast is $3,000 a week and that the other leads are mighty expensive. So if this be true, then this show’ has to do business. But Ido think that a $3 scale could have been put into effect and that more money would have been taken into the box office. j it *tt a Os the many letters T have received from readers of this department concerning the Clara Bow pic- j tui'e, “The Wild Party,” and “The The Best, Way The best way to obtain types for a motion picture, according to Fred A. Fleck, who assisted in the making of Paramount's all talking film hit, “The Letter.” at the Criterion theater, is to simply tell a person: “I need several people who look like von. Won't you tell your friends to drop around tomorrow 7 ?” The result is a full office of the required characters the next day.
AMUSEMENTS
COLONIAL WEEK STARTING TOMORROW *v STARTS WITH A WHIZ A BANG! MUSIC—)V—PEP MIDNITK SHOW TONITE 51:00 \ 1 • AMATEURS THCRS. VTTf'XXJVV POPULAR PRICES: \Vl> DAILY MATINEES: 15c. X N* NITES—SAT. & SUN. M AT. 25c. X
With WALTER D. HICKMAN
Broadway Melody,” there seems to be a unanimous verdict that I was right in saying that, Clara's picture was bad and that “Melody" was grand entertainment. One writer agreed with me in what I said about Miss Bow, but that I should have praised the speaking voice of her leading man. His voice was alright although he played a sap college professor role. The role was r T true to life.
\ BRMBWAY’S BLACKFACE*
Has Double
Nancy Carroll, who used to be in the chorus herself, has a double in the person of an extra girl and former member of the chorus who has been working with the Four Marx Brothers in filming “The Cocoanuts.” at Paramount's Long Island studio. She is Elsie Gernon. a few months ago in George White's "Scandals,” and before that in “Manhattan Mary," who was picked by Frank S. Heath of the casting office yesterday to work as a double for Miss Carroll in New York location scenes for "Burlesque.”
c Third Church of Christ, Scientist c INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA Announces ‘Vnw Free Lectures on c CHRISTIAN SCIENCE j fill FRANK fiELL, C. S. 8.. of York. Cit\) c Member of the Board of Lectureship of The Mother Church. The First c Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts 0 Monday, April 8, KEITH’S THEATRE, 12:10, Noon a CHURCH EDIFICE, Washington Blvd. at 34th, 8 P.M. S The Public is Cordially Invited to Attend
AMUSEMENTS
.APRIL 6, 1020
‘Ginger Girls’Are Due Here A Well-Known Burlesque Show Opens Sunday Afternoon. SAM RAYMOND presents “Ginger Girls" at, the Mutual for an engagement scheduled to commence Sunday afternoon in an offering of Mutual burlesque that has been staged under his personal direction, by Harry Clcx. a comedian who is co-featured with Fritizie White, as leaders of a large and talented company of merrymakers. Clex is an inventive comedian who has put his ideas into action in a manner that is said to make his funning exceptionally laughable. Miss White Is one of the most popular girls in current buriesuqe. This brace of "big shots" w ill, however, by no means represeift all that is worth while in the way of talent, beauty and entertaining qualities with the “Ginger Girls’* company. Vinnie Phillips, for instance, is a prominent favorite with the fans and Ritzie Phillips is v inning her way speedily to high favor. Assisting Clex in the promotion of laughable scenes and ‘'bits" will be Tom Clarkson, leading man: A1 Baker, juvenile straight and Freddie Walker, an assistant comedian, who creates much merriment under his own steam. Then, too. there will be the bevy of chorus girls perenially popular with the “fans”—"Ginger Girls” are said to be worthy of the slang designation as “peppy.” Signs New Contract Marcel De Sano. world war aviator. adventurer, diplomat, has been signed to a contract as a Paramount director. His first assignment. according to pi-esent plans, will be the direction of Maurice Chevalier's second American production.