Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 164, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 November 1929 — Page 14

PAGE 14

D. W. GRIFFITH TRIED TO HAWK VALUABLE FILM Offered ‘Birth of Nation’ Interest for SB,OOO in Backing. filj Tl’nro Snrrinl NEW YORK, Nov. 19.—D. W. Griffith, dpan of movie makers, was hunting all over America twenty years ago for someone with faith enough to put SB,OOO into a feature film he was making to be called •The Birth of a Nation”—and couldn’t find him. The picture, which finally was finished by skimping, saving and subterfuge, would have returned a miliion-dollar profit on the investment, and did make millions for Griffith. This is one of the inside stories of the pioneer days of the movies, told for the first time by Harry Cafr, veteran editor and scenario writer, in the current issue of Smart Set magazine. Griffith offered a one-quarter interest in the film for the SB,OOO he needed to complete it, relates Carr, and finally, being broke, sold part of the state rights on the picture for much less than that sum. Harries for Grab On one occasion when he was tonable to pay the cowboys who re playing cavalrymen, the director had a "chuck wagon” moved far down the road and the dinner horn blown. "No one has ever known until now that the most famous mad ride in the history of the screen was really a gang of hungry cowboys liurrying toward grub,” recalls Carr. “The Birth of a Nation” when fcompleted proved the first and one of the greatest movie box office sengations of all time. Carr further recalls the introduction of many of the greatests stars to the movies, harking back to the day when Griffith let Mary Pickford go because he didn’t consider her .worth S2OO a week, which she demanded. In her latest pictures she has made many times as much in an hour's work. Incidentally, the Smart Set writer throws anew light on the ill-fated Jack Pickford. “Griffith has told me that Jack Pickford had the makings of the greatest actor who had ever come into his studio. He could have been a Mansfield of the screen, but he threw away his career because he could never make himself care,” he says.

Dragged From Box Mack Sennett, foremost of comedy producers, and Mabel Normand, premier comedienne, could have been seen in those days building their own sets, even papering the walls themselves, so poor was the budding industry and so humble its coming stars. About the same tima Tom Mix rode out of the plains into Los Angeles, “Just a cowboy, green as grass and rough as an unplaned board.” says Carr, who tells how the two-gun hero first broke into fame by lassoing Charles E. Van Loan, famous short story writer, and dragging him from a box at a Los Angeles rodeo. The Talmadge girls. Norma, Constance and Natalie, were living in cheap boarding houses with their mother and trying to break into the films in those days, while Charles Ray and Jack Gilbert were doing odd jobs as extras. Attempt at Suicide Fails Mrs. Carol Plew. 20. of 511 North Alabama street, today was recovering from effects of poison she Is said to have swallowed in a suicide attempt in her home Monday. Domestic trouble prompted the attempt, police say she told them. Forgery for Burial Bv Vnited Pm* BROCKTON, Mass., Nov. 19. Because he forged a $225 check to pay for his wife’s burial, Richard J. Webber must serve two and a half years in state prison. GOOD-BYE ITCHING SKIN Soothing, healing and tremendously efficient, invisible Zemo brings cool relief to Itching Skin. Even where skin is raw and peeling, thousands have found that Zemo quickly restores comfort. It helps smooth away blemishes and clear up Pimples, Rash and other annoying itching skin and scalp irritations. Keep dean, antiseptic Zemo always on hand. Use it freely. It is safe, pleasant. 35c, 60c and SI.OO. Sold everywhere.—Advertisement.

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THESE MEN PLAY WAR THAT IS WAR ‘Journey’s End’ Is More Than a Verdict Against War —It Is the Final Word in This Terrible Mess. BY WALTER D. HICKMAN I AM beginning to believe that R. C. Sherriff when he wrote “Journey's End” saw real war. I mean the war that happens in the brain child and in the rather close sector of his soul. Sherriff has given us the closeup intimacy of a British dugout before St. Quentin, March. 1918, where the officers end those who came to them on orders and the like in war. I am basing this thought and this review on seeing this same company that is now at English’s in Columbus, 0., last Tuesday night. I told you about it in this department last Thursday. Here is a play that is a play of the most intimate detail of individual reception of war that I have read or seen.

It is so simple in its construction that it becomes terrible. Terrible in the individual message of the conflict. Here is war literature that is more than theater. It is the individual reaction against war while

in it. That to me is the message and the mastery of the man who wrote “Journey’s End” and who had no idea that it would sweep the world with its appeal. J make no excuse for liking this cast or the play. It is probably one of the many that is touring. I am satisfied with it. And I am sure in all

decency that you will be satisfied. I have told you that this cast is more than good. It gives complete satisfaction. I went into detail regarding the cast and the play when I saw it in Columbus. The cast is as follows: Captain Hardy Ralph Sumpter Lieutenant Osborne William Sauter Private Mason Victor Beecroft Second Lieutenant Raleigh.. . Frank Hear,> Captain Stanhope Charles; Culliun Second Lieutenant Trotter. .Harry Ratclitle Second Lieutenant Hibbert .......... Richard Nicholls Company Sergeant Major.. Arthur Gilbert The Colonel ..Wilfred Jessop Oerrmon Soldier •••••• • Broughton Freder ™, i ;, 1 Private William Hitch I have discussed this cast as to characters. I know that these men know how to put over the idea of the author. Here is the commanding war play resulting from the war. No doubt about it because it brings the individual reaction against war to the very front. It is more than theater as a play, it is war. This is not a strong language play. It is the strongest emotional play concerning war that I have ever seen. That is the effect that war has on the individual. I recommend "Journey’s End” as an event that has every right to demand intelligent reception in this city. I have asked Lee Williams, The Indianapolis Times artist, to sketch the chief characters. "Journey’s End” is on view tonight and matinee and night Wednesday at English's. ana HERE IS A REAL LESSON IN MUSIC There is a great lesson to be received from the concert given last night at Caleb Mills Hall by The Barrere Little Symphony under the direction of the Federation of Indianapolis Public School Teachers. The lesson has many meanings, but to me the one big one is the ability of the conductor to come right out in meaning and tell us that it is as important for the audience to recognize "this school of American music” as those on the platform. Barrere told us last night with his fourteen musicians that in all of his programs with The Little Symphony that he has played an outstanding work of a modern composer, who died suddenly, meaning Charles T. Griffes. It was the contention of the con-

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ductor that here was poetic beauty. He was of the opinion that death prevented Griffes from getting the score into the zone of a little symphony and so after the composer’s death, Barrere did the job. And the job was one of the two great outstanding features of this cry unusual musical events in this ity. And then the symphony played The White Peacock,” by Griffes. It was when Barrere played a ccene from “Orpheus” by Gluck, with Barrere playing the flute, that ! hings began to happen. This was a hue that was symphonic, even spirtual. Again we had that magnetic quality of individual playing of both wind and string instruments in Pierne’s “For My Little Friends.” And here was a great audience last night. A mighty big audience In numbers, even- overflowing the place. Here was a representative audience in music. I did not care a rip for the first two groups. It was when Barrere became human and brought that touch of his friendship for Griffes that this little symphony started to get into its own. mm* LOOKING OVER EVENTS AT LYRIC The event of chief interest at the Lyric seems to be from the audience standpoint, the feature movie which is Monte Blue and Davey Lee in “Skin Deep.” Blue has quite a following here because Indianapolis is considered

Wiliiam Sauter

Monte Blue

is sure to attract what is known as family trade wherever “Skin Deep” is shown. Betty Compson is the chief feminine support for Blue. I did. net see all of the picture, but it is evident that the audience reacts strongly in its favor. It is an alltalker. The vaudeville part of the bill isn’t so strong and in no way exceptional. Probably the outstanding act of a bad bill is the ventriloquist work of Vox and Walters. One of the dummies used by the couple gets a little rough. The woman in her crying baby number is a wonder. Probably as well done as any such stunt on the stage, and maybe better. Joseph B. Howard seeems to have

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AD MANAGER OF CITYNRM DIES Thomas A. Carroll Expires Suddenly at Home. Thomas A. Carroll, 51, advertising manager for E. C. Atkins & Cos. for sixteen years, died suddenly at his home, 2420 North Meridian street, Monday night. Funeral arrangements are not complete, but probably will be held Thursday. Mr. Carroll became ill while driving home for lunch and died shortly afterward. He was widely known In advertising, hardware, and lumber circles of the country. He was bom at Beaver Falls, Pa., where he resided until 1913, when he became affiliated with the Atkins company. He was a contributor to several trade magazines and belonged to the Optimists Club, Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, Columbia Club, and Indianapolis Advertising Club and St. Peter and Paul Cathedral. He was an officer of the Association of National Advertisers. Surviving him are his mother, Mrs. Margaret Carroll, and a brother, Charles Carroll, both of Beaver Falls; the widow, Mrs. Frances Carroll; three daughters, Mrs. Frank S. Langsenkamp, Miss Hilda Lou Carroll and Miss Margaret Carroll, and a son, Thomas A. Carroll Jr., all of Indianapolis. difficulty in getting started in singing and playing many of his own numbers. His closing number, "Old Man River,” Is his best and the only one that seems to really get the audience. The comedy work of the Romas troupe is out of date and pointless. Their acrobatic work is all right. “Keep Moving,” a miniature musical comedy is spotty in merit. It runs to dancing. Now at the Lyric. a a a Other theaters today offer: Charlie Davis at the Indiana; “Welcome

his home. He was in town last week and told Manager A. J. Kalberer of the Lyric that if “Skin Deep” had been on view last week that he would have walked upon the stage and met the folks. Blue has become to be recognized as one of those consistent players in he-man parts. The appearance of Little Davey Lee with Blue

OFF TO SCHOOL WITH A JUMP READY FOR STUDY OR PLAY SHREDDED With all the hr an of the whole ivheat So easy to give children, a warm, nourishing breakfast. All the food elements their growing bodies need, in such a delicious, digestible form. Saves mother a lot of work and worry.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Danger” at the Circle; “Rio Rita’ at the Palace; “Say It With Songs’ at the Ohio; ’’The Ginger Girls” a' the Mutual, and movies at the Colonial.

Journeys End ••• • at (YiglU/tt Charles Cullem Qy Harry Batcliffb

WEATHER MAY BE CONTROLLED BY INVENTION French Engineer Perfects Radio System for Ships, Planes. BY STEWART BROWN t’nited Press Staff Correspondent PARIS, Nov. 19.—The weather of the Atlantic soon may be controlled by radio, M. William Loth, a French engineer, has perfected a radio con-

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trol which he claims will make it possible for an inexperienced aviator to pilot his plane from Paris to New York without fear of running into bad weather. Similarly, ships could be navigated by sailors with no knowledge of compasses, sextants or weather maps. Radio light beams form the secret of Loth's weather control, which just has been shown to the French Academy of Sciences. Through two land stations, transmitting his weather radio waves, which are similar in principle to the Hertzian waves. Loth says he can direct ships or airplanes so that all bad weather areas can be avoided. Loth’s instruments will send out radio waves, which cross just at the point where the weather is good. The ships or airplanes wishing to keep in the best weather lanes need only to keep their wireless instruments tuned to the spot where the two waves meet in harmony.

.NOV. 19, 1929

•To do- this* the ship’s-course would have to be altered to keep in harmony with the weather waves. Loth has been working on the principle of radio weather roads for three years and now has his instrument in such shape that he claims he soon can control the entire Atlantic. The day is coming. According to Loth, when all ships and airplanes will be checked automatically at periodic intervals and put on the path of least we&ther resistance. “My idea started,” said Loth, “when I realized that there was as much need for weather roads on the sea, or in the air, as there was on land, if not more. “I came to the conclusion that such moving routes could be laid out with the aid of wireless instruments tuning in. and synchronizing, luminous wireless waves, which would cross in the exact center of the path to be followed.”