Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 240, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 February 1930 — Page 8

PAGE 8

W. C. FIELDS WILL LEAD CAST OF CARROLL’S “VANITIES”

Haward Thurston, Magician, Has Been looked at English’s for His Annual Engagement for One Week; He Will Have Many New Tricks. W. C. FIELDS, the hight salaried comedian in the world today, who starred in the seventh edition of the Earl Carroll “Vanilties," which opens at English's on Thursday night, Feb. 20, started his career when the show business was in its most picturesque stage. He began at the old Fortesque Pavilion in Atlantic City, where the admission charge was the purchase of a glass of any liquid refreshment, even a 5-cent g.assut beer. From mat he graduated into burlesque, the next natural step in progress, and by easy stages up to star in the biggest and greatest hits of the present period in the high class domain ol shows and pictures. But

when he started the career that has led him to the top. Mr. Fields entered a business that was far from organized and entailed much financial Jeopardy. % He recalls those days with evident relish, showing that It was as much the bohemian atmosphere that enshrouded the theater as the love of the profession which enticed those who entered the business. It is customary among professionals to refer to their calling as The Business. One of Mr. Fields’ first associations was with Jim Fulton, owner of the well known Monte Carlo Girls burlesque show. It was a custom in those days to get a ’sucker,’ as he was termed, interested in one of the girls, and then get him to Invest in the show. In introducing the prospective investor among the girls the angel invariably was smitten with the charms of Fulton’s wife, and Fields can still recall the outbursts of Jim each time he would discover that anew angel was interested in Mrs. Fulton, and he laughs as heartily over these memories as he would, or could over the newest bon mot at the Lambs Club. One of the fondest reminiscences is how lie started his salary on the upward trend. He was engaged by Fred Irwin as comedian in the Irwin burlesque show at $35 a week. Irwin was constantly kicking in rehearsals that he could never make any money paying salaries like that. When the show opened in Cincinnati, a critic, -whom Fields thinks never even saw the show, gave him a good notice and he demanded and got SSO a week and a better spot on the bill. He must have made good. Fields thinks, for when he threatened to quit. Irwin gave him $75 a week. There were no contracts or equity in those days, and it vas all a friendly verbal agreement. When William Morris saw Fields and offered him a route over the then famous Orpheum circuit, headed by Martin Beck. he was surprised to receive $125 a week without a murmur. But the difference mav be imagined when Earl Carroll readily assented to giving Fields $5,200 weekly, the contract being drawn up by a couple of famous lawyers, and Fields being exploited as a star ahead of the name of the producer of the Vanities. a a a THURSTON TO PLAY r HERE SOON Thurston, magician, coming to English's on Monday night, March 3. has been a magician all his life. He started doing tricks when he was 7 years old. When he was In his teens he w r as a side-show magician with a circus. He has traveled all over the world. He has done his stuff before almost all the crowned heads and also before every United States president since Roosevelt. He says that the most interesting show he ever gave was before the Ameer of Afghanistan. The story of his life reads more like fiction than autobiography, but Collier’s thought enough of It to pay him SB,OOO for three installments of the story of his life. Since then his autobiography has been published in book form. o n m OVERMAN IS BOOKED HERE Now for some real comedy in the theater. After a long series of serious plays, an entertainment devoted entirely to laughter comes as a happy and welcome contrast. All are good theatrical fare, but it Is well to give variety to the menu; and with so accomplished and engaging a farceur as Lynne Overman to head an all-round excellent cast, local playgoers may set aside their

SECOND CHURCH OF CHRIST . SCIENTIST INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA Announces a Free Lecture on Christian Science By Dr. Hendrik J. de Lange , C. S. o/ 77* e Hague, Holland Member of The Beard of Lectureship of The Mother Church. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts At MURAT THEATRE , Sunday Afternoon. February 16th, at 3 P. M. Nineteen Hundred and Thirty The Public is Cordially Invited to Attend

AMUSEMENTS 1 1 o i rle^lqve K(3r^^C~^a i P WITH 3 i (SQbS i 4 archer Bl i n Titow" ICI I F ' 4TU SI,™ JL \ g?- , HotiPAYs#J 1 twin he-GARTER NITE A wnw hr A mow/ rawm-AMATEUR NITE A . WUW OFAJnUTY* iATNITf .MIDWITE FROLIC-H PI

cares and sit back to the unalloyed, irresponsible enjoyment of“ She's No Lady,” which will be offered for three nights and a Wednesday matinee at English's opera house commencing Monday, Feb. 24. This is the new farce-comedy lately produced with great success by H. H. Frazee Jr., and written by Bruce Spaulding and Anthony Baird. An extended road tour had been booked, due to Mr. Overman's popularity in various cities, but the highly enthusiastic press comment that has followed the new' farce wherever it has been seen has persuaded the booking powers to alter their plans and send “She’s No Lady” direct to Chicago. Consequently Indianapolis will be the last city to be visited prior to the Chicago engagement. For once, then, we may actually count on the New York cast and production in its entirety, and w T e may enjoy a real novelty without waiting for Broadway to tell us w r hy and when. “She’s No Lady,” is an out-and-out farce—and it is a long time since we have had one. While not venturing to disclose the very original story, with its clever and surprising complications, it is whispered that one amusing twist in the action calls for the star to masquerade for a goodly part of the play in modish feminine finery. This in a degree, recalls that most famous of farces, “Charley's Aunt,” though the parallel ends right there, since “She’s No Lady,” is to the last degree modern and even a bit •sophisticated.’ Produced under the dependable Frazee name—which gave us the memorable “No, No. Nanette,” — there is every guarantee of a fully rounded performance and an evening of rare pleasure. The excellent cast supporting Mr. Overman includes Walter N. Greaza, Robert Cummings, Mildred MacLeod, Dolores De Monde, Patricia Chapman, Louise White, Josephine Deffry, Bertha Greenhouse, Lora Hays, Pauline Mason aiijj a dozen more. Attractive prices have been arranged for the three-day engagement here, with popular matinee on Wednesday, so, if you would have the latest ‘hint from Paris’ as to what the well-dressed woman should wear, don’t fail to see Lynne Overman in "She's No Lady.”

At Mutual

Don’s Clark’s “Star and Garter Show” opens a week's engagement at the Mutual today. The cast includes Jimmy Walters. Harry Levine, Bobbie Snyder, Howard Harrison, Frank Lepp, Beatrice Carter, Edna Wortz and a large chorus.

At Rialto

“Broadway Brevieties” is the name of the new show being offered at the Rialto. Buddy Kane heads the company which consists of Helen Walters, Babe Archer. Stan Stanley, Charles Wells and others. AMUSEMENTS

COLONIAL Illinois and New York Fastest Show in Town ‘SAIL ON” A Peppy Original BURLESQUE With BUBBLES—EDDIE WARE A Splendid Company and CHORUS ON RUNWAY On the Screen “WALL STREET” An All-Talking Feature

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1 — Howard Thurston and daughter, Jane, both magicians, will be at English’s the week of March 3. 2 Vivian Fay Is among the beauties present in the Publix Fourth Anniversary Revue at the Indiana.

Dancers to . Stage Big Contest " Lyric Ballroom to Give Loving Cups to Hoofers. A CITY wide championship dancing contest is to be held | at the new Lyric ballroom for the | next four weeks. The ballroom, which Is operated | in conjunction with the theater, will 5 be the scene of eleminations each Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights for three weeks, and the i finals are to be given on the Lyric i stage the following week. There is no*fentry fee, no strings attached to the contest. Everybody who thinks he or she is a good dancer in their respective classes can enter. E. W. Mushrush, manager of the Lyric ballroom, will conduct. the contest. Three silver loving cups will be given the winners, one cup to the winners of each group of dances. On Monday nights for the next three weeks “The Camel Glide” i dance contest will hold sway in the ballroom. Eliminations will be made on these nights and the winners are to compete the fourth Monday night on the Lyric stage I for the loving cup. Judging will I be by applause of the spectators I entirely.

1T ‘ — —mm MrnmPi * 5 n ' ll z* rRA r° 'l£Za ui x vV HSLm^ 1 * Ff?EE 70 ¥/ THE^HEIGHTS OF \ \ •; A NIEST, MOST THRILLINGAND ROMANTIC > \ Ja heard/ P!CTUPE EVER SEEN °R I I j jLj CVtlT^OTW^^(^^ USE MORAN z /' WiC f RATSY RUTH miuer • Jllfa Jy7OHWNY ARTHUR AWD BIG 2<s CAST OF FUNMAKERS. 7 /^^^lcS^WiAA nffiar* J^EP 1 ] iLAiNgSW

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Here Sunday

Zez Confrey Zez Confrey, novelty pianist, composer, reconding and radio artist, as well as Ampico artist and teacher will make his first appearance in the Indiana ballroom Sunday when he brings his orchestra to Indianapolis to fill a one-night engagement. Confrey is probably the world’s most famous novelty pianist and is the composer of such novelty tunes as “Kitten on the Keys,” “Nola,” “Stumbling” and “Dizzy Fingers,” all of which have been recorded and reproduced by him for Victor and Ampico.

AMUSEMENTS

3 Here Is a scene from the revue being offered at the Lyric by Irene Vermillion and company. 4 W. C. Fields is the big name in Earl Carroll’s “Vanities,” to be presented at English’s next Thursday night for three nights.

ROUNDING ROUND

THEATERS

When we consider the capacity business done by Ethel Barrymore, the good business of Otis Skinner, the more than satisfactory business done by “The New Moon” and “Follow Thru” and the great business of Harry Lauder for two performances, it is necessary that we consider another event of real importance. I am speaking of the coming appearance of the German Grand Opera Company at the Murat in “The Flying Dutchman,” under the management of Ona B Talbot. I know what this company is because we had them last year at the Murat and I remember very well that Indianapolis did not give this

company within a mile of attendance of what It deserved. And even remembering that, >lrs. Talbot has gone ahead and has banked everything on her hopes and trust of music loving people that this grand opera company will be supported for one performance. There Is no argument on the worth of this company or the opera to be given here. The thing that

j-* „ t ’%.' yw^^'xiixsf State Fair Grounds AMUSEMENTS

N mm ■ ■mm ■ ■ ■ 132 F IMB 1 I *5" 1 I H m l SOUTH Jif IWI B. 1 i Ijj MI g— T ILLINOIS W ■w ■, mm u mr m g street A NEW BIG KICK—WITH A WOW! THE SMASHING HIT OF THE SEASON 24.SSLGIRLS-24 ON THE GAY, GLITTERING DIAMOND RUNWAY YOUTH, PEP amp SNAP plus PERSONALITY LED BY FOUR RAVISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL SOUBRETTES AND Don Clark—Jimmy Walters—Bobby Snyder — Jack p OVER Lepp—-Howard Harrison—Viola Spaeth—Beatrice R A A ft 600 CAST OF^ arter —Babe Davis—Edna Dupree—Nellie Novak q SIV N m W SEATS SRanb ladies 25Cth t e MATINEE IJU ° I \Jso cents A MODERN 2i/ 2 HOUR BURLESQUE SHOW

With WALTER D . HICKMAN

we must do in this city and state is that on Tuesday night, Feb. 25, that a standing room audience be present at the Murat. We not only owe this to Ona B. Talbot, but it is our musical obligation to opera as well as Mrs. Talbot. We must consider the coming of this great company to this city as a civic event which deserves to be

supported until even the standing room only sign is* removed. tt 8 it I have received word that the Civic Theatre has decided to postpone its production of “The Dybbuk,” scheduled to start on March 1, but will give “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” instead. “The “Dybbuk” has been dated as March 25. The change was made necessary because George Somnes, the director, desired to continue his research on this very difficult play. Buddy Gives a Gift Charles (Buddy) Rogers’ New Year's gift to his parents was a new Spanish home in Beverly Hills, CaL The Paramount star now lives I there with his father and mother I and younger brother.

AMUSEMENTS Ifiyjni B&EJ9f* THURS., FRI., SAT. tilyLlall 3 FEB. 20, 21, 22. MAT. SAT. FIRST TIME HERE $& "Tiij j tu ._. ji_ _mi-mi | ■■jin j-rm -^TtiTrrrrurft HU BEN BLUE BENNETT BOYS JOEY BAT JO I, GRACE WELLS DOROTHY MIX PACL RtSSEIX I THEODQRE, ENRICA & NOVELLO PATRICK HENRY VIVIAN WILSON ELSIE CONNOR | and I DOROTHY BRITTON (“Mis* Universe”! ORIGINAL PRODUCTION - 45 SCENES* DIRECT FROM EARL CARROLL THEATRE it , NIGHTS—Lower floor. fIS.SSs Bair.. $3, •*. **l PRICES I Gallery. SI. SAT. MAT.—Lower floor. $3: Bale.. (Including Tail! $2.50, $2, *1.50; Gallery, *l. Seats Feb. 17. ! ENGLISH’S3 HAPPY DAYS, BEG. MON., ™ ; ,24 H. H. FRAZEE JK. presents the Season’s Best Laugh—j’rior to the Chicago run “SHE’S NO LADY” Anew farce comedy by Bruce Spaulding and Anthony Baird with America’s Most Popular Juvenile Star, LYNNE OVERMAN And a GREAT COMEDY CAST NOTE THE PRICES MAIL ORDERS NOW Nights, 50* to f . 50 THu£s S ™B * Wed. Mat.. 50c to $1.50 THlns., TEH. “

_FEB. 15, 1930

Talbot to Offer Big Treat Here German Grand Opera to Be Presented at the Murat. BUSINESS representatives of the German Grand Opera Company in the city yesterday, completed. with Ona B. Talbot, all details of the coming of that richvoiced organization to the Murat on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The 150 members will come to Indianapolis in a special train of four cars from St. Louis, over the New York Central Lines. Seven of these cars are employed in transporting the vast volume of scenic, costuming and luminous effects carried on tour by the company, all of which was manufactured in and brought direct from Berlin. The settings are said to be magnificent and traditional to a degree and eminent critics have spoken in glowing and convincing terms of the productions. “The Flying Dutchman,” selected by Mrs. Talbot for presentation at the Murat, Is one of the biggest and most spectacular offerings in the German company’s repertoire, and calls for a brilliant cast of singers. It will be staged at the local theater upon the same plane of scenic excellence as it was at the Chicago Auditorium a few day# back.

DANCE? DANCE? 25c— ADMISSION— 25c DANCING FREE Each Saturday and Sunday Nit* Denny Duttons Music ZIEGY’S FAMOUS FOODS SERVED AT THE BOOTHS JAPANESE CASINO SOUTHEASTERN and EMERSON AVE. Hawthorne Yard Bus leaves Circle every 20 minutes and stop* in front of our door.