Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 11, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 May 1931 — Page 6

PAGE 6

CASEY PLAYERS WILL OPEN SUNDAY WITH ‘STREET SCENE’

Mary Pickford Has a Romping Time in ‘Kiki/ Which Opens Today for a Week’s Run at the Palace; ‘Seed’ fAoves to the Ohio for Eight Days. TO “America’s Sweetheart” herself is due the choice of the international success, “Kiki,” as her latest United Artists screen offering, which comes to the Palace today. Tiring of the stiff formalities, of society conventions as represented toy so many screen stories, the famous star searched the whole world of plays for a central figure that would enable her to play her earliest type of role, that lovable, mischievous madcap, hoydenish, roguish, brimming over with energy, love and determined to "get her man.” The play stands the true test of light comedy in that the situations and comic reliefs are sustained by a solid groundwork of dramatic inci-

dent, through which the heart interest runs as a gleaming thread. The settings, comprising among others, a theater stage and a magnificent private apartment, are luxuriously and lavishly produced from original designs by William j Cameron Menzies, the supervising art director. Reginald Denny was chosen from < among a score of Hollywood’s leading men, as the ideal type of romantic and engaging personality to portray Kikl's hero. He plays the company manager upon whom the madcap's heart is set. Margaret Livingston, Titianhaired beauty of “Innocents of Paris,” is cast as Kiki’s rival. Joseph Cawthorn, celebrated musical comedy star, has a mad wag character role, and other important parts are taken by Fred Walton, Phil Tead and Edwin Maxwell. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their latest talking comedy riot, “Chickens Come Home,” and the newest issue of the Hearst Metrotone News will complete the program. a a a LESTER ALLEN NOW AT INDIANA The two stars of "Street of Chance,” William Powell and Kay Francis, are together again at the Indiana this week in their newest picture, “Ladles’ Man.” As his fourth stage show Brooke Johns is presenting “Oh, Lester,” featuring Lester Allen, celebrated comedian. A third number on the new bill is an organ solo by Dessa Byrd in which Loren Griffith appears as a vocalist. “Ladies’ Man” is a Paramount picture and was made under the direction of Mendes. It is an adaptation of Rupert Hughes’ story of the same name which ran in the Cosmopolitan magazine. Powell is seen in the role of James Darricott, “lady-killer” and “gigolo,” who lives off funds supplied by wealthy women who had become infatuated with his charms. Others who have important roles are Carole Lombard and Olive Tell, in the parts of daughter and mother respectively, both of whom are in love with Darricott. Miss Francis has the part of Norma Page, the New York visitor who shows Darricott what it feels like to have one’s heart stolen. Lester Allen, star of Brooke Johns’ stage show, is one of America’s most celebrated comedians, having been starred in Ziegfeld’s “Follies,” George White’s “Scandals,” and Earl Carroll’s ‘Vanities,” as well as other New York hits. In the revue with him are Ginger Kennedy, the Three Cressos, Floria Vestoff, and Mayo and Marie. a a a NEW TYPE OF GANGSTER STORY

If you miss the conventional gangsters’ sweetheart from future movies it will mean that Warner Brothers’ example of showing crookdoin as it really is has had its effect on pictures in general. In “The Public Enemy,” which is the current attraction at the Apollo theater, movie traditions are thrown to the winds. Contrary to what has been heretofore depicted in motion picture?, women play a small part in the underworld activities throughout the world. His wife may mean much to the most notorious of gangsters, but she has nothing at all to do with his business. Another ruthless killer who was recently shot in his flower shop was a home-loving person. His tenderness toward his mother was one of his strongest charac* teristics. Away from her he was one of the most vicious gangsters ever known to the business. The women in the case are usually widely separated from the gang. In fact many of them are kept in ignorance of the business their lovers are engaged in. The code of gangland decrees that women are an obstacle and they are therefore reserved for off moments. It is this element of depicting situations as they really exist that is alleged to be the reason for the greatness of “The Public Enemy.” The roles of the ladies of the picture are enacted by Jean Harlow, Beryl Mercer and Joan Blondell. James Cagney is seen as the public enemy and his accomplice is Donald Cock. Vitaphone Varieties and Pox

AMUSEMENTS

St.irt Midnight Show Tonight A fast Singing and Dancing Show "HITS and BITS” lEvenrtnriig Hew-Everything Dirferent Everything Different Tuesday Night Cash and Garter Night Thursday Night Audio*

BURLESQUE BY BURLESQUERS Beginning MinillTC CUfiUf SATURDAY with the rfiiuniiEi onuw night JACQUELINE ROVIER and Her FRENCH FROLICS WITH GIRLS OF RAVISHING BEAUTY | Special Midnight Show the Night Speedway Races.

Movietone News round out the program. TARKINGTON STORY NOW AT THE CIRCLE “Bad Sisters,” with Conrad Nagel and Sidney Fox in the most important roles, is now the feature screen attraction at the Circle. The picture is a Universal adaptation from Booth 'far king ton’s novel, “A Girl Who Wanted Everything.” In the picture with Conrad Nagel and Miss Fox are Bette Davis, Zasu Pitts, Slim Summerville and Bert Roach. The plot has to do with two girls who are members of the typical American family. One of them (Miss Fox) disregards the wishes and feelings of all with whom she contracts so long as her own desires and whims are satisfied, while the second (Miss Davis) is perfectly content to hide her own wishes if their realization interferes with the happiness of someone else. With this as the theme, the plot draws to a climax as the'two girls fall in love with the same man (Conrad Nagel) and the selfish sister finds that some things in the world count for more than arrogance and disregard. Among the short subjects on the program are anew “Humanette,” a Paramount pictorial; a comedy, “Mickey’s Crusaders,’’ and the talking news reel. “Bad Sisters” will play at the Circle through Thursday when it will be followed by “Dude Ranch.” tt t$ o “SEED” MOVES TO THE OHIO “Seed,” following its successful run at the Indiana, is the chief attraction at the Ohio this week, having been brought direct to this theater after the Indiana management announced it would be impossible to hold it for a second week because of the stage show. This picture, Universal’s adaptation of Charles G. Norris’ bestselling novel, proved to be the most popular that has played at the Indiana in months, and it was because of the increasing business as its engagement drew near a close that the management decided to hold it over for a second week at the Ohio. Genevie Tobin, Conrad Nagel and Lois Wilson have the leading roles in the production, while Zasu Pitts supplies some choice bits of comedy relief. The picture will play at the Ohio through next Thursday, thereby giving Indianapolis an additional eight-day run.

ROUNDING ROUND THEATERS *' I VTc A KS

THE other evening I acted for the third time in as many years as chairman of the judges in the one-act play contest of the senior class of the George Washington high school. . ; . . .This year tremendous strides toward improvements in lights, scenery and costumes were made by the three contesting groups.

Although the players deserve a lot of credit for giving their time to making the scenery; rehearsals £,nd the like, yet the biggest credit goes to Mrs. Bess Sanders Wright who has directed all plays for the past three years. I feel that it was her idea which resulted in this contest by the seniors having been started. She has done remarkable things with these' young people and she has in two or three instanced presented a boy and a girl with splendid dramatic possibilities. Mrs. Wright and others of th§ faculty deserve praise for giving the drama in a definite place in the experiences of the seniors of that fine high school. * a a a There seems to be a great deal Os interest aroused by the announcement that the Indianapolis Art Guild would present the Soviet Russia produced film, “Old and New,” at Caleb Mills hall next Friday night, starting at 7 and running continuously. Eisenstein is the director and two leading film producing companies of

AMUSEMENTS

PERSON L o . Famous \\l l “Baby-Faced” \ {+ \ Movie Comedian J j/ 1 Dtatt (IM . , -j J

•* a| m |! *4

I—Miss Frances Dale has the chief feminine lead in “Street Scene,” opening Sunday night for the week at English’s.

I—Jean Harlow in. a scene from “Public Enemy,” now at the Apollo. 3—John Boles has the lead in “Seed,” opening today at the Ohio for eight days. 3 —William Powell and Carole Lombard as they appear in “Ladies’ Man,” now at the Indiana.

this country are trying to put this man'under contract. * The following data has been given me concerning this director: Eisenstein is. of pourse, the fajnpus Russian director whose “Potemkin” and “Ten Days That Shook the World”- revolutionized film making and whose new theories on the -sound film threaten the established procedure. His latest film. “Old and New.” is still another step toward the film of the .future. tfyis film. he. has taken the subject of “collective farming” and By the use of simple symbols has made - this involved subject-easily understandable. , The stars of this 'film are “a cream . AMUSEMENTS .. ",

DINE and DANCE WITH REGINALD DUVALLE AND HIS 10^ BLACKBIRDS SATURDAY NITE ANTLERS TOWNE CLUB Special Late Supper Served 9 P. M. till ???—sl.oo

SUN. NITE I NO MVWCE 8:30 aTn r/iiWWIK n PRICES Elmer Rice’s sensationally stirring DRAMA OF HUMAN EMOTIONS “STREET SCENE” Elaborate Production . . . Cast Includes Eleanor Dora Misha WESSELHOEFT MERANDE FERENZO of original New York company, full cast Arthur Casey company and Milton Byron, Carl Brickert and 50 others J Nites, 50c, 75c, SI.OO. Wednesday and Thursday Matinees, 50c. Saturday Matinee, 50c and 75c. Mon. nite, Best seats to ladies, 60c. LAST DAY!—“UP POPS THE DEVIL”

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

2—Lester Allen and Ginger Kennedy as they appear in the new stage show now at the Indiana.

separator, a bull, and a tractor.'* With these elements he has constructed a dynamic. . pulsatinK film which will be hailed as the first film to catch the spirit of the new consciousness of rural Russia. . Eisenktein was born In Rika. Russia,. In--1898, and prepared himself, tor the profession of- engineering. He studied art alpng ■ with engineering training. The revolution interrupted his academic training. but Eisenstefn immediately joined with his comrades. He was connected with the engineering corps of the Red Army, . After the -Rgvbluton he joined the first workers theater, the Proletcult. where he made his first big success with the direction of Jack London's story. “The Mexican.’’ He then joined Meyerhold and after differing with him on matters of principle, returned to the Proletcult. to assume complete charge. With Eisenstelii the Proletcult took on

AMUSEMENTS

SPEEDWAY BALL Friday. May 29—9 P. M. Till ? ? ? ANTLERS TOWNE CLUB 750 JiV MERIDIAN ST. Music by REGINALD DUVALLE AND HIS 10 BLACKBIRDS PLUS RED HOT FLOOR SHOW!

First Indianapolis Showing A Powerful Photoplay of SOVIET RUSSIA Produced in Russia and Directed by Einstein OLD & NEW Will Be Shown Friday Evening May 29th Continuous Auspices Art Guild CALEB MILLS . HALL . 34th and Pennsylvania Streets Admission 50c T s2f a ? n Clark & Son Drug Store Claypool Hotel Bldg. The H. Lieber Cos. 24 IV. Washington St.

< 4—Conrad Nagel is the leading male player in “Bad Sister,” now at j the Circle. I s—James Hall is in the cast of “The Good Bad Girl,” starting today at the Lyric. 1 6—Mary Pickford as “Kiki,” opening today at the Palace.

anew life. His sensational work with this group, placed him in the front rank of Russian directors and he was called upon to take one of the leading parts in the' organization of the Soviet film .industry. His successes in Russia, have re-echoed throughout the world. “Potemkin.” “Ten Days That Shook the World.” “Old and New.” These names which mean outstanding achievement, skill.- artistic perfection in motion picture and workers circles whether the city be Moscow. London, Paris, Berlin. Shanghai or New York. If Eisenstein comes to America, he will

JOSEPH M <iP _ I / iT K &mh /Wy'M JAM TAYLOR.*i <K\w|§a v I '-•?• wm is ■ srS'/i ss£v n is KI KJ >fi'g the greatest of * " -*-■ \ /V stars playing a TANARUS, I J''* * madcap 0 little R*9*d a 'd Denny j U N I T t OiA AT M T t£p CT UIC C />_* w. II ■ ADDED FUN n-is irmimi.ii in Stan AND Oliver 1 ‘CHICKENS LAUREL HARDY COME HOME”

f RIVERSIDE"! AMUSEMENT PARK I Open Every Afternoon and Evening I I BALLOON ASCENSION SUNDAY I By The Debonair Daredevil PATENT-LEATHER KID BRING A BASKET DINNER AND THE KIDDIES

hppln,. Always Comfortably COOL Hero HIG .ACTS RKO ' ® VAUPE VILLE J JSsL ' ■ famous Dancing Comedian' t mm&J RoscoE 4W/ m.. ! ails m^WmW ~[?*.* ! with thelma white p £ in Steps and Biddies” fuff pm, , S?h s boxy labocca . World's Foremost Harpist -31 M Marie OBRIEN and HEWITT A Provost “Songland’s Sons” I rfL in ELTON RICH and CO-EDS “Glorified Songs and Dances” Mmmm NIXON and SANS m. “Jnst a Vagabond Lover” LARIMER and HUDSON ■"Sfc It Moving Moments” DC#lf I free • *■“. • I J9BI AUTO ip. M.^C m mft MmmmmKKUm parking i.om UI ff &SS a&Mc|

3 —Roscoe Ails, noted comedian and former star of “New Moon,” is the headliner on the new bill starting today at the Lyric.

bring anew force to the American cinema and he Will be able to return to Russia and continue his work enriched with reflections which America is bound to make upon his mind. Plans Made for Player Although no contracts have been signed, Dorothy Sebastian seems all set to play the lead opposite Bill Boyd in “Suicide Fleet” at RKOPathe. This is Boyd’s first on the new program. .

MOTION PICTURES

AMUSEMENTS

Roscoe Ails, Noted Musical Comedy Funmaker, Opens a Week's Engagement Today, With Miss ThelmaWhite as His Companion, at the Lyric. "STREET SCENE/' Elmer Rice’s drama of life In a metropolitan teneij ment district, will be presented by Arthur Casey at English’s, starting Sunday night at 8:30 o’clock with one of the largest casts ever assembled on the legitimate stage. The cast of fifty characters will include several members of the original New York company, a few local recruits and the regular resident group of Casey players. The play, which enjoyed the phenomenal run of 600 performances on Broadway, was the winner of the Pulitzer prize for drama in the season of 1928-29. -

Its production here will accurately approximate the original William Brady presentation in New York. The entire action of the play takes place in front of a New York walkup apartment—an ancient town house of the brownstone front variety that has become one of the cheaper tenements in a poor quarter of the city. Its many families and several of the passersby are casually introduced throughout the play. As if standing on the street corner, one sees the various events of their lives—both tragic and comic —occur swiftly and dramatically, often involving the other persons and equally often having no effect on the others. Intermingled with the tragedies of the piece are the humor of gossiping tongues and the eccentricities of dress, speech and manners. Frances Dale is to portray the leading feminine character as Rose Maurrant. Yvonne Stebbins, who made her debut with the Casey company in “Up Pops the Devil,” has the role of Rose’s mother. Donald Woods impersonates Frank Maurrant, and Freddie Sherman has the important role of Sam Kaplan. Annabelle Nation, who was last seen in Indianapolis as the comic maid in Stuart Walker’s production of “It’s a Wise Child” several weeks ago, will appear prominently; Milton Byron, who was leading man with the Berkell players, has a character role, and William Craigle, youthful protege of Stuart Walker and George Somnes, takes active part in the cast. Will Lloyd, Carl Brickert, his daughter Dorothy, Jane Wheatley, Dick Elliott and many others also have roles. Among the players imported from the east by Arthur Casey for his production of “Street Scene” are Eleanor Wesselhoeft, who created and played for two years the role of Greta in the New York company; Dora Merande, who played the role of Mrs. Jones in the touring company which presented the play here at the English last year; Mischa Ferenzo, Italian comedy character star, and Roy La Rue, who played the city marshal in William Brady’s Boston production of the Play. William Blair has charge of the staging and direction of the piece. The setting is being designed and executed by Milo Denny. “Street Scene” will be presented throughout the week, starting Sunday night. There will be matinees Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2:30 o’clock.

MOTION PICTURES

111 1 —■ PS%2St| I Two Ziegfeld Stars! £' BRBKE 'a JOHW Lester ?%SQt Mr EN In Person "Ojv 1 the peppiest show for mBE^WOME* SHARED HIS LOVE! |\ WILLIAM Powell I *Jndis Irian* Paramount’s version of Rupert Bushes’ novel KAY FRANCIS Carole Lombard Other men ruled Wall Stree t—W hi I e he Ruled Their Wives!

.MAY 23, Ifef

AILS HEADS BILL AT LYRIC The Lyric stage and screen program for the current week, starting today, has many features of interest for theatergoers’ entertainment. First there is the personal appearance of Roscoe Ails, widely known comedian as the headlined attract tions on the stage bill which in T eludes six acts of RKO vaudeville. Secondly there is announced as the main screen event “The Good Bad Girl,” anew Columbia production in which James Hall, Mae Clarke and Marie Prevost share the foremost honors of the cast. Mae Clarke the girl who made "Molly” in “The Front Page” a vibrant character has the leading feminine role in “The Good Bad Girl.” Mae Clarke portrays the role of Marcia Cameron, mistress of Dan Tyler, underworld king, who longs for her chance at real love and happiness, but is constantly menaced by the code of the underworld when she tries to quit. How she finally overpowers the forces that are working against her comprises a picture that approaches the ganster theme from the woman’s angle. Roscoe Ails, the stage headliner on this bill, was last seen in this city as the featured coihedian in “New Moon,” one of the few successful Broadway shows to tour the middle west in the last year or so. This season Ails has solicited the aid of a beautiful musical comedy girl, whose name is Miss Thelma White. Other acts on this program include some syncopated music on the harp by Roxy La Rocca, reported as being one of the most accomplished musical entertainers of the current times; O’Brien and Hewitt, two boys well-versed in the art of harmoniz-j ang popular songs, and Elton Rich and company of collegiate enters tainers presenting a miniature mu sical comedy revue. Hamilton Gets Increase It is understood that Neil :ftam*> ilton’s work in “Strangers May Kiss” at MGM has put him in a spot for a "substantial increase” at that studio. Hamilton will have an outstanding part in "The Great Lover” as the result. t

MOTION PICTURES

Family Prices! From Chas. G. Norris’ * darin* novel with Genevieve Tobin John Boles Lo s Wilson Zasu Pitts Moved straight to the Ohio after a record-shattering week at the great Indiana! J = l t

Enema | WITH ndß a JAITTES CAGIIEy JEAnHARLOUJ Joan Blondell H.: Donald Cook. Edward Woods K|': Beryl Mercer M : ; Leslie Fenton - 4V ♦♦ FREE AUTO PARKING I V > ASK CASHIER! fiflio