Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 191, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 December 1931 — Page 6
PAGE 6
MARION SUNSHINE HEADS HOLIDAY BILL AT THE LYRIC
‘Surrender,* the Pre-Yuletide Offering at the Apollo, Starting Today, Has the Dramatic Services of Warner Baxter and Leila Hyams. OLR, .ENDER, Fox romantic drama, heads the pre-Christmas proWarner pla J i !? K ., at T the Apollo, and has as its featured players turn tho frJ, C v, Lei^a Hyams. Although not essentially a war picrinrtntr ft! ~ h . afl M , its back sround the prison camps back of the lines curing the great world conflict. Whr> ' iS f.l id t 0 dcpict tbe stru Egle of a young Prussian girl mmJn 1 I♦with 1 ♦ with a Frcnch Prisoner of war, although she wishes to remain true to the fatherland. in the role of Dumaine . a handsome young sergeant, , ' f '' hlm - self prisoner in a German prison camp. He is the leader of a group of French soldiers who
have gone through the war together. The paramount aim is to find a means of escape from the tortures of the dismal camp. One night Dumaine and his comrades break away and seek a hiding place in a nearby castle occupied by a solitary old man, Count Reichendorf, played by C. Aubrey Smith; and Axelle, enacted by Leila Hyams, fiancee of the count’s remaining son, Dietrich, portrayed by Alexander Kirkland. Axelle refuses to give the escaped prisoners either food or shelter, so Dumaine and his friends arc recaptured and, when brought back to camp, told that if they try to escape again they will be shot. Eventually it is discovered that Dumaine is an electrical engineer and he is detailed to “wire” the castle for electric lights. In this capacity, he is brought into frequent contact with Axelle, and despite the fact that they are enemies, they fall in love. Axelle, realizing the end of such a romance, tries to forget, but the struggle between her love for Dumaine and the duty to her family Is said to furnish a tensely dramatic climax to the picture. tt a tt A CLASSIC APPEARS IN NEW BACKGROUND Once in a lifetime, in every fifld of creative art, a work is produced which not only creates a furor in its own time, but lives through the ages. Such a work is “Ben Hur,” which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has brought back to the screen augmented with sound and which will open Saturday at the Palace theater. In the re-issued version, filmgoers j will hear the thundering hoofbeats ; as the horses tear around the ; course, the crack of the whip gs j each driver lashes his steed to j greater effort, the curses, shouts and ! .cheers of the thousands of onlook- i ers. In the thrilling sea battle, they j will hear the crash as the ships ram j ■ each other, the clash of the spears j ' and the shields, the moans of the ! ■ wounded, the cries of the slaves | chained in the hold. Sound effects are similarly used to advantage throughout the entire . picture doubling the spectacle of the various episodes. The grandeur and accuracy of .these scenes as well as of the entire story in its faithful of •Roman triumphs, Rcmian legionaries and Roman civilization is due "the fact that the entire cast of the -production, headed by Ramon Nova rro, spent a year and a half in Italy where the scenes were filmed on authentic locales. Another year and a half was spent in completing the picture in Hollywood, f The picture, however owes its popular success not only to the grandeur of its spectacle and the absorbing nature of its action, but , likewise to the love story of Ben- • Hur and Esther and the second love motif between mother and son * which is brought powerfully to the fore through the many years of separation of Ben-Hur and his ' family, by the Romans who condemned him to the galleys and his mother and sister to a forgotten “dungeon. The plot depicts Ben-Hur’s escape and his return to Judea fired by revenge for the Roman, Messala. who had caused the downfall of his family. Prominent roles in Novarrols supporting cast are played by Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy, Betty Bronson, Claire McDowell, Kathleen Key, Carmel Myers, Nigel de Brulier and Mitchell Lewis. ' “The Village Specialist,” a Flip the Frog Cartoon Comic, and the Hearst Metrotone News complete the bill. tt tt tt CHILDREN’S REVUE OPENS AT INDIANA. A pre-Christmas week program opened Friday at the Indiana. Topping the bill is Paramount's ro-mance-drama, “Husband’s Holiday,” featuring a cast of screen favorites headed by Clive Brook. This picture is based on Ernest Pascal’s novel and play, "The Marriage Bed.” Brook, as the central figure of "Husband’s Holiday,” appeal's in the role of George Boyd, a romantic minded husband who runs away from, rather than face the boredom of middle-class married life. The part of Mary Boyd, his wife, is played by Vivienne O?bome, the brunette charmer who was Paul Lucas’ “old girl friend” in “The Beloved Bachelor.” Charlie Ruggles, the droll comedian of “The Girl *. Habit,” and many other successes, - Is seen in a whimsical portrayal as
Conservatory
Christmas vacation for class work began Friday at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music and will continue until Monday morning, Jan. 4. Holidays for studio work began Thursday and will be resulted Saturday, Jan. 2. * There will be no recitals at the conservatory until Jan. 7, when a group of advance students will appear on a program. Arthur W. Mason, educational and musical director of the conservatory, will attend the annual meeting of the National Association of Music Schools and the Music Teachers National Association, which will be held in Detroit during the holiday vacations. Susannah Jones, pupil of Louise Caldwell, will direct a Christmas pageant. “He Came to Earth, but Not as a King.” at the First Presbyterian church in Noblesville Sunday. Mary Evelyn Rudicel, harp pupil of Ruth Nessler of the conservatory, accompanied the Angel Choir of the School of Education, will play at the Christmas celebration . Wednesday.
Clyde Saunders, one of the many meddlesome “in-laws” of this play. Juliette Compton, the sirenesque I charmer of George Bancroft’s “Rich Man’s Folly” and Ruth Chatterton’s I “Unfaithful,” plays the part of the : romantic young business girl who runs off with Brook, repents, and later relents the repentance. ‘Gay Vienna” Idea, Fanchon and Marco’s stage offering for this week, wrings to the Indiana footlights the color, gaiety and romantic splendor of old Vienna. Several of showdom’s foremost classic and comedy artists, including Duci de Karekjarto, the Gaudsmith Brothers, Rena and Rathbum, Emma Woodland and Roy Smoot and the Garla Torney Dancers arc featured among the entertainers. • Charlie Davis, returning from his week’s appearance at the Circle, offers a program of band novelties. Joe Broderick’s Christmas kiddie revue titled “Santa Frolic” is also a feature of the Indiana’s pre-Christ-mas show. This revue includes 400 of the most talented children from the Publix dancing schobl. a RADIO CHARACTER IS NOW ON SCREEN Seth Parker, one of the outstanding radio characters of the day, makes his appearance on the talking screen for the first time in "Way Back Home,” which opened a week’s engagement at the Circle theater Friday. RKO-Radio Pictures Corporation has surrounded Seth Parker with the leading characters of his original National Broadcasting Company troupe of Jonesport neighbors as well as a supporting group of film players. The film is an elaboration of the star’s weekly broadcasts humanizing the Maine farmer folk. Real people activate the story, but above all rise the personality of Seth Parker, playing a modernized Moses, who is forever getting his fellow villagers out of trouble. As in the regular Sunday evening broadcasts, Seth Parker is enacted on the screen by Phillips Lord, who recently appeared in this city in person. Other members of the noted radio cast are Sophia Lord as Lizzie, Effle Palmer as Ma Parker, Raymond Hunter as Captain Bang, and and Bennett Kilpack as Cephus. The Circle is also offering Dessa Byrd at the organ, playing anew solo entitled “Red Letter Days.” Karl Dane and George K. Arthur head the short film program in “Shove Off.” A Bimbo cartoon is alos shown. tt ti tt COLBERT IS STAR AT OHIO. # Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper are teamed on the screen for the first time in the new Paramount picture entitled “His Woman,” which opened yesterday for a week’s engagement at the Ohio. Their co-starring film vehicle Is an adaptation of the Dale Collins novel named “The Sentimentalist,” In “His Woman” Miss Colbert portrays a young woman of questionable character. A cast of players were enlisted from the New Isprk stage to support Miss Colbert and Cooper. Edward Sloman is credited with the direction of “His Woman.” A comedy and cartoon, Clark and McCullough in “A Melon Drama,” and. “The Wiener Roast.” are highlights of the Ohio’s added attraction program. Will Open on Big Night “Strictly Dishonorable” which has completed its two-dollar run at the Criterion Theater in New York, will be seen generally in its first runs throughout the United States on New Year’s Eve. Back on the Coast Having discovered and recommended the purchase of “The Left Bank,” Elmer Rice’s current stage success in New York, John Stahl arrived back in Universal City early this week.
Here Tonight
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Duke Ellington There is going to be some hot dance music tonight, starting at 9 o’clock, when Duke Ellington and his Jungle orchestra starts the dance tempo. He played last night for a dance at the University of Illinois at Champaign. His program tonight has that want-to-dance idea back of it at the Indiana ballroom on the Roof.
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I—Emma Woodland and Roy Smoot provide harmonious Interludes in the Fanchon and Marco unit now at the Indiana. Z —Fannie Brice is one of the famous people in “Crazy Quilt,” due at English’s, Jan. 4-5.
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1— Warner Baxter as he appears in action in “Surrender,” a different kind of a war story, now at the Apollo. 2 Ramon Novarro has the lead in the newly synchronized version of “Ben Hur,” opening today at the Palace. 3 Seth Parker in a scene from “W T ay Back Home,” which is now the featured offering on the Circle screen.
Club Will Give Big New Revue Princeton Players Will Give ‘Spanish Blades at Murat. The scenic effects for the Princetor. Triangle Club’s production, ‘'Spanish Blades,” to be presented in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Murat theater, have been designed by C. E. Brush '33 and M. M. Orr ’33. Bert Brush is the son of Mrs. C. E. Brush of Nashville, Tenn., and is a member of the Cap and Gown Club. Mounty Orr is the son of Mr. Arthur Orr of St. Charles, 111., and is a member of the Quadrangle Club. Both of these boys have made an intensive study of the Spanish architecture of the seventeenth century. Asa result the sets are not only unique and beautiful, but also technically correct. Too much credit can not be given to the stage department which is under the direction and able management of H. P. Daw r son ’32, the son of Mrs. H. P. Dawson of Beaver Falls, Pa. Dawson besides being stage manager of the Triangle Club is also president of the Elm Club. He is captain of the university track team and holds the college record for the mile. The entire construction of the scenery and all the technical methods involved are the work of this department. This year the scenery is constructed not only on the most modem methods, but also more solidly than previously. The latter phase is of the utmost importance as this rugged construction will enable the scenery to retain its original beauty throughout the trip. The scenery consists of two main sets—one for each act. The scene for the first act is a reproduction of the courtyard of a seventeenth century Spanish Inn. The scene for the second act is the “Commons Room” inside the Inn.
Lyric Ballroom
The last series of eliminations of the City-Wide Free Style Dance contest which Erroll Mushrush, manager of the Lyric ballroom, started last week will be held in his ballroom on Tuesday night of the coming week. The finals have been planned for Thursday night, Dec. 24, at which time the •winners of the various eliminations will compete for the gold medals which Mushrush has secured with the engraved title of Mr. and Mrs. Indianapolis. Shortly after the first of the year the winning couple will compete in Louisville and Cincinnati against the best dancers of these cities for titles and prizes. A series of holiday dance parties are being conducted in the ballroom this week. The special Christmas dance event will be held on Friday night, Dec. 25, at which time dancers will receive their remembrances from the Lyric Ballroom. Walt Wagner and his Collegians continue as the chief music-makers in the Lyric Ballroom.
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
ROUNDING ROUND npTTT7 A TI7D Q With WALTER 1 1111/rV 1 H/XVO and. HICKMAN
REBOUND” is announced by Charles Berkell as the play in which his dramatic stock company, the Berkell Players, will open at Keith’s theater Monday night, Dec. 28. A smart comedy of modern life, “Rebound” was a big hit in New York. In the cast will be Margaret Williams, a young leading woman who has had a notable career in stock as well as on Broadway; William T. Maloney, widely known character actor; Rose Philliber and Margaret O’Brien, all new to Indianapolis theatergoers, as well as others.
Former members of Berkell’s company during the seven summer seasons throughout which it held forth at English’s who will have important roles, are Bob Fay, James Leßoy and Beatrice Lieblee. Fay first joined the Berkell Players at English’s in 1924, and subsequently was with the company each season until 1928. Leßoy was a member of the company during the summer of 1922. Miss Lieblee became a member of the company here in 1928, but, because of illness, was forced to retire, after but a few w r eeks. Miss Lieblee has since appeared with various dramatic stock companies in Pacific coast cities, and also played in several talking picture productions. Rehearsals of “Rebound” will get under way Monday morning at which time all the members of the company will have arrived in Indianapolis. The seat sale will also open at, the theater box office Monday. •a a a Even if things in the world of amusements are not as flourishing as in former years, both legitimate and movie stars are remembering me the Christmas with as elaborate Christmas cards as ever. The greetings are coming from all over this country as well as several from Germany. And that makes me happy. a a a Indianapolis at the present time is included in the tour of Miss Maude Adams and Otis Skinner in “The Merchant of Venice.” It is said that they have not played to a vacant seat since the tour started.
‘Delicious’
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Janet Gaynor The Apollo theater management announces that Janet Gaynor will open Dec. 25, Christmas day, in “delicious,” her new movie.
3 Children from the Louis Stockman instructed classes at the Lyric ballroom open today in a “Kiddie Revue” at the Lyric theater. 4 Marion Sunshine, well known on the variety stage, tops the new bill opening today at the Lyric.
4 Clive Brook in a scene from “Husband’s Holiday,” now at the Indiana. 5 Lew Ayres as he appears In “Heaven on Earth,” which opens today at the Lyric. 6 Claudette Colbert has the lead in "His Woman,” now showing at the Ohio.
The date has not been announced at English’s. tt tt tt The holiday bill at the Civic Theater opening the night after Christmas is to be Philip Barry’s “In a Garden.” This play was produced in New York a few years ago by Arthur Hopkins with Laurette Taylor as the headliner. It is the story of the young and lovely wife of a successful playwright, who is made the subject of a dramatical laborator experiment conducted to prove the accuracy of a plot theme. The dramatist, because of his long BUce of seeing people in terms of dramatic qualities, has become accustomed to think of all life as planned to a particular pattern to which in-
BIG SHOW WILL COME Fannie Brice, Phil Baker and Ted Healy in Billy Rose’s “Crazy Quilt” Booked at The English. To the Theatergoers of Indianapolis and Vicinity: I have signed contracts for the appearance of FANNIE BRICE, PHIL BAKER and TED HEALY in Billy Rose’s CRAZY QUILT at the English Theater on Monday and Tuesday Nights and Tuesday Matinee, January 4 and 5. In response to my recent Open Letter to the Amusement Lovers of this section, as to whether an engagement would be supported in such a manner as to warrant a Large Money Guaranty to the company on my part, I received a veritable deluge of favorable replies. Seemingly the entire population of Central Indiana wish to see this remarkable attraction. My problem now appears to be, how to accommodate all those who wish to purchase tickets. To avoid disappointment I urge those who wish to purchase tickets for CRAZY QUILT to send their MAIL ORDERS immediately. Mail Orders, accompanied by remittance in full and self-addressed, stamped envelope will be filled in rotation. NIGHT PRICES, $1 to S3; MATINEE, SI to $2.50. Sincerely yours, VINCENT BURKE. Manager, ENGLISH THEATRE.
MURAT THEATER ONE NITE ONLY—TUES., DEC. 29 TRIANGLE /\ CLUB PRINCETON / \ UNIVERSITY Founded by Booth Tarkington OFFERS A ROMANTIC MUSICAL COMEDY SPANISH BLADES WITH A CAST OF 45 PRINCETON STUDENTS MAIL { ORCH., 53.00 —52.50—52.00. /-\ n Tim?C BALC., 2.00—51.50—51.00 UrvULKO !| UPPER BOX SEATS, $3.00 NOW LOWER BOXES, EACH, $25.00. BOX OFFICE OPENS DEC. 23rd
dividuals will react in a way which can be predetermined. This habit of measuring and weighing people and events carries over into his domestic life and is irksome to his wife, who sees more joy in living and lettirg things just happen. The unseeing husband precipitates a crisis when, after discussion with a friend as to whether a romantic interlude can be repeated without losing its charm and appeal, he conducts an experiment to prove his point. He learns that there was once a sentimental attachment between his wife and a man who is a visitor in their home growing out of a meeting in a moonlit garden. Confident in his wife’s love and in his idea that romance will not repeat, he reproduces the garden scene in which they first met and brings them together in it This is done by the use of stage scenery which he has erected in the drawing-room of his house and which is theatrically lighted to create the moonlit mystery of the original scene. While the artificiality of the stage set is always apparent to the theater audience, it is real enough to the girl to revive halfforgotten memories when she meets the former admirer in this setting. There is a charming scene between the two which begins in gay make belief, proceeds almost to the point of unreality and comes suddenly back to earth with consequences not anticipated bv the experimenter. “In a Garden” has but two women in the cast. The Laurette Taylor part is to be taken by Janet Rosenthal, a promising young Indianapolis actress not previously seen at the Playhouse. The play will be on view from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2 at the Playhouse, Nineteenth and Alabama streets.
AMUSEMENTS
Fannie Brice, Phil Baker and Ted Healy Will Be January Visitors to English's for a Two-Day Engagement in Billy Rose’s ‘Crazy Quilt.’ MARION SUNSHINE, a name well known on the vaudeville stage, will headline the Christmas holiday bill opening today at the Lyric. In addition, a large number of Indianapolis youngsters who are taking dance instructions at the Lyric on Saturday mornings, will appear in “A Kiddie Revue.” On the screen there will be Lew Ayres in “Heaven on Earth,” a Universal production. Miss Sunshine has been starred alone in many Broadway shows, and bcnldes that has written many popular songs both new and old. “Man’, You're a Little Bit Old-Fashioned” and “Baby Sister Blues” were hits of
some time ago, while her latest one, “The Peanut Vendor,” became a na-tion-wide success over night. For this reason, Marion Sunshine is billed as “The Peanut Vendor Herself/ 0 In her stage act. Miss Sunshine gives parody impersonations of Helen Kane, Maurice Chevalier, Ruth Etting, Gertrude Lawrence and Lenore Ulric. Among the other five acts on the bill is an eccentric comedy couple, Hunter and Percival, offering their brand of fun under the billing of “Wopology.” Sandy Lang and his company present what is termed “A Shaking Classic.” Murray and Allen are a pair of Twentieth century comedians, but they have their fun, so it is said, at the expense of methods of the dim and distant past. They offer a skit called “Jesters of 3,000 years ago.” Dorothea is an attractive blonde dancer. Her Yellow Jackets are four stepping boys. "Heaven on Earth.” is a filmization of Ben Lucien Burman’s novel “Mississippi.” The story is a drama of Mississippi river life, and presents the handsome young star as the supposed son of a steamboat captain. When he finally learns that his parents were really “poor” in the nearby village of “shanty-boaters,” he returns to his own people and becomes the center of an absorbingly interesting series of events, culminating in a raging flood on the father of rivers. tt tt BIG REVUE IS BOOKED AT ENGLISH’S Fannie Brice, Phil Baker and Ted Healy in Billy Rose’s “Crazy Quilt” will appear at English’s for two nights, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 4 and 5. Manager Vincent Burke has just concluded arrangements for the appearance of the attraction that has been breaking all attendance records at the Apollo, Chicago. At a time when the more or less legitimate show business is admittedly in a state of doldrums, “Crazy Quilt” descended on the Randolph Street Rialto with the definite announcement that the Windy City engagement would be restricted to four weeks. The original stay was more than doubled and the Brice-Baker-Healy aggregation bears the distinction of having rolled up an attendance record unprecedented in theatrical history.
AMUSEMENTS Ww&r iPlfpl t m Extra—Louis Stockman Presents CHRISTMAS KIDDIES’ REVUE MISS ERNESTINE EWING _____ AMnCff SANDY LANG & CO. LE VV iS ]r per In Skating Classic” ggHMrWBBBBi EMERALD sisters fTuT Tw Tfii and patty TKf; I if A \ J ilk 'I MURRAY & ALLEN j Ago” I ■#. 1 )1| i I I DOROTHEA and *7— 1 LI | | I YELLOW JACKETS As romantic as a Melody of Ixvc All Seats tilt 1 P. M. 25C ... as colorful as tho afterglow k M of sunset % BBaBHBaBHHaBaH an a aaHaa'C
Good News for Indianapolis Theatregoers! Charles Berkell Announces THE BERKELL PLAYERS Inaugurating a Season of High-Class Dramatic Stock Productions, Including the Latest Broadway Stage Hits KEITH’S THEATRE OPENING MONDAY NIGHT, DEC. 28TH In the Smart and Merry Comedy of Modern Life—- “ Rebound” —with— MARGERY WILLIAMS, EDWARD BROWN, 808 FAY, BEATRICE LIEBLEE, MILTON BYRON, WILLIAM POLLARD, JAMES LEROY, MARGARET O’BRIEN ROSE PHILLIBERi WILLIAM J. MALONEY, and OTHERS A Great Company in A Great Play! nnmrn matinees wed., thurs., sat. U|l 1 I %■ ENTIRE LOWER o r I IP %1 FLOOR RESERVED jDC U O m ENTIRE BALCONY o r " " " " RESERVED ZDC RIGHT RESERVED ... 35c.25c Seats on Sale Monday, Dec. 21, Theatre Box Office Mail Orders Accompanied by Remittance and SelfAddressed, Stamped Envelope Will Be Given Prompt Attention. MAKE SEASON RESERVATIONS NOW! Telephone Riley 7277
.DEC. 19. 1931
Roof Gets Ready for Big Week Charlie De Sautelle to Remain Here Another Week. Duke Ellington's return to Indianapolis tonight for a one night engagement in the Indiana Roof Ballroom marks the first time he has played for a dance locally. He will bring with him his entire Jungle Orchestra, just as they were featured on the Indiana theater stage. Ivie Anderson, the young person who sings the “blues.” will be on hand to give popular tunes her particular conception, while dancers sway to the primitive beat which invades all of Ellington's work. His program tonight will not be devoted to any particular type rhythm and will include many of his own compositions, including "Minnie, The Mocher,” “Black and Tan Fantasy,” “Mood Indigo,” as well as some of his newest numbers, unnamed as yet. - Ellington fans who do not dance will find additional seats provided for them in the ballroom's spacious balcony, arid will be entertained with a program of concert arrangements during the dance intermission. Dancing which usually starts on the roof at 8:30, will not start tonight until 9:00. The “good night” number will not be heard until 2:00. Charlie DeSautelle will return to the roof ballroom again Sunday evening and will remain throughout the coming week. Holiday dances are planned for Thursday and Friday evenings. Jean Harlow Gets Role Jean Harlow has been engaged for the feminine lead opposite Walter Huston in “City Sentinel," new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture now being prepared for early production. Charles Brabin will direct “City Sentinel,” which is based on an original screen story by W. R. Burnett, author of “Little Caesar” and “Iron Map.”