Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 277, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 January 1936 — Page 6

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Shakespeare Reluctantly Accepted by Playwrights; Newcomer Tops Them All Select Circle at Mermaid Tavern Shoves Extra Chair to Table After Queen Elizabeth Nods to Him for His Poem ‘Venus and Adonis.’ The taste of success was still sweet to Master Will Shakespeare as he entered the Mermaid Tavern on an alley south of Cheapside, leading off Flect-st. He was a familiar figure in the taproom, where he frequently exchanged ."-allies, with the pretty bar maids. But now he was privileged to sit with the Algonquins of the day. for whom a table was reserved that they might peaceably but loudly enough for the gaping commoners, praise their own writing and decry those of others.

There was Christopher Marlowe, brilliant young genius who, at 25, was killed in a tavern brawl. There were Ben Jonson, John Ford and the first famous team of collaborators, Beaumont and Fletcher. There were many others, famous throughout London because it was they whom Queen Elizabeth had, on rare occasions, delighted to honor. Now they were compelled to admit Will Shakespeare, whose poem, "Venus and Adonis," has just been published and which, if rumor were correct, had pleased the Queen mightily. Held Slight Respect It Is feared that Master Shakespeare had no great respect for the business abilities of his table companions, masters of the drama though they were. They could write, but they were at the mercy of theater managers, so that they often paid for their toddies with couplets. Shakespeare had other ideas. Today he may be considered the greatest. poet who ever used the English language, but that day in 1593 when he took his place at the select table in the Mermaid, he was primarily a showman. He had held horses’ heads in front of playhouses, he had been an actor and a hack writer who revamped plays for Burbage’s company. He knew the game. The road to success had been difficult, but he was going to the top, and in a few years was to gain admiration of his contemporary dramatists, probably because he was chief stockholder in the only two theaters which could produce their works. These theaters were vastly different from those of today. There were some boxes for ladies and a few scats on the stage for noblemen, but the majority of the customers paid a penny to stand in the pit. And it was for the pit that Shakespeare wrote, and not posterity, for which he cared nothing. All Roles by Men, Boys No woman ever appeared on the stage in Shakespeare’s time. All his magnificent feminine roles, his Portias, his Ophelias, his Juliets, were played by boys. Today his "Hamlet” remains the most popular play ever written. No drama ever has approached it in the number of times it has been produced. Its nearest rival is "The Merchant of Venice.” One production, however, established him not only as the leading dramatist of his day, but placed him high in the favor of Queen Elizabeth, w’ho declared it the finest compliment ever paid her. This was "A Midsummer Night's Dream,” his most popular comedy, full of robust humor, fantasy and romance. Year after year, great stars of the stage have brought us this and other plays, but not until the production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which opens at Keith’s tomorrow, has Shakespeare been introduced to the screen. And Shakespeare, the master craftsman of entertainment, surely would applaud this undertaking which realy brings his work to the masses. Mrs. Brown Speaks Yesterday noon Mrs. Demarchus Brown, well-known lecturer, talked before a large audience in Keith’s Theater on the subject of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” “It Is plain to see,” Mrs. Brown said, "that Shakespeare wrote this play while living in the beautiful Stratford country It is so full of poetic imagery and the author’s lovely philosophy which he made understandable to the farmers who stood in the pit to see his shows.” The play was written in Shakespeare’s "golden moment of youthful success.” Mrs. Brown said, and contained all the boyish exuberance with which his mind and heart were filled at that particular period of his life. "Here is a challenge to those who have demanded better pictures." she said. “With the genius of Shakespeare brought to the screen through the work of Max Reinhardt, who also is a genius in another medium, and then combined with the genius of Mendelssohn’s music, the picture promises to be a presentation of the classic that has not. been equalled in any other generation or production.” Mrs. Brown was introduced by Paul C. Stetson, superintendent of city schools. About 800 persons, including educational, civic and social leaders, attended the lecture. Mrs Will C. Hitz spoke in behalf of the White Cross Music Guild, sponsod of the opening night. Called for Film Work Georgia Caine, stage and screen character woman, was called to .Hollywood from New York to appear In "One Rainy Afternoon.”! starring Francis Lederer. Miss Caine: just had closed in Damon Runyon’s “A Slight Case of Murder” on Broadway. She is to be seen as Ida Lupino’s companion in "One Rainy Afternoon.” Models With Clay Clay-modeling is the newest hobby of Francis Lederer. the star of "One Rainy Afternoon.” Mr. Ledq#er is preparing to take up sculpturing as he longs to hammer things out of stone. He already makes recognizable likenesses of friends. Time Is “Master Dramatist” That the clock holds the secret of every comedy and tragedy in life is a favorite bit of the philosophy of the drama, as seen by Jesse L. Lasky, motion picture executive. Hence, considers time to be the master dramatist. Nothing figures more importantly in the making of motion pictures than time. i

Kappel to Sing Role of Isolde Wagner Work to Be Given in Cincinnati. Gertrude Kappel, who with Kirsten Flagstad has been hailed as the greatest of present day Isoldes, is to sing the role in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's production of Wagner’s "Tristan und Isolde” in the Cincinnati Music Hall Friday and Saturday nights. Other distinguished Wagnerian singers are to complete the cast for the famous love opera, generally considered the composer's greatest music drama. Paul Althouse is to sing Tristan, Kathryn Meisle will be the Brangaene. Chase Baromeo is to be heard as King Mark, and Fred Patton as Ktirwenal. Set in Arthur’s Time The familiar story has as its setting the Britain or Arthurian times. Isolde, princess of Ireland, is being conducted by Tristan to his master. King Mark of Cornwall, whom she is to wed. Isolde already.? loves Tristan, and as the coast of Cornwall is reached, challenges him to drink a poison draught with her. But Brangaene, Isolde's maid, changes the drink, and it is a love potion of which they partake. As the first act ends there comes, instead of death, the awakening of deathless love and immediate parting. Most of the second act is taken up by the "Night of Love” scene. The music is an ecstatic outpouring of love, in which TriTtan and Isolde dream that they have left life and are together forever. But they are betrayed by Melot, who rushes in, followed by King Mark. Melot gives Tristan a fatal wound, while the king mourns his friend’s treachery. In Act 3, Tristan, dying, awaits the coming of Isolde. As he sees her ship approaching, he tears open his wound in his delirious joy at her approach. Isolde enters, and Tristan sinks dead in her arms. Isolde looks upon her lover, sees not his lifeless body, but beholds his eyes widely open, “ever mightier, starillumined. raise himself on high.” And she sinks dead to thj earth.

And What Wouid Your Wife Say If Jean Harlow Phoned to You? Mr. Charles Gerofsky (Trenton 4397) Knows, Because That Movie Actress Called Him While ‘Mrs.’ Was Home—lt Came Out All Right. 11 y United Press TRENTON, N. J., Jan. 28.—Charles Gerofsky just had settled comfortably in his Morris chair with the evening paper when the telephone rang. Mrs. Gerofsky was stirring up biscuits in the kitchen, so Mr. Gerofsky groaned and said “hello,” very ungraciously, into the phone. “Imagine how I felt,” he said re-1

gretfully later to Joe Duggan, his 14-year-old chore boy, “when the operator says 'We are ready with Miss Jean Harlow now, go ahead!’” How Mr. Gerofsky felt was so audible that Mrs. Gerofsky dropped her pan of biscuits and hurried from the kitchen to her spouse, who was emitting sounds mingling extreme astonishment and polite delight at the honor of receiving a telephone call from the movie actress in Hollywood. Then Delight Fades Astonishment crowded out delight in Mr. Gerofsky s voice almost immediately as he gathered from the other end of the wire, where voices of Miss Harlow and an operator mingled, that Miss Harlow had not telephoned him—that he had telephoned her. “No. I aid not call Jean Harlow. . . . Yes, this is Trenton 4397. . , . No . . Yes. I talked a few words with Miss Har’ow. . . . No. I didn't call her. ... No ... I don't even know Miss Harlow ... No ... No . . . No!” Perspiring heavily, Mr Gerofsky cradled the telephone and went into conference with Mrs. Gerofsky. They cast finally upon the idea that Joe Duggan might know something. They called Joe. Joe Duggan lives with his mother and attends school, but does odd jobs, such as stoking the Gerofsky’s furnace, for pocket money. But neither Mrs. Duggan's income nor Joe's earnings provide a telephone in their home. But She's Not In So when Joe let himself into the Gerofsky house with his pass key while they were away he stopped after coaling the furnace to admire the telephone. Telephones always had fascinated Joe and he thought, as he stood there, of all the people he’d like to call. The movement of his hand to the instrument then almost was involuntary. He told the operator he wanted to talk to Jean Harlow in Hollywood. Swiftly, magically. Miss Harlow's distant secretary told Joe. regretfully, that she was not available immediately. Could she give Miss Harlow a message? Sure, said Joe. have her call Trenton 4397. It all came out slowly, with Mr. and Mr*. Gerofsky ejaculating reproaches and Joe giving strict attention to the toe of his left shoe. Joe said he was awfully sorry and Mr. Gerofsky said he was, too, because the bill was $20.50. They settled it with an agreement that Joe is to shovel coal and ashes IC weeks without pay.

Remember When . . . ? Now Dick Poweli Is Doing Shakespeare

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WHERE, WHAT, WHEN APOLLO “The Widow From Monte Carlo.” with Dolores Del Rio and Warren William, at 11 06. 12:55, 2:44. 4:33, 6:22, 8:11 and 10:00. CIRCLE "Fane and Claw,” with Frank Buck, at 11. 1:50. 4:40. 7:30 and 10:20. Also, "Another Face.” with Brian Donlevy and Phvllis Brooks, at 12:40. 3:30 6:20 and 9:10. INDIANA "Captain Blood," with Errol Flvnn. Olivia De Havilland and Basil Rathhone. at 11:42. 2:10. 4:40. 7:10 and 9:40. LOEWS "Strike Me Pink,” with Eddie Cantor. Parkyakarkas Sallv Eilers and Ethel Merman, at 11:28. 1:35. 3:42. 5:49. 7:56 and 10:03. LYRIC "Charlie Chan's Secret.” with Warner Oland. on the screen at 11:26. 2:14. 5:02. 7:50 and 10:29. On stage, one hour of vaudeville, at 1:05. 3:53. 6:41 and 9:29. OHIO ‘Shipmates Forever." with Dtck Powell and Ruby Keeler, at 12:03. 3:13. 6:23. and 9:33. Also "Personal Maid's Secret” with Ruth Donnelly. Warren Hull, at 11:04, 2:14, 5 24 and 8:34.

Signed to Assist in Dances Mary Meyer, considered one of the most promising young dancers in Amercia. has been signed to assist Agnes de Mille in directing the dances for Irving G. Thalberg's “Romeo and Juliet.” Miss Meyer has been dancing with Lester Horton in Los Angeles for the past year. Lederer Occupies Pulpit Times Special HOLLYWOOD. Jan. 28—Francis Lederer occupied the pulpit of the First Unitarian Church, Los Angeles. recently. He was chief speaker at a service in honor of Thomas Masaryk. former president of Czecroslovakia, his native land. Music of Czechoslovakia was featured on the program. Wears Hats Smartly William Powell was voted America’s smartest hat wearer by 900 retail merchants assembled at the Men’s Hat Trade and Allied Industries in New York.

I*TonightrWed^n7Frri LADIES’ NIGHTS ■ LC Service Charge 4 5c BJ (Including Checking) IvN Gentlemen 25c Before 9 H WHS U *■. anil H 4 Band || ! IlfJ^ LAST day: Dick Powell Ruby Keeler "SHIPMATES.FOREVER” Pin* —"Pernl Maid'* Secret.”

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Who among us who used to listen to Dick Powell croon at the Indiana Theater with Charlie Davis’ band would have thought we would see him playing Siakespearean roles? But here he is (above! in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with Olivia De Haviland, the road show picture to open tomorrow night at Keith’s Theater for a week’s engagement.

Recital Outlined for 8:15 Friday Schellschmidt’s Students to Show Skill. Students of the ensemble classes of Adolph Schellschmidt at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music are to present a recital of chamber music at 8:15 Friday in Odeon Hall. The following program is to be heard: -i Quartet. Op. 33. No. 3 Haydn Allegro Moderate Scherzo Adagio Finale—Presto Dorothy Woods. Martha Rucker, violins: Mildred Phillips, viola: Betty Schellschmidt. violoncello, II Quartet. On. 18. No. 1 Beethoven Allegro con brio Adagio Scherzo Allegro Martha Rucker Dorothv Woods, violins: Mildred Phillips, viola: Lois McCain, violoncello. 111 Quintet. Op. 163 Schubert Allegro ma non troppo Allegretto Martha Rucker. Dorothv Woods, violins; •Stanley Norris, viola: •Earle Howe Jones. Lois McCain, violoncelli. •Mr. Norris and Mr. Jones are members of the Conservatory faculty. Wears Pink Beret Hollywood’s sun is shining on Frank Morgan's pink beret. The actor, partial to berets, took cognizance of the European fashion for color and got himself a bright pink one. But he wouldn't go all the way in the European fashion—he deleted the tassel. Wears “Good Luck” Pants Once again in “Silly Billies,” Robert Woolsey wears a pair of checkered trousers that he has worn in every one of his pictures. He believes they bring him good luck.

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Miss Cornell Picks Detroit ‘Saint Joan’ to Open There Before Taking Road. Detroit is to see Katharine Cornell’s first performance Feb. 12, as the heroine of Bernard Shaw’s “Saint Joan,” it was announced today. Following the opening, she is to appear in Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh before taking the play to New York. There is a sentimental reason for Miss Cornell's choice of Detroit for the "Saint Joan” premiere, as was the case on her opening of “Romeo and Juliet” in Buffalo in Novevber, 1934. It was in these two cities she gained much of her early theatrical experience as a member of the

I OH, MAMA! PAPA'S COME BACK FROM, NEW YORK, JUST so\ WE CAN AU SEE , ANYTHING GOES I at the INDIANA { —\ FRIDAY! "J iplpg IKIO MW LAST 3 DAYS “\\> have only word* <1 ■ prai*e for *C apt a i jpgSt .K Rloodt' Grand and Glori tj on* entertainment I - ’- Corbin Tatrirk, Star. Starring' ERROL OLIVIA Dc HAVILLAND Gjjm/ CUT IfIHEE . IOSS ILEIMOEI m : j entertainment!** —Time* ii “ANOTHER FACE” Os | With Wallace Ford <t jpPj

Jessie Bonstelle stock companies, of which her husbnad, Guthrie McClintic, then was assistant director. Once before Miss Cornell made a first appearance in anew role in Detroit when, 11 years ago, she acted Iris March in Michael Aden's “The Green Hat,” the play that made her a star. Arthur Byron, Brian Aherne, Maurice Evans, Charles Waldron, Eduardo Ciannelli, George Couloris and. Kent Smith head a large cast to be seen in “Saint Joan.” Mr. Ciannelli at present is appearing in Guthrie McClintic’s production of Maxwell Anderson's “Winterset” in New York.

JAPCLIC] H UJIDOUJ 5 m CARLO WARRENWIILIAM

WEST SIDE Sm trr p 2*02 W. lftth St. I. A 1 Ej Helen Broderick “TO BEAT THE BAND” Comedy—Novelty npx if/\\TfP W. Wash. ft Belmont BELMONT Douhie Ffit,ire 1 1 Will Rogers “STEAMBOAT ’ROUND THE BEND” “I FOUND STELLA PARISH” D< tn it 2510 W. Mich. St. A \ Y Doable Feature * 1 4 Kav Francis •THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER” "LADIES CRAVE EXCITEMENT” NORTH SIDE RI rw\ rw Illinois at 51th I /. Double Feature * * *** Dick Powell ‘‘THANKS A MILLION” “SPLENDOR” UPTO WN Iloubl* Feature* _ v -' x AWTTii George Arliss “TRANSATLANTIC TUNNEL" • NAVY WIFE" /a a prt IPI/ 30th and Illinois IIARKiLK. Double Feature Utimviuiv Wallace Beery “O'SHAUGHNESSY’S BOY” “THE RAINMAKERS” nm /-ii 4 m St. Clair & Ft. Wayne SI. LI /AIR Double Feature kJl ‘ Dick Powell “THANKS A MILLION” “RJD SALUTE” ji py 30th at Northwestern Kr.\ Double Feature Dick Foran “MOONLIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE” The Sinjrer Midgets. "WEE MEN" rn ii n/\ r P r P Talbot ft 22nd 1 ALBO 1 1 Double Feature X I IGUCI x i Margaret Lindsay “PERSONAL MAID’S SECRET” “THEJ.AST DAYS OF POMPEII” Cla aC j Itth * College Stratford nu “TOGETHER WE LIVE" “RIDER OF THE LAW" Mp pi /i 1 Noble ft Mass, r. Ia Ii A Double Feature X-r Rgis Toomey “BARS OF HATE" “SMOKEY SMITH” r\fi p a ma 2361 Station St. DREAM Double Feature * Lawrence Tibbett •METROPOLITAN” “WHAT PRICE CRIME” j EAST SIDE RI tr /\ a 1 Dearborn at 10th | V () L 1 Double Feature 1 ’ U Richard Dig “TRANSATLANTIC TUNNEL” “GRAND EXIT”

Indianapolis'Own Sisters, the DeVores, Hit Big Time BY JOHN W. THOMPSON Regular Indianapolis radio listeners probably recall the DeVore sisters. whose three some harmony was broadcast by WKEF and WIRE ur.til six months ago. The little girls from Indianapolis have made good. They now are heard in 13 programs weekly over WLW and the Mutual Broadcasting System. Tonight at 7:15 you can hear them in the "We Bring You Loveliness" broadcast of WLW. They are to sing, among other songs. “I Wish I Were Aladdin.” "Why Dream" and "Fatal Fascination.

Before thus writer turned to journalism. he once was a WIRE "crooner.” In those days it was a treat to watch the DeVores do their stuff. Even the writer appeared as "guest artist" on one of their programs. The three. Billy. Ruth and Marjorie, really are sisters, and have been singing since early childhood. All were graduated from Shortridge. Mother Started Them Their mother. Mrs. Nancy DeVore. 3735 Salem-st, the rod and rule of their mudeal education, told us once that she noticed, when the girls were babies, that their riocturnal wailing strangely was harmonious. She decided then and there they should capitalize on it. They have. Os course, one couldn't call it wailing, exactly. It’s closely comparable to the Boswellian song style. The girls were diligent students. Singing became their avocation and hobby, a means of entertaining themselves at home, at church and at parties. They sang at Epworth League meetings in city churches. In 1932 they were given an audition by a local station, then WKBF. The audition “took.” For two years they went on the air as a studio trio, willing to sing for the novelty of broadcasting. "Lies” was their identifying theme song. Popularity Increased Their prestige increased when they became vocalists with Connie's orchestra, and soon they were appearing with him at dances and on the stages of Indiana and Circle theaters. Later they were billed for a week’s performance at the Lyric and appeared in the floor show at the Showboat. Ruth was the first to go on a commercial program, as soloist with Harry Bason. It was not long until the three were performing on several trade programs, tea-time and studio broadcasts. Last year when the station changed call letters to WIRE and affiliated with National Broadcasting Cos., the girls were featured on the dedicatory program. When the DeVores appear before the “mike,” they stand around the piano, played by Marjorie. She is a brunet, and more or less runs the trio. On the left stands Ruth, tall, blond, with blue eyes. On the right is Billie, short, with red hair. She does all the "hot” choruses in the DeVore arrangements. Made Good at WLW The DeVores, like thousands of other radio personages, decided to attempt an audition at WLW as their first step toward "big time” radio. The audition was granted, and 27 minutes after they started to sing the first of their five audition songs they had signed a contract to begin work the next Monday morning. “The programs we are presenting,” Marjorie wrote yesterday, “are varied in make-up. They are divided into five different styles of singing. Some are purely popular music, others semi-classical.” “We answer all our fan mail,” she continued, “on Sunday. That’s the only day we have for relaxation. Other days we are too busy even to have any fun.”

n] LAST 3 DAYS * 25c TO 2 FEATURES—FRIDAY ROBERT DONAT in Comedy, ‘‘Ghost Goes West” Plus—“One Way Ticket”

EAST SIDE TT TV I?Uk/“t 4020 E - New York 1 UXMHJ nub ' Jack Benny “IT’S IN THE AIR" “BARBARY COAST” TACOMA Double Feature ror- „„„ . Burns and Allen THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1036” •_ THE VIRGINIA JUDGE" IRVING Double Feature “ritan/nra FOR^'oTe*” o '' tHARLIE CIIAN IN SHANGHAI" EMERSON Double Feature" . „ Marion Davies “PAGE MISS GLORY” “ANNIE OAKLEY” HAMILTON Double Feature Mariam Hopkins “BARBARY COAST” "IN PERSON” PARKER R 55.2- __. Hugh Herbert “TO BEAT THE BAND” “THE BISHOP MISBEHAVES" STRAN D ,3 V ble Dick Powell “THANKS A MILLION” “IT’S IN THE AIR” RAY V 2:21 E. WaihTst. _ U A I Dni'ble F ' a,ur ' William Powell “RENDEZVOUS" "THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER” Paramount Maureen O’Sullivan “THE BISHOP MISBEHAVES” Silly Symphony—Comedv SOUTH SIDE FOUNTAIN SQUARE Dqpble Feature Marx Bros. "A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” "FUGITIVE ’ ’ SANDERS Euward Arnold "DIAMOND JIM” _ “MARK OF THE VAMPIRE” AVA L O N Norman Foster “THE BISHOP MISBEHAVES” "PUBI *C MENACE” ORIENT A u ***&&&? Btr | “AFFAIR OF SUSAN” _ * TkTMT'I n 2203 Shelby St. (jAKrIKLIJ Double Featuro VJCX.XXX IL/t/LT Dick Powe „ “SHIPMATES FOREVER" “WANDERER OF THE WASTELAND"

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*■ W i itn*" itJr MT DEHAVILLAND b| jy BROWN ’ ? HbR* mm And 10 other stars in iJfiß caßt of 1,000 to *do ffiUK justice to the majesty IJjB of ■A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S | DREAM' I A MAX REINHARDT ■ Production protected by I WARNER BROS. 1 Premiere I Auspices of ' WHITE CROSS I MUSIC GUILD TOMORROW 8:30 B. F. KEITH'S THEATRE 900 Good Seats 55c to sl.lO A Few at sl.6s—Phone LI. 9000 Reserve Your Seats Now!