Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 June 1936 — Page 21
“Stage Success for Comedian.
BY JOHN W. THOMPSON Today is “Poppy” day at the Circle Theater. Whether you're a veteran theater-goer or not, you can
drop in and get a bonus of cheering |
comedy from W. C. Fields during the coming week.
“Poppy” was Mr. Fields’ first stage triumph. He liked it better than anything he’s done and had - long wanted to do it in a talkie, Although it isn’t quite up to many of the Fieldian epics it is still full of life and should furnish one with a pocketful of. haw-haws. Starring also Rochelle Hudson, Lynne Overman, Richard Cromwell and Catherine Doucet, “Poppy” is the story of a roving patent medi-
| Problem to
Movie Star|
Film Famots Fear Public.
Recognition on Holidays.
BY RUTH McTAMMANY Times Ho Correspondent : HOLLYWOOD, June 19. — The average man or woman can plan a summer vacation of two fo four
weeks with some assurance that |
they are going to get a rest or
J have a pleasant change. But fame |: exacts a heavy toll in such matters, |
cine man, Prof. Eustace McGargle,,
ho hooks into any carnival he can d. : Finds Ward at Circus
His ward, 18-year-old Poppy, has been his constant partner since he found her at a circus when she was 3. She thinks he is her father and the professor doésn’t have the heart to tell .her the truth. Arriving at a small Midwestern town, McGargle sets up shop at a carnival. His medicine sells well. But he is attracted by the rumor that there is a large fortune float - ing around loose. He finds that the Countess Maggi Tubbs De Puizzi, who falls for the professor, is heiress to millions unless a lost daughter of some-one-or-other shows up. McGargle presents Poppy as the lost daughter by forging a marriage certificate. The fortune is handed over.
Fake Becomes Truth
Meanwhile: Poppy has fallen in - Jove with Billy Farnsworth, the mayor’s son, and has promised to marry him. The happiness doesn’t last, however. A eorooked lawyer shows that the marriage certificate is a fake and Poppy, broken-hearted, is ready to go back to carnival life. Then by a strange quirk of fate, it is discovered that Poppy really is the missing heiress. Poppy invites McGargle to stay with her and her husband, but the road calls and the professor moves on. “One bit of advice before I go,” says he. “Never give a sucker an even chance.” “Poppy,” as most any good comedy plot would, gives Mr. Fields free rein for his particular brand of hokum. He plays a solo on a cigar box cello and one on an antiquated zibher. His other cavortings are about the, same as usual. You may have seen . him do his croquet game stunt on the stage. nier there than in the movie. Song Probable Hit
Miss Hudson is much more convincing as a juvenile heroine than the hero, Mr. Cromwell, who gives the impression that he is about to break into tears at any moment. Mr. Overman is excellent as the hick lawyer who dupes the professor out of his fortune, and unmeaningly dupes him right back into it again, Miss Doucet does a fine piece of humorous acting as the countess, who was Maggy Tubbs before taking the count. : One song in the film, “I'll Have a Rendezvous With a Dream,” should become a hit. If it’s whole-hearted slapstick fun _ that you like in your movies “Poppy” will give you just that.
- WHERE, WHAT, WHEN APOLLO
: Tow of Man,” with Jean Hersholt at ti 1:42, 3:42, 5:43, 7:42 and = 9:
CIRCLE “poppy” with W. C. Fields &35 “Rochelle Hudson, 1:45, 43 7.25 and 10:15. Also “Paim with Frances Langford and Sir Standing, at 12:35, 3:20, 6:10 LOEW'S . oon e,” British oof BG to Hoty. of ‘10 SAC ‘And So las, Mary Astor and Jackie Moran, ag 11: 23 2: 129, 5:35 and 3:40.
KEITH'S nea Jaks pr JBoyeicauips
| oy Soe paral Bye le le rt 1s Brest LYRIC
Ben Yost's yarsiety Ei Dts jaE eit 1:18, 3 ig 8:47 Sub id, with’ Ed-
Produ:
We: believe it was fui- |
The bulbous-nosed . comedian, W. C. Fields, whose latest picture, “Poppy,” opened today dt the Circle theater, was reported to have been clowning in his oxygen tent at a Hollywood sanatorium yesterday. ‘Mr. Fields has been
confined to the tent since an attack of pneumonia put him back in the hospital. He had been ill for eight ‘months - prior ‘to’ the Alming of “Poppy.”
Junior Section Sings gs Tonight =
Program to 0 Close Season of Matinee Group.
The season’s closing recital by the Matinee Musicale Junior Section is to be presented at 8:15 tonight in the Washington ballroom. High school section members will act as hostesses, and a party is to follow the coricert. Voice—
bell uy Hooker and Chorus a German pinn Meine Liebe Jochter .
and motion picture stars have a real problem when they find they can get away from the studio for a few weeks. Jeanette: MacDonald wanted a change; she wanted to go places. “But what can I do?” she asked. “I read an advertisemient not long ago which sounded interesting. A man in California has a yacht and he solicits a small group of 'people to make the boat their home for a slow cruise to Alaska and back. That is just what I need. 1 could
rest during the day and occasion- ;
ally go ashore at some port and dance. But can I go? If I went alone and happened to be seen ashore with any one man it would be called a summer romance. If I got up a group of friends and was seen walking the deck or dining evenings with an unattached mem-
ber of my party, there would bel
news of a coming marriage. No— I'll stay at home, play tennis and rest. It’s the only way out.” C Aubrey Smith, veteran player who has three weeks more work in “Garden of Allah,” knows what he is going to do with his two weeks’ vacation. “I am going to take a train to British Columbia,” he said. “It is cool there . . . it is restful and I have some old friends to see in Vancouver. Of course, two weeks isn’t a long rest for a young chap in his 70’s but that is all I am going to get and I'll make the most of it.” Fears Europe’s Studios arner Baxter wanted to go to Europe,- but was afraid the trip would ‘be a round of parties and “that’s Baxter, the American movie celebrity.” Myrna Loy disagreed with him. Why, Warner, you should go to Europe. I went last year and had a delightful time.” “Doing what?” asked Baxter.
“Anything and everything I want-|
ed to do. I saw Paris and, they didn’t know I was there.” “What about England?” “Well, of course, England was different. I was entertained some and of course I wanted to see the British studios.” : “Studios—that settles ‘it. No, I think I'll go to Alaska and fish. A fellow has a chance out in a little
Song boat and only a seaman with him.”
‘Marlene Dietrich hopes to get to
he | Germany ‘but a stage invitation and 4 her: picture schedule keeps her in a.
Tdilemma.
fis Frederickson i nce by Jo en Burroughs Engen Who' 11 Buy My Lavendar”. .
; German Betty Jeane Whitehead and Chorus Plano‘ Tarantella." op. 85, Two ...Heller Doris Becker Piano—‘‘Serenade’ Charlotte Switzer Duet—'‘Viennese Waltz ’ Carolyn Wilson, Norma Rexroth Reading—' ‘The D Le:
Alma Je Piano—'‘Sonata, = Op. 49, Three
B:iethoven Elizabeth Jean Peet Piano—‘"‘Road Side Fire” Rodgers Marilyn Nieberger Trio—“Drums and 1
Bu Newcomb Neal Randolph
es” Rovers Huber, Roch Voice— : "The Kind Shepherd” “Tomorrow . “The Toy Balloon” Ma
Ja Piano—"A Carnival Bon John Philli Piano—"The Swiss Merry Go Around
Plot pave ker Duet—*March MIT Jo Ellen M Mccrady gH Jan Piano—Valse in E Fla Asay Plano: ‘Basket. of Flowers" ressa Carrena
"'® Mary Jane Butler.
Milligan i Millisen
Sends Home for Pioture
Working with W. C.. Fields in| “Poppy,” Maude Eburne sent home to Toronto, Canada, for a picture of
{ herself at 16 so it could be used in
the film. : Te ———————————— Rides Every Morning Louise Stuart, starlet featured in “And Sudden Death,” is one of jhe few Hollywood players to ride h
own jumping horse, “Brandy,” over the brush every morning.
New Routines Added Eighteen new “swing” dance routines are being added to “Three Cheers for Love,” featuring Eleanore Whitney and Robert Cum-
“It isn’t a real vacation without going home,” she said, “and my daughter, Maria, wants to go. I shall have to make a hurried trip.” Henry Armetta, Italian man of many characters, just went to Mex-
“At home I got a big family, at the studio I got a bigger family. I only want to sleep and eat. Get me a compartment on a train to Mexico, I go down in two days and two nights and come right back." I'll sleep all the way—both ways. If I get no compartment, no Mexico— no vacation. I just: want to lock that door and tell the -darky to knock only once and that’s when he rells ‘Mexico. ”
‘Towne arid Baker Have Big Tim
on Jobs as Film Film Story Writers
8
Hoosier-Born- Author One of Highest Paid in Industry
* Once Fired Co-Worker.
BY JEANETTE MEEHAN Times Special Writer HOLLYWOOD, June 19.—Towne and Baker! In Hollywood one mentions the two names in the same breath, Just as you'd say “Sears & Roebuck. Theyye collaborated on more material than any other pair that has ever written for the screen, including those two clever boys, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. Graham Baker was born in Evansville, Ind. After he graduated from a Brooklyn high school he became, first, a newspaper reporter and cartoonist, then a writer for the ald Vitagraph Filmi Company
and finally editor-in-chief of’ the | story department at Warners’ Holly-
wood studio. : Fired; Not Forgotien
There he hired and fired many people, but one man he fired he has never forgotten. He ‘was a young New Yorker who went West to become a cowpuncher and a lumberjack. When a vacation brought him to Hollywood he was a lad with few prosvects but plenty of ideas. He talked himself info a writing job at Warners’. Mr. Beker' can’t. remember for exactly what reasons, but he fired the bov. whose name, of course, was Gene Towne. Shortly after that Mr. Baker became personal assistant to Jack Warner. and the new story chief hired Gene back at a nice increase in salary. = Time passed, and Mr. Baker's
+4 good fortunes went, back on him.
9 Jordan Shadents
The public is invited to hear an advanced student recital by Edith { Martin, pianist, and Mildred Baumgart, contralto, at 8:15 tomorrow night in Odeon Hall under the spongorship of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music. Miss Martin is a student: of. Miss
Helen L. Quig, and Miss Baumgart'
is a pupil of Miss Elma Igleman. Compositions by Chopin, Debussy, Strauss, Mendelssohn and Beethoven will be heard.
I ACCEPT
| Came a chance meeting with the prosperous boy he had previously. : That chancé “meeting (in|"
fired. 1932) led to one .of the most lucrative : collaborative arrangements in Hollywood. Highest Paid Writers
They're the highest ‘paid writers in ‘thet industry. They write adap-
tations, scenarios, scripts: Last year,
between various other assignments, they knocked off and sold five original stories—among them “Shanghai,” “She Couldn’t Take It” and “This Is the Life.” And at what prices! Fifty thousand dollars for
THE
Slain lL,
Bi
i a Towne and Baker original i; nothing at all. © They'll tackle any job they're e i) thused : about. Others ‘they refu point-blank. Not long ago a p ducer wanted to sign the pair Tio adapt a Charles Dickens novel. Bei ‘th said no. “Mr. Dickens. got alo hg
1 very nicely without. us for yea: 3,”
said Mr. Towne by ‘way of iexplanation, “so why should ‘we xg 3ss up. his work now?” From Messrs. Towne and 12 Jaker we learn that the Hollywood W Titer is neither the fellow who lois in a Turkish bath while he’ dispel on his 84-foot limousine for his ;¢ heck (although just as many of withose expensive town cars. belong to stars). nor’ the fe’ low
pt
Proud ‘of Jobs
Naturally ' they refused “to for other writers, but they do | speak for themselves. They don’t f |! that they are selling their souls for vulgar dollars. They arent al used or annoyed by executive ints rfer-
ence. They respect their boss. ! They feel Shepse writing for an i "Celli-
There are other secrets to - tiheir success, too. They don’t think fhey know more about making, - than the men who are: ® = king They never consider a joll fine ished when it is done. That s slunds
a little confusing, but Geng: and| and
Graham: go over their wot k-
Young Actor
l—Raymond Massey and Sir Cedric Hardwicke are shown watch-
“mig workers rebuild the world in
a scene from H, G. Well’s picture’
“Triings to Come” which opened at Loew’s today. ©. |, 2—The stage and screen veteran, Jean Hersholt, is to be seen in a
-d rejmatic movie, “Sins of Man,” starting today at the Apollo.
Don
- 8 mieche, young radio actor, makes his film debut in this picture. _ 8—As two small-town gamblers who make good in big time racketeerIng} Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney are shown: with one of
th eir mob in a scene from “Smart
Money,” the picture opening today
at: the Lyric, along with five acts of stage vaudeville.
over it again. “For every page we te,” says Mr. . Baker, Swe tear
jugs twenty.”
Tips Are Welcomed
[And, what's more, they don’t sulk shen a producer asks them to alter eir precious brain children -acording to his suggestions. Which reminds us of a certain day: on ‘which their poss asked them: to make certain changes | In one of their stories. “Why you ?1 2 1 2 1°11” roared the “twins”—and they stormed and glowered like two of the Seven Furies, Finally they collapsed from sheer exhaustion. “Oh, nuts,” panted Mr. Towne. “What we're trying to tell you is that you're right!” | Both, you see, are delightfully mad. From the way they behaved you'd never believe they did a lick of work. One day Mr. Wanger ran into the culprits in a local eatery.
| It was midafternoon, a time when.
all hard-working writers -should have Deen: making noises on a type-
Titer » snorted the: producer; “an-
other of these four-hour lunch pe-
.| riods, eh?. What do you think I
pay you fellows for?” “We're just working up to's good | resignation,” retorted Mr. Towne. “We quit.” What's a: Resignation? ~
The next g the boys turned up at the s office. “Say, you can’t fire us,” stated Gene somewhat ambiguously. “We've got a contract.” “The boss smiled. Als one who hires Towne and Baker soon" learns
naar |
SWIM — DANCE
~ WESTLAKE
Dance Every’ eas Sachs Men, PAUL ng AT
STARTING TiDDAY
Com prepared to be stirred. . . thrilled to
Ee Tors os
epths of your emmetid «+ by you have rarely seen! A STORY THAT su TO THE _o
acting
nal power as
A - |BELMONT
not to take their resignations seriously. They quit at least once a week—just because it’s fun. Never less than once a day Mr. Baker will scream and Mr. Towne will -throw books dt the office walls,
and the two sound as if they had bloody murder in their hearts,
Take Jokes Seriously
Their secretary will rush out. for an ice pack for Mr. Baker and a. bicarbonate. for Mr. Towne. When she returns the boys will be quietly sipping a soft drink and congratulating each other for having finished a Sough comedy Sequence.
| Makes Bow in New Film
Local Relatives Anxious to See Jackie Moran at Loew’s.
Little Jackie Moran makes his in-
Moran are now with th Rol eir son in t was Mary Pickford who started the idea of putting Jackie in pic< tures. Then the Coco Cola Co. and » Nash Motors chose him to represent youth in their national adver. tising campaigns, and two years after Miss Pickford's suggestion, the parents decided to take Jackie to flimland just for the fun of Seeing what would happen. Made Debut in Play He made his stage debut in the play “The King Sleeps,” presented in Los Angeles. Columbia studio scouts snapped up the boy for the Picture “And So They Were Mare ” While making his first film, Jackie’s folks signed a contract for him to appear in Paramount features. The 10-year-old and his mother are now on location at Lake Malibu where Jackie is working in a picture as yet untitled. Jackie is a real boy, could eat hamburgers and ice cream all day long. He speaks both French and German. While working in “And So They Were Married” Jackie and Edith Fellows, the girl actress who appears in the film with him, went to school at Brockway Lodge, Lake Tahoe, where the picture was made. Miss Gertrude ' Vizard, Los Angeles board of education teacher, was their instructor. Melvin Douglas and Mary Astor are the grown-up leads in “And So They Were Married,” which is appearing on a double bill with “Things to Come.”
ALWAYS A TINT Daszling Array
Return of Two Great Stars in The Greatest Hit of Their Careers!
EDWARD 6. ROBINSON
gud James Cagney
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