Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 August 1936 — Page 10
SISSLE PRESE
A Comody and ACTRESS M KES MOVIE DEBUT
Dancing Add to Program
Charlie Chan Feature at Lyric Reported Better Than Average.
BY JOHN W. THOMPSON Noble BSissle, youth who made good in musical circles, is back in town with a bangup show of tunes, comedy and dancing at the Lyric which should drive away those hot weather blues. And on the screen Lyric patrons are being treated to the latest in the series of the Charlie Chan detective thrillers, this one with the
Oriental Sherlock delving into murderous intent at the race track. It's much better than the average Cholly Chans, not as good, however, as Warner Oland has done. Mr. Sissle’s musical aggregation, a conscientious group of modern music protagonists, is given plenty of opportunity to show what the teacher has taught them in a number of melodies, best of which is the Duke Ellington medley, topped, of course, with a fluff of whipped cream “Solitude.” Special praise is due the trumpet and saxophone sections.
Leana Horne Dances
Miss Leana Horne, who is a beau‘tiful as she is useful in the show, sings and dances excellently to Mr. Sissle’s tunes. Her finale routine with the boys singing in the background is best. Standing out in the talented group
of entertainers Mr. Sissle carries with him are Chuck and Chuckles, rhythm specialists - whose efforts brought them back for encore after encore at yesterday's shows. The boys are among the best Negro tapsters we have seen and mingle it with adroit comedy and several new Jokes. George McLennon, who is a new one on us, nearly brought down the house yesterday with his clarinet solos. Appearing in comedy outfit, Mr. McLennon shows that he and the clarinet are one and the same thing. He makes it laugh right through “Lazybones” in the most amazing manner. It’s either new or very very old and either way, its fine entertainment.
Handy With Cigar
Benny Doyle is something a bit different in the line of magicians, if he can be called that. He shuffles about the stage in rhythmic step to the music and all the while does funny things with a cigar. He makes it disappear in several ways,
balances a glass of grape juice on his forehead and performs other effective jricksy Fm Billy Banks, 'seén here before, is just as catching as he ever was. His serious solos and duets with Miss Horne are, excellehtly sung. And his comedy turns, among them a kid skit done on “Noah’s Ark,” are excruciatingly silly. Mr. Sissle, who attended Butler and DePauw universities before embarking on a musical career, certainly has learned his lesson in one thing—how to put on a show that takes with the audience. Mr. Chan's newest opus concerns a horse, Avalanche. It seems that a gambling ring manages to murder the horses’s owner. Then Charlie takes over the case and the same ring kidnaps Charlie after “switching” ‘Avalanche with a slower horse just before the big race. But Charley gets loose, switches the horses back again, upsets the gamblers’ plans, and brings the culprits to Justice. The picture is more than passable entertainment mainly because of Mr. Oland’s adept characterization and Keye Luke's comedy as the Chinese detective’s son. Helen Wood, the stage star, is seen as a fetching heroine,
Federal Players Book Lewis Novel
By United Press WASHINGTON, Aug. 22—Sinclair Lewis’ npvel “It Can’t Happen ~ Here” will re simultaneously in 15 cities by the WPA Federal Theater Project, WPA Adminis- _ trator Harry L. Hopkins announced
today. Theatrical production of the book, the film version of which recently was cancelled, will be staged by 28 WPA theatrical companies composed of needy actors on October 20. Hopkins said arrangements had been made with Lewis to furnish the script in time for casting and rehearsals to begin by Sept. 7. The cities selected are Boston, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, New York, New Orleans, Dallas, Indian
the Indianapolis |
15
‘Helen Wood, an at- + tractive - New York actress who makes her movie debut in "Charlie Chan at the Race Track" at the Lyric,
Tourists Both Problem, Help to Picture Units on Location
Many Camp Followers Enjoy Profitable Vacations as Extras and Pop Vendors.
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 22 (NEA)—This is the: heaviest production period in screen history, yet the studios seem less crowded than usual, because so many companies are on location. Ordinarily technical difficulties have been pretty satisfactorily: overcome, but other elements provide plenty of headaches for the outdoor
crews. Tourists are a problem. Hundreds of motoring nomads have discovered that they can haunt favorite location spots and see numierous stars and the ‘shooting of exciting sequences. It's very trying on the frazzled nerves of location directors when bronzed young women, clad in shorts, wander into camera range during the fliming of a costly caval= ry charge. There are held #5 commereial camp followers who khow enough to stay behind the cameras and keep quiet. These are the. proprietors of mobile hot dog and soda pop stands. They do very well selling their wares to performers, laborers and tourists.
Places for Pickups
The tourists usually arrive in auto
trailers, pitch camp as close to the company as possible, and often remain throughout the shooting. Oc-
casionally they're hired as extras, and none can say “no” to an assistant director’s offer of $5 a day. Scores of less fortunate highway hoboes are regularly kicked out of the lines to the chuck wagons. A few film companies issue meal tickets to their own people so that tramps and tourists can’t cadge free meals. Some groups of vacationing collegians in ancient cars made the rounds of the locations. They first appeared at Yuma and had a couple of week's work as Arabs. Next, they popped up at Lone Pine, 1000 miles to the north, and earned a few dollars as laborers. Then they sped down the coast and helped with the making of “Ramona.”
No Personal Appearances
Rows with theater operators at nearby towns invariably occur as soon as a location company settles down for shooting. The theater men &lways want the stars to make personal appearances in their tiny show houses. An unwritten Hollywood law prohibits this—because the players are working hard enough, anyway—but it makes for grumbling and threats of boycott. Feelings are soothed by having the actresses invite the exhibifors to dinner, and to watch the evening rushes shown at the camp.
_ Set Bad Examples
Movie folks are not always welcomed by the townspeople, either. Extras and bit players, taken along on location trips, usually strut into
the towns of an evening and assume
roles of great importance. Some of them misbehave in an ef-
-| fort to live up to the traditions of
PUBLIC WEDDING Tomorrow Night, 10:30
. To Be Performed at DE BIASE GARDEN Exclusive Italian Restaurant 40 W. Georgia St.
The Severin Ts Opposite Our Place $100 Per Plate $1.00
___. || Phone Riley 0432 for Reservation
Hollywood gaiety. All this upsets civic aplomb, makes the local young folks unmanageable for weeks, and causes talk. One ‘location company was established near a quiet hamlet famed for its hot springs swimming pool. After work, the movie players, dressed in} no more than what liberal Holly-4 wood: allows, swarmed to the pool. They @#njoyed several such dips; but one:day found their entrance to the baths barred by a committee of grim and indignant local matrons. The latter had decided that their menfolks had seen enough.
Fun in Camping
of rigors, but fun, too. ‘A troupe of 300 players lived several weeks in the San Jacinto mountains while “Ramona” was filmed. Tents and cabins housed the majority, everybody received exactly the same food, and everybody rose at 4:30 a. m. to begin work at 5:30. This was to catch the white early morning light, favorable for color photography. Loretta Young and Kent Taylor were provided with a special tworoom trailer, each, complete with electric refrigerator, kitchenette and shower. Everybody had fun except some of the Indians, who got painfully sunburned.
ACTOR WAS SALESMAN Alan Curtis, youthful newcomer who has his first important role in “Walking in Air,” at one time was. a traveling salesman for a chewing gum company.
RUNNING WILD! \ 2a Mighty Star Castes.
A big location job brings Plenty | "A new floor has been installed ty
Character in First Feature Movie.
announce that a theater ‘Is showing Walt, Disney's “Three Lit. tle Wolves” is to recommend bill, no smatier what gis 1s offered.
a jittery young man w been doing for a decade, and appears as an eccentric, middle-aged druggist. It's a complete success. Doe Klum, the , has an old-fashioned shop with ‘a JIunch
Kelly). They meet up with a belligerant truck driver named Cecil Callahan (Mr. Williams) and deterWine fo cash in on his fighting ability. Coincidence throws the trio in with Ike Arnold, gangster, and his henchmen, who ‘buy an interest in the fighter. Molly is Cecil’s trainer and nearly loses him to Arnold’s girl (Pert Kelton) on the night of the championship fight. Of course Cecil wins and the quarrel is made
up. Plainly enough, it isn’t the plot that counts. But Roach, that old maestro of comedy, has filled the picture with hilarious sequences. Miss Kelly is her usual temperamental, .sour-visaged self, which is good enough for this reviewer. Mr. Williams, who graduated from Westerns to the Nat Pendleton type of comedy, also is first rate, as is the rest of the cast. The second feature is “Trapped by Television,” headlining Mary Astor, Lyle Talbot and Nat Pendleton. Though smart radio engineers say that commercial television is five years away, this picture has it all
Astor's recent notoriety. As for “The Three Little Wolves” —it’s colossal! The old lupine villain has three children and a heavy German accent in his latest adven-
and appealing than ever. (By J.T)
Riverside Skating. f Rink Opens Sept. 5
The Riverside roller skating rink, said to be the second largest in the world, is to open for the fall and winter seasons Saturday, Sept. 5, acSosing to A: W. Coulter, park man-
the rink where John Darter is to continue as superintendent. Tonight the Royal Hawaiian entertainers are to provide the special music in the Riverside refreshment gardens, according to Mr. Coulter.
VERSATILE ACTOR . . James Gleason, now featured in
| “Don’t Turn "Em Loose,” is the only
Hollywood celebrity who has a three-way eontract; to write, direct and act.
Vag. 27a: * {ny £3
LOUIS SHARKEY
FICHT RICTURES. BEX)
IAI]
0 queen who . threw away her’
counter in charge of Molly (Miss |
.One of the new crop of movie queens being groomed for stardom is comely Beverly Roberts, who takes the role of Pat O'Brien's wife in “China Clipper,” the aid travel picture now at the Apollo. :
Producer Hal |
perfected for you. It’s a mine-runi| | adventure film, climaxed. by a rous-| ing fist fight, and comes at an op-| portune time to cash in on Miss}
ture, and the pigs are more pink
WHERE, WHAT, WHEN
APOLLO
“China Clipper” with Pat O'Brien, Beverly Roberts,
at 11:38, 1:41, 3: 44, ‘5:47, 7:50 9:53.
CIRCLE “Mary of Scotland” with Katharine Hephurh and Fredric March, at 11:15,71:50, 4:30, 7:05 and 9:45. Also Sharkey-Louis fight pictures. at 11, 1:35, 4:40, 6:50 and 9:25, LOEW'S “Kelly the Second’ with Patsy Kely, and Shutlie Shase, at 12: 131 2:52 123, and 10:25. Also “Tf apped i relerisions with Lyle raibot 5 ary Astor, at 1: 13, 3 4“, 4:15, o ne
‘KEITH'S “One Night at Brenda’s,” an ori nal play by Miss Tiernan, of t o Indianapolis Star, enacted by Federal. Players’ cast, under Sizection of. Charles Berkell. . Af 8:15.
LYRIC
Noble Sissle and vaudeville on stage at 1, 3:48, and 9:33. Also “Charlie Chan hy oh Race Track” with Warner Oland and .Helen Wood on screen at 11:36, 6 2:24. 5:21, 8:09 and 10:38. >
Hunter er. 3 Bulla di 3. Cou ur
ag i i " AMBASSADOR 3 eres ‘Alwa; ring Robe, to Kill,” featuring Brian and’ Gloria Stewart ) OHIO Bullets or Ballots” with Edward G. inso “Arizona Raiders” from the: well known Zane Grey story.
"stare Donlevy
Humphrey Bogart ;
3
Tomorrow. © Taglor: also’ “36 Hours |
Enjoy Real [ii
Melodies
Plus a Revue with
CHUCK & CHUCKLES Comedy Stars
Z THARIIE 4/1 La RALETRALK WN
OLAN
ISTATE
[RITZ
| Zaring
TOMORROW AND PLE Pi WEEK:
DAREDEVIL uae |
i
Real silk Froployer Are Guests at Park
The Real Silk Hosiery Mills annual picnic, sponsored by the Workers Co-operative Union, is to be held at Broad Ripple Park today. A style show and .fireworks display are included on the program. Special rates are to prevail on all
park rides, not only for Real 8ilk Smployes but for the general pub-
Starting tomorrow and continuing through the week, “Daredevil” Jacqueline, aerial performer, is to appear at the park. She will be seen in: numerous high trapeze stunts
known ‘to use a rope instead of the customary bar for high acrobatics.
SWIM—DANCE
WESTLAKE
= ‘BEACH TERRACE: "~~ Dance Every :Night Excépt Monday PAUL COLLINS ORCHESTRA
and is billed as the only performer.
[Prison Parole Practices | Are Condemned in Movie
at Alamo Theater Today
| Story of Convict, Given Freedom Through Means of
Racketeer’s Influence, Portrays Alleged System in Many States.
A graphic condemnation of the present prison parole system as
in many states
is the theme of “Parole,” starring
allegedly practiced Ann Preston and Henry Hunter, which opened at the Alamo today for
a four-day run. Russ Whalen is
paroled from state prison, sent to Political Boss
Mallard for a job. He'is sent out with ex-convict, Okay Smith, to collect
| money on Mallard’s
16n rebels, gets another job at same factory where his sweetheart, Frances Crawford, daughter of his cellie, Marty, works. When the
‘manufacturer finds out he is an
ex-convict, Whalen is fired. Then he tells the story about Mallard to papers and Mallard’s men start a hunt for Whalen. Before it's over, Russ compels the state to install a new prison parole system, operated on a nonpolitical basis. He is pardoned, as is Marty, and Frances and Russ settled down in quiet country town.
At times obviously propaganda, the picture does contain several exciting episodes and some fine acting, not only on the part of the principals but by an excellent supporting case which contains such names as Grant Mitchell, Allan Baxter, Alan Dinehart, Alan Hale, Frank Mills, Bernadene Hayes and Charles Richman. Expertly directed by Louis Friedlander, the picture shows up well the fine writing of its authors, Kubec Glasman, Joe Sayre and Horace McCoy.
UNUSUAL DANCE Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, in their new musical, “Swing Time,” dance on a specially prepared floor
or tempered fiber board. 1332 X. Wash. St.
STRAND - Double Feature
ROBERT TAYLOR LORETTA YOUNG “PRIVATE NUMBER"
Charles Blokfirs Flarence Rice “PRIDE OF THE MARINES.” EXTRA— Leon Errol “COUNCILITIS”
HISTORY 1S REPEATED Almost on the exact spot where it occurred in 1876, the dramatie last stand of Gen. George Armee strong Custer and his Seventh Cavalry will be filmed by Cecil B. De Mille for “The Plaingman,” drama of the old West, starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur.
2-FEATURES JODAY.2
+. NOW! —25¢ to 6—
KELLY THE; SECOND J
PATSY KELLY * CA CHASE
GUINN'BIG BOY" WILLIAMS M.G-M Cast
RIVERSID
‘Daring Coaster Rides! Delightful Water Rides! Scores of up-to-date Fun and Thrill ® devices! Amusing and Alluring Games
and Skill Contests!
AMUSEMENT ... PARK...
TONIGHT!
The Royal Hawaiians will hold forth in the beautiful rside Beer G
Good News for Skaters!
Riverside Skating Rink will open for the winter season FLOORY Sept. 5—
fall and WITH A BRAND NEW F
fast sandwiches at opular 4 ices. - yor
The Week-End’s Best Attractions
At Your Neighborhood Theater
WEST SIDE
NORTH SIDE
EAST SIDE
2702 W. 10th St.. Double Feature John Wayne
“NEW FRONTIER” “Escape From Devil's Island”
Sun. Double Feature—Spencer Tracy
“FURY” Jones Family “Educating Father” W.Wash. & Belmont Double
Belmont Feature Edward Everett Horton “NOBODY'S FOOL” “TROUBLE FOR TWO” Sun. Abeeisl Miraction—Kay Francis Matinee at 1:45 P. M.
D Al S 2340 W. Mich. Se. Double Feature Dick Foran - “Treachery Rides the Range” “SONG AND DANCE MAN”
| Sun. Double Feature—Charlie Ruggles
“EARLY TO BED” Ann Dvorak “SCARFACE”
NORTH SIDE
Illinois and 84th Double Feature Ann Havding “THE WITNESS CHAIR”
Sun. Double Feature—Clark ‘Gable “SAN FRANCISCO” .- News—Popeye Cartoon
Central "at Fall Crk. Feature
2 “MOONLIGHT MURDERS “THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY”
| sun. Double Feature—Loretta Young
_ Sun. Double Feature—Clark Gable
“WIFE VS. SECRETARY” ; THE SINS OF MAN"
and filinols ? Feature
30th at Nerthw’t’n Double Feature
R EX Clark Gable
“AFTER OFFICE HOURS” “THE EAGLE’S BROOD” Sun. Double Feat—Robt. Montgomery “TROUBLE FOR TWO” “UNGUARDED HOUR”
Stratford seme rae
Touble Feature am gney “CEILING ZERO” “BRIDES ARE LIKE THAT” Sun, Double Feature—Pat O’Brien
“I MARRIED A DOCTOR” “LOVE ON A BET”
MECCA Noble & Mass.
Double Feature Warner Bros. “The Story of “LOVE ON A BET”
Sun. Double Feature—Chester Morris
“THREE GODFATHERS” “BRIDES ARE LIKE THAT”
DREA ‘2361 Station St.
Neue Feature Stewart “SPEED “CALL OF THE PRAIRIE” Sun. Double Feature—Loretis Young “PRIVATE Sylvia Sidney “FUR EAST SIDE
RIVOLI is” on
EXTEA Tonight of Laie LAST SHUW r em ) “NOW AND FOREVER” Sunday Three-Unit oy 1=—Dick Powell-Ma 2—Return | Ratt * 3—Sybil Jason FoHANGING or me usm
Parker 2036 E. 10th St.
Double Feature ; Donald Woods “ROAD GANG” “THE GOLDEN ARROW” Sun. Dou. Feature—Edw. G. Robinson
“BULLETS OR BALLOTS” “TROUBLE FOR TWO”
Strand 1332 E. Wash. Sg
Double Feature Loretta Young “PRIVATE NUMBER” “PRIDE OF THE MARINES” Sun. Double Feature—Irene Dunne
“SHOWBOAT” “THE FIRST BABY”
Paramount "mE Vash.
Double Feature “HALF ANGELS “OUTLAWS OF THE RANGE” ‘Sun, Double Feature—Will Rogers “CONNECTICUT YANKEE” “DEVIL'S SQUADRON”
BIJOU
Sun. Double Feature—Ralph Bellamy " “DANGEROUS INTRIGUE” *1eathernecks Have Landed”
80 "SIDE
Foun tain Square
Double Feature “DRACULA'S A's DAUGHTER"
114 E. Washington Double oii ell
at Fountain are Sanders ture” oA 7 , Harts “SKY PARADE”. San, Double Feature—J, Serner “SMALL TOWN GIR: “ROAD GANG”