Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 October 1936 — Page 17

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"CANT HAPPEN HERE

¥ Picture Exhibitors Assured

Support of Organizations Interested in Better Films

Association Hears Mayor Kern Hit Double Features; Hollywood Representative Explains Movie Production Code:

One thing the Associated Theater Owners of Indiana can be sure of as they start their new year is the support, good will and co-operation of the state's various societies of

motion picture indorsers. mutual.

And the feeling apparently is

A note of harmony dominated the picture exhibitors’ annual convention at the Variety Club yesterday. Repre-

sentatives of Parent-Teacher Associations, the Catholic League of Decency, Daughters of the American Revolution and other women’s societies concerned with better pictures were guests at an all-day session which included a luncheon, business meeting

and dinner.

With Roy Bair of Indianapolis presiding, the afternoon meeting opened with a welcome by Mayor Kern. . After inviting the delegates from nearly 80 Indiana cities and towns to return here for their next convention, the Mayor spoke his mind as a movie fan. He had two complaints to make.

Hits Double Feature

“I want to cry out against the double feature,” he began. “A person doing an honest day's work does not have the physical stamina to stay out that late. Besides, I always seem to get in on the poorer of the two pictures. “I don’t know whose toes I am stepping on,” he continued, “but I've had mine stepped on plenty of times—sitting through double features. They're a pain in the neck.” The Mayor also had a solution for another vexing problem. It is the “political trailer,” he said, and he knew just what to do about it. “When you receive these trailers,” he advised, “cash the accompanying check and start exhibiting ‘that trailer about Nov. 7." You “won't need any comics for a couple of weeks.” The meeting’s principal speaker was Charles Metzger, former secretary of the Theater Owners’ Asso- _ ciation, and now a member of the Motion Picture Production Code in Hollywood. The code’s eight members are the “no-men” of Hollywood, Mr. Metzger explained, who since 1934 have been administering a voluntary code regarding what may and may not be produced -on the screen. Explains Censorship

Before a picture is begun, five or six scripts must be submitted to these administrators, Mr. Metzger said. There are certain general regulations which must be met: right must triumph, social problems must be dealt with discreetly, and 80 on. “Right now we are after excessive drinking,” he said, “and we expect to have every one out of the bathtubs by Christmas.” The code also segwes as an advisory board on censorship regulations, but they are not primarily censors, the speaker insisted. Beside general regulations, there are problems of dialogue and action which come up with each picture. Mr. Metzger cited as an example a recent Carole Lombard picture, “The Princess Comes Across.” .In ‘one place, Miss Lombard is introduced as “Princess Olga of Sweden.” The last two words were debated in this country, and in France, England and Germany the reference to Sweden was deleted as something which might be offensive to a friendly power.

Writers’ Task Harder

“But when the picture - got to ~ Sweden, they seemed to like it,” Mr. Metzger said. “They not only _liked the line in question, but they changed the title. It was shown there as ‘Princess Olga of Sweden.’ “We have not taken the life out of pictures, as many have claimed,” the speaker said in conclusion. “We have made writers work harder, but the product is improved.” Among guests at the convention was Percy Gladden, owner of the Roxy Theater in Bloomington and the oldest picture exhibitor in the state. He opened Indiana's first picture house in Salem in 1903, three years before the cinema came to Indianapolis, Since then he has operated theaters in about a dozen Hoosier cities. “I blazed the trail” said Mr. Gladden. He got his first films and equipment through Carl Laemmle, re-

Radio Soprano Is to Sing Here

Matinee Musicale to Present Margaret Speaks.

Margaret Speaks, popular radio soprano, is to be heard in recital at Ayres auditorium at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon, Nov. 6, under

sponsorship of the Matinee Musicale. This is to be the first of a series of artist recitals planned for the season. The local appearance is to be part of Miss Speaks’ first American tour. She recently completed a European concert tour which took her to England, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. A reception and social hour honoring the singer is to be held following the recital. Mrs. Glenn O. Friermood, social chairman, is in charge.

Mood-Music Aid in Garbo Movie

Doleful Songs Are Used in Filming ‘Camille.’

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28.—Not since the early silent days in pictures has sad music been used by the stars to place them in the mood for tragedy, although a few still

have music between scenes for entertainment. Now mood-music has been revived, and by Greta Garbo. Director George Cukor suggested the doleful music for Marguerite’s death scene in “Camille,” and Garbo requested the mournful Negro spirituals as sung by Paul Robeson, famous Negro basso.

Capra Hollywood's Busiest Director

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28.—Between the cutting job he is doing on “Lost Horizon” starring Ronald Colman, and keeping an eye on his two directorial proteges, Frank Capra is Hollywood’s busiest director these days. Capra’s ace scenarist, Robert Riskin, is co-directing Grace Moore in “Interlude” as his; first picture, and Capra’s former assistant director, C. C. “Buddy” Coleman, is directing “Dodge City Trail,” a musical western starring Charles Starrett. Capra is a frequent visitor on both sets.

Cast of Ruggles Picture Completed

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28.—With the signing of Benny Baker and Nicodémus, the cast of “Mind Your Own Business,” starring Charlie Ruggles and Alice Brady as a team, was completed recently. Baker and Nicodemus, the latter given his first screen chance in Mae West's “Go

West Young Man,” will play com-.

edy parts in the film, which Norman McLeod is directing.

2000 Extras Used

in Prison Picture

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28.—Mors than 2000 extra and bit players appear in scenes of “San Quentin,” the story of prison life now in production. Hailed as one of the most dramatic productions in years, tne picture's cast includes a long list of stellar players, with Pat O’Brien in the leading role.

TAUROG HAS 2906 PIPES Norman Taurog tops the Century-Fox . lot's pipe collectors

A homemade tonsorial touch to an otherwise finished sartorial picture is being applied by Wallace Beery in his role of “Old Hutch.” He'll be seen at Loew’s beginning Friday on a double bill which includes “Craig's Wife,” with Rosalind Russell and John Boles.

A FAVORITE HAS A NEW ROLE ||

Ziegfeld

Ziegfeld’s Beryl Halley, known as the “Ameri-

New ‘Follies’ Booked for Lyric Stage

of Next Week's Offering. .

Where are the Ziegfeld| | beauties of yesterday?

Ted Nicholas of the Lyric can’t vouch for all of them,| but he is sure about a few. They are going to play the local vaudeville house in

“Glorified Follies of 1936| |

which is to open Friday. Caryl Bergman, dancing star of “Sally” and “Rosalie”;

Acquires New

Times Special

ized in being sweet and simple.

long woolen underwear.” She was proud of the fact that her feet were larger than the aver~ age among players—at least they looked large because of the flatheeled shoes—and that romance never had seriously entered her life. That was the “demure” stage of her career. Then, very suddenly, Jean Muir changed. Almost overnight she remade herself. “Glamour” now is her middle name, She made this change deliberately and with a full knowledge of its dangers and its costs. After “three long years” of careful savings according to a strict financial program, she suddenly invested heavily in smart clothes, including decollette evening gowns, highheeled slippers and expensive furs. She let her blond hair go back to its naturally darker shade. She began to be seen about the Hollywood clubs and night spots, and her name is being linked romantically with that of Gordon Oliver, who played opposite -her in four ‘pictures, including the current “Lords of the Land.” ’ All Thrift Forgotten

Forsaking, for the time being, her natural Scottish thrift, Jean is buying herself expensive perfumes, visiting the hair-dresser even more often than the average film star, and patronizing exclusive shops. Once she said she would never spend more than half her income and never more than $100 a week, no matter what her salary became. Now she ‘is scattering checks generously in all directions. Jean “De-Muir” won her right to a placé in the movies by being earnest, pretty and different. Jean “Gla-Muir” plans to hold that place and to increase her importance in the film world by becoming ultra-smart, more than slightly sophisticated and altogether unlike her former self.

Filming to Begin on ‘The Desert Song’

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28.—“The Desert Song” is expected to go into production as soon as casting, now under way, is completed. It is to be

filmed entirely in Technicolor. So far Frank McHugh, star of the forthcoming “Three Men on a Horse,” is the only player announced for a leading role. Mr. McHugh will play the chief comedy part.

Sportsman Signed for Cowboy Movie

By United Press

Demure Jean Muir Becomes ‘Glamour Girl’ of Hollywood

After Three Years of Simple Living, Actress Suddenly

HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28.—For “three long years” Jean Muir special-

For “three long years” she paraded around Hollywood as a blue-eyed blond, wearing home-designed high-necked dresses and flat-heeled shoes, looking, one of her least enthusiastic admirers said, like “a girl who wears

Sophistication.

Maennerchor’s Concert Dec. 14

Dr. Heger-Goetzl to Direct First Program.

The first concert of the recently reorganized Indianapolis Maennerchor has been set for Dec. 14 in the Athaenaeum. Dr. Robert Heger.Goetzl is to be the conductor, and the soloist for the occasion is to be announced later.

Christmas carols by Orlando. Di Lasso, Novello and Gruber, and a group of German folk songs are to be included in the program. The closing number will be the Johann Strauss waltz, “Wine, Women and Song,” in its original male chorus . version.

New Charlie Chan Picture Announced

Times Special : / HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 28.—Charlie Chan\is coming to Broadway for his next adventure. The fictional Chinese detective, portrayed by Warner Oland, is to be seen in “Charlie Chan on Broadway.” The picture is to go into production following completion and release of “Charlie Chan at the Opera,” now before the cameras with Mr. Oland and Boris Karloff. \ »

Actress Confirms - Marriage Reports

| By United Press x Oy a a gh id Vv , from 5 wood and confirmed Som, Baye, she would marry David Niven, also of the films. She said no been set. Miss Oberon : for England to appear on the Britsh stage opposite Charles Laugh-

—-

FRITZ KREISLER

MASTER : VIOLINIST

’ By United Press

- — pf

can Venus”; Lenore Mass of “Hotcha,” Bettie MacDonald of “Whoopee,” Josephine Russ of “Rio Rita,” Glada Cummings of “Show Boat,” ‘Rosamond Du Bose of “The Three Musketeers” and Christine Cepl of “Simple Simon” are included. Ziegfeld stars are widely scattered. Marion Davies, Billie Dove, Ruby Keeler, Eileen Percy and Gertrude Niesan are in Hollywood, Ruth Etting and Helen Morgan are singing. Jessie Reid, Clare Luce, Mary Jane Martin, Hazel Forbes and Peggy Fears married millionaires. Mae Murray married and divorced a Mdvani prince. Mary Lewis went to grand opera and Gladys Glad writes a syndicated beauty column. Others, like Miss Bergman and her associates at the Lyric next week, attempt to carry on the Zieg- | feld tradition of costuming, beautiful settings and glamorous production. ; Popular Songs Included

On their program they recall such Ziegfeld musical numbers as “Three Musketeers,” “Why Do: I Love You,” “Look for the Silver Lining,” “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” and “Tell Me Pretty

Gypsy.” i Assisting them are Charles Carlile, radio tenor; Hal Sherman, dancing comedian; Bob Easton, tiny Ondee Odette, Dan Carthay and Robert Pitkin. a On the screen is to be “Pigskin Parade,” a musical comedy of a, small Texas college invited by mistake to participate in a post-season football game at Yale.

WHERE, WHAT, WHEN

APOLLO

“Dimples,” with Shirley Temple and Frank Morgan, at 11:46, 1:46, 3:46, 5:46, 7:43 and 9:40.

CIRCLE

“Big Broadcast of 1937,” with Jack Benny, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Martha Raye and others at 11, 1:13, 3:24, 5:36, 7:48 and 10.

KEITH'S “It Can't Happen Here,” first performance of £inclair Lowisl new play by the Federal Players. at 8:15.

LOEW'S

*“Libeled Lady,” with Jean Harlow william Powell, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy at tl, 1:10, 3:20, 5:35, 7:45 and 10.

LYRIC

“Shooting High,” stage revue, at 1:06, 3:55, 6:44, 9:33. Also ‘Here Comes Carter.” with Ross Alexander and Glenda Farrell, on the screen at 11:53, 2:42, 5:31, 8:20, 10:31,

ALAMO

“Devil Doli” with Lionel Barrymore. Also ‘“The Case of the Velvet Claws.” with Warren William, -

AMBASSADOR

“Lasik of the Mohicans.” with Randolph Scott. Also os Begins rat Twenty,” with Patricia Ellis. OHIO ; “Footlight Parade,” with Dick Powell, James Cagney and Ruby Keeler. Also short subjects.

Movie Actress Sues in Paris for Divorce

PARIS, Oct. 28.—Princess Nathalie Pavlovna, who recently played in Hollywood films under the name of Nathalie Paley, today petitioned the Seine Court for permission’ to divorce. her dressmaker husband, Lucien Le Long. She was the daughter of the late Russian Grand Duke Paul by .his morganatic wife, Olga Paley. She married De Long in Paris in 1927.

APOLLO V7 ITS SHIRLEVS A Shir SHOW/ \§

Charles Romano Strauss 8r. in “The Great Waltz.”

: 8 » »

Indiana Books

Musical Show

‘The Great Waltz’ to Open

3-Day Stay Nov. 16.

as Johann

Liberally spiced with the wellbeloved Viennese music of the Johann Strausses, father’ and son, “The Great Waltz” is to open a three-day engagement at the Indiana Monday night, Nov. 16, with a matinee on Wednesday. The. musical’ play, which tells the story of the famous waltz kings of the last century, was born, appropriately enough, in Vienna. An unpretentious production, it caught the fancy of Hassard Short, English director, who rebuilt it on a lavish scale. As “Waltzes From Vienna,” the play opened in London in the sumraer of 1931. After a lapse of three years, “The Great Waltz” in its present fomm was produced at Center Theater, Radio City, New York. In two seasons there, it was seen by nearly two million people; Tour Started Last Year

The present cast started its tour last October, and has played Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Washington, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Chicago, where it ran for four months. When the play reaches the Indi- | ana, it will be playing a theater for only the third time since the tour

began. With a cast of 125 and equipment which requires seven 70foot baggage cars to transport it, the production is of such size. that opera houses or large auditoriums ysually are necessary to accommodate it,

SELZNICK RECEIVES HONOR

David O. Selznick heads the list |

of Hollywood producers honored by the British Institute of - Cinematography for outstanding film activity. The productions that won him the award were “David Copperfield” and “A Tale of Two Cities.”’

JACK BENNY

veiled Storm Troopers. the current American scene, Pastor Paul Peter Prang, briefly before a microphone ' in clerical garb, is unmistakable.

a People’s Party grows

Federal Players Give Best Performance to Date, Says Reviewer.

BY JAMES THRASHER Side-stepped by the movies and shunned by radio, Sinclair Lewis’ new play, “It Can't Happen Here,” was ushered in locally by the Federal Players last night at Reith’s. It was one .of some two dozen premieres throughout the coun-

try. . Mr. ! Lewis’ novel, on which the

"| play is based, has been read enough,

and the ensuing drama so thoroughly publicized that every one knows by now that it is a story of a possible American dictatorship. It remains to say that the story has become what is known as ‘good theater.” This result emerges from a pot-pourri of frank realism, imaginative speculation, conversation and good: old-fashioned melodrama.

Probably it is idle to say that the Mr. Lewis of “Main Street” and “Babbit” is no more. Babbit was buried in “Dodsworth” but he is completely forgotten in “It Can't Happen Here.” The author’s crusade

J upon the America of the 1920 era

is done with. Whether he views the future with alarm may be left up to his latest audiences.

Before the novel and play were begun, Mr. Lewis eertainly had some long talks with Mrs. Lewis, who as Dorothy Thompson has given us so

| many frank pictures of contem-

porary Germany. The “Corpos” of “It Can't Happen Here” are scarcely And from

who appears

Play Opens in Vermont The play opens in a leisurely fash-

ion among the Vermont hills, where Doremus Jessup, the play’s central figure, editor. It proceads with the campaign of one Berzelius (Buzz) Windrip for President, and his consequent election.

is small-town newspaper

After the election, things go from

bad to worse. Business comes under governmental control, freedom of speech and the press are throttled. The youth of the land acquire insolence with their vivid red and blue Corpo uniforms. Intense nationalism, territorial expansion and war preparations grow apace.

Early in the play a store keeper in Fort Beulah—the locale of the piece—is slugged to death by the

|| Corpos. ‘Next it’ is Jessup’s son-in-

law, a young physician. Eventually secretly.

Jessup joins, is caught spreading

33.1

{Sinclair Lewis Production Portrays Picture of U. S.. Under Hand of Dictator

five years in a concentration camps Julian Falk, a Fort Beulah boy

retary,and society editor; his daughe ter Mary, widow of the and her small son.

by Corpo Cor sioner Swan and detained. seizes a gun, shoots him and in is slain by another officer as play ends. :

Presents Familiar Story

The play, then, presents a famile far story which becomes more hore rible when translated into terms of our own nation, It left this writer convinced of the truth of Mr, Lewis’ title, though one might doubg that dictatorship would grow to the point where rebellion and civil war were necessary to quell it. The play’s chief defect appears to be its underestimate of American intelligence, berate it as you may. For one thing the author has:oute done any previous satires on politie cians—in a serious play, at least—= through his character of Windrip, Judging from the lines, Ira B. Klein of the local company played it as Mr. Lewis intended it should be played—low comedy. ; Another scarcely understandable

She turn the

-

Windrip is elected President. Res gard us as you will, Mr, Lewis, the country scarcely would be carried away by a complete buffoon. The Federal Players’ performance, thanks to sufficient rest and: ree hearsal, was their best to date. Dis rector John Cameron has handled a large cast on a small-stage in ad= mirable fashion. The new “jacke knife” sets, enabling rapid change of the 13 scenes, is a most welcome improvement. # Lid Jack Duval plays the part of Doremus Jessup. His characterizas tion, like the play, is of cumulative interest, and he delivers it with sincerity. . Fo With all due respect to our local players, and to the cinema’s cons cern for its foreign markets, “Ib Can’t Happen . Here” would be vastly more effective on the screen than the stage. a Intrinsically, it is no such social and human document as “If This Be Treason,” which the Ci Theater did recently. But the plays goer will find it a thought-provoks ing as well as highly entertaining drama.

JONES FAMILY DIRECTOR

Frank Strayer, who recently coms pleted the Jane Darwell picture,

“Glory,” will direct the next Jones Family production, as yet untitled

LAST Jean Marlow e Wm. Powell

/ 2 DAYS “LIBELED LADY"

Myrna Loy ee Spencer Tracy

2

FRIDAY

HO8QILT

RBAILTT ANN

lo ERY

Pi : Kd 1

GEORGE BURNS GRACIE ALLEN

BOB BURNS ans MARTHA RAYE

Tonight's Presentations at Your

‘NEIGHBORHOOD THEATERS -

Berany Goopaan ond his Orchestre BENNY FIELDS ~ STARTS SATURDAY 4 : 2 } £2

$ LOVELY GIRL MADE KARD and BRITTLE BY MARIHUANA

STATE BELMONT

ZARING

WEST SIDE 2702 W. 10th St. / Double Feature 1 _ Jane Da “STAR FOR A NIGHT” “DANCING PIRATE” W. Wash. & Belmont _ Double Feature pes Fred Astaire | “FOLLOW THE FLEET” |_“THE FINAL HOUR” 2540 W. Mich. St. Y Double Feature Fred Astaire i “TOP HAT” “ WITH THE IRON DOOR” - | NORTH SIDE | : Illinois and 34th Deuble Feature . Clark Gable “DANCING RADX” “BIG HOUSE” Central at Fall Crk. Double Feature

EAST SIDE

RIVOLI 3155 E. 10h

Double Feature 5

Jack Oakie—Fred MacMurray “THE TEXAS RANGERS” Florence Rice “BLACKMAILER"”

Popeye Cartoon TUXEDO ‘(Beste va IRVING | shiiohns March of Time—Cartoon EMERSON HAMILTON Btu Festal “DANCING PIRATE” “ONE RAINY AFTERNOON"

“THE RETURN OF SOPHIE LANG’ 2 “PAROLE” F 4630 E. 10th Bf NE RAINY pe “LET'S SING AGAIN” ] 2936 E.

|PARKER ‘demic

TRAE fT

STRAND Suk Vais

‘ “MARY OF SCC “MINE WITH THE IRON