Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 December 1937 — Page 2
PAGE 2 _
Lyric Fills Christmas Stockings for Patrons;
Jungle libber at Apollo
Ethel Waters, "First Lady’ Are Bright Lights on Program.
By JAMES THRASHER The Lyric really has filled a stocking for its patrons this festive week. You can reach down in and pull out some torch singing, political intrigue, swing music, feminine hairpulling and some illuminating instruction on doing the “shag.”
Brightest lights on the Christmas| rea
tree are Ethel Waters, who. heads the stage show’s “Hollywood Harlem Revue,” and “First Lady,” that bright comedy by George S. Kauf- ' man and Katharine Dayton which, like most good things, has found its way to the screen. This is Miss Waters’ first vaudeville appearance in Indianapolis. So a great many more people, for less money, will be able to contemplate the enormous success of this songstress. No one yet has quite explained it. With no particular voice, nor any particular beauty, she has been packing audiences infor years at $4.40 tops.
Whether Miss Waters is singing to you, with a sob in her voice, about her lonely plight in “Stormy Weather,” or whether, with an expansive grin, she launches forth on an extremely frank and amusing bit of advice to the lovelorn, you most likely will find yourself quite taken in. For Miss Waters is a born showman. And to correct the gender in that statement would be to do her an injustice. Songs Are Startling
Some of the songs may strike you as a bit startling. But I don’t think they deserve too great condemnation, even at popular prices. (Of course, theyre commonplace “big time” ‘at revue tariff. They spring from a race of uninhibited children of nature who felt little pressure of Victorian influence. \ Most Negro revues can be relied upon to offer you a lot of energetic effort, spontaneous fun, expert dancing and torrid music. This one has all these, in an acute stage. A pair of young men wear themselves a frazzle in presenting as good dancing as the Lyric stage has seen in months. The band is large and , versatile. They split up into a trombone quartet, a choir of seven saxophones and a small group that gives you “swing” in the Benny Goodman Quartet manner. And there are two comedy teams that are mildly droll. First Lady,” on the stage, was one of the wittiest, most revealing comedies of recent seasons. It tells of the feud of two Washington ladies, wives of the Secretary of > State and a Supreme Court Justice. The quarrel started when Irene Hibbard, the jurist’s wife, stele Lucy Waynes cook. It ends only ‘with the Secretary launched on a drive toward the White House. : Meanwhile, Lucy almost has ruined her own chances, and her husband’s, by dragging the red herring of Judge Hibbard’s presidential possibilities across the trail of one of Irene’s proteges. Through it all - runs a vein of hilarity as the potent | [0 feminine influence in our lawmaking and statecraft is revealed.
- Supporting Cast Geed Knowing Kay Francis as a sort
of glorified mannequin, you may be |"
surprised at the good job she turns in. In fact, if you didn’t. see the stage play here, you may be delighted. But those of us who saw Jane Cowl in the same role at English’s will find that talented lady's presencé hovering about the Lyric screen, much fo Miss Francis’ disadvantage. The latter's dramatic sins of omission are pretty numerQus. * There is an excellent supporting cast, in which Verree Teasdale, Walter Connolly and Marjorie Rambeau are particularly geod. And the scene of the judge's “netification,” coming on the heels of a violent quarrel with Irene, is as funny here as it was on the stage. You'd better go and see just how funny that is.
URGE CENTER FOR SHOW VETERANS
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 25 (U. P)— A community center in Hollywood for veterans of the show business was proposed to the Los Angeles oity Council today by Matt Brooks and Ed Davis, screen writers. . The center would carry on the tradition of Broadway and 42d Sts. and the streets would be named for their New York counterparts, It would be dedicated to film and radio peaple formerly associated with vaudeville snd the theater.
BOLES SPONSORS BOY SINGER, 14
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 25. — John Boles, movie leading man, arranged today to bring to Hellyweod a 14-year-old boy whose voice he heard while visiting a wheat ranch in Canada.
The young singer is Alfred Baker. |
Boles first heard him two years ago. He recently received records of the boy's voice, played them, and sent for Alfred.
AMBASSADO =
BIG GALA’ HOLIDAY 2HIT SHOW!
Only 20¢ to
3c 03%
‘Bird Talk’ Prevails, but Lily Pons Is Lovely, Reviewer Finds.
If you are glasuing to go to the Apollo this week, you had better brush up on your Ubangi, or whatever African dialect it is the characters in both “Hitting a New High” snd “King Solomen’s Mines” are speaking.
Not that you are apt to miss a t deal, but se much “bird talk” and gutteral gibberish might make the hesitant, sensitive moviegoer feel a little out of place. That would be a shame, for he would then miss the opportunity to hear the lovely Lily Pons sing in her most charming manner. Miss Pons was never better. She
So | Sines as if she enjoys it fully as
much as the audience does listening. And that is considerable in “Hitting a New High,” for the end of the picture was warmly applauded by those present at the opening matinee. + The selection of music for Miss Pons was particularly fortunate. She sings Saint-Saens’ “Nightingale Song” from <“Parisatys,” the mad scene aria from “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Donizetti, Ambrose Thomas’ “Je Suis Titania” from “Mignon” and “The Musical Snuff Box” by Anatole Laidow.
Story Is Nonsensical
The story of “Hitting 3 New High” almost defies retelling. As a matter of fact, there is evidence that the authors had encountered a difficulty telling it the first time. It sheer nonsense, but very funny nonsense in spots. Edward Everett Horton plays the part of Blynn, a man with a great deal of money but with very little sense, who nurses a desire to discover operatic talent and develop it in his company. His manager makes it plain-that Blynn knows nothing of music nor of singers. Blynn’s press agent, who will do anything to put over a stunt, and a night club singer with greater ambitions complete the opening complications. Jack Oakie, the press agent, proceeds to stage an elaborate hoax on his employer. He arranges to have them stumble across a mysterious bird girl while on a hunting expedition in Africa. There is Lily Pons, as Oogahunga, clad n a few ounces of vulture feathers, climbing around in the trees and twittering a duet with her pet bird, “Ewyscray.” In such a setting anything could happen and mest everything does. Oakie, Horten and Eric Blore contribute amusing performances in this highly overdrawn farce. They do their best to carry it Sleng to its logical, insane end.
“Worth Your While”
“Hitting a New High” wouldn't be much without Lily Pons, but that was probably the intention of the ducers. They are quite right. eir show is good fun and very worth your while. “King Solomen’s Mines,” the sect ond Apollo attraction, tization of the Sir” Rider Haggard novel of the same name. An extremely colorful adventure story, it ably produced by GaumontBrit and ably acted by a large cast, including Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Roland Young, Paul Robeson, Anna Lee and John Loder. The picture tells the story of how Kathy O’Brien persuades two. English gentlemen, who are in Africa hunting big game, to aid her in her Search for her father, who has disppeared on a wild quest for the Tot mines of King Solomon. After nearly perishing of thirst in the desert, they reach a mysterious mountain kingdem, where the supposed mines are hidden. They are captured by native warriors and brought before the evil King Twala, who plots their destruction. Umbopa, their. native guide, then discloses that he is the true king, exiled as a child by King Twala. Some of the chieftains rally to his side,
they defeat Twala and place Umbopa on his rightful throne. During the battle Gagool, a witch woman, enticed Kathy into the mine’
| to be reunited with her imprisoned father. The white men pursue and
Gagool closes the door of the mine, trapping the party. But the wvillains have figured without Umbopa. And thus ends the tale. (L. H)
BERNIE STANDS IN
Ben Bernie turned stand-in this week on the set of “Love and Hisses.”” When one of the Peters Sisters, the 685-pound sepia trio of “Ali Baba Goes to Town” fame, cracked a heel while before the camera, the old maestro insisted on standing n for her.
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Harold ~
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and with the aid of the white, men, |
MYRNA SENDS
To your holiday Erecting add that of Myrna Loy, who takes the above method of Wishing a Merry Christmas to hex fans in Indianapolis.
IN NEW YOR
& af # President of Believes Off-Beat |
International
K— GEORGE ROSS
Sins Society s Here to Stay.
EW YORK, Dec. 256.—It was just the other night that John Henry
Hammond, who knows more about swing than most men, and your correspondent were hot in debate about the longevity of the offbeat.
As president of that international’ swing-addict, society, Le Jazz Hot, this man Hammond argued that| swing was gaining greater respect in the music world with each passing night. Your correspondent (whose ears long have been attuned to the din of W. 52d St.) argued hopefully that swing was on the way out.
So what happened? So S. Hurok,
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE APOLLO rolictng 3, Yow Jak, 740 1 SE SL Be vit 3 CIRCLE
“True Confession,” with Carole Lombard, 5 nd 10:58" at 11, an
“Daughter "of Sh i,” | with Anhg May Wong, at 12: on 3: 37, 6:27
"INDIANA
“Wells Farge,” with Joel McCrea Bob Burns, a" 1:47. 4:30, 7:03 and
KEITH'S
“Doc” Schneider’s; Texans on stage, at 1:30, 4, 6:50 and “A Bride for Henry. » “with Warren Hull, on screen, at 12, 2:30, LE +50 and 10:20.
“Hit Pons,.
LOEW'S
“Man-Proof,” with Myrna Franchos Tone, a 2:20, ” :55, 5 or Steal,” wit ’ Mozg an. an Shee Rice, 3 3: 40, 1 d 8:50.
Eat
hg ? with Kay Pranoiss Pontes. on screen at 12:31, 3 5 NE 8:04 and 10: oll od Harlem svue,” with Ethel Waters, on st age at LL 57, 4:38, 6:59 and 9:30.
Frgn
Ca dimmie the Gent,” with James Cass ey. Also “That Certain Woman,” wit ette Davis. |
AMBASSADOR
“All Baba Goes to Town,” with 2 ¥ddie, Cantar. Als¢ “Fight for Your
ALAMO
“Hollywood Roundup,” with Buck Sones “also Charlie an on Bread-. y »
“Charlie Chan on Broadway”
| Narr Oland
STARTING AT MIDNK
FEATURING SU NYA
THE 30.000 :
AY. 245TWO S i CONT :
SMILES ame Ki SSES |
HY ‘SHOW TONIGHT
the impresario who imports the Russian Ballet, choral groups and important dance personages from all over Europe, went down to the Madhattan Room the other night and bent an ear over Benny Goodman’s superlative band. And before he retired, he had arranged with Benny, the accredited king of swing, to give a public concert in Carnegie Hall, middle of next month. It will be a concert the like of which New York never has seen or heard before. For, there in the sanctuary of Brahms, Beethoven; Wagner, et al, will assemble as many of the town’s swingomaniacs as can possibly get in: Whereas only palm clapping and “Bravos!” greeted af Toscanini program in this hallowed hall, the Goodman evening should yield such strange sounds (for that place) as “Send us ciown, Benny,” “Smack that gutbucket” and ‘Show that icky how.” Mr. Hurok doesn’t intend te provide such atmospheric touches as
swing ha world of music. So maybe the president. of de Jazz Hot was Tight,
DAUGHTER OF SHANGHAL
. With ANNA MAY WONG >
a pay
{Sanders °
Loew’ s Film 4
‘Beg, Borrow row or Steal" Is Aided by Antics of * Frank Morgan.
1t the youth of the land had fol lowed the example of Frank Mor-
oh
gan and his associates, as se forth |. in “Beg, Borrow or Steal” Sauta | ay
Claus would have canceled
: Ametican tour.
For in I ie plekure, now at Loew's,
eniay” Resting the slighily
og crvdpeng in ery *You 2 be glad, though, that they do. cally Sites Me Morgan confi before it’s all over, just to keep ec By (Florence Rice) from marrying the wrong man. Mr. Morgan, you see, has procured himself a French villa and passed his henchmen off as titled Euro-
peans, just to impress daughter’s| | wealthy prospective parents-in-law. Buk when he has seen that the girl's | d made
turns out to be the chateau’ rightful owner. When you reflect that the phoney tine Regret Son an hoe and that E. E. Clive also is in the cast, you know what to expect. Mr. Morgan and Mr.
| Clive alone are worth the trip. Then |
there is the beauteous Miss Rice.
| John Beal, a clever young actor, is
the boy. Myrna Loy im New Guise Myrna Loy appears in a new guise in Loew's other feature, “ManProof.” From the screen’s most happily married wife in the “Thin Man” pictures, she turned manhater in “Double Wedding.” Now she’s the opposite as the girl whe
loves, loses and almost regains the |’
fortune-hunting Walter Pid : When he turns out to an amiable but thorough-going egoist, she sends him back to his wife and falls in love with Franchot Tone, a newspaper reporter. What ha to love in this picture is that it gets talked to death. If it weren't for a good many amusing lines, the audience might suffer a like fate. As it is, “Man-Proof” adds up to something considerably less than the above players, plus Rosalind Russell, deserve. (J. T.)
YR 2
SE! INI EY ancl His 3 Floor Shows Nig t Foods and Liquors at popular prices. Dancing 7 p. m. till ii x
them. 3 be Bek. Borrow os Steal” sets
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KEEP ON
CONFESSING
Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray, still: &-muggin’, have moved Apolip, where they are settled down for a sec-
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: Hill rd, singer, Joday scheduled
RITZ BROTHER'S | Blard. singer, iocay_ sche "WEDDING IS SET | ms ore porte: po
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 25 (U. P)— | Nev. , —Jimmy Ritz, member of the Rita |, ev. The wedding will be in Hol
Brothers comedy team, and Ruth
We wish y0u Baggies oh his Yuletide. .and pay 8 the New Year bring you all those joys nearest your 4 heart. Our Holiday show was especially planned for ’ you and yours. Come today...there's entertainment for every member of the family at LOEW'S!
WALTE RPIDGEON
A FRANK MORGAN Beg, LIE
{ The Ame)
music as
| eph
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elope to Yuma, Ariz, or Las Vegas, |.
Musician Mat: 0] Spread Of Unionism
Federation Acts to Enroll Approaimately 10,000 Eatertainers.
RK, Dec. 25 (U. P.)— an Federation of Mus sicians took steps today to force radio singers, a with swing bands andi all actors who employ art of their routine into the Amerigan Federation of Actofs or one of jits affiliates. More than
NEW Y
E | 10,000 entertainers would be affected.
This action was disclosed in let ters sent tip members of the Ameri
E | can 0 Federation of Musicians by Jose Weber, president of the
ml Richard }Himber, orchestra leader, ter stated that, effective immediately, no band connected with the Al. F. of M. could play for any singer, dancer, actor, or for any form (of entertainment unless the entertainer was a member of
Actors, Actors Equity, the Screen Actors G or the American Fed eration of | Radio Artists. In musigal circles it was assumed Mr. Weber{s letter was preliminary to an effont to obtain a minimum
ganized inor entertainers. Mr, Himber he considered this step a “boon” \ to. the small-time per former. .
BUSY ACTRESS DporthyfLamour, unknown a year ago, is one of Hollywood's busiest actresses (today. After she completes “Her Jungle Love,” she will still have [nearly a half-dozen pic» tures ahead of her for the ‘coming year.
RINE SS SHOW
and her
WA ood Revue £
vRavtem Rollyw « Eddie Mallory & Swing Band
. Sunshine = gammy ;
WALTER CONNOLLY PRESTON FOSTER
AY Your Neighborhood Theater
SOUTH ‘SIDE Lincoln ‘saws -INCO n Ed. E. Horton “WILD MONEY” “RUSTLER’S VALLEY” Sun. Double Feature—Akim Tamiroff “THE GREAT BAMBINI” Sonja Henie “THIN ICE” _ @ontinuowus Matinee Today New Garfield 2208 Shelby Holiday Feature Tonight & Tomorrow . Jee E. Brown Florence Rice “RIDING ON AIR” Sonja Henie—Tyronne Power
Continuous Matinee Today
Fountain Square Double Feature Deanna Durbin “100 MEN AND A GIRL" “WEST OF SHANGHAY’
8 blé Feat die Cantor X31 BARA ‘GOES TO TOWN”
“Charlie Chan on Broadway” ‘Continuous Matinds Today
er onight a \ Special Christmas Feature Dick Powell—Waring’s Pennsylvanians
“VARSITY SHOW” Jane W a All-Star Cast PUBLIC WEDDING” Continuous Matinee Today
Grove Featuce
“THE PERFECT SPE SR
“LAW FOR TOMBSTONE” Sun. Double Feature—Wm. Pawell
“DOUBLE WEDDING” Joel McCrea “DEAD END” ____ Continuous Matinee Today &' Churchman
Pros. Avalon “Beste resis “RIDING ON AIR” ty, Joe Ee he
“STELLA mie Has de = “DANGEROUS ADVENTURE"
Continuous Foie Crier Ave. Yosient
Granada ™ xia
Bo pq a gH nd iE 1 aakeSoms" Eg i i uiphy
“NORTH H SIDE
Zaring er
seas| Talbott
| Garrick
NORTH SIDE
C in € ma Colman " “PRISONER OF A” “MY DEAR MRS. ALDRICH” Sun. Double Feature—Bette Davis “THAT CERTAIN WOMAN” Marlene Dietrich “ANGEL”
Continuous from 1:30 of : 42pd & College Uptown rps res
“LIFE BEGINS WITH LOVE” “MR. DODDS TAKES THE AIR” Sun. Double Feature—Robt. Montgomery “LIVE, LOVE AND LEARN”
“IT HAPPENED IN HOLLYWOOD” Centinuous Mates Today
St. Clair® & Ft. Wayne
— Feature Barbara Stanwyck “STELLA DALLAS” . “LOVE IS ON THE AIR” Sun. Double Feature—Joan Crawford “BRIDE WORE RED” CHAN ON BROADWAY” Continuous Matinee T Today Taibo! tt & 22nd Daubls Feature Barton MacLane “WINE WOMEN AND HORSES”" Jas Ellisan “Annapolis Salute” Sun. Double Feature—Barbara Stanwyck “STELLA DALLAS” “FORTY NAUGHTY GIRLS” Continuous Matinee Today
REX 30th at Norhveatern |
Double Joe Pepmer “LIFE OF THE PARTY” “BRIDE WORE RED” Sun. Double Feature—Ronald Colman . “PRISONER OF ZENDA” “FOOTLOOSE HEIRESS” Continuous EL .
NORT iH SIDE
R ITZ Hlinois and 34th
Double Feature Josephine Hutchinson. “WOMEN MEN MARRY” Shirley Temple “HEIDY” Sun. Double Feaiure—Eddie Cantor “ALI BABA GOES TO TOWN” “LIFE BEGINS WITH LOVE” Continuous Ifatinee Today
16th & Delaware Double Feature
H Oo | lywoo aun Ellison
“ANNAPOLIS SALUTE” Bruge Cabot “BAD GUY” Sun. Double Feature—Joan Crawford “BRIDE WORE RED” “BACK IN CIRCULATION” Continuous Matinee Today
EAST SIDE Double Feature
IRVING | spi ria
“BACK IN CIRCULATION” “HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE” Syn. Double Fea jure-—Warner Baxter “YOGUES OF 1938” “DANGER—LOVE AT WORK” Continuous Matinis Today
Hamilton we see
Double Feature Bing Crosby “DOUBLE OR NOTHING” “THAT CERTAIN WOMAN” Sun. Double Feature—Warner Baxter YVOGVES QF 1938”
“DANG ER—LOVE AT WORK” . Coriinuous Matinee Today
E 46% - ~E. Jet MESON Christmas Feature “BACK IN CIRCULATION” “DANGER—LOVE AT WORK” Starts Tomorrow—Warner Baxter “VQGUES OF 1938” Edw. 1. Horton a Garrick” Continuous Matinee Today from 12:45
1332 E. cat NeithStrand ThE
Eddie Cantor All-Star Cast : « SAMI BABA HOES TO TOWN”
Baht. Mion “LIVE JO Van N”
fat 12: ! CT i
Ey LATE SHOWS Bvery Saturday—Sunday Nights Box Office Open Until N:30
SF |Paramountse ahi “TOAST OF NEW RAILEN
5307 E. Wash. St.
~~
ha
invis “Deas 4 Su
ge Evan “THE EE x Cary Grant “TOPPER” Sun. Double Feature—Layrel & Hardy “OUR RELATIONS” : Clark Gable “PARNELL” Continyqus Matinee Today
Ee tare RLY
“PERSONAL “NOBODY'S eri Sun. Double Feature—Marx Bros. “A DAY AT THE RACES” “WAY ouT WEST” Continuous Matinee re
Stratford
. Double Feature—Spanky MeFarlangd | “GENERAL SPANKY” | - “PERSONAL PROPERTY"
Dauble’ Feary Feature :
EAST SIDE
RIVOLI 3165 E. 10th SL
Christmas Feature Wm. Gargan = “BEHIND THE MIKE’ Shirley Temple “HEIDI” EXTRA! Last Show Tonight Onlyl , Fred MacMurray—Carole Lombard “The Princess Comes Across” Sun. Double Feature—Eddie Cantor “ALY BABA GOES TO TOWN” Ceaser Romero “Dangerously Yours” Continuous Matinee Today
Tacor Si Special Christmas Feat Ritz Bros. Tony artin “LIFE BEGINS IN COLLEGE” Jack RING TT Bradley “ROARING TIMBER”
Continuous Matinee Today
Tuxedo 4020 E. New York
Double Feature Ritz Bros. “LIFE BEGINS IN COLLEGE” “FLIGHT FROM GLORY” Sun. Double Featuye—Varner Baxter “VOGUES OF 1938” Edw. E. Horton “WILD MONEY” Continuous Matinee Today
WEST SIDE Speedway iui: “SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT” Zane Grey's “THUNDER ER Than”
Sun. Double F NAT
“HOLD Shirley Temple “HEIDI” Continuous Hain Tatar
& Blaine Howard "Sg kuin “DANGER—LOVE AT WORK” Ricardo Cortez “CALIFORNIAN” . Pouble Feature—Jack OQakie “SUPER SLEUTH”.
Shirley Temple “HEIDI” Continuous Matinee Today from 3:30 STATE Tak Sh Phil | : HIT PARADE" Sylvie HE uly “PEAP END” Sun. Double Feature—Balph Forbes “LEGION 9 MISSING MEN” “HEIDI”
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