Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 April 1938 — Page 2

PAGE 2

Beethoven's

N

inth- Closes

Successful Season for Symphony Under Sevitzky

Orchestra's Improvement Noted Through Series of Concerts; Conductor Praised for Type

x

Of

Programs Offered.

(Editorial, Page 10)

> |

By JAMES Orche

THRASHER :

as, while enthusiasm for the final pair of Indianapolis Symphony tra concerts is still warm, we may review the first chapter in a

new volume of the city’s musical history. ‘This season has seen the orchestra pass from a brave and struggling beginning to a new era of almost unbelievable attainment. We may look forward, also, to richer years of musical enjoyment with a hope miade

. en Fabien Sevitzky made orchestra in 1936 his hearers were tremendous driving energy which lifted | the musicians out of themselves| and carried them to an inspirational performance. When Mr.

ie by what has been done already.

Progress Is Noted This doubt has been answered with an emphatic yes at each fort-

There has been And only

curre t season. steady musical progress.

‘half the personnel composed of implayers. Well, the proof of the same.

tonishingly satisfying music in “freshman year.” Further, through a radio series they have spread their own and the city’s musical fame throughcut the country. In doing this they were forced, through exigencies of conficting schedules, to stand up against the

4 famous Arturo Toscanini and play

*

v

him note for note. So much for the annual report, at least for the present. There remains the pleasant task of reporting the final pair of concerts on Saturday and Sdnday, which, in presenting Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, marked the year’s most pretentious undertaking.

Choir Wins Praise

For the sccasion the orchestra was joined by the Symphonic Choir. This

body of nearly 200 singers was|

founded last summer, and their training ‘as put in the able hands of Elmer Andrew Steffen. Their performance of Kodaly’s ‘“‘Psalmus Hungaricus” at the third pair of concerts, of the Polovetsian Dances from Borodin’s “Prince Igor” at one of the Sunday concerts, and again in the taxing finale of the Ninth Symphony placed their aecomplishments on the same high plane with the orchestra. 2 The final performances also had the gifted Indianapolis pianist, Bomar Cramer, as soloist. He was heard in the Mozart Concerto in A Major (K 488) which, with the Overture to the same composer's opera, “The Marriage of Figaro,” ‘made up the first part of the program. Soloists in the’ Ninth Symphony were Jeanette Vreeland, soprano; Edna Merritt, alto; Edouard Grobe, tenor, and David Blair McClosky, baritone. Beethoven's Ninth is too great and too taxing a work to be done consummately by so young an organization. In fact, the ideal performance probably exists only in the imagination. For it is almost impossible tq scale the finale’s Olympian heights with human vocal chords. This work’s local performance was a rather daring and certainly a courageous one. Enough to say that it. gave pleasure, and that it had some tremendously. moving. moments. There was a noticeable improvement in the orchestra's playing yesterday ‘over the previous night.

Women Soloists Acclaimed

True, one was still conscious of the third movement’s length rather than its beauty. And Mr. Sevitzky took the Scherzo’s marking of

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE APOLLO

«Bluebeard’s Eighth . Wife,” with Claudette Colbert, Gary Cooper, Edward Everett Horton, at 12:50, 3:55, 7 and 10:05. “Dangerous to Know,” with Akim Tamiroff, Anna May Wong, at 11:40, 2:45, 5:50 and 8:55.

CIRCLE

“Hawaii Calls,” with Bobby Breen, Ned | Sparks, at 12:05, 2:35, 5:05, 7:35 and 10. “Bulldog Drummond’s Peril,” with John ° Barrymore, John Howard, Touize Campbell. at 11, 1:30, 4, 6:30, and 9.

INDIANA

“In Old ' Chicago,” with Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Alice Brady. at 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:10 and 9: ‘ “March of Time,” at 11:05, 1:35, 4:05, 6:40 and 9:10. s

LOEW'S

“The First Hundred Years” with Robert Montgomery, Virginia Bruce, Warren William, at 12:15, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50 and 19:25. “Little = Miss Roughneck,” with Edith Fellows. Leo Carrillo, at 11:05, 1:40, 4:10, 6:40 and 9:15.

4 LYRIC

“Calling AI Stars,” with Vince Barnett, Eddie Foy Jr. on stage at

1:05; 3:50, 6:45 -and 9:40. : “Island in the Sky,” with Gloria Stuart, Michael Whalen at 11:38,

2:23, 5:18, 8:13 and 10 OHIO “Submarine D-1,” with

Pat O’Brien. Also “Love and Hisses,” with Winchell and Bernie.

ALAMO : “A Lawman Is Born,” with Johnny Mack Brown. Also “Invisible Men: aoe,

AMBASSADOR ‘Radio City Revels,” with Bob

a single guest appearance with the electrified by his authority and the

Molto vivace so literally as to make it a breathless scrambling after notes. In some places excessive speed robbed the movement's rhythmic “motto” of its character, and the whole orchestra gave the impression of being rather ill at ease.

With the finale gained, however, things took on a pleasanter aspect. The chorus sang with great spirit, precision and accuracy of pitch— and the last is no common virtue. Among the soloists, honors were to the ladies. Miss Vreeland, in fact, almost fractured tradition by actually singing the “Ode to Joy” joyously. Both she and Miss Merritt were in excellent vocal condition.

though, Mozart emerged as the occasion’s hero. For here we were accorded playing for which no apology was necessary. Mr. Cramer played superbly. So far as I know, he has not done any Mozart in public during my five years’ acquaintapce with his playing. But on these appearances he showed that he has penetrated the secret of what goes into the making of that rare and blessed artist —the good Mozart player. In doing so, he has achieved what many strive after for a lifetime without success. Pianist Scores Success

1t is idle to dwell upon Mr. Cramer’s perfection of style, his obvious Jove of the music and the musicianly consideration that went into its prajection. The fact that Mr. Cramer happens to be a local musician has no weight in my opinion that he was far and away the most satisfying instrumental soloist - of the symphony season. The orchestra’s part of the concerto found conductor and players in perfect accord with the composer and the soloist. And their playing of the “Figaro” Overture set off the concerts with a brilliant flourish. So we have come to the “end of the beginning”’—a first year which surpassed all expéctations. It ‘has given us a conductor whose artistic virtues, energy, sincerity of purpose and knowledge of his difficult business are beyond question. As a program-builder he deserves a special commendation.

Programs Well Chosen

Too many conductors are laboring under the impression that Bee-. thoven and Brahms, being the greatest symphonists, consequently must be played the most. As a result this great music stands in danger of being played threadbare, on any and-all occasions. As symphonists, Beethoven, Brahms and Tschaikowsky were represented only twice on the subscription concerts. There were only two Wagner excerpts, and those not

stead, we heard on all the programs, 14 works by American composers, and an imposing array of other ‘first performances in Indianapolis.” All this music was not great, but nearly all of it was worth hearing. Through his programs Mr. Sevitzky emerged as a sincere musician, but unfettered by snobbery or tradition. His service here promises much for the city’s musical growth and prestige, and we take leave of him and his musicians until next fall with a. wish of “gfore power to you!”

FILM STAR TAKES OVER "WHITE HOPE

HOLLYWOOD, April 4 (U. P)). Robert Montgomery, film star, became a prize fight manager today. A fight fan,”Mr. Montgomery took over the job of launching the professional ring career of Tommy Garland, 18, who has won 45 of his 50 fights as an amateur. The youth is the son of a waitress at the actor’s studio.

In the light of performance,

in the done-to-death category. In- |

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

*

FILM TRAVELER REACHES PEKING

-

pictures.”

easier way than that.” Nevertheless, the industry is in general agreement that good pictures would be the solution of its troubles. Good, substantial pictures with more action and less talk, with more emphasis on story values and less attention to the costly whims of arty theorists. The movie-makers would give a lot to know whether the fans are fed up with musicals, and whether they're tired of sophisticated slapstick. Do they want westerns, murder mysteries, fantasy or what? I'll stick my neck out far enough to predict a renaissance of romance on the screen. Love has been having a tough time of it lately. : Youthful gyp subscription salesmen, who must be working their way through reform school, are driving the movie stars crazy by actually getting on the studio lots and ringing dressing room doorbells. They use the wildest misrepresentations in their sales talks, claiming to be relatives of employees or the sons of starving former stars. Cer“tain truck drivers double their wages by smuggling solicitors inside studio gates. Some players were discussing accents and dialects. One said, “Now, take a Scotchman—”

Presents Organ Recital Tonight

The Indiana Chapter, American Guild of organists, will present Mrs. John English of Indianapolis in a recital at 8:15 o'clock tonight in the Broadway Methodist Church. The public is invited to attend. Mrs. English is to play the following program:

Chorale in A Minor Fran Chorale, “My Heart Is Filled with

nging’’ Fantasy -and Fugue Petite Pastorale .. Fantasia on “Old Hundredth” “Romance Sans Paroles’ “Comes Autumn Time’ “Sportive Fauns’ D’Antalffy “The Squirrel’ ais al Loses Weaver “Bells Through the Trees’... . Edmundson Toccata from Symphony No. 5 ....« Widor

D suum Tomorrow Hight sess D Ladies’ All 3 Adm. 15¢ Evening 3

Gentlemen 208¢ Before 9 E E

Through old Peking’s gate, with a caravan of camels and horses, comes Gary Cooper (left foreground) as the famous Venetian explorer in Sam-

Moviedom Seeks Opinion On Type of Films Wanted

By PAUL HARRISON A HOLLYWOOD, April 4—Short takes: of movie executives who were discussing the current Hollywood panic. “What we'll have to do,” said one, “is get to work and make some good

“Oh, don’t get excited,” soothed the other man. @

RNIDEIAN rR OO O FW

A story is told of a couple

“There must be an

“You can’t,” objected Scotch Ella Logan.

Accent on Accents

Hottest item in the line of leading men is young Douglas Fairbanks. Less than a year ago he could be hired practically for buttons. Now he’s drawing $100,000 from Universal for the picture with Danielle Darrieux. . . . At odd moments he has been skipping over to RKO for retakes on “Having Wonderful Time,” which seems to

have been a sorry job of miscast-

ing an acquired British accent into

a story about, Jewish stenographers

and their Bronx boy friends in a summer resort in the Berkshires. Touches of dialect are being inserted belatedly. i Metro is making dignified but eager overtures to Miss Garbo and Stokowski for an appearance together in a picture. No sale. . . . Marlene Dietrich went back to

Paramount—but only to have some |

new portraits made by a photographer who's accustomed to her whims. She paid for them . . . Incidentally, Josef von Sternberg has a new. protege. whom he may bring here after changing her name. Right now she’s Hedy Pdunfmayer. . . . Back in Paris, Mireille Balin insists that after recovering her health she’ll return to Hollywood for a promised picture with Clark Gable. Twisted Tongues

Words most frequently mispronounced on the screen are decadent, harass, research, impious, address,

sacrilegious, contractor and super-

visor. Almost any word, though, may muddle a player's lines. For example, Jimmy Cagney happened to blow up on the word “newspaper.”

IRVIN $. COB8 YMOND PAIGE AND ORCHESTRA

John Barrymore

“Bulldog Drummond’s Peril” with John Howard, . Louise Campbell

BALCONY 30CAFTER 6

EAST SIDE

AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER

WEST SIDE

Y O L | 3155 E. 10th St. Door Open 5:45 E Spencer Tracy Joan Crawford “MANNEQUIN” Bob Burns—Jack Oakie O CITY REVELS” EXTRA! 1928 Academy Winner “THE OLD MILL”

TACOMA

THE LAST GANGSTER” Claudette Colbert “TOVARICH” othy Lamour Jon Hall

TUXEDO ” URRICANE”

: THE H “SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING” ; ‘ 5507 E. Wash. St, IRVING Double Feature Dorothy Lamour “THE HURRICANE” Geo. Arliss “DR. SYN” rT Tw nN E hE amilbon Double Feature

Melvyn Douglas “I'LL TAKE ROMANCE” _ Dorothy Lamour “HURRICANE”

2442 E. Wash. St.

4020 E. New York Dor

GOLDEN 6116 E. Wash.

. Burns. Also Blonds at Work.”

NOW A

PCH XC CLAUDETTE [[€¥7. iL HARRIE

OTE (AENKIE <

IC

OWeEk!

Double Feature Warren Hull “A BRIDE FOR HENRY” Eleanor Powell “ROSALIE”

£ ) | 4630 E. 10th EMERSO Double Feature Dorothy Lamour “HURRICANE” ‘YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE”

arr “BLONDES AT WORK” Plus Charlie MeCarthy “Hit

STRAND Fails

a 411 E. Wash. Paramount ~~ peudle Festurs . a es “EVERY DAY'S A HOLIDAY” Frances Langford “HIT PARADE”

Taylor “LOVE IN A BUNG oy “SWING IT, SAILOR”

BR | J oO U hour §ebinai

PARKER “Fuh fi

Howard & Blaine HOW A RD Double Feature’ Fdw. G. Robinson “THE LAST GANGSTER” “SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING”

STA T E 2702 W. 10th St.

Double Feature Edw. G. Robinson “THE LAST GANGSTER” _* “CHANGE OF HEART” W. Wash. & Belmont Double Feature

“

BELMONT Lewis ‘Stone “YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE” __ Joan Crawford “MANNEQUIN” 2540 W. Mich. St. D A | S Y Double Feature Irene Dunne “THE AWFUL TRUTH” .___ John Beal “DANGER PATROL” Speed gotviwy oF e Fea pee way Franeiska Gaal: “THE BUCCANEER” “CHANGE OF HEART” SOUTH SIDE ; o East at Lincoln LINCOLN ‘Double Feature Ben Bernie LOVE AND HISSES” “NAVY BLUE AND GOLD” 22 Shelby New Garfield peutic resture “YOU'RE A SWEETHEART” :

_____ “TRAPPED BY GFOUNTAIN SQUARE - Double Feature 3 Jack Holt “UNDER SUSPICION" SA N D ERS rl a “SHADOWS O THE ORIENT” . GROVE Doubts Feature “SWING YOUR LAD \ “YOU'RE A SWEETHEART” Double Feature Preston Foster “THE WESTLAND CASE” . Myrna Loy “MAN-PROOF”

Bob B “RADIO CITY REVELS "At Fountain Square Dou Nelson Eddy “ROSALIE” Humphtey, Bogart Ara Pros. & Churchman AVALON tat : 1105 Se. Meridian ORIENTAL Sere resis,

NORTH SIDE

Illinois and 84th

Double Feature |

R T Z Sonja Henie

“HAPPY LANDING” Phyllis Brooks ‘CITY GIRL”

1500 . Roosevelt Hollywood Double Feature Edw. G. binson . “THE LAST GANGSTER” Kenny Baker “52D STREET”

DIN Central at Fall Crk. ZARING “bethreig “THE BUCCANEER” “BLONDE TROUBLE” 16th & Delaware CINEMA Humphre A

Double Feature “SWING YOUR LA

uel Goldwyn’s “The Adventures of Marco Polo,” due at Loew's on April 15. At Mr. Cooper's feét is Marco's weary servant, played by Ernest Truex.

Right away it became a sort of mental hazard and he ruined five successive takes, always faltering on the same word. Grace Moore’s husband, Valentin Perara, uses the matrimonial “we” in speaking of his wife’s activities. “We sang on the radio,” he says. Or, “We recorded three numbers yesterday.” Or, “We have a sore throat.” . » « Mary Pickford wants Buddy | Rogers to give up his orchestra leading, but he wants to work. . .. { Rudy Vallee still impersonates { Maurice Chevalier, a fading memory. An uppity young actress accused a dowager of the stage of stealin "her scenes. The veteran said, “My dear, but that's absurd! If- you | were a shop lifter, would you operate in a bargain basement?” A widely favored plan to solve the problems of Hollywood ‘extras may be the placing under contract of more than 1000 people by the major studies. This would eliminate the Central Casting Bureau and would assure the junior stock players a living wage—with a $35 weekly minimum and an additional $5 a day for every day worked. But if the scheme is adopted -there’ll ‘be a wild scramble for the best prospects—especially for cuties. Some of the executives already have their lists prepared.

TODAY--TOMORROW Pat O’Brien—Wayne Morris

“SUBMARINE D-1".

waiter (| oye & Hisses' Ben,

“Julius Caesar,”

Sutherland i Castto Give

Play April 10

'The Prodigal Son' to Be Presented Three Nights In Modern Dress.

. Taking: a tip from Orson Welles’ the Sutherland Players are to present their 12th annual Lenten drama, “The Prodigal Son,” in modern dress. The engagement will be for three nights, beginning next Sunday. All performances will be at 8 p. m. in the Sutherland Presbyterian Church. “The play is a dramatization of the biblical story by Edward Finnegan, and was presented first at St. Mary's Theater, Boston, in 1924, Fhe Sutherland Players presentation is being directed by Norman Green. Stage Without Scenery

Mr. Welles’ revolutionary tactics also will be reflected in the staging.

‘There is to be no scenery, and only

the simplest of necessary properties will be used. Special lighting effects and incidental music will be used to heighten the action. : The “Julius Caesar” parallel extends farther, for Mr. Green has employed the text's biblical language, just as Mr. Welles used the Shakespearean text in his modern

| staging.

Mr. Green says that, through this unusual method, the Sutherland Players hope to demonstrate that productions are not dependent upon elaborate effects, and that drama itself lies in characters’ conflicting emotions- and ideas, and can be projected without theatrical paraphernalia. :

Given Without Charge

The announced cast includes James Bowling, Katherine Sebastian, Geneva Fledderjohn, Martha Robbins, Edward Green, Catherine Fyfe, James Applewhite, Paul Rouse, Alma Meyer, James McDaniel, Charles Haas, Lavora Gibson, Harold Green and the director. There is to be no charge for the performances, ond free reserved tickets may be obtained at the Indiahapolis Church Federation office or at the Sutherland Presbyterian Church.

WEREN'T MARRIED BUT ARE MARRIED

SPRINGTOWN, Pa., April 4 (U. P.).—Jack Kirkland, 38, playwright, author of the perennial “Tobacco Road,” and Haila. Stoddard, musical comedy actress, are married now but they weren't when they said they were last week. ‘The reason they said they were when they weren't was to “avoid publicity,” Mr. Kirkland said.

ROBERT NOW: MONTGOMERY Virginia BR UCE

THE FIRST 100 YEARS

with WARREN WILLIAM

EDITH hg “LITTLE MISS ROUGHNECK”

New York's World Fair.

to those of us who sagely recommend Sally Rand and her stepping sisters for the Midway; and that they will honor our certificates when we suggest the Midway itself. But thanks for the diploma, anyway. That scroll reminds me of the night of the preview. of the big World's - Fair at Dallas whither I was led by a few of the inkstained wretches from the enemy camp in Ft. Worth. A dazzling spectacle of buildings and illuminated pools was before us as we passed the entrance gate, and for the next mile the architectural vista was breathtaking. But the .promenade along this part of the ‘Exposition was also sparsely populated. : In fact, humanity was conspicuously lacking. until we reached that phase of the Fair Grounds labeled “Streets of Paris,” a holdover attraction from the big goingson in Chicago a couple of years ago.. ‘The sights here were chiefly anatomical and ‘for two bits the visitor in search of progress could watch the Little Lady wiggle, disrobe or pose a la Venus. And it was here that we met the incomparable Peggy of Paris who, in turn, ran the sideshow called “Montmarte Nights,” barked the ware on the outside, collected the cash, heckled the crowd and went within to exhibit “Montmarte Nights” herself. She was the most articulate performer along this nearGaelic midway and the °' most charming . . . and if Katharine Cornell were playing across the street, Peggy would have won the customers first. : So as a member of the Advisory Committee of the New York World’s Fair, I would suggest the immediate engagement of Peggy of Paris. That is, if my credentials are not fake.

' One-Legged Dancer

For a medal of fortitude, this column can point to no better stoic at the moment than the Negro known as “Peg-Leg” Bates, who puts on a dynamic dance at the Cotton Club. : His steps are as agile and fast as an unscathed hoofer’s; and, though he lacks one pedal support and maneuvers on a wooden leg, Bates has been hailed as a handicapped Bill Robinson. The story goes that “Peg Leg” lost his leg when it caught in a baling machine in Georgia's cotton fields. Up to then, he had never danced any more than did most of the cofton hands. But he had to earn a livelihood and over a span of time and at great pain, discip-

DIRECT TO YOU—FROM ITS $200 RUNS—AT REGULAR PRICES!

IN OLD

CHICAGO

IN NEW YORK —sy ctoree ROSS . On Day Hitler Rode Into Vienna, Austrian

Brauhaus Was Strangely Silent

NEW YORK, April 4—A parchment, signed, sealed and delivered (and suitable for framing) with Grover Whalen’s signature, now identifies ‘me as a member of the Advisory Committee on Entertainment of

’

I hope the title is not merely honorary and that they will listen

lined ‘himself to dance. He is one of the top-notchers now.

Hitler Blues Te

‘It was not simply a coincidence that on the day Herr Hitler rode triumphantly into Vienna, I had chosen to dine at the Hall of the Austrians, a subterranean brauhaus on Yorkville’s fringes. How did expatriated Austrians accept Der Fuehrer’s coup? None too well. Usually an exuberant place, the Hall of the Austrians was quiet and brooding on this night. The tzigane ensemble which generally plays incessantly on Blue Danube themes, was reluctant to perform for us this ‘momentous day and there were many table huddles among the guests around the place. Not that any conclusions of major significance could be drawn from the foreboding atmosphere . . . but it was interesting in the light of the front-page flashes outside.

Durbin in Distress

Matty Fox, an official of Universal Pictures, was nearly arrested the other night when he visited a midtown night club with Deanna Durbin and her mother.

Demure Miss Durbin, oblivious of her importance as the center of attraction, gazed in rapture at Paul. Lukas nearby and was thrilled to death when she got his autograph. Then George MacManus, creator of a nationally celebrated cartoon, came by to say hello, and so did Gertrude Hoffman, the dancing mistress. But the trouble started when photographers entered intent on taking pictures. Matty Fox told them nothing doing—explaining that too many fans would resent seeing the child star in a night club. So the . photographers downstairs and clicked their cameras when the party departed. A

cautious escort, Fox hastily threw -

his overcoat over the head of young Deanna who at the same

time let out a surprised scream.

And a policeman came running to her rescue.. In the shuffie, Mr. Fox was almost pinched for disorderly conduct. It was Mrs. Durbin who explained all.

ywood Starlets and Many Others

“ISLAND IN THE SKY”

Lid GLORIA MICHAEL

STUART-WHALEN

ER RT IAA Ca TN

Bogart “BORROWING TROUBLE” 42nd & College Double Reature

UP TOWN Teron MacDonald

“NAUGHTY MARIETT. _.____ “BLONDES AT WORK” i st. Cl. & Ft. Wayne ST. CLAIR : Dauble Keature “HAPPY LANDING” Miriam Hopking “WISE GIRL"

. Talbott & 2nd TALBOTT . Sesh fis, “THE HURRICANE” “$H! THE OCTOPUS” Double Feature

X Dick Powell “HOLLYWOOD HOTEL” “TRAPPED BY G-MEN”

RE

“FIT FOR A KING -Sylvia Sidney “DEAD END”

Joan Blondell “STAND-IN” Stratford Sd fa,

“NOTHING SA! “DAMSEL IN DI ESS”

DREAM Bt

80th at Northwestern |

GARRICK ‘Birnie’

a

Beginning Wednesday, April 6, in

~The Indianapolis Times

waited :

MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1938 /