Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 December 1938 — Page 19
hirley Still Is Queen of Box Offices
At Last That's the Way It Appears Now; Sonja No. 2
By PAUL HARRISON "HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 19 (NEA).—
Talkietown’s dpinion, probably in a
ratio of 10 to 1. is that Shirley Temple still is the box office queen of the movies. Presently there’ll be an announcement of the popularity ratings of the flicker stars, and scarcely anybody doubts that the Marvel Moppet will be right on top for the fourth successive year. ‘But you can't get anybody to agree on the remainder of the “list of 10 biggest fan attractions of 1938. Almost certainly the group of leaders will include some new names, and the ranking of former champions will be changed. I shall go out on a limb right now to predict that Sonja Henie will be found occupying the No. 2 position. She was seventh in 1937, and was the only player ever to reach the top bracket the first year in pictures. The biggest money-making stars 12 months ago were Miss Temple, Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, Bing
Crosby, William Powell, Jane With-|"
ers, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Miss Henie, Gary Cooper and Myrna Loy, in that order. The rating, together with an estimate of the box office worth of all prominent players in Hollywood, was based on the annual poll among the nation’s exBibitors by the Motion Picture Her- * Dance Team Slips Naturally some criticism can be made of the accuracy of a poll of theater men, whose votes must be cast according to box office ceipts’ and not strictly according to fan sentiment. Thus William Pow- . ell doubtless still rates high in the . preference of customers, but his long illness has kept him off the screen nearly all year, and the survey consequently will show him far down the list. Astaire and Rogers, who as a team were voted into seventh place in
1937, probably will not reach the long
championship list this year. Miss will come close, though, as Si /dividual, because of her greater y. 1 believe Myrna Loy also | wo all short of the 10-best rating for 1938 because she hasn't been very busy. “Test Pilot” was fine for her; “Too Hot to Handle” contributéd to her prestige. But she needed a “Thin Man” picture, or a couple of roles of that type. Clark Gable, ranking second last year, is my guess for third place in 1938 if he is topped by the novelty star, Miss Henie. He and Cooper— the latter handicapped by not-too-favorable roles — have advantages sapossessed by no other male stars in Hollywood: They're admired equally “\by men and women. Metro’s heavyi "handed campaign to make a he-man % of Bob Taylor may have done him some harm, but he’ll remain in the upper bracket,
- Deanna Coming Fast
: The picture colony seems to believe that Tyrone Power Will reach championship ranking this time. I'll bet he doesn’t. Mr. Power has been used as 20th-Fox’s utility man, being consistently miscast in hokey historical ‘roles and in earnest-young-man parts which emphasize the squaring of his jaw. He is too young and amiable and normal to be treated like that. The Muni stuff can wait for 10 or 15 years. - You can find ‘few people in this town whose personal list of best actors ‘is not headed by Spencer Tracy. But if he reaches the championship list this year it will be a surprise to everybody and a tribute to the discrimination of the fans. Deanna Durbin seems the most likely of all newcomers to crash the seleet, 10-best ranking. I'd guess she may reach fifth or sixth place. Jane Withers may skid a notch or two, and she and Miss Temple may find: a third juvenile in their exalted company—Mickey Rooney. He by no means deserves more than an equal share of credit for the sensational success of the Hardy Family pictures, but he'll get the glory just the same. And there may be a new team in the list of 1938 box office champions — Bergen and McCarthy. Charlie thinks so, anyway.
JORDAN PUPILS TO GIVE PLAYS
Miss. Alberta Spele Srelciter of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music dramatic department, will present her pupils in three Christmas plays at 8 p. m. Wednesday at the Odeon. The play entitled “The Doll | House” will have a cast of children % from 3% to 6 years of age. The second play, “The Christmas Card,” will include children up to 12 years of age, and the third play, “The Maker of Majic” will have a cast of older childre © #The Christinas Card” will be presented at the Ben Hur Lodge Christmas party tomorrow at Castle Hall. “The Maker of Magic” will be repeated on WFBM’s Children’s Hour at 10:30 a. m. Saturday,
NAGLEY SR. PLANS RECEPTION TODAY
Laster C. Nagley Sr., Indianapolis and Brown County artist, wil be host at en open house for Brown County friends and local art folJowers today in his ‘exhibit rooms ‘on, the mezzanine floor of the Hotel
'ashington. He will be assisted by Mrs. Nagley receiving ‘his guests. Mr. Nagley,
Il FRANCES OF I. U.
Miss Robinson, or Frances Benedict, as she is known during working hours, stepped into Julie Haydon’s role in “Shadow and Substance” at English’s Saturday afternoon and, with one strike against her, delivered solidly. It was her first professional appearance, and judging from her colleagues’ comments, she may be looked for in regular - Broadways lineups before
Miss Haydon was suffering from a severe cold at the play’s opening on Friday night. At the end of Act I of Saturday’s matinee, both her voice and her strength gave out. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, the play’s star, announced the substitution in a curtain speech and Miss Robinson picked up the role in the second act. Vincent Burke, English’s manager, said it was the first time in. his connection with the theater than an understudy had been called upon to take over after a performance had started. And Mr. Burke’s memory of English’s goes back more years than he might like to admit. So it was a truly dramatic occasion.
Born in Brazil
Miss Robinson, who was born 23 years ago in Brazil, Ind., majored in dramdtics at I. U. and appeared in several University Theater productions. After graduation, she joined the Weathervane Players in Akron, O., her present home, and also played leading parts in a summer theater at Ogunquit, Me. Turning to radio, she wrote and starred in a play called “Trampled |* Gardens,” broadcast by a Cleveland station last year. Then she went to New York, and through an Indianapolis relative, Mrs. Henry R. Alburger, met Otis Skinner. Miss Robinson was chosen by Sir Cedric to understudy Miss Haydon from a group of 200 applicants. Meanwhile Miss Haydon was convalescing today at Methodist Hospital, and expected to fly to New York tomorrow or Wednesday. She hopes to rejoin “Shadow and Substance” in Chicago, where it reopens Dec. 26 after a week’s holiday vacation. ‘Out of a pile of sweaters and blankets in a steam-filled room, Miss Haydon whispered praises of her understudy much less faint than the voice that uttered them. “I think Miss Benedict is lovely,” she said, “and I'm sorry her performance wasn’t reviewed. I have heard her rehearse the part and I really think she’s a better actress than I am.”
D.A.R. Proposes Boycott of Play
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (U. PJ). —The national defense committee of the Distgict of Columbia unit, Daughters of the American Revolution, proposed a national boycott today of “Pins and Needles,” musical revue produced by the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union. At a monthly meeting, Mrs. Frank a. Towner, chairman of the D. A. ‘R.’s . national defense program, charged that the “socially significant” revue was “so Communistic, so profane and so broad in its implications” as to make it unfit “for any child fo see and to make an adult ashamed to be in its audience.” The company completed a week’s showing at the National Theater here last Saturday. Without commenting, Mrs. Towher read from a newspaper clipping that the first-night audience in the national capital included four Cabinet members: Secretary of Interior Ickes, Secretary ‘of Agriculture Wallace, Secretary of Treasury Morgenthau land Secretary of Labor Perkins. Mrs. Towner urged committee members to out-of-town D. A. R. members that the show is touring the country so that they might avoid “innocent attendance at the subversion exhibition.”
ACTOR THROWS SELF
while trying to learn the rhumba for a ‘scene of “St. Louis Blues,” in
Lamour. By the time he had recovered, Director Raoul ‘Walsh had gecided not to use the rhumba at
By JAMES THRASHER
In case the 1935 class prophecy of Indiana University was a little shortsighted, it might be revised today to include Frances Jean Robinson among the “girls most likely to succeed.” -
Lloyd Nolan sprained his foot|:
which he’s featured with Dorothy|:
«You Can Be Lute This y1s-Good
_upOWN' Te Si TON” -
“JACK -OAKIE' “FLORIDA SPECIAL”
Frances Benedict
Miss Benedict (Robinson) Takes Over for Julie Haydon Saturday at English's and Wins Miss Haydon, s Praise as Well as Mr. Thrashers.
*
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE
APOLLO
“Say It in French,” with Qivrnpe . Bradna, Ray Mi land, at 11:11 0, :46, 7:42 and 10:21, ‘“Ride a Crooked Mite,” with Akim Tamiroff, Le Erikso Frances Farmer, at 12:32, 3:28, 6: 2 and 9:03.
LOEW'S
“Drums,” with Sabu, Raymond a nd fo Tester, at 12:35,
3:45 § .“ Smashin the Ring,” with Ral h Bellamy. ray, at 11:25,
, 5:50 an
bid 5»
ERIC
Crosby and His Orchestra, on 3:58, 6:45 and 9 with Ton itartin 32, 2:20, 5:08, 7:56
". Bob sta e at 1:10; p the Rivers yr on screen at 11: and 10:24.
Variety Club Plans Show
Annual Touring Yule Fete To Entertain Children.
The Variety Club will¢sponsor its fourth annual touring Christmes Cheer show Dec. 22-24, it was announced today. The show will visit several institutions in the 'Indianapolis district. present an hour’s entertainmen* and then present each member of the
audience with a Christmas gift. Among the institutions to visited will be the Day Nursery, Iadianapolis School for the Blind, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sunnyside Sanatorium, Altenheim Old Folks Home, Indianapolis Home fo: the Aged, General Protestant Orphesns Home, American Settlement School and the Marion County Guardians Home. The committee in charge of ‘he show is Louis Stockman and Marc J. Wolf. The entertainment will oe provided mainly by pupils from the Stockman Dancing Academy. Mr. Stockman is supervising the production. Those participating in the show will be transported by bus, and the club will entertain the cast between appearances.
he
Movies Vie for Film on Coster
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 19 (U. P.) — Two movie companies raced today to get the amazing career of Frank Donald Coster-Musica onto the screen first. Warner Brothers hoped to begin production before Jan. 1.. They assigned Claud Rains to play the part of Coster-Musica. and William McGann to direct. “The Musica drama is the most sensational, ready-made movie scenario I have ever seen printed in the newspapers,” Bryan Foy, Warner producer said. fords such wonderful screen entertainment that it needs’ very little alteration for filming. Columbia had ne writers at work on a Coster-Musica scenario and hoped to get.it into production quickly.
FIRST JOB AS BELL HOP
Wallace Ford, who portrays the leading ‘role in “Hometown,’ writ-
liam K. Howard, was, at on2 time, a bellboy at the Jackson Hotel in Sioux City, Iowa.
STAR EXHIBITS PHOTOS
candid camero studies in 3 j competitive exhibit in New Yori. Most of the actor’s pictures have Hollywood studios as their subject.
CENA TIAN OLYMPE BRADM
“The story af-|.
ten, directed and produced by Wil- |-
Lew Ayres is entering some of his|
a Lupino
Tells All’
She Wald, That K If iter)
viewer Permitted.
PAUL HARRISON
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 19.—A press
-|agent interviews Ida Lupino:
Q—This is just some routine stuff, Ida. But since youre coming back
| to. the studio we’ll be wanting to
get out a new biography of you. Now, let’s see—you were born in
| England, weren't you?
A-—London. In 1916, on— Q—Never mind. You don’t need any vital statistics for a studio biography. We could say, “She was born on a balmy Wednesday in October,” but we couldn’t say what October. I know you're married, too, but we couldn’t put anything so trivial as a marriage. in a biography. Don’t ask me why, either; it’s just an old Hollywood custom. Besides, I'm supposed to be asking you questions. Important questions, such as “What do you collect?” A—Collect? Why, 1 don’ collect anything. All He Needs Is a Hint :
."Q—Oh, now, you must collect something—stamps or antiques or miniature elephants or— A—Well, T've got a few pieces of china. But I wouldn’t say— + Q@—That’s it! “Hollywood’s largest collection of fine china.” How about sports? I think your last biography said you like riding. A—I can play a little tennis. But don’t ever try to get me in a saddle or an airplane. When I first flew out here I was so sick—positively green!—that the boys at the airport c¢idn’t even recognize me. And as for riding—
Q—Yes, those are good sports; sort. of dashing and modern. Ill just put them down: “She: loves.a brisk canter, and is taking flying lessons.” Now, here’s a tough one— who is your favorite actor? A—That’s an easy one. Spencer Tracy. Q—Aw, Ida—now think! Tracy works for Metro.’ You're supposed to say, “My ideal actor is really a composite. I like the virility of Fred MacMurray; the gaiety of Bob Hope; the wholesome quality of Joel McCrea; the fascinating dash of George Raft; the rugged simplicity of Bob—-" A—AIll right, have it your way.
| But I still like Spencer Tracy.
Ida Should Know Legs Q—Me, too, but not for the rec-
jord. Now, about an actress?
A—I can really co-operate with you there, because I like Claudette Colbert. She’s got everything. And legs! Why, her legs are the most—
Q—All right. - You admire her
| |dramatic ability, but we’ll skip the |llegs. No, maybe I better get in
something about the legs, because she shows ’em in “Zaza” and that’ll give me a chance to plug the name of the picture. I could work it in like this: “Miss Lupino, said by a jury of noted European artists to have the most beautiful legs in England, graciously declares that Miss Colbert really possesses the most shapely gams— no, ‘legs’—in Hollywood. These are the same stem—I1imbs,’ ‘neether extremities’ or what can you eall legs besides ‘legs’?>—which she so winsomely displays in ‘Zaza’” By the way, have you any beauty hints, like ice cream massages or something? A—Well, I guess I would advise girls not to use too much makeup.
Eyebrow Advice
Q—No, Ida, you got to think of something exotic, sort of. Like rinsing your hair in the whites of
| pheasant eggs. Or maybe making a
complexion pack out of the juice from five pounds of white mushrooms. Or truffles. Truffles would be better. A—Here’s something that I really would like to tell a lot of girls: I'd tell ’em not to pull out all their
,|eyebrows. When I first came to
Hollywood the make-up people yanked out all my eyebrows and then drew them on me anywhere their whims dictated. I looked awful! The Lord knew perfectly well where my eyebrows belonged, and I don’t do anything to them now except shave a little between them. They'd grow together and I'd look like a female Dracula or something. I don’t pluck ’em in between because I get poisoned by make-up and—
Q—No, Ida, that sounds kind of clinical. I like your truffle idea better. Thanks for giving me all this dope. If there's any space left I'll work in something about your famous father and mother, and your noted cousins and your uncle, and how the Lupinos have been a celebrated English stage family for 250 years.
‘Reach Total of 1,300,000 Pieces for Season.
SANTA CLAUS, Ind., Dec. 19 (U.
‘P.) —Postmaster Oscar Phillips took a long sigh today and predicted that |
he would send out almost 50,000 pieces’ of mail before the day is OVer.
This little southern Indiana community was in the midst of its annual Christmas business, accommodating persons from all over the world who send letters and packages to be stamped with the “Santa Claus” postmark and then returned. Mr. Phillips’ business began last September and has been improving ever since. The mail has been averaging from 15,000 to 20,000 pieces the
Phillips predicted his. total Christ-
000 pieces. Foreign Mail Heavy
The largest single shipment s6 far this year was 40,000 pieces for a
postmark. This has been a record-
breaking year for foreign mail, the largest amounts coming from England, France, Germany and South Africa. Santa Cl hills of Spencer County, has a population of 67 persons and before Christmas Eve arrives one-fifth of the inhabitants will be employed in the postoffice while another fifth
village. ‘Assisting the postmaster is his daughter, Odessa Phillips. The postoffice is a small structure, 15 feet wide and 25 feet long. Not only has Santa Claus’ postal business been gaining rapidly but thousands of persons have visited the village. Last Sunday more than 10,000 persons, imbued with the Christmas spirit, walked through the streets and inspected the various points of interest.
Storybook Houses Built
Most of them were thrilled by the toy village, which contains miniature replicas of storybook houses built by Milton E. Harris. Toys bearing the “Santa Claus” postmark may be mailed to any place in the world. Another attraction is the candy castle, built of brick in the style of an old world castle. It consists of three rooms, each with a large fireplace, while the walls are painted with murais of storybook characters. The town’s other two main buildings—the general store and the Santa Claus Inn—are doing a rushing business. They dispense postcards, greeting cards and souvenirs.
ACTIVITY IS SLIGHTLY OFF IN REAL ESTATE
Real estate activity in Marion month of November as compared to County déclined slightly during the October, but the volume of mortgage activity rose slightly, according to a report announced. today by Prof. Arthur M. Weimer of Indiana University. ; While real estate activity during November was below the level established in November, 1937, the volume of mortgages for that period also was higher. A total of 937 deeds were exchanged in November as compared to 1065 for October, a decline of 128, and mortgage transactions rose to 681 in November from 657 in October, the report said. The November deed transactions were 23 under those for November, 1937, while there were 77 more mortgages this year, the report said.
ICC GETS NEW HEAD WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (U. P.). —Commissioner Marion M. Caskie today was elected chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, succeeding Walter M. W. Splawn in
custom of rotating the chairmanship. :
NOW 15¢ %¢ CIEE Tyrone Power—Loretta Young Ann shirley “GIRLS: SCHOOL”
n—News NOW 15¢
+ CITINCR “an 5 Lyle Talbot “I STAND ACCUSED” ER’ — New:
Hopalong Cassidy : OLD MEX - “SPIDER’S WEB” ews
ENGLISH Farewell Engagement
DAYS ONLY
BEG. MONDAY EVE, DEC. 26
MATINEES WED. AND SAT,
‘BEST SEATS, $1.10.
8 PERFORMANCES NEW YEAR'S EVE—8:30 AND 11:15
Seats: Now Selling!
‘EVES. MATS.: Orch. $1.10, Bale, 83c,
Checks or Monev Orders Payable to
ey
|THE MOST DI
aS DAYS, Beg.
T DISCUSSED STAGE, PLAY IN THEATRICAL HISTORY
: MATINEE WEDNESDAY
JOHN BARTON,
Holidays Bargain Prices!
oA t+ Orch. $1.65, Bale, fo Gal. 55¢ (Tax nel.)
al. 85c.
Mon. Jan. 2
A STHASTER ~~ AWAITS RUSH
|Season’s Mail Expected to
last few days but next week will find | the little frame Postoffice deluged with letters and packages, and Mr.|
mas business would amount to 1,500,-
southern firm desiring the magic
8, which nestles in the
will’ be hard at work in the toy
accordance with the Commission |
[DREAM
|ZARING
| |FoLLYWooD 2:8
committees arranging the dance
Alumni and students of Warren Central High School will hold a Christmas dance Thursday night in the ballroom of the high school.
licity; Members of | games;
include (left to
; Times Photo.
right) Ellen Schakel, decorations; Lois Frisbe, pub Selina Smith, floor; Mildred Kitle; 7s Laughner, tickets.
Betty Jane Dawson, refreshments; Imogene.
G.1.0, DEFENDS LABOR LAW IN PAMPHLET
All Congressmen Get Book Opposing Amendment.
“WASHINGTON, Dec.:19 (U, P.).— All Congressmen received today from the Congress of Industrial Or-
ganizations a pamphlet entitled, “Why the Wagner Act Should Not Be Amended.” Prepared by the C. I. O.’s legal department it charged that “big business” is sponsoring agitation for changes in the Act in order to cripple the law, and make it useless to organized labor. The pamphlet signaled the opening of the C. I. O.s fight in the new Congress convening next month to prevent any revision in the law or in its administration by the National Labor Relations Board. It asked an increased appropria-
tion for the Labor Board; opposed any change in its personnel; criti-
cized “propaganda” for a Congressional inquiry of the Board, and said that President William ‘Green of the American. Federation of Labor, and his associates, who are demanding changes in the ‘act, are “misguided.” : .
STATE WILL RECEJVE BRIDGE BIDS JAN. 10
Bids on the construction of 18 new bridges: to cost about $353,500
will be received Jan. 10 by the State
Highway Commission, according to T. A. Dicus, commission chairman. The bridges, to be constructed with State and Federal funds, will replace weak structures which have narrow roadways. Projects have been designated for the following 15 counties: Park,
44 E. WASH. ST. + 34th and PENN. ST. 42nd and COLLEGE AVE.
Warrick, Madison, Hamilton, Lake, Vermillion; Hendricks, Owen, Shelby, Knog, Vigo, Jackson, Spencer, Cass and Switzerland.
FETED IN SALES CONTEST. J. ©. Springer .and ‘E. - George Schaefer, local agents of the United Securities Co. of Missouri, were third and fourth respectively in.a statewide six weeks Christmas’ sales contest, -it Was announced ‘today. The 20 high men in the’ contest held a banquet Saturday at. he Canary Cottage.
WHERE THE SAVAGE EAST MEETS THE hs oS ie
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