Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 December 1938 — Page 15
tment by Eddy d MacDonald. ,
Br 3 JAMES THRASHER 2 is something paradoxical sw’s New Year’s bill, which today. For the old Victor favorite, “Sweethearts,” old friends Jeanette Macand Nelson Eddy as co-
has become the agent of}
g new in movie musicals.
this fil film M-G-M has altered 7ood’s traditional approach to e spectacle—and about time,
Bing Crosby film, “Sing|
Sinners,” dropped a hint of sh treatment. The present picture Ss Pplied it to the material at
methods have been few and . . The producers have used sommon sense in reconciling to dramati¢ action. And they injected enough variety to please almost every taste. ~ Here's How It’s Done For the Eddy-MacDonald fans nd for Victor Herbert enthusiasts, are songs and songs. For those go in for spectacular sets, there 4 vast and sumptuous expanses where the arts of stage designing ‘cake frosting combine in happy jon. For those with an eye to — season’s gowns, Miss MacDon‘ald tries on nine in a fashion show ‘Sequence. The whole picture is in @s good technicolor as you've ever Seem, au gna the results are certainly eye-fillin ‘But oe the hard-shelled contingent that refuses to be impressed by any of these delicacies, there is ‘a disarming screen play by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell. There are grand comedy performances by Frank Morgan, Mischa Auer, Herman Bing, Lucille Watson, Gene Locka, Raymond Walburn and
id supporting work is contributed by Florence Rice and Reg_inald Gardiner. Betty Jaynes, young meteor of last year’s Chicago Opera , finally makes her debut in a s g bit. Even Dalies Frantz, _ recent soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, plays about 16 measures of Victor Herbert on the piano. Herbert Stothart’s background music is droll: “Hearts and Flowers” when Frank Morgan turns on the crocodile tears, and the finale “of the “William Tell” Overture when tragic ~misunderstanding | reaches its height. Plenty of Parker Patter
' Nobody could resist all these ' things, especially the fabulous Dorothy Parker wit liberally sprinkled through the script. And you have to admire 3 director who has his ~ principals sing a duet while scur- : about to get their luggage ; packed, instead of sitting beneath a Po tree and making cow eyes®at ig other. (In case you're really
{1 “serious about admiring the director,
's W. S. Van Dyke.) [The story opens as the operetta, Sweethearts,” celebrates its sixth ' |anniversary on Broadway by playing to a capacity house. The stars, ‘Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane, al80 are celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary, The producer wheedles them into a ‘sumptuous supper party where they have to sing some more. They peturn home to their respective families, all retired troupers of the ham variety. There’s more singing. Gwen’s uncle barges in with A stranded Gilbert and Sullivan u in search of lodging and
y. this makes up the Marlowemind. They'll take the offer an importunate Hollywood scout.
‘A Synthetic Triangle
The “Sweethearts” producer, ast at the thought of closing ] gold mine, searches for somejhing to keep the team away from ‘movies. At last the operetta’s rettist devises a scheme to plant ispicion in the devoted Gwen's She fancies her husband is love with their secretary. She reto go to Hollywood. The team ates, and each heads a road pany. Finally Gwen discovers, through Jarlety review of the librettist’s ssful new play, that her sus“are included in the play's . She sees the light and rushes k to New York and Ernest. There y give in again to the producer’s 1 wheedling, and “Sweet8" continues its Broadway run. That's much better than the averje movie-musical story. And the whole thing is done with so much ness and gaiety that, rather an go on, this review had best pp With a final and general recgendation. For, as they say in business, “Sweethearts” is a sweetheart.
WEARS FIRST 'PAINT ugh Tom Collins has been g for almost eight years, he rs make-up for the first time ‘Burn ’Em Up O’Connor.” Most his work was.on the radio, and ‘little stage. work he did, he yed without make-up.
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE
APOLLO Dawn Batra) ” with Errol FI y Rathbone, David "Niven yan, a "3:37 6:41 ind 9:57. all. am eS Marry, t Th a ‘and 8:52. CIRCLE
“Kentucky,” with Loretta Yo ard Greene, Walter Brennan. at
3:45. 6:50 os Family at 1140, 2.45, ae a 8:55, ‘R ENGLISH’S
aShacce Road,” with John Barton, 8:30. Matinee Saturday,
INDIANA “Artists and Models Abroad,” with
and
School,” with Maj. Bowes on stage at 1: 05, 3:55, 6:45 and
York Sleeps,” with Whalen, on screen at 11:49, . 5, 8:19 and 10:30.
New
BRING LAUGHS TO ENGLISH'S
A bit of dramatic name-calling and ¥ace-making is in progress in this scene from “Of Mice and Men,”
Miss Cornell May Appear
And There's a Chance Cornelia Otis Skinner Will Visit City. A letter today from the new Playwrights’ Producing Co. brings promise of a visit by Katharine Cornell to English’s within the next two
that Cornelia Otis Skinner also will
E | Shaw’s “Candida.”
coming to English’s Monday. Shown here are John F. Hamilton (left), Claire Luce ed Guy Robertson.
In New York—
Subway Strap-Hangers Potential Champs. By GEORGE ROSS _
EW YORK, Dec. 30.—We subway riders would be aces at snowy St. Moritz. If we are to believe Reidar Anderson, the ski king of Norway, New
York strap-hangers are potential champs on skis. The perfect balance that subway sardines acquire, says Mr. Anderson, is what a perfect skier needs and he’s surprised there aren’t more of us on skis. No town in the world, adds this winter sports hero, affords such opportunity to attain equilibrium. For in crowded subways, trolleys, busses and “L” lines, a man Or woman needs ability and training to stand up under all those bumps, swayings, sudden starts and stops. So there's a new one for Gotham dwellers. They've been getting ski practice all these years and didn’t know it!
2 8 8
EWS from the diamond-horse-shoed Metropolitan Opera House is that at least one occupation gradually is growing extinct there. Namely, the claquer. As long as opera has endured, the claquer always has been an inseperable of the opera house. The claquer, if the term doesn’t strike a familiar chord, is that worthy who gets a weekly salary for applauding—and applauding hard— after every aria is sung or after the curtain has rung down. Employed in the past by almost every principal singer in the Metropolitan, it was an energetic livelihood for its practitioners. And it paired pretty well. Of course, unsavory tales used to get around about claquers. It was whispered that some tenors and sopranos in the Opera House had been subjécted to a genteel shakedown. In other words, the singer was informed that if the claquer didn’t get the job, a series of boos might replace a series of bravos from the topmost gallery which is where mos; of the response originates, anyway. These threats were not to be ignored. 4 4 ” UT the menace has been reduced during recent seasons by the adamant resistance Edward Johnson, the Met’s managing director, has made against the palmbeaters. Mr. Johnson insists upon honest applause as a gauge for his stars’ popularity. And so he has put the lid. down on the claque, and discourages singers from engaging any. So the claquer has found it increasingly difficult to be threatening this year and last. Many of the breed have wandered off, of necessity, into legitimate trades. There arc few left in practice.
Recital by Trio Set for Jan. 11
The Jordan Conservatory’s series of Wednesday night recitals will resume Jan. 11 at the Odeon, with a ‘program presented by Arno Mariotti, oboe; Harvey McGuire, English horn, and Jacob Nabokin, bassoon. The recital by James Hosmer, flute, and Julio Mazzocca, clarinet, has been postponed from Jan. 4 to Jan. 18 because of Mr. Hosmer's illness. Remaining programs in the series will be heard on Jan. 25, with a brass ensemble participating; Feb. 1, a string quartet; Feb. 8, a woodwind ensemble and vocal soloist; Feb. 15, string orchestra and piano soloists.’
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as well as Conservatory teachers. The recitals are open to the public without charge.
BO undy’s ROH. — FAVORS—FEOLIO Tickets on 8
Incl. Tax
ind. ‘Theatre Magazine shop
New Mons Jon
ar’s special Xe 2nd
Matifiee, —pib 0 3 sion 25¢
All players are members of the|
as. much Hollywood fantasy off the
on myself.”
New Hollywood Fantasy Is Saga of Tin [in Pants Alley
By FREDERICK C. OTHMAN 3 United Fress Hollywood Correspondent
HOLLYWOOD. Dec. 30.—Jack Haley pulled on his $60,000 tin pants, in which he can’t sit down, and proved all over again today that there’s
screen as on.
“I wouldn't have believed it,” he said, “if I hadn’t had the pants
For the last 14 weeks, Meiro-Goldwyn-Mayer has been shooting
behind locked doors on one of its biggest sound stages, “The Wizard of Oz” a super-super technicolor production of the childhood fable at a cost which rapidly is approaching three millions. “And largely on account of my pants,” Mr. Haley said. The cast is one of the most expensive ever assembled for a picture, the properties the finest, the photography the most de luxe. It
just to turn on the lights. Minimum daily charge for the production is $20.000. When the film started, Judy Garland was playing the part of Dorothy, Bert Lahr was the Cowardly Lion, Ray Bolger the Straw Man, and Buddie Ebsen the Tin Woodsman. Directors Changed
For three weeks Mr. Ebsen cavorted in a suit of shiny new tin. He had a sparkling tin nose, a bright tin strap around his chin, a glistening tin pot on his head, and a coat of briflizns tin paint on his face.
Then the director became ill. He was replaced by Victor Fleming. A few more days passed and Mr. Ebsen also got sick. The studio borrowed Mr. Haley from 20th-Cen-tury-Fox to take his part. | “So they put me in Ebsen’s tin suit and I carried on,” Mr. Haley said. “For three days I worked in a shiny suit of tin.” Then—and here’s the tragedy of it—somebody got to reading the original book, “The Wizard of Oz,”
costs a couple of hundred dollars all
once more. sank. The script called for the Tin Woodsman to have been caught in the rain two years before, and to be covered with rust. The crew looked aghast at Mr. Haley in his uniform of scintillating - tin. The director called the producer, Mervyn LeRoy, and he said “The Wizard of Oz” had to be done right or not at
As he read, his heart
Little Rest for Bleary So the chemists took Mr. Haley’s tin pants and covered them with red rust. The cutters junked all the film in which the Woodsman had appeared for three days in shiny tin and tried to forget those charges of $20,000 per diem, shine or not. Then Mr. Fleming started all over again. The metallic pants are so constructed that Mr. Haley must catch his rest on a leaning board, like Dietrich used to do when she wore frocks too tight in which to Bend. Mr. Bolger can bend all right in his suit of synthetic straw, but he must wear a mask of rubber. “That’s not bad,” he said, “except when I have to dance. Then my face gets so hot it seems like it’s going to explode.” Mr. Lahr, the old-time Broadway comedian, is finding life as the Cowardly Lion no more comfortable. He carried around 60 pounds of fur. It is attached to a real lion skin. Wags have it that the studio Killed Leo, its trademark. to
make #Mr. Lahr’s costume, but M- GM says this is a canard.
series. From Chicago the orchestra will go to La Porte for a concert the evening of Jan. 9; play the first concert of its Purdue University series on the following day, and make the season’s initial sppearance at Indiana University Jan. 12. The at-home concerts for the
month include four broadcasts on CBS-WFBM, Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25; a Sunday afternoon ‘pop” concert on Jan. 22, with Concertmaster Leon
Book 13 January Concerts For Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will begin 1939 with 13 concerts in January—an average of one concert every 2.38 days, according to the orchestra's statisiical department. During the month Fabien Sevitzky wiil take, his musicians on their first extended tour, including the orchestra’s first appearance outside the State. That will be at Chicago on Jan. 8, for a Sunday afternoon concert
on the Northwestern University:
Zawisza, as violin soloist, and two pairs of subscription concerts: Those of Jan. 6 and 7 will have Mischa Elman, violinist, as soloist, and the Jan. 20 and 21 concerts will present the Metropolitan Opera tenor, Lauritz Melchior.
The orchestra’s special train will be enlarged to accommodate early reservations, and is to leave at 7:30 a. m. on Jan. 8. The Chicago con= weert will be in the Auditorium Theater.
* [three successful plays
WITH ROMANCE!
WITH DEATH!
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25¢ TO 6-
JAI)
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EACH DAWN...A AA
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this season in the unsuccessful biblical drama, “Herod and Miriamne.” The new play is S. N. Behrman’s “No Time for Comedy,” in which Miss Cornell is listed as associate producer as well as star. Her husband, Guthrie McClintic, will stage the production.
Rehearsals are scheduled to begin Jan. 11, with engagements in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Columbus scheduled before the New York opening early in March.
Three Plays on Broadway
Mr. Behrman is one of the Playwrights’ -Producing Co. directors, the others being Maxwell Anderson, Sidney Howard, Elmer Rice, Robert E. Sherwood and John F. Wharton. In their first year they have put on Broadway: Mr. Sherwood’s “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” Mr. Anderson’s “Knickerbocker Holiday,” and Mr. Rice’s “American Landscape.” : The “Candida” tour will mark Miss Skinner’s first professional appearance with other actors in a conventional type of play since she first won fame as a monologist. She has done the Shaw heroine, however, during the last two summer theater seasons. George Somnes, former. Civic Theater director, will stage the play.
play the young Marchbanks, and Dorothy Sands will do Prossy. An actor for the important role of morell has not been selected as yet. Miss Skinner will open in Chicago for two weeks on Jan. 23, and 18 other cities already are on her itinerary. Selection of a suitable date during the Lenten season as the Indianapolis engagement still hanging fire. NH 2 » A letter arrived at the Postoffice yesterday addressed to “John Barton, ‘Tobacco Road,” Indianapolis.” Being promtly delivered to “Tobacco Road’s” Jeeter Lester at English’s, it proved to be from the Rev. I. S. Caldwell, father of Erskine Caldwell, on whose novel the play was based. The Rev. Mr. Caldwell met the “Tobacco Road” company when they played Savannah, Ga. His letter was to thank them for a gift of money which provided children of the real Tobaceo Road with candy,
In Play Here
months, and a reasonable assurance §
be seen here in the title role. of}
Miss Cornell toured briefly earlier |§ :
Derek Fairman has been signed to].
SMILEY. STITCHE
S FOR AUTRY
That's Smiley Burnette, open-spaces comedian, catching up on his mending, and the admiring onlooker is Gene Autry. Alamo’s current “Western Jamboree.”
They're in the
a Christmas tree and other necessi+ ties of the holiday season.
Loves Role of Jeeter |
Mr. Barton says that his visit to sharecroppers’ homes proved cons ditions to be so much worse than the play depicts that the experience actually made him ill. And as a result of their Georgia tour, the company is taking a weekly collection and sending the money back to be distributed among Tobaceh Road’s needy families. Despite innumerable one-nighi stands and countless performances, Mr. Barton confesses that he still loves the role of Jeeter. He had retired after a long and successful vaudeville career, but frequent visits backstage to see his nephew, James Barton, do the part, developed into an “itch” to do Jeeter himself. In the last two seasons the elder Barton has turned down a movie offer and -a chance for another European tour with his nephew. | “We can’t go to Europe,” he told James Barton, “and take both Jeeters out of the country.” So he is content to remain with “Tobacco Road” indefinitely, for the audiences seem inexhaustible. When the tour finally ends, however, he might consider doing the part of Bill Jones in “Lightnin’,” for which he has been mentioned. And he would like to do Jeeter on the screen, if Hollywood ever decides to do its expurgated version.
| s =»
A Columbus, O., audience will see the world premiere tonight of Cinclair Lewis in “Angela Is 22,” which is due at English’s a week from Monday. It is the work of Mr. Lewis and Fay Wray, who orginally was announced to appear in it with him.
Miss Wray, however, will leave the company after the premiere to take
ATTEND! EXTRA
Mid-Nite SHOW
New Year's
BALCONY 30c AFTER 6 P. M.
LOEW'S
Fz : 25¢ TILL 6
NELSON EDDY
" ALL TEGHNICOLOR!
Victor Herbert's Musical With FRANK MORGAN - RAY BOLGER
2ND AND FINAL
TODAY 1938'S 8
NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOW
GREAT
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WIE {Hh
GLORIOUS WEEK!
TI REALN
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ANY ONE who has seer “Kentucky” will tell you that for thrills, action, ' romance and MENT “Kentucky” is the “Must See” | eC o ua 1938.
giz
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grand ENTERTAIN. |
pi 7
TA YOUNG
RICHARD GREENE
WALTER BRENNAN DOUGLAS DUMBRILL
the role of a “feminine G-Man” in a new movie. Miss Wray’s original part will be taken by Flora Campbell. Miss Campbell and Barry Sullivan, who is also in the new play, appeared with Mr. Lewis at Cohasset, -Mass., last summer when he made his acting debut in “It Can’t Happen Here.”
VETERAN RETURNS
Polly Moran, comedy star of silent days, who fell back into obscurity and returned to costar with Marie Dressler in the early days of
sound pictures, has come out of retirement to attempt a second come-
Matinee T hrongs
Biggest Since ‘29
matinee drew the any day since 1929. Standing room w persons in nine
“Hellzapoppin’ ” ees; “Leave It to Me, ried an Angel,” 77; Illinois,” 67; “Knickerbocker Holi s and Needles,” 28; | “Sing Out the News,” 20, and “Pinocchio,” 15. Several hundred were tumed away from “Kiss the Boys Good= bye,” since the Henry Miller Theae ter bans standees.
ENGLISH v2” 3ze"
T. NITE AT Mat. Sat. 2:30—]
¢ Sate $1.10 SPECIAL MIDNIGHT SHOW NEW YEAR'S EVE AT 11:15
STAGE SUCCESS OF THE CENTURY
NEXT MON., Tues. WED. MATINEE WEDNESDAY
SAM NH. HARRIS presents
lof MICE and men
with CLAIRE LUCE == GUY ROBERTSON Eves: 5c to $2.75, Wed, Mat, 85¢ to
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Neighborho East al t.incoln LINCOLN ‘as Hil CROOKED CIRCLE’ Olivia DeHayilland—Dick Powell 2203 Shelbv_ St. New Garfield Much Twins MPENROD SS OUBLE TROUBLE” A' Fountain Sanare 10c to All Tonight “STRANGERS OF THE EVENIN Bela Lugosi “DEATH KISS Michael Whalen Gloria paar “TIME OUT FOR MURD “WEST OF CHEVY ENE “BATTLE OF BROADWAY Richard Dix ‘SKY GIANT” Deanna Durbin Jackie Cooper “THAT CERT Lloyd Nolan “HUNTED MEN” GRANADA “Fyront Fowe: Loretta Young “SONS OF THE LEGION” = ~ NORTH SIDE Chas. Quigl Rita Hayworth “CONVIC 3 : Marx Bros. “ROOM SERVICE” ST Cl A IR St. CI & tL Wavne . Jack Oakie FFAIRS OF ANNABEL’ OF ALCATRAZ’ \ A / 42nd & College UPTO \ N Deanna on “THAT CERTAIN AGE” falbott & 22nd TALBOTT Giant Double Feature Jean Arthur—Lionel Barrymore k Oakie—Lucile Ball “AFFAIRS OF ANNABEL” “STRAIGHT, PLACE AND SHOW” “GARDEN OF THE MOON” Free Parkin Dick Powel “HARD T Mickey A Beery ABLEMATES” 235] Station St. D R E A M Deanna Durbin Douglas “THAT CERTAIN tilinois and 34th oors Oven 6: “ILLEGAL TRAFFIC” ZAF ANG Comers nd Fall Crk. Olivia ‘DeHavilland D TO GEI” 16th & Delaware EIN EMA Starts 1:30—150 10¢- Till 6 Frances RAC
SOUTH SIDE Via Gleason “WILD HORSE RODEO” Ann Shirley ‘“GIRL’S SCHOOL” Billy & Bobby THE LAW” SANDERS All Horror Show NG” G R oO Vv E Beech Grove AVALON Pros. & Churchman ORIENTAL 1105 3. Meridian AIN AGE” 1045 Virginia Ave. Annabella “SUEZ’ 1500 Roosevelt Hollywood Doors Open 6:45 Ruth Donnely = “A “KI Doors Open “JUST AROUND THE CORNER” Two Contest Pictures “YOU Gaye T TAKE IT WITH YOU” 30th at Northwestern R E X Ritz Bros. thel Merman vO GUE College at 63rd 0 GET” Kiddies Show Saturday—-1:30 p. m. Melv Geo. O’Brien “LAWLESS VALLEY” “THANKS FOR THE EMORY well “HAR “DANGER ON THE AIR” Chester JOS poy Situ 200r" mney LL
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