Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 February 1939 — Page 22

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Ad Signs of Times—Hula Turns Shag

‘Honolulu,’ Now At Loew's.

By JAMES THRASHER A few minor observations on the art of the cinema, as called forth by today’s new movies: They imported a bale of Hawaiian

ti leaves to make authentic grass skirts for Loew's “Honolulu,” and wound up by using skirts of colored cellophane. - The ti leaves photographed alright, but on the sound track they sounded like Mr. Goldwyn’s hurricane, with overtones of Mr. Zanuck’s Chicago fire. They also interviewed 90 Hawaiian girls residing in Hollywood, only to discover that 82 of them specialized in the Shag, the Hot Potato and the La Conga Dip, to the exclusion of their traditional - native dance. They finally put tan grease paint on American chorus girls and used them.

Whatta Combination!

Eleanor Powell's terpsichorean contributions include a combination tap and hula, an imitation of Bill Robinson's famous stair dance, and a tap routine done while skipping the rope. The Circle’s “You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man” serves as the vehicle for Princess Baba’s screen debut, and also introduces the fuzzy-head--ed animal hypnotist, Blacaman, to screen audiences. All. this in addition to W. C. Fields, who appears as Larson E. Whipsnade, and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, who appears as themselves. Princess Baba is the third daughter of Sir Charles Vyner Brooke, white rajah of Sarawak—as if you didn’t know that already. Her name is Valerie, and her nickname is Vava. Rather it was, until an American reporter misunderstood it during her first interview, and put her in the paper as Baba. Princess Valerie just let it stand that way. Until her present movie job, Baba was living off the earnings of her wrestler-husband, Bob Gregory. It appears that the Rajah of Sarawak’s motto is, in substance, mil- _ bons for defense, but not one rupee (about 32.443 cents) for the prodigal daughter.

Ousted? So What!

It’s no secret that Princess Baba has been in the royal doghouse since she married Mr. Gregory. But she didn’t like Sarawak very well anyway. The Brookes don’t live in a paiace, but in a house of eight enormous rooms, The Princess insists that the rajah’s home is haunted. She admits tne ghostly noises might be rats, but she likes to think it’s her grandfather pounding with his cane and scuffling his feet. The Indiana’s “Gunga Din” is the seventh Kipling work to reach the screen. (Purists, of course, may object that the film is based on the Kipling poem only by a broadstretch of imagination, But apparently the public is making no protests.) “The Light That Failed” was produced twice as a silent picture. Other speechless sagas were “A Fool There Was” and “The Ballad of Fisher’s Boarding House,” a tworeeler. “Without Benefit of Clergy” was filmed in 1921. Among thé talkies we find “Captains Courageous” and “Elephant Boy” adapted from the story, “Toomai of the Elephants.” Incidentally, Kipling anticipated screen practices when he wrote “The Light That Failed.” Originally the story killed off the hero at the end. The first publisher objected, so the author rewrote the final chapter. keeping the hero alive but blind. This version was used in the stage and silent picture dramatizations. But Kipling had a change of heart about then, and saw to it that in all subsequent editions of “The Light That Failed,” the hero went to his original death.

Well, Just the Same—

Wint with “The Plainsman” back again at the Apollo, the thought occurs that Jack McCall, the man who shoots Wild Bill Hickok in the back in this film, didn't achieve anything like the national fame accorded Bob Ford, who perpetrated the same cowardly act on Jesse James, both in real life and on the

screen. Why, Ford even got an anonymous mention on Jesse's tombstone,

But Jack McCall made his mark in American history, at least according to légend. He's supposed to have been among the first ones to make thé use of cigarets popular. When “The Plainsman” first " came out, Porter Hall's reference to “cigareets” went far toward finding a substitute for Joe Penner’s offer to sell his duck as the national bon mot. . . . Mr. Hall, you will recall, played McCall, and did a right good job of it, too. “The Plainsman” also was the picture in which Frank Moneyhun caught Producer Cecil B. DeMille in an anachronism. Mr, Moneyhun was press agent for the Circle, which showed the film. But when Mr. Moneyhun, in his role of gun expert, saw troops using 1890 model Winchesters in an 1870 scene, neither loyalty to employers nor anything else would silence him. Mr. DeMille gave Mr, Moneyhun a satisfactory explanation. It seems that he was afraid the older guns might backfire and spoil the handsome and expensive features of Gary Cooper and the other stars.

Rootin’, Teotin’ Eyefuls

Franchot Tone, of Loew’s “The Girl Downstairs,” and Dorothy Tree, of the Alamo’s “Mysterious Miss X,” played in college theatricals together at Cornell University. And the fact that America’s No. 1 cowboy hero, Gene Autry, also is at the Alamo brings this story to a close on a mournful note. It seems that this last outpost of - rugged - movie masculinity, the ‘ Western, is being besieghd by glam-

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New Fields

to Conquer!

McCarthy finally has mowed W.

EW YORK, Feb. 17.—The Manhattan equal of the Chicago

| Fair's Sally Rand, the St. Louis Ex-

position’s Little Egypt and the 1904 Alaska-Yukon carnival’s “Lady in Blue”—according to World's Fair crystal gazers—will be none other than—Eleanor. Holm, the photogenic aquabelle. For with Grover Whalen still adamant in his refusal to allow feminine epidermis-exhibits into the fair, and with Mayor La Guardia backing him on the edict. it appears that Eleanor is going to have the feminine lure pretty much to herself when the fair gates swing open on April 30. “Alone,” though, would hardly be the word. Because Miss Holm’s performance this summer will be the largest single amusement enterprise on the Fair Grounds—Billy Rose’s “Aquacade” in the New York State 10,000-seat Marine Amphitheater. Patterned after Cleveland’s water hurly-burly of 1937, this World's Fair liquid pageantry will have a dancing ballet of 200 girls and a wa-ter-nymph ensemble of 100 swimmers and divers. : The starring role in this outdoor epic to end all epics (until the next fair comes along), is the biggest thing in Eleanor Holm'’s career since she sipped that beaker of champagne\while traveling with the 1936 Olympic squad. .”» ” ®

IQUED by this possibility of Eleanor Holm being the First Lady of the Fair, we sought out Lincoln Dickey, general manager of enterprise, who led us to Miss Holm—who already is in rigeious training for her splendor-splashing debut this spring. Twenty-four times she zipped through the bluegreen waters of the Park Central swimming pool, hopped out and sighed, “Not so good—slow as a mailtruck.” . Eleanor is a thin, small package of femininity with a robust voice. She is blessed with that rare lack of few lady athletes—muscles. Those same arms that whip her through the aqua at record-breaking tempo look for all the world like the arms and shoulders of a Broadway ingenue. She can stand the gaze of the most critical male in the world— from close-up, too. Yet, there is very little of the showgal in Eleanor. Bluntly, she reminds you of—your sister. When Eleanor was only 16 years old, still toting schoolbooks to Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, the Broadway glamour peddlers were hot on her trail. Little known

our, Yes, the ladies are muscling in on the chaps-and-sombrero racket.

Judith Allen, no less, has just signed a three-picture contract with Coronado Studio to star as a singin’, shootin’ cowgirl, Powder your noses, girls, and we'll head 'em ff at Bagle Pass.

IN NEW YORK —» cores ross

Eleanor Holm Will Be 'Miss Pulchritude' in Aquabelle Role at New York's Fair.

The statuesque and beauteous||

Maybe this is only a dream, but it certainly looks as if Charlie

C. Fields down to his own size.

- Incidentally, Master McCarthy and Mr. Fields (in the flesh) are featured in the Circle’s current picture, “You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man.”

is the fact that Flo Ziegfeld, and not Rose, was the first showman to become cognizant of Mlle Holm's optic-appeal. For two entire years he dangled offers before her, but Eleanor preferned to kick up the waters of a public school swimming-pool rather than kick away nightly in the spangled . musicals of Ziegfeld. At 17 (she’s 24 now) Eleanor churned her way to the world’s record for the 50-yard back-stroke, the 300-yard medley and the 100yard title as well. She still holds a baker's dozen of Olympic and World’s titles for aqua-achievement. EJ ” 8

UT it’s difficult to get her to talk shop. Frankly, Eleanor is a chronic devotee of the bright lights, the glitter and gossip of Broadway. She makes no pretense about it. And she'll pin anyone’s ears back who attempts to cover up her penchant for champagne and syncopation. “But I'm in training now,” she said, “that’s different.”

FILM SCHOOLMARM

‘Only topflight star in Hollywood who came to the films from a career as a school teacher is Madeleine Carroll. The star formerly taught in a seminary at Brighton, England.

Just Try It!

NEW YORK, Feb. 17 (U. P.). —All right, Robert Mac Gimsey down in Louisiana, step up and claim that $25,000 which Bernard Herzmansky offered four years ago to any composer who could write eight measures of original music. Sigmund Spaeth says you've turned the trick with eight and one-half original measures in your modern spiritual, “Shadrack.” Yes, go ahead and claim it, and fry to collect: For Mr, Spaeth says Mr. Herzmansky, Viennese music publisher, is in a concentration camp anil probably in no position or frame of mind to pay off.

AMBASSADOR

Loretta Young—Richard Greene

“KENTUCKY”

Jones Family—Louise Fazenda “DOWN ON THE FARM”

EY oleh

Gene Autry—Smiley Burnette “Home on the Prairie” Michael Whale: *MYSTERIOUS hiss x»

st Tha ter “LONE R. & kloEs Last aCe] “SPI

GARY GRANT YIGTOR BOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, J:

te smashing drama . . . Superb ac o Scenic magnitude « o o oe tacular action!

o / MARCH OF TIME

Discussing— “STATE OF THE NATION, 19 9

What Does the Future Hold?

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cope ick ile

Composed by

Julia Smith, 28, was graduated months ago with the score of her

I Texas Hails First Opera Premiere as’ Towr Girl Reaches Her Goal

Critics and Farmers in Overalls Cheer Loudly for ‘Cynthia Parker,’ Based on Early West,

Home Town’

Julia Smith, 28.

: DENTON, Tex., Feb. 17 (U.P.).—A small town girl presented to her home town last night the fruit of her study and ambition—an original opera sung by a cast of 100 accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra.

from North Texas Teachers’ College

here, went off td New York to study and compose, and returned several

first opera, “Cynthia Parker.”

Milstein in

1. U. Recital

Commanding Tone From Violin.

Draws

Nathan Milstein, who has been a favorite with Indianapolis concertgoers since his first season in this country, returned to our vicinity last evening for a recital al Bloomington. He was presented on the Indiana University music series in

the Men’s Gymnasium. A glance at the program brought a pleasant warmth of anticipation even before the young Russian violinist appeared. For, as is his custom, he had selected some great and rewarding music for performance. In the recital’'s first half stood the Handel Sonata in D Major, the Bach Chaconne and the Beethoven Sonata in FF Major. Following the intermission came Smetana’s “From My Homeland”; Mr. Milstein’s transcription of a posthumous and unfamiliar Chopin Nocturne in C Sharp Minor, and the first, third and fourth movements of Lalo’s “Symphonie Espagnol.” Whenever the Bach Chaconne appears on a fiddler’s program, it is likely to command major attention and serve as a sound measure of the artist’s power. Today, moreover, it is almost a curiosity,

| what with its more frequent per-

formances in the piano and orchestra transcriptions.

Playing Mostly of High Order

Perhaps the work’s magnitude needs a larger vehicle of expression Yan a single unaccompanied violin. et it is a great joy to hear its concatenation of masterly variations

unfolded by a player of Mr. Milstein’s caliber.

commanding tone, and communicated the music with sensitive artistry. These same qualities prevailed throughout the recital. In a few places impetuosity gained the upper hand for a moment, with a consequent brusqueness of tone. But, for the most part, the playing was of highest order. Few violinists can match Mr. Milstein’s full-throated sonority, and fewer still possess a bow arm which subdues ail technical difficulties with such majestic disregard. . Remarkable, too, was his accurate adjustment of interpretation to the music’s style, from the clear classicism of Handel to the Lalo Symphonie’s sultry emotions.

Smetana Music Puzzling

was something of a puzzle, at least to this writer. It would seem that the quotation marks might be misplaced, and that the selection was transcribed from “My Homeland,” an orchestra suite in six parts. Since only one of these parts, “Vitava,” is in the standard symphonic repertory, the question remains unanswered.

He drew from his instrument a

Incidentally, the Smetana music|

~® The hall of Teachers’ College was

packed with students, townsmen and rural Texans in overalls and high-heeled boots to hear the first opera to receive its premiere “in Texas. They applauded enthusiastically, and the singefs were called back again and again after the final curtain. : The opera was based on the tragedy of Cynthia Parker, heroine of the early West. The daughter. of Texas frontiersmen, she was kidnaped as a baby by Comanche Indians. Years later her brother, Ed Parker, recognized the Comanche squaw, Preloch, who was honored among the Comanches becatise she was white, as his long-lost sister. Captain Sul Ross and the Texas rangers took her and her half-breed daughter, Prairie Flower, away from the Indians and turned them over to the Parkers. Cynthia thought of herself as a Comanche, spoke no English, and was frightened by the Parkers and the other whites. Later she was killed when her son led.a raid on the white settlement.

Praised by Critics

The role of Cynthia was sung last night by Leonora Corona of Dallas, former Metropolitan Opera soprano. Critics praised the music and the performance. One critic said it presented a “pioneer movement .in fundamental Americanism equal to Gershwin’s immortal ‘Porgy and Bess’.” - Tears were noticeable on the cheeks of some of the hard-bitten farmers and ranchers while the Comanche Chief Quanah sang his deep-voiced lament over the body of his white mother. A climactic song was that of the Texas Rangers: “Out of the night on the

highway To ine Pay of a thunderous tune, ? The Rangers are riding— riding,

: Under a yellow moon.” »

PIANO STUDENTS TO GIVE RECITAL

Forty-five boys from the classes of Indianapolis Piano Teachers’ Association members will be presented in recital at 8 p. m. today in the D. A. R. Chapter House. Merle Krug, baritone, will be assisting soloist. Teachers represented are Evelyn Chenoweth, Jessie Clapp, Pauline Clark, Grace Eaton, Maebelle Zllis, Gladys Fowler, Naomi Gray, Julius F. Herrmann, Marie Kyle, Charlotte B. Lehman, Esther Ruschhaupt and Zillah Worth.

LAMOUR'S SUITORS

At least once every day, someone, somewhere in the world, proposes marriage to Dorothy Lamour. The sirenesque star gets from 35 to 50 ‘proposals a month in her fan mail.

the interpretation, however. It was a sparkling bit of virtuoso playing. Arthur Balsam was the accompanist, and collaborating pianist in the Beethoven sonata. His performance at all times complemented Mr. Milstein’s artistry. The auditorium was only partially filled, which was a misfortune. Those who stayed away missed an evening of superior music. J. T.

There was nothing puzzling about

Yi SHIP"

_ Robert Wilcox—Helen Mack

STARTS TODAY!

RITZ

Plays Today |

Gaspar Cassado

The Indianapolis Sympliony Orchestra’s soloist this afternoon and tomorrow night is the Spanish cellist, Gaspar Cassado.

Seek Character In Foster Play

Young ladies who fit. Stephen Poster’s description of “Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair,” and who can sing and play piano, are in demand at the Children's Theater. Girls with these qualifications may report to Mrs. William G. Sparks from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. tomorrow at the Civic Theater. The most likely applicant will win a part in the Children’s Theater play based

prepared by Mrs. Rosamond Van Camp Hill and Mrs. George Fotherngham. Mrs. Sparks announces that she also is in the market for banjo, guitar and flute players, and will interview persons of any age with musical and dancing ability. The Foster production is booked for April 29 and 30. At 3:30 p. m. Monday, Edward Green, Children’s Theater director, will conduct tryouts for paris in

“Alladin and the Wonderful Lamp,” to be given March 25 and 26.

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE

APOLLO

“The Plainsman,” with Coo er. an Anus, James rsd po, CLIN Wedding," ith Rays Bo urns $ Shirley Ross, at 1:12, an and 8 32 CIRCLE “You Can’t cat an Honest Man,” with Fields, Hagar Beri) hale MCarthy. at 1:50,

d 10: Gantt ling Ship,” with Robert Wilou Jdien Mack, at 12:45, 3:35, 6:25

INDIANA

“Gunga Din,’ with Cary Grant, - Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Victor .fcLagien, af; 11:10, 1:48. 4:36..7:04. and, of

March of Time at 1: 31, 4:09, 6:47 and 9:25.

LOEW'S

“Honolulu,” with’ Eleanor Powell, Robert Young, Byes and Allen, at 1:50, 4:45, 7:35 a “The Gist Downstairs, ** with Franchot Tone, Franciska Gaal, Walter Sopnelly, at 12:30, 3:20, 6:15 and

LYRIC

“Wings of the Navy,” with George Brent, + Olivia de Havilland, on Soreon

All Seats

; : Any Time mos. “Phantom Ranger”

; . Ma “Touchdown Army” J&%. Tomorrow “Angels With Dirly Faces” I

2224 N

NEXT SUN.

(One Night Only)

BARNEY

New Englanders L 40c Before 8:80 Dance Tonight AMOS OTSTOT ORCHESTRA

28¢ Before 1:30

Civic|

on Mr. Foster's life, which is being|

Indianapolis dy Seek ‘Abe Lincoln in Illinois’

The local dramatic prospects Tooked brighter again today with the news from New York that “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” is to open a tour in : | Louisville on April 14. : No ‘announcement concerning ‘an Indianapolis engagement is forthe coming yet, but it seems reasonable that with the successful play so close at hand, Vincent Burke, English’s anager will book it if

if the possie

| bility exists.

“Robert E. Period, the jays author, is to return from a vacation:

this week and begin casting and rehearsing a road company. It expected that Richard Gaines, Raymond Massey's understudy, will play

plans to go. ‘west from Louisville and wind up for a stand at the:San

Fairs Fair Game

seem fair game to the drama impresarios, and Katharine Cornell, among others, has an eye on the Pacific Coast exposition. She is planning, at least, to open on the West Coast this spring in S. N. Behrman’s new play, “No Time for Comedy.” Originally, the play was to have gone into rehearsal last month, with a Midwest tryout tour that included Indianapolis scheduled before the New York opening. But Miss Cornell ran into casting trouble. Robert Montgomery was on the verge of taking the male lead when his studio refused to release him from film commitments. The search for . another actor continued until a couple of days ago, when Laurence

Olivier was signed for the top spot opposite Miss Cornell. At present, the star plans to delay a Broadway opening until next fall.

Et h———

the title part. ‘The touring troupe.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17 (U. P)—In the absence of both principals,

‘| whereabouts unknown, attorneys for

Marion Talley and Adolph G. Eck=

| strom carried on their battle of Both of the coming world’s fairs

words today.

John S. Keith, counsel for the opera singer, said her attempts to gain custody of her 4-year-old daughter had no relation to a separation suit brought by her husband, Mr. Eckstrom. Mr. Eckstrom’s lawyer had charged Miss Talley was evading service of the separation papers. Her counsel countered. with the contention that he was hiding the child to avoid execution of a writ of habeas corpus. “We are prepared to fight the case through to the end in event the court decides to dismiss the habeas corpus action,” Mr. Keith said, “When the wife is not asking for support the separation suit has no value at all.” Justice Gerald Nolan of the White Plains Supreme Court has under advisement a motion to dismiss the habeas corpus plea. His decision was expected next week. Frank Delaney, Mr. Eckstrom’s lawyer, contended . that the custody suit should be dismissed because the summons was served only on a sece retary. : :

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