Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 December 1942 — Page 37

. the audience

PAGT 36

Y ep, Murder Is the Word

For Easter Particulars, Go

VOICE from the Balcony by RICHARD LEWIS

To English's.

“HER FIRST MURDER,” a three-act play which opened at English’s last night, was written expressly for the simple-simon talents of Zasu Pitts. The idea was to put her in three-act comedy and ‘see what would happen. As a vehicle for the stage play debut of the vaudeville and movie comedienne, it is murder all right. ‘Three acts go by, producing much noise and commotion on the stage, and when it is all over, I am tickled pink to get out into the cold again. The trouble with this play is that it is conspicuous by its lateness. It was last week we served turkey in Indianapolis. Miss Pitts and. Merle Maddern, who do as best they can with ‘what they've got for parts, are two spinster sisters from Vermont who come to New York and find ,they have inherited a detective agency. Their first murder takes place in a theatrical boarding house. Nobody knows who the victim is for sure, because the victim has no head, but everybody thinks it is one of the char: eters in the bearding house. After con siderable conniptions, served up with a full dish of steaming ham, tha victim turns out to be a Jap. I wouldn’t have gone away So bitter about it if Miss Pitts hadn’t have kept firing that blank pistol and waking me up. Also, I was bewildered by the rapidity with which the curtain was hauled up after each intermission, leaving half stumbling around ‘hunting seats in the dark. ..Maybe the company wanted to get the play over with quickly. If so, they are to be commended for their consideration. —Richard Lewis

Britton Breaks It Up

Britton, he and his boys break stuff up, including a couple of violins. The boys just smash them over each others’ heads. You might think breaking-up stuff wouldn't get you anywhere, but it has got Milt and his gang and his brother, Joe, to Hollywood on occasions. Their next occasion is a picture with Dorothy Lamour for Paramount, entitled “Ready Money.” Well, Milt is telling me how it happened. “Eighteen years ago,” he is saying, “I started the first comedy band in America. We called it the Brown Derby pand, For a while, we clicked. The people liked a comedy band. Then what happened? “One day, Charlie, Freeman— he was head booker on the old B. PF. Keith circuit—he came to me and said: ‘Milt, you got to get another act. Public's tired of a comedy band.’ “So one day, I was walking in Times Square. That was about 1930. We had been playing in New York. So I saw a fellow fall off a streetcar. He was getting off the car and he fell, poor devil, he was hurt, he could hardly get up. “Then I noticed everybody was laughing. They couldn’t help it. They just screamed. “That's what prompted me to start a break-up band. The idea is that we kill ourselves on the stage and people laugh. The more we kill ourselves, the harder they laugh. That's how it all started 12 years ago and we're still killing ourselves.

“Her First Murder,” a new comedy in three acts by Major Robert Presnel, presented at English's Dec. 3, 4 and 5 by / Victor Payne-Jennings and . Marion Gering. . Damage Runs High hit CAST DURING the life of their Richard Taber break-up act, Milt figures he and ve tienes Merle Maddern i Zasu Pitts the boys have smashed up more Oliver Thorndike | | than 100,000 violins. George, Spaulding Pretty expensive? It used to be almost prohibitive, Milt says. He used to pick up these cheap

faiomnvnnin vies Ann Mason Hester Gale. ARR Osna Palmer fiddles made in Czechoslovakia, $20 imitation Stradivarius and

# 2 td

hris Anda Beagle

YOU WONDER sometimes, and well you might, how ‘entertainers get some of the ideas they get. His pnit band show opened at Keith's yesterday and broke everything that wasn’t nailed down on the stage. ‘That's Milt's style. Breaking up stuff. You know band styles. Some sweet, some hot, some a little classical, some just boogy woogv.

34 Years of Square Dealing

Dan Clark William Challee Alexander St. John. St. Clair Bayfield 34 Years RITE'S z aio

Wilson Paul’ oseph Caskey Location J > ON ww wy Long-Time CREDIT!

ari Women’s FUR and Self-Trimmed

COATS 16”

—Dress Coats—Fitted Coats —Sport Coats—~Casual Coats

—Beautiful, rich looking materials styled to perfection!

‘1 per WEEK

Men’s All-Wool

SUITS TOP GOATS

OVERCOATS

22: |*

—Smart Single and Double Breasted Suits! - —Good-looking Topcoats and Overcoats in all Colors and Sizes!

*1%? per WEEK!

OPEN TIL 9 SATURDAYS & MONDAYS

RITES

SQUARE DEAL

” qoTHING AND JEWELRY SHOPS

45 SO. ILLINOIS ST. - “ALWAYS A SQUARE DEAL AT. RITE

Buy

Bonds Siemge

the state department would decide

Take Milt Britton, for instance.

Cremona sivis, the kind people used to give their kids to get started on. In case the kids couldn't be induced to practice and gave it up, it wasn’t so much of a loss. That was all right, but it cost the band plenty Then when Hitler took over Czechoslovakia, Milt's supply of violins stopped. What to do? So he ran across a fellow in Columbus, O., who contracted to make violins for the band at $2 a throw. That's when the band really began to bust up fiddles with abandon. But violins are small fry compared to what the band busts up when it goes to Hollywood. “There,” says Milt with pride, “is where they really give you materials to work with.” In Warner Bros.’ “Sweet Music,” the band smashed a radio, chairs, violins, ‘cellos, basses, music stands and incidental decorations to the tune of $4000. On the stage, however, the range of articles which Milt and the boys can break is limited. Even so, they do plenty-of damage. But that’s a mere bagatelle compared to the holocaust they're planning in their next picture with Dorothy Lamour.

INSTRUMENT FINDS MACHINE WEAKNESS

By Science Service NEW YORK, Dec. 4—Mechanical

detectives are ferreting out weaknesses in power-generating equipment, thus saving war-important

equipment and maintaining power output, J. L. Roberts and H. M. Dimond, engineers of the General Electric Co. told the American Society of Mechanical Engineers meeting here. Turbine-supervisory Instruments detect conditions that might result in failure or destruction of power generating machines, if not found and corrected. Instrument records in one case showed increasing vibration which led to the shut-down of the machine. Inspection then revealed a crack developing in the generator field shaft. Without the warning of the instrument, the complete failure of the machine was likely since the gradual increase in vibration went unnoticed by the operators, the speakers pointed out.

DENIES CENSORSHIP OF HEMINGWAY FILM

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 4 (U. P.)— Y. Frank Freeman, production vice president of Paramount studios, today denied a report that the U. S. state department was “influencing or censoring” the picture, “For Whom the ‘Bell Tolls.” “At no time,” he said, “have Washington authorities made any representations or tried to influence the trend of a story.” The script, based on Ernest Hemingway’s anti-Fascist book, had been reported checked over by a representative of Spanish Generalissimo Francisco Franco, who suggested revisions. Hollywood trade publications said

which version would be used.

FRENCH SHIPS SHORT OF OIL FOR ESCAPE

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North Africa, Dec. 3.—(Delayed — (U. P.).—The captains of the French submarines - Casabanca and Marsouin, which escaped from Toulon, revealed today that the French fleet—for the most part — would have been brought over to the allied side if the ships had had enough fuel Lacking oil, the officers revealed,

the men decided to scuttle the fleet rather than submit to the Germans. Friday, Saturday

DANCE and Sunday

HAL BAILEY'S BAND

CRYSTAL

729 N. ILLINOIS STREET

KEITH'S ¥

"RYAN Vis

and his MUSICAL MANIACS

LE IG)

- @ ON OUR UR SCREEN o “BABY FACE MORGAN"

POPULAR PRICES Til § Til 28¢ Tax Ine. 44¢ Closing wl'' Show Sat. Nite 11:30

DEE PETERSON and His

ORCHESTRA

Nitely Broadcast WIBC at 10:15 P. M. Excellent Cuisine NEVER A COVER CHARGE

‘At the Circle

Brenda Marshall, rising young actress, co-stars with George Brent in “You Can’t Escape Forever,” the film the Circle is showing with its new stage show today, Billy Rose’s “Diamond Horseshoe Revue.”

DUTCH MAY SET UP EMPIRE PARLIAMENT

LONDON, Dec. 4 (CDN).—Holland will adopt a federal constitution after the war covering the Netherlands and all overseas possessions. The latter will be represented by a federal cabinet sitting in The Hague and in parliament also. It is expected that the announcement to this effect will be made by Queen Wilhelmina in a broadcast scheduled from London on Sunday. This idea is believed to have taken final form during the queen's recent visit to the United States, where she bad an opportunity to study the world’s largest federal system,

Times Amusement Clock

OPENING TODAY CIRCLE

On stage, Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe Revue, at 1:15, 4:15, 7 and 9:30. “You ' Can’t Escape Forever,” with George Brent and Brenda Marshall, at 11:30, 2:30, 5: 15, 7:58 and 10:25.

CURRENT SHOWS ENGLISH'S

“Her First Murder,” a new come edy, with Zasu Pitts, at 8:30.

KEITH'S On stage, Milt Britton and his band, at 1:49, 4:18, 6:47 and 9:16. “Baby Face Morgan,” with Rich-

ard Cromwell and Mary Carlisle, at 12:33, 3:02, 5:31, 8 and 10:16

INDIANA

“The Road to Morocco,” with , Dorothy Lamour and Bing Crosby, at 11:49, 1:51, 4, 5:57, 7:54 and 10:01.

LOEW'S

“For Me and My Gal,” with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, at 12:25, 3:39, 6:53 and 10:07.

“Boogie Man Will Get You,” with Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre, at 11, 2:14, 5:28 and 8:42.

LYRIC

“Who Done It,” with Abbott & Costello, at 12: 10, 2:50, 5:25, 8:05 and 10:45. % “Moonlight in Havana,” with Allan Jones and Jane Frazee, at 11:10, 1:45, 4:25, 7 and 9:40.

DANCE TONITE

% % TINY HILL % * ADM. 75¢

NEXT SUN. ONLY

| ALVINO REY THE 3 KING SISTERS

and Their Orchestra To Be Relieved During Intermission by

game Biggest Band Leader"

" TINY HILL

% % 35 Musical Stars x "Sq Til 7 P. M. Sunday

1.10 22,

NO TABLE CHARGE Dance 7:30 fill 12:30

[Bo oA WN, PN

CONCERTS Murat Theater, Rl. 9596 Tomorrow at 8:30 P. M. SUNDAY at 3 P. M.

Solo Pianist

RUDOLF SERKIN

Playing BEETHOVEN—CONCERTO NO. 5 Orchestral Works MOZART “HAFFNER” SYMPHONY STRAUSS

DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION STILL

“KAINTUCK”

GOOD SEATS---EITHER . CONCERT $110, $1.65, $2.20, $2.35, $3.30 MURAT' ‘BOX OFFICE R1-9596

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

205 Pounds

Bring Jobs

Bryn = Davis’ New Weight Earns $50 Daily.

By FREDERICK C. OTHMAN United Press Hollywood Correspondent HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 4—At last, at long last, we have run into an actress who's quit worrying about her hips, who takes a box of chocolates every night with her to bed, and whose movie earnings increase with every added inch around her middle. Two years ago our actress, Miss Bryn ‘Davis, was a svelte blond, tipping the scales at 112 pounds by dint of starvation diets and bruising massages. And what did she get for it? Ten dollars and 50 cents a day, some days. She Staris to Eat She looked exactly like all the other pretty movie extras and she spent so much time waiting at the telephone that when she did get a job before the cameras she was amazed. And hungrier than ever. “So I told myself, Bryn, my girl, this won’t do,” Miss Davis reperted. “And I cut out the diets and forgot the massages and took on two help-

ings of potatoes with every meal, plus -a chocolate bar every two hours, plus a malted milk whenever

I felt like it, plus whatever other|. little incidentals like potato chips|

and cheese sandwiches I ran across.” When she hit 160 pounds, the casting offices expressed amazement.

Joins the Beef Trust And there she was as one of the beef-trust chorus girls in a big-time movie at $35 per day. Not bad. “But not good enough,” Miss Davis continued. campaign, which was not difficult, because I paid no attention to the girls who'd say: ‘Why, Bryn, how can you let yourself go?’” She let herself go to a bouncing 205 pounds. She started buying dresses in a stylish stout shop and she began earning better than $10,000 a year at the rate of $50 a day whenever she cared to earn it. “So,” said Miss Davis, starting to cross one plump knee and thinking better of it, “I don’t have to go to the movies to get jobs. .I think I'll stick at 205. It seems to be a nice, comfortable weight. “The other actresses can sneer, but I get the money. Let ’em laugh.”

NEEDS 25,000 RAT TRAPS

HONOLULU, Dec. 4 (U. P.). — Besides his regular problems, Lieut: Gen. Delos C. Emmons was trying to get a priority today for 25,000 rat traps to end a serious rat problem in Honolulu, A surved of the city disclosed that there was not a single rat trap available.

“I continued by].

SHIPS WILL FLY

FLAG OF FRANCE

Darlan Wins a Trick in

Rivalry With de Gaulle; Eden ‘Uncommitted.’

LONDON, Dec. 4 (U. P).—Announcement in North Africa yesterday that French merchant ships in allied and French African harbors will -operate for the allies under the French flag further snarled the dispute as to whether Admiral Jean Darlan or Gen. Charles de: Gaulie will head the French fighting with ‘the allies. : : Previously French ships aiding the allies have flown Gen. de Gaulle’s Lorraine cross flag. Called “Anti-Democratic”

British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden told the house of commons yesterday the British government was in no way committed by Admiral Darlan’s proclamation yesterday setting up a council of state in North Africa with himself as “chief of state.” Such a “government in exile” would be an obvious attempt to supplant Gen. de Gaulle’s French national committee which has been operating in London since June, 1940. A de Gaullist SDoKesman yester-

3600D SEATS AVAILABLE EAT ALL PRIGES FOR THE x i ; x Final 3 PERFORMANCES of

SONJA: HENIE

L. STRAUSS & CO., or COLISEUM BOX OFFICES:

No Telephone Reservations

Mall orders to Indianapolis Coliseum, accompanied by remittance and selfaddressed stamped envelope.

I ARIA RARII RRR ER RKK

xxx

- FREE PARKING and City's Fastest STREET CAR SERVICE to Coliseum Doors

day characterized the proclamation as “a monumental piece of effrontery” and charged that the council established by the former Vichy vice-premier was “as anti-democrat-ic and anti-republican as anybody could be.” : Although President Roosevelt had declared that the American army’s arrangements with Admiral Darlan in Africa were purely temporary, Secretary of State Cordell Hull yesterday refused. to be drawn into the confroversy. He said that the people of France could elect whatever government they wished when they are freed from German rule,

PLANS WORKERS’ COURT

Superior Judge Walter S, Gates today proposed a night court for uncontested divorces to accommodate war workers. \

“ok Now SHOWING x

REPTILES ARE VARIED Eight-six species of amphibians and reptiles are found on this cone tinenet north of Mexico.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3 (U.P.).—|,

Friday & Saturday Nights

Graham’s Old Inn

«at Beech Grove— For Reservations o.:GA. 3c

C&L,

2nd BIG: WEEK!

ENGLISH ...™%m SAT. NIGHTS 8:30

MATINEE SATURDAY 2:30 VICTOR PAYAE-JENNINGS « MARION GERING

Tasu 04% B¢ a “Sie

SC i COMEDIENNE

A DISTINGUISHED 10ADWAY ast SEATS NOW -— LI. 6884

EVES.—55¢ to $2.75 SAT. MAT.—55¢ to $2.20, Incl. Tax

DOORS OPEN

From Horror to

BORIS KARL OFF

EN SAVE GAS—GO TO LOEW'S bE

PETER LORRE '

“The Boogie Man Will Get You” | X-

GENE KELLY

@ ° MARTA EGGERTH' BEN BLUE pls

(0 BONDS 0 STAMPS VU

YC 7/ pI HILL

Howls!

WEST SIDE

Coliseum—Indpls.

TA bot 4555

XH 2 5 0 3 2 2 2 2 2 2242

RHR RRR ERK

ALL SEATS 30¢,, i pe m,

Starts TODAY!

Master Showman ond world's Fair Aque$4.40 Musicol regular

Billy Rode . producer of the cade, brings YoU Wis

v : Som mo ANDERSON

GEO.

REVUE ca UF cot

SA ne ed

MARSHALL

Plus Tax

2702 W. STATE “au 22¢C Carol Landis—Cesar Romero “GENTLEMAN AT HEART” “BOSS OF HANGTOWN MESA”

OLD TRAIL 5700 W, Wash,

Watch for Pylon Weaver Brothers & Elviry “SHEPHERD OF THE OZARKS” Tim Holt “COME ON DANGER”

BELMONT >=: % mo

Chas. Winninger—Chas. Rnggles “FRIENDLY ENEMIES” Spencer Tracy “NORTHWEST PASSAGE”

Mickey RIGHEyo Frodaic Bartholomew ANK AT ETON Lynn Bari YPALCON TAKES OVER”

DAISY 2540 W. Michigan

Tonite & Sat,’ Betty Travis—Julie Bish

Ruth Hussey “Pierre of the Plains”

TRY A WANT AD IN THE TIMES, IT WILL GET QUICK RESULTS.

: SOUTH SIDE

PLUS TAX

GARFIELD sy 22¢

Victor

MacLagien “POWDER TOWN”

Priesser “SWEATER GIRL”

1106 Prospect All Seats i i 6

SANDERS Tonite

Edmund Lowe “KLONDIKE FURY” Ray Corrigan “TONTO BASIN OUTLAWS"

Jun Chap. 12 “PERILS OF ROYAL MOUNTED” TONITE

GRANADA 7. Sonja Henie ® “ICELAND”

Virg. Gilmore ‘Berlin Correspondent”

Last Times

F ountain Sq. , Tonite

Lupe Velez—Leon Erroll

‘Mexican Spitfire’s Elephant’

EE TIT) Qe: vin 1105 S. MERIDIAN LJ

" Cary Grant “TALK OF THE TOWN” ‘Van Heflin ‘GRAND CENTRAL MURDER”

Paul Kelly “I WAS FRAMED”

{

TRY A WANT AD IN THE TIMES, IT WILL GET QUICK RESULTS,

Open 6:45 IR-4488

EMERSON . ‘0. GENE AUTRY ni.

“STARDUST ON THE SAGE” Victor M¢Laglen “POWDER TOWN” Sheridan, °° IR-5000 E. Wash. Open 6:45 Humphrey. Bogari—Mary Astor “ACROSS THE PACIFIC” Jean Rogers “SUNDAY PUNCH”

MECCA 7. 18c ni’

Preston Foster—Lynn Bais “SECRET A J N"’ Rough Riders “DOWN TEXAS WAY”

BIGGEST BEST

Tonite & Plus Tax |

Tomorrow ® 20¢ 5:45 to 6 Ray Milland—Betty Field ‘Are Husbands Necessary?’ Chas. Winninger—Chas. Boyer

“Friendly Enemies”

Cont. Mat, Tomorrow—22¢c—12:45 to 6

[STRAND 2°:

PLUS TAX 1300 E. WASH. ST. ¢ FREE PARKING

Mickey Rooney-Freddie Bartholdmew

“A YANK AT ETON"

Bruce Bennett—Kay Harris

“SABOTAGE SQUAD”

1 SUN “TALES OF MANHATTAN" t “BLONDIE FOR VICTORY”

TUXEDO vor 2 22¢

Judy, Canova-—Joe E. “JOAN OF F OZARK June Priesser “SWEATER GIRL”

Plus Tax

EAST SIDE

HAMILTON

Robt. Stack—Ann Gwynne

“MEN OF TEXAS”

' Andrews Sisters—Dick Foran

“PRIVATE BUCKAROO” ‘Matinee Tomorrow, 20c,,™"*

PARAMOU

2116 E. 10th Free Parking

" ull

Michele Morgan.—Paul Henreld “JOAN OF PARIS

Jane Withers—Alan RS DENY “THE MAD MARTINDALE"

EAST \Y4 LE TY NG

. | Ei hd fl ds ard 10]

EXYs 7 Jorn HP Sl

HENIE - PAYNE ORAKIP

ICELAND

HENRY FONDA: LUCILLE BALL

we BIG STREET

TACOMA %¢, 22¢c 0%

Bariasa, Stanwyek-—_Joel McCrea MAN’S LADY” “LAND oF ry OPEN RANGE”

PARKER. 7}, 5 ozz Te

Anne Shirley—Ray Bol, ro “FOUR JACKS AND A J Geo. Sanders “A Date With The Fale on®

NORTH SIDE

16th &

CINEMA Dela.

Irene Dunne—Cary Grant

“MY FAVORITE WIFE”

Bob’ Hopé—Paulette Goddard

“GHOST BREAKERS”

Open 1: 30 c to 6

— tb ssaa——— ESQUIRE 30th & Illinois TA-7400 Bob Hope—Paulette Goddard “THE CAT & THE CANARY" Rita Hayworth—Brian Ahcrne “LADY IN QUESTION”

S TRAIGHY MAN

| RINE

TOT

RED. BURLEER

BUBLES]

IVA REW

OLY LINI3PS

«3 STANLEY : RD

4. YNAMIC REDHEAD

R E X Ruri rn 22¢ o

il evi Devise “TIMBER”

“GENERAL DIED AT DAWN"

TCL

42ND ST. & COLLIGE

CGALIITEE A YANK AT ETON

EE 5 Fi: SOE Ss PRIZE SUZ ARD)

Talbott at nd Thr

TALBOTT Mt

Lee Bowman—Jean Rogers “PACIFIC ' RENDESVOUS® “BLOSSOMS: THE DUST»

BIG FREE PARKING LOT

1) CLAIR ER

FT. WAYNE & ST. CLA

hes i GILMORE « ANDREWS

RI ww ULL

Zz ARING 28th & Central

Thru Saturany Cary Grant—Jean Ronald Colman “TALK ' of the’ "TOWN" Hemy BIG STREET”

VOGUE

o Boyett] AICI F MANHATTAN"