The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 10

The Indianapolis Sunday star. SCREEN SUNDAY, DEC. 24, 1933. PAGE ELEVEN. THEATERS ARE PREPARED FOR SEASON OF GOOD CHEER No Dearth of "Legit" Here During Holidays Another Case of "Three's a Crowd" THEATER Will Rogers Has Zasu Pitts and Clever Newcomer in This Movie BY CORH1N, PATRICK.

BY ROBERT G. TUCKER. ITRANGE as it may seem in the light of the wallops the thea DON'T KNOW why the Fox studio choose a title as simple and unadorned as "Mr. Skitch" for the new Will Rogers pictures unless It was in the shrewd hope that movie commentators everywhere would be tempted by the obvious rhyme, "You must meet the Skitches they'll keep you in stitches." It may not be poetry, but it pretty near the truth. This comedy, it ter took throughout the depression, there will be no dearth of legitimate fare in Indianapolis during the holidays.

Mr. Oberfelder will present two New York casts at Ene- seemed to us, is the most agreeable entertainment the home-spun star has had in a good long time If v- sssf A and It is recommended as a first-class family picture as it plays the Apollo this Christmas week. Will Is cast this trip as a Missouri storekeeper who loses his little all when the bank goes broke. He packs his family into the flivver and heads West to make a new start in life, meeting adventures along the way which eventually lead him back to the old home town in triumph. The story is fortified by a theme of young love, the star's common-sense remarks on timely topics and a great deal of amusing byplay involving a clever supporting cast.

lish'i. His contribution to Christmas week Is "Her Master's Voice," which opens tonight at English's for four performances. His New Year's eve bill is "Autumn Crocus," a light, gracious and airy comedy which enjoyed a long run in New York. This engagement will be of unusual significance because of the presence of i Madge Kennedy, an outstanding American comedienne, and Rollo Peters, a popular romantic actor, as costars. Mr.

Peters appeared at the Murat several years ago as Romeo with Jane Cowl in her beautiful production of "Romeo and Juliet." There will be no end of beguiling programs at the cinema cathedrals and there is the promise of good, big-time vaudeville at the Lyric. All told, there should be an abundance of gayety in the theaters and the movie houses to increase the holiday cheer. Mr. Oberfelder has a cast of distinction for "Her Master's Voice," which la one of the overshadowing hits of the new Broadway sea It is better than the Rogers par. we believe, because the star is not forced to go it alone.

He has plenty of competent help from his fellow players, including Zasu Pitts and a remarkable newcomer, Florence Desmond. MISS DESMOND Is an EngliHh "MR. SKITCH." at the Apollo: from story by Anne Cameron; directed by James Cruze; produced by Fox. THE CAST. Mr.

Skitch Will Rogers Mrs. Skitch Zanu Pitts Kmily Skitch Rochelle Hudson Klo Florence Desmond Cohen Harry Green Harvey Denhy Charles Starrett Cliff Morrlweather Eugene Pallette musical star who recently arrived in this oountry and her mimicry is so camps and resorts in the West, so the scenery, particularly of the Grand canyon, is an interesting feature. MR. SKITCH is too much of a philosopher to be beaten when he loses his store and home in Missouri he just moves on. It is harder on his pretty daughter, who finds how false friends can be.

They travel leisurely toward the Golden West, meeting numerous adventures and amusing people by the way while Will tries his hand at odd jobs from guiding tourists at the Grand canyon to waiting tables in a gambling casino to keep the Skitches fed and clothed. Will's experience as a gambler is exciting while it lasts. He runs a dollar stake up to $3,000 and the family goes on a spending spree; deft and delightful that we expect to be seeing her frequently on tne screen hereafter. You'll roar when she stands beside the eccentric Miss Pitts and begins imitating: that pre cidentally, she teams well with Will. Rochelle Hudson, an attractive child, and Charles Starrett, once a Stuart Walker player here, have the romantic leads, she as Will's daughter, and he as the West Point cadet, who is not blinded to her charms by her poverty.

Harry Green and Eugene Palletto are in the cast to reinforce the battery of comedians. Much of the action is filmed at tourist cious comedienne's mannerisms. Her repertoire includes amusing impressions of Greta Garbo. Lupe Velez and numerous other Hollywood celeb rities. Miss Pitts, of course, is ner old familiar self in the part of Mr.

Skitch's good, but nervous, wife. In- Bing and Marion out wniie iney re at it, Will is run-nig the $3,000 down to a dollar again. Fortune, hovfver, later takes a better turn on a firmer foundation and the Skitches re-establish themselves as leading citizens of Flat River, Mo. Andy Clyde's short comedy, "Frozen son. It is the comedy which brought Laura Hope Crews and Roland Young back to the stage.

It also provided Elizabeth Patterson with another gorgeous comedy role, enabling her, as some of the Philadelphia and New York critics say, to steal the show. Margaret Anglin, for many years one of the scintilating stars of the stage and' a favorite with American audiences, has the main role in the production, playing a comic characterization as a wealthy widow with meddlesome propensities, who seeks to run the lives of every member of her family. It is one of the few comedy roles Miss Anglin has played in her distinguished career and in it she is said to give one of her finest performances. The ingenue will be played by Queenie Smith, who recently turned from a brilliant career as a musical comedy soubrette to the nonmuslcal stage. Early this season she scored on Broadway in the stellar role of "The Blue Widow" and in Otis Skinner's all-star revival of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Jessica Newcombe, noted actress of many successes in London and New York, who thoroughly established her reputation as a great actress by the portrayal of the character of Elizabeth VanBret in the road company of "Double Door," and Louis Jean Heydt, popular young actor and Dartmouth graduate who has been prominent on the Broadway stage now for several seasons, are other principals In the cast.

Supporting roles will be played by Mai Murray, Frank McNeills and Julia Laighton. Although New Yorkers have been packing the Plymouth theater and buying seats weeks in advance to see "Her Master's Voice," the comedy will be presented here by this excellent road show company, now touring the A. M. Oberfelder circuit prior to going into Chicago at a scale of nrices less than half that charged in New York. "GOING HOLLYWOOD," the Christmas entertainment at MIRIAM HOPKINS, FREDRIO MARCH AND GARY COOPER in "Design for Living," opening today at the Circle.

Assets," is another laughing matter on the Apollo's program this week. Loew'a Palace, tells the story of a AMISKMENTS. "OOINO HOLLYWOOD?" at Loew's Palace; screen play by Donald Osden Stewart; directed by Raoul Walsh; produced by Metro-Qoldwyn-Mayer. THE CAST. Sylvia Bruce Marlon Davies Bill Wllllama Blng Crosby Llll Yvonne FIB D'Orsay Krneat B.

Baker Stuart Krwln Conroy Ned Sparks Jill Pat-sy Kelly Thompson Bobby Watson In New Film. He's in the Navy Now. modern Cinderella who hitched her wagon to a star. Marian Davies is a young lady who abandons a comfortable prospect as a schol teacher to devote all her time and attention to the pursuit ot Blng Crosby, who leads her a sometimes merry chase to the city of magic lanterns, where she eventually succeeds not only In becoming his bride, but a star In her own right as well. ture.

His attention Is taken, however, by the French actress who is his starring partner. Miss Davies lingers in the background until her big chance comes one fine day when the actress, in a fit of temperament, walks off the set. The director discovers her talent and gives her the V' Miss Davies is another or our screen notables who is contributing one of her better pictures to the season. She does not insist upon being (Indianapolis part opposite her idol. The French woman, however, is bound to have revenge and there are suspenseful moments for the heroine before her hero is truly hers.

As an attraction particularly appropriate to the season, the Palace this week presents Walt Disney's de ACE the whole show, with the result that Crosby is able to give a performance which will please his host of admirers while she herself appears to V.LUDJ "Her Master's Voice" is the third current Broadway success to be presented by Mr; Oberfelder over his circuit so far this season, "Ten-Minute Alibi" and "Double Door" being the other two shows seen here which are still packing them in along Broadway. Indianapolis is the second city outside of New York to see these newest hits. Walter Hampden's engagement at English's has been cut to two performances. He will present "MacBeth" at the matinee, Saturday. Jan.

6, and "Richelieu" at night. Even in a season of unlimited opportunities the booking of Mr. Hampden would be outstanding. The public and for that matter, the scriveners who cover the theater In the provinces have very little idea of what is required to achieve success for such a tour as Mr. Hampden is inaugurating in Pittsburgh this week.

He has a company of approximately forty players. In addition there are the experts who have charge of the stage trappings, the lighting effects, transportation, exploitation and There are what might be said a thousand and one details about which the patrons know next to nothing and which certainly give the producers and managers pause when the response at the box office is meager. A transcontinental journey such as Mr. Hampden is taking is in fact a tremendous adventure. Presents Nightly exceptional advantage in her.

own part. "Going Hollywood" Is a musical romance, handsomely staged, with a number of lively tunes and other entertaining features. CROSBY Is one crooner with a lightful technicolor Silly Symphony cartoon, "The Night Before Christ- mas." I Stage and Screen, THE LYRIC theater's Yuletlde pleasing screen personality. His well-known radio voice is supported by an easy, unassuming bearing and offering to theater patrons this week is a triple feature stage and screen presentation. In spices a sense of humor wnicn give mm an engaging presence and he is very much present in "Going Hollywood." It seems at times as if it is really his picture.

The composers, Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, have provided him with several lyrics to sing in his popular familiar style. Miss Davies sings, dances and plays her part as the love-struck girl who will be neither ignored nor discouraged, agreeably 1,, 7 iw I of 1934" Count BernI Vlci and his girl orchestra head the company of fifty artists of dance, mirth and song. On the screen is "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," a rollicking comedy of college life featuring Mary Carlisle and Buster Crabbe. An added attraction on the stage is Carlile's AN ENTIRE NEW SHOW (Except Monday) Charles Snider Mater of OremonleB Babe Smallwooif Personality Slnffrr Myron Evelyn World's Fa mo us Dunce Team ArlNtocrut Mimical C'medy Cecile Blair Ilrt I rum Karl Can-oil's Vanltlee Sandrae Nhawi lancr 6 Tally Coquettes IrrrMlnHhltt Ihuica Music by Nelson -Mills Columbia Recording ()rchj(tra He has, however, within the last two years completed itineraries which have taken him twice from the Atlantic to the Pacific and return. Now he sets forth with a repertory of classic plays of definitely established merit which must be promoted with deftness and vigor if the harvest of shekels is to be anything near what It should be.

There Is no such thing as a troupe just dropping into cities like Indianapolis and opening for business merely by setting the stage and donning the make-up for the play. There must be an appeal to the students of the drama, to various organizations supposed to be interested in the preservation of the arts, to the schools and the universities and even then there always were the extremely doubtful equations. The presence of a distinguished star like Mr. Hampden Is of great value and yet we have seen others of magnitude such as his come and go without garnering the rewards they expected and to which they were entitled. It is all of this that makes the progress of such argosies of the legitimate so hazardous.

Miss LaGallienne may appear at English's in February or March, although the booking is not definite. At any rate what she and Mr. Hamnden. and Katharine Cornell, are doing to sustain the best tra CONTINUED ON PAGE 12. and well.

Fifl Dorsay, Stuart Erwin, Ned Sparks and Patsy Kelly are helpful in the supporting cast. The musical numbers, some of them enacted by chorus and principals in extravagant show sequences, include "Our Big Love Scene," "Going Hollywood," "We'll Make Hay While the Sun Shines," "Temptation," "Cinderella's Kella" and "After Sundown." AMI'S EM KNTS. rJ 1 -4Va i ifif txt Si l'-v Vi j'' I wmiinml i I BETTE DAVIS in "Bureau. of Missing Persons," at Keith's, Gala Xmas Dances TONIGHT and TOMORROW 2Ac nr.r OKK 8:00 j1, M. MISS DAVIES is a romantically inclined schoolgirl who falls in love with Crosbys voice, naively declares her affection and follows him to Hollywood, whore he is to make a pic- New Year's Eve ditions of the legitimate in the vast territory beyond New York is so monumental as to call for earnest support, especially of those who like, to think they regard their drama seriously.

TIC KKTK NOW ON SAI-E SAC Inrl. tax Same Tlrkrta i.1o Inrl. Tax Nlgrht of Danre AMUSEMENTS. JOE E. BROWN in "Son of a Sailor," opening today at the Indiana.

Tnbta Rrnrrvatlnnii (1.00 Couple INDIANA ROOF In Film of Campus Life. ENGLISH TONIGHT 8:30 4 DAYS ONLY-MAT. WED. HOTEL ANTLERS Life, Opines Thelma Todd, Needs Casting Directors I.Z35I SPECIAL XMAS ATTRACTION FOR ALL THE FAMILY MARGARET ANGLIN DANCE IN THE X. Y.

COMKDY HIT! HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 23. (U.P.) life itself, with more Hepburns and Barrymores and fewer Jane Does ERX BLASTER'S "SI and George Spelvins." IFE, says Thelma Todd, needs more casting di- RESERVATIONS Nowadays all the world is not a NO A I1TA NCK IN VMCK CHHIHTMA8 JuVK MOI1T FALLS CITY CASINO 8547 K. Wanli. St.

Ailminalon 10" llefore 8:80 Hal llailey'a OrchFjttra stage, and all the people players, rectors. There could i Shakespeare claimed it was in his day. It is, according to Thelma, a ana snouia De more swift, devastating affair, a true motion picture. As a former schoolma'am In Lowell, Thelma taught Latin stars and fewer extras, since life and success are matters of proper casting, she added. ''I don't mean just in Hollywood, IliiiiiiiiiMiiiiMii 1 aj--c.

Voice" With QUEENIE SMITH LOUIS JEAN HEYDT JESSICA NEWCOMBE AND OTHERS NO ADVANCE NIGHTS .00 NO IN PRICES WED. MAT. 35c-50c-75c HIGHER and mathematics to innumerable youngsters whom she knew would have been far happier outside the but everywhere in school, for example, from kindergarten to college," the blonde comedienne avers. "And that would mean fewer bit players in building leaping over fences. Too, there were others learning about machinery -and architecture who should have been writing verse and prose, or painting landscapes.

TAX What tney needed, Tneima De- lieves. was the aid of a competent casting director, the individual who 8 BEGINNING NEW YEAR'S EVE decides, in film studios, who shall MADGE KENNEDY and ROLLO PETERS In the Moroiico Theatre 8ucc "AUTUMN CROCUS" ith a J.nrue New York Cast portray each role in a picture. Two Great Orchestras Gorgeous Cabaret Revue AMUSEMENTS. PURDUE BAND PLAYS IN LYRIC BALLROOM Miller Welch and his Purdue university dance orchestra which has been engaged as the musical feature at the Lyric theater ballroom for the holiday season, claims the distinction of being the hottest college dance band in the United States as the boys, twelve in number, recently won the Big Ten universities' 1933 dance orchestra contest which was judged by Howard Osborn of WBBM DAXCIXU Sun. KKfilLAK AnMlHMION 20.

Sunday, 15c Before 9 P. M. TI'KHDAY I'RKK Falls City Heer on Tap CRYSTAL DAXCK I'ALACE 729 X. Illinois Hlley 02O0 ENGLISH WJWhVI Two Performances Only Good News for Drama Lovers artists' bureau and Norman Steppe of the Music Corporation of America. iL The Leadinq Actor of the American Stage 1 i I OR THE NEW BEAUTIFUL OHTMAETEE "The Little Paris of Indianapolis" ryKmmmwWmw Jl'iWWWerfWWWH mil iiwh ii.wj.muiiiii.uh id MiuMiumiiiMiiBi 7150 Alllsonvllle Kd.

Reirrratiom, WA. 421VK DINE and DANCE in Two of His Greatest Successes MATINEE AT MACBETH EVENING AT 8:15 RICHELIEU HPKf'IAIi PRICE HCA1-K nf frnnitmlA rnhrllttiintt. Mr. II Htiitidrn tin a nirPPH a nl at Whispering JACK WRIGHT and His ORCHESTRA NEW FLOOR SHOW, Beginning Saturday Night "SPOOXIXO AXD BALLOONING" with the popular MASTER of Ceremonies, WILL KRAEMEH from Cafe de Paree and Lennox Club. N.

Y. City LEONA MEYERS, JACK AXD JILL, SALLY HEXDL.ER LITTLE ESTHER, International Star Cover charge (Saturday night. $1.00. Sunday nights, 75c. All other nights, 50c.

Unexcelled Food and Table Service. Souvenirs to All! Make Your Reservations Now for New Year's Kow Broadcasting Nightly Over WKBP Both Prices Include MOST ELABORATE SUPPER, ENTERTAINMENT AND FAVORS ttraiine ire than ever bfforo In Indlaniiiiolffi. tower prl 60c. -Or, hfx.tr l.M, fl.M); Hnlrony, 91.50, 91; GaMcry, -OrchPtra, 92.00; Italrony, 91. Mi, HI; Gallery, 50c.

1 A' fWu tm I MARY CARLISLE AND BUSTER CRABBE In "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," at the Lj ric MA II. ORIIKRS ARE NOW BEING RECEIVKD 1 i iii- I.