St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 17

sw. sw. mM a sw. iw. mm a pros msAmmvimosi PART THREE.

ST. LOUIS, SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 7, "1931. PAGES 1 6G A Dancing St a "Street Singer" Dance Show Drama Association Plans Are Reported As Well Under Way Touring the Movie Field Ethel anymore Has Completed a Dash Through The One-Night Stands, Which Brought Remarkable Results Al Jolson Wants to Return to the Cinema in a Serious Role Paul Nicholson Back. Qaeenie Smith, Herself a Nimble Footed Comedienne of Note, Heads Cast in Second Municipal Opera Bill Which Begins a Week's Stay on Forest Park Stage Tomorrow Night. AFFAIRS of the Drama Association of St.

Louis are reported as prospering by the management appointed at the luncheon meeting held on May 25. The plans have been submitted to a considerable number of St. Louis' religious leaders and educators, as well as many consistent playgoers, with the result that a subscription list has EFERENCE having been made in these columns last week to oNIGHT marks the final performance of "Three Little Girls," jhe first show of the season on the Municipal Opera stage in Forest Park. Ead -weather, right at the start of the 10 nights run, the nationwide slump in the movie theatcrc it is announced now that the Rialto, one of New York's leading cinema cathe drals, will shut up shop for the summer it is Just as well to men- been well established. The plan as now in operation tion that Ethel Barrymore has been on a whirlwind tour of the end tbe Decoration day holiday cut into the receipts so that business vras about 15 per cent less than the mark set for 10 nights by ROca," the opening bill last summer.

With the advent of "The Street tinker," with Queenle Smith as the star, tomorrow night, the opera directors expect to see the attendance figures get back to normal. calls for presentation of a series of country playing, frequently, in picture theaters, the only temples of six new plays at the Shubert Thea- amusement left in many of the towns she Tisited. iit jie.i winter, ai intervals oi lour Miss Barrymore ended her 9366-mile dash through the one- weeks, with a new play opening ev- The Street linger ana an me succeeaing operettas are to run ror a single week. "The Street Singer" was chosen, originally, as a New York vehicle for Smith because of the many opportunities it offered iat delegable little dancer, and the production in Forest Park ha3 leen elaborated with dance numbers in order to make the utmost use of that unique stage in color and costume with the modern version of cance rieantrJ'- Queente Smith, as on will be seen in several" dance ruDibers, as will Jack Good, Who also makes a Municipal Opera debut in "The Street Singer." With Good in one number will be seen Gretchen Kimmel, clever young St. Louisan, who made her first appearance on the Municipal Opera stage eight years ago.

"The Street imger," also offers opportunity for the debut of Palmere Bran-deaux. ballet master, and Mile. Doree Daudet, ballet mistress of the current opera season, who head the all-St. Louts dancing chorus in a callet number. Little Miss Smith, who was well-known as a dancing star long before she made her debut as a comedienne, was born.

in Texas, but vent to New York as a child aud entered the ballet school of the Metropolitan Opera House. There, while still in her 'teens, she bo ery fourth Monday nisht and run- night stands of the South, Southwest and Midwest and East in Al-ning a week. The project will be bany, N. last night. She began her adventure into the scldom-in conjunction with the Dramatic piayei sections of the country at Princeton University on March 2 reared in 66 towns.

60 of them for one night on.y. in 22 Professional Players of Bos- states. Since Sir, Johnston Forbes-Robertson completed his farewell ton. By affiliation with these to America in 1916, she is the first important plajer to undertake organizations, the Drama Asso- fcn intensive tour of these smaller cities. elation of St.

Louis will be in a po- AudienCe8 varying from 1000 to 4000 people have witnessed sition to offer a choice of six from a list of 16 available plays such single performances of "The Love Duel," which Barrymore acted, as "Allison's House." the Pulitzer and her. receipts have established records in many theaters. Not prize play of 1331, by Susan Glas- even Sarah Bernhardt in her Texas tent days equaled some of the pell: "The Improper Duchess," by housea which Barrymore drew. Richmond, gave her her largest J. B.

Fagan, with Yvonne Arnaud; nMlt, a current success in i.ondon: nS'e night's receipts, and Cumberland, the lowest. Uth few "Melo," by Henri Bernstein, now a exceptions the S. R. O. sign was displayed wherever the actress p-success in New York; "The Vene- peared.

In some towns Barrymore was the first living rlayer many tians," by Clifford Bax. another of thc vounser generation ever bad seen. bVascna' GuitS-; A- the majority of the former legitimate theaters in the smaller with Lionel Atwill in the leading cities have crumbled into dust or been refashioned to receive the part; "The New Colony" by Lulgi light and sound of Hollywood, the actress trod boards, not made hls-Pirandello; "The Kitten's Tail." by torlc by Booth or Modjcska or by her own glamorous family, but "ThcaDeaJthnof ahiscai Ten.d by the sounds and shadows of the nek ford, and the Ch.p-masterpiece dealing with' the lins of the mechanical age of entertainment. hen motion picture French Revolution, with Philip palaces did not open their doors to her she ect her scenery in civic, Merivale; "Ugly Girl." a comedy lodge and school auditoriums. rne solo danseuse.

Later she abandoned the Metropolitan for a sa'er stage, and made her debut in musical comedy with Eddie Leonard in "Roly Poly Eyes." She made an instantaneous hit, and within a short time Edward Royce, then producing "Orange Blossoms" engaged her as a dancer for that production and while in rehearsal made the discovery that Queenie Smith was a real comedienne. Diary," by Maurine WatUins; "Interrupted." by Ferenc Molnar; "Our Pkasant Sins," by Donald Fret-wick; "Tables for Ladies," by Gerald Paxton. and "As You Desire Me," by Pirandello, with Judson Anderson. ON the other hand, Al Jolson, blackface comedian of 6tage and screen, who has been appearing without makeup In "The Wonder Bar," in New York, is negotiating to become owner of th motion picture rights of "The Green Pastures," the 1930 Pulitzer prize play current at the Mansfield Theater, New York, with an all- ROM that production Queenie Smith's course to stardom was fixed. She contributed much of, and sometimes most of the fun to "Helen of Troy, New York," "Be Yourself," "Tip Toes," Queenie Smith in "The Street Singer" at the Municipal Opera tomorrow night.

"finders," "Hitting: rretty, ana virjudy and was launched by Yin- jFrom tke Ring to Muny Opera By Archie Lcachl pTtie 1Wr66k's NeW FillllS -By Nie colored cast. Jolson is understood to be actuated by thc classic urge credited to all comedians to piny tragedy, preferably Hamlet," and to have a burning desiro to enact in pictures the role of "tho l.awd," rendered ally landed upon the stage, all spread out and ready for action. Fred Stone, and "Tip Top" brought me to America, as a mem- ACKIE COOPER, who came up from the Our Gang comedies to play "Skippy" a short time ago, how to display her charms to the because he has $8,000,000 and sho famous by Richard B. Harrison's best advantage so as to land her- needs just about that much to keep interpretation throughout 637 con-self a $150 a week job with a up her position in society. Then gecutive performances, big advertising agency.

Loretta she discovers that her love for Jolson's offer for the picture Young is the girl and she has other man is worth more than gold rights lias been reduced to conrele enough charm to equip a half doz- and she quits home to be with htm, terms said to be satisfactory to th en advertising offices but she con- only to find that he has made oth- business executives of its produe- ifr. Leach, an English actor, is making his debut before Municipal Opera audiences tomorrow night as the leading man in "The Street Singer'' in the role Khich he created ichen the musical corned teas first presented, icith Queenie Smith as the star, in Kcw York. the floor which has been cut much like you cut a pie, in segments, and cent Youmans, tne composer as cottar ith Charles Purcell in "Hit in which she visited St. Loui on two occasions. Then came "IV v-'treet Singer," and a Broad-succevs in a role peculiarly to her appealing personality.

I-vi''s Miss Smith and the da-ccr who surround her, "The fir-t S'Jisrcr" introduces to Municipal Or'a's stage, Archie Leach, a F-'tish leading man, who va a I.orJon favorite before Fred Mono brought him to America to play "Tip Top." After a suc-c--ss in that smashing hit, he i to England and brought fun by Oscar Hammerstein for iokiing rclc in "Golden Dawn." that came and then engaged him for "A V. or i rful Night," in which he cre-a-d the leading male role on nms'i wv Next hp rreated the ers. ber of the Bob Pender troupe. Ye steps into a gangster picture called were a feature of the show, and "Donovan's Kid" at the St. Louis after that played at the Hippo- Theater and puts Richard Dix and drome in New York and over tho Marion Shilling, a St.

Louis girl. Keith circuit in the East, and then completely in the shade. For Jackie went back home. a great little actor, the best of I had seen enough in America the youngsters now playing before to know that I wanted to be on the Hollywood cameras, and he the stage in this country. And runs awaF with tne trom start there was no place here for the to finish.

The story is all about a rincs nerseir to one and almost er arrangements, lncn sne goes to falls for the sales talk of the big work as a shop girl, finds -that business man who runs the place. Clivc, who has been hit, along with Jolson was the first actor I to establish the talkies ho did it with "The Jazr Sing every one else, in the late stoctc market crash, was a pretty gooa guy after all and returns to him fov the customary cinema finish. Miss A CAULIFLOWER ear was the cause of it all. I missed that decoration in my fighting days and thus was charrged the whole course of my destiny. I wanted to start in life as a pugilist.

I had to run away from home to do it, but I did. It seemed to me a burning rhame that for all our British hearts of oak an American held the championship of the world. I was going to chance all that but didn't even change my face. From which you may gather that I -was not a great tighter. Rig-ht-O, as I notice we English say.

Father took me back, even if I wasn't a champion, andsent me off to college. "Brain in list be your game." he said, "it surely isn't brawn." Poor, mistaken Dad. The principal thing I learned in college was that I wanted to go on the stage. Being an athlete, in the pink of er" older fans will recall that Paul Nicholson was the first etage gangster's kid who is adopted by Harlequinades. In the end she discovers it takes an airplane dash through a storm to arrive in the nick of time that she loves her husband best and while she probably lost her job 6he found motion picture happiness in the end.

"Big Business Girl" Is good screen romance of the light and entertaining sort and Ricardo Bankhead is an excellent actor to appear In motion pictures, when you're shot through one onto BACK home I went in for the stage it opens up at the pree SO mi and a welcome addition to tii Xow Nicholson has returned to th galaxy of stage stars. "Tarnished screen, after an absence of several Lady" is a worth while picture and years, and has an important role In the Missouri's other feature, Taramount's Love Once" tusical plays toured with the sure of your body and then th Arcadians, played in "No, No, man's part in "The Street Cortez, as the wise boss who is in "Many a Slip," which was done fin in support of Paul Lukas and Elea-the market for a wife, or some- a comedy at the Orpheum Theater nor Koardman. thing, shares honors with the last winter, is above the average. The first persons to play part pieces fall back into place again. Fred Stone used one for his entry onto the stage in "Tip Top." Remember? That entrance of mine was like a triple I made a triple-debut, before I fin r.

the cast. too. will be Doris handsome star. too. on ami JacJc Sheehan.

two of icon's great favorites, who ii'il; th' first bows before a hard-boiled yegg named Donovan when -his own father is put away by rival bootleggers. In order to keep the kid going straight. Donovan who is Richard Dix has to go straight himself. His reward is the love of the boy and also of Miss Shilling and the moral is that honesty, even if it hurts, has its compensations. Heading an excellent vaudeville bill on the St.

Louis stage is Blanche Sweet, former movfe star, who has a nice little comedy sketch which she plays well. Another Horse Opera. COVERED wagons, land rushes, bad men and at least one good woman are all tangled up in "Not Exactly Gentlemen," another opus of the wide open spaces at Only Partly Tarnished. AND in "Tarnished Lady," a good picture at the Missouri, Carrying the Torch. ff AL'OHIXd SINNERS." at I the Fox, starts out very well and gets better toward the Opera audiences this condition.

I ioined a Harleouin- on the screen were truck driven, waitresses, telephone girls, delivery boys and others who wanted to make a little extra money, Nicholson recollects, but he Is credited with being the first stage actor drafted into pictures by the late Wallace McCutcheon, who directed, supervised, wrote, photographed Nanette," in "The Byng Boys on Broadway" and "Polly." Then Arthur Hammerstein brought me over to New York" for "Polly" and "The Golden Dawn" and after that ihere were "Boom Boom" and "A Wonderful Night" and "The Street Singer." I like "The Street Singer" best of all. I have never gotten over the idea that I would like to be a comedian. AVhen the audience roared at me the time I shot up and down through that star-trap, it ruined me for ever, I suppose. I am quite sure that if Beel Jackson of Battling McJuggins, or Bruiser O'Lannigan. or some Talullah Bankhead, making her debut in the films, has something middle but the latter part of the Gladys who, by her ade.

Ultimately I became, a mem- heaury of voice and acting charm, ber of the famous Bob Pender r.a already firmly established her- troupe. I suppose you'd call them as onp of the opera great fav- pantomimic tumblers and comedi- this year; Hal Forde, Steph- ans. There is nothing like it in film peters out and proves disap of the same sort of experience with marriage. She weds Clive Brook pointing. This story is about a cabaret girl who got a bad start Produced the first motion pic- Mj Mi1s, Connie Graham, an En- thjs country.

The Harlequinade is cn con.eaienne, making her rirst a British institution. Purely, appearance in Forest Tark, Richard Tt' a rhrfstma pantomime, the but wound up safe and sound lur -the Salvation Army. Joan Craiv- Jhe ubl Bhw ford puts everything she has into Photoplay took place in 1835, when the picture. She sings and dance- th projectlo machine as con.w oti. v(n ercd perfected.

In 1896 pictorial Fcrd, the Hans of "Three Little rhsnipra ndanted from the old Girls and Robert Long and Yic- Italian Commedia del" Arte. Stock nci u-aiu. other husky aspirant that I fought Loew's. Vic. McLaglen, Lew Cody Cassmore who appeared in rinu-n nrh of -whom has a tradi- nicely but the best entertainment "'Nina Rosa" subjects were shown on the screen in vaudeville houses.

The follow. 1 Am. V. 1 W. last year.

Is supplied by the wise cracks of with years ago had only left me a and Eddie Gribbon make up a trio cauliflower ear I would be a clown" of tough hombres who are some-today. Tou don't do a half bad thing more than not exactly 'gen- HE STREET SINGER" is a comedy of today, built about tlemen. but when they run across day's work when you make audience forget its troubles an in the funny, but romantic ad- Guy Kibbee who plays a traveling "E5C" 7. salesman for an undertakers' sup- ne Ilcture that ply house dealing in underground dramatlc ItJwa" novelties. KU Scene, "and was a ht This picture wss filmed In th To Make Debut With Rogers.

blazing sun on the roof of a build. ing at Thirteenth and Broadway. Carmen Barnes, school girl au- The Bhow cf Amusement Calendar MUNICIPAL OPERA Starting tomorrow night. "The Street Singer," with Queenie Smith. Last time tonight of "Three Little Girls." Motion Pictures FOX Joan Crawford in "Laughing Sinners." A Fan-chon and Marco revue on the stage with the return of Al Lyons as master of ceremonies.

AMBASSADOR "Big Business Girl," from the story which ran in the Post-Dispatch, with Loretta Young and Ricardo Cortez. A Publix Show on the stage and the newest "Miss St. Louis." ST. LOUIS Richard Dix. Jackie Cooper and Marion Shilling in "Donovan's Kid." RKO vaudeville on the stage headed by Blanche Sweet, in person.

MISSOURI Clive. Brook and Tallulah Bankfcead in "The Tarnished Lady," and Joan Bennett and Lew Ayres in "Many a Slip." LOEWS Yictor McLaglen and Fay Wray in "Not Exactly Gentlemen." laughter at your humors. But instead of that, an English manager picked me to do the "and-some 'ero," and I'm doing "and-some 'eroes" still. 5 of a group of Americans The book is by Cyrus nd Edgar Smith and lyrics lam John. Jean Gilbert.

Fay Wray, who is looking for a gold mine, they Jump in and help her find it. They had some Intention of settling down and helping her work it, too. but about that time a Sheriff's posse rode Into the hills with some old warrants and the bad men dashed away, looking for fresh adventures. The picture has all of the sure fire stuff of the thor who became a star overn.grn onc ab(Jut fMt an4 Chinese Actor Has Finger in Own Publicity. CHARGING that his finger was deliberately cut off during the filming of a motion picture In order to obtain lurid publicity for the production, Hsueh Chi-hsl, a Shanghai screen actor, has filed suit in the District Court in the Chinese city for $24,960.

Mr. Hsueh charges that the plot Of the Chinese production "Red Butterfly" called for the cutting off of his finger and that a false finger was supplied for this scene, but that another actor, at the Instigation of the manager of the producing company, cut fit one of his real fingers instead. The complaint further alleges that the producing company exhibited thc amputated finger In a bottle as part of its publicity campaign. -Vcholas Kempner and Timberg as the result of a recent screen tent. took five minutes to complete.

Mc. will make her film debut in "The Road to Reno" In which she will be co-featured with Buddy Rogers. Mu Phi Epsilon Meeting. The St. Louis Alumnae Club of Ec-sns its modern dance num-'5 'he M.orc of "The Street ngfr" i fuu 0f melodies, among tional personality.

They have marvelous adventures told in action in pantomime and tumbling. Beginning on Boxing day, which is the first week day after Christmas, they continue for sometimes 10 or weeks to the great delight of the kiddies. SO I made my entrance upon the stage, shot through the floor by way of a "star trap," and up into the air, and then, because I forgot to spread my legs apart when I came down, I dropped through the "star-trap" out of sight again. Down below there were four husky fellows with a table. who had catapulted me up through the floor.

I landed on the table and up I went again. And I was still too excited to remember to spread out my legs so down through the trap I went once more. Cutcheon turned out a subject a day. His company was called th American Mutascope and Biograph. These first motion pictures were used as "chasers" In vaudeville houses.

They flickered and were so hard on the eyes that no on rould sit through them twice. the Mu Phi Epsilon Sorority will Western mellers but it's better done hold its annual outing Tuesday at of 4a good, thrilling story from start to Ridge Farm near Valley Park. The finish. thrrr sun? Swanoii Goes Abroad. Gloria Swanson left last Friday on the He de France for a vacation In Europe prior to returning to tn'i'e of the most popular of recent years.

These "You've Made Me Happy." 'juernie Smith and Archie "The Girl That I'll Adore," I.fach and the ensemble; (r Can Tell," sung by i axter and Jack Good; "I -Vrong But Think You're sung by Good and Vi't- "So Beats Mv Heart following members will be installed as officers for the coming year: President. Ruth Johnson; vice president, Edith Hablg; recording secretary, Geneva Wood; corresponding secretary. Bess Symon; treasurer, Marietta Schumacher; historian, Charlotte Stockton, and Hollywood to start her next picture. Vaudeville theaters put on contln. whose production date has been uous performances, and their profit set as Aug.

1. The atar will go Iay ln evacuating the houses after first to France, and then plans to The early movlea go to London for a day or two and Berve effectively for this purpos thence to Germany, Sweden and an4 nomn of the later day films It Pays to Advertise. PROBABLY you remember "Big Business Girl" when it ran as a serial in the Post-Dispatch the good looking gal who had a fairly worthless husband kicking Norway. around somewhere and who knew a for Vn.j Mr. TV i chaplain, Ruth Hayden.

i A "star trat" is an opening in s'lnjr by Miss Smith and and thc comic song, Elmer," sung by Hal the Screen Who Are on View in the Cinema Palaces This Week "1 Stephen Mills, and rything Is Hunk-Dory," Miss Smith and Leach. Lunt and Fontanne Will Make a Movie are having the same effect. IV the few years which hav elapsed Hlnce Jolson made "The Singing Fool" the technique of manufacturing talking pictures has advanced from confinement to free, dom, from stiffness and rigidity to a flexibility and eae of movement that would have aMonUhed the men. who first experimented with audi, ble films. "When sou speak that line aland near that flower pot." the director used to ay.

"The mike that will pick up your voice is hidden there. But, nowadays. Instead of the player following the microphone, it la the other way around: ana the tendency -more and more Is t0 only one microphone to be ued on a set. The modern microphone la movable; It la mounted on th end the arm of an Inverted L. nl this arm can be moved in any direction, up, down or Mdeways.

Alse the arm can be lengthened or shortened within a rang of some St feet. And it makes no noise whaU ever. 111" th.r He'll, r'hpr. A L. ta.st "TV announcement comes Hollywood that Ferene "The Guardsman" will be co-starring screen produc-r- Alfred Lunt and Lynn The Theater Guild's '-Tie plan to start work on initial film venture this Sidney Franklin whose includes "The Last of Mrs.

"Devil May Care," and 'V 's Morals," will direct 'The with a supporting to be selected. Guardsman" was produced N'etv York stage by th Ovild seven years ago, with Miss Fontanne in leading Je- :1 Tarnished Marion Shilling in "Donovan's Kinrhr, Succt. in person, on the Tag Wray in "Kot Exactly Gentle- Tallulah Bankhead in Loretta Toung in Business Joan cratrora in -augniny em-Girl," at the ners," at the fox Theater. Kid," at the St. Louts.

atase at the St. Louis. at Lock; Theater. at the Missouri. nil.