The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 62

TWO THEATRICAL AND PHOTOPLAY SECTION WANT AD HEADQUARTERS, COURT 4900 THE PITTSBURGH PRESS OTHER DEPARTMENTS. COURT 545ff SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1929 "OLD SOAK" IN STOCK AS THE' JOYCE BOY COMES BACK The Wily Oriental as Seen in Advance Closeups by Staff Artist Link I Little Theater Activities Don Marquis' Success Heads Summer Bills Hugh O'Connell Comes to Play Title Role at Pitt Joyce's First Show Is "Let's Go" Johns and Powell in Stage Reviews. MORE BACKSTAGE LIFE. LIFE backstage in three-a-day vaudeville, where the painted smile is erased and the mask of the footlights is drooped, where puppets of pleasure become human beings again, is strikingly portrayed in Universal's "Melody Lane," starring Eddie Leonard, minstrel king, with Josephine Dunn, at the Harris. Leonard, to whom the sceptre of minstrel king descends from Primrose and Lockstader, Mclntyre and Heath, and who wrote the ever-popular "Ida Sweet as Apple Cider," does his blackface stuff on the stage in the picture as an integral part of the story.

In addition to the three new songs, Leonard dances and sings several of his old-time favorites. DEPARTING from the field of light comedy In which they have been appearing of late, the George Sharp Players will present "The Old Soak" as their next attraction at the Pitt beginning tomorrow night. The title role of "Clem Hawley" will be taken by Hugh O'Connell, who recently completed a icng run in "Gentlemen of the Press" and who also had the role of a drunken reporter in "The 'The Old Soak" is from the pen of that drr.li humorist, Don New York newspaperman, and is full of lines and situations that draw on all the human emotions. The comedy is done in three acts and has been played by such outstanding stars as Harry Beresford. Raymond Hitchcock and Tom Wise.

Arthur Hopkins oroduced the play for the i first time at the Plymouth Theater with Berer-iord in the title role. Mr. O'Connell will be supported by Mabel Kroman, Pauline Mac- i Lean, Catherine Maison, Frances I Neilson, Kenneth Daigneau, Robert Fiske, Clyde Shafer- Cledge Rob erts ana Arthur Sprenkle. TEDDY RETURNS TO PEXN. TOMORROW marks the return of Teddy Joyce to his post of master of ceremonies at i.he Penn Theater, where he captivated audiences with his own inimitable antics to the tune of a solid year's run.

up to the time of his departure for Baltimore twelve weeks ac. For his opening attraction, Teddy will be in "Let's Go" a Loew's stage, presentation reatunng the Five tumblers; Heller and Riley, singing and dancing comedians; Al and Gussie Blum, dancers; and a group of Dave Gould girls, ballet dancers and singers. The screen attraction will be Wonder of Stone, Peggy Women" with Lewis Wood and Leila Hv- ams. It Las talking sequences, and gives a new angle on the triangle. Dick Leibert has a novelty organ-logue, Elias Breeskin and the Penn Symphony orchestra will furnish classical music and movietone news will be JOHNS IN NEW REVUE.

THIS week on the Stanley stage, Brooke Johns, who in two weeks has established himself as a favorite with Pittsburgh audiences, presents a revue called "Speed Mania." i 1 I I I i when Paramount decided to film "The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu," with Oland in the title role. In 1919 Oland read the Rohmer novel. It was just after he had come to Hollywood after having portrayed oriental roles in popular serial pic tures. Rex Ingranam met him and waxed enthusiastic over the possibilities of the story.

Oland agreed. Some time later Bertrand Milt-hauser, then production executive writh Cecil B. DeMille, again broached the subject of "The 'Mysterious Dr. Side Streets A MASTER villain of fiction, born in the brain of a recognized master creator of diabolical plots and deep-dyed vil-lainry, has, after 16 years, been brought from between the bindings of books and lives on the screen to leer and laugh at the law. He is Fu Manchu, Dr.

Fu Manchu, the mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu, to give him his full, well-earned title. Sax Rohmer's famous oriental charlatan, revenge-seeking product of the Boxer rebellion, is one of the classic characters of detective-mystery fiction. Now that the screen talks he has become a living personality for millions of persons who first met him in Rohmer's writing. Paramount has made "The Mysterious Dr.

Fu Manchu" into a delightfully exciting, all-talking moving -picture melodrama. Warner Oland, for years one of the great character actors on stage and screen, plays the title role with extraordinary adaptability and effect. The calm and cool Inspector Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard is played by O. P. Heggie, noted English actor, whose life has been devoted to bringing convincing characterizations to stage and screen audiences.

Neil Hamilton, popular I DARESAY Continued from Preceding Page. Ten years ago! and a young meteor, zooming, blazing, arcing the theatrical firmament, paling all else! And today a worn bridegroom out in Hollywood, with but two possessions: a blond bride and a profile. With but one goal: Recaptured youth! His clothes, they tell me, are the dream of tailors. His home the feat of art. Occasionally, to vary the monotony of simulating romantic youth, he turns a weary profile, now sharpened by the emery of time, to a cautious camera and news comes out of Hollywood that we shall hear his voice anon, the spent voice of a dillentante in search of novelty.

I COULD WEEP. Death is sad enough in all its lonely guises but never, never is it so tragic as when it strikes Genius down and lets its moving shell remain, to taunt us. This is the youngest of our beloved trio John, the kid brother, John the gifted, the unruly one, John, of whose classic brow a premature immortality cast its mask too soon! 'Well, Hollywood has given us much, and we must not be unmindful of its bounty. But its vast restless tides have cast up wrecks, too. And of them all, the one which makes my heart the bleakest, is the hull of that beauteous, fragile vessel which held, not long ago, the flaming genius of that once greatest of all living actors, John Barrymore.

Karivieff, speed and intricate riplaV Whitpman Film dancer, is featured with Johnny Ueiay VVmieman mm. Payne, piano playing comedian. "The King of Jazz," the famous Arthur Nealy, tenor, will sing the Paul Whiteman film without a story, production number and Genie has been postponed until Nov. 1. Carl Lange, who has become so popular Laemmle, is ntt satisfieu with with Stanley audiences, will do a any of the stories hitherto submitted specialty with Brooke.

The girls and neither is Whiteman. This in -will feature a production number terim during which Paul Whiteman devised by the new supervisor Doro- make a concert tour of the Pa-thy de Merle, a chain dance number, cific Coast will enable the Universal On the screen, the all talking ver- I scenario department to find a story sion of "The Hottentot" will be the thoroughly acceptable. THE PITTSBURGH MUSICAL COMEDY CLUB, professional operetta organization which has recently agreed to supervise the musical comedy division of The Lit tle Theater of Pittsburgh, announces that it desires to communicate with former doughboys who have served over there. The former soldier boys are invited to try out for roles in the cast' of "Buddies," war-time musical comedy which the musical comedy department of The Little Theater of Pittsburgh will present as the initial production of the season. Former members of the Blue Ridge Boys, the Tourse Players, and other war-time dramatic organiza tions, are especially sought.

Those who desire an audition are requested to communicate with Lewis H. Abel, 207 Fifth Hacke building, Pittsburgh. The Little Theater of Pittsburgh legitimate drama department, is dickering with several local play wrights, seeking to open the season with a play by a Pittsburgh playwright. One of the finest plays submitted to The Little Theater is one with a Mexican locale, dealing with the experiences of the -playwright. The playwright's name will be published upon the completion of suc cessful negotiation of The Little Theater of Pittsburgh to produce her play.

Mrs. Chester F. Johnston, who has written many plays, will present one of her playlets, "His Souvenirs," over Station KQV, as the guest of the Modern Mummers, radio stock play ers who are continuing their broad casts throughout the summer. The cast will be vnder the direction of Mrs. Johnston and will be composed of members of the North Boros Unit of The Little Theater of Pitts burgh.

The kiddies of the Civic Children's Theater of Pittsburgh are spending their vacation days rehearsing their bits in "Kid Days," which is the opening vehicle of the Civic Children's Theater. In their spare time, the children are writing letters to prominent Pittsburghers and Americans, asking them about their "kid days." From Foreign Legion. Paul Hurst, playing in support of Robert Armstrong and Jimmy Glea-son in Pathe's "Oh, Yeah!" was a member of the French Foreign Legion during the World War. He is a licensed aviator and instructs a small class of students at an airport in North Hollywood. G5333G3ES? The Old Soak If By DON MARQUIS -WITH HUGH O'CONNELL IX THE TITLE ROLE BEST SEATS SI.

00 Except Saturday MATS. THUItS. and SAT, KEUUYUOOD FREE AFTERNOON, EVENING RITCHIE WATER SHOW AND AIC GOLDSTEIN, THE FUNNY CLOWN TODAY AFTERNOON, EVENING JOS. NIRELLA'S BAND A'D "VOICE OF KEXNYWOOD" DIP IN THE BIG POOL BATHING AND AMUSEMENTS DAILY 'DANCE TOMORROW NITE TO FAMOUS IPANA TR0UBAD0RS is BIG BATTLE OF MlIC WITH "KE 1 WQODI. 8" 2 116 0CHESTAS NO INCREASE IN PRICE PROGRAM FREE "VOICE OF KENNYW00D" West View PARK TODAY! Danny NIRELLA'S DAtlD Afternoon and ETening GO TO WEST VIEW TODAY I A MidniteN JvH Show yAlX Tonite Gridiron Film Proof Against Critical Fans.

The critical eyes of the nation's millions of football fans were kept uppermost in mind by John Ford, film director, during the production of "Salute," forthcoming Fox movie tone picture of romance and athletics at West Point and Annapolis. Every precaution was taken to make the Army-Navy game which climaxes the story not only a thrill ing affair, but also a technically correct one. The Army team in the picture uses Army formations and the team representing the Navy launches the same plays drilled into the midshipmen at Annapolis by Coach Bill Ingram. Players of national renown comprise the "Army" and "Navy" elevens. The referee, umpire, field judge, timekeeper and linesmen are accredited officials durir the college football season.

Ford and a company of 50 spent six weeks in Annapolis filming scenes in and around the academy, including the football field. George O'Brien, a former high school and college player, trained two months before work on the picture began in order that he might look as well as play the part of an all-America West Point halfback. Opposite Harding. In "Her Private Affair," Ann Harding's second all-talking production for Pathe, John Loder, the son of Maj. Gen.

William Loder, retired, of the Dragoon Guards, and himself a captain of cavalry, plays opposite Ann Harding, the daughter of an American major general. O'Brien in Grey Tale. George O'Brien, Fox featured player, is getting used to a western costume these days. He is to be featured in "Lone Star Ranger," a Zone Gray western which shortly goes into production, directed by Buddy Erickson. FROM LONSDALE PLAY.

SIDNEY FRANKLIN reaches stellar ranks as a director of smart comedy-drama in "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," which opens tomorrow at the heridan Square as Norma Shearer's latest starr' lg ve-i hide and an all-talking production. Franklin; one of fildom's pioneers, directed the picturization of the famous Frederick Lonsdale stage play from the Hans Kraly and Claudine West adaptation. Basil Rathbone and George Bar-j raud play the leading male roles. The supporting cast includes Hedda Hopper, Herbert Bunston and George K.

Arthur. FIRST ACADEMY SHOW. ctmHE BOHEMIANS" opens, a I full week's engagement at the Academy tomorrow, with Mildred Steele, dancer, leading the cast. Co-featured with her is Sam Cicals, Jewish comedian. Other principals are Chickie Wells, Doro- iw Alexander, Dolly Lewis, Lew Denny and Palmer Young.

A fast- moving cnorus iorms a DacKgrouna for the principals. Since the Academy was closed for the summer months George JafTe, owner and manager, has had the theater redecorated and a number of improvements made. The foyer and lounge has also been redecorated and refurnished. Tonight the first midnight show of the year will be given. During the winter season a similar performance will be given every Sunday night at 12:05 a.

m. Lon's an Engineer. Lon Chaney won a membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as -a result of his feat fn driving a locomotive more than 600 miles, in the filming of Metro Gold- wyn Mayer's dramatic railroad play, which comes to the Aldine tomorrow, with sound synchronization. William Nigh directed the new play, in which Lon Chaney 4 Chaney drives his train in a rescue trip to the Mississippi floods. The entire building of a locomotive is another spectacular detail of the new story which carries a romantic love theme as well as the dramatic portraj-al of the life of an old engineer.

Stone Has New Role. Lewis Stone, who in the past year has played many outstanding roles of the screen, is the hero of 'Wonder of Women," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's drama of modern Europe, which comes to the Penn tomorrow. It is his first role since his triumph with Ruth Chatterdon in "Madame X.Clarence Brown directed the new play, adapted by Lewis Stone. Bessie Meredyth from Hermann Sudermann's famous novel, "The Life of Stephen Tromholt," and Peggy Wood, famous stage star, plays the heroine'. lieila Hyams, Harry Meyer, George Fawcttt and Sarah Padden are in the cast.

Bob Likes the Water. If Robert Fiske, who is enjoying a good season with the Sharp Players at the Pitt, were to be christened again ne snoma have "Duck" as nis middle name, oecause there is i Mr i Fiske likes bet-j ter thai, to be in I the water. 1 ft -AS of "I taf advantage or every opportunity that presents itself," said Mr. Fiske when seen on his way i om the theater bound for one of the Robert Fiske. many swimming pools in the Greater Pittsburgh district "I spend many nappy moments in the water in winter as well as in summer," he declared.

wouldn't care if I were in Alaska or In Singapore. It's the water for me and Wife 3 Paramount player, and Jean Arthur have the thrilling romantic roles and the supporting cast includes William Austin, Claude King and Tully Marshall. Ten years of wishing finally brought Oland his heart's desire By SAM LOVE, United Press Staff Writer. N1 EW YORK. Aug.

17. The Rev. David Belasco chose to crack open the theatrical season this year a trifle early, but he uncorked it with a hit. He also possibly set a style for later efforts of his colleagues and competitors. Rev.

Belasco advanced illegitimacy a notch as a popular joke, moving it from the distant realms of British aristocratic playfulness, as in "The Bachelor Father," to a homier, more easy-going haven in a middle-western small town. The suspects in the new Belasco farce, called "It's a Wise Child," range from the family lawyer, the village Babbitt and the town philanthropist to the brother-in-law of the damsel. Playing a prominent part also is an iceman and a maid-of-all-work, or hired girl. That audiences hold their stomachs and rock with laughter as the broad innuendo involved shows how swiftly New York is moving toward the decadence of Paris. Three years ago they would have beent scared to laugh.

Three years ago Rev. Belasco would have been too smart to crack a season with "It's a Wise Child." The world does move, and the Rev. Belasco keeps a good half-skip ahead of it, despite his venerable appearance. Another thing the Rev. Belasco has done for his new farce written by Lawrence E.

Johnson is to give it flawless staging, careful direction and a hand-picked cast. It also has a happy ending. The heroine, as the audience is comfortably aware from the beginning, is really a virtuous girl and only trying to escape marrying the obnoxious philanthropist, to whom she had become engaged while bored. The new Belasco play starts Sidney TOler, an old-time matinee idol, HELEN asked me to sing for Helen remarks. "As I sang my song, which was That's My Weakness Now, I sang right to him.

He seemed to like it and I got a job. I think it was my baby voice and my pout at the end of each line that turned the trick." BECAME STAB OVERNIGHT. Miss Kane's show" opened on Saturday with many of New York's hard-boiled critics prese By the time her 20-minute act was over every critic was her booster. Newspapers announced the fact that a new "find" had been nu.de in Man hattan's gold mine of talent. Broadway And i J- eeI iiiii Fu Manchu." Everything seemed set for making the picture, but some thing happened.

On the third and last attempt of Oland to make this intriguing character live on the screen Paramount went through with it. Coming to the Theaters Going from comedy to comedy drama, the George Sharp Players production following "The Old Soak," will be "The Other Man" in which Taylor Holmes appeared several seasons ago at the Pitt. "The Other Man" was originally called "The Ghost Between." The play after opening in Pittsburgh was taken to Broadway where it appeared -for, several months, later going to Chicago where it scored another success. The leads will be assumed by Kenneth Daigneau, Robert Fiske, Pauline Maclean, Mabel Kroman, Catherine Maison and Frances Neilson. The stage attraction of the Penn theatre will feature Teddy Joyce in his second week of his return engagement as master of ceremonies.

The traveling stage unit will be "Radio Romance," a fast stepping musical. Star for Seven Years. Edward heads the Everett Horton, who list of stars in the all- talking version of the stage and silent screen success, Hottentot," a the Stanley this week, is one of the leading stars of the present day. For the past seven years he has been starred in the a 8 tic Edward Everett Theater, Los Horton. Angeles, in an extensive repertoire of successful plays.

He is now producer and star of the Vine Street Theater, Hollywood. "Miss Information," a short vitaphone. feature with Lois Wilson, was his initial effort in the talkies. SHERIDAN SQ. PENN AVE.

E. Liberty MOM. TIES. WED. NORMA SHEARER in "THE LAST OF MRS.

CHENEY" THUR5 FBI. SAT. Eddit Lionard in "Melody Lans" DO 33 HELEN'S BABY VOICE TAKES EDGE OFF NAUGHTY SONGS into another season as one of the few amusing comedy actors on Broadway. He plays the iceman. It also contains a line that has in a few days become a Brightlights gag, namely: "All I want from you is ice." REUBEN MAMOULIAN, the ace Theater Guild director, is rrjaking his debut effort for the screen at the Paramount Long Island City studios.

Unhampered by the necessity for subtitles, Ma-moulian introduced a thought into the moving picture world by wondering why it wouldn't be possible to keep the talking camera constantly focussed on his characters, moving the camera as they moved and avoiding jerky "cuttings." The effect, in the completed portions of "Applause," his first film, is said to be the most startling innovation since the early German angle shots. Hitherto the traveling camera has never photographed more than 20 per cent of a picture's total footage. In "Applause" at least 85 per cent of the scenes have been photographed in motion. Helen Morgan, Zieg-feld and night club queen, who is also making her screen debut, gets the benefit of the new, uninterrupted spotlight. A YELLOWED, 50-year-old copy of.

"Clipper," the theatrical newspaper of its day, reveals that theme songs are no newer than anything else under the proscenium arch. One J. M. Warner, a advertises in it for two suitable "original compositions' to be sung with his Yankee drama, "Speculation." Warner offers two diamond studs as an inducement to musicians in his theme song contest, offering to buy the studs back from the winner for $100. KANE.

to make phonograph records, of which more than 6,000,000 are now in circulation. By the second week her name was In electric lights. By the third week vaudeville agents were following her around with contracts which she turned down for a part in "Good Boy." It was in that show that she reached stardom. Now she is full-fledged film actress. Before coming to the west coast she appeared in "Nothing But the Truth" with Richard Dix.

At present she is playing in "Sweetie." This Is the picture which is supposed to elevate Nancy Carroll to stardom, but I think by the time it is completed Helen will have walked away with all honors. attraction. Bernie Armstrong and Dave Broudy will collaborate in a novelty organ-orchestra presentation. DICK GOES FUTURISTIC. DICK POWELL goes futuristic in his revue on the Enright stage this week, "Zig Zag." The oblique angles and intersecting lines that characterize every aspect of this new technique of painting and architecture have been transplanted to the sets of the latest En-right show.

The girls will feature as a pro duction number, a comparison of the dress of the last century with that of the coming years, syn- chronized to the tune or "Crinoline Days." Dick as his special offering will sing "That's What I Call Heaven." i Assisting are Charles Frozini, an expert upon the accordian, Lilian I and Mae Murray, sisters who sing and dance, and others. On the screen is "Dark Streets" Jack Mulhall's latest all-talking production. Irma Guthoerl continues nt the organ with a novelty presentation. A Product of Britain. "The Last of Mrs.

Cheyney." 11-talking picture in which Norma Shearer is starred by Metro-Gold-wvn-Mayer, is a i i tively British product, having made its debut from the London stage nearly five years ago. Frederick Lonsdale wrote the original stage play from which the film at the Sheridan Sauare Theater this week was Norma Shearer, adapted by Hans Kraly and Claudine West and directed by Sidney Franklin. In the original London presentation, Gladys Cooper ap-appeared in the title role. She was followed in this part by Ina Claire, who first portrayed the glittering society adventuress on the American stage, creating the characterization in the New York production. Minstrel Man at 16.

Eddie Leonard, starring in "Melody Lane," at the Harris this week was born in Ricn- mond, and started out as a minstrel when he was about 16 years old. He has appeared with all of the great minstrels, Haverly, Primrose, Dockstader and others and in many shows of his own. tc famous as uie conrposer and singer of such Eddie Leonard favorite songs as "Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider," "Coon, Coon, Coon," "Rnllv Bolv Eves." "Oh. Didn't It Rain" and "Oh, Anna." In 1904 he appeared in a show called 'Luting the Lead" at the New Amsterdam Theater, New York, and subsequently he appeared in "The Southerners." Then came "Roly Boly Eyes," for John Cort at the Knicker-wker A I 1 i Ik fir NEW SHOWS EACH WEEK-END! Warner Theatres are the only theatres in Pittsburgh offering a complete new show for your enjoyment each week-end 1 The Stanley sets the pace with a new Brooke Johns stage show and screen attraction every Friday, At the Enright Dick Powell offers a new stage show every Saturday, and at the same time a new picture is featured. The super-productions which go to the Grand also open on Saturday.

Put these how at the head of your list of week-end pleasure! TTkie Willows kmont I EE: hsdr Iee "IF THE By DAN THOMAS, NEA Service Writer. HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 17. Helen Kane, the original "baby-voiced girl of Broadway," does not talk baby talk. "In fact, I hate baby talk," said the young actress who recently left Broadway for Hollywood blvd.

"It is posible tb have a baby voice without talking baby talk and on the other hand a baby voice isn't necessary for that kind of "My voice is naturally this way," she said without a hint of a lisp. "I never thought that my voice was any different from other persons except that once in a while someone would mimic me to tease me. Singers often nave tried to imitate me, but in many cases their voices have been too heavy and coarse to be effective. I never sing baby songs on the stage. Instead I sing songs that are a bit risque, but they don't seem to sound that way in my voice." JOINED REVUE AT 15.

Miss Kane was born with the baby voice that has stayed right with her. At the age of 15 she left school, to find work in order to give her invalid mother the care and attention she needed. Being stage-struck for some reason or other, she made 1 a bee-line for theatrical agencies instead of applying for a job as clerk or secretary as her mother wished. By saying that she had had stage experience Helen got a job In the Four Marx Brothers' Revue. From this show she went to other revues, to musical comedies and to night clubs.

About 15 months" ago she was in the chorus of "A Night in Spain," in her first revue. She was de termined to break through the chorus line some way, so between shows she slipped around the corner to the Paramount Theater to try out for one of its prologue acts. "IPANA TROUBADOURS" America's Most Sensational Dance Orchestra Direct From New York Beginning TUESDAY, AUGUST 20 NO ADVANCE IN PRICES HARRIS DIAMOND ST. DOWNTOWN All Week 100 Talking, Singing EDDIE LEONARD in "MELODY LANE" "Atlalt, I saw Paul Ash, vjheu. Four days later she was signed jpj nty of it." 1 1-.