The Washington Post from Washington, District of Columbia • Page 49

OLD FIRM PRESENTS MIL fT YSTER PL A VL Wfagenhals and Kemper Reenter the Producing Field W'ith (f Thief in the Night" at the Belasco A By NELSON B. BELL. ISPLAYING a disinclination to permit the patient playgoer more than a respite from the assiduous enticements of new experiments in dramaturgy, the Belasco Theater tomorrow evening i resuscitate an expiring season sufficiently to reintroduce Messrs. Wagenhals and Kemper as activities again have an important bearing upon events in the theater. Whether tnroug-h coincidence or by design, the rehabilitation in the public mind of a firm that has many past achievements to its credit links itself oddly earlier undertakings of the same successful partnership.

"A Thief in the Night," the object of the producers' revived interest In the stage, -was i in collaboration by Mrs. Mary Roberts Rinehart and Mr. Avery Hopwood. It will be recalled that these prolific and highly diverting contributors to the reading-table and the playhouse also -were responsible for the brisk enlivenment "Seven Days" arTorded disciples of the lighter form of dramatic expression. "Seven Days" was one of "Wagenhals and Kemper's distinct comedy successes prior to their withdrawal from the list of active purveyors of theatrical amusement.

No doubt, i appreciably influenced the selection of "A Thief in the Night" as the i of their reentry into one of the most hazardous forms of business endeavor Of the new play little is known -beyond the almost Belascoan revelation that it is a "drama of thrills and mystery." Mrs. Rinehart possesses a peculiar facility in fashioning such things and it is therefore reasonable to assume that at least the bases of plot and characterisation originated wifh her If, as the title suggests, nocturnal enterprises are to be put afoot, there may be occasion for timid and surreptitious boudoir dialogues. At hat sort of thing Mr Hopwood an adept, made doubly skillful by long practice in turning conversational witticisms which generally are more innocuous than they seem at first Optimism may at any rate be permitted to run wild until tomorrow- night's i performance of "A Thief in the Night" definitely puts a period to speculation ---It of interest to note that Mr Belasco deems his new comedy by Jean Archibald, "Call the Doctor," presented a i ago in the Belasco a in this city, of sufficient merit to open the new season in New Tork The New York premiere of the play, in i Miss Janet Beecher will retain the principal role, will be in the Empire Theater on August 31 'The Passing Show of 1919" a week ago last night concluded the longest run ever scored by a production at the New York Winter Garden When the curtain descended on the 319th a immediately "Also, while waiting (or the boy, renjoved his coat. "At the end of the second act ha further removed his collar and tie and sent out for some cigars--Coronas-which also were charged to Cohan During the third act he removed his unloosened his trousers band and removed one shoe Til be remarked Cohan In telling his experience, 'if there had been another act Daly would have been stripped --Morris Gest, who returned from Europe last Sunday, last week announced many new theatrical productions for the firm of Comotock and arations were made to transfer the Gest, as a result of his trip abroad. Maude irrv'The pcxTwrro." Suzanne Jackson in ParJon and Bath, Sue Mac nanamu thief in the Henri erha Crosrnan Eddie Cosmos.

inThe (FILM). The Pioneer Directrix ME. ALXCB BLAGUE, director of Dolores CasslnelU's newest feature, "Tarnished Reputations," at Crandall's Theater today, was the first woman to take a megaphone in hand and direct a motion picture. Mme. Blache is a French woman.

She was educate-! in convents, in Paris and Geneva. Her first affiliation with the moving picture industry as secretary to M. Gaumont, in Paris. In 1897, when pictures were just in their swaddling clothes, she was put in charge of the Paris Gaumont studios. Years later she came to the United States with her husband, Herbert Blache.

and they formed the United States Amusement Company, doing their own producing and directing. Albert Roscoe, with. Hiss Cassinelli, is a Southerner. Nash-f ville. he claims as his birthplace, and the Vanderbilt University of that city as his alma mater.

His theatrical experience covers 15 years as leading man and director. Any yard stick will disclose his height as exactly 6 feet, while the scales register 175 pounds. Stars he has made love to--before the camera--report his eyes brown and his hair black. Aside from all this, he's a darn good scout. extravaganza to Chicago for the summer The next "Winter Garden musical mplange be known as "Cinderella on Broadway --One of the surprises of the theat- i a year has been the astonishing success scored by "Ed Wynn's Carnival" at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York Washington was not i revue's cleverness the occasion of its premiere here but its popularity in Manhattan has been so great that when the fs ousts it from the New Am- on 22, the "Carnival" i i i i across the street in the Selwyn Theater Toxen Worm, for years general press a i for the Shuberts, but last year a a of their Boston Theatei has been recalled to New- York I a of resuming his duties a.3 i i expert, however, Mr Worm i be installed as resident a a of the i Garden.

Instead of i on Long a the cast will spend this i at the Broadway Theater, York, to witness the first ooreeniTipr of William Collier, their star in "The Question" 7t is Mr Colhor's as a i Oscar Asche, the eminent English actor, author and star of "Chu Chin Chow," will come to America in September to supervise the final rehearsals of the new Oriental spectacle "Mecca," -which Comstock and Gest will present in September at a Broadway theater to be announced later Mr. Asche wrote "Mecca," as the successor of "Chu Chin Chow" but the continued success of the Chinese play in London, where it is nearing its fifth year, led to his decision to permit the world's premiere to take place in New York. Comstock and Gest have also arranged to have Percy Fletcher, the composer, come from London to conduct the first per- forpnance The scenery is being painted in London by Joseph and Philip Harker. and the costumes have been designed by Percy Anderson--the same trio that produced such wonderful color schemes for "Chu Chin Chow The new spectacle is in 14 scenes and requires 400 people Mile Alys Delysia, who has been the sensation of London and Paris, will pay her first visit to America, in November, when Comstock and Gest will import the success, "Afgar," a musical comedy, i the French actress in the role she has played in London for the past two years. Her American tour is by special arrangement with Charles TVhen Is a "Quick Study? Sothern-Marlowe Data UST how long does it require for an actor--or actress--to "get up" in a part? Probably there is no question more open to argument andean there is such diversified opinion in the theater It will be recalled by those who follow the theater that this was one of the points at issue between actors and managers some time ago The actors, strangely enough, -were insist ent that a play could be produced in much shorter time than most managers required.

While the matter -was settled by an agreement whereby four weeks were allowed to dramatic companies and five weeks to musical plays, many an actor and actress raised their voices insistently that this was far and away too long a time Conspicuously among these was Sue MacManamy, one of the most talented of the younger American actresses, will be seen at the Belasco this in "A Thief in the Night." Miss MacManamy, like most of the successful players of the younger generation, spent her apprenticeship in the theater stock companies. What all stock actors are called upon to do in the way of quick studying, Miss MacManamy And more. It was while sh was, a member of the Vaughn Glaser stock company at one summer that she gave one of the most conspicuous examples of "quick study" Fay Courtenay, Mr. Glaser's leading" was taken suddenly ill. The play was "The Grain Of Dust." It was to open on the following night.

Miss MacManamy took Miss Courtenay's part, studied it all night, had one rehearsal the, next afternoon and opened and gave a sterling performance in the part--on time. i dollars was the wTige ea.rned by Dorothy Dickson and Carl Hyson for one of dancing last a a That record Cochran, who discovered Delysia in a i a paid for i participation Paris music hall and has made the most popular musical star in Lon- "i i an i a scene in a new mot i i A i a despite widely circulated i to the contrary, is not to i i a stage Miss Brady a a vacation i the close of her season in "Fore A a making a a a that Next season Brady i to the stage i part of her time, as has been her past custom to the studios --George Cohan is a for his good a in a i i his assoc i a i i His trials, a a listening i i a i i i i lys is one of Mr a most i i red i in ofTi a I i a i Mi i i a Daly, a end of a I a he was a i i Whereupon ht- i a the office boy to a a a a i youngster to a it to Mr Cohan. don. Mr Gest also arranged to bring over Lupmo Lane, the English comedian in the same production, "Afgar," and also a dozen British blondes for the harem scene In Paris Mr Gest closed contracts for the complete rights and production of Gabnelle D'Annunzio's latest works, "San Sebastien" and "Helen of Sparta," and they will be presented in America with the original costumes designed by Leon Bakst for Mile Ida Rubenstein, Who presented them at the Theater Chatelaine These costumes, about 600 in are veritably the last word of Leon Bakst, for the great designer is slowly going i and wiM A Daly never again be able to design cos- as tumes or scenes Other French a secured by Comstock and Gest for early production are "TheHeir to the Bal Tabarin," by Nancy, from the Clunie Theater, Paris, and the latest Parisian sensation, an Oriental fantasy entitled "The Thousand and One Nights WHEEE TO GO TODAY. performance of "The" Eternal Magdalene" tonight.

NATIONAL--Last performance of "Bnd- digore" tonight B. F. KEITH'S--Last times of last week's vaudeville acts at 3 and 8 15. OOSKOS--Continuous vaudeville beginning at 3. "Whip (Film CTEAJfDALL'S--Dolores Cassinelli, in "Tarnished Reputations (Film GARDEN--Hobart Boa worth, in "Below the Surface (Film COLUMBIA--Blanche fcweet, "Simple Souls (Film METROPOLITAN--Clara KimbaU Young, in "For the Soul of Rafael (Film STRAND-- "Ideal," diver, and Mary Miles Mintei.

in Nurse Marjone (Film PALACE--William Faversham, in "The Man Who Himself (Film I BBOCKEK--Clara Ttimball Young "For the Soul of Rafael." (Film RIALTO -Wanda Hawley, in "Miss Hobbs (Film GLEN ECHO PARK--Band concerts and al fresco amusements GREAT VAT.T.g PARK--Picnic grounds at the falls of the Potomac MARSHALL HALL-- Vmnsement park down the river. CHESAPEAKE BEACH--Water snorts and boardwalk attractions on the bay. Two Washington society girls will make their initial appearances at the Garrick this week when the Garrick Players present their version of "Parlor, Bedroom and Beginning tomorrow night The girls are Miss Margaret Blaine Orosspn and Miss Mary Trusler. Of the. two, Miss Trusler is the more experienced, from a dramatic standpoint.

Trusler is the daughter at. Mr SifilWHrs. Samuel Gilbert Trusler, of" Washington, and is a niece of Hector Fuller the former Washington newspaper man. Several years ago, when this same girl was a choir singer, the Rev. J.

Hennang pastor Church of the Ascension, obtained an view for Miss Trusler with Harry-Andrews, then a stock director at Poll's, but although Andrews was unable at that time to give her a part, he later sent for her when he was casting a vaudeville act and in that production she appeared here at Keith's. Then foTttrwed a year or two of stock engagements aV Bridgeport, Conn. Miss- Crosson, also well known in Washington society, 'has had no professional stage experience, although she has been active in amateur theatricals She is a debutante of last year Prior to that time, she was a student at the Academy of the Visitation and appeared in plays at the Chevy Chase Seminary, aBd elsewhere H. SOTHERN and Julja Marlowe recently ended their American season at the Shubert Theater In New York city when they finished the most successful Shakespearean tour in the history of the American theater, the gross receipts of the thirty-three weeks reaching the figure, The largest week of the tour was at Pole's, in this city, where, during Holy week, the costars played to $27,287 in seven performances. The largest single performance was in Pittsburgh, where $4,483 waa taken in at a'production of "Hamlet." The greatest number of people witnessing a single performance was at the Boston Opera House at a Saturday matinee of "Twelfth Night," when the receipts were $4,403, 3,011 people being in the theater, probably the largest audience ever 'attending an indoor Shakespearean production.

Mr. and Mrs. Sothern sailed for England on the steamship Adriatic on May 29. They will spend the next eighteen months at Broadway In Warwickshire," where they have leased a cottage and -will after their long tour. They -will return to America in October, 1921, when they will probably be seen in three or four other classic plays in addition to "Twelfth Night," "Hamlet 1 and "The Taming of the Shrew," which comprised their repertoire this season.

The success of the nevr stage decorations has been so gratifying to the costars that they will continue this style of production on their return to the stage. the leading characters in "The Cave Girl." Negotiations -were' opened, anJ Kling was given the script. After reading it he, too, felt -that the part Would enhance his theatrical stature immeasurably, so accordingly tendered his resignation 'to the management of "Shavings In these days of theatrical uncertainties It is hardy soul, indeed, who will deliberately give up a leading role in an established Broadway success for a part in a new play not yet produced. Yet this is just what Saxon Kling, the young actor who comes to the Belasco. Theater next week in the new Middleton and Bolton comedy, "The Cave.

done. He was appearing in York in Henry Savage's production of "Shavings," the Cape Cod comedy which is now running at the Knickerbocker Theater there, when F. Ray Comstock, one of the producers of "The Cave Girl," happened in to see a performance. Immediately he recognized this young juvenile an ideal Divvy Bates, one of The annual festival of the singing and dancing classes of Miss Cora B. Shreve will be held at the National Theater next Sunday night, June 20, at 7:45.

One of the most novel offerings will be a. pretentious new production called "The American Rosa," featuring Mlsa Genevleve Pyle with the entire class. There also be introduced the kindergarten class, which will be'seert in at Play," "Want a and "When the Cows Come Home." Among the principal features will "be the -C. B. S-.

Dancing Girls, with rhythmic, national and folk dancing, character dances and songs; also jazz songs and dances The tableaux and effects will be the most elaborate "ever attempted by Miss, Shreve. The sale of tickets will open tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock at the National box-office. Would you believe that the mere blowing of a steam whistle in J. Warren Kerrigan's latest Robert Brunton production, "No. 99," which conies to Loew's Columbia next Thursday, cost approximately Well, it did In this picture Kerrigan takes the role of a.

Sing Sing convict, who escapes from prison and joins a party of society folk at a week-end gathering. When he makes his getaway a great siren over Sing Sing sounds the alarm. The script of the picture called for a close-up of the whistle. Accordingly, Director Warde ordered a camera set up within a few feet of the Brunton studio siren and the steam was turned on. It was" then about 4:30 in the afternoon The moment the whistle blew every carpenter, electrician, machinist, pi'opman.

painter and 'decOrata-r on the lot, to the number of 700, -dropped his wojk and went home. Computing an Kour and a half's loss of time to every man. at an average of a dollar an hour, the studio treasurer found that this "scene alone cost Robert Brunton $1,100. "Ideal," spectacular swimming and diving act headlines the bill at Moore's Strand Theater this week, not only claims to be the world's shampton lady swimmer, but has substantiated that claim by accomplishments which none of her competitors has daredjto undertake. One of these hazards was the swimming of the whirlpool rapids at Niagara Falls.

"Ideal," according to statement, Is not alone the only woman to accomplish this, but the only living person. She also has to her credit a number of medals for distance swimming "Ideal" is a particularly attractive woman, her form, according to experts, being practically perfect. In her act, "Ideal" gives an exhibition of fancy diving and swimming such as given for the boys at Walter Reed Hospital during the past week. The exhibition Is made much more picturesque because of Its stage setting She introduces every form of diving, many originated by herself. to be an opera star but ended, by being: a film star.

All during-" her school days, Miss Hawley had treasured one and one only--to be great singer. Along -with her regular school in the Seattle High School, and at the State University of Washing! ton, she had carried on her tnusicjR, studies, and appeared with great success in concerts In the Weat. Then, after two years at the unlver- sity, she went to New York. Her place in the music -world was from the beginning one that any; music student -well might envy, she secured the great opportunity playing accompaniments for cue artists as Albert Spaulding. Rit Fornia, Myrtle Thornberg, Dav Reese, and other of hij repute.

Success in her own field practically certain also, for several song recitals she was ly received by the critics and music public. Then came the blow. An illness suited in a very serious form throat trouble, which weakened her voice and put an en4 0 forever to all thoughts of a vocal career Miss Hawley made her 7 debut in Fox pictures. She played opposite such stars as Bryant. Washburn, Douglas Fairbanks, W1U-- lam S.

Hart, Charles Ray, Wallace Reid, Robert Warwick and Miss Hawley will be seen Moore's Rialto in "Miss Hobbs," ginning today It -was not so long ago that William Faversham, who makes his bow as a screen star this week at Loew's Palace Theater in "The Man Who Lost Himself," was numbered among the conscientious objectors to the photoplay. Recently, however, Mr Faversham was drafted into the ranks of the film players under a long-term contract and he is now at the Selznick Bronx studio making his second picture. "So far as pictures are concerned," says Mr. Faversham, "I might be called the man who found himself. My conversion is complete.

For every argument I formerly used against the screen I can now offer two in favor of it. "While with many others in my profession, indulged in predictions that the photoplay did not represent an art, but was a parasitic offspring of the stage, the directors of vision were gtjing ahead and producing pic-' tures that would stand favorable comparison with the finest achievements of the spoken drama In common with many others, I was too busy preaching against the so-called invasion or pictures to acquaint myself i what pictures were accomplishing "Oddly enough, I dropped i a film Cheater one day to see one of the horrible examples I had oeen denouncing. What I saw was an example of marvelously effective pantomimic art. I straightway decided to make further investigation I saw some beautiful pictures and not a few bad ones But the good ones were good enough and numerous enough to convince me that the photoplay art was and distinctly separate from any other art, that it had Established a dignified standard of its own and that it was a medium worthy of the ability of an actor." Songr may be silver, but silence has proved golden to Wanda Hawley, the. plucky Westerner, who started out Although not generally known to'-o the theater-going ptfblic in Washington, Mr Julian Reed, who has been chief doorman at Crandall's Metros politan Theater since the opening the house, is a nephew of the Roland Reed, one of the most distin--o guished comedians the stage has produced, and was for years himself a prominent figure oa both the articulate and shadow The decorative marquee that mounts the entrance to CrandalVs Metropolitan Theater last week was, jgiven a seasonable touch by the planting of English hedge in the flower boxes which last year he.lji,, bloorring plants The beauty of marquee has been further enhanced toy the additional planting of tratl- ing ivy to relieve the severity of the conventionally trimmed hedge This will give the Metropolitan's porte cochere a dash of growing green throughout the year ON THE HORIZON.

What the Playhouses Promise for. the Week of June 20. BELASCO-- "The Cave Oirl," a new plav the New England woods by George and Guv Bolton Grace Valentine. Robert' McWade, Leslie Palmer, Saxon Kling others are listed in the GARB.ICK--"Th« 'Woman In 13," uel Shipman's tremendourir thrilllaK mjjj-' melodrama, with the popular members ftt tlie Oarrick Players cait In congenial J-oleg. NATIONAL--The Aborn comic opera companies' production of Gilbert and Sullhan's fit-" i m'liaf favorite, "The Mikado," with now faros tn the oast.

ftpUWlA a bill tliat will also include "The IJtttejJ Cottage, Ilnth Bortd, and 3 Kleanorc Coi-hran, Beatrice Morgan Sailor Heillr, Itojal Gascoigues and the Four Reach- incs COSMOS--'Five of a Kind quintet singers and comedians i topline a that will also include Richard tt alb (omjKim Howard Knnp and Mahem man brothers, Rartram and Saxon and "A- Iad in pi tnrinK 13thol Clni ton CEAITDALL'S--Sundai ind Mondiv Mnryi I'ickford in Roberta of t-unni nnn through Jtmllt-S Stevens, in "The Sacred Flame, Friday unfit iSaturdm Walla Ueiil, in "The Dnb COLtTMBIA--SuiKlm throuKh I orthi in Remodeling Husband t'S Thursday through Saturday Seena Given Thr HOUM of METB.OPOI.ITAir--Walter Grail Joj and cast in "Bliud Youth lucturizatlon of the nf the 'same In X.OH ftnd illarA MacK PALACE--Wallace Roi i 111 his latent 1 'Sick H-Re 1, li i be Mig-y plemented, In an array of bhort music 5 KlflCKEBBOCKEH--Sunda-v and Motidat Blind Youth," with Walter McGrall Jo-v Tnesdav and AVednesday, ElanieC Jfammerstefn, In "The Sftadcw of RoalfcJ IU rnes Friday, Owen 'loore In "A Desperate Hero," Saturday, Doris Ken-, jon, in "The Harvest Casxlnelll in the pictured xtar In Leonce Ferret's pkotodmma, "Tarmtolied Itepa- tMllons," to be at Crandall's Theater today and tomorrow. Tuesday broach Friday the chief feature trill be "The iMrig Arm of Mamatoter," atar- Hen IT D. Walthall and HeJrne t'hndwlok, mafflfaffmt- rd by Snub Pollard In "ITon'rc PtBvfted." Saturday only. Cflorla Svmaaoa in '-Don't duuigfe Tmr Hwtliand." GAROE1V. Hobart In Mid to have oke of the most (ercefvl his Career before the camera the the Tlfcomna Ht.

Inee special production, -which bejrfna an en- of one week at Garden Theater tnis afternoon. Lloyd HuRhea andl Grace D'AnMond are prominent of atellar Abbreviated and aecomponimeat will complete the MB. COLUMBIA. Blanche Sweet comes to the screen at Columbia Theater this afternoon for an of four tn her release, "Simple Souls," a Him adaptation of a story by John Turner. Herbert Standing and Kate Iiester are plctnrctl in the mtaf'ii dnpport.

Beginaing Thursday snd completing the week, Ji. Waunrete KerriKnm will be the star of the MU. fflai. Clara Kfmboll tTovitK wiU.be seen in-hei; third Equity Mqter-- feature, "For the ot RafaeV tihfposbwat tlae current at Metropolitan Theater. In ttta elabolrate tnrUation of Harah Ryan's novel of Old California, la have the moat vehicle ever ed her.

The of aUJary screen mbjcetst and special ntaaie compile the PALACE. Faveraluun, pictured tn. the central role of "Tbe Lost Himself," his first fieiznlefc picture, will be the of at Pal. ace Theater for the full week tMa- afternoon at 3. Hopper east in the role opposite the Mr.

Kaver- hla first picture to' called npon- Interpret a--teal role, ghort reefs and orches- complete Olive Thomas on Tuesdny, and. Wednesday, of this -week will be screened at, Cnutdairs Kafeker-r bocker- tn "the stellar roir of "Youthful Koilyi" Today tomorrow. Clara KimbaIl Yoking- win occupy the screen IB "For tot with Island" announced as the ilay by Sennetf nrdar, Shirley ili STRAND. champion lady fancy and diver, will appear In person as the extra added at. traction of a double feature bill at Moore's Strand Theater this Amateur swimming? eon' will be held nicfhtly Barfna- "Ideal'x" local eng-acement.

The film of the week's -Bill be "IVurse Harjarte," am which the stellar role Is taken npon the screen by Mary Miles Mlnter, ReaJart star. RIALTO. Wanda Hawley will Jbe seen for the first time in Washington as an independent star at Moore's Rialto Theater this week in the title roll of the film version' of Jerome K. Jerome's successful stasre play, "JKlsa Hobhs." In the role opposite the new star will be seen Harrison: Pord, one of the screen's most popular- leadtnv men. Orchestral offer- Ings and reels will ruaail out the proarram..