The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 47

IV hat's. Doing in NewYork VoL xlvil 1 SUiMUAY MUKNING, JANUARY 22, 128 -ftS WHERE TO GO. UiAUVK SOURIS, PICTURESQUE STAGE CARAVAN, iSf -V -mmm- HrAirA" yw tr ARRIVES 'YANKEE' LURES NEW YORK STAR Pearl Regay Heads New Show at Mayan Lithesome Actress in "Rose Marie" Four Years Once Attended High Here Poly This clever Pearl Regay, who will play the lead in "The Connecticut Yankee" at the Mayan Theater. bristles with personality, acquired through a Spanish actress mother, a French father and an American education. And It was this personality, even more than her clear soprano voice, her dancing and her stock and vaudeville training, that popped her right into "Rose Marie" in New York, with which play she performed for four yearsand loved every hour of It.

For It was after two years In a Btock company and a vaudeville tour that Pearl arrived in New York with the latter, to be Immediately invited to desert vaudeville for musical comedy. For six years since then she has never left Broadway meaning, of course, New York's Broadway. Pearl is better than nrettv. In fact, she Isn't really pretty at all. But she has dark charm, sparkle.

vivacity, and a lithe little figure, com bined with genuine dramatic ability. and these qualities helped her to escape the hard uphill grind that so many actresses suffer. She Just naturally soared upward and onward, with never a rebuffed starvation interval anywhere. After "Rose-Marie" came "The Desert Song" the only two stage roles she h-u ever filled, since the stock company days, both going strong for long runs. JUST A HOLIDAY "So I thought I deserved a holi day," she says, "and came out to visit my father, Paul Ueget Fisher, who lives in Hollywood has lived (here since long before It was Holly- wood.

I am really named after fa ther, you know, but as I was a girl they changed the name to Pearl Instead of Paul, and I had to spell (Continued on Page 17, Column 6) zm mu ii mm ZELDA SEARS MUST WRITE RIGHT OFF, OR NOT AT ALL WHITAKER Quaint Russian Variety Show 4 The Chauve Souris. once known as the Bat Theater of Moscow, headed by the rotund and inimitable M. Balieff, goes into the Belasco tomorrow night. Sketches of these picturesque Muscovites and the moon-faced Balieff above are by Bruce Russell, Times staff artist. Opera Again About Revivals As to Shakespeare BY ALEXANDER WOOLLACOTT NEW YORK, Jan.

21. (Exclusive) Recently when the orchestra la Mr. Ames's pit tuned up for the sweet, fragrant melodies of "The Mikado." I broke down and confessed that were it possible for me to attend any Gilbert and Sullivan revival with laggard step it would be for the revival of "The Mikado." I had heard It too often to respond with any great alacrity to the prospect of hearing It again. For that heretical utterance I was subjected to editorial reproach by some. Here, it was declared, was the Incomparable comic opera, the gentle and gay refrains of which had so lingered in the air for nearly half a century that even those who were going to hear It sung and played for me nrst lime would discover with surprise that the music was entirely familiar to them, for in staves and snatches they had been hearing It all their Uvea.

FILL OF QUOTATIONS Theirs would be an experience akin to that of the old lady who found "Hamlet" so delightful because, she said, it was full of quotations. Would this fellow approach "Hamlet" perchance, with laggard steps? Th question was put rhetorically and had, I think, a note of Irony. Nevertheless, I might as well answer it The answer is "yes." For "Hamlet" and "The Merchant of Venice" are the two popular hits In the Shakespearian repertory which correspond rough.y to such reliables as "The Mikado-' and "Pinafore" in the repertory cf Gilbert and Sullivan. Certainly I have seen "Hamlet" so otfcen that if Mr. Ames or Mr.

Hopkins were to announce their grim intentlcn to make a Shakespearean productions within th next few seasons I would, aa a playgoer who might reasonably expect to BviFiiu mem ixn even if it killed me. feel quit free to express the hope that "Hamlet" would them. No. nor "The Merchant of vr.io.- either. I wculd look forward with a great deal more interest to seeing "The Tempest." for Instance, or for that matter (and for the sam son) a combination of the two parts IV" "Henry "Richard "Richard III." "Henry VIII" Measure for Measure." "The Winter's Tale." "Much Ado About Nothing." King Lear" and even "Othello." ONCE TOO OFTEN Certainly I felt Merchant of Venice" as it was trippingly unfolded on the etago of the Broadhurst Theater on Monday night, that I seen it once too often.

As the George Arllss Shyiock went on Its neat, severe and almost prim wsy through the comedy, memories of old Shylocks followed him across the bridge and trailed him out of the courtroom, snorting and beating their oiany gnosts in waiting. I recalled the harsh 8hylock of Richard Mansfield and the temerity of at lhe Garrlck in Philadelphia who on the evening I saw the performance want to sleep and fell out of the gallery. I re-called Sotheri, and Frlta Lleber and Otis Skinner fthat was with Ada Re-hanrand W4lter Hampden, whose Df-" Bhakespercan role Shyiock has always been. I recalled Warfleld's 8hylock, struggling dejectedly with Belasco' ww.n of Venetians In car- nival mood. I recalled the willowy and very refined Shyiock of Beerbohm Tree, hlH tosslnir Hlra of a wlnd-swpt tree.

I cou.d hec'r mm. as if it re yesterday, lameni- h.h ius. mat ring which be had had from Leah when he was a bachelor. wl-l (to my intense delight) he used to refer to as his "teerkwaz." Then there were the (Continued on Page 17, Column 4) There was the record run of "Ablo's Irish Roce," for example. The Morosco' old stage had seen the world premiere performance of that now famous and much discussed drama, had seen Whitman in the role of Abie, the first Abie who ever "trod the boards." "I'll never forget the way we worked on that play," he said.

"No one knew Jutt what their lines would be until the opening night. We'd learn It one way, the next day the entire thins would be cut and rewritten. It was nerve-wracking to say the least. Putting on the first production of any play is far from fun. 'Civilian Clothes' was another ol the afterward successful plays to be given its flrst performance behind the footlights of the old Morosco.

Whitman also appeared In a leading role of that production. "I never realized that returning to a theater and playing after an absence of several years would affect me like this," he said, half epologetlcal-ly. "there seem to be all kinds of emotions intermingled. "I SUPpOSe. tilOUSll.

if Ofl ivnn right down to it, things haven't chatifred very much." he continued, "almost aU of the old cast are still here." Whitman, who'besan his professional career in pictures In the East, came to California on his honeymoon and the Morosco stock Job was bla first in the West. After his career as stock leading man he returned to pictures, but the footlights have apparently won out. for a time at least. Whether be will continue on tho stage, or return to the screen, is as yet uncertain. "It's hard to look ahead when it comee to anything like that.

sala. "There Is only one thing that I am reasonably sure of. and that is thut it. will take a miphty big proposition to get me away from California." The names of two dark-eyed young ladte. one In grammar school, and one who atll soon begin her high-school career, later sllpjied out as the primary for his decision.

"Th opportunities for youngsfer bere rs greater than anvwhere el-e," Whitman ald. "the entire cltv se-n almost created for youthful" inv--mm nnd benelt." Wh'tmHn" opens this the leading ia 'In "Oh, John Lttel, former lead, leaves for New Yc.i. he appear in a BroHdway production. BALIEFF'S GAY PLAYERS HERE Itinerant Moscow Minstrels at Belasco They Offer Song, Laughter, Comedy, Tragedy Morris Gest Brings Them from Russia Pne of the world's cleverest masters of ceremonies arrived in Los Angeles this morning on the Owl. With him came a group of celebrities comprising what has been termed the unique enow of the world, Niklta Balieff and his Chauve-Sourls, fresh from new triumphs in San Francisco.

Ana if you don know what Chauve-Sourls is, be informed that it is French for "The Bat." The word bat," by the way, appears to have a fascination for musicians, play wrights and entertainers. One Jo-haun Strauss wrote a light opera called "The Bat." or "Die Fleder-maus," as it was called In Germany: Mary Roberta Rlnehart wrote a mya- ftery play of the same name; Niklta iBaueff created a new type of enter tainment In Moscow, and called The Bat" but It was pronounced Latousha Meese, or something like Mat, over More specifically, however, Chauve- Sourls is Balieff, for' he announces all the acts, describing them' in broken English before they are pre sented, and with witty comments. It is He who created this entertainment in a Moscow restaurant, and the world flocked to his doors not because he bad invented a superior mouse-trap, but had Invented a ihaved mouse (for that is what Chauve-Sourls means, literally.) Moscow proved too small for Balieff and he met still greater success in London, Berlin, Paris and New It was F. Ray Comstock and Mor tis Gest who brought Chauve-Sourls ho New York, where it played 733 performances. Anything that bears Jthe name of Morris Gest Ms of im portance.

When he brought; Miracle" to Los Angeles: last. 'year. me decided to follow It wlthCbauve- pourls, and present it for the first 'time in an intimate tneater. 'ine Be)asco was selected because of Its Iwarmth and modemness. "When this entertainment is pre sented in Los Angeles for" the first lime tomorrow night, it Is safe to that not a celebrity will be pissing from the distinguished first- night audience except those who ae- ayed making reservations.

For the Iame of Chauve-Sourls has preceded he attraction Itself. It Is one of hose things you usually have to go Europe to see. This morning, when Balieff and lis group' of entertainers alighted rom the Owl, they were greeted by group of distinguished Russians rom the Russian colony of Los Angeles men and women distin guished for art, music, drama, motion pictures. Nearly all are newcomers Southern California, but per- hianently resident here. One of the eatures of the limited engagement I cnauve-souris is going to be a Russian night, when the audience till contain men and women for.

nerly of the Imperial court, reunited nrougu aeuin. To attempt to catalogue the variety delightful numbers to be pre- ented Monday night would be lm- hosslble. Suffice, it to say that the roupo contains opera singers, come- lllans, dancers, all inimitably talented. rhe music, costumes and scenery will he a revelation. And you'll sea this amous "Parade of the Wooden Sol- tiers" you've heard so much about.

Tonight 'Saturday's Children" loses its engagement at the Belasco, nd tomorrow morning the character the Belasco theater will change. Is the first musical traduction ever shown there. rncTniiyfrc MAKE FOR DRAMATICS Cliaracters in 'Vortex Are Defined by Colors, Fashion of Garments The Vortex" playing at the Holly-ood Musix Box owes a great deal of dramatic strength to the sugges-on created in the minds of the audl- nce through the medium of Its istumes. Each character is costumed In coirs and fashions that produce a men- reaction to the spectator and re act the personality of the player before the wearer has spoken. Ivts Gouldlng who plays the in- enue opposite Barton Hepburn wears dinner dress in me second act hlch strikes the keynote of her char- icter throughout the play.

It Is a bid. deep metallic blue satin, mold- Id to her compact little figure wltii a air of decision, ciear-cut, prac- cal and hard aa the little modern bo wears it. Mary Forbes, as the vain and rlvolous mother of a grown son, is resented first In an afternoon ensem- le of flowered chiffon which lends lilor to her ridiculous affectation of buth, combined with a distinction style. In the last act she faces caustic fire of. her son's arralgn-ent in a fussy and fluffy negligee hlch further typifies the frivolous end of her nature.

Today marks the beginning of the Ut week of "The Vortex" which oees Its run on Saturday night. VERSATILE ARTIST Jacqueline Logan need never worry bout the of a profession. In er brief but full career she has een a dancer, a a writer, an rgsnlst and a pianist, besides a star the screen. ene naa. just com-leted "Midnight Madness" for athe-De Mllle.

CHORUS GIRL TWO YEARS AGO, SHE IS A LEADING LADY NOW There is the leading part in "Good News," which report has It will be the next Albertson show, for which she Is being connidnred. And three prominent motion -picture studios have invited her to have screen tests. Universal thinks the may lit into the casts of their forthcoming produc AVOCATION EXCELLENT FOR ACTORS Comedienne. Believes Stage Career Should he Coupled With Business "A stage career and an avocation are Just, like cheese and apple pie they're not so good alone, but when you get them together, oh my!" These are the words of one who should know If anyone does. She Is Bernice Merchon, comedienne of the Bhrine Light Opera Company, who recently arrived from New York for the comedy role In the production of "Naughty Marietta" opening to morrow sight at the Shrine Audi torium.

Miss Merchon, who Is prominent in the East as a comedienne and vocalist, and who has appeared la numerous New York productions during the winter, and with the St. Louis Municipal Opera during the summer for many sevens, owns and manages two Ntw York onartment- houses as well as one of Gotham's most exclusive Interior decorating establishments. In addition to this she la a contributor to two magazines. What the comedienne does with her spare moments is a difficult question to answer. all work together beautifully," was her declaration after a rehearsal on the Victor Herbert operetta.

"TTere's only one disadvantage, I can't stay away from New York any length of time and I do love California. I would love to remain until the St. Louis season opens this time," she said, "but we realtors' never know Just where we stand" (this last with a smile.) Miss Merchon began her career with every intent of being a grand-opera star. She made her debut as Carmen in the French Opera House, New Orleans. Europe France and Italy came next "You cart make any money In grand she said, "no one ever has.

and since am ana always have been materially minded I put grand opera behind and accented an offer from Schubert as Eddie Can tor's prima donna. "Being a prima donna, in lieht opera, diduVt exactly appeal to me. euner," she continued, "and It was not until I was accidentally cast In comedy that I felt I had found my true calling. "Having a rubber voice, a rubber face, and a rubber personality cer- (Contlnued on Page 17, Column 4) BY AIMA I shall never get used to seeing a hard, capable middle-aged woman In a. red-blond wig; transformed into a smiling white-haired old dear, beaming vivacity and benevolence, sparkle and affectionate understand ing.

Zelda Sears sprang that one on me again, when I interviewed her after seeing her as Mother Stoner, the hard, hypocritical evangelist. In "Undertow," which transfers from the Eagan to the Hollywood Playhouse on Monday night. sne swished off her blond wle when some old friends came behind the scenes and displayed a white head of pretty, soft hair and let her stage face relax lnco laughing friend- i llness. Zelda Sears Is such a lot of clever things heen an actress! for thirty-nine years." sHe confides. "I was with Clyde Fitch for years and my best role was he one he wrote for me in "The Oh.

1 was in at the birth of reariy all the famous ones-Jack Barrymore spoke his very flrsl lines on any stage to me. I never left Broadway. New York. for ten years LITTLE EDCCATION 'But It's funny about me." twin kles Zelda, "I never had any education and was a cash cirl In a store at 11 years of age. But I know the stage and I kmw plays.

I was play-doctor for Al for years, and reader for Henry W. Savage for elev en yeari And, or course, we all know this Zelda as a clever 'playvrlght "The Clinging Vine." Mttzi's Lady Blllie," Madge Kennedy's "Cor nered," are Just a few of them. 'Lady Blllie' was the handsomest financial success." confides Zelda. We made 100,000 net out of that play in a forty -eight-week run In New York." Miss Sears is also the author of Undertow," with Garnett Westcn collaborating, as well as playing the second most Important role in It, Elsie Bartlett Schlldkmut being the glrl-evangellst. She it in three weeks "They are never anv good unless we can get fired with a origin idea and car.

dash it off," sayi Zelda. "I can never work over a play when It's cold on me." So most of her playwrlghtlng has been done while she was also acting. in the same way she secured "a bright idea" when reading a story of Rita Lamcert in Munsey's. Bhe ss w- rauune Kederick in it, sold WHITMAN RETURNS TO SCENE OF FIRST SUCCESS, MOROSCO Pauline the idea on Thanksgiving Day and now they are rehearsing it and will open It in Us Angeles in March. It 14 called "The 8cariet Woman" SHE'S BCSY WOMAN Besides all that, Zelda has written and sold-r-150 short stories, and worked on scenarios including her own "The Clinging Vine," "The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary," for Cecil Do Mllle for the past eighteen months.

And all the while she owns a ranch, runs it, sews, bakes, and has reared four children. "Why," that sounds like Phyllis Rankin." I said. "Yes, indeed. I have known Phyllis since her son, Arthur Rankin, the film actor, was a new baby. But I cau't weave and spin like Phyllis." says Zelda.

"No. never had any children ol my own," laughs Zelda mlschievioutly. "But I have two step-children and we adopted two more, three girls and a boy. Our eldest is our pianist, Jean Wlswell. The baby is a trained nurse.

The middle girl Is secretary In a New York bank and the boy runs a varnish factory no writing or acting for them. They have seen what this writing bug does for mother. We never get away from it, do we? We take it to bed with us. eat with It, wash with it, breathe with it By this time, old fiiends were pour lng Itl behind the scenes, and re I minding Zelda thai it would be qulfe I wonderful if she ould write a part into one of her next plays for them .1 heard her cheer some of those who had been "resting" a trifle too long, and remember to ask after all the old mothers and babies and sons In college Yea, Zelda knows the human heart as well as plays FORMERLY MADE OINS Neil Hamilton, Paramount featured player, knows more about guns than the average actor. He helped to make them during the war when he was employed as a flier of machine gun slides at the Marlfn Arms At present he is playing a featured role in George Bancroft's first starring picture.

"The Show Down." BEGINS FEMININE LEAD Patsy Ruth Miller has started work In the feminine lead of "We Amer- leans," a Universal production di rected by Edward Sloman. v- tions of "The Showboat'' or "Broadway," Firsu National and Lasky both seem Interested In her work, Kathryn Is Just 19 years of age. Phe had her start in singing In the choir of St. Stephens' Episcopal Church of Huntington Park. Clara Eelle Patton Wallace, choir director end voice instructor, declared Kathryn had a voice which needed more training and forthwith proceeded to give the little high school girl lessons.

There Is a mother and father in Huntington Park who are very proud of Kathryn's success, and an older Bister who has alwr.ys encouraged her. Kathryn thinks maybe her good luck has come because, through advice of friends Interested in numerology, she dropped the Moran and concentrated on Crawford. BARITONE IN OPERA Andres do Segurola, who is featured with Dolores Del Rio and Charles Farrell in the Fox fllm, "Red Dancer of Moscow," was the leading bass-baritone of the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York for twelve years, and was co-starred with Caruso. His voice will once more be heard when he sings "The Marseillaise" in the Vitaphone prologue to the Warner Brothers picture, "Glorious Betsy," which he Just completed before he moved over to the Fox lot. GRADUATED FROM IILRLIN Frits; Feld, noted screen and stage artor.

wan Graduated from the Tint. verslty of Berlin in 1921, The life of a chorus girl Is not a bed of roses, It la often flippantly remarked. But aometimes well, take the case of little Miss Kathryu Crawford, the youthful leading lady in "Hit the Lllltaiv Albertson's Jovial, rousing, aestful, nautical musical comedy which is holding forth at the Majestic Theater, following a most successful eight weeks'' run in San Francisco. Kathryn Crawford he was known a Kitty Moran then blossomed forth on the stage in the ranks of the chorus of "Tiptoes" barely two years ago. i Lillian Albertson.

who has gained somewhat of a reputation for picking youthful aspirants capable of uiKKcr uu oetter thlne-s. noticed Kathryn's work and told her to keep on trying there was, she said, what ts known as a future In store for the little Huntlncton Park hitfh nhnni girl who loved to sing, but who confessed she didn't know much about Kathryn did. When "Tiptoes" closed she obtained a Job, with Charles Beauchamp, ilnglng at the Figueroa Theater, and then at the Forum, while "Lo. Boheme" was showing. There were various other things that came along, finally a short season with a musical stock company near Bakerafleld.

Then ehe was chosen as leading lady of the ill-fated "Joan of Arkansas. But Lillian Albertson at-fended one of the closing performances of "Joan" and sent word to Kathryn to come and see her immediately. Kathryn did. She learned the eongs for "Hit the Deck" and to her surprise was given the role of "Loo- loo." WOW, the roses seem to be dronnlncr their petals along her path. doTfHMylrtttvtr vu rvizrcp it Gayne Whitman has returned to the stage, and to the Morosco, the scene of his first Los Angeles triumphs! Gayne leading man who for a number of years was the undisputed idol of Morosco mattnees, and who.

three years ago, deserted the footlights to return to motion pictures. Whitman was In quite a retrospective mood as he chatted of his return to the stock company. queer leeiing, this returning to the Morosco." he said. "It certainly brings back the memories thick and fast. You know, it almost makes me feel a bit sad.

8o many" of the persons formerly associated with the theater are gone, and even though we have practically the same old company rtlli I And that it Is always the absent ones who predominate In thought, don't you?" Whitman glanced around the old stage, set for rehearsal of "Oh, Mama." the French farce opening this aft ernoon, and lapsed into a few mo ments of reminiscences. M4ryirt "A 4 4, 4. ft Mr VV- 'V. i mi I linn tv m. m.

kk t4' 4 I 1 FZorertcs Robert ftuddyWatfteSiK'tKelAt'yH isr slit jrfCm THE. ZDz.se rt- SoArt Mason.