The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 35

MARCH 6. 1929. rPART II. WEDNESDAY MORNING. Ocatct0 amusements entertainments CbctUfts amusemcnrsCiucttainmcnts O'NEILL PLAY EPOCHAL SUPP0RTING NIGHT-CLUB HOSTESS IN FILM DEBUT I 1 LAST Los Angeles Premiere of "Strange Interlude" Most Ceremonial Since "Parsifal' BY EDWIN SCHALLERT (Reprinted trora Tuesday's late edition) Dinner coats were au fait before sundown, and business suits were conspicuous by their presence in evening hours at a fashionable premiere.

But though "Strange Interlude" began at 5:30 and ended at 11 o'clock, it is not on record that anybody brought his lunch. Nor did anyone age materially during the presentation of one of the longest stage pieces that ever has been given, except the actors, and through demands of the play's text they had a reason to acquire their share of lit Yur BELLAMY TRIAL tnC Talklne Picture with teatriee Joy RUBE WOLFE PANCHON LAUREL-HARDY COMEDY of their mutual relation, and the parentage of the child. Always some psychologic obstacle prevents. Even jJpJvm At years. I rather surmise that this disposes of most of the flippant remarks that may be made about the latest Eugene O'Neill creation to reach Los Angeles.

"Strange Interlude" had its first production here last night-I should say late yesterday aftrnoon and last night at the Biltmore Theater, and it lives up to its reputation of being an event of the make-believe in marathon form. INTERESTED AUDIENCE It drew an interested and ca pacity audience. This had been an ticipated through its wide advance heralding. The show started on perfect schedule. Late comers were held in the bacx or tne tneater un til the first act was over.

Dinner time was allowed at 7:45 to 9 o'clock between the fifth and sixth acts. And all else was as promised. Not since several performances of "Parsifal." now a matter of history has showgoing here been so much of a ceremonial, and may one add also, if generously, an ordeal. It is a quaint impression that one derives from entering a theater when homegoing traffic is at its height. Extraneous noises of street cars and automobiles insistently linger in one's ears.

The hum of the city even permeates the walls, It Is a stranger impression still when one comes from this clangor to look upon a stage where a single character comes forth, and speaks not words, but thoughts In a mod era evolution of the soliloquy. PLAY IN NINE ACTS A play in nine acts and most of it from the inner recesses of the soul that i3 "Strange Interlude!" A splendid dramatic experiment thus may it be described! Perhaps it falls short of the glori ous fulfillment that its author imagined, but it is noble and genu me nonetheless. It deserves re spect. Four lives Indeed the lifetimes of four people are put under the psy chological microscope of the author and nothing remains unrevealed. In dual form of siwken words and spoken thoughts does the disclosure progress through the nine different moods that may be called scenes.

Three men are in love with one woman. A fourth who has loved her, and whose love she has returned, has died in the war. She lives under the shadow of this tragedy, and the fact that she refused him herself when he went to be killed. No account is taken by her of the moral equation her consent would have involved; she challenges only her lack of courage, her submission to her father's will, and on the revolt tha ensues strives to build her life. CHASES ANOTHER MATE The results are complex.

She weds after certain promiscuous adventures. She discovers her husband inherits physical and mental weaknesses, and this deters her from having a child by him. However, to appease his desire for parenthood, 6he chooses another mate, the husband's mother acting as co-conspirator in this curious experiment. The bargain coldly entered into with the proposed father turns into a deep infatuation. They love, or believe they do, and time and again one or the other wants to In form the husband of the existence sis a i i COME TODAY YOUR FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO BEE -VOLCANO" AND THE "WEARY RIVER PROGRAM WITH GEORGE DEWEY WASHINGTON.

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WOLF FANCHON fx MARCOS OF BEAUTY in Galifornia Ralph Knr.n-r.rlla Puna Sunkist Btautln i ltlf 11 at I A ynfAp" Jl startling Sound Effects! Soul- SUrrln Musical Score! Ifj Pnramount'll Absolute! Supreme! I Motion Picture Achievement! of al pounding de'ite ed to- tot RDIIItVARD X-MOVIETONE NEWS a RITZ WliTERN ATIOIII MSHIUatAMIA Ends Thurs. I WILLIAM HAINES "Alias Jimmy Valentine" Ends Thurs.t Hearl Seel "ON TRIAL" 100 Talk! FOX MOVIE-I FOX MOVIE- TONE TONE NEWS NEWS (torn IM ..0 iU1 I W. 111 i ji-- ill RUBE i liK 'T I 111 IDEA 111 Made 111 Luclte rl I "Josephiii Slmi Golnitl Golrurl Positively Levc! Thursday! William FoxIrcAlUTOkln' Outdoor Romance leaven tomorrow! Hurry! Hurry I Hurry I Hurry! L. if" a jT I "11 I TL v-'jLy I Ad 1 Last lj 2 a 7 I li 1 nrw i- i I 5 r3 ck UU i UA CAST NAMED BY DUFFY Edtvin Mills, Talented Boy Actor, in "Courage" If I th Emma Dunn -Henry Duffy has completed the cast to support Emma Dunn in Tom Barry's new comedy, "Courage." which the Henry Duffy Players will present at El Capitan, starting Sunday. Bill, the youngest and the most important member of the Colebrook family, will be acted by young Edwin Mills, who won notice in New York as the boy In the original production of "Zander the Great" in which Alice Brady starred.

Edwin, although only 10 years of age, has the experience of a stage veteran. He has been in numerous Broadway productions and in several motion pictures. He comes of a theatrical family, his 3' -year-old sister, Evelyn, now being Big Boy's leading woman-in pictures, while his uncle Charles Eaton, is being featured in the talkies. Two of his aunts are Doris Eaton, recently seen heiy in Lupino Lane's revue, and Marv Eaton, star of "The 5 o'clock Girl." Others in the cast are Flora Bramley, who was one of the 1923 baby Wampas stars and who plays Muriel Colebrook, the eldest daughter; Ann Atkinson, Elinor Chick, Robert Nelson, Robert Potter, Edward Seabrook and Leah Winslow. Edwin H.

Curtis is conducting the rehearsals. CREATORE'S BAND WILL BE HEARD Musical Aggregation to Share Honors With Abie's Irish Rose Here Creatore, for a quarter of a century one of America's popular and picturesque band leaders, comes to the Fox-Criterion Teater on Friday as a co-attraction with Para-mount's slnglng-sound comedy, "Abie's Irish Rose." Creatore has made twenty-six yearly tours of the United States and Canada and four world tours, including five Tound trips with his band through the British Isles r.rd Europe. With the exception of Sou-sa he is perhaps the best known band leader who has been before the public since early in the new century. He has played before every president since William McKinley. and before King George, King Edward and the Prince of Wales as well as before six Presidents of France and the crowned heads of twenty-seven European countries.

Creatore last played in Los Angeles five years ago when he was engaged for a four-week visit, but stayed on by popular demand for fourteen months at the same down town theater. Hodge Stresses Optimistic Note There is nothing the matter with the chow business, according to that popular star, William Hodge. The public appreciation of good acting and a good play is just as keen and Just as lucrative as it has ever been, and the star who upholds decency in the drama and the ideals of a long line of American actors and actresses is Just as certain of xpu-lar approval and continued favor a3 in the past. Hodge has demonstrated this to his own satisfaction in the success of his new mystery comedy, "Straight Through the Door," in which he comes to the Erlanger Mason Theater for two weeks, beginning Monday. Hodge is opposed to the central of the American stage and the confinement of the presentation of worth-while plays to New York, Cldcago and a very few other citie.

As an actor-mannger he believed It to be his duty to carry the appeal of his art and his plays to every part of the country for the entertainment of the following he has built up in the last twenty years. This year Hodge is presenting his own mystery comedy. "Straight Through the Door." which is pro nounced to be delightful foolery in conjunction with a dramatic and thrilling murder story. Cast in Lengthy Play Strangers to Each Other Although Pauline Lord. Ralph Morgan, Harry C.

Bannister and Donald MacoDnald have roles Li "Strange Interlude" that are probably longer than any others in the history of the American theater, some of the players In this extraordinary O'Neill play that has just begun a triumphant engagement at the Biltmore Theater have rather an easy time of it. For example. Walter Vonnegut. who plays Prof. Leeds, appears only In the first act.

from 5:30 in the afternoon until about 5:58. Then, in the first intermission, he is supposed to die, so that he may go comfortably to his dinner and see another play the same evening, if he likes. On the other hand, Helen Ann Hughes, who plays Madeline Arnold, does not appear in the play until the eighth act. along about 10:15 p.m.. and James Todd, wno plays Gordon Evans as a man, does not appear until the ninth act, about 10:0 pjn.

Though they are in the same play, sometimes whole weeks elapse in which Miss Hughes never meets Vonnegut, inasmuch as they work in different "shifts," so to speak. But. the roles of Miss Lord and Mr. Morgan, who appear in all nine of the acts, and of Messrs. MacDon-aid and Bannister, who appear in eiKht of them, are about the most arduous and exhausting any actor could attempt.

Giving This "Little" Girl a Big Hand A'of So Easy; Arte JFarner Show BY MARQUIS BUSBY (Reprinted from Tuesday's late edition) That thrinklng little flower of the New York night clubth, Texath Guinan. maketh her Xirth and quite likely her lath Vitaphone appearand In "Queen of the Night Clubth," which wath premiered yetherday at Warner Brotherth Theater in Hollywood. There may have been better lithping in other talking pictures, but thith writer hath never heard It. Texath juth lithps all over the plathe. Texath 1th not the type to get away with a lithp, either.

The audience laughed in all the wrong plathes during the showing yetherday. Texas may be a bright light along Broadway's gay white way, but she shines very faintly In "moompitch-ers." If someone could write her dialogue without any s's she might do better, but even disregarding her voice Tex Is the weakest thing In "Queen of the Night Clubs," which can be regarded as a broad, sweeping statement. After years of watching picture plots, experience has taught me that when a character discloses the fact that she has a lost son, the first good-looking boy to wander in front of the camera is the fair-haired child in person. Otherwise it would have been bad for my heart to hear Tex quite unexpectedly address. Eddie Foy, as "my son" and hear Eddie call Tex "mother." Cutting on the picture is terrifically bad.

As it stands, it is neither logical nor convincing. Dialogue breaks oft suddenly, and action begins on an entirely different sequence. It is practically impossible to follow the plot, though originally there must have, been some sort of a plot, however weak. Tex appears as a night club hostess. She exhorts her patrons to give the little girlth.

a big hand. There Is a shooting fray, followed by a particularly inept courtroom sequence, in which gun play figures as prominently as in a Tom Mix drama of the big open spaces. Just where the burden of blame belongs in "Queen of the Night Clubs" is hard to say. Bryan Foy, who directed it, has made several successful Vitaphone pictures. Work of the supporting cast is of high standard.

The story, of course, was tailored to measure for the stir and can be dismissed. Cutting, undoubtedly, is the major fault. Scenes were slashed unmercifully to get the picture in short running time. Dialogue is singularly trite. Lila Lee impresses in voice and acting performance as a cafe dancer.

Her personality is well suited to talking pictures. Eddie Foy, has little opportunity to display his ability as an entertainer. He photographs nicely and should be successful in worthier productions. John Davidson scores as Don Holland, the owner of the flight club, and is the possessor of an effective speaking voice. Others in the cast are Jack Norworth, John Miljan, William Davidson, Jimmie Phillips and Lee Shum-way.

The Larry Ceballos stage revue bears the lively title of "Whooping It Up." Apparently insufficient time was allowed the ensemblz members for change of costumes yesterday. The West Point drill number looked like an "undress" parade and other entertainers on the bill attempted to complete their "buttoning" on the stage. This fault will undoubtedly be corrected in later performances. Those appearing in the stage revue include Dabney and Fredericks, Nadine Wayne, Barrett Greenwood. Richard Powell and Madeline and George Raft, a clever dancer.

Hie closing number is the best, presenting the ensemble dressed in red in a picturesque atmosphere of Hades. Glittering New Signs Erected When John Gilbert in "Desert Nighta" and other features of the new program arrive tomorrow at Loew's State, they will be described on the outside of the theater by a new system of electrical signs which are being installed at a cost of JUU. The system consists of two new neon vertical siens and t.wr t.mpi ing signs which run in a continu ous uonuiuiu motion arouna tne two theater marquees. Other large siens lo bp installed snnn will II VWII plete the layout. The traveling signs are an innovation, the first to be set up in the West and the sixth to appear anywhere in the world.

Ernest Torrence and Mary Nolan are in the emotional triangle of the new John Gilbert picture. The inauguration of President Hoover reproduced in sound and talk in a special Fox Movietone talking news feature, being rushed by air mail and Is expected to arrive tomorrow. Rube Wolf and his band will head a new Fanchoa and Marco stage idea called "Beauty," with Lucille Page. Prize-Winning Novel Screened Presenting Jack Mulhall and Dor. othy Mackaill in their first vita.

phone production, "Children of the Ritz," First Natlonars adaptation of Cornell Wroolrich's $10,000 tsrize- winnlng novel, will have its premiere showine next week at. tho TTnicft a.j Theater. Reported sensational In Its rev elations of modern youth, the picture presents Jack Mulhall as a struggling chauffeur. Miss Mackail as a New York society favorite Others in the cast include James Ford. Kathryn McOuire, Lee Moran Edward Burns.

Doris Dawson. John Francis Dillon directed. Frances White, diminutive musical-comedy star, headlines the Radio Keith Orpheum stage bill, which likewise includes Buck and Bubbles, the Ghezzis. Peplto, Lockett and Page and company. DAY MARCO'S "FUTURISTIC" EGYPFMN HOI IVlAw jr "oviETONE NEWS IVttTtTI Akt' miiruriAS ALVUUDC NIAJi fa HW(U W.TA UUMAl A a TnHavl Endi Thurs.

1 'LET'S MAKE 100r -TaIkie" "THE HOME- wn uu is Win June Collyer TO FOA MOVIE-J FOX MOVIE- TONE NEWS NEWS a uia at Owl Dnii, 6th nj Broadway, ami Crannun'a Chin pigoda boioftca, CLadtfoaa S1B4 r.riFic coast premitre 'pop. Mat SOe to a l.oo 1344 Wb Pop. Mat. 50c to 1.50 PEOPLE cTt 1 A 11 death of the husband lr the end in trudes. In the ultimate moments of the play the old desires between the two lovers are swept away and the woman chooses the third man the one who had been like a father and friend, who spells to her quiet and ))eace.

Delicately the play suggests that in the original lover, the one who died in the war, she would have found all that these other three men offered her one as provider, the second as lover and the third as friend. THOUGHT DOMINATES The play is elaborately motivated but runs quietly and smoothly on from situation to situation of its development. There are moments when thought becomes the dominating thing; there are others when the word conveys the supreme emotion. It is an odd double-patterning. In addition to the soliloquy O'Neill has resorted to a kind of revival of the classic aside to convey the drama of his play.

The characters speak to each other and then speak as if to themselves. The thought expression is achieved through the latter means. It is a novel device. There are those, of course, who will say that the action of "Strange Interlude" progresses lumberlngly, because of the constant interruptions of dialogue as such. And certainly there is no question but that the play carries a heavy load on commensurately heavy wheels.

But the cumulative effect is one of great power. It shows in the climaxes toward the end. Too, one can accept the sordid foundation for the play, because of that remarkably impulsiveness which O'Neill exhibits toward spiritual things. The note of spirituality is no new one with him, but it is beautifully struck in the closing scene of his curious nine-act drama. Principals are secondary to authorship and drama in this instance.

The cast at the Biltmore includes Pauline Lord in the role of Nina. Ralph Morgan as Mars- den, Donald Macdonald as Evans, and Harry C. Bannister as Edmund Darrell. These are the four major roles. Of the performance those of Morgan and Macdonald were the most.

consistently good. Though I must give large credit to Harry C. Bannister for his drawing of the difficult character of the doctor. I am not so sure that the impression he achieved in this will not last the longest, indeed, though it does not perhaps bring the greatest popular response. I would not term Miss Lord an ideal Nina.

She is superlative in the later scenes, but her earlier ones were deficient both in nuance and to some extent in feeling. She is best in the maturer portion of the portrayal, lending race sentiment and conviction to these. Morgan re ceived applause for his speaking one notably forceful "aside." while Macdonald's transition of character toward the end was relished. Others are Walter Vonnegut, Maud Du-rand. Lester Sheehy, Helen Ann Hughes and James Todd.

One fault that showed itself was the failure of the players adequately to differentiate between the soliloquizing and direct conversation at times. But this particular job is inherently difficult. Colored Basso Stays on Bill George Dewey Washington, colored basso and recording artist, has been re-engaged by the Paramount Theater for another week, and will be featured' in the new orchestral production, "Blue Shadows," which opens tomorrow. "Blue Shadow" will be presented in addition to "Crinoline vs. Jazz," a Publix road-show revue, with Bayes and Speck, John and others.

Jack Evan remains as master of ceremonies. The feature picture of the week will present Douglas MacLean in his first dialogue film, "The Carnation Kid." a fast-moving action comedy, laid in a big city with gang wars, political feuds and killings all satirized. Frances Lee plays opposite MacLean. Actors Elated to See Comedy With letters and telegrams of acceptance and appreciation arriving from many pecformers of the dramatic stage as well as the vaudeville, it would appear that the midnight professional matinee of The Front Page" at the Belasco Theater Saturday will be a social event of sorts. "The Front Page" Is scheduled to leave the Belasco on the 16th inst, and it is in nesponse to the many requests that the local players be given an opportunity to enjoy this wUd.

hilarious comedy before it 'aves the city, that this nocturnal performance is being given, Scats are assailable to the public. LJyaL. NTminnrvi iVI'lunittV GONDOLIERS A MERRY CREW Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Oasis in Desert of Jazz; Savoyards Score Again at Mason a- tfu Jy. BY ISABEL MORSE JONES (Reprinted from Tuesday's late edition) "The Gondoliers" graced the stage at the Mason last night as once more the D'Oyly Carte company changed itself at the bidding of Gilbert and Sulivan. The King of Barataria was duly chosen after two hours of the most delightful persiflage ever put to light, but good, music.

The voices were shown to advantage In this musical nonsense and the orchestra provided the balanced tone. It was capably directed, although the program forgot to mention the name of the holder of the "CRINOLINE VERSUS JAZZ" PUBLIX N. Y. STAGE PRODUCTION Storrmrf QOUG. See Doug, Chirano's bod bor taking UM- Tirst rOMC TO THE MATINEE 71 responsible baton.

These English operettas, when played by a well-trained company such as this D'Oyly Carte organization, are oases in the American desert of Broadway jazseries. The girls are pretty and their ankles, (what we could see of them) are trim, but wonder-of-wonders, they sing English and they look like people, "nice people" I mean. The gentlemen of this cast have voices and both the men and women can sing four and eight-part interludes in tune and intricate rhythm. There isn't a tap dancer in the lot, but in its place a polite grace that is utterly charming. Bertha Lewis as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro is a consummate actress.

She never stepped out of her part and was at all times the personification of cultivated hauteur. Her beauty as the grande dame was arresting. The tender little con-tadlne were led by Marjorie Eyie and Beatrice Elburn, both of whom sang well in solo, duet and in quartet with the fateful gondoliers, Marco and Gulseppe. An amusing incident which might have occurred in any high school production convulsed the audience at one point and nearly stopped the show. Duriue an elaborate court scene, a stage helper walked across the ultramarine sky with a milkman's stool in his hands.

His sudden bewilderment at finding himself in front of the audience was a con tagious moment of embarrassment The Duke was sung by Henry a. Lytton with all the inimitable bits of stage business that only years of theater experience can make natural. One wished for more of him. Sydney Granville as Don Alhambra wore the perfect costume and displayed a delicate sense of promis cuous appreciation of the ladies. The lilt and light or "ine uon doliers" will remain In the memory of Los Angeles theater-goers long after this entertaining company has 1 departed lor London, I Jit 1JT "iiM''-'- feat iGPAUMAN'S CHINESE if msmm fs.

IS For Seats: Phone ORegon Downtown Owl Drus. Tth 6c Hill W. B. Allen 720 So. Broadway' FJ35JEROA I ftaueftOAATAtWSTrt ST -PHONE VA iTTTTfftTf IT CLICKED! NANCE O'NEIL in Bromfleld'i Spectacular 6uccess "THE HOUSE OF WOMEN" assSeaU at box office central box office.

Auditorium: all atenclej, hotels. rlnh LAST pj. a SpTU t-vUVt. JT 1 1.