Cumberland Sunday Times from Cumberland, Maryland • Page 21

SUNDAY TIMES, CUMBERLAND, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1948 TWENTY-ONE Three Premieres Scheduled In N. Y. Two Revivals and "Misler a New Play, Will Be Presented By JACK O'BRIAN NEW YORK. OFeb. first nights this week will' contain a maximum of glamor, art and expectations for first nighters.

Two of the premieres are revival. The third, "Mister Roberts," is a new play which brings with it the most extra- tryout itour rumors of the season. Chronologically: Monday, at the Cort Theater, the estimable American Repertory Theater is having the benefit of one more resuscitation, this time through the financial courtesy of Louis J. Singer, who is putting up the cash to help along one of the most laudable projects of recent Broadway j-eais. The production in mention is "Ghosts." a revival of the Hendrik Ibsen Drama, to be presented for Wo weeks.

"Hedda Gablcr" will follow, for a similar two-week run. This version of "Ghosts" was adapted by Eva LeGallienne. Murgarct Webster directing. The Theater Guild also is lending a hand by offering It as part ol its subscription series. Wednesday, at the Alvin Theater, the eagerly heralded "Mister Roberts," dramatization 'by Thomas Hesgen and Joshua Logan of Heggen's novel of the same title.

It's about the "wartime friction between a tough cargo ship captain and. a junior officer in.the Pacific area. Henry Fonda, David Wayne, Robert Keith, William Harrlgan find a large cast (30) have been assembled by Producer Leland Hayward. Sets and costumes, by Friday evening the glamor element will be diverted by the arrival at the National theater of Miss Gertrude Lawrence in a revival, of Noel Coward's series of one act plays, "Tonight at 8:30." Graham Play is playing the roles originated by Mr. Coward when he and Mks first appeared hero in the series in 1030.

Producers this time wo Homer Cumin. Russell Lewis and Howard Young. The one-actors Include: "Ways and Means," "Family Album," "Red Peppers," "Hands Across the Sea," "Fumed Oak" and "Shadow Play." The author directed. Lot Of "Extra" Not Easy In Hollywood Rate Per Day Ranges From $9.45 to ter Is "Dress Extra" BY GENE HANDSAKER HOLLYWOOD, Feb. mo- Vie extra halted the casting director on the sidewalk.

Tears were streaming from the extra's eyes, the color of which was catalogued In Casting's huge Hies three stories above them. "Please!" the extra begged. "My family's being evicted, and I haven't worked in six weeks. Give me a job." Tha casting director "Well, I rein get you in as an atmosphere player." The extra drew himself up to his'full height (also on file upstairs) and replied coldly, "Sir, I am an actor The casto system among the movies' approximately 3,700 extras goes on although employment Is at Its lowest point in years. The per-day "dress" extras, who supply their own wardrobe and may have special abilities such as swimming, skating or horse-back-ridins, scorn work as $15.56 general extras.

BoUi groups decline to serve- as $13.90 stand-ins or $9.45 atmosphere play- era. The corner drugstore in the big white building at Hollywood and Western, where Central Casting Corp. Is housed, does a business in soft drinks and coffee. Hopeful extras wait to collar Central's Job-as- sisners who may drop in for a pack of clgarets. Reasons for the production slump are sundry: Nobody makes outdoor epics in winter, when weather is uncertain.

The March 15 state sales tax on exposed film behooves producers to havo low inventories on that date. Some studios havo been able through big profits in wartime (when everybody went to movies) to build up big backlogs of pictures. Others are hesitant about launch- Ing new ventures as long as the British. 75 per cent tar prevails. Meanwhile the extras wait and hope.

On Central's big battery of teletypes the studios list their talent necdo for next day. 20th Century-Fox, os I watched, requested "27 smart-looking women as customers in Canadian night club." for the 27, among the hundreds hourly bombard Central's (which can handle 4,000 calls an hour) there would be work for at least one day. Star jnany others there would be only more waiting, more coffee, more more buttonhol- of Central's harried casting directors. Ten Year Old Gels Role In "Superman" Serial Alan Dinehart, 10-year-old son of former screen star Mozello Brittbn and the late Alan Dinehart, yesterday literally "won" an important featured spot in Columbia's forthcoming 15-chapter serial, "Superman." Youns Dinehart was prcacnt while his mother, a syndicated columnist and radio commentator, was Interviewlnc the film's director. Spencer Bennet.

and actually talked his way into an acting part in the chapter play. Sam Katzman is producing "Superman," which Is based on the famous comic strip and radio program. To Start Movie On Life Of Marilynn Miller Soon "Silver Lining," musical film on the life of Marilyn Miller, has been set by Warner Bros, to go before the cameras next month. The exact starting date of the mm. which will siar June Haver, depends upon director David Butler's completion of his current directorial assignment on "John Loves Mary." film version of the Norman Broadway hit.

WJUTUK GENEROUSLY GIFTED Ted GciBcl, who wrote tho script for RKO Radio's "Design for Death." It tho "Dr. Sucss" who drew political cartooas for a New York newspaper. He is also known an Illustrator of humorous novels and the author of children's books. An expert on Oriental matters, he wat a Army, major, during the To Appear Here In Person Buddy Rich, former drummer for.Tommy Dorscy arid Artie Shaw, brlnpr his own orchestra to llio nUffc of Iho Maryland Theatre, Tuesday. Featured tv'Uli "Buddy" Is 1 lovely Karen Rich artists.

Peggy Knudsen Goes Back To Comedy After Heavy Drama BY LOUELLA O. PARSONS HOLLYWOOD. Feb. Knudson is starting hersDir out on a new career by way of the comedy route. She feels that she has wasted too much time trying to be a heavy dramatic actress.

Her greatest'success'was in "My Sister Eileen" on the stage, which was 100 per cent comedy. Now Peggy has. said goodbye to Warners, signed herself up with 'Sol and in addition made- up her mind to free lance, outside of two movies she makes for Sol. When she was making "Roses Are Red." Peggy took lessons from Kay' Thompson, and she's still studying Well, she has a good teacher in Kay, who was Judy Garland's coach for a long time before the team of Thompson and the Williams Brothers made history at Giro's night club. Neither "Roses Are Red," nor "Half Past' Midnight," ore what we might call major 1 league productions, but still each gave Peggy a chance to do the things for which she- feels she's best fitted.

The Wurtzel company is very pleased with what she has done, and for small budget films I must "say, has managed to- inject a new personality on the screen. Peggy was formerly married to Adrian Samish, at one time national production manager for one of the Important networks, separated from him a lew years that didn't keep her from following the radio. The day she came to see me she said, "Wen, I've just ended a year's engagement before ttoo mike. Now that's over, I'll concentrate on my movie career." When Peggy first started out in New York, -her closest friend was Jennifer who was then Phyllis Isley, and the' two girls have kept up that friendship. "It's wonderful, isn't it," she said, what Jennifer has done wibb.

her career on the screen. I have always felt she has great talent. I talked to her on the long, distance telephone during the Pegjy then revealed that she had been a guest at David Selznick's homo following the premiere of "Tho Paradlne Case," that she had telephoned Jennifer in Switzerland, who had asked particularly to speak to Peggy. "I hope Jennifer will have happiness as well as success." she Bald. 'She's worked so hard to get where she is today." Although Peggy is pretty, and blonde, she looks something like a college student, because she wears glasses.

"Do you think you'll do. something with your voice?" I asked Peggy. "I sing adequately." she said, "but I'd like to sing That's real modesty. Never have I heard other actress say she sings adequately. One thing I liked particularly about Peggy is the absence of' all conceit and affectation.

"It's Important for me to get ahead, because I want my 5-year- old daughter to have all the things she wants, andjyou know-that takes money. PorhapsM'm overly ambi- iny daughter. Do you understand?" I told her that I did understand, and I thought there would b'o something wrong'with her if she didn't 1 want her'child to Save 'everything possible for the little 'girl's 'It's hard for me to save," she said, "because I love clothes and I lovo perfumes, and when I havo 1 it disappears." That, I con ft girl after my own. weakness, happen to-come'to asked-ner. "It sounds''So, trite- and -dull to say a' talent scout saw that's exactly what happened when LOVE AT FIRST BITE! NO MATTER WHAT YOG ORDER, YOU'LL BE DELIGHTED BY THE WAY IT' THRILLS Y-OTJR TASTE.

GOLDEN GATE RESTAURANT 17 S. Centre Phono 2577 OPEN DAILY AND SUNDAYS I was in 'My Sister A Warner Brothers representative invited me to make a screen test, which brought me here. My first picture was 'Shadow of a Women' with Helmut Dnrante. I played his ex-wife." Knudsen is Peggy's real name, and she is of Irish and Norwegian ancestry. She comes from Minnesota, the homo of many 'Scandinavians, and her fattier, Conrad (Enudsen, was Duluth's fire chief for many years.

Here's wishing' Peggy Knudsen all -the things she wishes for herself this coming that Is, a hrand new career, all the Mir. Barryinore Wins Argument With Director BTJKBANK, Feb. 14 classic outburst of temperament has, been added to the already brilliant record of the Barryinore clan. It happened at Warner according'to awed witnesses, when John Houston, Largo," told Lionel Barrymorc, now approaching 70, that he would have to go to the make-up department and have his famous shaggy eyebrows made even shaggier for Ills rolo Jn the production. "I gave up using make-up tricks when I q-ult being a juvenile," Mr.

said to have growled. Huston, a stickler for proper character detail, is said, then, to have insisted. What happened after that was resoundingly glorious, but absolutely unprintable. Mr. Borrymore will appear the film as is.

Two Newcomers Turn Producers Nine Day Movie Prod action i Slated'fot Release in Early March By GENE HANDSAKER HOLLYWOOD, Feb. you think you'd like to make a movie. Well, you can do it, and you don't have to have a nickel of your own. You 'do' have to have enthusism, business acumen, luck, and a gambler's nerve. Paradoxically, youth and inexeperience' may help." Take two fellows I -know named Sam and Al.

1 Sam is, or was, a free-lance press agent handling a Buddy. Rogers picture. One day he filled his pipe and drifted down the hall to-talk to Al, assistant to the production manager. They'd been talking about getting into movie 'production on their own. Just then a writer-director friend walked by with a script.

It was sure-fire stuff, called "Tho Argyle Secrets," full ol action, violence and mystery. They made a deal; for a salary and percentage profits, the author would direct. Next, Sam and Al pondered actors. How about star of the order of William Gargan? Gargan's agent said all right, for'a salary and percentage, Marjorte Lord was signed as co-star on a similar basis. Next to the- bank.

The banker liked' gam's and Al's script and looks. He advanced 7(Tper cent ol the 'production cost of' $125,000. Well-to-do friends put up-the Sam and Al had to supply $12,500 as part of the completion bond. They borrowed that, too. They rented' studio space and equipment, trimmed their plot a bit to fit available used "sets.

They found a distributing company that would release Three days before production started, then- obligations totaled $55,000. They felt low but "we'd gone too far to back out," Sam says. In a 'Way, Sam and Al were lucky because production was so slow everywhere. inon were n. salary and percentage.

But Sam and Al aren't collecting any salaries. They'll wait until thojr nine-day production is rushed into In March. In "Voice Of The Turtle" Slarrelt Plans Ten-Week Personal Appearance Tour Charles Starrett, star of Columbia's "Durango Kid" Westerns, begins a 10-week series of one-night and split-week personal appearances throughout the South February 9. The appearances will be made, as far as possible, with, showings of one of Starrett's latest releases, "West of Sonora." With Starrett will be the Sunshine Boys, a musical quartet, and. George Lloyd and Russell Meeker, all of have appeared in one or more of the' Starrctt films.

Tlie troupe are scheduled to visit Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. MOVIE ANT HUNT Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer may-start a great ant hunt any day now. 1 hilarious episode in the forthcoming "The. Brido Goes Wild," starring Van Johnson and June Allyson involves the use of thousands of ants. M-G-M publicity poobahs are considering sending a -saiart' into tho Southern: California desert country to.capture tmts'to bo'pour- cd into little ant newfangled contraptions In.

which ants may be viewed through. as they go about their daily affairs. If the.plan goes through, the'ant villages will' be sent to about 500 motion picture editors -with a note reminding them that those are the, same kind of ants used "The Bride Goes Wild." In Two Movies Roles In! numerous movie houses around the country you can watch Albert JDekker on the screen while you munch away at his popcorn, Dekker, currently playing a featured role with Dorothy Lomour in "Lulu Belle," is stockholder in one of the largest companies selling popcorn to movie theaters. LEADER THEATRE VIRGINIA AVENUE Sun. Man.

Tutu, "THE FABULOUS DORSEYS" with Tommy Doi-noy. Jimmy June! lllcitr, Faiil'Wlilleniiin, Other Bunds Wed. Fri. Double Feature Program Bobcrt JIullon, rjiyJIht C.ilvcrt, ttainw in "TIME OUT OF MIND" John Mack Brown and Fuzzy Knlflll In "LAW AND ORDER" Only Monte Hale in "OUT CALIFORNIA WAY" with Hoy and rucst slurs FREE MOVIES The ALIBI MATINEE NIGHT MON. TUES.

WED. "Swing Sister Swing" with Ken Murray ond Johnny Downs SHORTS THURS. FRI. SAT. "Escape To Paradise" with Kent Taylor and Joyce Compfon COMEDIES WATCH THIS SPACE EVERY SUNDAY FOR THE Top 10 Juke Box Tunes 1.

Ballerina 2. I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover 3. Now is tho Hour 4. How Soon 5. Golden Ear Rings In order of Popularity based on National Weekly Survey 6.

Serenade of tho Bells 7. I'll Dance at Your Wedding 8. Bog Your Pardon ,9. Too Fat Polka 10. Manana The Enterprise Your Headquarter! For Records, Phonographs and Radios Enterprise Amusement Co.

126 N. Centre St. Phona 3833 Cumberland, Md. Sally Farlccr) requires zipper help from. Bill (Ronald Reagan) in Warner piclurization of the famed-romantic comedy, 'The Voice of the Turtle," which comes next Friday to the Strand Theatre.

Chinese Cameraman Is Baled Highly By Race HOLLYWOOD, James Wong Hewo, cinematographer. who recently completed camera direction on Enterprise's "Body and Soul." John Garfield-Lilli Palmer starrer, has been included as one oJt the leading Chinese personalities in the "Chlncso National Year Book." Ho rates two lines ot bioff- nvphy loss than Ohlaiifj Kal Click, and lends Wellington Koo. Sun Ytit Sen and Genghis in printed space. AMERICAN BACKGROUND Although Pedro Armendariz, who co-stars with John Wayne; Henry Pontin and Shirley in "War Purty," an Argosy Plctui-o for KKO Radio release, is Mexico's top film star, he was educated at an El; Paso, Texas, high school' and at' California, Polytechnic at San Louis Obispo, California. Not Ashamed Ot Age Here's ono for Diogenes.

Irene Rich, celebrating her birthday dur- infc tho 1'JJralnu or "War Party," tui Argosy Picture for KKO Radio Release, denied.silo was 54. "I run 55," sho said, correcting tho dato in her bloprophy. GARDEN IDA LUPINO DANE CLARK WAYNE MORRIS 'DEEP VALLEY 7 NOW TWO BIG HITS PLUS NEWS CARTOON JOE E. BROWN in "WIDE OPEN FACES" with JANE WYMAN L3TDA ROBERT! NOW FEATURE AT: 2:00 3:45 5:35 9:47 with Oscar Levant Barbara Lawrence GRACE M. FISHER Presents ol Papular NOW SHOWING Doors Open 1:45 p.m.

NEL'SDN EDDY IMA PLUS MARCH OF TJME 'IS EVERYBODY LISTENING" With FRED ALLEN JACK BENNY FIBBER McGEE MOLLY PLUS COLOR CARTOON and NEWS Feature at: 1:55 7:15 and 3:40 I ARTHUR RANK presents MILLS-VALERIE HOBSON ctehons EXTRA COMIC CARTOON "DEADEYE DICK" WEDNESDAY 2 BIG HITS ALAN LADD GAIL RUSSELL "CALCUTTA" FRED MacMURRAY PAULEXTE GODDARD "Suddenly It's Spring" EXTRA WEDNESDAY NITE AT 8:30 T. M. GIANT AUCTION FROM STAGE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATE WITH BIO PRIZES ON THE STAGE ONE DAY ONLY TUES. FEB. 17th HIS DRUMS and GREAT NEW ORCHEHTRA featuring- LOVELY KAREN RICH and 16- MUSICAL ARTISTS -16 ON THE SCREEN GREAT TUNES! LAUGHS' WONDERFUL ROMANCE! "Hit Parade" Gil Bill Goodwin Eddie Albert Joan Edwnrds gggffrgg 2 GREAT Mm HE LOVED But in his breaking heart he knew ho, could posfess KATHARINE PAUL HEPBURN HENREID ROBERT WALKER M-G-M SEflf A sprM hi OAY FAME up in MUMMER! COCUMBWDCTBOS WARNER Gamble MOKDAY NITE JACK POT "QUIZ".