The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • 35

THE NEWS AND OBSERVER. RALEIGH. N. SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 22, 1939. BROADWAY PLAY DEPICTS CRITIC Woollcott Is Seen in Latest Hart-Kaufman Comedy; Chekhov Play Arrives By MARK BARRON.

New York, Oct. -With in cheek and twinkle in ebullient pens, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman gave the Broadway Theater this week its most edervescent uplift of the new seawhen they revealed their new comedy, "The Man Who Came to Dinner," to Arst night audience of as celebrated the man the play allegedly pictures -Alexander Woolcott. Naturally, the dramatists (who are close friends of Woolcott) take the stand that if their profile of the author-lecturer, Sheridan Whiteside, resembles any living person, it is a matter of pure coincidence. But, when Woolcott first saw the play it is reported he commented that the only difference is that the Whiteside in the play wears beard whereas he, Woolcott, wears only mustache, Also the Whiteside in the play surronds himself with actors who are obviously small portraits of Noel Coward, Harpo Marx and other notables who are in that intimate circle that so gayly surrounds the Woolcott in real life.

First Casualty. Whiteside, the author-lecturerradio commentator play, on a tour of speechmaking across country when his bookings bring him to small town in Ohio where he is dinner guest in the home of leading citizen. In leaving after dinner Whiteside slips on ice upon the steps and, injured in the legs, is turned to the drawing room of his hosts. There the celebrated guest, Incapacitated in wheel chair, convalesces for two weeks of the Christmas holidays and proceeds to turn this peaceful, small town home into something resembling Metropolitan Grand Central station during the rush hours. His varied friends, like an explosion af dozen comets, flock to his chair side.

His host protests this turning his home into a Doman arena, but Whiteside, with the deva-t rating wit that has made him famous, sends him fleeing to the sanctuary of a quiet upstairs room. To elope with a suitor not approved by her parents. He clutters the house with gifts from his celebrated friends, notably glass cage of cockroaches, i huge Egyptian mummy. He runs up enormous long distance bills on his host's telephone with chatty calls to Gertrude Stein in Paris and similar famous friends in far off corpers of the world. He tries to break up the romance of his fetching and efficient secretary who has fallen in love with young Ohio newspaperman who has written play.

It is just that he doesn't want his routine of life disturbed by having to train new secretary. He storms at his comparatively tolerant host, threatening to sue him for damages for his injuries and then takes possession of almost the whole house to transform it into radio station where be can make his weekly broadcast. After screaming denouncements of his kindly host, starting a tempest in the lives of a dozen other people, he signals for his radio program to begin. It starts with Christmas carols sung by bevy of tiny choirboys, and then he goes into his sweetnessand-light broadcast about the goodliness and peace that Christmas inspires in him. Exciting Comedy.

It an exciting and humorous comedy, much in the mood of "You Can't Take It With You," and besides Monty Woolley's amusing performance of Whiteside there are good impersonations by Robert Rea of the Harpo Marx character, John Hoyaradt of the Noel Coward charamorous actress whom Whiteside to seduce the young newswho is about to elope with secretary. This past Summer Dwight Deere Wiman, producer of such Broadway hits a On Borrowed Time" and Married An Angel," was rambling through the Summer theaters of New England when he happened upon the Surrey Maine group in performance of Anton Chekhov's emotional and brooding "The Three Sisters." It is a good company, too, lead by such proven Broadway performers Katherine Emery, Ann Revere and Sheppard Strudwick. So Wiman reassembled the production this week, but pictorially it had too much of musical comedy color to blend with the stagnant mood of Chekhov's introspective character studies. It is a dimcult play to act, this story the three sisters whose one ambition is to get to Moscow, where they think they will And escape from the only company in their native town of drunken army officers who have little hope in the future or of frustrated professional men who have abandoned all hope. The players in this production sometimes keep up the melancholia needed almost always in Chekhov's drama, but both the acting and direction in this version keep overly much to a too light side, almost a dainty tea performance of moody Russian family.

MISSIONARY SAYS AFRICA STILL IS "DARK" IN SPOTS Jasper, Africa still is the Dark Continent in many ways. C. J. Dotson, Baptist missionary to Rhodesia, has found it so, he said, in an address at the First Baptist to live, the natives claim, a great an upper tooth Arst, it must be they must be killed. If a baby cuts scant suceess in suppressing, is the which British authorities have had killing of babies.

It 1 twins are born, Church of Jasper. Greatest Rhodesian superstition, killed. 1 ether type were allowed calamity would befall the tribe. Dotson said the natives dodge strict British laws by dispatching the Illstarred babies secretly, then reportthat they of Iness. Hollywood? Shep Strudwick Can Take It or Leave It Movie Makers Figured Him Another Robert Taylor By ANTHONY BUTTITA.

New York, Oct. has the making of another handsome screen star in Sheppard Strudwick of Hillsboro, but the former Carolina Playmaker is too much interested in a group of actors who banded together a few years ago to produce plays that. would develop them as craftsmen as well as to emphasize the cultural aspect of the living theatre. This might not mean much to the average screen addict, but it does to the creative writer, actor or painter who is serious about his craft. And "Shep" Strudwick, as he is known by his Carolina friends, while trimming his beard for the featured role in Anton Chekhov's "Three gave this writer the impression that he was pretty serious.

The play opened at the Longacre Theatre last night. "It's the old question of whether you want to work in the fast, superficial manner of the screen or in the purely artistic medium of expression," he said. "To give you an idea of what I mean, let's talk about Paul Green. He finally went to Hollywood out of curiosity. Interested in the imaginative possibilities of the screen, he returned soon afterwards because he felt that the movies were not making the most of them.

"Studios are always asking Paul to return to Hollywood, but he pays little attention to them until he has urgent economic need to return. won't let himself be signed under long-term contracts. He treks over there and scoots back to the Hill. But the studios want their actors and writers for years at the time, knowing that eventually they will be caught in the of Hollywood and remain." Briefly, that is Shep Strudwick's story with Hollywood, but he wouldn't discuss it in detail. Realizing that there was a good story.

this writer sought out his lovely wife, Helen Wynn, who is on the Board of Directors of the Surry Players and plays one of the sisters in the present production. (She can be seen in one of the photographs accompanying this story.) Fitting neatly into the pattern of a tall, spirited, handsome lover, Hollywbod saw in Shep the making of another Robert Taylor. To some of us, that would be, perhaps, the end of lite's ambition. But Shep was not interested. He wanted to go to Hollywood for three months out of the year, and he did for three consecutive years.

At first, he did nothing to speak of because the studio told him that nothing could be done in three months. Hollywood has to develop its actors once they are discovered. A slow publicity campaign is required to catch the public fancy. One picture must be followed immediately by another to capitalize on the interest created by the first. Tremendous sums are spent to make all this possible.

It is an investment that will reap its profits only if an actor is under a long-term contract, and that means the actor is the property of that investing studio. Shep couldn't see nimself on the West coast grinding one picture after another. In addition to that his heart was set on the Surry Players, a group that had gone through a number of sacrifices and adventures for the sake of their craft. One or two of them had previously been called to Hollywood, but the call went unanswered. And Shep only answered during inactive period of production on the East coast.

For the sake of those interested in dates, Shep was born on September 22, 1907, in Hillsboro, N. C. He went to Lynchburg, prep school and was determined from the first to become a writer. In his junior year his younger brother, Ed, enrolled at the same school with the idea of becoming an actor. He has since became- a painter like their elder brother, Clem Strudwick, whose work is known throughout the Carolinas and in New York City.

In addition to editing the college paper, Shep went in for public speaking and won a declamation contest in his senior year. In 1926, he entered the University of North Carolina, still without any idea of wanting to become an actor. The Tar Heel office and not the Carolina Playmakers was his hangout, but during his Freshman year a friend told him that there was a part in a new show that Koch couldn't cast. The friend told him he was the type and asked him to tryout for it. Shep had no idea what he would do with the part even if he got it, Bartholomew F.

Moore By R. C. LAWRENCE. Raleigh, Nov. 27, 1878.

A power in the life of Carolina has passed away and business has paused. morning there is a meeting of the Bar in memory of Bartholomew F. Moore, leader for a generation of the Carolina lawyers. This meeting was attended by Governor Vance, Chief Justice W. N.

H. Smith, Attorney General Thomas S. Kenan, United States Senator Augustus S. Merrimon, Federal Judge George W. Brooks, Judges Fowle, Cox and Howard, Col.

Thomas C. Fuller, Richard H. Battle, Samuel A. Ashe, Joseph B. Batchelor, Secretary of State William L.

Saunders, Charles M. Busbee, Robert T. Gray, A. M. Lewis, Fabius H.

Busbee, E. R. Stamps, R. C. Badger, Capt.

William H. Kitchin, Major W. H. Bagley, J. C.

L. Harris, Armistead Jones, Lee S. Overman, Sherwood Haywood, and other legal notables. The funeral was held from Christ Church, the service being conducted by its rector, Dr. M.

M. Marshall, and the active pallbearers being: Governor Vance, Chief Justice Smith, Senator Merrimon, Judge Brooks, Judge Fowle, Judge Strong, Auditor Love, Major Gilliam, Batchelor, Ed Graham Haywood, Dr. Eugene Grissom, Richard H. Battle. On January 19, 1879, memorial services in honor of Mr.

Moore were held in the Senate Chamber, Chief Justice Smith presiding. Remarks were made by Justice William H. Battle, J. B. Batchelor, and Ed Graham Haywood of the Raleigh Bar delivered eulogy.

The legislature adjourned that its members might these exercises. Surely here was honor done the memory of one who was only lawyer in tice private practice. In private prache was, but he headed the Bar of Carolina. At Chapel Hill, the Dialectic Literary Society adopted desolutions prepared by a committee composed of Francis D. Winston, M.

C. S. Noble and J. E. Ransom.

The Masonic Grand Lodge also adopted resolutions. of Many great lawyers have come out the purely agricultural County of Halifax. General William R. Davie passed most of his career here; here lived Willis Alston, chairman of the Ways and Finance Committee at Washington; Attorney General John Haywood; Justice Joseph J. Daniel; Attorney General and United Governor H.

G. Burton; Governor, States Senator and Secretary of the Navy, John Branch; Attorney General J. R. J. Daniel; Actor's Repertory Company.

I appeared in one of the latter's productions and would have joined their group except that Surry had already happened and there was nothing to draw me away from it. "The cultural existence of the theatre depends on the rise of similar acting organizations throughout the the country. Various cities have built community theatres on that idea, one of the most outstanding being the Cleveland Playhouse. But more are required to absorb the young actors who are either walking the streets or playing in productions which are not doing anything for their development actors. "There is something complete and understanding about company of actors who have appeared in number of productions.

There is an emotional profundity which is unmatched in the theatre. Everything is timed with the guidance of some sixth sense which gives an author the break he deserves. Chekhov was never successful in his own country except when produced by the Moscow Art Theatre, and Clifford Odets is more vigorous at the hands of the Group Theatre. "Therefore, in addition to aiding actors in their art and to give the public more thorough understanding of play, the group venture assists in the development of new playwrights. There would have been no Chekhov without the Moscow Art Theatre, no Odets without the Group, no Moliere without his own troupe, and no Shakespeare without the acting groups that existed during his lifetime.

This arrangment makes for better understanding among actors, producers, writers and the audience." The success of the Surry Players will mean a great deal toward the organization of similar groups. And success is almost assured them for early this month they became the first group outside of the Broadcasting Company to televise one of their repertory plays. This is of considerable significance to "Billboard." trade theatrical publication, which devoted a great deal of space to the event. "The Surry production was firstclass entertainment," to quote from "Billboard." But what is more striking is the freedom with which the Surry Players put on their performance. "Show as given was a good legit, and apparently the NBC directors knew enough to adopt a hands-off policy about one hour and twenty minutes, and if tele were commercial Surry Players would have knocked off sponsor on the basis of this performance.

Clicking with "Three Sisters," the Surry Players stand a chance of becoming even more important to the theatre than the Mercury which has deserted Broadway to answer the call of commercial radio programs. Surry stands almost alone in the direction it is taking and will definitely pave a new direction in the modern thetre. Then, too, the screen has limitless possibilities for a group of this sort, provided it were given the freedom that the stage, radio and television have given it in the past. Yes, Hollywood still means something to Shep Strudwick and he doesn't want to be misunderstood about it. Before leaving his dressing room he said: "Some day, I may have to go out there and I may do the very thing I don't want to, but I am trying to prolong it.

By that time, perhaps, the Surry Players we can all go out there to make will have a made a top name and a picture together. It will depend a great deal on the success of our I present venture." Attorney General Spier Whitaker; Chief Justice Walter Clark: Captain William H. Kitchin; Captain William H. Day and Bartholomew Figures Moore. Mr.

Moore was born in Halifax in January, 1801, the son of James Moore, a revolutionary soldier. He where graduated in 1821. educated, at the University, He Arst settled at Nashville, where he married Laura Boddie, daughter of George Boddie, and after her death married her sister, Lucy. He was tutored in law by Thomas Mann, and moved back to Halifax in 1835. Between that date and his removal to Raleigh, he was frequently the legislature from Halitax and in 1848 he was appointed Attorney General, which position he resigned on being named by the legislature of 1851 member of a commission to revise the statute law of the State, its other members being Judges Asa Biggs and Romulous M.

Saunders. moved his residence to Raleigh in 1848 which thenceforth behis hime, and here he reached primacy at the Bar of Carolina. He was an aristocrat by birth, by instinct, traditions, springing from the landed gentry of the Roanoke section, a class embracing the Hawkinses of Warren, the Devereuxs of Halifax, the Ransoms of Northampton, the Battles of Edgecombe, and other notable families, born to the purple. He was Whig in politics. He rose to power at the Bar when the Carolina high court was at the zenith of its fame.

As chief justice sat Thomas Ruffin, Carolina's greatest judge, his associates being Justices William Gaston and J. J. Daniel. This was the only Southern court ever cited by the English courts at Westminster Han. Perhaps the case which brought him the largest measure of praise and the most fame, was State v.

Will, slave, indicted for murder of his overseer. The owner of the slave, James S. Battle of Edgecombe employed Moore and Moses Mordecai to defend the slave who claimed the homicide was done in self-defense. The lower court held that slave could not claim self-defense against either the master or a representa tive of the master, and poor Will was sentenced to be hung. The case Was appealed to the supreme court, and the brief prepared by Moore was simply a masterpiece of law and logic, as was also his oral argument.

The court handed down its opinion, written by Justice Gaston for unanimous court, holding that the homicide was not murder but at most manslaughter and remanding the case for a new trial. It is interesting to note that thereafter the slave Will was sent to Mississippi, where he became involved in an altercation with member of his own race, and committed another homicide, for which he was duly hung by the Mississippi jurisdiction. Thus long before Chief Justice Taney announced the famous decision in the Dred Scott case, that slave possessed no rights which white man was bound to respect, we And the Carolina court holding that the slave did possess such rights. Other examples of notable briets fled by Moore include Moye v. May and Walton v.

Gatlin. But this would be very poor picture. Go through the reports of the North Carolina court for twenty-five years and you will scarce And case of any importance where Moore did not appear for one side or the other. Even this does not tell the story for hundreds of weighty questions of law, business, and Anance which never got before the courts, were handed over to him for settlement. No man was ever more trusted by and people than WAS Moore by Carolinians.

He was steadfast in his opposition to secession and the progress of the war did not change his views. Therefore as the leading exponent of the Union principle in Carolina, he was summoned to Washington by President Johnson at the end of the war to counsel upon the measures necessary to restore the State to her sovereignty. Moore counselled that this be done at once, with only such constitutional changes as had been made necessary by the results of the struggle, these to be made by our own people. If these safe and sane views had been but followed by the party in power at Washington, there would have been no reconstruction in Carolina! He was elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1865, and he was in the legislature of 1866. The unhappy condition of affairs in the State weighed heavily upon him, certain members of the judiciary in partisan politics, aroused his indignation.

He took the lead in securing the signatures of 108 Democratic lawyers to a solemn protest against such activity, which protest was duly given to the press. The preme court thereupon had some twenty-five of the more prominent lawyers cited for contempt. This case, known as Ex Parte is one of the most famous of Carolina cases. The premier member of the Bar lost the technical, but gained the moral victory, a3 there was no more political judicial activity here in Carolina. The two contestants in this famous case, Chief Justice Pearson and Moore were alike in many ways: each was a most able lawyer; each was a man of wide knowledge; deep convictions; both were aristocrats.

But the difference between the two men, it seems to me, was that the Chief Justice did not possess moral courage to the same extent as was I possessed by Moore. Therefore, with the changing political complexion as the result of the war, there came a certain hesitancy and vacillation on the part of the Chief Justice; whereas Moore could say did William Lloyd Garrison: "I will not retreat; I will not give an inch and I will be heard." A clause from his will portrays the manner of men that he was far better than can my pen: "No man suffered greater misery than I did as the scenes of battle unfolded the bloody carnage of war in the midst of our homes. had been taught there could be no reliable liberty of State without the Union of the States, and being devoted to my State I felt that should desert her whenever I should aid to destroy the Union." Man of courageous convictionsl SIMON WILL SING IN HER NEW ROLE But French Actress Will Have Heavy Role. In Bolton's Broadway Drama By MARK BARRON. A scene from Chekhov's "Three Sisters." Left to right: Anne Revere, Shep Strudwick, Katherine.

Emery, and Helen Wynn (Mrs. Shep Strudwick). but he went over to the theatre see what it was all about. He said: "It was another version of Pierrot that I tried out for and Proff said I'd do. The play was one written in Proff's class by Raleigh girl but I can't remember her name, owe it to the Carolina Playmakers that I was definitely lured from writing to the theatre." During his three years with the Carolina Playmakers, Shep appeared in a of varied roles which developed him from a raw actor into a fairly successful juvenile lead.

His roles varied from feuding pappy in mountain drama to a rake in fluffy Restoration drama. In addition to that he appeared in Shakespeare, Moliere and other classics along with contemporary successes. By attending Summer school Shep was able to complete his work at the University in three years. For his superior scholarship he made both Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Fleece. Shep is believed to be the first Carolina Playmakers to have gained entrance into the Golden Fleece primarily because of his work with the Playmakers.

Incidentally, he is the successful actor to have come from this group. Two weeks after leaving the campus in 1928, Shep went to New York to become professional actor. On his 21st birthday he stood up five hours to see Eugene O'Neill's "Strange Interlude." He couldn't think of a better way to celebrate his entrance into the realm of men. He got his Arst break before the month was out and it all came about because he knew an ex-Carolina Playmaker. George V.

Denny, who is now president of The Town Hall, has helped more North Carolinians make a start in New York than any other person. (Mr. Denny was the subject of a full-length feature by this writer which appeared exclusively in The News and Observer almost two years ago.) When Shep called to see Mr. Denny, he was extension director of Columbia University, but prior to that he had been stage manager for Charles Coburn, the veteran actor-producer. Mr.

Denny didn't hesitate to call the famous actor to tell him of talented young actor just up from Carolina. Coburn said to send Shep over and gave him walk on in revival of "Yellow Jacket." Fortunately, Shep was also assigned to understudy Alexander Kirkland, the juvenile lead. Shortly after the play opened, Kirkland went to the Theatre Guild to play in "Wings Over Europe" and Shep stepped into the part and played it throughout the run of the show. Before the long run was complete, Shep had a little session with himself. He could continue playing on Broadway like many other actors but somehow he felt the need of more experience in his craft.

In order to get it he spent the next order to get it he spent the next four years in various stock and repertory companies. The training did him a great deal of good and he felt for the first time in his career that he was a full-fledged actor. Playing a juvenile lead in a hit hadn't been enough for Shep! When he returned to Broadway he was under contract to the Theatre Guild. Again he was cast to understudy the lead in play, this time Maxwell Anderson's "Both Your Houses," but before it opened, he was given the leading role! On the Monday following President Roosevelt's memorable Bank Holiday, an event which will always remain in the memory of the North Carolina actor, the play opened and he was definitely established on Broadway. During the next two years he appeared in a series of Theatre Guild productions, including "Biography" and "End of For Rowland Stebbins he did 'Tight Britches," and for a newly organized group which was later to become the Actors' Repertory Company he played the juvenile in "Let Freedom Ring," dramatization by Albert Bein of Grace Lumpkin's novel of the South, "To Make My Bread." It was during this period that Shep became interested in actors' groups and companies.

He "The best work in the theatre is done when a number of actors work together over a period of years. They know and understand each other and in that way help to make the best of their abilities. Then, too, it makes for cooperation instead of competition in the theatre. "You don't have to be an actor understand what I mean. In the theatre, there is such a thing as stars, producers, and you take what get.

You have to work with lactors who sometimes hog the stage, indifferent to each other, and care nothing of their craft except for what they can get out of it at the end of the week. I never liked that kind of theatre. "I worked with several others who never liked it, either, and that's why we Anally got and said we wouldn't put up with it," he continued. "We knew that actors had banded tobether before and accomplished wonders--the Moscow Art Theatre, the most artistic ducing unit in Europe, and the Group Theatre in New York. There were others but they have failed because of mismanagement.

"In the summer of 1935, a dozen of us decided that it was time to try our venture. We pooled our resources, went to New England and found dark theatre in Surry, Maine. But we decided not to produce single play that summer. Instead. we assembled principles of acting, discarding those that meant nothing to us, and went to work on the basic requirements of our profession.

"It was then that we realized how stale an actor can become on Broadway. Those who speak of Hollywood are not aware that the commercial theatre does the same thing. We became aware that during the successful run of shows that we had stood still and calmly let ourselves slip into the self-satisfied pattern of the average actor who from season to season takes what is given him and considers himself fortunate to get it." Before the summer was over they discussed production plans for the next year and elected a board of directors composed of four actors and a director. The board is still posed of Katherine Emery, Ann Revere, Helen Wynn, Shep Strudwick and Director Sam Rosen. In their group the director still functions but the actors also have something to say about production pians.

That fall they scattered, doing various assignments, but the summer brought them together again. They worked out a laboratory theatre plan and after several items presented "As You Like It" solely for the Surry community. However, Dwight Deere Wiman, most successful producer of Broadway musicals, heard of their venture and went to Maine to see their producton of this Shakespearean comedy. Producer Wiman was so impressed with their design and interpretation that he arranged to back it for Broadway run that fall. It was then that the Surry Players felt that they had arrived as group.

"As You Like It" received excellent reviews but somehow it didn't take to the public fancy. In spite of it, their production broke 50-year performance record in the revival. Again Shep came to the attention of Hollywood, and he signed up for three months with Metro-GoldwynMayer. Selected to play Greta Garbo's brother in the Napoleon Alm Portrait of Sheppard Strudwick. "Conquest," he found that the period expired long before shooting actually began on the Alm.

Though paid for the time he was on the coast, he returned East without having accomplished a thing. He realized then that Hollywood had to have time to get anything done. Following another summer Surry, where the players were becoming recognized for their artistic productions, Shep returned to Broadway in the winter of 1938 to appear in Producer Wiman's musical "The Great Lady." Again he went to Hollywood for M-G-M and was kept waiting for something suitable to turn up, but he asked to be released to do a short, 'That Mothers Might Live," which won the National Academy Award--the Arst of its kind for a short--that year. Before his three months were up, he played another short and received a supporting role in smart comedy, "Fast Company." Offers loomed again for long-term contracts but he told them that he preferred working on Broadway and with his Surry Players. Studio executives didn't attempt to hold him against his will and he returned.

During the past summer, the Surry Players became the most important summer group in their area which has since become crowded with various summer theatres. The Surry presented a repertory of classics which received rare reviews from the visiting Broadway scribes. Producer Wiman came up one week-end and was so pleased with their version of 'Three Sisters" that he asked them to bring it to Broadway this fall. This marks the second visit of the group to Broadway and from all indications it seems that they have found the right script for successful revival. There is much interest in this Chekhov play on Broadway since two other productions have been announced before the end of the year.

But the Surry's production is the first to become a reality and advance sale has been enough to assure it an extended run at popular prices. Since Shep Strudwick seems to be so concerned with the actor's plight in the commercial theatre, this writer asked him he came to believe that organizations like the Moscow Art Theatre, the Surry Players and the Group Theatre came into existence to rescue the performers seriously interested in their craft. "It might surprise you to know that I believed this back in those days with the Carolina Playmakers," he said as he put on his costume. "Somehow, that seems to be the principle behind Proff's organization. We players were all one.

We worked together and we learned. There were no stars. We were simply the Carolina Playmakers as we are now simply the Surry Players. There was sense of comradeship and cooperation that can be found only in repertory groups where company is more or less permanent. "I saw an extension of the Playmaker system as I read the annals of the Moscow Art Theatre, as I saw production of Eva La Gallienne's celebrated company on Fourteenth Street, the Group Theatre and the War Brings New Styles; Bar Frills in England war has ready killed the bustle and the crinoline and all the eccentricities of dress that marched in their wake.

These may be revived later when the men returning from the front demand that women shall be 100 per cent feminine, but for the moment the whole trend of dress is to be "sensible." Subdued colors, outfits that match up with khaki uniforms, high and long sleeves (even the flounces of the last few for evening, frocks) have replaced months. For the hour the raid has been designed the "air raid siren form of super workman's overall combining slacks and tunic. Step into it, zip it up and you can hop out of bed and remain in cold and drafty places looking smart. The suits are made in warm woolly material and are becoming. So much so that women will wear them for gardening or upon any excuse long after war has done away with their necessity.

Following the "siren suit" comes the costume" made of colored oil silk, combining trousers, tunic and bonnet, carried in a small flat envelope. It can be slipped on in the street over the clothes and in two minutes its wearer is a presentable imitation of an auxiliary fireman in his decontamination outfit. Naturally the hairdresser must have a say in the fashions of war, so the "gas mask curl" has been introduced. The hair is dressed flat on top and the curls bunched out 1 1 each side, allowing the gas mask to be slipped on and off and the waves and curls left undisturbed. Glasgow is realizing that there is a war, for drinking hours there have been severely curtailed.

Only between 11:30 a. and 2:30 p. m. a and between 5 and 8 p. m.

can victory be celebrated or blackout depression defied. Profiteering is occurring on both a large and small scale. Sandbag retailers have almost doubled their prices. Fiber for making matresses has skyrocketed- nd with the vast evacuation schemes thousands of mattresses are needed. Blackout material of any description poured money into the profiteer's pocket even before war begun.

One hotel manager had really novel idea. He decided that as his guests would share the sense of security provided by the blackout, they should have the pleasure of sharing the cost, so each visitor's bill bore an extra item "To cost of blackout 2-6d." Girls have been advised to wear white stockings during the blackout so they may be seen in the dark. This advice undoubtedly emanates from some worthy person with little knowledge of feminine psychology, for the average girl would much sooner take a chance on being run over than parade in white stockings. The sudden increase in crime which was expected as a result of the blackout has not materialized. Crime of the more petty kind is too risky and too unprofitable.

New York, Oct. Simon (you sing the name) is back with us and this brought mama. Today the elf-like, ebullient French girl, who was quite the overnight toast of Hollywood when she red in "Seventh Heaven" and "Love and Hisses" beginning her comeback on these shores in the leading role of a play with incidental songs. "The Gibson Girls" is the play it is from the pen of Guy Bolton, an author who usually is concerned with musical comedies, but this has been made "a play with music" cause Mile. Simon wants to do the serious drama.

"When I was in Hollywood I received the roles for which I do not think I was suited and I think I have proved my point since I went back to France." she said in her gold and green apartment which over. looks New York's. Fifth Avenue. Heavy Roles. "I think my best performances are in serious, perhaps heavy roles.

The Hollywood producers thought should do only the gay, frivolous things. "I was not mad at them for ing so, but I thought it best that I go back home and start again. So back I went and made two pictures and one, 'The realized my dream, for it is just the type for which I think I am suited. "But, alas, it can do me no good here for it is far from the cream puff type of stuff that I did before. It is so lusty and serious and sophisticated that the censors will not allow it to be shown over here.

"In Hollywood I did not show temperament as they sometimes said. I didn't like the roles they were giving me. I don't think I was ing bad girl to protest against them. I like to play strong women or bad women, such a siren woman as I was in 'The Beast'." The slight, svelte lass who was introduced to Hollywood when she was 21 by the late George Gershwin, will sing in her new play and perhaps may dance, but she won't do both at the same time. "Singing is a complete job in itself and so is dancing," she said.

"So I just do one at a time, for if you have to worry about what your feet and hips are doing you can't keep your mind on what your voice singing. "I am glad to come back to Broadway and to bring my mother. When the war began I wasn't working and we were in Deauville, so we went to Geona and found boat there. My mother now is learning to speak English. Already she can say eight or 10 words.

Mama Giorcelli, much more the glamor girl than is Simone with the saucy nose and baby mouth, looks as young as her daughter, has ductive shade of blonde hair, golden fair complexion and mysterious smile. Studied Art. She was born in Italy and speaks French with an Italian accent. When Simone was five, she was married second time to mining engineer who took them to live in car off the coast of East Africa. Mme.

Giorcelli didn't like gascar. So they soon resumed their travels, moving on to Poland. many and then France, where mone began to study art. "Mama wanted me to study art and then settle down and be the good housewife." Simone said. "I didn't want to settle down so I went on the stage.

"Mama was horrifed at Arst. but knew better. I still have to be her guardian. She is very pretty and needs protection, so I must think for her. My mama likes handsome men like the cinema heroes.

I like them homely." Mile. Simon said she isn't in love. "I I had been in love I would have stayed in Europe despite the war," she said. Peace, it's wonderful. And so are mama and Simone.

EX-FOLLIES GIRL FINDS FORMULA FOR SUCCESS New Polly Lux used to be Follies girl but the crash of 1929 wiped out her earnings. She went to Florida with a few thousand dollars and now she is back in town with $500,000 with this formula for success: "One must be an girl. a dozen hotels. set off the figure, lightweight white she has built 14 taxpayer shop buildreal estate field." One must wear tailored slacks that ings in the center of town and half Miss Lux, who is tall, slender went ahead anyhow and up to date come the only girl in the other place where the people don't know much about business and called, "people were nice to me. Miami and Miami she blonde of 35-unmarried-but she blouses and go to Florida or some outlook when she got a to Miami, said People were pessimistic about the "From the beginning down in When I went to City Hall to get a permit or anything men were courteous to me.

"And here are a couple of more tips. For any big decision I take 24 hours. But if I lose money by the decision I forget all about it." FORGER IS TOO POLITE, ADDS "MR." TO CHECK Hamilton, Mont. (U.P) -A ranch hand was arrested here because he was too polite. He wrote a check payable to self and signed it "Mr.

Harold Hagen," his employer on a ranch near Stevensville, Mont. The "mister" part of the signature aroused the suspicion of a bank teller. BITS OF RED INNER TUBE SERVE AS ANGLEWORMS Watertown, razor blades are still a problem, but ermen here have found use for an equally indisposable object, old inner tubes. Hugo Briesemeister originated the idea of using bits of red inner tube las synthetic angle worms..