Shamokin News-Dispatch from Shamokin, Pennsylvania • Page 9

PAGE NINE Screen and Stage Personalities Current Attractions at Local Theatres Play Sisters Super-Snooper's Scoop! Stars of Local Film Drama of the Midway SCREEN CHATS By PAUL HARRISON SHAMOKIN NEWS-DISPATCH, SHAMOKIN, PA. MONDAY, JULY 24, 1939 rfT4' i I JLJ man of Hollywood were honeymooning today after an elopement to Las Vegas, Nev. They were ccmpanied by Producer Jesse Lasky, and his wife. The writer has been signed Lasky and now is collaborating the script for Cecil B. DeMille'a ac' by on, Royal Canadian Mounted." Funeral services will be held U-mcrrow for Charles J.

Maguire, 57, former actor who died Saturday. Maguire is survived by his widow, Janet Sully Maguire, a retired actress, and a brother, John, of New York City. COUNTRY CLUB TO STAGE CLAMBAKE HOLLYWOOD Director Joseph Santley is reticent about reminiscing. Movie-making is becoming Charles Richman. as federal judge, administers the oath of allegiance to Anna Sten, with Alan Marshal aa a witness, in "Exile Express," in a scene similar to a real life episode which Miss Sten enacted during filming of this picture.

The picture is now at the Majestic Theatre 1 "yes" to his pleas of marriage. Sinister events are taking shape in the meantime. Benny the "Buzzard" calls Jerome Cowan, night club owner, from the spot where the picnic is taking place. He asks Cowan to pick hira up there at a rustic bridge. Judith Barrett, entertainer in Cowan's club, overhears the conversation.

The lady-killer (don't take us literally) above is Kent Taylor, and the lovely victim is Ellen Drew who carry the romantic roles in "The Gracie Allen Murder Case." The lens lady is Gracie, who plays Hawkshaw to Warren Williams' Philo Vance, in "The Gracie Allen Murder Case," opening tomorrow at the Victoria. I hi more and more a young men's business, and Santley wouldn't like being relegated to the old-fogey cJass class just because he started on the 6tage 47 years ago and was a star ol sorts in 1895. Anyone hearing such facts is likely to look atSant-1 skeptically and exclaim, "How well-preserved you Actually he's 50 P. Ban-boa are, grandpa!" having become an actor at 3), but he looks a vigorous 35. Some people figure he must be the son of the famous musical comedy team of Joe Santley and Ivy Sawyer, but he's Joe, Sr.

He reckons that if it came down to a tussle between him and the wolf, he could still dance. He hates dancing, and always has. "Once I lied to get a juvenile part that required it," he said. "I knew the boy they were replacing, and he taught me the easiest steps. I got by somehow, and first thing I knew I had a reputation as a dancer." The reputation wore so well, for nearly 20 years, that he actually replaced Fred Astaire in "Gay Divorcee" in 1933, first in New York and then on the road.

Santley still shudders when he recalls that "Night and Day" routine. Astaire and his understudy and a teacher labored with Santley for two weeks, and when he got out on the stage he couldn't remember a single step. "1 had to fake it," he recalled. "I guess it was okay for the customers who never had seen Freddie." Turned to Directing Even before that engagement, through, Santley would go puffing to his dressing room, look at himself in the mirror and say, "Joe, you better be getting out of this racket." So he began to direct pictures between stage jobs. He co-directed the Marx Brothers' "Cocoanuts" on Long Island, made a staggering number of those terrible early sound shorts with such people as Eddie Cantor and Rudy Vallee, and bossed one of the first Hollywood musicals "Swing High," with Helen Twelve-trees.

He came here to stay in 1934 and has been writing and directing ever since. Incidentally, he and Orouoho Alarx are old paU, they having appeared together as youngsters in a thriller-diller called "Wedded, But No Wife." Santley was already a veteran at that time. He had played everything from Little Willie in "East Lynne" to Cedric in "Little Lord Fauntleroy." With such dramatic immortals as De Wolf Hopper, Baby Deslys and Raymond Hitchcock, he was featured as "America's Greatest Boy Actor." In rep shows mostly with the Corse Peyton Company Joe jerked tears in old-time "From Rags to Riches" and "A Boy of the Streets" were favorite then, and he was the first person to play "Billy the Kid." It was a strenuous, precarious existence, but fun. "Those melodramas were an interesting moment in the life of the theatre," Santley said. "Movies were the death of them because of greater realism.

Pictures could actually show a train wreck, but ours had to be done with red re and papier-mache." Succeeds With Children Charles Dillingham brought Ivy Sawyer, singing and dancing actress, from England, and she and Santley were teamed in "Oh Boy!" They were married at season's end, which was 22 years ago. Joe, is 21. The annual clambake for members of the Shamokin Valley Country Club will be held at the club house near Mayfair on Wednesday, August 2, and is to be made one ot the outstanding events of the summer season. Al Buehler. expert in preparation of such bakes, has been engaged for the occasion and the menu will include everything from clams to fried chicken and all other accessories "Of the modern bake.

Peunies and Baby Balance, NORWALK, Conn. ftj.R) Edward Thompson's newborn son was worth his weight in pennies. Thompson paid the $45 hospital bill with 4.500 pennies, which weighed nine pounds. His son weighed nine pounds at birth. ONLY WEDNESDAY FEATURE -nr.

John Arledge and Mary Lou Lender play tlie two leading roles in Monogram's "County Fair" now being featured at the Majestic Theatre. A realistic story of rural America, this picture recounts the excitement and thrills of a county fair. J. Farrell MacDonald and Fuzzy Knight play in support of the two romantics. contract with the New York World Telegram had not been renewed, advertised for a job.

Selznick International Studios today offered him a position as a feature writer. Allan Le May, 40, prominent western fiction writer, and Arlene Hofl- TODAY TUESDAY DOUBLE (Mum -1 I household, this time, nowever, a faithful and outspoken old servant who has been with them tor years. And this time the girls have a mother, in the person of Fay Bainter the mother in "Yes, My Darling Daughter" a newcomer to the cast, and their mother nas a suitor, in the person of another newcomer to the cast, Donald Crisp. TREVORTON Corporal Chester Reitz, member of the State Motor Police unit stationed near Philadelphia, is vacationing with relatives and friends in Trevorton. Mr.

and Mrs. Earl O. Haas returned to their home alter spending a week's vacation with Mr. and Mrs. Roy Garman, at Reading.

Walter Swinehart, stationed at the Fort Slocum New Sfork Army camp for the past several weeks, sailed last Thursday aboard a United States steamer for Hawaii. Frank Smith is reported to be recuperating from a recent appendicitis operation at Shamokin State Hospital. John Murphy and John Smitn recently transacted business at Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs.

Lester Derk motored tar Danville on Saturday afternoon to visit relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vottero are spending several weeks touring Canada. While there they will visit the St.

Anne's Shrine. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Supplee and family recently returned to their home on Shamokin Street after spending a week's vacation STARTS with relatives and lriends at Columbia. Victoria Mystery Comedy 'Gracie Allen Murder Case' to Furnish Entertainment at Local Flayhouse The subtle art of tracking down a clever murderer as conceived in the fertile mind of the famous writer, the late S.

S. Van Dine, reaches new heights when Gracie Allen becomes an important motivating factor in the plot as she does in S. S. Van Dine's "The Gracie Allen Murder Case," the new picture which will be unreeled locally tomorrow at the Victoria Theatre. There has never been a cleverer Van Dine plot, but the new heights attained are those of comedy added to mystery comedy of the inimlta-table, hair-brained Gracie Allen variety.

Not that the film makers have never attempted before to combine the elements of comedy and mystery. It has been tried, but without the pixilated personality of Gracie Allen. Somehow her style is just the kind to combine with that of Philo Vance, and when Gracie starts hiding clues from the famous detective, or misplacing them, it nu.V.'S for screen entertainment that is the ultimate in hilarity and thrills. The talents of Gracie are just one of the excellent assets of the show, for a large cast of featured players holds forth with the comedienne. Warren William plays a suave, shrewd albeit handsome Philo Vance, lovely Ellen Drew is involved, too.

Then there's Kent Taylor, and Judith Barrett, young starlet on her way to the top. The story is not of the strictly macabre variety, although it does pack plenty of thrills. When Gracie Allen is taken to the picnic of his perfume company by her uncle, she is Introduced to Kent Taylor, nice young fellow who is in love with Ellen Drew, He and Ellen have quarelled because Ellen-. won't say TODAY (1 cool U-3 if alw-avj As Gracie and Kent are lunching beneath this very same bridge, a car passes over it going north. A small coupe follows in the same direction.

Then the first car passes south over the bridge, and a cigaret falls from it to Grade's dress, burning a hole in it. Kent picks up the cigaret and notes that it smells of bitter almond and "Kiss Me" perfume. Gracie decides to keep the cigaret. While Gracie and Kent are dining that evening at Cowan's night club, Gracie finds the dead body of the "Buzzard" in Cowan's office. She accuses Kent of the murder because his cigaret case is found near the body.

Ellen Drey is so upset when she hears of events that she calls in Philo Vance Warren Williamto solve the case. The picture was directed by Alfred E. Green. HOLLYWOOD, July 24 (U.R Brunet Katherine Curtiz, 24, daughter of Movie Director Michael Curtiz, was recovering today at her father's San Fernando Volley home from what was described by police as an attempt to commit suicide. She slashed her wrists with a razor blade in a hotel room because she was lonely and despondent, officers said.

A hotel employe heard her moan and notified police. Columnist Heywood Broun, who advertised in a New York newspaper for a job, was offered work in the movies today but not as an actor. The writer, announcing that his NEW MODERN MAJESTIC Mat 10c-20c Eve 10c-30o TODAY TOMORROW! DOUBLE FEATURES MURDER! Fox the secret that threatened nations. mlt.ttmt ml. ALSO with JOHN ARLEDGE MARY LOU LENDER J.

FARRELL MacDONALD FUZZY KNIGHT Plus SERIAL and NEWS GLASSWARE GIVEN AS USUAL 7 1 Br nonets ricnmts yy her husband-producer, Dr. Eugene Frenke, joined a class of more than two hundred in taking their final examinations before receiving their American citizenship papers. The plot of "Exile Express" deals with the troubles and romance oi a modern girl who becomes involved in a series of thrilling adventures in order that she may clear herself of the charge of complicity in a murder and earn her much coveted papers as a citizen. Alan Marshal is seen as her co-star in this interesting story, while the fine supporting cast includes such players as Jerome Cowan, Jed Prouty, Harry Davenport, Walter Catlett, Stanley Fields, Leonid Kinsky, Irving Pichel, Addison Richards, Byron Foulger and Etienne Girardot. "Exile Express" is at the Majestic Theatre now.

John Arledge, who plays the leading role in "County Fair' at the Majestic Theatre, studied to be an engineer but went out tor the college Little Theatre so strenuously that he almost failed in his studies. He failed to make college shows, too, because his southern accent was so strong that the people of Arizona, where he was studying, couldn't understand him. In "County Fair," now playing at the Majestic Theatre, his accent fits ideally into his characterization of the Kentucky jockey, and in almost every other screen role he has played, including such pictures as "Shipmates Forever," and "Huddle," the southern accent was his best selling point. Capitol Outstanding Film 'Daughters Now Showing at Capitol Theatre; Lane Sisters Featured "Daughters Courageous," the comedy of domestic lite which opened today at the Capitol Theatre, could be termed a first cousin to the same studio's highly successful "Four Daughters," but it is not a sequel to that picture. The similarity starts with the cast, for every important player in the former picture is also in the new one; then it had the same director, and besides it was written by a writing team one of whose members was also co-author of the screenplay which was last year's hit.

While the plot concerns different people than those in "Four Daughters," there is a basfc similarity in that the new picture is also about the joys, the sorrows, the laughs, the tears in the lives of a genuinely "folksy" family. There are the same four daughters in this family and again they are played by Pnscilla. Rosemary and Lola Lane and Gale Page. Their father again is Claude Rains, and their suitors again are John Garfield, Jeffrey -Lynn, Frank MoHugh and Dick Foran. May Robson again is a member of the RITZ THEATRE TREVORTON TODAY TOMORROW Corinne Luchaire In Trisor Without Ban' DANCE TONIGHT Wednesday and Saturday NEW DIAMOND CAFE 1256 Chemung Btrset Choice Liquors, Wines, Beers (John Krepshaw.

Prop.) Log Cabin Inn Present! THE THREE BOYS Every MON. WED. FRI. Lola, Rosemary and Pnscilla Lane and Gale Page, above, play the title roles in "Daughters Courageous," now showing at the Capitol Theatre. DRAMA MAY BE PRESENTED AT SUNBURYPARK L.

J. Chamberlain and Partner May Turn Pavilion Into Theatre The legitimate drama may return to this locality in the neai future if plans of L. J. Chamberlain, Shamokin theatrical man, and Perry L. Hoffman, of Allentown, formerly of Shamokin and who is associated mtfo Chamberlain in theatrical enterprises in Williams-port and Allentown, materialize at Island Park, near Sunbury.

The two theatrical men have op erated Island Park the past five years after purchasing it from a Sunbury bank. Under their management the park has become outstanding in this part of the state because of the fact there are no concessions and admission is free. The only charges made at the park are for use of the swimming pool and the pleasures of enjoying roller skating. The entire acreage has been beautified to make it a restful place for seekers of recreation. The pavilion, now used as a skating rink, is under lease to Zeigler Brothers.

The lease will expire late in the summer, and Chamberlain and Hoffman are now considering plans for transforming the pavilion into a theatre, for the presentation of both motion pictures and the legitimate drama. Summer presentations by stock companies of New York stage hits have been -sweeping many localities and playing to big business everywhere. Old barns, mills and other structures in outlying places have been converted into theatres, and many prominent stage personages have become interested in the restoration of the legitimate theatre and lend their services to aid in launching such performances. The nearest summer theatres to Shamokin and the region are at Deer Lake, near Orwigsburg, Schuykill County, and Rolling Green Park, near Sunbury, where New York stage stars offer new shows each week' and where they have ben playing to capacity business every night. Island Park is Incorporated by Chamberlain and Hoffman as Island Park, while their theatrical enterprises are incorparted as Amusements, Inc.

They have been eminently successful in their several enterprises in recent years, and in addition to his personal enterprises, Mr. Chamberlain serves as manager of the Victoria Amusement Enterprises. here. He is a pioneer of the tneatrical industry, and because of his knowledge of the entertainment requirements ol the public, believes a playhouse at Island Park, on the site of the present pavilion, would be welcome. Majestic Twin Bill Program 'Exile Express' and 'County Fair' Furnish Double Entertainment at Theatre Here One reason for Anna Sten's great enthusiasm for the role she plays in "Exile Express" was revealed by a coincidental event which occur red during the filming of the picture.

One of her principal ambitions in real lire ran strangely parallel to the fondest desire of the character she was playing in the film. For one full day during the early part of the production, Director Otis Garrett had to "shoot around" his star, and without the advice ol "FOUR DAUGHTERS" TIME They were together later in a long list of musicals, and as managers they sent dozens of vaudeville song-and-dance units on the road. She has appeared in a few pictures, but mostly stays home with their two younger children, a daughter 10 and a son 3. 0 Santley has written a lot of screen plays, but never quite has recovered from the 6hock of what happened to his particular pride, a story he called "The Case of the Tired Actor." "I really liked that title," he said wistfully. "The picture came out as 'Mad Holiday'." REGION DEMOCRATIC CLUB PLANS PICNIC AND Tim to laugh with a lump in your to thrill to tht genius of to enjoy with iN your heart tb sweitot picture of (be yr! Jauqnters The Schuylkill County Roosevelt Democratic Club is making plans for its sixth annual picnic a the fair grounds, three miles south of Pottsville.

The outing will be held on Sunday, July 30. Since its inauguration six years ago the annual outing of the Schuylkill Democrats has been extremely popular, and a record attendance is anticipated. Several prominent Democrats have been scheduled to address the gathering. PICNIC IS PLANNED BY MASONIC ORDER fourageous" SB" aim irrj lit IT It's new-ond-bettor picture wMi that eovldnl-be- Annual Potentate's picnic of Rajah Shrine, Reading, will be held Friday, July 25, at the Reading Fair Grounds, and the outing is expected to be the largest all-Shriner party of the year. A concert by Rajah Temple Band Onder leadership of Robert Mattern, id music by the drum corps and chanters, will be other features.

Sports contests, races, stunts and other entertainment will be features of the program. Records show that Oregon and Washington receive the largest average annual amount of precipitation la the United States. 5toO-. Pt 'ch STUART ERWIN- GLORIA STUART RAYMOND WAIIURN JUNE GA1E 00UGIAS F0WUY umtKl KOtl flay by A'ltn .4 and Low On an col by Hc- A 20th Ctntwry-Fox Pidwr DISHES TOMORROW AS USUAL his producer, while Anna Sten and.