Evening Despatch from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 14

Birmingham Hippodrome THAT luxuriously lovely show, Folies which was such a success at the London Casino and at the Birmingham Hippodrome, returns again. Andre Randall, the Anglo-French comedy star, is the compere of a cast of 70, which includes Sherkot, the international funster: Choppy, who has new ideas in studio painting; the Seven Hindustans, the Royal Command tumblers; and the 36 International Beauties. Aston Hippodrome the show that delighted Prince of Wales Theatre audiences for 496 days, comes to the newly-opened Aston Hippodrome. There are many spectacular scenes, lovely dresses, and a beautiful chorus, of course. George Doonan, a comedian already known to Aston, heads the cast.

Dudley Hippodrome By way of a change we get revue this week, aptly titled All the Sid Field is the laughter-maker-inchief. and lion-tamer Tommy Kayes, who bears the scars of many encounters with these animals, provides the thrills. find beauty, too, because another performer is the Blonde of vaudeville, soubrette Evelyn Taylor. Coventry Hippodrome The New Hippodrome closes the old year, appropriately enough, with a bill of old favourites. a full bill when it includes Macann and his Dutch Accordion Serenaders; Jack Lawton at the Electical Organ; Turner Layton with a song, a piano, and many new numbers; Ronald Frankau; Clapham and Dwyer; Boy Foy and his arc-wheel cycle; ventriloquist Johnson Clark; Renee Roberts: Trevor and Grayling, dancers; and, of course, those blonde beauties, The Zio Angels.

West Bromwich Magic Nights at the Theatre Royal this week, with the Great Carmo and Saxsar. the famous stunt artist heading the bill. Saxsar claims to be the strongest man in the world, and offers £lOO to anyone who can dispute it. Repertory The second edition of a revue that made a first-time hit goes into its third week. Backward and Forward and the Repertory Company will provide you with plenty of fun in this home-devised show.

Paramount Lovers of rich swashbuckling and 17th Century royal intrigue will thoroughly enjoy The Man in the Iron who endures his misfortunes here next week. Directed by Dudley-born James Whale, this film makes great drama out of the exciting theme of royal twins and the consequent court machinations after the politicians ranged themselves on different sides. Despite the difficulties of the iron mask, the cold horror of the Bastille and other demonstrations of the affection of his brother, Louis Hayward, who plays both roles magnificently, is duly rescued with sword-play and the bucketybuckety of the cavalry by the Three Musketeers. Gaiimont When conjurors, mediums, card manipulators, demonologers. and mind readers become involved together in a murder mystery the verv ntture of their professions makes it hard on the detective.

In the case of Miracles for however, it comes easier to Robert Young because he, too, is a master magician. With considerable help from pretty Florence Rice, he delves into a maze of hatreds and jealousies, encounters tricks by the score and, of course, emerges with the murderer. Forum Rivalry between brothers on the car race-track forms the theme of Devil on which will be seen here. There are two devils, really, one Pat O'Brien and the other handsome John Payne. The former tries unsuccessfully to dissuade John from racing, and then rows with him over his infatuation with Ann Sheridan, the muchboosted oomph girl.

cracks up after an accident which kills his mechanic and friend, Frank McHugh, and loses touch with his girl friend. Gale Page. But an emergency arises in which the feud is settled in a friendly manner in a thrilling race. In Code of the Secret Service Ronald Reagan has a tough and dangerous assignment in the enmeshing of a gang of counterfeiters working across the Mexican border. West End Rose of Washington Square take us back a few to the Naughty Nineties period of Broadway.

Tyrone Power is the wastrel lover of singer Alice Faye and A 1 Jolson makes a screen reappearance as friend of the And, of course, he sings a mammy song in between giving advice. Walter i District Attorney, goes to gaol in the supporting feature, framed by the gangsters he tried to ensnare. In prison he meets his Enemies" which give the film its name. Futurist Victor McLaglen was an ideal choice for in which he plays a former heavy-weight who is forced to become a commissionaire looked down on by his college educated son. So Victor takes to training Tom Brown.

When the son gets into a jam with money after marrying a society girl it is Mr. McLaglen who throw's his weight, money and brains into the battle to extricate him. It all depends on Tom fight. Does he win, do you think? In Love or June Lang receives a mysterious through post and spends it on clothes and so on. But it's gangster money, and several people want it back, including Robert Kent, who lost it gambling in the first place.

This is produced as a comedy more than as a thriller, Scala Goodbye, Mr. Chips! has a further week in the city, and this is well deserved, for few films have possessed so much soul as this tale of an English college and the progress of a master from shy newcomer to experienced old hand living on memories. Few. too, have given such a magnificent display of acting as that of Robert Donat in five stages of the career. Greer Garson, former Birmingham Repertory actress, is also fine.

The spirit of England lives in this saga of schoolboys. miss it. Variety of a high class will be at the news theatres. The Tatler will be showing a subject, a feature on roadways, cartoons and, of course, a full newsreel. News Theatre, Tatler The News Theatre has The Story of Alfred a fine biography, shorts on the weather on travel, and on Wednesday Chapter 13 of the serial, Oregon ICoiiikl the siihurhsi Avion, Trade iA).

Norllifield. Piednc March. Barbara Stanwych. Night" (A), Myrna Newtown Palace. Loy (A), George Murphy.

'Union (A), Joel Oak. of F.P-I. Conrad Mcciea. Veidt. Undercover (A).

odeon. The Lion Has Lloyd Nolan. Merle Oberon. The Magnificent (A), George (Ui. nooert Kent.

Sanders Let's be Famous Sonnie The Hardys Ride (U), Mickev Rooney. of the (A), Pat odeon. orien. Tarkie Coo Der ei at Luck odeon. I Killed the iviyrna LA)y Svd Walker Davis tUI Darlc ictory (A), Bette odeon.

Elephants Never For- and the Mob Plaza. West 51 Bromw The Flying The Modern (U). Don Ameche. IT I tot kland The Lambeth Uirrhlielci (U), Lupino L.dne. Lugosi (A), Bela Prlnecs-lanc, Deacon, Smethwick.

Killed the a Count (A). Svd. Walker. 1 ace, The Ladies From Coronet. for Each (A), Kentucky (Ui, George Raft.

Carole Lombard Palace. Uesl Bromwich. The Modern Clifton, Stone of the acl Don Ameche. (U). James Dunn.

Pavilion. Yesterdays Crown. (U), Barbara (D), Mickey Rooney. Stanwyck. Palace, The Sign of the Stagecoach" (U).

John Wayne. (A). Fredric March. Clirton. Perry Flying Fifty-five The Missing People (A) (U), Derrick de Marney.

Will Fyffe. Carlton. (U), Barbara Pavilion, Wyldc On Trial (A) Stanwyck. John Litel. The Saint Strikes Back Queen.

West Bromwich. (A), George Sanders. (At, Walter Pidgeon. Daitilo. Longbridge: "The Hardys Ride Dr.

Jekyjl and Mr. (H) Hign (U) Mickey Rooney. Fredric March. Danilo, Quinton: "On (A) John Robin Hood: "Calling Doctor Litel. Lew Ayres.

Dellcia: (A) Ritz: (A), Myrna Loy. Richard Dix. Rnbery: Side of (U), Era: Risky Business (A) George Bing Crosby. Murphy. Rialto: "I Met a (A), James Empire, Smethwick: Man in Mason.

(A) Barry K. Bames. Rink: Modern Miracle" (U), of the (U), Loretta Young. Larry Crabbe. Rock; Ain't No (A), Empress, Sutton: "Tarnished Angel" Jimmy Hanlev.

(Ai Sally Filers. Royalty; "King of the Jungle (U), Elite; Silent (A) Rex Buster Crabbe. Harrison. Bosum: Face at the Window (A) Globe: (A) Ray Tod Slaughter. Milland.

Sheldon: "The Flag Lieutenant (A) Grove: "The Magnificent (U) Henry Edwards. Irene Dunne. Springfield: Yes. My Darling Daughter Grand; of the (A) Priscilla Lane Humphrey Bogart. Star: Enemies (A), Jack Grange: Door to (A) Holt Wallace Ford st.

Georges, West Bromwich. Sing (U). James Baby in Alice Faye. Cagney. Orphans of the Ring (A).

Pat The from George Raft. Calling Dr. Kildare (A), Lew Imperial, West Man Ayres. In (A). Barry K.

Barnes. Persons in Hiding (A), There No Patricia Morison. Jimmy Hanley. Planes (U), Ralph Kingsway. Risky Business (A), Richardson.

George Murphy Tower. West Dr. Jekyll and Three Smart Girls Grown Mr (HU, Fredric March. (U) Deanna Durbin. The Mystery of the White Wife.

Husband and (A). Bruce Cabot. (A), Warner Baxter. Villa Cross. or Ballots (A), The (A), George Edward G.

Robinson. Sanders Windsor, Smethwick. Man in (U). Sabu. Paris" (A).

Barry K. Barnes Odeon. Bulldog Drummond Heritage (U), Jackie (A). John Howard. Cooper.

Majestic, Smethwick. Jury Winson Brewing (U). Secrets (A), John Howard. George Formby. Music Hall tU), You Get Away With Billy Cotton and his Band.

Murder (A). Humphrey Bogart. Society EVENING DESPATCH, FRIDAY, 15 DECEMBER, 1939. BIRMINGHAM TEACHERS TO DON SANTAS BEARD How Evacuees Will Spend Christmas In The Safely Zones ARGE numbers of evacuated schoolchildren are expected to return to their Birmingham homes for Christmas; those who remain in the safety areas, however, will be well catered for, special arrangements to give them a good time having been made by teachers and local residents. The following reports from the heads of representative schools show what has been, or is being, done on behalf of evacuated Birmingham children.

weight must be something said the headmistress. And then there are the 60 tiny evacuees at Bromsgrove from St. Schools Junior Section. They are looking forward to the wonderful Christmas party they are the marvellous tree that will be ladened by friends in Birmingham and Bromsgrove. The proceeds of a retiring service at Bromgrove Church is helping funds for this treat.

Almost all the hundreds of boys from the various King Edward Grammar Schools, evacuated to different parts of the country, are coming back to Birmingham for Christmas. These schools spent much time and thought on their evacuation schemes, and they have all been very successful. Parents played their part well, but apparently they now see no reason why their sons should not rejoin them for the holiday. Help for Parents The same school has started home teaching groups in Birmingham. The 260 children are divided into small groups (steadily growing larger), and are taught in safe places.

They are still carrying out the old tradition of St. Thomas' Something for The girls are busy making blankets for the Army from odd pieces of wool. The piles grow so large that even these busy little folk begin to eye them askance. The headmaster of Five Ways Grammar School (evacuated to Monmouth) has assured parents that the staff will do its very best to arrange treats for boys who remain over Christmas. He has sent to every parent a detailed list of hotels and boarding- The elder girls are busy knitting cuffs on four needles; they are very proud when they can do this.

As one girl said; helping the Army, the Navy and the Air And the boys, determined not to be outdone, are busy making stationery cases for the Services. WHERE HITLER AND HIS NAZIS WILL BE LOST -IN GAIETY Monday Interior view of the new Gaiety Theatre, to be opened next Arthur Askey and Emile Littler, the producer, going over the script of the pantomime Jack and which, it is announced, will be broadcast fronj the Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham, on 3 January, from 7.20 to 8.0 p.m. houses in the town, smoothing away many difficulties with which parents would otherwise have been faced. The headmaster has also issued a list of towns and places of interest in the beautiful Wye Valley, so that parents who want to be with their boys can take them to these safe places rather than let them enter a danger zone again. He also asked parents who do bring boys back to have them medically and dentally examined.

Have Turkey The headmaster of King Edward High School said: Just now the boys are far 100 busy with their ordinary school routine, including the end of the term examinations, to bother about holiday parties and treats. But we are hoping we shall be allowed the use of the British Legion Hall during the He has ordered a turkey the remaining Christmas dinner, and some of his staff are staying to look after the hoys, so they are going to have a good tinie, even though they are far from home. Another Birmingham School, the George Dixon Grammar School for Boys (in Gloucester) will only have a few pupils remaining with them over Christmas, but the smallness of the number has not deterred local people from planning many Christmas treats. Both the headmaster and the headmistress of George Dixon Secondary School for Girls (also in Gloucester) pay tribute to the generosity and kindness of the townsfolk. The headmaster said: boys are bringing home their own message but I should like it known that in spite of the long term and the unavoidable difficulties that have been met and overcome, the school is in good spirits, and we are all grateful to the people of Gloucester for their great kindness to us during these four Foster-Schools Help If that were the only bouquet to be handed to Gloucester people they might feel justly proud of their part in this great national scheme of evacuation they would have won the respect and admiration of many who realise the difficulties they have overcome and the trouble to which they have gone to make their visitors happy.

But there is more praise for them. Very few of the George Dixon girls are staying in Gloucester for Christmas yet if they had all stayed their new friends were prepared to devote much time and energy to entertain them. As it is, the girls of Ribston Hall School, with whom the Birmingham girls are sharing, are not to be robbed of the chance of entertaining their guests. They have arranged festivities, and are certainly doing their bit to uphold traditional hospitality. There is no doubt we have all been remarkably well while we have been here, and the total increase in Not Forgotten People who have accommodated the groups are not forgotten, and many hours are being spent in preparing surprise gifts.

The children are also trying to raise enough money to send at least 500 cigarettes to the troops by the sale of what they call illuminated The same large parties are being held in the school, and judging from the number of gay caps and sweetbags being made they are going to be as big a success as ever. The twopences and offers of cakes from mothers are just as many as in their happier days of peace. Someone is giving the children a Christmas tree and a cinema show has been promised. These people are doing a great work for the poorer children. They are keeping their minds and fingers busy, keeping Christmas a sacred time of joy and happiness, even though troubles loom over the world.

Town Hall Party Then there are the 180 children billeted in far-away Abergavenny. They come from infant and junior departments of the Cowper-street and Smith-street Schools. They are staying in their adopted town and are going to have a wonderful time During the holiday the reception hut will be open each day for games, songs and other amusements; on fine days walks are the order of the day. The staff is on duty all the time, and are doing everything possible to relieve the kindly foster-parents. The school is trying to collect enough funds among their Birmingham friends to provide a treat for the evacuees and their foster-brothers and sisters.

The kindness is not all one-sided, for recently the pupils of Abergavenny elementary schools, helped by the Birmingham children, gave a concert in their town hall get enough money to give the evacuees a wonderful Christmas party in the same building. Lord Mayor Promise The Lord Mayor of Birmingham has promised to attend, and they are hoping that the Mayor of Abergavenny, who is also the evacuation officer and has done much for the children (he has directed all the arrangements for the party) will have the big cheer that he deserves. The headmaster of the Cowper-st. Schools says; To the parents and all our friends we would say; the Birmingham children in Abergavenny are going to have a wonderful Christmas. They send loving greetings to their homes, and hope to be back next And, God willing, they shall be.

ZOE VARNY What Worcester is Doing The work of arranging for the superintendence of the children and the programmes in various parts of Worcester is being done by Mr. E. C. Cox, the secretary of the Birmingham Sub-Association of the N.U.T., who is, with others, teaching in that city. no lack of willingness to help.

Many of the receptionists, or hosts of the evacuees, are eager to entertain the children in their own homes, and there are organisations and schools ready to help or share their own Christmas treats with evacuees. The difficulty is not to secure help but how to co-ordinate it and use the gifts and service to the best advantage in the period available. But this is being done. Avoiding Black-Out Shopping Arising from representations made by the of Post Office Workers, the Postmaster General has given instructions that, where it can be arranged. Post Office workers employed on daytime duties who would, therefore, be prevented from doing their Christmas shopping before the blackout shall be permitted to take time off to enable them to make their Christmas purchases in the daylight hours.

WHEN THEY OPEN THIS CINEMA IT WILL REVIVE MUSIC-HALL MEMORIES BIRMINGHAM'S Gaiety Theatre, once Holder's Concert Hall, perhaps the last of the Birmingham Music Halls to have a chairman, after the good old style, is to re-open on Monday next the heroes and heroines of the films will now flicker on a screen near where the favour tes of the Gay Nineties once trod the boards. That was in the days of Concert Hall. Since then the Gaiety had been a cinema up till the time when a mysterious explosion wrecked the operation box three years ago. Years of life as a cinema, however, could not free the Gaiety from the hauntings of such stars as Vesta Tilley, Bessie Bonehill, Little Tich, and Arthur Lloyd, who made the hall famous, together with the rotund oldtime chairman, Harry Henrick. The Gaiety, as it was later known, was a stage for Charlie Chaplin (in his early days, before he became a cinema star), and such of the halls as George Lashwood and Eugene Stratton.

Florrie Forde, The Great G. H. Elliott, were others who might have been seen for tuppence in the gallery of the old hall. Now oldest musichall is a cinema again. With seating capacity for 1,500, it will open on Monday with perhaps more comfortable seats, perhaps more excitement, thrills, for the money; but there will be a few in Birmingham who will lament the passing of the old Gaiety, with its stars, KENILWOR PAGEANT PR 1 WAS final report of tive committee worth Castle Pageant reveals that the tot amounted to £1.850.

This has been follows: Leamington £jBi Girls' Endowment Fund- and of the balance one-ty Waifs and Strays Soc 3s. two-thirds to the General Hospital, 6s. Bd. jeC 1 The Committee places jfi high opinion of the service by Mr. Anthony Parker, th Miss L.

Edith Thomas, Dr. Allen K. Blackall, composer; and Mr. S. Jconductor, and to the ii people who took ar Pageant.

In spite of very conditions, a splendid PJ iuif fulness was shown at all say. Every Department a Success jjKj Every department making a profit was succe number of reserved seats 0 17,120 and 3,063 were sold. In addition, taken at the two dress attended by over 2,500 I school children. On the expenditure stand cost £1,200, the Ijj lighting apparatus costumes £24 13s. and wigs £l4 17s.

6d. Mr. Parker was paid lie 11 signing of his agreement id penses, and he then hecdd to 5 per cent, on certain with a minimum of £250. total of £350. The (£362) included the honorarium of £5O and fee of £6O.

The was paid £142 15s. osd. £1,175 from Appeals pUJ The income included items: General Appeal, of Appeal- Willoughby de APO 'j box office, sale Ij, programmes, words, £176; and 8.8. C. Mementoes of the work seV i the Pageant have been PSe ff Mr.

Edward Hicks, the and his co-secretary, Labrum; Mr. George Gl man of the Executive George Purcell, Vra Ticket Committee and vI of the Finance and tees; Mr. A. E. surer and secretary of p.

Committee; Mr. Daniel director of publicity: Maclntyre, master of her 3 J. Hartley, master pf horS Hicks, hon. secretary Efforts Committee, and Lee, chairman of Works and others. JR I I A FUi fNU I Nobody ever stopped a cold by following 3 see policy.

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