Percy Hammond’s E Letter (Copyright, 1923.) I EW YORK, March 17. — The ways of the great actors arc gome times as incrutable as those of a man with a maid or a serpent upon a rock. Here is Henry Miller, renowned for his astuteness as a showman, electing to appear as Pasteur, the French physician, in a biography of that noble chemist, whose life, we gather, was largely scientific. Why, it can be asked, does Mr. Miller thus bestow himself on a role so absent from tlie routine glamours? Pasteur was respectable though a ruthless germicide, and his career contained few of the elements of a hero in the theater. Such dilemmas as perplexed his existence were not romantic. No women interfered with his investigations; and there is no woman in his play. His ardor in ■the pursuit of serums was dramatic, of course, but it was of the laboratory lather than the stage. He was not as interesting as his work. It was said on the opening night of the play at the Empire that most Broadway diama lovers believe Pasteur tb be a brand of milk bottle, not a human being. Few of them were aware of his achievements in fermentation and the antitoxins: and he was known vaguely as something or other that Henry Miller was going to play. You may recall that Louis Napoleon Parker, author of “Disraeli,” said that American thought Disraeli was a breakfast food until he came along with his drama and enlightened them. These are exaggerations, of course, but even so, Pasteur seemed lack ing in appeal to American show-goers. In France, as written by the younger Oultly and played by the elder, it was a different matter. Mr. Miller, desiring to impersonate a benefactor, might explicably hate been attracted by a drama called “Edison" or “Hoover” or “Ford" or "Orville Wright.” But he selected “Pasteur.” and thereby added another to the many mysteries of the theater. Some time, no doubt, a play entitled “Wil son” will be composed. It is interest ing. is it not. to speculate on which I Eugene O'Neill or Samuel Shipman of ihat period will re-creat its great (vents; and which fleorge Arliss or Henry Miller will endeavor to imper sonate its loading role. •Pasteur.” however, has one subtle idvantage. The compassionate healer who relieves human suffering is ever j an endearing figure. Stricken, as you ; may liave been with an ailment, you have found nothing sb heavenly as i he physician who feels your pulse. Kven though he be a surgeon, you confidently entrust to him your wel fare, sure that his amendments of your person will be improving. The doctor who has what used to he called a good bedside manner is an auspici ous spectacle, for the time being, and he is among your best beloved. It Is possible that Mr. Miller in choosing Guitry's play as his this season's im plement thought of that valuable qual ity. At any rate, he represents Pasteur as a sympathetic country doc tor. with whiskers and baggy pants; > ! ot as a nerve bacteriologist. And at ♦ he first performance his audience put its feverish little hand in his and trust ed him very much. Mr. Miller's reproduction of the scientist is therefore at least a thoughtful one. It inspires confi dence. The play is in detached epi sodes. after the fashion of "Abraham Lincoln.” and it is a testimonial to Pasteur rather than a play. It has, nevertheless, its theatrical incidents, One of these is the episode in which Pasteur, addressing the Academy of Medicine on the topic of smallpox, is heckled by his reactionary colleagues. These opponents are scattered throughout the audience, and they startle you by jumping up and shout- ; Ing "I object!” proceeding thereafter 1 to argue v.-ith the lecturer about mi crobes and vaccination. In my row •ill the opening night many experi enced theatergoers were seated— hauneey Oicott. F, trees Starr, Mar jorie Wood. Blanche Bates. Margola Wllmore, .Margaret St. *Johu. .Mrs. Ar nold Bennett. Ituth Cratterton. Alice Brady. George Creel. George Jean Nathan, .Inures Hamilton L wis. and others. Tet they were all just ns ( much astounded as I wa : when a dig | liifiod. quiet little fellow in our midst I began to n.utter and curse under his ! breath and to shake his fists at Pasteur uporv the stag*. That, at least, was one of the thrills of the per- , forniar.ee. Another was in the episode •where a small boy came to tlie labora tory, his baii'ls anil legs law-rated by e mad dog He was to be Pasteur's first human adventure in the preven tion of rabies. Mr. Miller was very I * jHdrriseif ' f "Salotny .Tan#* ' from Paul Armstrong’s play ban* <1 op Bret Hart'll story. This will be fieorg#1 M(T ford'ci next Paramount production, fol lowing "You Can’t Fool Your Wife. ' now In production at the company's i l.ong If land studio. "Halomy Jane" will be produced on the west coast. MATINEE DAILY, 2:15. EVERY NIGHT, 5:15 WEEK STARTING TODAY The Distinguished Dramatic and Moving Picture Star JOHN DAVIDSON AND COMPANY OF 12 AMERICAN ACTORS In the Brilliant and Abaorhing Drama “CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE” The Miaaea j BEATRICE GARDEL & RUTH PRYOR in "Dancee of Here and There/' Aaaiated hy Miss Mnrcell White BERT F1TZGIBBON The Orifinel Daffy Dil and Hie Brother Lew Percy— BROtySON & wi»»i«—BALDWIN Present Themselves in . *‘A HAPPY MEDIUM" MADELON A PAULA M1LLEK Youth and Varaatillity FLYING HENRYS Sinuliond AcrUiiiU GEORGE WHITING & SADIE BURT In "SEVERAL aPpOS Asaop’s Fabian Topic* of tha Day Path* Naw* Weakly COMING NEXT WEEK Tha Sensational Parisian Dancers Mila. Gar mains— MITTY & TILLIO -«■ MATINEES j IS to 80c I Pin I | U S. T»« I NIGHTS 18c t4 $1.00 What the Theaters Offer A NOVEL and unusual attraction will be presented at the World theater this week as Us head line feature in Richard Havemnan's •■King nf th' Konst and Insert" consisting of 10 lion«. tigeis and leopards. Haveman, internationally known as a trainer of wild animals, has a vaudeville act that is crowded with thrills and sensations. Vnder the caption of ‘‘Miss No body," a/ musical sketch is offeree! by Ethel MrElroy and the Gotham City Four. Miss McElroy is a clever danc er while the quartet introduces a series of harmony song numbers. Joe Weston and Grace Kline offer comedy imitations of members of the upper . nd underworld with tnvezy < hatter and song numbers. Two Jovial feminine lestetV are Jewell and Rita in a diversified program of comedy talk interspersed with song "Mak ing it Snappy,” is the title of the r.ew offering to lie presented by Pei: man and Lillian. At the organ Ar thur Hays will again introduce on» of his original comedy novelty nuru bers, this time the tunes being of Irish swing, He will play two melodies nt nm- time includlrig"8tand t'p and Sing" and "Annie Rooney." The feature picture is r rib tickling comedy drama • f newspaper life called "A Front Page Story." It serves to present a capable cast of screen favorites including Edith Roberts, Edward Horton ami Buddy .Messen ger, last *"en as tlie mischievous boy in “The Flirt." A' the Oriiheutn this week a court room drama. "Circumstantial Evi dence,” is to be presented entirely by men, with John Davidsdn heading the company of 12 American actors Comedy and pathos are aliout equal ly | : - • ,| in the play. Mr. David »i. .-.pi nd in Omaha wlih Doris Keane in “Am'ne Lupin.” One of his memorable engagements "as with Kthe! Barrymore in “Lady Frederick.” The bill is to have ttyrce featured a is: George Whiting and Sadie Burt in “Several Songs.” Bert | FJtzgibbons. “the original daffy dil;“ and Percey Bronson and Winnie Baldwin in “A Happy Medium.” Whiting and Burt are known as two of th* most effective entertainers and singers of songs on the vaudeville stage. Among comedian* « f the “nut” type, Fitzgibbons i* in a class by himself. His eccentric ftin mak ing will be assisted by his brother. Lew. “A Happy Medium, to Ik* pre sented by Bronson and Baldwin, is s combination of songs and clever talk. A pleasing act. 'Dance* Here and There.” is to be presented by Misses Beatrice Garde!! and Ruth Pryor. They will be assisted by Marcell White. Madelon and Paula Miller sing, dance and play tlm* violin. Kxceptionnl feats on the trapese and flying rings will be performed by the Flying Henry*. On< ♦* again the cartoon comic, Aesop's Fable* will Ik* shown on the screen. Other film features will he Topic* of the Day and the Path© New* Weekly. Tin- first of a series of musical comedies v. ill lie presented at the Empress starting today. The Naughty* Naughty Mu»I>'hI« 'omedy company w ill be the first of its kind to play in Omaha at popular prices. They ^ ill lie seen in two bills this week, the first one lining ‘ Four Jolly Bache lor*" which will run from today un til Wednesday and on Thursday the company will offer nil entirely new show entitled “Oh! Baby.” Among the principals are Fays Hammond. Hay Parsons, late of Al. H. Field's minstrels. Howard Harlow. Billy Karle. William Basseoppl, Hoy liar ris, Arline Walker and Kate Par , sons and a real singing and dancing : chorus of 12. Prof Ji -- Sutton pianist of Sutton's All S'CI Empress Urdus'i a, will surprise Empress patrons during this week by pitying a novelty piano \ OLOMM dOHHSOHJ Today’s Mat. at 3:00, Any Main Floor Seat, 50c reserved THE NORTHLAND TRIO CONCERT Scheduled for Thursday Night Will Take Placa at the Omaha Auditorium, Sunday March 18,3:30 p. m. Tickets are $1.00, $1.50, $2.00, plua tax. Now on sale at Auditorium. The Tuesday Musical Club Presents FRITZ KREISLER VIOLINIST , Auditorium, March 23, 8:15 P. M. Tickets $1.00 to $2.50 (no war tax) Public Sale Monday, March 19th Box Office Open Daily From 9 A. M. to 5 P. M ___ Down Go Prices for Front Seats at New York Theaters By SIMM SILVERMAN. Written Exrluslirty tor l nLcrsal Service. NOW' YORK. March 17.*—A sharp and permanent drop in theater admissions fot the new season in the fall may he safely predicted. It will affect the theater of the drama and the musical comedy. One New York producer of extensivc^lntorests has admitted privately his intention of observing the warnings of this sea son. The public has balked at un attractive plays at unreasonable prices. The same producer Is sub solo entitled "Pyrumyths" rnnifsiscd by himself and which has become an instant success. According to Jack Mills, his New- York publisher, the demand for "Pyramyths" cannot be supplied. The first edition was soon exhausted and another is to lie off the press in a short time. Mr. Sut ton has other compositions to his credit, his latest one which he -has called "Klti Klux Blues" is lo br' published by an Omaha firm. Jean Bedinl, master mind of the burlesque world, and Ills latest ef fusion, “Chuckles of d 323." is the cur tent attraction at Old Man Johnson’s On yet v. “Chuckles" is the identical production that staWled Londoners into shouts and cheers of approval ill last summer at the Oxford theater. London. Heading the cast are Cliff Bragdon and "Coo Coo" Morrisey. two boys whom Mr. Uedini has unearthed, and who are revelations in the world of comedy. Billy Wells and the Eclair twins, latp features of the Coliseum, London, and Alhambra. Taris, are Australians who perform a neck breaking dance routine. The Sterling Sax Four, with Emmett Raker, are internationally knowtr musicians, while tile London Oxford girls, all English, dance with grace and aban don Chuckles Jazz band furnishes syncopation in goodly numbers. Elaine P.easley, the personality girl, the ingenue prima donnV anil Mali Howarth. the Australian nightingale, head the female contingent. Not the least of tho numerous novelties is Leo, a real Nubian lion, who creates laughter and applause in his own way. Bediiii has personally sr-ln ted the cast and staged this attraction, which means much to the show-wise Oayei v patron. Today s matinee starts at 3. * Premier da pee wonders of France. Mile. Germaine Mitty and Eugene TilSo come to the Orpheum next week as the stellar attraction. They are to presert a combination of the rlassb dramatic and aerobatic phases of the terpslchorean art. It is said of Mile Mitty tliat her dances express a freedom of thought, a daring, brilliancy and a frankness of motive which has m ’ been dupli cated by any other artist. As for her partner. Eugene Tillio danced for 19 years in the ballet of the great Paris opera house. For several seasons he was the premier dancer there. m Once again preparations aie on foot f r the benefit arranged annually for the National Vaudeville Art.sis This year, in all variety theaters of tlie United States and Canada, the benefit will be held during the week beginning April 1. At the Opheum in Omaha there w.il be a program of added events l>csidfs the regular bill. Every effort w ill Is’ made to achieve the most successful N V. A. week that this theater has ever at tained. Money derived from the bene fit goes Into the general fund to pro vide vaudeville artists w.tli free life Insurance policies, with care in times of illness and to safeguard their wel fare. mltting visual evidence of his belief through presently opening in Chicago a new comedy at the maximum charg< of $2. lie says that is to be the box office figure of the future us it was , in prewar day s. The exception may i be the extraordinarily costly show 'at $2.50. Tendency toward a lowered scale is again indicated by metropolitan producers at popular price attrac tions. They are seeking to form ro tary circuit* of a vnriegpted assort ment of plays to travel at a scale of SI. The movement is predicated upon the established and simple basis that theatergoers will not pay pr? vailing admission charges. Particu larly in the hinterland have they proved It. Their show tastes have turned to local stock companies or community players, the latter often referred to as the little theater. Vau deville and picture houses also hav largely benefited. The neglect If not indifference of the New York booking offices to “the road" with the consequent bar renness of touring desirable plays at reasonable figures have fostered stock companies. The public at large, by its absence from the theater, has re sented the caliber of play presented i and its scale, until the lesson has J been fir inly driv en home to the show - i man. Jt is that the countryside de mands good shows at a proper charge Without both it easily sidesteps Un commercial theater. The government Is reported to have , promptly annexed $266,000 of the ’ $500,000 Jackie Coogan actually did receive from a moving picture eorpor- | . ation. It happened when an income tax return Was made nut far the boy of th< films and the half million en tered as part of ids earnings for 1022. The money was paid over to Jackie's j father in lte- ■ ntber as an advance : payment to cover four pictures the toy is to make during 1023. It would not have been earned until those pictures were completed New- York's Broadway is to have the world's largest dance- hall, at Fifty - | third sttect. Looked upon as another menace to theater patronage, the | dance palace has thrived and made Inroads In other cities with New York, comparatively. 4* ft alone by it. The dance palaces usually deplete balcony i and gallery attendance m the show ! hnuses. A new building will go up on the Broadway site and the dance floor space, capable of accommodating over 5,000 people, is tVnder lease at $75,000 annually. -K Salaries of the movie dire tors and i actors in the flint colony of Los An- I gclos and Hollywood have swiftly in j cleaned of late, due to renewed acliti ty* in picluro making. Capable di rectors are mostly in demand, though all ahl^ players are under engage rnent. Lately out there a director left one concern paying him $1.00# weekly for directing, to accept a similar opei tion with a competing producer at *33,000 a picture and 35 per rent of the net profits each picture makes. His contract provides he shall not di 1 rect less than four pictures yearly j during his agreement The revival of "Che Merry Widow"’ in London provokes tremendous en thusiasm nightly. Walter Hampden, the player of Khakespcarean roles, may have hi? own theater on Broadway next sea son. It will be the National, which housed the long run of "The Cat and I the Canary. ’ Early this week it j seemed most likely Mr. Hampden would secure the house on one year’s lease at $100,000 rental. If the deal i« consummated it will be New York's only Shakespearean repetulre house. FEATURE PICTURE AT MUSICAL COMEDY CO. 12. 2:30, 5. 7:30 and 10 p m_1 40, 4. 6 40 «nd 9 p m 12 TO II —CONTINUOUS SHOWS IN ROTATION 12 TO 11 I Phone JA. 1416 Four Days—Starting Today Phone JA 1416 WILFRID LEDOUX PRESENTS Bowker’s Naughty-Naughty Co. 25»People—25 IN THEIR MUSICAL COMEDY, “Four Jolly Bachelors” The biggest organisation in the U. S. A. playing at popular prices. A full carload of scenery and effects. One of the most charming entertainments imaginable. A flashy, hand some, witty and enjoyable affair. A delightful treat for young and old. AND ABOVE ALL, ABSOLUTELY CLEAN _ ■ ■■■■' * * - ■ I a BIG CIRCUS OF FUN—WITH PRETTY GIRLS FEATURE PHOTOPLAY. “What Fools Men Are” From the play. "The Flapper,” with FAIRE BINNEY AND AN ALL-STAR CAST The dramatic consequences of a young girl's folly in flirting with her sister's husband. NO RAISE IN PRICES gjgjfgrgag. 10c lo 50c 10c to 30c ENTIRE CHANGE OF BILL THURSDAY Empress to Have Musical c-omeay _AlongWith Its Other Features •'It is plain to see that the people of Omaha are more or less saturated | with the ready made shows offered by the downtow n theaters," says Man ager Ledoux of the Empress. "All the recognized downtown straight picture theaters are present- i mg programs of the same routine, namely, a feature picture, a comedy, a weekly or educational, therefore. It is evident that such stereotype sort of bill* have lost, by this time, their 1 novel effect with many ehowgoci f i It is to meet a demand for some* tiling new that .Mr. I/cdoux, manager Of the liiupn ‘■■s theater, is changing ins policy of vaudeville and pictures to t!i;,L of niuncal comedy with vau deville features and pictures. Musical comedy presented with vaudeville features and the usual high grade feature picture, will lie a much more interesting and diversified show and rliould prove a real novelty for the people of Omaha at this tim* They Just Talk Hut They Act the Heart Heating Taster When is a song not a song? When it is talked by Whiting and Burt. Tatrons of thfe Orpheum circuit re- i member Whiting and Hurt and their "Song-Sayings.'' This team does not sing songs; they do not pretend to sing them. They do not shout them, j They have an entirely new series ; of song sayings, which has been Writ ten by Mr. 'Whiting, himself, who « one of the- very fe-,v good writers of popular songs who is equally success ful In interpreting them. And Sadie Burt! She ranks with the very few who can walk upon the stage in the most demure manner and by force of she*, personality cap ture the hearts of the patrons before ; he utters a word. Whiting and Burt are true vaudevillians and have re mained steadfast to the two-a-day nearly all the time they have b> e n partners, their only laps*-* being^ when they were featured in b:g musi cal shows. They like vaudeville at i vaudeville lik*s them. 1 VAUDEVILLE—PHOTOPLAYS f Show. Today—2:00, 4:20, 6:45, 9:10 Other Day* at 3:20, 6:45, 9:10 Continuou* Daily From 1 P. M. Night* and Sunday Matinee*, 10c, ES, 10c, 30 c Now Playing The Ultimate in Vaudeville Sensation and Thrills RICHARD HAVEMAN Presents His “Kings of the Forest and Desert” Consisting of LIONS, TIGERS and LEOPARDS In a huge steel arena a half score of these ferocious animals present unusual vaudeville entertainment JOE WESTON & GRACE ELINE The Upper and Underworld Musical Comedy Stars . JEWEL & RITA Jovial Jesting Comediennes PENMAN & LILLIAN in “Making It Snappy" ARTHUR HAYS An Organ Novelty of Tunes from “Old Erin” A Novel Musical Oddity “Miss Nobody” With Ethel McElroy and the Gotham City Four The feature ph otoplay is bubbling over with laughter “A Front Page Story” With Edith Roberts. Edw. Horton and Buddy Messenger Saturday—McFARLARD SISTERS Famous American Singing Stars | COMING SOON Canadian Northwest VETERANS BAND 27 Musicians 27