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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1923)
--- New York Theaters B.v PERCY HAMMOND. BNew York, Oct. 27. ET us by kind to Mr. Ziegfeld this week and talk as little as possible about the new Follies as “publicly rehearsed” the other night at $22 eacli for orchestra chairs. In his enthusiasm over tills his fare well revue. Mr. Ziegfeld had collect ed enough material for three shows, some of it very good. A trustful fel low, it was his plan to depend upon the first nighlers to tell him what was worthy and what was not. Since the play continued from to 2:15, ihtgse judges were confronted by sev eral difficulties. The/many virtues of the entertainment were at times obscured by its many faults. Therefore it Is only fair to Mr. Ziegfeld to defer a report of tlie final follies until it has been made more presentable. Within a fortnight ho will have separated the dross from t lie gold and the national institution will be itself again It is a news man's duty, however, to revord that Hr. Ziegleld'a important comedians ,iow include Hap Ward, In an ex liuinatlon of ihe ancient Ward and \ ukes sketch, “Percy and Harold;” alias Fannie Brice and--well, thnt : coma to be about ail. Most of the run was made by a vaudeville team mtherto unknown to the big shows— Bert nud Betty Wheeler—in a briny latrlesoue of the “Mammy” songs. Of • nurse, the American girl was glori r ed thoroughly by Mr. Ziegfeld’s raln ii,iw tailors, and as a spectacle it was iiaii isomc and immense. All It lacked a.,s the leaven of laughter. Where, u seemed to lie lamenting, are Will Itogers. Bert Williams, Eddie Cantor, frank Tinney, Don Barclay, I.eon Errol, W. C. Fields and Jimmy—or a a# It Johnny—Dooley? It is not, I trust, an impropriety to whisper to you that in one of Mr. Ziegfeld's lovely tableaux some slim and shapely ladles appear, wearing no garments whatsoever. In other Broad nay revues nude women are to be seen, but not so completely aa are those in the new Follies. Yet so ar tistic are the disclosures and so In -tocent withal that they evoked from (lie first night spectators no outcries of shocked modesty. Lest you think that these onlookers were hardened and complaisant, I must tell you who i. few of them were. Within 20 feet t me sat 18 respectable New York Iramatte critios, including myself; Miss Ethel Barrymore, Miss Neysa McMein, Frank A. MunSey, William Randolph Hearst, Herbert Swope, Miss Nora Bayes, Miss Cissie Loftus, lohn MaeCormack, Lee Shubert, Vic tor Herbert, Miss Billie Burke. Frank rown inshield, Miss Catherine Cal vert. Ring Lardner and Mrs. Charles Dillingham. None of them, however, endured the show more patiently than did Mr. Ziegfeld's rival impressarlos. Comfort able smiles were to be seen upon the visages of Sam H. Harris and Irving Berlin, of the Music Box Revue, and George White of George White's Scan lals, almost laughed himself to deatli in some of the duller momenta of the nlay. John Murray Anderson, of the Greenwich Village Follies, appeared io be pleased by the more-stupid an tics, and Earl Carroll, of "Earl Car roll's Vanities-,” managed to chuckle while others yawned. They, perhaps, like Mr. Ziegfeld and other revue pro ducers, laugh easily. They laugh even more easily when It Is at -the expense •t an opponent entrepeneur. I sus pect that the slowest items In the new Follies are the contribution of George M. Cohan, in "The Farewell 1 use,” and Frederic £<pnsdale, au thor of "Aren’t We AH?” In "The Bridegroom" and "The Spring Cle*n ug." How was Mr. Ziegfeld to know intil we told him that they were .errible? -* Your correspondent Is not among lie many who suspect Mr. Ziegfeld f not having a sense of humor. By axing the Broadway first-nighters <22 for a seat, he proves, I think, i hat laughter ripples In his sleeve. Vew York he knows, Is the dog lown de luxe and Its little servile barks of disapprobation disturb him but for a moment. An honest, a proud and liberal man, he spends upon his productions as much as It ■i possible to spend. But in case you ihlnk that he le only a solemn ac torlnl chap, not knowing a Joke when be secs It, I must tell you of an In ■ ident of the first, or $22, night of ihe Follies. At 1:30 a. m., when the proceedings were growing a bit tedi ous, a disturbance occurred In the fifth row of the parquet. Eddie Can lor an erstwhile employe of Mr. Zieg fold, was to he eeen with hammer and liisel, digging up his orcheatra chair. When agitated ushera endeavored to inpede him he brushed them aalde. I paid $22 for this seat " he shouted, and I'rn going to take It home.” -_ Other plays have been presented in New York this week, but none of ourse. so newsy as the Zlegfeld Fol ies. Air. Richard Bennett, In "The Dancers,’’ appears now as s noble live-keeper In the Canadian north west, and then aa Lord Anthony .'hevk-ley, madly tossed between hla •onkutonk girl (Miss Kathlene Mac lonneiit and a neurotic patrician -hlmmieste of Hyde park London Miss Florence Eldredge). Fir Gerald in Alaurier wrote it and he hsa had Hie knightly nerve to play It for a rear or more In England. . 'White Desert,” by Maxwell Ander ton. New York editorial writer, tells "f n tragic jealousy on a snowbound North Dakota prairie, wherein a mean > oung Irishman, envenomed by his ow n petty suspicions, murders at the end his true, but human, wife (Miss Beth Merrill). . . . Miss Fran < ine Carrimore, In "Nobody’s Busi ness," a work by Frank Mamie! and Guy Holton, Illustrates again the huzanlg that beset an artistic village maiden who comes to New York, dc irrmined to be successful, though vlr molts. She has romantic troubles with .1 banker, a broker, several art editors, a musician and a hick boy from the home town; but at the end she appears to have got away with ii. N' xt week Sir John Martin liar toy, ill the "Oedipus Rex" of Sopho cles, and other classic entertainments. There isn’t a chance to dodge the • mine of Fairbanks. The nimble press agent of Douglas Jr., advises mm with bated breath that the lad lias till his dad’s versatility—he starts i:s oft' with the hint that the boy Is an expert trap drummer. Fo there. Joy Sulphen dei lares that someone Is pulling the unfounded rumor stuff, • The Covered Wagon" will not play any ,,ihcr Omaha theater this year, he iciyr- -and unnecessarily adds th' v.ord, "positively.” Sou Saj-ry AT TNf GAVE T Y / xj CJlAtUs tfjy "0RANDEIS L - tjfd+ie Jfaitie at the EMPcts.? Jfu-is C&atfey att-hc spahons What the Theaters Offer HIDDEN away from most of his fellow countrymen for years he ir use of a sensitive modesty, a most Interesting adventure of a great Amerleun is now brought out by Charles Ray, who has the leading role In the spoken play adapted for the stage from .Tames Whitcomb Riley’s poem. "The Girl 1 I.oved.” Tradition has it that when it became known that Riiey had written of his own romance, thu sensitive poet with drew It from circulation as far as he could do so. Charles Ray Is said to do the greatest acting of his career In "The Girl I Loved.” which comes to the Brandeis theater for three days beginning with the performance to night. J. Jacques Eiseinan. under whose direction Ray is making a tour of the principal cities, has mounted the play lavishly and In scenic production every endeavor has been made to ad here strictly to historical detail. Every member of the company has been especially chosen for a particu lar type and the cast Is an excellent one, 't'Spice of 1922" will be presented at the Brandeis theater for three nights beginning Thursday anu with a Sat urday matinee. There has never been a No. 2 company of “Spice” and the original company has been held Intact. The critics of the Pacific coast have been outspoken In declaring that "Spice" Is the biggest, beet and funniest production ever sent out from New York. The com pany will complete Its full transcon tinental tour, ranging from coaat to coast and back again. In Philadelphia the coming Christmas week. After Philadelphia, the company goes south until next summer, when It Is an ticipated that It will be sent across the Atlantic for a tour of the British Isles. The company aggregates 100 peo ple, headed by El Brendel, the Swed ish comedian, and his singing partner, Flo Bert'; Georgle Price, remembered from his Juvenile days when he was the vaudeville partner of Lila I.ee. then known as Cuddles; Arman Kaliz. equally at home In light opera and vaudeville; Jack Tralnor, Florence Browne, Alice Ridnor, Martha Throop, Arthur Corey, Elsie Wachta. Evelyn Downing, Johnny Berkes, Thomas Morris. Dolores Suarez, James Gaylor, Maris Chaney, Eddie Fox, Eddie Cornell and George An derson. There .Is also a chorus of 40, and the eight Pepperpots are also featured. ■ ■ Q Billy Maine, comedian at the fsew Empress theater, has an enviable rec ord. Enlisting in the One Hundred Eleventh engtneen. Thirty sixth division, at the first call to arms. Maine's discharge papers show SO con secutlve days In battle. Including St. Mlhiel and Argonne. Maine has been in theatrical* 15 year*. He got hie ■tart a* a youngster with Gus Ed wards' "School Days." Tommy Gibbons, whom sport writ ers have labeled the "smiling hero of the ring,” appears In person at the World theater next Saturday as the feature of a six-act bill. Gibbons skips rope, does some shadow boxing, demonstrates in slow motion some of the blow* he used In the Dempsey Gibbons affair, and for a finish boxen three fast rounds with Bill Hart, hi* sparring partner. -« What the World theater manage ment regards as a distinct achieve ment Is appearance at the World thin week of the musical comedy extrava gunza, "The Passing Parade," featur ing the comedian. Fred J- Ardath. He is supported by ii.r> other players including Sammy Weston, Muriel Dae, Billy Grant, KutTi Adair. Wil liam Singer, Francis Marchant,—Jack O’Brien, Madge Miller, David Reese, Betty Barrett, Little Yoshii. Phyllis Paige and 16 Broadway beauties. Of fered in seven spectacular scenes. “The Passing Parade" is a succession of laughs, novelty, girls, comedians, dances and music. Making up the vaudeville portion of the bill are a trio of clever acts. Little Yoshii and company is a novelty offering. Out of the ordinary balancing and con tortion is supplied by these wonder performers. Sammy Weston offers "Dance ’Em Around," a fast terpsich orean novelty with Grant and Adair, Francis Marchant, Madge Miller and petty Barnett. Immediately preceding the big show Fred J. Ardath has much to say about nothing, all of it in comedy vein. Ar thur Hays offers a new organ nov elty. “A Wife's Romance" with an all star cast is the photoplay feature. Frances White, musical comedy star, mistress of every mood and emotion known to stage art, head lines the bill at the Orpheum this week. Omahans will remember Miss White for her clever work in associa tion with the late William Rock. Miss White has just returned to the two-a-days after/ starring in Zirgfehl Follies. Greenwich Village Follies, •’Jimmie", and “The Hotel Mouse.” Harry B. Watson and Reg. McrvlIIe will present their famous rube com edy production, "Fifty Miles from Broadwav," which is one of the Ben son’s big vaudeville productions. There Is a big company, lots of mu sic and dancing and many novelties In ataging and effect*. Nate Leipzig, master card manipulator, lias a kit of brand new baffling card tricks. In "The Awkward Age.” between childhood and maturity, Herbert Hall has dealt most effectively with this age in his playlet by this name, which is presented by Eve Lynn, Clyde Dll son and Liiilan l^ee Anderson. Ben Ryan and Harriet Lee offer a skit entitled “One and Won Is To." Haw thorne and Cooke are two comedians on a hunting expedition. Their laughs are their game. Their am munition is called, ’ Make Me Ser ious." One of the surprise acts of the season will he presented by Carl ton Emmy with his "Mad Wags". The setting and Introduction of this set is novel and unique. Path* News, Topics of the Day and the always entertaining crazy cat aeries, "Aesop’s Fables," aiso are on this week’s Mil. Billy Maine, the original laugh maker now at the New Empresa and hla big company of players, start the second week of their limited engage ment here offering Charles Morton's Outside New York Shows By SIMK NIDVKKMAN. t nlsersal service special Correspondent. NEW York, Oct. 27.—In the Imx ieore records of the Metropoli an dramatic critics published in “Variety" this week. James Craig of “The Mail.” leads with a percentage of .536. Heywood Broun of "The World,” is second at .462: John Cor bin of "The Times,” is third at .455. and Alda Dale of "The American,” I fourth with .444. “Variety's” scoring Is based upon 20 failures on Broadway since the season opened. tTntil this week 4!) new plays had been entered in the legiliinate race. The basis of figuring for the per centages was on the written opinion of the critics, right or wrong, ac cording to the length of time the play farce comedy, "Private Goldbrlck’a P.eturn.” This Is a follow-up story on the opening show. Goldbrick in his civilian clothes Is still the same consummate "boob” as he was in the army and the adventures he en counters down in the little country village Is a certain cure for the blues. All the favorites, Billy Maine, Marie .Maine, Beulah Hayes, Janies Le Roy, Ada Billsbury. Eugene Carey, George Grabble, Fred Ford, Paul Dnndrum and the dozen others are seen In roles that fit them like the proverbial glove. Among the song numbers Introduced are "Great American Desert,” "There's a Mother Waiting Still," "Swinging Down the Dane." “Why Should I Cry Over You," "You're My Sweet Mamma Now" and specialties by Miss Hayes and the four harmony hounds. The picture feature Is of unusual attractiveness and serves to present Anita Stewart In her first Ooldwyn production. "The Dove Piker." Miss Stewart Is given exceptional support by a big cast of well-known players. An elborate production at the Gayety Is promised In the “Bon Tons," which plays that theater all week. The company is led by John Barry, who will be remembered for his comedy work In this show las season. Bernice I«a B irr, last season prtma donna with “Broadway Brevi ties,” occupies the same role In the "Bon Tons ’’ Don Barry, another old favorite, Is the Sbuhrette, while Sam Raynor. Doulse Wright, Walter Da Foy and Eddie Simmons are all old burlesque favorites, who have a host of follower* In this city. There arc two acts and twelve novel and color ful scenes in the show which are en livened by a dozen tuneful and sprightly musical numbers. Particu larly true la this of the "Wine, Worn an and Song" scene, "the Dingerle scene," "the Jewel scene," and “the Chorus Girls' Dressing Room scene.” I. B. Damp, the well known writer. Is responsible for the book. Today s matinee starts at 3:00. John Golden will present the come dy, "First Year,” here at the Bran dels theater for a week atartlng No vember 11. Golden characterized the comedy as a "comic-tragedy of mar ried life." and when It opened for Ita run of two calendar years on Broad way, it was a sensational succea* mostly because of Its lack of sensa tionalism. At the head of the cart will he: Scott Welsh, John W. Ram sone and Patricia O’llearn. aaaSSP Twice Daily All Week jiPjimi.l.BiUiLllftfl I^di««’ Pop. Prtcp M»«. 2:15 Wk. Doyo_filW.irlTi I'M f) UllB lilfclr Whan you aaa a ahow hara you POSITI VKI,Y *:<t the New York i I'roductlon—no No. 2 company, no an,all town outfit Identical Jacobi A f ||f DAU TAMO With JOHN BARRY PreTan" ■ " ^ DUIV I UNO ^MOUS e.|’|| Kill’ElB” IN AN EASY-TO-TAKE CAPSULE OF MELODY, MUSIC AND MONKEYSHINES ADDED MPdaiiId Not 25, CA Count Th. On.in.i reopie 35 or 45 vll ’Em CHICAGO Tolay’i Bargain Matinee at 3 SSi 50c — ■ ~~ - --——-——^^ % THE' WORLD’S’GREATEST O and IV MUSICAL.ORGANIZATION OOUSAHI* 15AND am—«M>"I 1)1 i m1 1<W)*ii.ijhwi iw I ItP1 >. iwwMmi»w"Wi. T Auditorium —.Saturday, Nov. 24 TWO POPULAR CONCERTS Mutic for the Matte*—Selected by the Matter remained in Times Square. Where no opinion was expressed it counted as a Cipher und figured in the total.' Through that, Percy Hammond, of the Tribune, who failed to give a positive decision on several plays, dropped to the bottom of the list, with .166. Alexander Woolcott of "The Her ald." stands fifth at .333. the same percentage gained by Burns Mantle at "The News.” Fannie Ward, the champion face tipi if ter of two continents, has in formed friends the reason she no longer smiles is that it. might ruin her latest operation. As she has gone the limit, there Is no next op eration available for her phiz. Puccini in Milan has notified the foreign Riccordi company he has just heard that some years ago, over here, somebody infringe*! through •'Avalon'- and "Clin Chow Ban" upon ids pet operas. "Tosca" and -.Mud am*- Butterfly.; The foreign Kic cordl admits it might have happened, hut passes tiie buck to the New 5 ot'k Kiccordl. an independent branch. Dialogue previously never heard on tiie American Mage of late has been rampant in New York's playhouses and action is threatened. "Variety" this week is editorially warning the producers of ribald box office plays they are endangering the entire show business through this manner of pro cedure. Three more'shows fold up this week in the theatrical section. "Baunzi" is one. a Molnar piece of a week's dur ution. Molnar’s ".Swan” opens Tues day night in New York and may have a life, although Montreal anil Detroit walked out on il Another is ''Twee dies,” the Booth Tarkington play, his second failure so far of this young season. "Zeno," a mystery piece, came In behind scheduled time for its clash and is also departing. Hap Ward opened and closed with Ziegfedl's new "Follies’ Saturday night. Induced to return to the stage against his judgment, and $1,000 week ly being the great Inducer. Ward now threatens to sue Ziegfeld for *15,000. “The Follies" opened to a $22 top scale that drew over $24,000 into the Amsterdam theater for that one eve ning. Ziegfeld is now charging regu larly $5.50. At the price he can do $44,000 weekly at the Amsterdam. Bast week Ziegfeld sent out his an nual squawk about actors getting too much salary. Prohibition Commissioner Haynes in Washington this week instructed his legal division to proceed against The Clipper for publishing weekly In its prohibition pag*s the current liq uor prices around New York. The Clipper publishes the bootleggers’ quotations as a news item, not as ad vertlsing. TA sma LIT and Monday and Tuesday I UllluH I Three Days Only SPECIAL POPULAR MATINEE TUESDAY, 2:30 P. M. *His Greatest Triumph CHARLES (IN PERSON) Supported by an Excellent Cast in the Spoken Play "THE GIRL 110YED" (Adapted for the Stage from the Poem by JamesWhitcomb Piley TOUR UNDER DIRECTION J. JACQUES E1SEMAN Thi* Will Mark the Firat Peraonal Appearance in Thi* City of Mr. Ray in a Spoken Play Price*, Night*. . 50<* to 32.50 Special Tuesday Matinee, Beat Seat*. 31.50 • * / Next Sunday Afternoon, Nov. 4, at 4 O’Clock THE ^ am ^ a ■ ^ mm bm ^m m mm CONTRALTO -Hr SIGRID ONEGIN s PRESENTS COMPANY Memberahip Seat Sale, Monday, October 29th. Public Sale, Thursday, November 1. THREE NIGHTS yAU 1 Beginning Thursday, IvVwb A MATINEE SATURDAY 1923—TRANSCONTINENTAL TOUR—192* c/acrry « wwoiiw •> tf» New'toricWWter Garden KWMO LUOOtt /w fho REVUE that Startled BROADWAY Combined with this Extraordinary Array of Talent Brendel A Bert, Georgia Price, Arman Kalix, Jack Trainor, Florence Browne, Alice Rid nor, Johnny Berkes, Martha Throop. Evelyn Downing, Arthur Corey, Thomas Morris, Dolores Snares. Elsie Wachta, Maris Chaney, Jas. Gaylor, etc. s TjJW By JACK LAIT With the Original , Cbst and Scenic Investiture X-OORCOB SCtfCS-31 •40 HCWIDCHOWSTTRS^C' I00-PE0PLEI00 SEATS NOW SELLING Price*: (Plus Tax) 9 i Nights, 50c, $ I, | $1.50, $2. $2.50 <00 Special Sal. Mai. 50c. $1. $1.50. $2! Biggest Show Ever Routed on a Transcontinental Tour ...-! ENTIRE WEEK .SfiUX NOV. 4 Twice Daily Thereafter m- SCARAMOUCHE Picture - Production With ALICE TERRY, RAMON NOVARRO. LEWIS STONE And an All-Star Cast Reiarvrd Ticlirt* on Sail* Tomorrow 10 A M Louise II ill Make Pictures of Omaha People Next Week Omaha will be given the opportunity during the week commencing Novem ber 4, of seeing a motion picture made and screened with local people as the stars in a scenario which will be made. Miss Louise Lovely, stage and screeji star, will appear at the Orpheum with her own company, prepared to screen local talent. She brings a full studio equipment, di rector, cameraman and electrician. Young ladles and gentlemen with screen personality will be chosen by the star and she will personally di rect and show them how Jo act for tho screen. It will be the chance for many to know if they are suited for the most lucrative profession in the world. | During her recent tour of the Pa cific coast and Canada, Miss Lovely discovered many clever girls apd rnen. and already some are in good positions in the studios, on the wav up the ladder of fame. At the matinees Miss Lovely will direct children, and it will afford mothers an opportunity to determine if their children are of the type of Jackie Coogan and Jane and Kather ine Lee. Miss Lovely work6 with adults at night?. Hhe will hold a reception on the momiti* prior to It r open! ft K I performance in the foyer of tha theater and greet the aspirants '•* screen fame. A booth will be main, tained >n the foyer of the thean-r for local candidates to make applica tion for a trial before tbtr lens. Ruth .Slonehouse returns to pic ture* In “Light* OuU*’ | <w# I YOU WILL Stfc II AS A PHOTOPLAY Next ifflEnrjj* Sunday DLtf- ——V41 The Dumb-bell Doughboy Back to Hi* Home Town! Gosh All Hemlock How the Heart* of the Village Belle* Fluttered Billy Maine The Mott Talked About Comedian Ever Here, and Hi* A**ociate Player* in “GOLDBRICK’S RETURN” A New Farce Comedy With Muiical Trimming* On the Screen—Firat Run ANITA STEWART In the Clever Comedy Story by Frank R. Adam* “THE LOVE PIKER” This Week Ends Sat. Standard Vaudeville—Exclusive Photoplays This Week r_j Ends Friday GLOOM The musical extravaganza TOPPLED of bewildering beauty, lovely FROM ITS ladies, lingering laughter and THRONE spectacular settings. s Passing Parade With the noted comedian, — AS FULL FRED J. ARDATH AS ALADDIN’S LAMP— and metropolitan cast of 35 people - Other Star Vaudeville and Pic tares NEXT SATURDAY—IN PERSON Eddie Kane presents the idol of the hour, TOMMY GIBBONS The world’s heavyweight THIS WEEK VoMME>n\f. WITH TODAY'S BAT1VEK A Top-Hwy Bill *f WorM K.nownM SUr* “ MISS | FRANCES WHITE MUSICAL COMEDY STAR | CARLTON EMMY mu MU "Ki< «—t «•»< ArtUtle r«*Hr otlrriaf Hen HarH«t RYAN & LEE ••OM * ll Tt"_I *lfr»J r. HAWTHORNE & COOKE Im *•*!•»** *1# EVE LYNN—CLYDE DILSON & CO. la “Tk* Awkward **»’ NATELEIPZIG Of ln(rrnnll«iMil llrpntr **A W««b Mat «* if Watrlifd11 “50 Miles From Broadway” I wit* f| HARRY B WATSON and REO B MERVTLLE UoUtiMi by Olia / I « lesop's table* Topic* oi the Pay Pal hr Sew* nOlPTC Matinee .17c, IS, Mb- and 7M- 1 rnluto—Mcht . I7e. &ie, >Oc, $1.10 and SI.MI Next Week The famous Motion Picture and Screen Star LOUISE LOVELY (In Person) _In “A DAY AT THE STUDIO^_