New Plays Dull or Dumb Mrs. Hammond Finds Little of Late Over Which to Rave at Gothan Theaters ^---L__ By PERCY HAMMOND. New York, Feb. 9. THE Provlncetown playhouse, a remote and shabby manger for tvhat are suspected to be the better things, is now In the hands of vigorous new tenants. Such sophisti cated young men as Eugene O’Neill, the playwright; Kenneth MacGowan, i he critic, and Robert Edmond Jones, ihe scenic artist, are occupying it at present, with high hopes and lauda ble aspirations. The first thing they did after taking possession was Strindberg’s ’’The Spook Sonata,” an essay in Bedlamism. that proved too maggoty even for those who are well versed in the inner meanings of the continental stage. Needing recreation after that dire experience with de composition and the gibberlngs of madmen, they exhumed this week a popular American comedy of 1845. and made solemn fun of It. The result was hilarious, and not at all ghoulish. "Fashion," a play by Mrs. Anna Cora Mowjtt, was the cadaver selected for larklsh disinterment. Its author, a New York gentlewoman, driven 1 y ill fortune to seek a livelihood upon the boards, was a popular player of Pauline in "The Lady of Lyons" to »lie Claude Melnotte of E. L. Daven port. She was a virtuous and a dlgnl lied actress, and her home, the an cient chronicles say, was "a center of culture and refinement. Edgar ^ 4 Allan Poe, then the dramatic critic '•f "The New York Literati" and "The Broadway Journal," raved about her ; hysiology "from top to toe.’* He. was particularly enthusiastic concern ing her “gray eyes, her flexible hips, her auburn hair, her fragile figure, her light step and her graceful ges tures." She was the sort of nice wo man who would invite, as indeed she did, plays entitled “Gulsara; Or, the Persian Slave;" ‘'Evflyn: Or. a Heart Pnmasked," and “Armand; Or, aChild of the People." It seemed a bit cruel, therefore, w hen Mr. MacGowan and his ribald voung associates danced on the grave of Mrs. Mowatt's ‘'Fashion.” As a document it would have been amusing enough; but they were not content to i (produce it as it was. with all Its ludicrous artificialities. They caused it_ to be roughed by Mr. Brian Hooker (the adapter of Mr. Hampden's ‘'Cyrano”) and to he foolacapped at times in the acting. I suspect that even the master works of Mr. O'Neill —“Anna Christie” or “The Hairy Ape”—would be at this moment ridiculous If subjected by Mr. Mac Gowan to his merciless fun poking. But youth must be Berved and despite that handicap Mr. MacGowan man ured to present an adroit blending of • history, burlesque and tha solemn winkle of satire. The play was a salubrious en leavor to expos* and to remedy onie of the follies of 1845. Mr. and drs. Tiffany, though of obscure, pro * .inclal origin, were haughty New v'orkers who desired to marry their laughter to the Count Jolimaltre, a v t-rnch Impostor. They were rather •rue! to the lovely Gertrude, a de pendent and a music teacher, and hey catch her Innocently guilty with •he count in her bedchamber. . . . In thoee far-away nights men went to women's rooms, not women to men's, s is now the custom. . . . Mr. I’iffany Is a forger at the mercy of Snobson. his bookkeeper, who pro poses silence in • exchange for the hand of Miss Tiffany. . . . Ger rude is proved to the long-lost grand laughter of the rich and chln-whlsk -red old Adam Trueman, from Cattar augus, and the count, and ex-barber nd "a false jewel on the finger of iriety," Is disclosed ss the lietrayer r Mi)e. Mlllinette, the Tiffany's 'rencli housemaid. In 1845 Mr. Poe, alone among the • i itlcs, denounced “Fashion” as total y deficient In verisimilitude.” \ He re ented the resonant soliloquies and ''asides," the meantngless crossings md recrosslng of the dramatis per sonae. He aaid that It paid no *t tentlon to the dictates of common sense, and that, as a slice of life, it was unworthy of notice. Perhaps Mrs. \fowatt had refused to go to lunch with him. Still, Mr. Poe admitted, the scenery was very good, indeed— • nd the carpet, the ottomans and the handellera were excellent. The en ire ‘eettlng up.'" he said, was "ad mirable. and the play compared with most American drama, very good.'*. . . When. If ever, you feel lmpa lent with the cliche and platitudes >f American dramatic criticism, read V> Mr. Poe's theatrical reviews They will assure you that the job is hope ess. _/l. If you are a parent of meager in ■rime possessing expensive offspring, ■ou may find Instruction In T^wls 'leach's new comedy. "The Oonse Hangs High " Also If you aro the expensive offspring of parent* of meager Income you may bo lieneflled hy attendance upon that entertain ment. At any rate It Is an observant, ■veil written and nmuslng comedy, one .f the hrlghtest of the season It Is he f|r«t product of the new "Drama - ]*(*■ Theater. Inc ." composed of •oso Hamilton. .lames Korhea. Kd ■>’ard rhllds rarpentor. William An Imnv McOulre. Owen Davis and Ar bur lllrhmnn. These playwrights have pooled their conslderatde ex lerlence and propose to see what can ■o done to the dramn without Inter *»rence from the casual manager*, rhelr initial gesture Is encouraging. Ill Mr. Bench's play, the Ingals are •ell-born and decent people Ifi a mid •Ie west city of 100.000 residents. Their salary smnll, their prestige and -esponslhtlttlea large. The Ingals twins. I think, are at. Hadrllffe and Harvard, learning criminology and •renr painting. An elder son. hav ing finished college. Is living selfish Why, Marguerite! Pretty soon we went over to I*ns kys and bumped Into Marguerite f'layton who Is one nf our most diz ziest blondes and a swettt gazelle. Marguerite was all don* up In n sky-blue-pink negligee, or however vou say It, with pink ostrich feathers • •‘r* sticking around all over It. We asked Marguerite how she liked the tot. "Orest!" said Marguerite. "I Just love I.askys; they let you wear such pretty cloth**." 'y New York. These children are indifferent to the deprivations then parents are undergoing in order to make them happy and erudite. At Christmas lime they descend on the welcoming household and proceed to wound it by exhibitions of youthful selfishness. The twins, a modern boy and a girl, are vain, charming, flippant and callous. On the afternoon of their arrival they forget the feelings of their father and mother and dash off to a dinner dance, leaving the old Mks to eat the homecoming feast In bewildered solitude. They speak the strange and vivid lingo of the under graduates and chatter glibly of sex and Individualism. Their airy semi sophistication is expertly Illustrated by Mr. Beach. When, for Instance, the boy twin discovers hi* elder brother kissing the girl to whom he Is engaged he remarks gayly, "Don't mind me, I'm using to suffering;” They spend much money, keep late hours, arid accept with the bland neg ligencs of youth their parents' sac rificial devotion. But It is Intimated slyly in the be ginning of the play that all Is not well with the senior Ingais' situation ns city assessor. Hints are at hand that the politicians are going to oust him from his job. The crafty Mi. Beach also communicates to you the comforting indication that at the end Mr. Ingais (Norman Trevor) will get hAppier employment when It becomes necessary. Mr. Beach seems to know that the art of the theater is the art of preparation. However, the crisis arrives In dramatic fashion an<1 (he family becomes bankrupt. The chil dren are summoned home from their several frivolous rendeivous and are told by their practical grandmother (Mrs. Thomas Whiffen) that they are mean, foolish little bloodsuckers and that all their fun is over. At this point so good a play de serves disparagement rather than eulogy. Apprised of their father's pre dicament. the children are changed as if by inaglc and become enthuslas tic lollipops. Sweetness and atone ment ooze from their every pore. They vie strenuously with one other In self-accusation and eagerness to make amends. They go out and get employment; they turn over to their father their small savings; they refuse to go back to college, and they scheme In many ways to cause him to be comfortable. It Is all somewhat of a wallow of sophomorlc self-abnegation, but It brings the final curtain down on a pretty emphasis of the belief that all is well with the American flreslde when it is put into an Ameri can play. Miss Katherine Grey is the'bewildered mother and Miss MJr iam Doyle the flapper whose wings turn angelic at the end. Jfettjotc a no GeLtta. GPui-xJtsttCe. in 'A WomaM of Par.is "at THE -Su M I the BRANOFlS r®& i 1 £>au)tettce. [I At THf EMPRESS l Si Qettis I AT Thf f SPAN DF IS V (j Jot 14. 02u)a/tsofc in’Tme l Humming I B l R.0 " at I \ THE STRANG ! _ ( c/euSe ft Ana \ AT THE WOR.LO I^Susck Stslet-s AT THE CAVSTY Vtofetfe @eo*e AT THE 6CANOtl5 'Mun. Sestet* at rue OltPHlUfA r in "His 1 VWffTSRY 6.1*1."'*T tHRWVUdC P Vooi , Cxi soft in*W Oon ^ AMD LADDER** AT the MOON cJfce &USC/ Name the Man What the Theaters Offer V. - - - _ i Mlnatrel fane learn that one of the largest minstrel organizations on the road, the Georgia Mlnatrel*. will ap pear at the Brandels this afternoon and tonight and also tomorrow night. -A "The Unwanted Child," Florence Edna May’s play, will hold the stage at the Brandels theater for two days starting next Tuesday matinee There will he a matinee dally reserved for ladles, at which performance s spe cial lecture will he given for ladles While children are not admitted to Hny performance, all evening per formances are for men and women. Popular prices will prevail. Arthur Hammerateln'a latest mu sical play, "Wlldflower’’ (the "Ham ballna" show), with Eva Olivo lit sing ing the title role, will be on view at the Brandels theater next Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenlnga and Saturday matinee. Otto llarbach and Oscar ’ Harnmerstein II, are respon sible for the bonk and the lyrics of the piece, end Herbert btothart and Vincent Youmans collaborated on the score. The scenes are laid In Italy. The cast. In addition to Miss Ollvottl, Includes Bobby Bernard, Carrl* Ray nolde, Clif Uccklngrr, Adele Kellnr, 1‘niil DoiihIi, Allan II. Fagan, Oharle* burrow*, Ihr dancing Irani of Demp sey and Wood and a large and at tractive choru*. The moat Hlgnlflcnnt feature of "Wildflower" la the fact that the authors have bestowed In telllgent thought upon the tionk or plot of the pie, e, which I* of auffl clrnt attainment to hold the atten tion of the most sophisticated "tired bullneas man." -* I,ominous gown* aie n fratme of "The Ron Dodger," the one m l mu elcal comedy at the Orphruni thl* week. The*e costumes are treated with radium. Under ordinary light the gown* give no Indication of their lumlnonn property, hut when a err tain kind of blue ray Is played upon them, the Teat of the atage In com plete darkness, the effect take* place a* If by magic, and each separate color of the costume glows through the hlackneaa. “The Ron Dodger" of frra a variety of entertainment with well known stars and attractive girls. Harry Htoddard and hla orchestra calls hla offering "HIreels of New York," and carries Uia audience from the Battery to Harlem and from th* North river to the En«t river. Seven of New York'* moat fHtnnua street* me depleted and for each street there Is a characteristic niualc.il number Margaret Severn, enchantress of dance, appear* In "Maid of Moods," assisted by Cleorge Dllworthy. Her mask dances are n piquant novelty. A tireath of gay Par re, presented by Mile. Ann Coder, the brisk little Pa Vision comedienne. "Nothing Serious" la the fun vehicle the sterling fun ster, (Oiliest lllatt, Is collecting laughs this season Bail ram and Saxton sre harmony singers and Jest era. The Four American A cog and Queen offer n flying exhibition and round out the hill. -* An all feature comedy vaudeville hill make* up the program »t th« World theator. Prominent Is A. Koblna, "the walking niiialc store," who deals exclusively in laughter, In trod in lug along with It a weird col leetlon of mush'Sl Instruments. Equal ly Important Is Bos*. Wyae sml Wyaer, featuring "Tony," the midget wonder. Tills trio presents s pro gram of comedy and song out Of the ordinary. Marshall Montgomery has the assistance of Idicllle J>* Haven In a comic called "An Evening at Home." The four Phllll|>* figure piominsiitly In the billing with a speedy routine of athletic noveltlee. Farrell and Hatch sin* their own songs In their own way. "Uolng to the How Wows" Is the title of the entertaining performance presented by Hafayette's dogs Arthur Hays llays "Sitting In the Corner" aa the organ solo for the week, Valeska Suratt and her plajers, In "The Purple Poppy," headline the hill starling next Saturday —e— "Margie." the comedy romance of n little country girl. Is the musical play being offered at the New Em press this week by the llalton Powell players. Illta Lawrence, who created the original role of Margie, appears In tho same characterisation here, llalton Powell plays A. Keene Kidder, the traveling man, and It Is one of his beet roles. Other members of the company art- given excellent oppor t unities Patsy uilson has a new selection of syncopated melodics to present. Karl Young. Rita. Istwrgncc, Frank West Kugene Broussard, the four Harmony Hounds ami even Hatton Powell himself contribute their shaie to the musical portion of the elage entertainment. "Youth a la Carte" la the play an nounced starting Saturday — --vb -- - "Hllk Stocking ltevue." at the Oayoty theater thle week, ts In two net* and 14 seen** A competent oust Is promised, with Frank X. 811k at the head, while others Include Carney end Carr, Frank Martin, Miss Ray Kuaaar, Knot and lot Monte, Mack Hnd Hart. Tloletta duo and the Hutch lister*. The two dosen chorister* wear gown* In numerous changes of ornate display. Today's mstlnee start* St J. Marion Davies in “Adam and Eva" "Adam and Kva," starring Marlon Davies, will he shown at the Empress this week as the feature photoplay. "Adain and Eva" Is a light comedy ami Hfford* Miss Davies a charming role. In the picture, .lames King, Mis* Davies' father, despairs of successful ly managing hla unruly duughters. lie lets a young man of the times take charge of the situation. The latter In a surprising «hort length of time bring* the girl* to their sense* and win* for him»elf Kva. T, Hoy Hartie*. who will be teniem licreil for Id* splendid work In "Tha 1'Id Homestead." play* the part of Adam. Robert U, Vignola directed the plctuie. which wa* adapted from the play by Quy Holton and Georg* Middleton, * t Does Public Like Shorts? Showmen Declare Feature Picture Attracts Crowds _ . .. J What percentage ot an audience cornea to the theater to sec some of the shorter bits of the program? That's (he question agitating the mind* of the men who run theaters. Kstt mates of what attracts the crowd to the particular vary from a guess of 90 per cent down to as low as to per cent are brought to the house by the feature picture. Moat theater men throughout the eountiy declare that more than 75 per cent of their patronage Is attracted by the feature, hut In the same breath the men who run the bigger and better theaters declare that today an audi tnce is disappointed unless there is more than a feature to the program offered. Complaint* from the exhibitor about "padded ' features have resulted n promises from the producers of ■pictures that this season there will he shorter pictures, leaving room for the new* reel, comedy, scenic end other "bits." "Two a Days" Growing. Two a day shows, with reeetved seals for all patrons are being tried out in various parts of the country. Alexander Frank has turned one of his theaters In Waterloo, Iowa, $ito the matinee and evening shows only sort, an«l declares that Waterloo peo ple are delighted with the |dan and that the theater Is paying better than ever before. The idea of developing a regular show hour tor the betiei t laag of motion picture production was tried out in D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation." which was exhibited throughout the country just as the big traveling mu sical comedies or dramatic shows. Since that lime several companies have issued their big pictures on this plan—but in Omaha the two-a-dsY shows have never proven more than a fair success. Hoot Gibson and Desmond at Moon _*__ Hoot Gibson has scored another comedy-drama success In "Hook and ladder," now showing at the Moon Gibson enacts the role of a reeiult fireman from the plains, who found his heart captured by a winsome miss In the person of Mildred June The story was written for Hoot by hi* director, Edward Sedgwick, and Ray mond L. Schrock. William Desmond, hero of many a serial, has another thrilling story, lightened with comedy bits In "The Breathless Moment,” which eornes to the Moon, for tluee days starting Wednesday. Desmond plays the part of an American Arsene Lupin, who through a trick of fate becomes man ;iger of a country grocery store. The year of reform enforced on him shows, him the way to a permanent leave taking to his occupation as a burglar. Gloria Swanson Slur of “Humming Bird” A new Gloria Swanson greets photo play fans at the Strand this week In 'The Humming Bird,” Gloria, who won her niche In the cinema, first as a. bathing girt, and then as the wearer of wonderful wardrobe* in features, has a new film, dependent upon story values and with Gloria In a great part of the picture playing the part of a toy. The story is of the apache quarter of Paris, in the years from 1914 to 1918, the hectic days when Fr"*ie>» vas at war. Gloria has the part of Toinette. "the humming bird.” who baffles Paris police with "his" clever ness Edward Burns plays the part of the American newspaper man who becomes interested in Tolnett# and a THE RIALT O —- -a. romantic love story between the two characters Is ■ part of the story. And. not to forget. Gloria 1* re 1-orted to have a reel or two w herein she hlosaoms forth In splendor, as in previous picture*—all dressed up. "The Humming Bird" is boasted as Mias Swanson's greatest achievement In pictures. In the cast me Kdward Burnt. William Rlcctardl, Cesar* Gra vina. Mario Majeronl and Kafaol Oonginl Thrills a Plenty in _"The Last Hour" It it nothing new to speak of a thrilling scene In a motion picture There are thrills a plenty. On* might even go st> far as to e an awej-ed. it contains several thrill* which are hair-raisers according to advance reports However, ciitles have been unanimous In according to “Th* land Hour." the most logical continuity of any picture these last several year# Th# thrill* arc a nee** ■ary part of the stoi v to leave them out would be to destroy the story it self in many case* a story which dives not depend for Its strength upon "punch" scenes 1* filled with obvious mechanical ''thrillers' ,ust to ••put th* picture over." "The Last Hour come* front a story' by Frank Ft Adams, "Blind J ustice, “Name the Man" Opens at the Rialto A forceful story by Sir Hall Caine and an ail-st.ir cast, which includes Conrad Nagel. Mae Busch. Hobart Boaworth, Patsy liuth Miller and Creighton |{ale. combine to make noteworthy' Victor Seastrom’s first American production. “Name the Man.” at the Rialto. "Name the Man" is from the cele brated English novelist's recent be** seller, “The Master of Man." It tells the striking story of a young judge whose first act of office is to pass judgment on a girl he himself wronged. The courtroom scene, which is one of the intensely dramatic incidents it. the story, calls for some of the seic-t'-st emotional and dramatic act ing which has ever reached the Arnei lean screen—with a man—humar. erring, whose deep and lasting affec tion for one girl Is pitted in combat with his pledge to duty which ca4)s Inm to say “you must die.’" to a frai! sweet girl who owes her downfall to him. her Judge. Mae Busch plays the part of the wronged girl—her second leading part in Hail Caine stories, with Conrad Nagel playing the part of the judge A brilliant cast, with gigantic set tings picturing the ancient prison and castle on the Isle of Man, and auperb photography add to the per fection of the distinguished European airector's first Goldwyn production. It will make his name familiar to every picture fan in the country and help the films to come into their own aa an art aa well at an enter tainment Walter Hiers Opens Boulevard Program Walter Hiers In a comedy drama of revolutionary South America. “Mr. Billings Spends His Dime,'’ and roarnl seven of "Fighting Blood” la the offering at the Boulevard today and Monday. Marshall Nei Ian's "The Eternal Three" ia the feature for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a comedy and "The Dave of Daniel Boone" No. 8 to complete the trogram. Friday and Saturday there is to be vaudeville, a comedy and “Ruth of the Range” No. IS. and also Andre Lafayette in "Trilby." the romance of Paris studios. Connie Talmadge Today at Grand Constance Talmadge's new picture of England in the (Jays of Mop mouth's rebellion, "The Dangerous Maid.” is offered at the Grand today. Monday and Tuesday. Dustin F'ar num in "The Man Who Won” end Ruth Roland in “Ruth of the Range ' follows on Wednesday and Thursday and the final bill for the week is “The Silent Command." a story of love and intrigue on the high seas. Tuo Male, Two Fetnale Stars on Muse Bill Hoot Oibeon in a fire laddie story. "Hook and Ladder,” forsakes his chaps and sombrero for a helmet and lubber coat as th> opening picture of the week's program at the Muse. Her bert Ravvlinson ia featured Monda and Tuesday in “The Mystery Girl.” a melolrama of crooks, mysterious wo men and a haunted house. The last of the week there are billed two female stars. Agnes Ayres, in "The Heart Raider." on Wednesday and Thurs day, and Mae Marsh in her Irish story. "Paddy the Next Best Thing," foe Friday and Saturday. _ i Cha/tUn's Photojtlay Made If ithout Script Possibly the most remarkable fea tins about the production of “A Wo man of Part*." (lie first serious phot play written and directed by Charlrs Chaplin and featuring Kdr.n Purvi nice, and new showing at the Sun theater, ia tlie fact that during the entire making of the picture from the time of the conception of the story until the last of the final cut ting. no script was used. This despite the fact that him dreds of thousands of film footage v«» shot, all of which had to go through a process of elimination sc lection and then had to be cut to It* final footage of lit* brain It la probable that this ia the first time in that hixtoi y of motion pi lures that such a feat has been ac complished—where one man created a story, directed tt and then cut u without a line of continuity. This rental kable feat made possible b> shooting the story tn sequence, wberr as the usual motion picture is made in set sequence that is. all scenss tn each set are taken before moving title another ee'. By Chaplin a meihod. as the story moves to another set. hs mows ht* action to that act If gven for a single scene The motion picture directors and edit, rial experts of Hotlyvvoral have tern astounded by Chaplin’s feat, as most of them eartv with them hap dred* of pages of notes amt contiauP during aach prAiuctlogu ^ -