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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1924)
I THE < >MAHA SUNDAY • LIEE | 'j | l -■ ___. _\================^ VOL. 63—NO. 41 PART FOUR OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 23, 1324. 1—D__FIVE CENTS r ' N Al Jolson Is Coming “Bombo” in Omaha for 4 Nights at Brandeis; Other Joys Promised. v_1_/ Al JOLSON in hi* latest New York Winter Garden success, "Bombo,” will take the stage of the Brandeis theater for four nights starting Monday, March 31, with a matinee on Wednesday after noon. It is a fantastic spectacle with a story founded on the life of Chris topher Columbus and music footed in Broadway. "Bombo” concerns the dual personalities of Gus, that na tionally known character of Mr. Jol son's, and Bombo the servant of Christopher Columbus, a rather prominent person in history. There are modern scenes and historical scenes, but that all makes “Bombo” and “Bombo” is AI Jolson. There are 14 scenes, and the girls are many and the business of discovering Amer ica permits them to appear fetch ingly as ladies-in-waltlng to her majesty, the queen of Spain, as Span ish beauties of lesser degree, as bare legged sailors on the good ship Santa Maria, and as a welcoming commit tee of San Salvadorian tomtom dancers. There is a numerous com-, pany, including several principals well-known here, as follows: Franklyn A. Batle, Forrest Huff, Fritzl Von Busing, Janet Adair, Vera Kingston, Arline Gardiner, Harry Turpin, Harold Crane, Frank Holmes, Frank Bernard, Joyce White, .Jfanrie Kay, the Wfiimvrlght sisters and Harry Sievers. * » Orpheum to Have Another Big Musical Act This Week \ v.___* George Cboos’ "Fables of 1924," the most brilliant and spectacular revue in vaudeville, is the headline attrac tion at the Orpheum this week. This now production is said to surpass ChooS’ other vaudeville act, "The Land of Fantasie," which established a record attendance on its recent visit to the Orpheum. The length of the act, 45 minutes, gives some Idea of its scope. There are six scenes. The company num bers 13 featured dancers and singers, such as Jack Henry, Edythe Maye, i Mildred Burns. Bob Sargent, Danny Dare and the Toyland Steppers. Spe cial music, lyrics, costumes and tech nical direction have all been secured specially for this production. The scenes Include travesty, fantasy and a healthy vein of rich comedy. There is “A Kiddie's Dream," “A Country Courtship” arid the Toyland Steppers cavort merrily through “Clownland,” while the finale, “An Apple Orchard," brings a scenic effect as bewildering and as surprising as the famous » "liadiana" scene from the “Land of Fantasie." Johnny Burke in "Drafted" tells of r.ib experiences from the time he was "invited to the tight” by Mr. Wilson until he "advanced to the rear and ■ met the general.” Harry Kahne, who "possesses six minds” and can us® them simultaneously, will glge a demonstration of his remarkable mental achievements. Bill Robinson, the “dark cloud of joy,” offers new imitations and dance steps. Pat Bar rott and Nora Cunneen offer a skit called “Looking for Fun.” The Mc dini trio is said to present the best equillbrlstlc act on the free ladder In the world. /-;---\ Courtney Sisters Lead Raktime Bill at World '-,-' It’a "Syncopation week” at the World theater, with the Courtney Sis ter*, Florence and Fay, famous sing ers of syncopating "blues” offering » series of special numbers that have made them one of the standard at tractions in vaudeville. Assisting in the entertainment is their "Ultra .String quartet,” Messrs. Tripp. Balfe, Nussbaum nnd Wilkinson. It has been several years since llie Courtney Sisters have played here, their Inst appearance being at the Brandeis, One of America's foremost come dians is Frank A. Burt, who has the assistance of Myrtle Rosedale In the presentation of a comedy riot, called "The Substitute.” Robinson’s band, a syncopated organization composed of 10 young men from Dixfcland, are another attraction on tb* current bill. "DIs and Dat” Is the title of the offering of eccentric and Jazz dancing with comedy trimmings of * fered by De Mont and Qracla. “Just a Few Things You Haven’t Seen” is to lie presented by Chappell* and Carlton. Arthur Hays lias a special number of his own making, entitled "Syncopation.” which he will offer as the curtain raiser of the syncopa tion bill. Rigoletto Bros., with the talented Swanson Sister*, are the headliner* next Saturday. f Smith Comedy Players in Musical Farce at Empress V -» Tha Bert Smith Comedy Players now on their second week at the New Empress are presenting this week the musical farce, “A Husband for a Night,” a swiftly moving musical play with more than its quota of laughs. It tells the absorbing story of a little gypsy girl who seek* a husband In order to comply with the conditions of a will. Vi Shaffer, I he “personality girl,'* Billy Van Alien, whose old man characterization Is a laughing treat, and Joe Marlon are the featured players of the company with Flo Desmonds, Helen Curtis, Arlene Melvin and Warren Fabian, prominent In the big supporting cast. Among the song numbers Introduced are "Ragtime Wonders,” "Southern Gals,” "Tell Me Pretty Gypsy,” "Sun shine Alley,” ”1 Used lo Dove You.” “Dove. Nest,” "Oood Night Dear,” “Jack O’ Jdtntern,” "Dreamy Melody” and harmony numbers by the Oriole Trio, Messrs Frsnels, Cooper and Francis. ' “This Ts the Ulfe” Is announced for the weak starting next Saturday. %/y ano Anita. ' S6eiat the riaLto / Why, Helen! You Don't Mean That All People Are Wise? _ V "It's hard to fool the public today," says Helen Spencer, the dashing little lady who is a cofeatured member of the cast of "Step On It" at the Gay ety theater, together with George Niblo: "Barnum may have been right in his day, but try and do it now. A few years ago one of the favorite nov elties in the theater was to have a ■plant' in the audience, that is, an actor sitting out front disguised as a patron of the show, who at the proper time would interrupt the performance and join in the comedy of the scene. When this first became popular the audience never failed to believe that it was a real fellow member of theirs interrupting the performance. But now- even w hen this is really on /the level the audience does not believe it, and you can hear them whisper, 'Ah, that’s part of the show—they can’t tool me.’ ” — ___ Man of Wonder on View at the Gayety That Horace Goldin can do things quicker and more skillfully than tha eye can detect will be demonstrated afternoon and evening this week at the Gayety theater, when “Step Ob It" will be the Columbia burlesque with Goldin as an extra added attraction. Goldin will present his two Illusions, “Sawing a Woman in Half” and "Ra dio Film Telepathy.” In the film il lusion the eharactera will walk, talk and act at Goldin’s behest—coming onto the stage, out of the picture, and going back again at command. Cigar eta will be lit by Goldin and the char acters will puff the smoke in the pic ture. In “Sawing a Woman In Half” Goldin uses a cross-cut saw to rend his girl assistant midway between head and feet—at least he will appear to saw her In half while the specta tors look on In wonderment at what Is transpiring. Somehow or other Goldin gets the girl together again without even rumpling her garments. The Illusions and mystery of Goldin’s act will only be one of many lncidenta In the program of burlesque, song, dance and good humor as expressed by a company that will have George Nlblo and Helen Spencer leading the cohorts. Today’s matinee starts at J. (—"---' Film Star to Sell Lavish Costumes -J What docs a screen star do with her gowns and costumes after she lias worn them in a production? Mae Murray, railed the best dressed wom an on the screen, whose latest Metre picture, "Fashion Row,” will come next week to the Sun theater, con fessed boldly that she sells them. “Why not?” says Miss Murray, who probably wears more gowns In a sll gle picture than any other actress on the screen. “They represent an enormous cost. All the gowns and costumes that are part of my ward robe in ‘Fashion Row’ would repre sent a king's ransom. ‘‘When worn once their usefulness, so far as picture work Is concerned. Is over. No actrees would ever dare to wear the same gown in two pictures. Women in audiences ayo too discern ing and too critical. It would be a shame to discard them forever. Why not sell them and realize some of the immense cost expended on them?” In “Fashion Row,” written for her by Sada Cowan and Howard Hlggin, Miss Murray wears half a hundred costumes. * " ' -» Scaramouche Starts Second Week at Sun V__/ "Scaramouche” starts Its second week at the Sun theater. This Is the photoplay classic taken from Sabatlnt's fnmous novel by Ilex Ingram, the young director, who has attained unusual heights of artistry In the motion picture world. Ingram, a former cutter, was given his hlg opportunity In the "Four Horsemen." That he made the most of that opportunity la proved by the success of the Ibanez film, Alice Terry, the beautiful young star whom Ingram wooed and won while filming the “Four Horseman," plays the leading feminine role In "Scariiniouche." The other leading characters arc played hy Hew Is Stone, one of the most finished actors of American drama, and Itamon No varro. , "Scaramouche” Is a spectacle »s well as a gripping story and the ex pendltures In sets, costumes, extras •to., wer« enormous. Hfefett CtttUs at VHP empress . f -; ■ \ Sport Celebrities in Rialto Picture -y "Tha Great White Way," a new photoplay that mirrors life on Broad way, la at tha Klalto theater. Lead In* celebrities of the prize ring, the race track, prominent sports writers and other familiar figures of aportdom make their film debut In the picture. The turf and the ring, along with the leaders in these branches of sport, are graphically brought to the screen in this picture of life in the great metropolis. One of the big features Is a realistic prize fight in which Pete Hartley, well known light weight con tender, battles Oscar Shaw, leading man of tha film. This scene Includes such sporting celebrities as Tex Rickard, who ap pear* as promoter: Joe Humphreys, announcer, and Johnny Gallagher as referee. Others who appear around the ring or In tha training quarters of Madison Square Garden are Irvin S. Coblj, Damon Runyon. ‘'Bugs’’ Baer, Billy De Beck, "Kid" Broad, Tammany Toung, and H. T. Witwer. author of the story. Another thrilling feature of “The Great White Way” is a big race track scene, filmed at Belmont park on Futurity dny, It discloses a realistic steeplechase, specially staged for the picture, and many other phases of turf life. Earle Rande, world's pre mler Jockey, is another of the many sporting celebrltlss who appear. The regular cast. In addition to Oscar Shaw, Includes Anita Stewart, T. Roy Barnes, Tom Lewie, Olln How land, Harry Wateon, Dore Davldeon, Hal Forde, Stanley Forde end Frank Wonderley. /■■■*; -;-n Whittier| Poem Basis j for Empress Picture \ Breathing a wholeeomenese and ein cerlty rarely equaled on the screen, "The Harefout Boy," a picturlzatlon of John Greenleaf Whittier's Immor tal classic, at the Empress. la like a breath of cool air on a hot summer day. Tha aweet odor of the hayflelde, the Invigorating smell of field flow era and tha freshness of the country sunshine seem to pervade this produc tion end make of It something un usual and very rare. Marjorie Daw, who came to the scrien as the protege or the hi-illlnnt and dualling Geraldine Farrar, le e sweel, wholesome, tinalTerled girl, veil aide to portray the type of young womnn a boy born in Die country and bred In the city, would love. Mlea Daw gives an iinuauslly pleasing p«i formuc« U> "Tbs Barefoot Boy.” CotLfittey Sisters at the worco —;-\ Shirley Mason Gets Many Love Letters v_ _/ Once when the world «u young and the iky was blue, when birds sang and peanut whlstlea tootled their warm breath In competition with the spring sunshine—once In that long ago the postman smiled and felt young again when he delivered at some sprightly maltlm's door a missive bearing on Its flap the cryptic Initials 8. W. A. K. Those thrills were of the long, long, ago In ages past and all bpt forgotten. Would wc renew our youth? Would we fee 1 again that warm surging of the senses? Can the spark be made to flame? At least those of us who look bark at the pleasuroa of bygone days can' recall glowing memories by going to see Hhlrley Mason In "Love Letters," a William Fox production, at the World theater. The picture, as the name Implies, deals with love letters, and those budding young things who write end read them. With the love element there has been Intertwined a mystery that holds a breathless ten sity to the end. t-;-\ It’s Fun for Johnnie hut Was Work for Others «• -» Johnny Burke saw the humorous sldp of war, as evidenced by his monologue, "Drafted," In which he tells his experiences from the time he wae "Invited to fight" by Mr. Wil son until he “advanced to the rear and met the general." He Is featured at the Orpheum this week. Overseas he was the delight of the fight-weary doughboys and ou Hie stage he Is the favorite of thousands who never saw a battlefield. For more than 15 years Burke has played the part of a soldier. Before tlio world war provl an excuse for Ills present sketch, tie traveled el>mit the country portraying the rube who went to the civil war.| Afire return ing from overseas he Introduced tint tall and awkward rookie hr now bringe to vaudeville. Joe Howard to Fare Omaha Audience Again Joseph K. Howard, with Kthelyn Clark, conies to flip Orpheuin next weak at the head of HI* own revue, "Patchings From l*lfp." n vaudeville "follies" or "uritndfilA" <lun«* In one big run off nt racing Npeed nnd packed with episode* nf song and ! dance, comedy, pretty glila, scenic * f ferta and nil Mint goes to make a reg ular production. In tht company imp porting Howard and Clerk will be found JamtB J. Morton, on* of vnuih* villa* drolltat codaka* Q&tttott MiOatro J AT THE SUN r c//ota. Cuxqeeit AT the OffPHEUM . f'l fjuani mS*—< f <A(itcfteii _ r —-— — N. Y. Wearies qfDreariness O'ypill's "WildcatGets Off to Rather Bad Start Before Audiences Fed Up Qn Gloom; Harhett a Subdued ami Polite Murderer. l_ i By PERCY HAMMOND. New York. March 22. EUGENE O'NEIUL'S new play. '• Welded,” la all about the un happy struggle of two "artistic” temperaments to get along together. Consequently It Is not of much Inter est to any save those who are simi larly afflicted. To the average per son nothing Is a greater bore than the romantic peccadilloes of the minor geniuses, listening for three hours to a pair of these little egotists as they alternate their love-making with snarls and recrimination* Is seldom of value, either as amusement or education. And, since the man and woman In "Welded" are particularly wearying, excitement concerning them will probably be limited. This duo consists of a New York dramatist (Mr. Jacob Ben-Ami) and Ids wife, a New York~artress (Miss Doris Keane). Though each, as the saying goes. Is In the other's blood, they do not enjoy their association. The woman resents the man's en deavors to absorb her. and the man resents her resentment. She desires to be herself; he wishes to be both of them. At one moment he kieses her and the next he rhoke* her end calls her bad names. She alternates terms of endearment with terms of opprnblum. and at the end of the first act they decide to separate. As an exhibition of marital Infe licity the play Is a spectacle. The theater dors not often afford a sight of romance In a more miserable aspect. II Is not Mr. O'Neill's habit lo be hopeful about the human scheme of things, but In "Welded” he is com pletely forlorn. "No stars shine through bis cypress trees.” He would hot. If he could, he gay. However, lie take* a morbid satisfaction in hi* discouragements, and the more des perate Ilia conditions the more con tented be seems to be. The price of love Is unhappiness. Into each life much rain must fall. The clouds have no silver linings. The flsg of romance Is e\or at hnlfmsst and muffled drums I lent at rompnifiuirnl in nit the earthly ballads. Mr. O'Neill I- the black camel of the drama; and .above the portals of his theater Is written "All hope ahnndon, ye who enter her*!” Yet h* te *" serene In Ills delecting funrtlon ss Is en under 1 laker, and perhaps be is as essential. "Welded." of course, has Its auda cious moments. There is a scene, for instance. In the shabby chamber of a little sister of the night, a descrip tion of which would baffle even the most Indelicate of the reviewers. Jn this episode Mr. lien-Ami, as the gab by playwright, utters an epigram matic puty which is much too naughty to be repeated—though at the first performance in the Thirty-ninth Street theater It was received with approbation. Several other Incidents of a similar frankness occur In the play, but they are not, one suspects, alluring enough to overcome tta wordy, though honest. Inertia. Mr. James K. Hackett. whose art has been more honored abroad than In hit native land, performed "Mao. heth" the other night, with results better than had been apprehended. There were tremors In certain quar ters, since It was feared that Mr. Hackett was not sufficiently cerebral to represent Shakespeare's noble, though murderous, Scotchman. How ever, ha went about the tragedy with gusto, and he made it a gorgeous and majestic "book thumper," as Mr. Mencken might call it. He was the moat unwilling and sentimental of tha Macbeth butchers, shedding th* blood of kings politely and with a somewhat elephant In# Jauntiness. To Shakespeare's reluctant cut throat he added a tinge of hi* own elegant tenderness, mitigating cruel deeds with a coy reluctance that was sometimes almost dainty. He used his fine eyes to gentle purpose.*, and when excited skipped about with short, bouncing steps. Withal he was a dignified Caledonian. His voice was deeply Shakespearean, save tn the softer passages, snd Ida appear ance was large and Impressive. In hia Impersonation, one auepecta, Mac beth la not "the daddy of all the Bowerv villains" that Miss Char lotte Cushman once called him. But. as Shakespeare Intended, be I* « good Scotchman gone wrong, egged on to do eo by an oppressive wife. 1 have always thought that "Mac both" was meant to be a sermon against the evils of henpecking snd Mr. Hackett's performance seem* to justify my sfirmtae. 1 -A Bo also did that of Miss Clare tall M 14ft Mtefenb. ihf «m A *a7 gavety AND.&PA 'Daiy at the muse snaky fiend, much better tailored than moat of the ladiea Macbeth, a slim, ruthless. Insidious and ddmin eering murdereea. Ambition's marble heart eeemed to beat coldly in her breast, and ahe exercised a malicious magnetism over her big though ir resolute Thane. She "nagged'’ him and made him like it. At her behest he explicably rolled over and Jumped through. Miss Karnes sensed the noble melodrama In ’ Macbeth," and her diction and manner were often those of the better type of stage ad venturess. Since Mr. Harkett's "Macbeth” has been acclaimed in foreign parts as a masterpiece of histrionic art he may forgive an absence of enthu siaam in his home town—in case there should be any. Celebrated In London by the critics and populace, and decorated by the French repub lic for his feats, hs can well afford to disdain the Inappreciation, If any, of the western hemisphere. As Macbeth he haa the god-given gift,of mediocrity, which, while highly val ued on the other side, may be under estimated by the drama lovera of the new world. It ts said that the elder Guitry indulged in an unworthy sneer when he heard that Mr. Hackett’s ’’Macbeth" had lveen fur ther ennobled by the Legion of Honor. "They decorated him." ob served M. Guitry, ’ because he played it only once"’ Well, Doug, ]yst What Would You Try to Do} Following the showing of ’’The Thief of Bagdad,” "Doug" and Mary are going to Kurope for an extended tour. They will motor all over the continent In n two-passenger roadster unaccompanied by any servants or special representatives. Some of the time "Doug" will drive and now and then Mary will take the wheel. "What will you do If you are held up by bandits?" ’’Doug" was asked by Frank Case, glorifter of the American actors' lunch hour. "You talk ss If you never saw any of my pictures," answered Mr. Fair banks $100,000 for Play. An Knglish company has pur chased tlie lights of "Charley's Aunt and is li ving to get Dougin* Mi'Imii to play in It. Tills ts the grant rat stage sms ess Loudon evrt had, hav ing run for more than four years the first time it was produced and having keen revived Innumerable times since. The piles for ths screen rights was ts j&GJoi'ia. y SulaitsoH. AT THE STI?ANO officer Calhoun at_themoon f- — " ' > 14 Gowns Which Is Quite a Record Even for Gloria Who Specializes in Clothes. ' Gloria Swanson returns to her wardrobe In her nsweet Paramount picture, "A Society Scandal,” an adaptation of Alfred Sutro’s stag* success, "The Laughing LsuJy." This picture, following aa It does "Zaza" and "The Humming Bird.” Is a direct contrast to the two in the matter of clothes. Miss Swansea wears 14 different gowns In this pro duction. while in "Tha Humming Bird" she had but four outfits, ona of them being boy s clothes She is resplendent in dinner frocks, dazzling evening gowns and snappy sport togs in her role of an ultra fashionable young society woman, and she hasn't forgotten her acting of "Zaza" and “The Humming Blrd"t either. And that's not all—with each of the stunning gowns Miss Swanson has a special coiffur# that will make the women folk green with envy. Besides being a highly dramatte story, this new picture is a fashion review of the highest order. It's a slory of New York high society life—that side so carefully con cealed fmn\ the pfibllo—an expose of the private life of the "four hundred.” Rod Ijt Rocque and Ricardo Cor tez play opposite the alar, and Allan Simpson is also prominently east as Gloria's pampered husband in ths picture, which will he the feature at the Strandvtheater beginning today* Dagniar ami Frank Are Real Good Friends—While Parted Dagmar Gadowsky. a daughter of Leopold Godowskv and a more or lees prominent film actress, is very much annoyed. Sotneiaxly said she was go ing to return to her husband. Bo Dogmar sent out the following state ment : Neither Frank Mayo, my husband, nor myself has any intention of 'bury ing the hatchet.' Our separation Is a complete success. He is In Cali fornia and 1 am in New York. t have no Intention of going to Cali fornia except on business. "However. 1 will say Frank and I are the best friends. But the best of friends don't Mhvavs make the best of husbands and wives—to eaeh otheh" \\ lion* tin* British Kicked. The I'.ril l.-h tllm censoia passed 'Three Weeks' With only one objec tion. They refused to let live '.heater ownera use jhe original title. So It is to 1c shown under the name »t "▼he Romance of a Queen." Such Un elimination or objection in A liter lea would practically ruin the pro duo* , [w* bvt» • bos om* i»adftagw— . 1