.THR OMAHA SUNDAY' BEE : MAY 16. 1920.
11 B
Spring Pr6ducers
Given Chance as
Season Slackens
By BURNS MANTLE.
NEW YORK-(Special Corrc
. spondence.) bpring produc
ers grow active. Some of them,
having been denied theaters all win
ter, and finding the doors of several
now standing open, are gayly drag
ging in the woirks of art they have
Had cached in the office safe until
such time s they could try them
on a metropolitan audience EV.
.Iiicntly they suggest that kind of
pidy me jona some one. might be
r.iccicu io arag m if ine floor was
loft open. Occasionally; however,
owccicucu oy - a bit -ol
....,. iw is iiucrcsiiiig . or a mu
mc;i! comedy book that is sane
Among the five that -came in last
'vcek is a comedy written by Arthur
Ktchman and called "Not So Long
Ago." It goes back to the old New
ork of the 70s, when the con
scienceless profiteer who flourished
ucr me civil war was still a sub
ject of discussion. Eggs were up
io 2s cents a dozen and $3 a pair was
orazenly being, charged by some
i calers for a pair of shoes'. It is
the time of the bustle, the big bustle
that, thrown into orominenrp IW h
(reciart bend, stuck out in back of
...,iauy gown iik-e an elaborately
ornamental rear balcony. We recall
that as late as the '80s we conceived
I he idea that they really were in
tended for small boys to ride on.
There js a, considerable chatm en
gendered by this particular comedy,
tor all that it is simply based on the
familiar Cinderella theme of the
theater. ;The heroine is the daugh
rfirr of the equally familiar inventor,
who is a little touched in the mind,
hut abnormally sound as to heart.
To help meet the increasing cost of
living fshc his gone to work as a
seamstress iji the home of the Ball
f rds, very exclusive persons jn the
Knickerbocker set, though not
marly so rich as they pretend to be.
Being a good deal of & dreamer,
the little seamstress imagines her-
slf the sweetheart of the young man
' of the .house,. young Billy Ballard,
and each' night when she goes home
she gathers the other romantic girls
of the neighborhood about her and
tells them all her experiences of the
flay. One day Billy brings her
'chocolates, and one day he invites
her to.Juve Juivch with the 'faimly
and his motherland sister are per
fectly dear to her. Another time he
takes her riding, and there is a pos
sibility, that lie may take her to din
ner at ' TJclmonico's in Fourteenth
street. ',
But the -dream is shattered when
a rival lover, growing jealous of the
Billy BaHafd anecdotes, reports to
the heroine's father that he fears
there is an affair on, and that a cer
tain rich young man is trying to
take advantage pi a poor inventor's
daughter. . Whereupon the inventor
calls to see, young Mr. Ballard to
request him to cease his attentions
to Elsier-Elsie Dover being her
name which : exposes everything
and Elsie must admit that she is
just a plain little liar. In the end,
as may be surmised, young Ballard
discovers that true hearts are con
siderably more than coronets and
the princess gets her pfince.
The.; yottng people most vitally
.concerned sin telling the story are
; Eva Le Gallienne, for some seasons
past the rnost attractive of the local
group of ingenues and the ' most
gifted though' she is just being dis
covered,, and Sidney Blackmcr, an
engaging youth from the south, who
came to prominence first in a road
company - playing "39 East," and
"later with Maxine Elliott's brief
venture' with "Trimmed in Scarlet.''
These two give excellent per
formances and much of the charm
of the play is due to the attractive
quality of their playing.
As an independent producer of
plays Sam. Harris, who suffered the
loss of-George Cohan as a partner
following the actors' strike settle
ment, .seems to be doing quite well'.
Both the. plays he has brought, to
Broadway the first being William
Collier and the farce "The Hotten
tot' and the second a musicalized
version of "Checkers," now known
as "Honey1 Girl" have registered
emphatic hits. Of course they have
had the" advantage of Sam Forrest's
direction and Mr. Forrest worked
with Mr. C,ohan for years and years,
and knows most of his tricks.. Still
there were many to predict that
with the resourceful. Cohan gone it
would not' be easy for his old firm
to succeed... " ,
Edward Clark has npt done much
to weaken the story of "Checkers"
in making the adaptation for "Honey
fiirl" UPthiug worse than the sub
stitution 6f the sweetie title. It still
remains an amusing comedy drama,
with the ingratiating Dave Graham,
formerly of the race tracks, trying
to live -down his past in the little
Louisiana 'village iand succeeding
admirably until he falls in love with
nIALTOj
foldicfrefmet
(ENfffSSS).
fouck
Jones
Louise Gdum
the daughter t of the-village banker.
After that thecruel .father runs him
out of town with the suggestion that
unless he comes back -with $25,000
he need not come back at-all, and
may as well give up all hope of
marrying the heroine. . : . ....
The fact that the departure fol
lows a snug finale docs not awcar
to rob it of its sentimental hold on
the audience. Neither does the in
jection of musical interludes in the
second act. in which the iice is run.
with Dave's last cent backing the
favorite, take more than the edfie
off the excitement of the incident. In
this version he has pawned the
heroine's ring in place of her locket,
and the gold horse, "Remorse," is re
placed by the "Honey Girl", of the
title. In the last act he "returns to
the village, and saves father's bank
from a run' with his $25,000 and
tin re's an end to that.-
The cast is wisely chosen. Lvnne
Overman plays Checkers, 1 Edna
Hates is the banker's daughter, there
is a friendly soubrette in Louise
Meyers, and George McKay and
Rene Riano have a lot of fun with
two broad comedv roles.
v Years ago, when John Barrymore
Let Your Boy Spend
His Summer on a
, Real Western Ranch '
i' ' '
With seventeen other boys, each with a horse
'fot-himself, camping trips in the forests, to the
Indian Villages and exploring prehistoric 'cave
$ 'dwellings under supervision of men of sterling
; character. I sent twelve boys there last summer,
I .'"who Jiad the time of their lives, gaining in
health and knowledge of Nature. Parents were
4riost grateful for suggestion. I shall be glad toN
: J,tell you of camps, ranches and outdoor trips for
, girls and boys, and grownups, too. I recommend'
only those I have investigated.
V
Ijfc Mr. Foster
Burgess-Nash Co.
On Balcony
Wo charge or fees.
vvtis learning to be an actor, they
put him in the cast that was support
ing William Collier in a Richard
Harding Davis farce, called "The
Dictator." He was to play a wire
less operator given to the consump
tion of much liquor and was to re
ce'.ve $35, Orome such sum, as sal
ary. Young John had only played
a part or two at that time, having
shortly before made his debut in
fttpport of N'ance O'Neill in
"Magda," and he was not at all ex
cited over- his prospects as an actor.
But he liked playing the bibulous
operator and his Euccessjn the role
did much to keep him on the stage.
Last week "The Dictator" came
back to . New York as a musical
comedy. It is known now as "The
Girl from Home," and Frank
Craveh has written the book an.d
lyrics to which Silvio Hein has
strung an attractive musical score.
And if John Barrymore comes in
from tho health farm where he has
been .staying to sec it he will.be
pointed out in the crowd as the
most promising Shakespearean star
in America. A lot of things can
T- ; - ' -; - : " - '.---m .- - v-;- J
, It w
ft j IT '
MONDAY SPECIALS
AT
OMAHA'S FINEST MARKET
?he one Omaha store that permits
none but the purest of Food
stuffs to become a part
of "its stock. ,
3 Big Grocery Specials
...10"
...IOC
...10
I'ct Milk, large cans
Tost Toasties, Mgiiday special
Coin Puffsspecial Monday. . .
Special Santos
Ivci
p
p
lit
hjrw
ITEMS FROM OUR POPULAR
TEA AND COFFEE DEPT.
Jlr. Kirby, formerly of Courtney's, is
in charge of this department.
JUST RECEIVED
Fresh Roasted Coffees .
Blend, )b f
Household Blend, a good one, lb...
Our Famous Ankola Blond, ib...,
15?
SCVENTCeNTM .
Courtney Building
How Bryant Got Along
,Told in a Few Words
ft" "-.-r 7 S'.
'ibert . ' Hum . , Ly yrT -. -tH
Bryant Washburn is blessed with
good looks, considerable: taltut as
an actor and a , likaWc, personality .(
He broke into pictures via.1 the stage.
Xonc of the Washburus were the
atrical, one of his great-uncles being
Dwight Moody, the famous revival
ist, but Bryant had an early ambi
tion to act and as a youth obtained
the position of head usher in a Chi
cago show house. This was fol
lowed by small parts in stock com
panies. In a shout time, Mr. Wash
bum was playing important parts in
such productions as pugene Wal
ter's "The Wolf" and "The Remit
tance. .Man." He transferred his
talents to the cinema in the early
days of the jndustry, making his first
real hit ' in picturizations of the
"Skinner Stories." Soon afterward
he, was -signed bv Famous Players
La sky to star in S?aramount Artcraft
picture's. ' 1 '
and frequently do happen in twenty
years.
4 Charles B. Dillingham has not
done as well as usual with this "Girl
from Home" production. It is as
prettily staged and as generously
cast as Dillingham productions
usually are, but Craven's book Mcks
snap and the Craven comedy is Hot
up to par. Heroes and comedians
of one sort and another have had
so ' many experiences with South
American revolutions since "The
Dictator" was written that the com
plication is a little worn, and in his
effort to live up to his responsibili
ties both as author and star the
comedian is conscious of his handi
caps. He is helped considerably by
a stunning cast, including Gladys
Caldwell, Marion Sunshine, William
Burress, Flora Zabelle, Russell
Mack, Joe Prouty, Jessica Duncan,
Rock, Dancer and
Comedian, Adds to
List of Productions
WILLIAM ROCK and-his "1-2-3-4-S
Girls and Two More." a
combination : that is just fin
ishing' an Orphcum ' tour i of great
popular success, coirre'to the local
Orpheum for the week, starting to'
day. . ' V ,-. "
Mr. Rock is a well-known favo
rite in the two-a-day, as well as in
musical comedy and farce. It was in
vaudeville that he first gained recog
nition as a finished all-round per
former, particularly as an excel
lent dancer and a . light comedian.
Musical comedy makes frequent
claims on him," but vaudeville has
never lost sight of him ox the teams
of " Rock and Fulton and Rock and
White, of 4'hich he was the first
part. ' Musical comedy lovers will
recall the tormer team particular in
"The Candy Shop."
In Mr. Rock's new production he
offers song innovations and' dance
creations that smack of the Rock
finesse, while the gowns and scenic
investiture will bewilder the onlook
ers by their magnificence, beauty
and splendor.
The girls who wear the frocks and
gowns abound in feminine attrac
tiveness and their physical appear
ance at once recalls those pulchritu
dinous favorites of ancient times.
It has been said that Mr. Rock
has originated more dance steps than
anybody else in tho business; in fact,
it might be said that his name is
synonymous with marvelous, grace
ful dancing, and his efforts never
fail to "arouse extraordinary enthu
siasm. But in this provution,
which he originated and conceived,
so much care has been given to the
selection of "the vocal numbers, and
At the Vaudeville Theaters
Assrs'
won
n
rSTED by seven comely young
men, William Kock comes to tho
Ornheum thin week. Sinre he, last
appeared In Oiriaha he developed this new
(Ikiiib production whih is announced as
"William Rock with l-t-3-4-5 Girls and
Two More.'' Kach girl in ther act is a
illatlnct type. They have been chosen to
divp:?t the various fornis of feminine beau-tj-T
Mr. lU.ck. Is presenting what he re
garda a his beat effort. "The Piano
Tuner," a clever sketch. In to be offered
bv Charles O'Donnell and Kthel Blair as
one of the featured acts. The skit comes
recommended as exceedingly funny. The
Alexander Kids are a trio of prodigies.
Knuland they nave neeii s great m-
voritea as they have been In America.
Listen 'Mickey." is the'title of a "nut
act offered by the eccentric comedians,
Deotge Lane and Tom , Moran. The Choy
l.lng Hee troupe. Oriental wonder work
ers, a company of six, hall from Canton.
Their RorKaoua costuming and embroidered
i7tKH (ire r,ne of the most pleasing fea
tures cf their act. Evangeline and Kath
leen Murray are a pair of attractive misses
whu sing and dance in a manner very
captivating. The Jack Hughes duo. broth
er and flster, billed as instrumental vir
tuosi. offr a program which Includes both
popular and classical music. Clever and
innusins paragraphs culled from the daily
papers will be a film leature in "Topics
of the Day." News events will be pictured
hy litnograms. .
stellar act at the Kmpresa today
to be contributed by George
Damerel and Myrtle Vail, famous
musif-al comedy favorites. A novel and
laughable offering will be thet of the
Morton brothers. The big novelty feature
of their er.tertainmeut la their paper tear-
Two-Piano Recital
Adelyn Wood and Dorothy Morton Jobat
i Assisted by
' Mr. A. 1. Root, Contralto
FIRST CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
36th and Harney - Admission $1
i Monday, May 17, 1920, 8:15 P. M.
m
American
Legion
Dance and
Outing
Rung
Friday,
Ulay 21
The LegidV Firtt Out
Door Dance and Outing
and It's Going to be a
Hur.ir.iEEi
Members will
mailed tickets.
be
Ins f8tf, during which a niont amusing:
crossfire dialogue 1m injected. Their har
monica playing exploits prove them ex
pert?. Mahoney mini Auburn.., will offer a
Juggling art, in which , they perform u
series of amazing feuts.
w
to his supporting cast as would be
p'ven to spectacular Nrw York pro
ductions, with the result, an act that
gives you in 30 minutes a compact
musical revue you could not see
elsewhere in two hours.
i
Omaha's Police Parade to
: Flash on Empress Screen
The first moving pictures of
.Omaha's .police force, taken at. the
annual; jntfpVttion held here recently,
will be 'shoVn at 'the Empress thc
ater' Starfin'fr today: These, pictures
5-how "Omaha's finest" going through
field maneuvers'" under the direction
of Sergeant Lyman Wheeler, drill
master, and passing in review before
the admiring gaze of several thou
sand spectators and the mayor and
city commissioners. The . machine
gun and riot gun squads- are. Shown;
armed with their grijn weapoivs,
ready to meet any emergency that
may arise. These pictures were
taken exclusively by the Pal he
camera man and are included in the
latest Pathe News.
Still in Graveyard?
Hinton, V. Va., May 15. Gold. mi
Kirby of this city is alleged to have
used the graveyard on the hill back
of the city as a place where he dis
poses of moonshine whisky. All the
transactions were made at night and
a tombstone was the counter. Feder
al agents grabbed him.
BASE BALL
TODAY -
Omaha Vs. Wichita
dam Called 3:30 P. M. Rourka Park
Box Seat ' on Sato Barkalow Bros.,
- Ciffar Store, 16th and Farnam
1TH next weok'a bill of atrikinir. n- I
cellence the Ornheum la to liruan I
anothir emimntlv successful ara-
sou. One of the headline attractions wHl
be John B. Hymer and company, prem nt
lnic a fantastic comedy novelty, "Tom
Walker in Dixie." A scenic musical offer
ing, "Whirl of Variety," with a eextette
of clever neoule, will lie another atellar
offering. One of tho most effective offer
lnirs la to he contributed by the viollnlat
com&dian, Ben K. Benny.
TWO SHOWS IN ONE
SEVEN BROWNIES
Presenting
"The Syncopated Schoolroom"
GEORGE DAMEREL
& EDITH VAIL
in "Hearts and Clubs"
Comedy with Music
MORTOrFBROTHERS
Paperologists and Harmonica Experts
MAHONEY & AUBURN
Novelty Juggling Act
Photoplay Attraction
Wm. Fox Presents
Buck Jones
in
"Forbidden Trails"
Charlie Chaplin in
"Some Nerve"
Pathe Weekly
Martin Johnson
Feature
WEEK STARTING SUNDAY, MAY 16
Matinee Daily 2:15 Eery Night 8:15
WILLIAM ROCK
With
1-2-3-4-5 Girls
and
Two More
Ceorge Tom
LANE A MORAN
in -
"Listen, Mickey"
The
CHOV LING HEE TROUPE
Oriental Wonder Workers
Charles
O'DONNELL & BLAIR
in
"THE PIANO TUNER"
Ethel
Evangeline Kathleen
MURRAY GIRLS
in
"Songs and Dances"
JACK HUGHES DUO
Versatile Instrumental
Virtuosi
' ALEXANDER KIDS
Ctit, Cunning, Captivating, Clever Children
TOPICS OF THE DAY
KINOGRAMS
Matinee 15c, 25c, 50c, few at 75c Sat. and Sun.
Night 15c, 25n 50c, 75c and $1, few at $1.25 Sun.
llliHIIIHII'lliliHIII'HIHIHlllillllllillillllllliUlHtiaiill'iruili.iriiii'.wi:! .. t-mi.m '
BENEFIT RECITAL-
I ELIZABETH BLISLE BROOKFIELD (Contralto) ;
- WORT S. MORSE (Violinist) ;
- LORETTA DE LONE (Harpist) "-
- RtlJH FLYNN" (Piani.t) I
-at-
First Methodist Church
Z Corner 20th and Davenport '
- Thursday Eveninir. Mav 20. at 8:15 P. M.
" Auspices Omaha Woman
V.
Club
i."1'ii'ivi'ii!'i!!r'i)iiiii!:ii n'rumi'ii'iKi''!"!' i i i i i
THOUSANDS
.Attended the Opening of
K
Part
I U
Saturday; Thousands More Will Be There
TO-NIGH'
I
It's One Place in Omaha Where You Can Always '
ENJOY YOURSELF
by Dancing, Riding and Watching the Countless Throng
" When They Are Not at Home
They Are at Krug Park.
That's why so many doors are locked and houses
closed during the summer j-the entire family has gone
to Krug Park. ,
i For Refined Amusement and Recreation there is no
place like .
JVK-.IJ J
It's Yours to Enjoy, So Come Today