Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, June 12, 1921, EDITORIAL, Image 27

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    V
THE BEE: OMAHA. SUNDAY, JUNE 12. 1921.
5 D H
t .... k r i
very mournrui
And Desperate
Is O'Neil Play
By JAMES WHITTAKER.
New York (Special.) Some such
drear and desperate thing as "Goldi"
which has come to the Frasec
theater, was to be expected from the
pen of Eugene O'Neil. Its writing
by the man who found himself and
fame in "Beyond the Horizon," is
as natural and as painful an event as
the cutting of a wisdom tooth.
For "Beyond the Horizon," though
it expressed a great plenty of woe,
had thit masterly repression of the
author's person which makes mas
terpiece?. Therefore. there was a
lot of tragedy left over In Mr. O'Neil.
It i3 all out in "Gold."
Two men are murdered, a woman
dies of heart-break and a father and
son go mad in the course of the four
acts of this recklessly lugubrious
play. The deaths are reasonable
enough. They follow a cause.
Exotic Stuff.
The theme is developed without
unreal melodrama. The actors act
uniformly well. The ingredients of
the play are all so good that it was
perplexing to find that it never left
that after-thrill of reminiscent scorn
by which you may instantly judge
a true traiedv. I think that two
elements of Mr. O'Neil's talents are
in conflict in catastrophes and his
other taste for exotic.
The captain and his men who find
gold when they arc shipwrecked on
a tropic desert island, the madness
of thirst and heat which thrusts them
into the crime of murder, the reticent
heart-break of the Furitan wife who
' learns her husband's crime from his
sleep talking, when he comes home,
and the queer family relations which
make the father's subsequent mad
, ness contagious to his son those
things are exotic stuff, like the ter
rors of South sea adventurers con
fronted with unheard of snakes and
lizards. And exotic persons can
not suffer. They are too far away.
So 10,000,000 Chinese may die of
starvation. But suffer? They are
too quaint.
Mixture Won't Down.
If Mr. O'Neil had placed his chest
of gold at the terminal of the Bronx
subway and nis death in a Harlem
apartment we would have been made
better men by a good play.
And if he. had chosen to make ev
erything in his play as unreal as his
distant island and had had his people
die with gusto and daring, we would
have had another such evening oi
unworried fun as Mr. Archer gives
us with his unreal "Green Goddess."
It .was the mixture that wouldn't
down.
Willard Mack, who is the boiling
captain of the play, gives one of the
best performances of his uneven
career. From end to end of the
part and from his boots to the pro
tuberant underlip, with which he
eloquently sketches first the mad
ness of thirst and later the madness
of mind of the central personage, he
is immersed in character. His most
annoying fault of allowing heroic
Willard Mack to show in his heroic
heroes is effaced in "Gold."
. Why Does He Weep?
A like implicit belief in . his part
sustained E. J. fialle'ntine in his liv
ingly real portrayal of the crazed
son.
It was in the women that the de
fect, which is at the core of "Gold,"
showed. The noisy sorrows of Mr.
Mack could bludgeon you sometimes
into yielding sympathy. But Miss
Katherine Grey, though she wasted
away and died most appealingly, left
you dry-eyed to ask the question:
"Why does Mr. O'Neill alwavs
weep and what does Mr. O'Neill al
ways mourn?"
Family Album.
"Snapshots of 1921" in the Selwyn
theater is 3. family album of all the
wonderful things at which we have
marveled so long, so . annually, so
faithfully, that there is very little
marvel left in us. There was the
ghost of a grin to be forced when
Lew, Fields rammed the brim of the
hat down on the lady's collar-bone
but, oh, Mr. DeWolf Hopper, the
joke about Yaphank made us feel
that you and we are 'ery old and
gray.-
In every way Snapshots" is a re
vival. In many ways it is a revival
which does not quite revive. All
but ne of the travesties on current
Broadway plays, which make its
bulk are overpoweringly reminiscent
of the days when burlesque consid
ered a black face in a balcony and
the refrain, "Oh, Rummy, wherefore
art thou a rummy?" sufficient to
identify an act as travesty of Shajte
speare. Takeoff on Barrymorea.
B'ut a bitter takeoff of the Barry
mores in "Claire De Lune," the de
cadent composition of Michael
Strange, which they are now play
ing, was better stuff. It will cost
you $8.80 to relish the acid criticism
of that piece which is in the fooleries
of the scene programed as "Clara De
Loon," in "Snapshots." You must
see both expensive plays to laugh
with understanding to laugh at all.
If you have blown yourself to the
Barrymore, however, you will shout
when Nora Bayes, dressed in all the
clothes and dignity of Miss Ethel in
the Empire theater, and bewildering-j
ly as regally aristocratic as the orig
inal chants, "you're in dutch, duch
ess," in faithful Ethel Barytones.
What Miss Bayes, De Wolf Hopper,
Lew Fields and Lulu McConnell do
to "Clair De Lune" in "Snapshots,"
is harrowing, but they have the ex
cuse of the artist. It had to be done.
The new revue is a patchwork.
The bright patches are tSe three
principals and their irresponsible do
ings. The dull patches are the rest
of the show. Limp girls flop through
loose choral numbers during the
vast intervals which nd the three in
their dressing rooms. Leon Errol,
who stages the spectacle, lavishes
tasteless masses of scenery on these
vacancies and fills them with color
ful horrors. An orchestra shame
lessly bellows through musicat ac
companiments, which fit these cgn
fections like its husk a camembert.
It is only a strong-minded and in
veterate theater-goer who will sit
through Errol for the sake of the
several brief moments of Hopper
clowning, Lem Fields 'joking and
Nora Bayes singing at their best.
Gish Girls With Griffith
Various and differing reports re
garding the Gish sisters can be set
definitely at rest. Both are to return
to the D. W. Griffith fold. May
Marsh U rejoining the Griffith
Jfieaters
tUgtL
EMPRESS
Asst. Director Princess Players
What the Theaters Offer
Miss Theodora Warfield, popular
leading woman of the Princess Play
ers will havf cine nf th hpst roles
of her career here when "The Brat"
is produced by the company this
yvppI.- Tfpr r.-ilp is that of a chorus
girl in a cheap musical comedy who
is known oniy as i ne rsrat. . one
in slangy, quick-tempered, and
spunky, but she loves every living
thing.
The story of the play tells how a
famous author seated on the bench in
a m'oht court with his friend, the
magistrate, sees in a little chorus
girl, a waif of the gutters, an iaeai
type for the heroine of his new novel.
He salvages her from the wrecks in
the rWWs and fakes her home. There
a new life opens for "The Brat." By
slow degrees she blosoms; her real
woman's nature comes out and the
artist begins to take an interest in
her. Then jealousy rears its head
nn tli nart nf Ancpla. the blue-
vi. I' - - - - o
blooded fiance of the author, but
"I he Brats deep devotion snames
Angela and after the Brat saves the
author's brother from crime, "The
Brat" wins the man.
Miss Warfield, who will play the
rnt nf "TVi Rrat" fiae fallen in love
with the role during rehearsals and
that means an even Detter lead man
she usually plays.
Dirprtrir William T. Mark will
stage "The Brat" exactly as it was
staged by unver jviorosco aunng us
long run and in every way it is going
to be a dramatic treat.
Of the new vaudeville show open
ing at the Empress today, a fea
tured act is to be presented by the
Payne children, two clever young
sters with a wealth of talent. In
their offering which they call ''A
Divertisement of Youth," they in
troduce dancing, violin and piano
playing and singing. A beautiful
stage setting and elaborate costumes
enhance the offering greatly. Tozart,
one of the most talented of vaude
ville artists is to provide one of the
important attractions of the show
with his offering which he calls "The
Screen Plays
and Players
Br KfNNEBECK
Shirley Mason has bought a new
horse and is going in for riding
more determinedly than ever. The
dainty Fox star says she finds a
little canter in the morning before
going to the studio gives her just
the touch of exercise she needs to fit
her for work.
Tom Mix, who stars in western
plays for William Fox, was at one
time head cowboy for 101 Ranch
show. Now the circus folk are try
ing to get him back under the big
top and have offered him $100,000
for a season of 26 weeks. Tom sends
word that he vwill continue making
pictures for Fox.
Upon his return from Europe,
William Farnum is to open his Sag
Harbor home, put one of his yachts
in commission and spend the rest of
the summer cm short cruises. The
Fox star has been motoring in
Switzerland recently.
Bulwer-Lytton's famous novel,
"The Last Days of Pompeii," is
about to be filmed by George H.
Kern. Barbara Bedford will play
the blind girl, while others in the
cast include William Conklin and
Raymond Cannon. A staff is to be
sent to Hawaii to film ihe volcanic
eruption.
Whether or not Mildred Davte
resigns as Harold Lloyd's leading
lady or becomes an independent star
remains to be seen, as Mildred hasn't
made up her mind. Nevertheless
during her vacation she has taken
her parents on a long motor trip
and has made with her own hands
a lavender party dress.
Hints to directors: That fighting
name of Pat O'Malley means some
thing. The vigorous hero of the
films, who is cast as the juvenile
lead of Oliver Morosco's "Slippy
McGee," at one time was amateur
boxing champion. Donning the
gloves and exchangiig clouts with
some husky trainer is his favorite
method of keeping in physical trim.
Played in Movies,
Now On Stage Here
There is an interesting little
story in connection with the produc
tion of "The Brat," by the Princess
Players this week at the Brandeis.
"The Brat" was made into a fea
ture" picture by Mme. Nazimova and
itwas while Miss Theodore War
field, the leading woman of the
Princess Players, who will play "The
Brat," was playing in pictures with
Mme. Nazimova that the madame
urged her to go into dramatic work
on the legitimate stage. Prior to
this time Miss Warheld was in
musical comedy.
Miss Warfield followed . Mme.
Nazimova's advice and this coming
week she will play the part that
Nazimova made such a hit with in
pictures. Miss Warfield is the
recipient of a letter from Mme.
Naximova wishing her success in'the
Part.
Vagabond Artist..' Tozart is an
actor as well as an artist. Tozart
paints with lightning-like rapidity
and his canvases are conceded to
be the largest and most meritorious
of any painted on the stage. His
characterization of the vagabond
artist is most artistic.
Danny Simmons is to offer a
clever conceit which he bills as "The
Raw Recruit," in which he imper
sonates a Scotch soldier, who has
just joined the ranks. His is a great
laughing act containing a number of
great comedy songs and a string of
new and ultra modern jokes and
stories. Completing the vaudeville
performance is the Powell troupe,
an aggregation of phenomenal tight
wire expoits. whose offering is said
to be more daring and sensational
than any other act of a like nature.
Mary Waxes Hot
When Mirror Is
Taken From Her
Charge vanity with the downfall
of another good actress. This time
it is Mary, a white goose in George
Fitzmaurice's production 'Teter 1b
betson." Mary performed beautifully up to
the time a large mirror was brought
near the set in the studios. She was
good natnred, assimilated direction
easily and answered the call of her
director readily. She was as good a
goose as a movie actress can be, un
til Bonnie Mahoney, a prop boy,
brought in the mirror. Then she
slipped.
Mary saw herself in the mirror
and waddled toward the image. For
an hour she stood gazing at herself,
transfixed and oblivious to the call
of Mr. Fitzmaurice, who fumed over
her. disappearance. She was found
finally and dragged protesting to the
set and the offending mirror removed
to a distant corner of the stage.
The following morning Mary was
missed again. They found her, after
the loss of some time, admiring her
self in the same looking glass. She
had trailed her image to its corner
behind some canvas scenery. She
was again cross and ugly when or
dered back to her work, ad refused
to behave, sulking through the re
mainder of the day.
Punishment was administered, and
Mary was sentenced to confinement.
She now mourns in a poultry cage,
hissing her indignation and futilely
baging the wire cage with beak and
wings as she attempts to return to
her mirror.
No Sub-Titles
Hugo Ballin, noted producer, has
taken a radical step in the making
of his newest picture, tentatively
titled "Ave Maria," which will short
ly be released.
Mr. Ballin has produced a picture
of approximately 7,000 feet without
a single subtitle from beginning to
end. The W. W. Hodkinson cor
poration privately viewed "Ave
Maria" and each and every official
of the organization is enthusiastic in
If is praise of it.
Moaning, Groaning Saxophone Sextet to
Vhimper Rhythmic Melodies at Moon Theater
. j" .
rf van
ryAfoi i i p li V Ml nana. . iiiit'i
... --j
rtf,"Hf A:
Brown's Saxophone Six which comes to the Moon theater this week
in conjunction with James Oliver Curwjood's story, "Kazan," is considered
by critics throughout the country as one of America's most entertaining
amusement troupes.
As a leader, C. S. Brown ranks among the best, having made a study
of the kind of music the public wants.
School Children
Guests of Mayor
At Three Outings
The 40,000 school children of
Omaha are to be given three free
outings in Krug park with admission
to the park and .their carfare both
ways paid as "the guests of Mayor
Dahlman," the park management an
nounced. The 33,000 public school children
will be received at the park in three
groups, the first on June 20, the .sec
ond on June 27 and the third on
June 29. Each group will have two
subsequent picnic days. The first
picnic date for the 7,000 parochial
school children will be June 22.
All school children will receive in
vitations showing when they are to
come to the park. Their carfare
will be refunded them at the park
entrance and they will be given free
admission to the park; and attract
ions, except war tax.
The children, however, must come
before 5 in the afternoon to get in
on the free list.
New Leading Man
Mahlon Hamilton, a popular lead
ing man of the screen, has been en
gaged to play the leading masculine
role with Gloria Swanson in her n-xt
star picture, "The Shulamite," which
it to go into production shortly.
His. role with Gloria Swanson vill
he that of an Englishman. Sam
Wood is to direct and the' scenario
of "The Shulamite" is by F. Nash.
The play was extremely popular.
Foreign Pictures
Fast Destroying
American Films
I.os Angeles houses about 60,000
"picture people."
In 1920 the studio pay rolls
amounted to about $18,000,000.
About $14,000,000 was spent, most of
it in Los Angeles, for studio equip
ment and supplies.
The total of that great pay roll
is daily shrinking. So are expendi
tures. Studios are doing their best
with what they already have. About
14,000 humble studio employes are
out of work in Los Angeles. The
"stars" are not worrying; they are
under contract.
The drop in American exporta
tion of films began late in 1919 con
currently with the rising tide of for
eign importa'ion.
In 1919 America shipped more
than 120,000 1,000-foot reels of un
exposed film abroad. In 1920 our
exports dropped to nearly half that,
62,956 reels, to be exact.
If the drop in our exports of neg
ative film continues at the rate of
about 5,000,000 feet a month, as it
did during the eight-month period
ending in February, 1920, just how
soon will it be before the American'
industry is destroyed?" asks Lois
Weber, noted woman director.
We hear that Mildred Harris, for.
mcrly Mildred Harria Chaplin, will
try vaudeville.
Woadtvatd&,
Twin
' Eight
CHOCOLATES
INNER-CIRCLE
CANDIED
BASE BALL TODAY
Double Header
Omaha vs. Joplin
First Game Called at 2 P. M.
Seat at Barkalow Bros.
New Show
Today
EMPRESS
Payne Children YD0luvtTim
Tozart & Co. "hond
Denny Simmons
Powell Troupe flTX'tut.
Photoplay Attraction
"THE MOTHER'S HEART"
Featuring
SHIRLEY MASON
NOW PLAYING
MATINEE TODAY
THE BRAT
Where an author' inspiration springs from the gutter
Matinees Sunday,
Wednseday, Satur
day 25c, SOc.
PRINCESS PLAYERS
Evenlnr
Popular Prices
SOc, 75c, $1.00
r
Jill
XING
Yfn Tu FTT F
Ji J Jl K IL-tJLJl
T)D D J PA I JTI? Founder of Chiropractic and
LJ1. &. U . 1 tLslVALJA) Nationally Known Platform Speaker, Says:
tir
'The first point in SALESMANSHIP is to INTER
RUPT No one accuses ME of not being talked about
-not being looked at." v -
"Build a better mousetrap than your neighbor and
even though you live in the midst of the wilderness the
world will beat a path to your door to get it," is one of
the damndest lies ever told.
.
"Build a better mousetrap," "use printer's ink to tell
the world about it," and even though you live in the
midst of a wilderness the world will beat a path to your
door to get it." ,
"Progress has four eyes
Anal eyes
Energ eyes
. Systemat eyes
Advert eyes"
"The path of least resistance is what makes men
and rivers crooked. Hardest resistance is what makes
rivers and men straight Big Policies Big Business
Big Men get there by selling themselves the HARD
way." '
"The majority of "Salesmen" today are trying to
sell Something to somebody else before they have sold
themselves to THEMSELVES."
"Then, NOT How LITTLE for HOW MUCH
BUT How MUCH for HOW LITTLE."
"We suffer from the illusion of the near We need
the vision of the far."
"A clothing merchant, "Couldn't afford to waste
time playing Golf" Now he takes two afternoons off
a week and does twice as much business the next morn
ing and does it better. He was suffering from the near
ness of himself to himself."
"Many a man has the eyesight of a hawk and the
vision of a clam."
"Salesmanship is based on one thing The ultimate
buying motive. That which, is the ultimate buying mo
tive of the customer IS the ultimate selling motive of
the merchant." ,
"Sell yourself to yourself Having sold yourself to
yourself your article to yourself Selling anything
else to somebody is automatically accomplished.'"
B.
J
PAL
MER
S
PEAKS
Tuesday Evening, June 14
at 8 O'clock
Under the Auspices of the Nebraska Chiropractic Association
ADMISSION FREE
SWEDISH AUDITORIUM
CHICAGO STREET, Between 16th and 17th