TTIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND. DECEMBER 11. 1921
3
PORTLAND WILL HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO ENJOY EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL TREAT
Delightful Old Classic, "The Beggar's Opera," Direct From Brilliant London Success, Coming to Heilig as
Preliminary to Christmas Celebration, Will Be Unusual Stage Attraction.
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AN event of more than ordinary
musical Interest will be the ap
pearance here at the Heilig, De
cember 22-24. of "The Beggar's Op
era," which h:is been brought directly
from Londan to America by J. C. Duff,
who Is a veteran of the game. Twen
ty years ago the Duff Opera company,
with Lillian Russell, swept the coun
try. Mr. Duff had thought his theat
rical days well over. But chance
found him in London and opportunity
took him to Hammersmith The rest
was fate. He could not see that
charming production and not bring it
over to Amcrlc.i. Here Its success
lhas been' as great as in England. Los
Angt-hs has irone wild over It. and
soon t eti t lanu.-rs will nave tne oppor-
i un v lit t'Tiinv n 1 r no nin noin
"The Beggars Opera" wan revived
three years ago at the Lyric theater.
lammfrsmlth. just as a flller-ln, and
,r iS'1' a vi, i hiiu no ' '.. ii. ii
America, is significant of America's
a m it m i 1 T 1 1 ii r nil in music r ji n'i :,n-
ppera. It Is a string of tuneful melo-
lish for the most part, as the cliffs of
FILM OFFICIAL DENOUNCES
MOTION-PICTURE CENSORSHIP
William A. Brady Conducts Clinic at American Museum of Natural
History Before New York Board of Education.
A MOTIU.N I'lCTUKB .;i.l.-HJ was
f m conuucieu oy wniiaui ;v. o:.tu.
president of the National Asso
ciation of the .Motion ficture jnaus
rAcpnlv 3l ihp American museum
of natural history.
In a locture there under the aus-
, . , 1 V ... Vt. I - .,!.!
II, , It I III ' ' 1.1 111 'IV 1.1.1 V..V
icted its cn.it future as a con-
lonal and entertainment lines, and
rmr K t. ti ruudimib mm .1 unuwa wwm
rignts or tne pudjic.
"When it comes to selecting three
people as censors, not qualified,
either by experience or education, to
Jndpro what 4,000,000 or 5,000,000 peo
ple should sec. then I claim that such
an action Is not American," he said.
"So far as we have gone I must
rav that the New lork censors have
been very nice. We haven't any par
ticular quarrel with them, only we
feel that the Idea is radically wrong.
Last March an agreement was made
between the producers of motion pic
tures that a standard programme for
picture production should be put into
operation and that those who failed
to live up to that programme would
be artf to have their pictures barred
In theaters throughout the United
States. I ask any man and woman in
this hall who follows motion pictures
If thoy have not noticed a great im
provement in the character of plc-
Otis Skinner Starred in
"Mister Antonio."
"Exceptional Picture" Announces
Move for Inbulldlng of .stand
ard. EXCEPTIONAL PICTURES an
nounces this week that they will
present on the screen "Mister An
tonin," starring Otis Skinner. Mr.
Skinner, who is one of the greatest
personalities of the screen, and who
has endeared himself to millions of
photo-play fans throughout the world
through his artistic characterization
oi naaji, me Beggar or uagdad, has
been persuaded by Alexander Beyfuss
tjo appear again, this time as "Tony,
the Organ-Grlnder," In one fit his
roost successful plays, "Mister An
tonio." "Even greater than the value this
announcement has in the upbuilding
X Exceptional Pictures," announced
that company, "which since its incep
tion scarcely two months ago has
made energetic strides toward the
fore of producing organizations, is the
fact that it wlP serve as a step for
ward for the entire industry. It means
that motion pictures is about to ac
complish another of the really worth
while things' which are needed as one
of the arts.
"'Mister Antonio' means not only a
film; It will bring with it the artistry
of uuv who can help to elevate the
Welsh or an Irish air. One melody
alone bears the name of Handel, and
even he. It must be remembered,
owed a good deal to the genius of
Henry Purcell.
An editorial In the San Diego Trib
une says:
"There are some books that no gen
tleman's library should be without,
and no education can, be said to be
'liberal' that does not Include at least
a passing acqualntahce with 'The
Beggar's Opera.' The period of Eng
lish literature from Queen Anne to
Oeorge II Is the most picturesque in
the history of all letters. It was the
cosmopolitan age in which dwelt such
masters as Swift and Pope and Field
ing and Richardson and Goldsmith
and Johnson and Sterne and Defoe
and Addison and Steele, linking the
age of Dryden and Bunyan with that
of Wordsworth and Lamb and De
Quincey and Shelley and Byron,
touching the Elizabethans on one side
and merging with the Victorians on
the other. It was the age of realism
and satire, and its quality was a her
itage of the philosophy of Hamlet
edged with the wit of Mer'-utio Three
personalities stand out In the shifting
mists that veil the broad field In
which these masslvi figures reared
their classic structures three mas
ters of the comedy of manners. Con
greve is for the closet; Sheridan has
bequeathed to us the perennial
'School for Scandal." and John Gay Is
with us today in 'The Beggar's Opera.
tures and In the character of ad
vertising during the last six months.
The effort is being made.
Repeal Is Discussed.
"I feel that I have Governor
Miller's word that he will advocate
the repeal of the censorship law if it
can be shown within a reasonable
time that the producers themselves
have proven their ability to keep the
screen free from objectionable mat
ter and that no reason exists for i
censorship board."
"The people who control the motion
picture are the same people who made
It what it is. There are no newcom
ers yet. They are all the people who
started it, who started with the pic
ture, and if any of you think that
the picture has grown up and has
done any good at all, you owe it to
the people who control the picture
now.
"Is it right that an industry which
is the youngest and one of the great
est In the world should be stamped
as criminal? Yet that is what you
do when you pass a censorship bill
and when you practice It. You decide
that the people who make pictures
are unfit to make them, that their
product must be examined before It
is fit to be shown to the public.
"We protest agains. being charac
terised as criminals."
War Films Recalled.
Mr. Brady referred to the fact that
there was no cry for censorship dur
ing the war, when the motion picture
Industry was furnishing many miles
of film for upholding the morale of
the allies, and in other ways aiding
tne government in the successful con
duct of the war.
standard of the screen; one who will
call forth patronage to tne motion
picture theater that could not be
brought otherwise. It will lend dig
nity, art and accomplishment to the
silent drama, and it will add to the
roster of those whom the industry
must look to for the big things of the,
future the name of one of America's
greatest authors. Booth Tarkington.
"In making this announcement,"
Mr. Beyfuss continues, "we feel that
it will demonstrate once more that
every step we shall make will be a
definite advance In the Industry for
Exceptional Pictures. In bringing Mr.
Skinner to the screen again we want
to be considered only as the agency
in associating him with the art of
motion pictures we need him and
others like him for the good of all
that producing may become more
creative; that the distributor may
give to the exhibitor, for his public,
a product of a higher standard, thus
assuring the patronage which will
not only mean financial success for
everyone, but carry motion pictures
nearer the soal for which they are
striving."
Otis Skinner is more than a per
sonality: he is part of the foundation
of the art fo the motern theater. Suc
cessful in the highest degree, he is
beloved throughout the entire coun
try for himself and for the type of
artist for which he stands. Known
in practically every city and hamlet
In the country, he has continued to
sweep aside precedents established by
appearing in tne smallest towns fori
one, two and three-night stands. That j
is- why the public knows him and
They live as Shakespeare lives be
cause they contain the vital essence
that makes the men of all ages kin;
the men and women of that stage are
as human as those who strut and fret
and laugh their brief hour on the
stage of our own time. They are im
mortal because human nature Is im
mortal. And the laughter that will
greet MacHeath and Polly Peachum
In San Diego will be precisely the
same laughter that greeted them 200
years ago in London town."
A San Francisco review says:
"The orchestra of violins, flute and
oboe pictures the old score adorably.
It Is such a set of reeds and viols as investigations aimed at making de
old Thomas Pepys would have loved, ductions along these lines elicited
English music is, above all things
melodious. The air is the thing: it Is
music made to sing and to dance to.
When old Handel added the element
of academicism he ruined it. 'A poor
thing, but mine own,' you may say.
But It is not a poor thing; it Is a
noble thing and the future of English
art depends on Its development.
"The. best argument in favor of this
lovely old score is to hear It. 'Hear
ing is believing' In music as in re
ligion. So. 1! you like what Is charm
ing and simple, music that is of the
heart and the fancy, betake you to
hear 'The Beggar's Opera.' "
Everywhere the opera has been
praised as unique, notably well pro
duced, excellently acted and delight
fully eung.
I honors him as America's foremost ro
i mantle actor. This popularity, so
I well deserved, will lend tremendous
i appeal to his motion picture of "Mis
I ter Antonio." -I
The sincerity of purpose estab
I lished in the progress which Excep-
tional Pictures has accomplished in
I Its each individual step is once more
I demonstrated in the acquisition of
J Otis Skinner and "Mister Antonio."
Screen tiosslp.
Louise Huff, leading woman' for
Richard Barthclmess in his second
starring vehicle, "All at Sea," says
the finest tribute ever paid her In
her career as a motion-picture actress
came to her while on location In the
little fishing village of Pemaquid, on
the coast of Maine. Incidentally, It
brought into being prohably the
tiniest embryo moving - picture stir
yet recorded. She is little Loul.so
Huff Crocker, newly born daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. William Crocker, fish
er folk.
Mrs. Crocker declared Miss Huff
was the "most beautiful lady" 3he
had ever seen. "I want my baby to
be named for her, and I hope she will
grow up to be Just like her," t.ie
proud mother announced as soon as
the first wail of the new-born infant
was heard.
Viola Dana has nought a house in
Hollywood, where she will live with
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Em.l
THOMAS
IN
tt
CAPPY
Cast Includes
COMEDY "TIN CANS"
PATHE NEWS MUTT AND JEFF
Admission to This Special Program : Sunday 25c, Monday 20c
I mlr t Ir tt 1 1
A I h,itTtn t "ln-r
ri A ( f THE Cn V
In i .x k! MTW If Wf (4 O'CLotK
li 1111: J JlM fCl hi.i.owiJ
Flugrath. She said: "I'm simply tired I
of leasing houses and having, them
sold over my head."
More than 40 expert dancers, the
pick of all the cabarets In Los
Angeles and Hollywood, Cal., will be
se6n in Larry Semon's new corned;.', I
which has Its action laid in a thea
ter. As the young women have to bo
at their regular places well into the i
night they cannot appear at the v'ta
graph studios until late afternoon, but
as they know how to dance no time
Is lost in rehearsals.
Robert Brunton. one of the leading
California producers, who recently
sold his studios in Los Angeles to an
eastern syndicate. Is leaving for Eng
land, and says he may produce pic
tures there if the conditions warrant.
Among them will probably be some
Rudyard Kipling stories.
Good Story, Rather Than
Star, Draws Crowds.
Sukor Says Big Names That Helped
Hrfng Popular Attention Have
Lost Vagur.
A GOOD story rather than a big
star draws crowds now to motion
picture theaters, according to a state
ment by Adolph Zukor, president of
Famous Players-Lasky, in "Variety."
"Big names that helped bring clam
orous popular attention to films have
lost their vogue. Now in films, as in
theaters, It's again 'the play's the
thing.' Film audiences took a long
time to get where they are at, tum
bling money in at box offices prod
igally for years to see again and
again this, that or the other star of
the stage or screen offered in film
plays. Something about photoplays,
the enchantment of scenics Involved,
the comparatively cheap prices of ad
mission, kept audiences coming back
again and again to see their favorite
players, irrespective of the merits of
the screen medium in which they ap
peared. In the early periods of films,
when the rich fruits of the regular
talking stage abounded in material,
and the best dramas of our time tum
bled into the hoppers of the camera,
film prosperity flamed. A great play
and a big star and everybody came.
Things went on this way for years,
but the growing army of producers
gradually bit into a stored harvest of
precious play material, and then came
observed changes In the quantity and
quality of audiences. Business wasn't
so good when the star was great and
the play indifferent, and when the
star was talented but not of the first
class, the box office business boomed
when the play was great.
"Notwithstanding that many people
still aver that the film business is a
comparatively simple proposition to
master, the best minds in photoplay
making and photoplay distribution
were a long time getting at the hard
facts that while big and little stage
stars were money drawers in films
for a time regardless of their media,
the time came when names counted no
more if the play wasn't right. Our
written and voiced opinions from film
playgoers and exhibitors in all parts
of the country. These opinions repre
sent bales of signed Judgments con
firming the conclusions of the Famous
Players executives.
"One has but to survey the Broad
way field of the past year for fur
ther confirmation of our conclusion,
play after play, without known names,
packing audiences in for extended en
gagements where plays with stars of
international fame failed to draw
where the plays' proved unpopular.
Some people may consider it a haz
ardous innovation for the heads of big
organizations at this time to declare
or even admit that the depression
from which all business is suffering
is not a transient indication, but is
instead a natural, settled recession.
But that's just what it is. and the
financial patient will just have to
face the stroke of paralysis he's Buf
fered and patiently let time recuper
ate him.
"Everybody in films knows that ex
hibitors can no longer pay the big
prices for big features they paid two
years ago, or even one year ago. Ev
erybody In films knows that the
money that was ready cash down for
any sort of film agreement two years
ago, or even one year ago. is now
offered instead often in conversa
tion or notes. Two years ago the
low tide stage fo.r films set in. The
tide is still going out. The men
in Washington handling the peace
conference, with all their data, are
unable to predict when the return
flow will set in.
"The Famous believes that by the
concentration of producers upon the
selection of stories that will pictur
i.e regardless of stars and a general
change of front by distributors and
exhibitors leveled down to the present
depression, further embarrassments
may be avoided by many in films who
were caught in the recent great
slump.
' The public is more exacting in its
play demands that it was. Teeming
with human dramas of all sorts, poig
nant, startling, extraordinary, as was
the war, the struggle educated the
public. What had passed as stories
of engrossing complication before the
war seem empty, stale and uninter
esting now with the higher standards
for charm, curiosity and thrills that
the war created."
COME!
MEIGHAN
RICKS
Agnes Ayres
ft
rprntlently Onrrmril
COLLEGE DESPERADO IN BATH
ROBE PLUNKS AT UKULELE
What Father Bumps Into at Culture Factory Is a Horrible Sight "Is
This a College or a Zoo?" Asks Parent.
A
DOMESTIC Team had a Boy
named Buchanan who refused to
work, so his Parents decided that
he needed a College Education. After
he got that he could enter a Learned
Profession In which Work is a mere
Side-issue.
The Father and Mother of Buch
anan sent to the College for a Bank
Catalogue. The Come-On Book had a
Green Cover and It was full, of In
formation. It said that the Neces
sary Expenses counted up about $180
a year. All Students were under
helpful and moral Influences from the
Moment they arrived. They were
expected to hit the Mattress at 10
P. M., while Smoking was forbidden
and no one coutd go to Town except
on a Special Permit.
"This is Just the Fiace for Buch-
MABEL
A Drama of
TODAY
Ask
anan." said his Mother. "It will be
! such a Comfort to know that Son is
In his Room every Evening."
Accordingly Buchanan was supplied
with six Shirts, two Suits of every
thing, a Laundry Bag, a Pin Cushion,
a Ready-Repair Kit and a Flesh
Brush and away he rode to the Halls
of Learning. He wrote back that he
was Home Sick but determined to
stick out because she realized the Ad
vantages of a College Education. He
said his Eyes hurt him a little from
Reading at Night and he had to buy a
great many Extra Books, but other
wise he was fine and fancy. Love to
all and start a little Currency by the
first Mall.
After Buchanan had been toiling
up the Hill of Knowledge for nearly
two Months and sending ho', I'ulle-
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MACK SENNETTS
oHOLLY O"
VK with.
By the creator of "Mickey," with the
star of "Mickey," and competent
critics say it is greater than "Mickey."
WIT TEARS LOVE ROMANCE PAGEANTRY ADVENTURE
KNOWLES' PICTURE PLAYERS
in a specially selected score.
SCREENLAND NEWS
Bank Robbery and the Liberty
Theater Bandits
the Columbia cashier to show
tlns back to the Old Folks, his Father
decided to visit him and give him
some Encouragement.
"The Poor Boy must be lonesome
down there among all those Stran
gers," said Father. "I'll drop in on
him and brighten him up."
So Father landed in the College
Town and inquired for Buchanan, but
no one had heard of such a Person.
"Perhaps you mean "Old Buck,' "
said a Pale Youth with an ingrowing
Hat. "If he's the Indian you want
to see, I'll show you where he hangs
out."
The Proud Parent was steered to a
faded Boarding House and found
himself in a Chamber of Horrors that
soemed to bea Cross between a Junk
Shop and a Turkish Corner. Here he
found the College Desperado known
as "Old Buck," attired in a Bath Robe,
plunking a stingy little mandolin and
smoking a cigarette that smelled'as
if somebody had been standing too
close to the stove.
"Hello Guy." said the Seeker arfter
Truth. "Walt until I do a Quick
Change and we II go out and get a-
few lines of Breakfast."
"Breakfast at 2 P. M.?" inquired
Father.
"We had a very busy Night," ex
plained Buchanan. "The Sophomores
have disputed our Right to wear Red
Neckties, so last night we captured
the President of the Soph Class, tied
him to a Tree and beat him to a
Whisper with a Ball Bat. Then we
started over to set fire to the Main
Building and we were attacked by a
Gang of Sophs. That is how I hap
pened to get this Bum Lamp. Just
as he gave me the Knee I butted him
In the Solar Plexus. He's had two
Doctors working on hlra ever since.
And now the Freshies are going to
give me a supper at the Dutch Oven
tomorrow Night and there is some
Talk of electing me Class Poet. So
you see. I am getting along fine."
"You are doing Great Work for a
Mere Child." said the Parent. "If
you keep on you may be a U. S.
Senator some day. But tell me, where
did you get all of those sign Boards,
Placards. Head Stones and other Ar
ticles of Vertu?"
"I swiped those," replied the Col
legian. "In order to be a real Var
sity Devil one must bring home a
few Souvenirs every Night he goes
out. If the Missionaries did it, It
would be called Looting. If the Com
mon People did it. it would be called
Petit Larceny. But with us. It is
merely Student Prank."
"I understand." said Father. "Noth
ing can be more playful than to nail
a Tombstone and use It for a Paper
Weight."
"Would vou like to look around the
Institution?" asked Buchanan.
"Indeed I should." was the Reply.
"Although 1 have been denied the
blessed Privileges of Higher Educa
tion, I love to get into an atmosphere
of 12-cyllnder Intellectuality and
meet those Souls who are above the
Sordid Considerations of workaday
Commercialism."
"You talk like a Bucket of Ashes."
said the Undergraduate. "I'm not go
ing to put you up against any Profs.
Follow me and I'll fix It so that you
can shake hands with the guy that
eats 'em alive. I'll take you over to
the Corral and show you the Wild-
NORMAN D
Optimism and Youth
TODAY
you the Christmas Gift Book
Cats. They've been drinking Blood
all Morning and are feeling good and
cagey. About 3 o'clock we turn them
out Into the Arena and let 'em plow
up the Turf."
"Is this a College or a Zoo?" asked
the Parent.
"I refer to tne Football Squad,"
said Buchanan. "We keep about 40
at the training Table all of the Time
so nhat no matter how many are
killed off, we will always have 11
left. We have a Center Rush who
weighs 238, and you couldn't dent him
with a Hatchet. We caught him In
the Woods north of Town and
brought him down here. He is taking
a special Course In Piano Music two
Hours a Week and the rest of the
Time he is throwing Substitutes down
and biting them on the Arm."
Buchanan and his trembling Parent
sat at the Edge of the Gridiron and
watched the Carnage for a wh'le.
Buchanan explained tha it was mere
ly friendly Practice.
That Evening the Son said: "Fa
ther, you can stay onl a lltle while
and I want to give you a good Time
while you are here. Come with us.
We are going down to the Opera
House to put a Show on the bum.
One of the first things we learn at
College is to kid the Troopers. It Is
considered great Sport In these Parts.
Then, if any one gets pinched, we
tear down the Jail, thereby preserv
ing the Traditions of dear old Alma
Mater."
"Does the Faculty permit you to
be guilty of disorderly Conduct?"
asked the Parent.
"Any one who goes against the
Faculty single-handed is a Dumb
Bell," replied Buchanan.
' We travel 800 In a Bunch, so that
when the Inquest Is held, there Is no
Way of finding out Just who It was
that landed the Punch. Anything
Act of Providence. Now come along
that happens In a College Town is an
and see the American Youth at play."
They found their Way to the Tem
ple of Art. When the Chemical Sou
Brette started in to sing "Hello, Cen
tral, Give Me Heaven," they gave her
Just the opposite of what she was
demanding. A few Opera Chairs were
pulled up by the Root:: and tossed
on the Stage, merely to disconcert the
Artiste. When the House Policeman
came he was hurled 30 Feet into the
Air and soon after that the Show
broke up. The Student Body flocked
out and upset a Trolley Car and then
they went homeward In the Moon
light singing "Sweet Memories of
College Days, La-la! La-la!"
Father's Hat was caved In and he
was a trifle bewildered, but he man
aged to observe that the Boys wers
a trifle boisterous when they got a
fair Start.
"Oh, yes: but they don't mean any
thing by It." explained Buchanan.
"I hope they will explain that to
the House Policeman as soon as they
get him to the Hospital," said the
Parent. "Otherwise, he might mis
construe their Motives."
Next Day. when he went back, hs
told Mother not to worry about Buch
anan, as he seemed to have a full
and sympathetic Grasp on the true
Inwardness of modern educational
Methods.
MORAL Attend to the Remittances
and Son will do the Rest.
(Copyright by the Bell hyrnilrati . DM I
THRILLS!
1