THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 19, 1932
THEATRICAL CONDITIONS SHOW
IMPROVEMENT IN GOTHAM
More Shows Likely to Be Sent Out for Spring Season Managers Hope
to Clear Up at Middle of Poor Year for Industry.
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BY ELIZABETH LONERGAN.
NEW YORK, Fell. 18. (Special.)
Theatrical conditions seem at
last to be giving: signs of de
cided improvement. If this continues,
more shows will be sent out for the
spring season and managers will be
encouraged to try again with more
new shows In the hope of clearing up
at1 the middle of one of the poorest
of theatrical years.
Doris Keane and Marie Lohr, one
Kngllsh by marriage and the other
by birth, came to Broadway on suc
cessive nigtits with new and good of
ferings. Miss Keane has at last put
"Romance" away and her new play,
"The Czarina," promises to have just
as successful a run. She has the role
of the famous Catherine of Russia,
whose love affairs, well known In
history, lend themselves well to a
play. The scenes are laid in Russia
in 1765, giving opportunity for unusu
ally picturesque costumes and set
tings of great individuality.
Frederick Kerr pla,ys the "role of
the chancellor, who manages the
czarina without her being aware of
the fact. He is a quiet, genial old
chap and is about to introduce the
csarlna to a handsome French am
bassador when along comes a delight
ful soldier pf fortune who proceeds to
make an impression upon the czarina
and to occupy the center of the stage
for a couple of scenes. Then he proves
a traitor and is thrown into jail. Her
royal highness misses him and is
ready to forgive and forget when, at
the psychological moment, the chan
cellor Introduces the French ambas
sador and all Is over as far as the
eoldler of fortune Is concerned, and
he embarks upon another romantic
episode when the curtain falls. The
play Is written In a very clever vein
a,nd the settings and coBtumes add
much to the charm of the story. The
company includes Lois Meredith,
fS&il'. 7V: iPMS
"
Phyllis Alden, Frederick Kerr, Ian
Keith, Basil Rathbone, Kenneth
Thonfson, William Devereaux, Rich
ard Machlen, Edwin Noel and w. H.
Thompson.
Marie Lohr In New Flay.
Marie Lohr made her American
debut in a play based upon the novel
of the same name by Robert Hichens,
The play follows the story quite
closely and Is rather old-fashioned in
its treatment, according to some of
the critics. But the wonderful acting
of the star covers over and serious
defects and, without doubt ,stie will
carry it to a successful engagement.
The opening scene, in Damascus with
the turrets and towers of the city
seen from the open window, is par
ticularly picturesque. The cast Is an
all-CEnglish one with no familiar
names, but all the parts are well
taken.
"Pins and Needles," a De Courville
production straight from London,
came Into the Shubert theater with a
cast headed by Harry Pilcer, ex-danc
ing partner of Uaby Desyls, and Edith
Kelly Gould. An English revue is
not always understood by American
audiences, anymore than our brand
of humor takes in London, and this
revue does not seem destined to be
a success, unless the first night critics
have made a mistake.
Charlotte Greenwood in New Play,
The majority of the "Letty" ehows
have come east with the California
trademark, but the new one will re
verse things. George V. Hobart has
been engaged by Oliver Morosco to
write the book of the latest "Letty'
play, which will be called "Letty Pep
per." Most of the old theater-goers
remember "Maggie Pepper,". In which
Rose Stahl appeared a decade or so
ago (it has probably been done at
some time by the Baker because It is
a favorite stock play in the east).
The score and lyrics are already In
shape and Mr. Morosco hopes to have
the first performance at Atlantic City
the first of this month. Following a
short tour, it will open In New York,
possibly at the Morosco theater.
Jane Cowl in "Smllin' Through."
The rumor that Jane Cowl would
reappear In "Smilln Through" has
been confirmed by her managers,
Selwyn & Co. Miss Sowl has been
playing the part on the road for
nearly two years since leaving New
York and has had a number of re
turn engagements.- It will be. a great
pleasure to her many friends to see
her once more in the part. It will be
interesting also since the release of
the picture with Miss Norma Tal-
madge in Miss Cowl's role to compare
the stage and screen possibilities of
the piay.
NEW BILLS AT THEATERS
(Continued From Page 6.)
mirers here, will have a part dis
similar to most that have fallen to
her lot since she first came to Port
land. The combination of a finely
drawn character by such a writer
as Kate Douglas Wiggln and cap-
! able stage work by Miss Powers may '
be expected to produce an attractive ,
figure.
In the continued absence of Selmer !
Jackson, who was obliged to retire I
from the cast on the stern ultima- .
turn of his .physician, Henry Hall of
"The Man From Home" fame, will
have a role calculated to offer him
opportunity to suit him to the pro
verbial T. Hall is adding to the
number of admirers who saw him
here some years ago. Reassuring re
ports have been sent to Director
Walter B. - Gilbert of the excellent
progress toward complete recovery
of Selmer Jackson, leading man. If
Jackson keeps up his present rate he
will be able to rejoin the cast before
very long, says Gilbert.
PAXTAGES BILL IS NOVEL
"The Current of Fun" Is Headliner
Opening Tomorrow.
Laughter and science are combined
in a startling electrical novelty, "The
Current of Fun," which is coming as
the headliner at the Pantages theater,
commencing tomorrow, following sen
sational appearances in eastern cities.
Mile. Brunnelle is apparently immune
o electricity and does all manner of
amazing things, including the light
ing of carbon light with the current
pparently passing through her boay.
An assistant, who proves an apt come
dian, provides the laughter.
The Five Patrowars, In an exniDi-
tion of physical prowess,- dancing and
inging, is said to be quite unusual.
Exquisite lighting effects and artistic
back drop lends a classic tone to tnis
act, with its three men and two wom
en players.
A fashionable boot shop is the set
ting chosen by Edythe and Eddie
Adair, in a clever, breezy comedy skit,
which consists of smart dialogue, ex
pertly delivered by Miss Adair and her
partner.
Langton, Smith and Langton, two
men and a maid, have voices tnat
blend pleasingly in their vocal num
bers. The spice of their jokes and
swift repartee Intermingled by the
clever folks Is said to be smart and
original.
Xja Zar .and uaie, biacitrace come
dians, known far and near as the
Bagoona hunters, arrive at a cabin in
the woods and there hunt the laugn
with unerring success. Their jazz
keeps the audience In an uproar.
The Aerial Rooneys, a man and a
pretty girl, give a daring performance
on the flying trapeze that has won
for them an outstanding hit on every
bill they have ever appeared on. Lit
tle Miss Rooney is Quite the cutest
trick who has wafted over the Pan
tages circuit In many days.
An extraordinary screen comedy will
be presented on the Pantagescope,
when the Unlversal-Jewell-Collier's
series, "The Leather Pushers," will
be shown. "The Leather Pushers" is
picturization of H. C. WItwer's
famous story, which ran In Collier's
Weekly, and they will be shown in a
series of 12 pictures, each being a
complete story in itself. The story
tells of a college youth s experience
In the prize ring and is filled with
romance, adventure and conflict.
MUSICAL FARCE BIG FEATURE
Sew Bill at Hippodrome Declared
to Be Full ot Variety.
A musical playlet, in which the fun
of a eatirical character, will be
the headline act at the Hippodrome
this afternoon. -It is entitled "Mar
riage Vensus Divorce" and will be
presented by Ruth and Garren.
George Usher and Lucl Suki are the
featured members of the company,
which also includes May Town and
Anne Callahan.
Pastimes In Jungle Land," with a
coconut grove as a background, is
the name of the Anselsmith spectac
ular gymnastic act which embraces
array of aerial stunts, feats: of
teeth work and other unique ideas.'
Charles and Cecil McNaughton will
present a comedy skit entitled "Get
ting Acquainted.'"
Lillian Boardman, the "Little Big
Soprano," will make her reappear
ance here in a new programme of
old-time and "popular ballads.
Raymond and Lyte will present a
miniature revue entitled "Songs and
Steps."
THE BLUEBIRD" LYRIC BILL
Musical Comedy of Race Course
Said to Be Delightful.
According to all the promises made
by its producers, "The Bluebird," a
musical comedy with which patrons
of the Lyric theater will be enter
tained this week, beginning with the
matinee this afternoon, was. prop
erly named, for there is said to be
happiness and laughter in every line,
with much fun added by the special
ties that have been arranged by Di
rector Dillon.
'The Bluebird" Is billed as a "ro
mance" of the race track, although it
is set to music and comedy is Its only
mission. Ben Dillon, Al Franks and
Eddie Wright, aided by Dorothy Ray
mond and the other Lyric principals,
will have the big comedy roles in
the show, with the Rosebud girls in
the background. Howard Eyans, lead
ing man and ballet master, will have
a big part as Young Barton, an ex
Jockey, who comes to the rescue of
Nellie at the crucial moment after
her wonderful race horse has almost
been counted out of the race because
her enemies have done away with
her Jockey.
Into the funmaklng Billie Bingham,
Anna Chick, Jewell La Velle and
Clare Heath will enter prominently
with new eongs. The Lyrcl trio will
enhance the musical tone of the bill
with a series of lively selections.
The Lyrio varies its programme
during the week by offering a "coun
try store" Tuesday evening and the
chorus girls' contest Friday evening.
Cheery Breakfast Helps
Good Spirits.
Sonny Room Considered Fine Place
for First Meal.
IT IS a wise housemother who makes
the breakfast environment Just as
cheery as possible. Good spirits at
the day's start help the business man
faring forth to a possible struggle
that will take every ounce of nerve,
wit and courage; and a bright, glad
breakfast hour sends the children to
school with better intention about
work. Rely on the resentful or Irrita
ble child for slothfulness and mis
chief during school hours.
If there be a sunny breakfast room,
so much the better. If there be an
open grate, with a crackling, snap
ping wood fire o'mornings, so much
the better. But even without the
sunny room or the open fire breakfast
can be made an event In the day by
a special set In a window a lower,
cosier table than the formal dinner
table and special china and linens
for the meal. A painted yellow table
Is good, with Windsor chairs of sim
ple style painted scarlet. The flower
on the table should be scarlet, too, in
a yellow bowl. The square breakfast
cloth and small square napkins may
be cream linen crash never any
thing but linen on the table of a
housewife who holds by old traditions
of breeding and taste.
And last, the mother-face back of
the coffee cups will be bright and
Bmlltng to send out the family to
work and study and play in the best
possible spirit of courage and good
cheer.
PLOT OF "THE BAT' REMAINS
SECRET UNTIL IT- IS SHOWN
Hundreds of Thousands of Women Who Have Seen Great Picture
Prove That They Can "Keep Mum."
ill -iru
A .11
M1
EN delight in saying'that worn-1
en cannot keep a secret and
women come right back at the
wretches and declare that it is the
men who cannot keep a thing to
themselves.
- "The Bat," the highly mysterious
play by Mary Roberts Rinehart and
Avery Hopwood, which Wagenhals
& Kemper present at the Helllg thea
ter on March 1 to 4, has been prov
ing for the past year or so that
both the men and the women are
wrong. They can both keep a secret
And they have.
"The "Bat" is a tribute to the un
selfishness and bigness of those thou
sands who go to make up the great
masses of theatergoers. And it has
been so plainly brought home that it
must have impressed anyone and
everyone to whose attention it has
Taeen called.
From the day "The Bat" was first
produced, critics and audience alike
have been asked to keep the story
of the play a secret.
Now, .If the critics or those In the
audience has seen fit to break the
confidence imposed on them, it is
more than likely the play itself would
have long since lost much of its
drawing power, and there is no tell
ing how many hundreds of thousands
GOLD ROUTE ACROSS PANAMA
ISTHMUS IS NOW WATERWAY
.
Old Land Lanes Blotted Out by Canal Which Follows Jungle Trails
Blazed by Hardy Argonauts of the '50s.
-AN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18. When
M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, French
-- engineer, started the construc
tion of a great canal "from the gulf
of Limon to the Bay of Panama, Cen
tral America, in 1881, he is supposed
to have happened on the rude graves
of many travelers over the 'gold
route." They were the graves of
those who had fallen and died on this
route in the heartbreaking Journey
from coast to coast through the al
most Impenetrable jungle, while an
swering the feverish lure of California
gold. Within the past few weeks
the "gold route." which really
reached from New York to San Fran
cisco, has been opened again after it
had been a memory only for more
than BO years.
Today's route leads by the graves
of the hardy Argonauts and' follows
in a general way the Jungle trails that
they trod, but goes through the Pan
ama canal. The canal has blotted
out the land lanes of the "gold route."
The arrival of 'the steamer Venezuela
In New York early in February com
pleted the reopening of the historic
old route.
Route Biased In Winter of '48.
The route was "blazed'' when the
sldewheeler California left New York
late In 1848 bound, for a, Puget sound
port. While she was still following
the pathway of the galleons down the
old Spanish main, however, California
blazed up on the horizon through the
discovery of gold. At Asplnwall, now
Colon, the hardy adventurers who
made up her passenger list heard the
news, were lured on by dt, and dis
embarked with the hope that they
could speed their Journey by break
ing through the 46 Jungle-tangled
miles that lay between them and Pan
ama and another western port, Ta
boga. History records that many of them
AFTER
NOONSl Child . - Iflo
Adult - - SOc
EVENINGS!
Child . - 17c
Adults - - 39c
Sun.-Mon.-Tues.-Wed.,
"MARRIAGE
A Musical Satire
WITH GEORGE CRAIG
BRYANT AND STEWART
"Gentlemen Jesters." .
RAYMOND AND LYTE
"Songs and Steps"
EUGENE O'BRIEN
IN
"BROADWAY AND HOME"
L- I
Coming Thursday, BERT
of theatergoers would have been de
prived of the joy that has been theirs
in seeing the play. . '
So far as anyone has known, the
secret of "The Bat" has never been
disclosed. If anyone wants to know
the full story of the play and know
what happens at the very end, that
person must go and see and hear for
himself or herself. The authors and
managers have asked it and the crit
ics and public have decreed it;
If you doubt that all this is
written, canvass any of your friends
who may have seen "The Bat" In any
other city. Ask them to tell you what
happens. Ask them to tell you how
it all turns out. Unless the record of
hundreds of thousands of other per
sons must be disregarded, your ques
tions will go unanswered. They sim
ply won't tell.
-
If men and women were, paid to
"keep mum" about the last few sec
onds -of the last act of a mystery play
who would deny that the secret would
be told as soon as the paltry fee for
silence had been paid? If threats were
made or even stronger methods of
persuasion and caution used than the
mere asking, in so many words, that
the secret not be told, there isn't the
slightest doubt that "just to show
'em" the secret would have been
promptly told.
got through after a desperate strug
gle, but others were not so fortunate.
For some time thereafter the "gold
route" held its own with the famed
overland trail across the plains, but
in 1855 a railroad was built across
the Isthmus and the old route, was
finally abandoned with the clearing
of the Indians and kindred dangers
from the all-land trail.
Passengers Closely Packed. x
Sometimes the California and her
sister ships, the Oregon and Panama,
would discharge their argonaut pas
sengers at Aspinwall, and after round
ing the Horn would pick them up
again at Panama- or Taboga. The
ships established the first regular all
water route between New York and
San Francisco, and took a whole
month in the passage. It was neces
sary at times to pack the passengers
in rather closely because of their
numbers, but there were no serious
accidents reported.
Although never, as well known as
the Overland Trail or the route around
the Horn, the "gold route" held a
much romance and gave rise to as
stirring tales as the other early travel
lanes to the gold fielcrs. History
records that the first steamer to ar
rive over the "gold route" was given
a tremendous ovation in San Fran
cisco, the event being referred to as
one of great historical importance.
FRANCE HOLDS PRESTIGE
Moral Support Assured In Settle
ment of Near Eastern Question.
JERUSALEM. France has achieved
a great increase of her prestige
throughout the near east by her
treaty with the Turkish nationalists
by -her surrender to them of the whole
provlm?e of CiMcia and- by giving as-
VAUDE
VILLE 8:30. 7 and 9
P. M.
PICTIRE
2, 4:30, 8, 10
P. SI.
February 19-20-21-22
vs. DIVORCE"
of Everyday Life.
USHER AND lUCI SUKI
i r
LILLIAN BOARDMAN
Popular Songstress.
ANGELSMITHS
"Jungreland Pastimes."
LYTELL in "The Lone Wolf"
leurances of the moral support of the!
i French In the nnal settlement or aw
: near eastern question.
Mohammedans of Syria, Egypt and
! Palestine are beginning to look upon
; France as having assumed the role of
i chamiplon. of Islaun In succession to
! Great Britain and the later efforts of
Emperor-William to become the "de
i f ender of the Orescent."
; Political observers here affirm that
France has scored a diplomatic vie
tory in the near east as a result of the
Angora pact and that this means the
end of the allied co-operation In han
dling Turkish affairs. France, they
say, never forgave England for hav
ing .turned over Mesopotamia to Emir
Feisal, who was driven out of Syria
by General Gouraud. They point out
that France's latest action has placed
a hostile nation on the border of
Mesopotamia.
Only yesterday the Mohammedans
of Syria, Egypt and Palestine were
all united In their condemnation of
the French mandate and also in Syria.
Today they are singing loudly the
praises of everything French. The
Moslem press is devoting many of
its columns in appreciation of the An
gora pact arnd the service it has ren
dered Islam in general and the Cali
phate ia (particular.
Chiefs of Bedouin tribes, who In
past months have been & source of
trouble to the Syrian administration
on account of regular raids carried
on in Syria, are now not only pledg
ing their loyalty and good behavior
but are also demanding that ttvey be
irocorporated under the government
of Syria.
A few days ago a great demonstra
tion was held In the city of Beirut to
commemorate the Anglo - Turkish
treaty. About 10.000 Mohammedans
delivered by leading citisems, In all
took part In the event Speeches were
of which the key note was "long live
France; down with Engtand." A reso
lution was adopted calling upon all
Moslems in all parts of the world to
stand loyal to the French flag.
Genuine Linen Is Stamped
With Irish Trademark.
Modern Housewife Want Pure
Article and Nothing Else.
THB most interesting thing about
silverware, when you are buy
ing It, is the tiny stamp hidden some
where in the pattern that assures
you that this Is "solid silver, for
which you are about to spend your
money. No woman of intelligence pur-
Chases pork that has not the stamp
of government approval, demonstrat
ing its safety as an edible. But there
are hundreds of women who take
linen on the say-so of a clerk who
is obviously anxious to make a sale.
There are many and devidus ways
in which linen shot with an inferior
thread can be polished and pressed
and treated so that it has to an un
discerning eye the smooth luster and
finish of genuine damask. Even the
tongue-touched-to-the-back of the
fabric is- not an infallible test. Fine
linen is so expensive, because of the
scarcity of flax and the Increased cost
of production, that women want to be
very sure they are purchasing genu
ine linen when they spend their good
dollars.
Great-grandmother knew all about
her linens. She saw the flax growing
and very likely spun, and wove her
table cloths herself. She knew that
those linens not only would launder
exquisitely, without a hint of starch;
the pattern coming up like satin
brocade under a hot Iron and every
fold as straight and true as a pen
cilled line. And she knew also that
those linens probably would outlast
her own lifetime. The modern house
wife would like to feel the same, but
It pays to be hypercritical and not
trust an enthusiastic salesperson's as
surance. Genuine Irish linens have a
Children
-
the
Grace Barnes'
Puppets
are really coming to the
a
LincolnHigh School
Auditorium
. ON
Sat. March 4th
for
three performances.
"Peter Rabbit and the Circus"
at the morning matinee
and
"Aladdin
afternoon and evening.
Ticket Sale Opens Monday, Feb.
20, at the
ELLISON-WHITE CONSERVA
TORY OF MUSIC
654 Everett St. Marshall 4200
MIDDLET0N
BASS-BARITONE
AUDlTOKiUM
Tomorrow Night
8:30 P. M.
Seats now selling
Sherman, Clay & Co.
Prices: ?2.20, $1.65 and $1.10,
including tax. -Elwyn
Concert Bureau
505 Piatt Bldg.
Phone your want a&s to the Ore
gonian. Main 7070. Automatic 560-95.
stamp, or trademark indorsed by the
Irish Linen society and upon this
stamp one can rest with the assur-
STOCK COMPANY
1
I,BO!. POWF.RS an
"Rebecca, the Sunshine
MHsfusUSGI
REBECCA
OF SUNNYBROOK
FARM
SATURMY MO SUNDAY-
vA VAUDEVILLE'S LATEST NOVELTy
SS ' WITH MLLE..
RiLLiAWT coneor m cucticl ocnonjTMTtotM
LANGTON. SniTH
ANO LANGTON
CVANaCLISTJ OK A -llIOK Or JOVJ
LAZAR AND DALE
THE SACOOMa HUNTtS
THE PATOAR.
A NOVELTY ' VAR.I
EXTRAORDINARY ' SCREEN ATTRACTION
tST EDITION OP THE UNIVEIESAL-rEWE.U.-COLUEJ SEWES
"THB LEATHER PUSHERS"
PICTUFI.IXATIOIM OfH.C. WITWCHt FAMOUS COl-L.CS fttH.ynBiH8
fj&XT WEEK I fRS iOV
1 HERE'S
TJ A "ODTTvTT? C C ins fast and famous r
Lll llMJLVOO futurity footers.
A "ROMANCE" OF THE RACE TRACK
Featuring s
Mike, Ikie and Iny, with the Rosebud Girls in one of the
most genuine laugh shows of a big season of comedies.
It's a treat!
at the
It is
"THE BLUEBIRD"
5 Afterhons at 2 Evenings at 7 and 9 P. M. EE
EE Country Store Tuesday Chorus Contest Friday. EE
llillliliP
i ance of reliance on the government
stamp on carefully inspected meat
I products.
1 jj
STARTTXG
Sunday Matinee Today
A Dramatization of Eate
I Douglas Wiggin's Famous
Story with a beautiful blend-
Ving of Pathos and Comedy.
A BOOK AND PLAY
EVERYONE HAS
READ OR HEARD
ABOUT
A play that brings a tear
V i u': . ,1,'J,
then wipes ij, away wiia an
irresistible laugh.
Tuesday Night, Theater Party,
Auspices Knights of Columbus:
-NIGHTS V6.9
CONTINUOUS I W TO II PM
ORNELC .
edythe: and
ELD DIE. ADAIR
ymMMTim'IW TM BOOT SHOP J
E
THE AERIAL ROONEYS
DAKINS TKAPC.ZC ARTISTS
ETY SORPR IS E."
6ABPNe,R.(W PEHBOwf
I!!il!!!!!liiiSII!ly
A fresh frolic of forty
funny friends follow-
The
Heart '
of the
Joy Zone
called
jf-'iiita
s EJa - -23
1