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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1938)
- PAGE TI1RE2 'Ragtime Band' Is at Grand Alice Faye, Ameche and Power. Stars of Film. Based Upon Song "Alexander's Ragtime Band." the Bong which Irving Berlin wrote nearly 30 yean ago and which has lived long enough in popular fancy to become almost an American folk song, forma the theme of the Darryl F. -Zanack production which bears the song's name. The film opened yesterday at the Grand theatre, with Tyrone Tower, Alice Faye and Don Ameche In jthe starring roles'. While it revolutionized the en tire popular concept of dancing and singing in 1911 . . . and is generally admitted to hare begun the ragtime vogue which has since passed through the eras of blues and jais to current ."swing" . ,. there are a number of interesting facts in connection with the song itself. Originally written by Irving Berlin as "Alexander and His Clarinet." the song had no words. Revamped and lyricized for - a Friars frolic in New York in lilt. First sung in public in 1911 by Km ma Cams in Chicago. In 27 years, to date, it has been given 10,000-odd- performances. Tune Sells 2,000,000 Copies At the peak of its career the song sold 2,000,000 copies of sheet music ... its staggering total oyer 27 years cannot be learned. .. j. ; Irving Berlin did not own the copyright to the song until 1925 when he . bought it. The author and composer was paid $25 a' week when he wrote "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and he has writ ten 600 songs which have aggre-ga- more than 60,000,000 copies of sheet music. Although he is considered a genius of melody, Berlin's process of writing always starts with the words. He generally begins by catching a phrase . . . sometimes an obscure remark heard i in a throng. ! One Berlin production years ao in New York , bore the title "Watch Your Step" which had been the chant of the subway guards until he put it to music. Adept at Phrasing Titles A friend's chance remark. "My Wife's Gone to the Country" . . , a confused clubmate's plaintive. "What'll I Do?" . . . "All Alone." The key to his tremendous suc cess as a writer of the nation's songs has been his quick ability for phrases which need but to be brought before your eyes to strike a familiar note on your ear. Berlin got his first, taste for irnsic from his father. The future longwriter was four years old hen the family moved to Ameri la. Outside of two years of public school, the boy was busy help ing out the family by selling newspapers. He later sant popular songs of the day at a Bowery barroom and composed his own pieces. - It was not long before he-wrote his first instantaneous hit, "My Wife's Gone to the Country." But he touched off the spark when he wrote "Alexander's Rag time Band." The story Is the love of three young people who fight their way together through the Barbery coast to fame, during the years when ragtime changed to swing Featured are many . of the hits that made Irvin Berlin the king of all popular song writers. Ralph W. Wilburn Funeral Is Today WOODBURN Ralph Waldo Wilburn, 75, of Woodburn . died at a Salem hospital Thursday. He was born in Barton, Md.. May 17, 1863, and moved . here several years ago. He is survived by his widow, Ida M. Wilburn; one son, Ralph Wilburn, three daughters. Gale Belle Wilburn and Vivian Konet ta of Portland and Vesta Wilburn Blair of Seattle. Funeral services were held at the Ringo chapel Saturday aft ernoon at 2 p. m. with Rev. Ralph O. Kleen in charge. Interment will be ia Belle Passi cemetery. ' iN CAVALCADE OF RHYTHM P , . , .. - i; .:y: , .v . - ... i J ' ' "" - ' i ! -nriwiMi.ru iiii i -.1. i i.i ,i i ... i ...in ., i 1 1 1 .. mi i ' - "Uimr ir r , inr i in urn in I iiniM.i I 11 I T .1 ... mliiril run nummr. mi. I I r Stay ton Plans Sports Fjeld Mayor Weddle Initiates Program; Swimmers Sliow. Today ; STAYTON Mayor W. A. Wed dle started plans last week .for the construction of a modern ath letic field for Stayton. The present field at the high school is inadequate for foot ball end because - of buildings nearby it is not suitable for base ball. An athletic field Is needed for the use of high school and grade school teams ' and also by community organizations In ; the . past several years the high school and town teams have leased the field owned by Ray mond Minten, who has stated that the field -would not be avail able -next year because of other plans for the piece of ground. Mayor Weddle has been in conference with designers of the Sllverton field, who are anxious to assist in the construction of a -field , here. :. Tha location of the tract and the cost have not as yet been an nounced.' ' Swim Show Today An exhibition will be given by the American Red Cross life saving classes at the Stayton pool today at 2 o'clock. In addition there will be several games for entertainment 'and " the public is invited to bring lunches and pic nic in the park. - " i The object of , the exhibition is for the Stayton people to see what has been taught at the swimming pool this summef. There will be a complete demon stration of artificial respiration. The Junior and Senior life saving classes wDTgive a demon-1 stration on rescue work. , This will consist of showing the spec tators the , proper method , of breaking strangle holds . and , the different carries, used ' by . the American . Red Cross. This -will be demonstrated by Stayton boys and : girls. There will be racej for the" small boys and girls. ; Everyone- interested' in any type of swimming or life saving classes-for children and adults are asked to consult Mr. Jack son or Mr. Moody at the park Pool- " . Subs for Chandler SILVERTON Roma Ramsby Is substituting for M. S. Chandler as mail carrier on Star route. Mr. CLandler , will - retire from the work for at least a year. If his health is not improved by that time he may retire permanently. William Collins Accident Victim MONMOUTH William Col lins, 63, native son, died August 15 as. result of a fall from a trailer load of hay on his farm north of town. He was born March 25, 1875 at Ballston. All of his life was spent in Polk county and all the later years on his farm here. .. ; He attended schools at Inde pendence and Monmouth includ ing Oregon Normal. Surviving are two brothers, David of Inde pendence and Charles of Cali fornia, and a foster sister, Miss HazeL Collins, Seattle. , Tyrone rower and Alice Faye' furnish the romantic interest In the spectacular film "Alexander's Ragtime. Band. (Top) wartime days are recalled by this scene from a doughboy production staged dur ing the early days of our participation In the World war. The Jazx , . O age had Its beginnings amid lowly surroundings. In this scene from "Alexander's Ragtime Band, Alice Faye sings while Tyrone Power plays the fiddle, Don Ameche the piano, and Jack Haley the traps. Eddy and Powell Hollywood Stars "Rasalie" Music - Extrava ganza Uses West Point for i Its Background - 'L : ; fi - - Reproducing the picturesque campus and many of the impos ing buildings of America's ' fam ous West Point played an impor tant part in the filming of"Ro salie," the super-lavish . new mu sical which brings Nelson Eddy and Eleanor Powell to the Holly wood starting today in a, co-starring vehicle. W. S.!Van Dyke II, who di rected "Rosalie," is famed for his insistence on accuracy in repro ducing famous landmarks. , Settings Extravagant . Many West Point campus scenes Were reproduced in fullest detail for the picture. Studio experts made the trek across the country to photograph and measure im portant i settings. Hence, when Eddy and Miss Powell are seen talking to each other at the top of a knoll, it is shown as a faithful copy of 1 the famous Flirtation Walk. Other scenes are similarly authentic. Nine new Cole Porter songs are heard in the production. National Pension Club now Formed MONMOUTH The reorgani zation of Townsend club activi ties in Monmouth has brought about formation of the local club of the Townsend National Recovery Plan of Oregon which is functioning as a separate unit from Monmouth Townsend club No. 1. The latter was formed four years ago.j President of the new club is E. M. Ebbert; vice-president, W. J. Graham;! secretary. May Whita ker; treasurer, A. J. Whitaker; advisory! board: Henry Hewett, Ed Rogers, E. M. DeLapp, Sar ah Lamb, and J. L. Murdock. Mrs. Eugenia is chairman of the welfare committee. The club has 48 members. L. , I J - The dancing of Eleanor Powell and the music of Kelson Eddy Mend in the production "Rosalie, lavish musical film at the Hollywood ' theatre today. ; ! ; ' BROADWAY NIGHTS C99vrigt. tUB, King Feture Syndicate. Inc. By AXEL. STORM Film Star to Wed Ocean Flier : ' V f, V r i ; i , Toby Wing Dick Mcrria Kumerooa romantic rumors linking Toby Wing, movie starlet, and Dick Merrill, transatlantic Cyer, were confirmed when they an nounced that they would marry till faU. XerriH Is the only flyer who has E2&4 two rousl trirs by sJr acro?i tif .Uantia. NEW YORK What with Bum mer theaters getting under way, the outdoor opera season shaking the rain out of . its hair at Jones beach and Randall's island: and the air-conditioned night clubs offering summer fare even light er than the usual, the entertain ment outlook for New York's summer is a good one. . i f Two notable openings were chalked up at the beginning j of the week- and only one of these was a new play. At the Ridgway theater in White Plains, N. Y., Eugene O'Neill's comedy, "Ah, Wilderness!" started the season, with Thomas Crosby, professor of English at Brown university, in the role created by George M. Cohan. The really Important opening of the week, however, was the pre miere of "Honey," a comedy by Ward Greene, at the Cape Play house, Dennis, Mass. It was pre sented by special arrangement with Max. Gordon, who plana a Broadway production in the fall. "Honey" deals with a southern family, - living in Brooklyn i in straitened circumstances, with lit tle feft except their I southern pride. When the head of the fam ily,, .who seven years before ran out with' a minstrel troupe, un expectedly turns ; up, interesting situations develop in the three acts which critics have character ized as amusing and exciting. Accent Authentic .. i The confraternity of play slay ers found Miss Mary Brian who makes her debut as a player on the legitimate stage in "Honey," "attractive, vivacious, and with, a charming and authentic southern accent." They report that she was ably supported by Philip Houston as a Broadway racketeer who yearns to skip the gutter and be come a southern gentleman-farmer; Margaret Wycherly as the mother; June Walker, Muriel Hutchinson, Mable Page. Otto II u lett, Forrest Orr, Wylie Adams and others. The direction was by Arthur Slrcom and the settings by Eugene Fitsch. , ; As to outdoor entertainment, the Callo opera troupe has begun its annual presentation of the more popular grand operas in the overgrown gondola which holds the stage in Bach's bay, Jones beach. 1. and the gay and col orful "Show Boat" is currently the attraction in the stadium un der the Triboro bridge on Riker's island. Dancer From Turkey We weren't speaking of danc ers, but if we had been, it might have brought out a remark that almost any kind of a dancer could have been born In Spain. But at I Bill Bill BertolotU'a restaurant down on West Third street in Greenwich Village there's a Span ish dancer who, so help us, was born In Turkey. Her name's Chi ta, which doesn't sound Spanish to us at all, unless It's a contrac tion or a diminutive, and she's as authentically Spanish a dancer as if she had been born in the Tri ana. There's an unmistakable Gl-tano-Castilllan fire and dash and ihythm to her dancing, she's good to look at, and she doesn't do the same .old things so many Spanish dancers have done for us. By the way, we took an epicurean friend of ours, a-woman physician (and you know how penetrating they tan be in their criticisms) to Bill Bertolotti's for dinner. She had a cocktail, some fine wine with the dinner, and when the floor show started she lifted her eye brows. "They don't really need a floor show here, do they?" she asked. "Their food is the best I've tasted in New York.", . That Just goes to show how ac curate her diagnosis was. "We couldn't vouch for all New York, but the food at this place is su perb. - - Kebers Are Home from Trip Abroad Attend Budapest Meeting; Bit. Angel Cannery Is Leased to Clary MT. ANGEL Home from a European jaunt are Misses Helen and Elizabeth Keber. They left here in April to attend the eu charistlc congress in Budapest, Hungary. They have visited im portant countries of western Europe and relatives and friends in the eastern and middle western United States. At Madelia, Minn., the girls met their brother, Alois Keber, and two nieces, Ursula and Mad len Keber. The-united party mo tored home in Alois Keber'a new ly-purchased car. Cannery' leased For the first time in several months, the Mt. Angel cannery will operate. The building and equipment rhave been leased to E. J. Clary of Seattle, Wash. The new owner plans to pack prunes, possibly by the first of September. This Is the first time the can nery will be under private management. The Mt. Angel Order of Flax arians and the Mt. Angel band in vite the general public to their picnic Sunday, August 21. It will be given at Sprauer's grove on Abiqua creek, and will begin at 1 p. m. and last until evening. The public is urged to attend and enjoy horseshoe and other games. Winners will receive prizes. Williamsons Hare Son EVENS VALLEY Relatives have received announcement of the birth of a 7 pound 4 ounce son to Mr. and Mrs. George William son at Westport. August 11. Mrs Williamson - was the former Jen nie Brenden, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Iver Brenden. . TODAY - MON. - TUES. Continuous Sunday 2 to 11 P.M. " 4 A - . tetvj, tax .v.7l" -id1- n 'SO IKjsy O Mtarrinv 1 - SLlAMOe MORGAN OLIVER -mmm MUHI . Saal SUSSSY ;u.emfiT.iMiiiueia I Added News, Colored Cartoon 1 t n O D A Y n t r o D A CLARK MYRNA SPENCER with Lionel Barrymore K JIat. Eve. 1 -E5 the, Utc, -M y MM! M Ellmincrtlng blur cmd dlsfortion... These mar- welous lenses will increase your efficiency by sharpening your sight and you will truly enjoy . ' their benefits. POMEROY & KEENE OPTOMETRISTS OPTICIANS Complete Optical Service 379 State St. Salem, Oregon M HEP' rtDUS" T uS j "BY tL 2?k" , VomniinDX (tta?Ts -Vnnabella .. ; Tlie uOL-AL. , TOPS IN THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT
