Party Husband (Warner Bros.) (1931)

Play *‘Party Husband” Like A Showman. Get After It With Up-To-The-Minute Showmanship. CURIOUS MARRIAGE CUSTOMS OF THE _|Porcasi Of Palermo WORLD DESCRIBED BY JAMES RENNIE NOW SEEN HERE AS “PARTY HUSBAND” “Party Husband,” First National Film, Now At The Strand Theatre, Featuring Dorothy Mackaill, Presents Modern Ideas, Quite As Odd (Unusual and Interesting Feature) The casting aside of ancient superstitions is the outstanding characteristic of modern marriage, according to James Rennie who plays opposite Dorothy “‘Party Husband,”’ the ultra modern story of marriage, which comes to the “A few superstitions have survived to the present time but the meaning of them has been forgotten by the principals,” says Rennie. “When we throw rice at the bride and bridegroom we are performing an action which dates back, at least, to the days of the glory that was Greece. But in those days the bride was the target for many articles such as rice, corn, figs, dates, nuts, coins and wheat. At modern weddings we have “civilized” this ceremony by throwing even confetti. The scattering of such valuables evidences the wish of the guests that the marriage will be prosperous and blessed with many children. THE WEDDING RING “A superstition still respected by some concerns the wedding ring—if it is lost or broken it foretells the death of one of the parties, the dissolution of the marriage, or some other grave misfortune. “We scatter flowers before the bride’s path for a reason. In more ancient days it was believed that the earth was filled with demons who would enter the body of anyone walking on the earth at such a time as marriage is being celebrated. Hence the bride must be protected from the earth, “In England several centuries ago the path of the bride was strewn with emblems of the bridegroom’s calling. Shavings were scattered for a carpenter, sheep skins for a butcher, leather parings for a shoemaker and scraps of iron for a blacksmith. Fortunately this practice died out. What would a modern marriage be like with the bride forced to keep her footing on a path of oil, or leap the hurdles with Charley Paddock, or walk over a football team with Red Grange, and what a job she’d have if she married a ditch-digger or the captain of a submarine! Today the only survival of this practice is the red earpet on which the bride walks from the church to her ear. CARRYING THE BRIDE. “Carrying the bride over the threshold of her new home,” continued Rennie,” has its origin in antiquity. Evil spirits were supposed to abound at the threshold, so, to avoid their evil influence and have a happy marriage, the bridegroom had to carry the bride into her home. In some localities the demons were powerful enough to attack the husband so he was carried over also, usually by an unele or two. “Throwing old shoes is another superstition which has lasted. This is explained as being a relic of the days of marriage by capture when a conqueror carried off the choicest of the women. The throwing of shoes is supposed to be a sham assault on the captor. One of the first mentions of this practice was made by Plutarch. “Many interesting and amusing practices of the past have died out. In England the bridegroom had to drink a tankard of beer, then toss the tankard over his shoulder. If it broke he would have a happy marriage, if not, he would be unhappy. In Moroceo the couple ate the liver of a sheep and in other spots, eggs, earthenware vessels and objects of glass are broken ceremonially. The more broken articles in a front yard the happier the marriage. Some yards look like junk heaps,” commented Rennie. GROOM KICKS WIFE “Oriental Jews, after a ceremony, had to jump three times over a platter of fresh fish. In Sweden the Page Eight Mackaill in First National’s Theatre orn You’ve never seen Dorothy as beautiful—as delightful —as appealing before. DOROTHY ACKAILL as the wife who tried a noble experiment with her “PARTY HUSBAND”’ with DONALD COOK James Rennie Joe Donahue Dorothy Peterson PALACE A FIRST NATIONAL & VITAPHONE HIT Cut No. 15 Cut 20c Mat 5c bride wasn’t permitted to tie her shoes. In Russia, a whip was presented to the bridegroom by the bride’s father. In Bulgaria he would kick his wife gently. In Spain the bride’s parents would break cakes over her head. In Russia all the doors and windows were closed and the chimney-.stopped up to keep evil spirits out. In Germany the newlyweds would stamp on each other’s feet to see who would be master of the house. Guns were fired in the bride’s face to frighten the spirits away. The modern chavari put on by the boys of the neighborhood is a survival of this idea. “In the middle ages,” Rennie said, “the fear of evil spirits was tremendous. It was the practice to fool the spirits by either dressing the man in woman’s clothes or dressing the woman in man’s clothes, during the ceremony so the evil ones Is Carnival Roue In “Party Husband” (Biography, April 15, 1931) Paul Porecasi, who plays the part of Renard the dilletante artist with an eye for feminine beauty, in “Party Husband,” the First National comedy-drama featuring Dorothy Mackaill, now at the Theatre, came to America at twenty as a member of the Italian Grand Opera Company and later toured the Keith and Orpheum eircuits with Les Durand Opera Trio. In 1910 he played his first legitimate role on the stage in “The Country Boy” produced by H. B. Harris. Since then he has appeared in eighteen hits, reaching his greatest fame as Nick in “Broadway,” a role he created and played for two years. It was to appear in the screen version of “Broadway” that he first came to Hollywood. Since then he has devoted his talents to the talk jing screen appearing in “Children of Dreams,” “Svengali” and “Party Husband.” Mr. Porcasi was born ‘fin Palermo, Italy. Dorothy Mackaill Coming As Star Of ‘Party Husband’ (Advance Reader) Dorothy Mackaill, who was reeently so captivating in the role of an “Office Wife,” is even more delightful as a sophisticated business bride in “Party Husband,” the First National comedy-drama of modern experimental marriage, which comes to the Theatre, sero next. James Rennie is the philandering groom. Others in the cast are Dorothy Peterson, Joe Donahue, Helen Ware, Don Cook, Paul wouldn’t know a wedding was taking place. MARRIED TO PITCHER “Sometimes mock marriages were performed with trees and the evil spirits entered the tree and it dies leaving the bride to marry without the spirit’s knowledge. Pitchers full of water were often married to people. When the pitcher broke it was safe to remarry a human being. Another subterfuge which the stupid spirits could not fathom was to hide the bride in a box and have the husband take her home on a mule’s back, “To insure prosperity the bride, the day before her wedding, would wash her feet in a bowl with money in the bottom. When she was through, the neighbors were permitted to scramble for the coins. In those days, the bride and bridegroom often went so far as to take a bath before the ceremony. Needles, salt and coins were also placed in the shoes, “On of the most efficient ways of securing male children was for the man’s mother to carry a sieve on her head and a bundle of his old clothes on her back or for the bride’s mother to be placed in a net and swung to and fro by the local bachelors. Ah, those were the gay old days! MODERN MARRIAGE “Look at modern marriage,” said Rennie. “The actual ceremony takes a couple of minutes and after we leave the church or the office of the justice of the peace, nobody cares what happens. What we need today to reduce the number of divorces are some good old-fashioned charms. It is all too apparent that the evil spirits of the middle ages are still with us breaking up our homes. We should do something about it.” “Party Husband” is an adaptation of the novel by Geoffrey Barnes. Screen play and dialogue are by Charles Kenyon. The cast includes Dorothy Mackaill, James Rennie, Dorothy Peterson, Joe Donahue, Helen Ware, Donald Cook, Paul Porcasi, Mary Doran and Bar* Weeks. Clarence Badger dir PROGRAM PORTRAIT DOROTHY MACKAILL in “Party Husband” a Cut No 24 Cut 15c Mat 5c Mackaill’s Ambition Makes Her A Runaway On The Road To Fame (Current Story) Childish ambition and nerve to act on it started Dorothy Mackaill Didiesics oN casas lee Po ble on her eareer, the latest product of which is the starring role in First National’s “Party Husband,” directed by Clarence Badger, now at the Theatre. When she was thirteen she was living with her parents in Hull, Yorkshire, England. To secure the benefits accruing from a big city education she was sent to Thorne Academy in London but continued to be stage-struck. But she finally got the nerve to act on it, and ran away from school and within a week popped up in the chorus of a musical show at the London Hippodrome. It chanced that the number she was in became a success and when the show closed that number went on a tour of the Continent, starting her on her successful career as an actress. The cast supporting Miss Mackaill includes James Rennie, Dorothy Peterson, Joe Donahue, Don Cook, Barbara Weeks, Paul Porcasi, Helen Ware and Mary Doran. Clarence Badger directed. Dorothy Who Aids Dorothy Won Fame In Greek Tragedy (Current Story) Dorothy Peterson, who supports Dorothy Mackaill in “Party Husband,” the First National comedydrama now at the Theatre, though only twenty-six has had experience all the way from Greek tragedy to the most modern of the talkies. She is remembered for her fine performance as the troubled parent in “Mothers Cry,” which was the crest of an arduous climb toward recognition. Several years ago she was on her way to the University of Wisconsin, when she suddenly changed her mind, veered off to Chicago and entered a dramatic school which specialized in Greek tragedy. At the same time she studied for opera. A repertory company needed a singer for “The Climax.” She toured with them, and then with a company presenting Ibsen. This wide experience is responsible for her marvelous performance as the disturbing “other woman” in “Party Husband.” Others in support of Miss Mackaill are James Rennie, Joe Donahue, Helen Ware, Don Cook, Paul Porcasi, Mary Doran and Barbara Weeks. Clarence Badger directed. Runaway Later Makes Her Mother A Runaway (Current Reader) Dorothy Mackaill, starred in “Party Husband,” the First National comedy drama of married life of today, now at the *..2..25. 027 ilewtre; ran away trom horne Academy in London, to go on the stage. She succeeded beyond her wildest dreams—and finally brought her mother from Hull in Yorkshire to share her fine home in Hollywood. Dorothy’s father refused to be a runaway, and still manages the dairy known as The Maypole in the old home town, just as he did when Dorothy was a tot. Miss Mackaill is supported in “Party Husband” by James Rennie, Dorothy Peterson, Joe Donahue, Helen Ware, Paul Porcasi, Mary Doran, Don Cook and Barbara Weeks. Clarence Badger directed. STRAND Here’s the story of a startling marriage — it begins where others end — with FREEDOM! How will THIS marriage end? DOROTHY MACKAILL " PARTY HUSBAND a Directed by CLARENCE BADGER A First National & Vitaphone Hit with DONALD COOK JAMES RENNIE JOE DONAHUE DOROTHY PETERSON Cut No. 19 Cut goc Mat roc