Variety (December 1921)

II Friday, December St 1M1 LEGITIMATE C i 1 It BED-SM (HATS By HELLEE UYELL Well, I made good m > r threat to eat Thanksgiving dinner sitting up. Sot only one, but two of them. I sat up twice the tame day. While an effort it was more than worth It. I had company at both meals, but they | not eat with me. They entertained me while I ate aad helped me , ignore a pain that resented being defied. Abe Levy, Max Phlon, WllUam Mitchell, carving and serving one of the smallest and most suc- culent turkeys I have ever tasted, sent by Mrs. Harry Houdinl: cake irought by Mrs. John Cort, and a mince pie personally des'gned and con- ducted by Mrs. Louis De Foe, finished up a meal that convicted mc of ghrttoning. At gix o'clock Irene* Farber, accompanied by her Una nee, Ernest Bouchen, piloted a,large hamper of food. They round my room tilled with mutual friends, enjoying a movie of Wil.iara Hart. I was feasted again, but this time I am ashamed to confess I acted like a cry baby, ind hereby tender my abject apologizes to Louise Dresser, Jack Gardner, Mile. Dazie, Edgar Allan Woolf, Frances Rock feller King, A. Frank Jones, Miss Farber and Mr. Bouchen for my apparent lack of appreciation for their efforts to cheer me and for chilling what W£s, uu to that time, nr de- lightful party. It may have been that more to be dreaded than typhoid malady known as "nerves" or "weakness," brought on by so much hap- piness at so many proofs of genuine friendship. But if you ever sit at a wonderful meal of your favorlt'. dishes, prepared by some one whom you dearly loved, hungry, yet ?ant eO a nltc because the lump in your throat just would not be washed down even by Eddie Woolfs finest ale, and the tears fall so fast.that you don't need rait on the celery that Frank Jones is try.ng to tempt yo;» to e>i f , you will understand bow I felt Tou will know vou are on a Joy jag and drunic with happiness. The doctors called It hysteria, and wh!!e ailne wa? acute happiness, the phy- sical pain is as Intense as ihough ii weie of grief. Ho;>? Mr. Volstead will Include that form jf intoxication in his lis* 01 "shult nots." It takes longer to recover fro n a sob party th*».n i* dors frrnr* an alcoholic debauch. Just as I was recovering my composure and enjoying one of Eddie Woolfs ludicrous Imitations, I saw tears*, in the eyes of some of those present. The realization that I hud brought tears to the people who al- ways make me happy and had given up dinner engagements to come to cheer me. made me realize "that I had gummed up the party." For once I was glad to see friends leave. I wanted to be alone in my shame and to cry out, which I did until George McMannus, the curtoonist, and his handsome wife, came in. It was not self-pity. It was not home- sickness. I have no heme, r.nd if ^ did I wouldn t have been any happier or any more comfortable than I am here. But to have so many friends, ' whom I have known so long and loved so much in my room, all at the same time, and to have had already 20 visitors that day in a room banked In flowers that only rco.uircd a horreshoe with the red ribbon readhig, "Success," to make it look like the opening of a magnificent theatre"; to look at the screen in my room covered with telegrams from nine States, all bringing messages of congratulations, love and friendship, just over- whelmed me. I was afraid I would wake up and find it was all a dream, that I was back in the tortorous braces and casts lying flat on my back staring at the celling, only not the ceiling of this luxuriously appointed room, but in a ward on the island where, without you all, I would be reposing if I were still alive, which I question very much. It made me wonder what I had ever done to deserve it all. I knew then that the prayers of so many kind friends were being answered. The whole day was God in- spired and reflected friendship, kindness, loving thoughts and deeds. 8omeone suggested that all of this attention may be the result of bread I had cast on the water. I may have at sometime cast a few crusts, but the bounteous returns have surely been angel cake. The doctors have agreed to a truce, and while the armistice .has hot been definitely signed, hostilities have ceased until after the holidays. I presume they are afraid of complicating matters with Turkey. I feel sure that the many friends who remembered mc on Thanksgiving flowers, fruit, candy, wine, letters, cards, books or other gifts, will Understand how harJ it is for me to acknowledge them personally, and kindly accept my sincere thanks and grateful appreciation for the many remembrances. J. Edmund Davis was here today while I was eating dinner. I was Viable to sit up and the nurse was feeding me. It was a gray, rainy day, JMtd.the-sight of the glass-feeding tube depressed me. I said, in my most self-pitying voice, "Oh, I am so tired of drinking through a tube.'* He replied, "You are lucky you don't have to ride in one." I must prefer the dark meat of the turkey, yet, everyone sends white meat. I wonder if Burbank raises turkeys? , Louis Mann came in while Father Fay, of the Catholic Actors' Guild, was here. Now Louis is a member of that Guild. Ethel Levey nearly missed her train for Cleveland while delivering messages and packages from our mutual friends in London. Among the parcels was a shawl of a distinctly orange hue sent by Clifton Webb. I love Clifton's sense of humor, but an orange shawl in a Knight of Co- lumbus hospiital is proof that the world is getting broader. I asked my doctor thin morning if he wouldn't like to have Dr. Lorenz, that Austrian crap-shooter, to examine me. It was news to him that we call bone manipulators crap shooters. Hospital attendants can become calloused and little realize their re- toarks may up.set a patient. Ju.st to prove her statistical mind, the pantry Biald who retails the gossip of the hall, informed me 10 people had died On this one hall wince Kastcr. It sounds like this was a dyeing establish- ment. I wish Will H;iys wou'd gum his stumps with vanilla or some other nice flavor. "hat siil of yesteryear has not hren thrilh-il by receiving a peppermint c andy heart wilh reading on. which usrd to say. "Sweets to the sweet," 1 Wa * drilled yest< rduy by receiving a gorgeous basket of nuts with a card attached, ' Xuts to a nut." which inspired me to tell the doctors Sam Morton's oid story nbou? usi air the beer hot He for a nut tracker. They had not luanl it. Put it la.U in your repertoire. Sari. If I can pet a lau^h 011 jh it h. s not !o ,t its valiuv •*«nuieh '"•ay virtue i»rf K;,V ^ ouu * he supplementary. 1 don't know when 1 have enjoyed tding anything so much as 1 did the humorous and pathetic incidents fonicled there. They neem more humun and more plausahle to me than *?? n,e Hurst s "Humorrsqiic." It would even make Henry Kurd ashamed « Wnu,elf. Thank you, Mr. Levy. FOREIGN REVIEWS LE VAL L'EVEQUE Paris. Nov. 20. The difference in the mentality of the French, playwright and his re- covered brother, the Alsatian, is ap- parent in the new three-act piece of RutTenach. translated by Leon Mous- 8inac, presented at the Nouveau Theatre (Musee Grevin). Ihler Is the owner of a factory known as the Val l'Eveque, which after many years yields a profit. Joyfully he summons a delegation of his workpeople to inform them of the results, for he has hitherto sac- rificed his life in struggling to keep the concern afloat, in which he has not been aided by his brother Jean. Agar, a daughter of an intimate friend of the family, and childhood companion of the (wo brothers, of- fers her fortune to assist Ihler. They are mutually in love, but have never expressed their feelings. She is anxious the hard-working manufac- turer should take a needed rest. He is on the point of following her ad- vice and joining her on a trip when an old servant asks to be allowed to withdraw his little capital from the Arm. This reminds him of his duty to his collaborators, his workpeople. Jean likewise claims his part of the Inheritance, that he may spend his existence in art study. This means bankruptcy for the honest factory owner. To save the ttitua- tion he insures his life and commits suicide, intending hfs associates shall thereby recover the savings invest- ed in his business. The piece is a violent study of a conflict between love and duty, which is told in human language without the slightest suggestion of immoral intrigues. To relieve the gloomy atmosphere the program concludes with a short play by Al- bert Jean. "Les Tourterelles" ("The Doves") depicting two murrled couples spending the summer to- gether in a country villa. The wom- en disagree and backbite each other, the husbands having to support the incessant grumbling of their respec- tive wives. The men are close friends and console one another, de- termined their holiday together shall not mar their mutual affection. Kcndrcw. COMEDIENNE Paris. Nov. 20. This three-act comedy by Paul Armont and Jacques Bousquet, pre- sented at the new Theatre desj Nouveautes, will initiate the play- goer into the private life of our dis- tinguished actresses fearing the wrinkles. Nicole Valtier Is under 10, but she considers it time to quit.! However, poor Nicole is influenced by the proposed marriage of her lover and the return of her son. the, latter turning up with a wife and child. Likewise, an ungrateful man- ager lists a younger woman for the lead formerly iield by Mme. Valtier. But she had taken the resolution to- retire at the first sign of maturity, which is forthcoming when the in- fant arriving from London rushes Into her arms with the cry of grand- mother! Thus she withdraws to the country with her family. Here the daily existence is lonely, the sole distraction being tl e visits of the local cure, who is an amateur playwright. Consequently, when an author comes specially to see the former star, begging her to play a part In his new work, she is tempted to accept, particularly as her son is as sick of the country life as she. Nicole resumes her triumph In Paris, but to save appearances her son becomes her brother, while the child is Introduced aa her own. Her cup of happiness la complete when her former lover also renounces his marriage and begs to be forgiven. Irene Wells, an English girl, is real- istic as the wife of the son who mar- ried in England. Oabrlelle Dorxiat plays the sympathetic actress who fears to grow old, while Cande Is her fickle lover. Kendrcw. LA GRACE is t! ( e^itor'al column of last vv»ai.'s Variety cxlo'.h d the of Hi it Levy's book. "For the Cood of the, it ice." anything Paris, Nov. 20. The stage society known as the Grimace, % the object of which Is to reveal young playwrights of talent, gave Its first show of the season at the Mathurins. "La Grace." in five acts, by Gabriel Marcel, a college professor, is quite different from "The Verb to Love." forming the evening program at this little house. A young woman, medical student, has married Gerard because she loves him, well knowing he is con- sumptive. The couple pass a few months in the Swiss mountains, pre- scribed for Gerard's cuia^vhere they are bored to weariness, particularly as the invalid husband Is not as at- tentive ns the pnssionate young wife anticipated. Gerard has suffered 1 much and his affection is pure, while being more brotherly than otherwise. He is alarmed at finding the former calm betrothed has become a volup- tuous spouse. When a professor, who is not happy at home visits them Mme. Gerard, in a moment" of folly, fcives herself to her husband's friend. The invalid, when he per- ceives the situation, dies witli jr-ief. The author has stud fed his char- acters through a nruigt>if.\ ing glass; the audience sees them with the naked eye, and the effect Is vague. It is a "strong" play, in a measure, AMONG THE WOMEN By THE SKIRT The two repeat turns at the Palace Monday carried off the honors again. They were Bessie Clayton and Rne Samuels. If applause is a guarantee Miss Samuel* could stay on at this house for weeks. A new gown worn by her was as effective as the one last week. Of white taffeta the full skirt had narrow bands of green and silver. Two huge bows of green taffeta were placed one In back and one in front. The long silver bodice had at the corsage a bouquet of roses and a large apple. Miss Clayton Is showing twb new beautiful dancing frocks. One is of yellow and pink with just enough gold. The dress shimmered like a jewel. The other is of a dainty shade of salmon pink made mostly of long plumes. Betty Wheeler (Bert and Betty Wheeler) first wore a rather burlesque type of gown. Of silver cloth it was decorated with many pearl chains. Tho headdress had two paradises. Her second dress was daintily made, of pink chiffon over a lacy foundation. Kate Pullman (with Roacoe Alls) opened in an odd dress of red. The waist was panne velvet, the skirt and sleeves of chiffon, widely banded with white marlbean. Through the chiffon skirt sequin trunks could be teen. Rather quaint was a short dancing dress made of black patent leather. The skirt was heavily embossed in silver, and the" Eton jacket was edged with silver fringe. Her final costume of jet consisted of bloomers and a short bodice, leaving a bare waistline covered with fish net. Leila M Intyre In an artistic act (with John Hyams) wore a full-skirted dress of black taffeta with a large flower design. A leghorn flop hat had long velvet streamers. Leila Mclntyre was very pretty in an Alice Blue chiffen dress. At the Riverside Sophie Tucker walked away with a solid hit Monday. Miss Tucker is wearing a magnificent ermine cloak. Of the newest model, the back is shirred at the waist line, while the front hangs long and straight. A large black hat was of transparent gauze. Under- neath was an orange velvet frock cut-up the sides, revealing a gold bro- cade foundation. The low girdle* of gold had end* hanging below the skirt. A silver-and-jet wrap was worn over a black lace and jet dress. The skirt was heavily studded In large jet buttons. From the sides hung straight pieces of plaited net. The low girdle consisted Of strands of gold beads. Marguerite Padula was In a black satin dreas made with panels of fat. Florrie/ La Vere (with Harry Holmes) opened In a pale blue opera cloak with mole trimmings. 'A black velvet dress had a shell design In sequins. The dress seemed to be made of ribbon strands caught together with the sequin edging. Miss LaVere made quite a «ute boy in a swallow-tall suit. Leonora Allen (with Allan Rogers) makes three changes of costume. A gold net dress had a tiny hip flounce. A hoopskirt drees was in white, rda k net picked out with a white flower had a blue sequin girdle. Pauline Frederick, in "La Tosca," wears but two costumes, both made Empire. In the big scene, Miss Frederick waa superb, la an embroidered gown and a coronet of pearls. Her black velvet cloak had a huge ermine collar. Showing at the Rlalto. New York, this picture ran but SS minutes. An announcement on the screen told how many of the operas will be condensed the same way. "The Oirls-de-Looks," at the Columbia this week, feature Jos. K. Watson and Will H. Cohan, but It shows no wardrobe. The three prin- cipal women, Qussie White, Monica Redmond and Ilattle Deane, are only passably dressed. Miss White as the soubret's first costume, was her prettiest. Blue trunks were worn over a wistaria skirt that stood out In petals. Another short dress was of pink with a border of blue. Feathers formed a trim- ming. A white dress to the knees had an over skirt of crystals on net. Narrow lace ruffles was used entirely* in a short walsted frock. Hallie Deane showed two velvet dresses made much alike. One was rose color and the other yellow. The skirts were slightly draped to one side. A blue skirt and pink top was encrusted with crystals. Monica Redmond was in silver lace over pink for the opening. Of Miss Redmond's dresses this was the only one worthy of mention. The chorus in the opening scene were in \acy frocks, made with the extended sides. Over red foundations, white fringe was put In in spiral fashion. White dresses lined in blue were oddly looped over one shoulder. At the State, the girl of Gordon and Healy was the inevitable bride, first changing to a black net and green sequin dress. The sides were extended and hung with jet bugles. A crownless hat of gauze had a double brim. In the Eddie Heron sketch, one woman wore a very good-looking jet gown. Made to fit the figure closely, It had a long square train. An opera cloak was white velvet and black. The other woman was in a pink negligee. but too obscure in parts to redeem the whole. Charles Boyer (so high- ly praised in Abel Rubl's "Icenl-; enne" last season), C. Remy, Mines. Mad. Damiroff, Maykianes and C. Barre do their best to convince it Is an. interesting effort by a new author. Kcndrew. \ TAN6UAY IN CABARET (Continued from page 1) $2,721 for a week In which she gave but one extra performance. Since Miss Tanguay returned to New York she Is reported to have again undergone the skin-lifting process, reducing her youthful ap- pearance to a par with the excep- tional operation of a similar char- acter lately performed upon Kdna Wallace Hopper. The Folies Hergerc is the cabaret formerly known as Rector's at Broadway and 4Hth street. It Is u Salvin restaurant and is now play- ing a list of vaudeville acts twice , nightly. // You Don't Advertise in ENGAGEMENTS John Dunsmure. "The Chocolate- Soldier' (Shuberts). Ada Walker, ltita Summervil! > "Red Pepper." The CJloria.-i. "Little Miss Raffle ' Rita Summerville, Ada Walker for "Red Pepper." The (;iorias. specialty, in "Little Miss Raffles'" ^KIETY DON'T ADVERTISE l