Variety (July 1924)

S4 VARIETY WcdnexUy, July g, 1991 !BlllWWIIWlW|WIM|Mll|mil«IMIM|«|HM|«l«|ll|«|llMll««»ip|IM^ "apti*y«iiiiaiaiiia M«u«uUiAy«LiUU«y« ^ '.■' ., Do You Know i--} That the ^Times Square Daily*' is the y^ % World's Worst Daily? Did you ever hear of the 'Times Square Daily''? No? Well, then, listen! It prints all of the news of Times Square and rv^ READS rr • :{• I Commencing Oct. 13, if someone doesn't start reading the world's wont by that date the TIMES SQUARE DAILY" WILL COMMENCE PRINTING THE NEWS OF CENTRAL PARK> ^ (Cohtmbux either discovered America Oct 13 or picked that day to be born on. Something happened Oct. 13, but that's as near accuracy as you may expect to find in the world's worst. This daily has picked Oct. 13 to discover a new reader—don't ruin a nice intention.) ' , "^ < ■ " -^ . You are not curious to know if a squirrel goes nutty in Central Park, are you? Nor whether there is a squirrel left there? , ' Nor do you care how many peanuts a day are given to die elephants? __ Nor if they shear the sheep in summer? Or how many automobiles pass through the park any day on the east drive? Or the west drive? Or how many autos don't go in the park at all? , Or why the park cops look healthy? Or if it is true the grass in the park is really painted green. BUT, DON'T YOU SEE, if you don't start reading the world's worst daily about Times Square doin's you will have to read the news of Central Park, probably a sepal 00 -Why the Hill at 106lh Street Never Has Been Leveled" or "The Pretty Nurse Maid .Who Walked Into Central Park and May Be Still There." ——-—^ , - SAVE YOURSELF ANNOYANCE. Buy the world's worst daily at 2c a copy <or have the mailman throw it at you each morning for $5 a year. IT'S ONE CHANCE TO GET A BAD PAPER CHEAP. A good paper may be just as cheap, but all are good papers, except the . "Times Square Daily" The World's Worst Cash Accepted in Advance Proper Address: 154 West 46th Street, New York City ON BROADWAY (Continued from Paflr» ig) The producer haa no worrlea about the dancing oontlngent. and that provides a bow for Julian Mitchell. " There la lltUe doubt the show will b« worked on until It ia In prime shape. Whatever Ita defecta, there haa been no effect on the bualneas which alone played to standee trade In New Yorlc last week. Ibee, SHOOTING SHADOWS Mjratery drama produced by Forrest knd Vidor at the RItx Jun* 20; written by Henrr PIsk Carlton and William Ford Hanlcv directed by K. J. Blunkall, '* Dana Klaworth .• Howard Miller Claire Kirkland Ann Reader Dr. Hi-mlngway Mulford Maddoc Phyllis Hemingway BIwyn Harvey Noah Flood , Bdward M. Favor Teddy Trowbridge Knot Herold Richard Radbum Emory Blunkall Jim Reardon E. J. Blunkall Johnny Perklna Kevitt Manton i Forrest & Vldor, the former Mary Forrest, a play broker, and the latter the father of Kingr Vidor. the picture star, took a double chance in bring- ing a mystery play to Hroadway at the end of the senson. There is no chance of the attraction landing for a run, but perhaps its sponsors fig- ured low operating cost, with cut- rate support carrying it along, "Shooting Shadows" la a good title and the picture rights ought to be worth something, a factor that doubtless counted in the presentation at this time. As a mystery play It ia fair entertainment, but in no way exceptional. The billing as a "melo- mystery farce" is hardly descriptive, tor the play has principally to do with a mysterious killing in a haunt- ed house. The eomedy relief of a "ghose guide" (which was the play's original name) is no more than ex- pected In a mystery play with no claims to farce. The producers, how- ever, may go on the theory that all mystery plays are farces. Henry FIsk Carlton and William Ford Manley collaborated in the writing, but the action is jerky. Di- rection might have smoothed the playtng somewhat. The mixture of sudden death, attempted blackmail, dead men coming to life and dead people apparently walking about have been worlfed Into the story, whlclf is localled in a supposedly haunted house. The scene Is an old house on the hill. There a country character has rigged up the.,room with wires, it being his business to bring people to the house and show them ghostly manifestations. He does his stuff, but tragedy suddenly stalka. There is a party of four being "strung" by the guide. One is a youth who has fallen in love with a young woman, also in the party. She asks him to shoot through a door at the time the ghost is supposed to walk. There are really two shots, one from up- stairs, where the girl has gpone. When the door is opened a body falls to the floor. Later it is found that neither shot was responsible, but that the man. had been stabbed. It is found there is still another mysterious man in the house. The girl explains to the boy that the dead man was her husband, whom she was forced to marry because he had knowledge that could send her brother to JaiL The husband's only activity appeared to be to use her for blackmailing purposes, it turns out the deaf man la the brother, and the husband la shot while escaping. For a comedy touch at the flnale detectives try to explain to the hick guide which man is which. There are inconsistencies in the play, as In others of the type. There are not as many unexplained por- tlona, however. The love interest is placed last In the factors of impor- tance, not BO much because of the playing, but because of the writing. — The cast appears to be unknown to Broadway. Ann Reader played the vexed girl who wanted to get rid of her blackmailing husband, Howard Miller aiding as her lover. Mulford Maddox did not impress much as be- ing a dictor, but Elwyn Harvey as his wife was a good shrieker andv also good looking. B. J. BlunkalU ^ who directed the play, enacted a de- tective well, but the honors went to Edwin M. Favor as the rural guide. Favor is probably the vaudevlllian of tliat name well known in the sketch field. There Is one set of rather solid con.structlon, which was probably the main item In the production cost, "Shooting Shadows" has its creepy moments and rales as fair entertain- ment, and up against summer condi- tion fan expect no more than mod- orate trade. Making the show for pictures is the out. Ibee. i!!ia!'151!!lB!!i9!!ISI!!l!l!!^ MlaluklHWiiialHhiliilalNlalNhiliilayaliilaNilabilalaila' f' MaiUlaiHlaIwaiMia ti i i Bi ii a l gBBty<iMi aaMia i ait^ ^ FEBFORHANCE POSTPONED Oliver Morosco's revival of "The tlnchastened Wi^nian" for the bene- fit of the Actors' Fund, at the Lit- tle theali-e, Sunday night, wa.s post- poned one week, due to the illness of Mr, Morosco, Mr, Morosco had been .st iping Hie piece, and. being confined to his home with tonsililla, was unable to go on. Nobody asked for refunds at the box office. A capacity crowd will fetch $1.10» t.> the fund next SiAiday night.