Variety (Feb 1929)

00 VARIETY W O M E N-S PORTS Wednesday, Febr^ary 13, 1929 Gray Matter By MoUie Gray (TOMMY GRAY'S SISTER) A Marble Lady Joe Phillips' "InnovaLion" at tlio ftttractivf S6th Street Is a mai-blf> lady -vvhQ . stands motionless and Bpeeclilcss for 5 Vt minutes ■ (Joe's timo). it later falls to pieces but It mends itself again during a llash and flame, moment. And of course It's a womanv . • . .Statue state, is not new of course though any man will admit that when a woman stands wordless that long, It is only while he Is explain- ing something and sue is just biding her time to wade into him. This woman was unique though, not say - ing a word, more of the "Innova- tion." ' A Realm of Dance" pre - ceded this witli various Rube Gold- berg cartoon effects In classic at-, tempts at classical dancing. That, would have been funny only the girls took it. so seriously. "The CoUeglates," another danc- ing, singing, opening act of four girls, first in' simple blue taffetas and later a ballet in barrels (at least they could have been) of hlue, yel- loTV, green, pink. Craig and Quain- tarice .did tlve adagio • work easily 'With tiie. girl's most striking, cosr tume of dark metal brocade with . a black aneora wig. Finish/carni- val, fast. . what she wanted in her renewed film life. Gowns were .nil at tractive though jewels wore not, too large crystals I separated by longth.s of chain looked [like tho.«io newsieel pictures of cakes of ice oh. the. wny to the store- house. Tier l)i.'iok velvet rob© de 3tylo hnd some bead trimming at the neck only and a white tulle with Its double .sWrt., was also beaded at the neck with a. soft bow on the shoulder, tter; chiiffoh gown with a bloused bodice had its floor length , back split up the center to about the regular hem, making a number of ends t6 float about when' she walked.- Acts arid 2-ReeIop9 American may have eight acts for anyone who can sit. through all the two reel, comedies .that come between. "Let George Do It'-' hav- ing things smashed on his head, and "Confessions of a Chorus Girl" with Frances Leie flirting from the stage with a mustached groundhog as sho plays 'l^ootlight Fanny" In a bath- ing suit and other absentee cos- tumes. "A Woman of Affailrs" most Important part of the bill. Guy and Pearl Magliy lievue as on previous occasions. Arnold and O'Day opened in hand skating by '"Xrnold, knee bobbing by Miss O'Day In green ostrich iand beads. Eai'ie and Matheson appear as gontlomon but not for long. One playing the drunk Is a woman dis guised in clothes and gags. Dave lioth should really have stuck to the piano as he found out himself. What he does best was liked beat. Lucretia and Her Pep The Cameo is. presenting the tale of liucreuia Borgia, a polsonously sweet little, girl, as anxious to get ahead as Salome. She isn't shown dispensing any of the wlnei that niade the family famous with Its slogan, "Good to the last drop." Lucretia is just a wide-eyed gypsy, d.ancing to attract the nobleman she Is to marry and unexpectedly falls .in love with. "With pearls in her hair and vel- vet pufCed out all round she looked innocence at first but after that the whole thing was just too .killing for ianything. Lilaha Haid Is l.ucretla and iC she danced as^ the gypsy, her for- tune is in her. feet, her face looked like dough but not, a fortune. And 60,006 extras never went wrong. An Impressive production. In ia, gold lace gown and veil hang- ing from a band around her head for her marriage. Some beautiful gardens beautifully photographed made the Interiors pr by coniparl- Baclanova's Stock Up George Bancroft is made air over again in "The Wolf of Wall Street" and the Baclanova'8 fan stock is still going lip. Nancy CarroU's. too, as she's surprisingly good in her dramatic momenta. Being a maid left Na,ncy little chance to diress up, but Olga shines on several .4)cca8lonB. Over, her bead gown of alternate light and dark rows and bla^k pointed hem, she wears a smart silver wrap with ho coliar, but ©Ibow-length cuffs in three shades of marabou and later one of ermine, the skins strikingly patterned, and the collar and front edge In sable. Her crepe negliwe was spangled and the silk founda- tion cut to piermlv walking at tho ankles and trailing froni there. A grey coat was collared ahd cuffed in matching fox, a turban using two shades of grey. Swallovved Picture "Sal.-of Singapore" wasn't doing so badly as an Impromptu nurse, shanghaied fpr the purpose of tak ing care of a foundling, until the parting came and Phyllis Haver, like a youngster attempting a first readlnp: lesson addressed the Infant If Miss Haver had talked >ln her •first scciio, throwing a man out of her room, she'd probably have been a riot, but the minute her mouth opened toward the flnlsh, the ^yJlole picture foil in it. And Phyllis de serves more appetizing fare than this. : " "Sal" was clever with her fingers evidently. biVause the black gown she wore aboard with its silver fringe making deep V's back and front on the scant bodice and rriak . Ing . more points on the skirt and around the hem emerged after the Vbyagp stripped of glitter every where, but at the- decolletage. Not that it matters, since "Sal of Singaporo" didn't matter either. Ruth Chatterton on Screen "The Doctor's Secret" gave Ruth Chatterton a hectic half hour. But for her the picture should still have been a secret, as It will be to most fans. What a treat it is tO see a. face with somei character In it and hear an actress that is an actress; a forcible reminder of what a constant dlot.of films can. cheat one of. Miss Chatterton wore a stunning crepe ensemble, the coat turless with bol\ .sleeves, the lapels show- ing the lining of silk embroidered with crepe that matched the blouse; its gold bands for cuffs and border also showed on the lapels, the skirt circular and longer: in back. Her necklace was odd with its three large square stones hold by an al- most invisible chain. Ethel Wales wore a long coat of gold sequins and an eager ear for gossip. John Loder was another reason Ruth got so much sympathy. Pay Off Finish Almost all the world enjoys get- ting i^ress tickets for a murder- trial. The producers of "The Bell- amy Trial" probably hoped that audiences would be equally willing to pay for tickets to a picture giving all the formality, mystery and hysteria oi. a cinema murder trial. They may be right. Pictui'e is Interesting enough as far as the court proceedings go, but the ending is pretty silly. It wouldn't be fair to. tell ^ust who killed Mimi Bell - amy—but It^s the payrofE as they^do say, Leatrlce Joy Is satisfactory in a cut and dried part, looking smartly groomed In several street costumes. Jack Johnson's Farm Norwalk, Conn., Feb. 12. Jabk Johnson, former hoavy- woight champion of the world, at a visit here at the farmi of Ij. Wal- ter Lissberger, capitalist, announced his plans of conducting a health farm near Stamford, Conn. He will al.so: train fighters at a gymnasium in New York. Johnson who Is 52 and weighs 230 is In splendid physical condi- tion. He has been living In Chicago and lately has played a few vaude- ville engagements. Jack still has the "golden smile." He drives a Lincoln car and has the manner of a bishop of the Af- rican M. K. church instead of that of a pug. ; ,. Ohio's Tracks Cleveland, ,Feb. 12. . With. the. hopes of reopening their rAce tracks, clo.sed ; for the past three years, local promoters are now pulling wires to legalize bet- ting throughout Ohio. Two bills to open up betting are to be brought up shortly before the heavy lobbying. One provides that a certain percentage of each track's profits will go to the maintenance Of county roads., A number of state senators have publicly announced their opposition to legalized betting, but-sportsmen throughout the state are collecting funds to push.it across. It Is re- ported they will attempt to hurry the bill through on the closing day of the Ohio legislature. . PAB'S '29 GOLF STAET Los Angeles, Feb. 12. Drawings for the first flight in Paramount's' initial golf tournament of /1929 include Jesse Lasky and Ed. Sutherland, Hector Turnbull and Albert A. Kaufman, J. J. Gain and Dr. H. J. Strathearn, Frank A. Brandow and George Homniel, Moran and Mack, Josef Von Stern- burg and George Tohalem, J. M. Saunders and Charles Furthmann, Frank B. Garbutt and Jumes O'Donnell, Lahe Chandler and W. P- White, Gordon Jennings and W. T. Wookey. Charles Sewell and Robert Lee, Art Grant and W. P. McPhor- son, T. H. Davis and William Mad- gan, Joseph Jack and Art Burt, Arl Snith and Carl Herzinger, Giis Reusch and Harry Woodward, and John Stanton and Harvey Puerh. • Simple Frocks. Even though Tom Mix and. Tony are in "Outlawed," and got a hand at the finish, it seemed just a regu- lation dust raiser. Sally Blaine is an accomplished horsewoman, wear- ing the simplest of outfits, white waist, light breeches, boots and roiled brim hat. A silk frock had the lower half of the skirt pleated and a two piece silk had dark bands at V neck and sleeves. Denny's English Accent Reginald Denny's voice has decid- edly Ijlhgli-sh moments, but It Is too manly a one to be saying the idi- otic things it does in "Red Hot Speed," unlc.s.s ,a man was d.oubllng for the ."iiip this assistant district attorney iiotfd like. .Ono of the irloturt^.s that should be seen l)ut not heard. Alice Day looked smart in her taffeta ensemble, the gown with a tigiitlj' draped skirt With a huKC bow on the loft hip and the slightly darker wrap with a ruffle all around the e.dgV*. Her silk suit had a few patislps on the narrow lapel, of the short ju'ket which had rounded corners, a cutaway effect, skirt pleated. A printed silk frock had j^--^elb.o.w.^-livnKth-.cape,^;also--^pleated. Frltzle Rld^'way got some laughs as a nut .m» dumb servant girl: Sally O'N.eil Dolls Up Sally O'Neil was "Hard Boiled" "When" she'married the son of-a mil- lionaire and had the misfortune to fall in love vvlth him. Her black lace' frock ovor a light satin slip had flares almost to the hips on. the sides, ilvr small hat was. of lace and satin, her coat of. figured velvet The pleats on a' .•^tiict-of light,silk frock were .st*wod half way. A cross fox scarf, worn with It, was beauty. She wore Chinese .'slippers with black crepe pa jama ensemble which looked good In medium shots because of a flaring collar and. yoke of flowered silk. Full view made some ugly;offocts. The wrap of her solidly beaded ensemble was hlouscd with deep border of ostrich, collar and sleeves getting their share as well. Lilyan Tas'.iman only got out of the dressing room and a kimona Into a taxi, this time the good friend Instead of the usual cau.se for alarm. Mullen's 1st Profit Chicago, Feb. 12. Tile Canzoiiori-Sanger fight at the Coliseum was; probably the first profitable .show Jim Mullen has had so far. . House a sell out at $r).49 top and rf>liorted gross of $47,000; Fore! Golf Goes .Chain store . GoiC shop of Lowe &■ Hughes, >;i.u- York, where for years the show people haVe.gone for aid and oomCort when tlioir game turned sour, has become .a unit in a chain store. Harry Ilugheii, an old school mer- chant, who has courtesy for the 76 players and sympathy, for the dub, remains as manager. CAPACITY HOUSE PEEVED AT SINGER-TAYLOR aOP Bout Ends in 4th Round, Singer Fouled—Crowd Fooled V HARMON'S MARCH OPENING Chicago, Feb. li;. Chicago Stadium, promoted by Paddy Harmon, will open, the middle of March. It will be the largest indoor sport site In the world with a capacity of 25,000. This about 8,000 more than Madison Square Gkirden can hold, minus chairs In the arena Vividly Colored Balls What the well equipped golfer will use in golf balls this season is, on display. Last year's orange ;uul lemon colored spheres are out and the new trick is polka dot markings in vivid colors. More than hi.Tf the tournament players in Flor- ida are. using them. Wlien the ball is teed four of the dots are visible to the player, arranged In a square, and they make the ball look 25 per cent bigger. Just an optical illusion, but very comforting. Last year's yellow balls flopped because if you spanked.one Into a dandylion area that ended its career. Inside Stslf-Sports • - . 6-bay Lo6s of $15,000 ■ ' ■ ■ ^■ Jack Curley and Joe Fogler, the latter Great NtiOk real estate man, got a bum break in staging the so .-filled ou tlaw six-day bike race in a Bronx armory. Th6 count up showed a loss of $15,000; the gro.ss having been $42,000. ' It was a well staged event Wiih itii-nly of lap stomal ing and so forth but the place was too far uplovvn and the P.roadway crowd that adds qolot to. the Garden bike grinds wmUdn't make the. joiirney. Curley plans to stage the next six-day arr;iit' in ah. iWhiory closer to '^'iriiea .yquare: By JACK PUUASKl For the flrst. time In a long time, in fact not since the fight fans started gathering again en masse at the Garden, has there been so. unsatisfactory a fight as that be- . tween Al Singer, of the Bronx, and Bud 'I'aylor, killer from Chicago. Singer sank to the floor early in the fourth round. Few saw a foul blow but it was sfo declared and the match, expected to clear the field in the featherweight class turned out just a fluke. Walling was universal. Singer has been coming fapt, per- haps a bit too fast. He hits with . great speed and it always was fig- ured he could take it. Recently , he wont up against Tony Canjsoneri, toughest kid in. the division and former bantam champ, .result be- ing a dra\y; Taylor always has been danger- ous. One or two -of his opponents have gone west,, just after facing him in the ring. One was Frankie Jerome. Bud was under .wraps for a time but being a natural flgllter he emerged. He is 20 now. but looks as fierce as ever, just a bit heavier. Tirije was when Taylor looked a natural for title honors. How he missed out Is one of thoae mysteries of the ring. . Taylor weighed 127^ pounds. Singer coming in at 126. The boys went to it from the gong, ' the younger getting an edge in the first two . rounds, with , the third even.' perhaps, what's the difference. The crowd was eVeniy opinionated aa to who might win, but. there was ho little dispute as to the sudden fliv- ving, flu.sh, finale. Crowd Suspicious Bud landed to the groin witli a loft. Those under it did not think it hard enough, to hurt. Al sank to one knee, wavered, dropped on his. back and went through the mo- tions. The crowd . was suspicious, since fouled fighters usually react in a different niannor-Klrop to the canvas doubled up. The knock- down timer-keeper started the toll. Referee Patsy Haley looked over that way, undecided, ready to take up the count. Then he walked over to Taylor who was in a corner. Bud poiuided the ropes with his right mit, enraged. Haley consulted the judge on the oide of tlie ring that the knock-down occurred. That of- ficial called it a foul and so It was iniled. Meantime, seconds for" Singer climbed Into the ring to handle the kid. That might have disqualified him, but It was passed lip. One thing about the fight as far as it went—Singer did not look like a two and a half favorite. Semi-final was quite a nice lit- tle mix-up between Al Scalfaro, • Fordham druggist, and Archie Bell (not the critic) but a clever boxer. Bell was toppled over in the first round. It looked like curtains. But he took it and continued on the short eiuJ for several rounds. From the fifth on he forged ahead, using .a_.left _jab_• to...flh.e .^effect... He .made _ Scalfaro miss 50 swings, made a mess out of. his left peeper aiid came out with the deci.^ion. Not such a hot card for a big house. With the fans, steamed up ovor the showing of Schmelihg over Rlako the week before, theio was a iet-dowh lh the Slrigef-tay-* lor affair. It will probably hurt this week's house. Lois Wilson's Hair Mode : "Comiuf.'st,'; with it's talc of two antarctic flinlits made by Monte Blue and 11. n. Warner, has interest becui.sc of its background being •'rather timoly and the talk of the wh('lo oast, v.ood. It's at the Strand. ir..ois Wilson has a now arrangement ^f her hair u liioh changed hor al most beyond recognition, perhaps Dove Type The 50th Street I'layhouae had a novel overture with a smile or two in it, as well as a couple in the program. Good idea, especially when the feature is an in\j)ortod one. No help for the bald in "Behind the Altar." MarcoUa Alhahi is a Hillio Dove typo, adding to tho boautlful scenery and stopping there. Sho wore a lot of jewelry for a widow and then appeared like an Oriental prlnoeM The Detroit Mix-up . ' Plenty of bo'xing fireworks mil . in Detroit when Hay Miller ap- peared to have been matched to' ti^cht two men on the same night, the opponents being Bruce Flowors and Tommy Grogan. He had knocked out the latter three woiUs prior. The Flowers bout was originally carded for January 25. "I'hc colored fighter reported ill with a cold and the date was set back ot\<- week to February 1. Hal Hlxon, Miller's manager, bad wired confirmation. of that from Dick Dunne of the Olympla A. C. P.oiiorts, however ca:-:f lo New York to the effect that Miller would a^ain'^fight Grogan. Ilixon hurried to Detroit and discovered that Miller l\ad signed such a contract, one copy On.file with the Boxing. Commission having Hixon's name type- written In. The agreement was doolared null in'more ways than one and a new agreement which llixnn signed followed his demand for In a further discussion tlu-i-" i,u'w><iiaperm^'n wero called in. as arbitrators, Frank MacDonald. sports editor of the Times, Lloyd Northard of the News and Harry Bullion of the Free I'ress. Hlxon explained that only a fighter's ni.niaKcr can sign a contract for him to' box and as he had been forofd into a spot of not caring to stop the Grogan match in light o£ tho .-^. M-out house, he felt that another contract to meet Grogan be mad»- ;i- tho event the latter won. Ilixon then demanded a bettor percent-i^i' ii' tho event of a third meeting, since somebody appeared to ha\'- 'i'-'mptod to monkey with Miller. That was co'nceded al.so but as MilU-r beat Grogan again, the third match Is off. The commission rulod that agreemont.s by telegraph are but. Studios' Basketball Los Angeles, Feb. 12. Interest for basketball in the pic- ture studios has grown so strong " the- studio league has expanded from two to seven teams including teams how being- organized for Fox,, R-K-O, M-O-M, Pafamount, Chap- lin, Universal and First National studies. The league intends playing two -gyO nes. vyo_ekly i, .. _ ATTEE DOG TRACKS Springfield, 111., Feb. V: iTegislatlve drive again.-t t ■ hound dor hies offr-nod. la.^l with introduction by Pvcp. (iri-vi C. Borden, of ?:ast St. Loui.- "t bill fixing a JiioO daily lioon^-*' •• for opi'ratlon of .^m-h trai'k-./ . Missouri curbed all dog tta<-t<- ' the .stale, but St.,Loui.4an.'. tbi'^i • the nearby lllihois pathways. 1.