Judge — January 12, 1929 — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JUDGE ince I seem to t rout the only person left in S town who hasn't expressed himself on the sub- ject of why theatrical business is so rotten this year, I'll today make the score one hundred per cent by passing up the reviewing of some recently staged junk and giving over this page instead to the all- important ululation, The circumstance that [have very few ideas on the subject and even less interest will not noticeably deter me. Everyone who has ed his views on the decline of show business has agreed that the trouble lies, first, in the poor quality of the plays that have been put on; secondly, in’ the competition of the movies; thirdly, in the traffic problem; fourthly, in the high prices charged for seats; fifthl of getting tickets for any suce office; sixthly, in the supply of theatres. the impossibility ssful show at the box adio; and seventhly, in th I haven't a doubt that these are nd all excellent reasons why people are staying y from the theatre. But I believe that there is additional reason, equally significant, that has 1 overlooked in the big explanatory contest. One of the things that has hurt business it badly, I newspaper over » say, is the managers’ quo} dvertisements of the reviewers’ idiotic endorsements of bad plays. These endorsements often persuade people to go to the plays and when the latter discover that they have been swindled they are naturally good and sore and stay from the theatres for some time afterwards. managers didn’t believe the quotations would rope in the sus- ceptibles, obviously enough they wouldn't print them.) A bad play, if left alone, will in all likeli- By GEORGE JEAN NATHAN th. But forced into unns licated, it sometimes manages to long enough to disgust any number of cus- tomers with the fraudulent showshop. I give you a few examples of the m rial short sightedness in this direction. Here are some of the misrepresentations and cheats that they have foisted upon the innocent public in the insts f the worst kind of flapdoodle: This Thing Called Love—“The happiest, most healthful comedy this reviewer has seen in many a long day.—Evening World.” A Play Without a Name—"A bright, new and dashing idyll, full of the clements that ought to make it a favorite with the better playgoers.—Merald. Tribune. hood soon die the de life by the means survive ‘lastic, ebullient farce. Young Lox Mirror. Constantly amusin Imerican.” On Cail Girl—"The pls at achievement. The height of a hit—Telegram. Hilari- with a competent and conscientious cast. —Journal, ous comedy —Mirror. Treasure Girl—‘Among the major entertainments in town.—A merican. Angela—* Moves briskly, is colorful and tuneful — Sun. Received with great good cheer... went ov with much dash.—Evening World.” The Royal Bor—"As delightful an evening as the present. season affords anywhere on Broadway. Evening World. Exceeding Small A more moving play than any this reviewer can remember. There is not anywhere (Continued on page 32) Theatre the Leopard” (National) — stery etuf Pertect Alibi" (Hopkins) — Fairly diverting ditto. “The Frost Page” (Tio S quite) — (Plymou diverting little comedy ima” (Belasco)—A bell of a play “The Lady of the Orchids" (Miller) —Peagy Joyce in a very stale French crim. con. comedy c “A Mast Immoral Lady" (Cort)—Alice ‘good performance on a One of thy poorest “deatoasy( Flint) 4, but interesting as “The Squeater”* (Forrest) —18% weller. Nicely acted ts a Name’ (Honth “Young Lave (Masque)—Heary and humorless sex st “Jarnegan™ (Longacre) —Indignant Balderdaal yellow-back melodrama about Hollywood. “The High Res ap psetai “The Kingdom of Ged" (Barrymore) — amend with two w Mle scenes and La Barrymore effective in a dull play by — sairably acta Sierra. “wings Over Jen)—Am- “The Age of ti ce (Empire) bitious, but unable to reach its goa! The Mile. C acroant of “Caprice” (Guild)—To be reviews. beste thele “Congai” (Harris)—Incalescent fap fonight at Twelve” (Hudson) —I can farce-comety fod nothing in it Digest “The Jealous Moen” (Majestic) —I can find even less in he Mew Moon’ (Imperial) —Musica ve comedy with a number of attrac “Paris (Music Bot)—Berdoni sings features. some fet otherwise the eve “On Call Girt™ (Wald ning ““Potiphar’s Wite’ “This Year of Grace” (Selwyn) —Overs it im the next ise touted revue, “Falstaf™ (Coburn) —Sarme in this ease. “awheopee” (New Am “The Red Robe (Shubert)—And ia Cantor is the big car this. “One Way Street (Cohan)—I'll ale lecture 00 this one. “That Ferguson Family” (Little) “Treasare Giet™ (Alvin) —Dull Cau- ditto. old Everything” (Broadhurst) —But things in this one to entertain “The Houseboat on the Styx” (Lib- exty)—And this 2 . “Sakura” (Belmont)—Maybe on this (Erlanger)—Same bere. an well ‘Animal Crackers” (44th Street)—The _ "“Brethers™ (48th Street)—And here if t show in town my bealth bolds 0 Three Cheers” ((lobe)—Prof. Rogers "Back Seat Drivers” (Wallack’s) makes the evening here, providing erutebes arrive in Aod comicbooks.com —