Movies Can't Lose At Roulette Table

Gambling Cycle a Big Winner Yet Poses a Moral Problem By Jay Carmody The gambling fever is epidemic in Hollywood, but not this time in a way that should disturb any serenity the police depart- ment has managed to achieve. The movie industry has marched to the gaming table en masse to shoot dice, bet roulette, or play cards simply to provide the public with a new, exciting screen theme. In effect, Hollywood brings a system into the game and to far it has not been able to lose. The system is simple. It involves casting Barbara Stanwyck, Clark Gable, Gregory Peck or some one of equivalent cosmic charm, In the hands of these, as the pitiable victim of the gambling urge. or a stack of the studio places a million or so counterfeit dollars virginal looking chips and packs them off to the nearest elaborate casino. It’s All Fine for Box Office. There, winning or losing, the stars present a spectacle of ex- citement far more engrossing than anything they have achieved lately in romantic comedy, westerns, musicals, or white bathing suits. In the word of the trade, this “hypoes" the box office. If there is anything the box office needs, it is hypo-ing. A few of the pictures which have had this effect are "Any in the middle here between Jack Carson and Dennis Mor- "The Gambles,” "The Great Sinner” and. GUEST STAR—Joan Crawford, caught Number Can Play.” Lady a due soon on the Wa makes a in the comedy, “It's Great Feeling, even from the comedy angle. "Sorrowful Jones.” They have put gan, "guest appearance” studios that screen. such a sheen of joy on the faces of their producing ______— they cannot fail to establish a fashion. Even Monogram and to Republic, studios specializing in westerns, might be tempted an Just because sell their horses and six-guns to get a stake in the more exciting She's Not Old Hag game. Having become addicted to gambling and finding it so profit- She an Old Hag in of a moral Recently Played able, the industry is nevertheless left something most dis- NEW YORK. Mark Barron way stage her pertinent V «T.v WWW* VftXTOVWWAVM’.v-' ... in dealing with the By quandary. This is evident every screenplay is that she ftnd her hus- Ethel Griffies was playing musi- 1 covery CAST FO.R j4iV OLD STORY—Van Heflin and Jennifer Jones are two of those with impor- subject, usually at that point at which it becomes necessary to such honest analysis that Miss in so band, Edward Cooper, will not be or cal comedy in England 1902, Griffies it. Most others would tant roles in the latest screen version of “Madame Bovary,” scheduled as the next attraction at pass judgment on gambling as a good evil thing. gives all due a For able to retire for a long time yet. the Palace. Like a Winning oamoier. one may assume with make the part burlesque. the is that of a woman who retired a ago, It has been universally accepted for a long time In human courtesy that Broadway’s current role 'And we really year and with calcu- is a vice. has underscored that has lived long ‘Miss came up,” society that gambling .Experience sweetheart is well along into her until Liberty’ and who still has an one to it. So, Hollywood goes lating lust, she added. Racketeers Still Thrive verdict too heavily for any dispute she that 60 years. Still protests invigorating sense of humor and on Hollywood not without signs of reluctance. These are the “But it is nice to be back along, although received a medal for long serv- she a soft spot in her heart for the be a hit after re- to a having a winning streak and a whale of Broadway and ones natural gambler ice in the theater from her fellow of the Gullible i romances of youth. tiring once,” the forthright lady and Dreams a lot of exciting fun. On Hopes actors when she was 4 years when efforts to deal rightly by the “It seems a bit odd for me that smiled. “It's nice because HOLLYWOOD. Harold Heffernan with talented children and having The fact is that the studios’ old. she intimates, her repu- By So, such an old I retired (for the brief time) I are are sometimes the dramatic high- jl play unscrupulous They don’t buy and sell the no contacts with the studios established moral code really tation on the stage far outstripped effort is being made by the au- woman as the countess,” Miss faced the fact that I was retiring in Los Angeles, urged to pay no heed to the many of such screenplays. her actual age. Brooklyn Bridge thorities to blast these wolves, lights Griffies said. "It is a true French from two quick failures, one be- because there's no solicitors who somehow or other this is true on a rather heroic scale in “The Great Miss Griffies is but that's only whose is woven into Surely At the moment I have at- ‘The and the decoy cleverly This character, I know, and ing Leading Lady’ in the town—merely a get hold of their names. The characters who pack the gaming tables as Weisbaden and dancing one of the such bridge a “friendship club" ad in the per- Sinner.” singing to make it as basically other ‘The Shop at Sly Corner.’ which also is tempted ornate structure spanning racket, spreading one are the ones and loosely regarded as the “best” most enchanting leading roles in huge sonal columns of a daily news- in this long French as I know from the many Now I’m convinced no one should the Midwest now. ac- the dry river*bed in Pasadena. through the sinners in the is a world-renowned a Broadway musical comedy as paper. The ad looks innocent, people. The greatest of story years I have gone over in France ever retire as long as one can cording to the local Better Busi- over the of the countess Otherwise, the community is harmless and hopeful to the naive moralist-author, a man who started choosing good she plays part from native dance a roundelay across a stage works like this: apparently on holidays my Eng- ness Bureau, a Berlin-Robert E. * • * and for the confi- from Dubuque. at the of six The girl he falls in love with is in the Irving and my roundelay fair easy prey damsel himself evil age days. land. certainly A smoothie representing Sherwood musical, “Miss Liberty.” dence man, the gold-brick sales- this ad ap- but gorgeous and full of the joy of “But, even when I was doing in ‘Miss Liberty’ seems to be well Last week typical as a and beautiful “highness,” corrupt Hollywood talent agent identified as * * * and other slick adept one of the old Czar's) Her character is only in received. That's nice enough man gentry peared in one of the Los Angeles of friend life. Her father is a retired general (probably musical roles my younger days talking chummily “my “the countess” because there is at getting suckers separated from is a empress. More than that on the London stage, they were to give up retirement for a while.” [papers: Darryl” or possibly making a and her grandmother provincial unat- extreme doubt as to the authen- their money. “Studio executive. 38. with good B. this lady is played by Ethel Barrymore. The single I in every circumspect roles. For pleasantry about what Louis great her title. Concentration in these parts of a com- who runs ticity of debut was at income and car, wants their recent tractive being in all of Weisbaden apparently is the crone instance, my stage r \ ; j said during golf “I don't see I should be many-sided people making up the and affection of at- why the age of when I played in [panionship a beautiful book- the 2‘2 match, displays pawnshop. as an ancient hag be- institu- woman. Write classified ‘East most fabulously operated tractive younger let filled with child After his degeneration in the Casino, the hero Lynne. "A Great Achievement!" j. photographs. complete cause I an ancient hag on tion on earth—the motion picture —.” played She also the part of — N.Y. World Box no less. The makes played Ttl«grom What the Freight Will Bear. achieves regeneration in a cathedral, picture a few months ago in —is, of course, responsible for the ! answering the come-on, a i Broadway Lady Marden in “Mr. Pimm Pass- Upon a and so have the others. It ; he is a it clear that he has learned lesson, 'The here of a great reser- member of our staff This, explains, monthly that murder play Shop and she received critical assemblage feminine [ lives and es By,” SIMONE SIGNORET edition of the agency's “catalog,” also leaves a feeling that they all had the time of their Corner.’ I am an actress, voir of sucker bait. It waits only glibly represented herself as "24, at Sly notice for her Mistress Ford to THE NEW FRENCH DAZZIER which goes directly to the pro- ever will be as exciting. the called for me to be for the tapping by eager slick- a part-time model from New York nothing again and part Dame Ellen Terry's Mistress Page and directors. They I eters who have stalked the gullible and interested in studio people." ducers casting As the gambling lady in her picture, Miss Stanwyck explores i an ancient hag, and that was.” in “The Merry Wives of Wind- j wait feverishly for it each 30 day's ends In the i said in her small apartment Into town. Immediate Results. degradation to Its outer limits. She up psychiatric she sor.” a is and don’t think of casting juve- a hoodlum in an ! near the Theater where Most every trap, naturally, ward of a jail hospital after being beaten up by Imperial ■ Miss Griffies commented that in The results were immediate and nile actor until It is perused. A fixed with a hunk of movie bait. dice game. This is a terrible thing to happen to a kind of she plays. those days for an unknown ac- right to the point. The young is to alley i Today the hunt for fresh game flattering biography appended does not attribute it An Honest Actress. to have her name even men- mil "The Gambles” ! tress gay. instinctive lady, but Lady *'*co*.o.'-oh»p lady's phone rang that evening each photo. Price of Inserting her rn POPULAWMtCfS has become so bold and wide-1 Her current role Is one that de- tioned as having been a member p"u ^1 a voice cooed an ex- to the gambling fever. nnnnnt ’and pleasant baby's image, plus all “handling” H32 cow* Avt c«.to4# spread that the Johnston office, mands a veteran and versatile of the supporting cast was equiv- UUfMUHi ^ planation that the big movie ty- details, including “studio con- A Childhood Quirk. the Better Business Bureau and herself trained actress, and it Is doubtful alent to a Broadway critic saying coon was in Palm Springs but, tract” is set anywhere from The point of the picture is that Miss Stanwyck forced other Industry and civic groups $50j if there are more than a dozen Today that an actress is “a wow.” I ^ "wouldn't you like to meet some to $100—according to what upon the suave gentleman who ran the Casino, not to get rich LAST 3 DAYS have sounded a dire warning to the; actresses in the Broadway theater other nice a Year people meantime?”; freight will stand. quick, but to escape the subconscious echoes of an unhappy child- Retired Ago. 'Th« •*NK D,CK'' unwary tourists and new resi- who could play a character with u/ p nci nc The “nice people" was described One such was recently she hit the moral skids, she was dents: "Watch your step and,: group hood. Moreover, until really There are few actresses of Miss II. U. NtLUO “MyLittteCHkksdes" as meat a wealthy packer from; tracked down tailored Casino *.• CCHOi'iOAl 0 above all, your money bags.” i preying exclusively, meeting some urbane, smooth-spoken, expensively Griffies’ stature on Broadway to- ** the East ... a jolly fellow with ai Similar authorities have been on old women. brochures' the kind she have met only in one of the better clubs. Attractions ”. Postal people, might Coming is the LITTLE %iia “let of important connections." were shown, containing photos of a Great day. She probably only prodded into casting an eye over j At any time, she could have picked up her winnings and gone AMBASSADOR—“It’s Playing dumb, our scout per- best-known who can role of the now some of Hollywood’s the fault of the Feeling.” with Doris Day. one her age play any gome propositions sisted: “But what about the stu- home. That she did not was hardly patrician elderly character artists, with ai to a: freely flowing through the mails who owned the casino. starting Thursday. from melodrama to comedy dio executive? I’d looked forward care- Stephen McNally, racketeers few “unknown” dowagers CAPITOL—“Sand.” with Mark from daring trafficking1 She was as- Gable's gambling venture may have taken him into a sphere singing, dancing role such as she to meeting him.” fully inserted. These garrulous Thursday. in a variety of illegal items, all shows few of Stevens, starting Meridian Hill Park. 16th and Fla. Are. sured the film brass would be back no in generally regarded as vicious, but the picture signs does In “Miss Liberty.’’ Helen! Wash. lied in to the movie lure. gents had absolutely pity COLUMBIA—“In the Good Just 10 Minutes from Downtown sOon and could be ar- His club is as luxurious and genteel as any you T0N1TE—8:60 something their hearts for the long-hidden its seamy side. Summertime,” with Westley, late director of the New LAST PERFORMANCE Old COMEDY HIT! Pernicious Problem. ranged then, but meanwhile, “This on Boston’s Beacon street. Its members are a lively lot, BROADWAY MUSICAL ambitions of these women but might find Judy Garland, starting York Theater Guild, was one vet-1 The two most vicious rackets, meatman has a great deal more the hero even- spurred their hopes with the as- most of them clearly social register types. That eran actress who could do such Johnston Thursday. •ited by the office are;[to offer.” that theirs was the face the moral re- “ON THE TOWN”. surance tually leaves them—a big winner, by way—represents DUPONT—“The Lagoon” parts, and so was Haidee Wright*' Meridian Hill Bos Office Open 1 P.M. (1) those that prey on pretty, Next day came other calls from %ie j with “character, definition and demption but his life is destined to be a lot quieter from then on. with Jean Simmons, starting who was such an exciting per- young girls who come here alone [cheap theatrical agencies, model WEEK BEG. MON.—8:50 difference” that Hollywood needed Some day, of course, Hollywood's attitude will harden on Wednesday. former in "The Royal Family.” with a small wad of money to wait bureaus and photographers to so badly. but right now it is playing a winning system. LITTLE—“La Traviata,” %'ith the story of the Barrymores. Both ««, of the film studios the name and num- gambling, CUMMINGS out a seige ;whom phone babies and In No el Coward's Brilliant Comedr Taking money from ever a winner. Nellie Carradi, starting Miss Westley and Miss’ Wright and (2) the suave "agents” who ber apparently had been turned Nobody quits old ladies is one of the most eviL Wednesday. were past the half-century mark convince mothers As one “a they explained, group — susceptjble j[over. of all practices. It’s thriving on a! “The at their ‘DESIGN FOR LIVING’ METROPOLITAN peak. Alexander Krikland. can get their offspring into movies of us are all in this thing together scale broader and more despicable j Doolins of Oklahoma," with Miss Griffies says that with her Derrick Lynn-Thomas for a price. —and your letter was SO fascinat- Film and SI.80 than ever in movieland. But these Man-Made Typhoon Randolph Scott, starting new-found fame on the Broad- 600 Good Seats. SI.20 The "pretty girl” problem is. of ing.” Tickets—National Pine Shop blackguards should watch out. Thursday. (Nexi to Natl. Theater). ST. 0720 course, most and Mothers settling down here .- pernicious every The Johnston office fs after them. as the Real NATIONAL—“Letter to Three They'd better come out of the Rough Thing Wives,” with Kirk Douglas, smog and give themselves up! By Gloria Yarbrough starting Thursday. j American Newspaper 'Aaron Slick' Heads List (Released by North water bent the steel rails of the Bovary.” Alliance.) HOLLYWOOD. PALACE—“Madame Opens Tuesday Jones. As far as I'm concerned, faking ship and flattened barrels on with Jennifer DEAN HARENS had to make re- PLAYHOUSE—“Girl in the in John Kirkpatricks As Most Schedules a typhoon for a movie can be deck. Workmen be con- with Mai Zetter- Popular Play Today’s just as terrifying and dangerous pairs before filming could Painting,” "CHARM" Aisocioted Pr#»* are a of Stage. with ly plained. “There number as the real thing. tinued. ling. j — VAULA TRUEMAN JUNE DAYTON MEREDIAN HILL PARK a j NEW YORK. able pulp play writers who a WARNER—“It's Great at j are; To get the effect I put on Alongside the ship was a safety Tuesday thru Sunday evenings 8:30 to turn out manuscripts on! “On the Town”: 8:50 p.m. with Jack Carson, Matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 “Aaron Slick from Punkin'!able slicker, a pair of rubber boots and members of the Feeling,” Box Jordan's Screen. net to catch any Washington Office: is the most in order in about two weeks. The and boarded the starting Thursday. JSth and G Sts. N.W. RE.. 1313 I Crick” popular play j a sou'wester, crew or cast who might be swept j America—propably in history. good ones can make between AMBASSADOR — “Lust for steel-ribbed, steel-plated reproduc- i —^; overboard. The volume of water — ; a Gold”: 5:30, 7:35 It's years old and has sold more $12,000 and $15,000 year." 1:30, 3:30, tion of a ship designed at Colum- which crashed down on the ship and 9:40 than 1,000,000 copies—more than,i Again like the pulp magazine j p.m. bia Studios by Art Director Cary (in about 24 seconds) was equiv- now I r ANN TODD CLAUDE of Arthur Mil- CAPITOL—"Take One False LVy/ii" 4.1 RAINS’)! the works O’Neill, stories, pulp plays are generally! O'Dell. alent to the amount necessary to ler. William Saroyan, Kaufman, written to with certain in- Step”: 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 and The 82-foot vessel, balanced on TOEVON HOWARD I comply fill the average swimming pool 10 Shows: 3:45, was IDA M. G. WHIES' famous Hart and any other big-name 'violable rules: No~ profanity, p.m. Stage a 20-inch steel ball-bearing, (in about 24 hours). GLENN story, no; and 9:15 "the Passional* Friends" in you can think of put of or sex 6:20 p.m. tossed and heaved about by playwright issues politics religion, hidden in a he Great feet The camera was together. handled so that no of- COLUMBIA—“T hydraulic jacks embedded 35 FORD LUNNO possible waterproof cabin. Glass portholes “Aaron’’ was written for the could be Gatsby”: 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, in the ground beneath the craft. in Columbia's fense given. of this cabin were rubbed with amateur theater, and amateur 7:40 and 9:50 p.m. The midsection of a typical oil j Comedies Most Popular-. onion or tobacco juice to prevent theatricals have become big busi-! DUPONT—“ D e d e e : 1.30, tanker was reproduced. Clark the most 7:35 and 9:40 be- fogging. VLUSTFORGOLD ty the producer and director of ness, with an annual take some-: says popular 3:30, 5:30, When the 50-ton apparatus •*Bri?f encounter” A “Great Emaciations” between four and mil- to and sway the result The scene thus created at a cost where eight titles on his catalog lists are com-; p.m. gan jerk Alt CONDITION!0 lion dollars. | HIPPODROME—"The Count was frightening, even with- exceeding $125,000 is for “Cargo edies—and apparently that is true plenty the PLAYHOUSE of Monte Crlsto”: 2:05, Then the wind to the storm NEW "THIS IS AMERICA** Supplying amateur groups—and out wind and rain. Capetown.” During ■» He adds! amateur means any group which ! of all the play suppliers. 5:55 and 9:45 p.m. machines were turned on, and sequence a 13-year-old Hollywood corn” is a Is non-professional—with suitable ; that "old-fashioned per- KEITH'S—“Meet the Killer”: streams of water from firehoses newcomer, Robert Espinoza, is out ennial favorite. Take “Aaron and Alexis Zachary plays is a mail-order business 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 were played into the big fans. A on deck all the time, drenched as an example. Written! handled by some 35 firms, largest jSlick”i 9:30 p.m. sheet of stinging white spray and thrown about by the water SMITH SCOTT an Arizona weather-station; of whom are Samuel French and 'by LITTLE—"The Bank Dick": spread across the ship. and wind. The kid has nerve. in a Warner Bros. Dramatics, Play Service in New man who has written about 200 2:25, 5:10, 7:50 and 10:40 From above, several, thousand Later in the picture the ship York, and Dramatic Publishing other less popular pulp plays, its p.m. gallons of water plummeted intq catches fire. Asbestos or no as- I'ONE LAST FLING* — “One Co. in Chicago. | three acts concern the romance METROPOLITAN a trough and dashed across thei bestos, I don’t want any part of Christopher Sergei of Dramatic of a country hick in love with a Last Fling:” 1. 2:40. 4:20, deck. At this point I was clinging that scene. Publishing Co., in indicating city widow. When he goes to call 6:10, 8 and 9:55 p.m. to the ship's rail with all my — “Sorrowful the size of the movement, said «n her at her hotel, the clerk tells NATIONAL might. I could barely see through ■ I TODAY ...Open 1:15 his firm sent out 400,000 catalogs him she’s "engaged.” The result- Jones”: 1:05, 2:50, 4:35, the heavy white spume. I I Is Every Man Entitled to 9:45 IL1 take one false step? In its peak postwar year and ing misunderstanding takes three 6:20, 8 and p.m. Once, when all the containers I Great Sin- w». POWELL • Shelley WINTERS 1 added that business had tripled full acts to clear up. PALACE—“The were emptied simultaneously from I aince 1939. The firm lists 25,000 ner”: 12:45, 3. if:15, 7:30 the of the set (the height of Play supplying is a highly com- top "TAKE ONE 1,500 colleges and and 9:50 p.m. t a building), the force of Al high schools, business — the amateur five-story little theaters, 20,000 churches and petitive PIX—“Tower of London”: 1, usually read through a TALSE STEP" ! groups 7 and 10 p.m. II On many dramatics clubs among its 4, Stage number of catalogs before making clients. PLAHOUSE—“One Woman's Wl TERRY LAWLOR* LEON FIELDS a decision. Surprisingly enough, 4:35, Barrett H. Clark, secretary of Stoi-y”: 1:05, 2:50, OUVAL • VANDERBILT BOYS Clark says, there is very little 8:05 and 9:55 Dramatics’ Play Service—estab- 6:20, p.m. «| “piracy” by the customers—try- of the • lished by members of the Drama- TRANS-LUX—“Home Wmk MARK STEVENS • COLEEN CRAT to avoid the M tists’ Guild of \he Authors’ League ing paying production Brave”: 1:05, 2:55. 4:40, ■ I RORY CALHOUN in Will James fM fee. 8:20 and 10:10 p.m. TECHNICOLOR NEXT ATTRACTION of America—said there are 225,000 6:30, '.ftMOWfUl JONES' 1 ■■IN “SAND” / “Most of them know they’ll WARNER—“Lust for Gold”: On ten state 'II LOEWS PALACI Protestant churches in the coun- THUB.- LETTER TO THREE WIVEsl JLA DEAN MURPHY UM on some- 5:35, 7:40, and aa try and that half of them do some want to put another play 1:35, 3:35, 9:45 t.- ■ II .. ■ ii. ■■ ... n— |l|^^PAgrgAGE__JF ■ort of amateur play producing. time, and that news they were try- p.m. ^ 'ing something funny gets around,” Two Categories. Clark said. “Usually some dis- III TODAYTrOpen 12:45 “Every community in the coun- gruntled person, who didn’t get 40 ACRES OF FUN III Year's greatest all star cast1 in for some kind of dra- a part, will write an anonymous try goes WITrt FIFTY FEATURES ■ I GREGORY PECK matic work,” he added, “and so doi1 letter telling us.” 80 per cent of the schools.” Rides & Attractions *1 AVA GARDNER Plays for the non-professional “All lufttiK wimiHl « Hurt MELVYN DOUGLAS —Carmiy, 1 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT ml theater are broken into two major WALTER HUSION TTHEL BARRYMORE number of other AT GAY in categories, plus a i m| FRANK MORGAN AGNES M00REHEA0 subdivisions. There are the “pro- fessional plays," like “Arsenic and THE GREAT SINNER" Who Came Jl Old Lace,” “The Man P---Meit Attraction Were to Dinner.” “Our Hearts I I I JENNIFER JONES Young and Gay,” which were S* ■ VAN HEFLIN I LOUIS JOUROAN Broadway successes. Presentation ^| |K are charged on a performance i\“MADAME fees SWIMMING BOVARY JONES basis and the suppliers sell paper- n , JENNIFER 10 TO 10:30 P.M. V .its JAMES MASON- bound “cast copies” of the play. A.M. JAMES MASON Then there are the “pulp” plays DANCING —“Aaron is one of them— 0 Slick” SAMMY FERRO VAN HEFLIN for the ama- written specifically i NIGHTLY EXCEPT SUNDAY JOUROAN watch roc rf teur piarket. l IOOIS • P.M. TO MIDNIGHT "" “It's very much like the ‘pulp ’MADAME DDVAir magazine’ business," Clark ex-