Thompson 341220

Cliffside, Dec. 18 – Many of you saw Johnnie Dunn’s revue, Hollywood Follies, at the Romina Theatre Friday or Thursday of last week. The revue has improved the performances of previous shows. Spud and his piccolo amused me no little. A regret of every revue, one that managements can do little about, it seems, is the vulgar-tinted wit which is most usually worked into the show awkwardly. From dance angles and the revue generally was good; it, too, was clean. But could not revues “cut” all crazy girl acts.

Mills Drug Store has added a “Lending Library.” I notice among the shelves: Kathleen Norris’ “Second Hand Wife,” Anthony Abbott’s “Night Club Lady,” Stanley North’s “Mid-Summer Madness,” Brown [Bram] Stoker’s “Dracula,” Louis Bromfield’s “Twenty-Four Hours,” Faith Baldwin’s “Office Wife” and Berta Ruck’s “Dance Partner.” All readers of the type will enjoy, I believe, Alexandre Dumas’ “Count de Monte Cristo” in talking picture form. It is good entertainment for one who will stop to think with the picture, admitting the feasibility of such a plot. Forest City or Cliffside theatres will screen it soon, no doubt. In such a case, see it.

Doll’s Musicale—Performing to a small and appreciating audience last Monday evening at Forest City’s school auditorium, the pupils of Miss Katherine Goggans register as potential artists in this phase of music. A young violinist, Winston Jobe, about 5 years of age, held our interest as we imagined a future picture of the young maestro. To us, the outstanding work might be noted of Martha Alexander, Helen Caldwell, Gladys Reinhardt, Marguerite Bodie and Cliffside’s Lois Davidson, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. B. J. Davidson. A most novel finale, introducing Miss Goggans at the piano, playing Nacio H. Brown’s “Wedding of the Painted Doll” closed the program in the form of a doll’s wedding. Miss Eleanor Calhoun must have especial recognition for her recitation of “The Little Match Girl.” This number was fittingly programmed in a Christmas atmosphere—the entire performance was seen between two sparkling Christmas trees arranged at either side of the stage.

The most cleverly striking topic sentence: O. O. McIntyre’s “Dictated, But Not Red.” The zippiest revue singer: Greta Grey, singing “Pardon My Southern Accent” with Henry Santrey’s show. The exactly suiting me radio dance hour: The Aragon-Trianon Ballroom, featuring Wayne King and Jan Garber. The most distinctively sophisticated playing of a popular tune: Chicago’s Palmer House string ensemble, playing Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust.” And very much our favorite: “Stardust.”

Do you remember: When they announced Ozzie Nelson’s band playing at the Glen Island Casino, “Just over the bridge from New Rochelle,” and now he is top man in Sunday evening radioing. And here it is again: Ozzie Nelson, my favorite singer of radio.

A lady sends a most attractive Christmas greeting to this striving columnist. It says:

There’s the warmest of friendship
     And a world of good cheer
In the wish, “Merry Christmas”
     And, “Happy New Year.”

It is one of those fold this way and then fold that way kind. On the front it says, “Christmas Wishes.” It’s from five-year-old Peggy Blanton.

Correction: In last week’s writing our last paragraph should have carried the name of Mr. Hendrick and not “Mr. Hamrick.”