On condition that she remains a spinster, and that: she assumes the surname and arms, badge and motto of his family, Miss Dorothy Ethel /Green who is 40 has been left some £50,000 "by her fiance, Mr. George Jebsen, Marbles, of Thornbridge Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire, a barrister of the Inner Temple, who died] this week at the age of 84. In spite of the "spinster" stipulation in the will, if Miss Green desired to marry she would be quite at liberty to do and at the same time retain her} legacy, inasmuch as, by law, no one is allowed to leave a will ctipulating that the legatee must remain a "spinster" or a bachelor.
Countryside to be Saved A Penn-Gray Society has been! formed to save the countryside Juround Stoke Pages, and the church, from the unsightly work of builders, and £2,000 has already been promised. At least £30,000 will he needed for this purpose, and this sum must be found within three years. Dr. Montague James, the: Provost of Eton, is the chairman, and others interested in the scheme fare the Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Burnham, the Earl of Kenmare, Lord Cottesloe, and the Bishop of Lordon. As a memorial to Penn and Gray, it is intended to acquire the Manor House and convert it into permanent museum of of the poet and of the founder of Pennsylvania. The countryside around Slough has already been made unsightly by hundreds of new houses which have been built, and 150 factories and works which' have been constructed during the part few years, and unless some steps: ere taken' to protect the beautiful countryside around Stoke Pages, this too will very soon become an eye~ sore, London experiences Cinema Boom It seems extraordinary that at a time when all cinemas are lament on the more or less increasing. popularity of the "talkies" and managers are tearing their hair trying to find productions to interest the public, there should come to London a' sudden cinema boom, which moreover docs not extend to the theatres, $0 we cannot put it all down to the indifferent weather, In fact what is normally regarded as the worst week of the year has this year so far proved the best, and even the records of last year's great "talkie" boom are being broken, Thus last week the takings of London's larger houses were as follows:—Tivoli £7,000, Plaza, £5,000, Regal £5,000, Empire £5,000, Alhambra £3,500" New Gallery £3,000, Capitol £2,500, Carlton £2,500. Naturally the London exhibitors are very excited, and from extreme pessimism their feelings have gone to extreme optimism.
'We hone this optimism is not too' good to last since the news from America is not equally thrilling, since it is announced that four well-known film stars are about to try their luck on the legitimate stage They are of course four stars who were very popular before the alkies" became fashionable, They are Miss Mary Pickford, Miss Colleen Moore, Miss Lya de Putti, Miss Vilma Banky and Mr. Rod La Roeque. This docs not mean, how. ever, these stars are going jan don the serzen since Miss Mary Pickford has already planning to ake two more pictures this year. These stars will no doubt attract audiences in view of their names, but whether their talent on the legitimate stage is as great as on the screen remains to be seen.
Meantime, the Gaumont British studios announce several new productions in course of preparation, These include "Thread of Scarlet," a new "talkie" melodrama which Peter Godfrey, the young Gate Theatre dram is directing. This is to include an absolute replica of the famous smithy at Penshurst, Kent, and we are to see the absolute correct way to shoe a horse. It seems to me that these details are considered much more important by some directors that the resulting film. "The Road of Poplars" is another film shortly to be ready, and is play by Vernon Sylvaine, author and playwright. The story and action centre round the Menin Gate and concern an ex-soldier, wounded in the war, who returns to Ypres after' the Armistice, marries a French girl, and, in the shadow of the Gate, sets up in business as Cafe proprietor. Ernie Lotinga is now to be talkie" star and is to appear in Gaumont's Josser P.C., The' picture is an adaptation of Lotinga's famous music hall sketch, and the strong cast includes Miss Maisie Darrell. Another Gainsborough talkie" to conclude this week is "A
Warm Corner," produced by Mr. Victor Saville' With the. exception Belle Chrystal the east of the Picture ithe same as that. which Ris been delighting theatre goers at the Princes Theatre, and in the provinces,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.