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Show Melodrama Fails; to "Come Back" at Theater - j WHEN our mothers were young girls, "In Old Kentucky" was a melodrama melo-drama of the first water. It had a run of popularity that was long and well de- 1 served, but it has served its time and should be permitted to sleep the sleep of peace undisturbed. i The reproduction of the old play as presented by Rowland. Clifford and Gates (Inc.) at the Salt Iake theater last night shows visible effects of the use of the pulmotor. It might have been worse, but. apparently, a large number of Hie small audience in attendance last night didn't think so, for they got up and left before it was over, and some of those who remained re-mained didn't go because they were asleep or sot nearly so they didn't care. A worthy effort has been made to inject in-ject fome life into the old play by the introduction in the second act of a lengthy programme of vocal al instrumental instru-mental music of the darky jazz brand and negro dancing, but even this only aroused the interest of the audience to a passive degree. No one seemed to find anything in it to get excited over. It may be said to the credit of Miss Jean Selkirk that she puts some life and brightness into the .role of Madge. She possesses personality and charm and handles the role exceptionally well. Fred Monley as the Kentucky colonel is deserving de-serving of credit for his work also. "In Old Kentucky" will be the attraction attrac-tion at the theater all the rest of the week. Ancient and Valuable Beaver Hat Worn by W. S. Hart in "The Cold Deck," at Strand Today. f F all the fine things that William S. Hart has as yet produced from his inexhaustible waraVobe. the rarest and most awe-inspiring is the beaver hat now on exhibition in the "The Cold Deck," which will be-shown at the Strand theater thea-ter today and tomorrow. It is of an extinct ex-tinct species as rare as the dodo and must be extremely valuable. Hart, when plied by questioners, preserves an impenetrable im-penetrable silence as to its ancestry. It is generally believed, however, to be a family heirloom that has descended to "Hill" from a remote progenitor with . a blessing. No doubt it was lying, embalmed, em-balmed, in some camphor chest before the "Buffalo Bill of the Screen" found use for it in this picture. If one waits one always finds use for everything. Knowing Know-ing its pricelessne'ss, "Bill" is very careful care-ful of it. He seldom removes it from his head, except in courtly bow. It is presumed that he--sleeps with it firmly pulled down over the ears. At one time in "The Cold Deck" the relic seems in emminent peril. The wearer wear-er is attacked unawares by a villain. The hat is on his head and must be preserved pre-served at all hazards. The spectators gasp and hold their breath. They don't see how the thing can be done. " When they see the hat removed, held in safety through a terrific combat and the scoundrel scoun-drel knocked out, and see Hart calmly and complacently return the chapeau to its rightful perch, they have gained a new insight into the amazing fertility and resource of a great artist. |