Inside facts of stage and screen (May 3, 1930)

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE ‘PEPPER BOX’ KTAB San Francisco (Reviewed April 23) This recently inaugurated two- hour variety program built by Helen O’Neill is rapidly gaining in popularity and has a large follow- ing in the Bay district. Bob Rob- erts, station manager, acts as m. c. After usual program opening Wal- ter Rudolph and orchestra did “Too Much Mustard,” very fast number, and then the California Rhythm Boys offered a harmony number. Vocal ensemble singing “Something Seems Ting-a-Ling- ing” okay. Two Chili Peppers, banjo and accordion, next. Hun- garian Singing Society, brought in for this hour, showed lack of re- hearsal and little vocal coloring. Rudolph and orchestra again, this time in “I’m On a Diet of Love,” the piano work outstanding. A short sketch with J. L. Patti- son, Ernie Smith and Sam Hayes clicked. Sunny Page singing “Just Can’t Be Bothered With^ Me,” seguing into Hawaiian music, and then Madelaine O’Brien singing “Carmen.” John Teel nicely bari- toned “Hills of Home” for one highlight of the evening, and thn J. E. “Dinty” Doyl, radio ditor of the Oakland Post-Enquirer, recked his newspaper adventures in the Far East and also the history _ of the “Stein Song” for another high spot. Rudolph and orchestra in “On a Blue and Moonless Night,” and then Jimmie Currie chanted “Where the Little Red Roses Grow” with his own uke accom- paniment, and landing nicely. Ernie Smith, in one of his. cus- tomary sport interviews, questioned another gentleman on the John. L. Sullivan fracas. Very interesting, and drew a big laugh and plenty of evident excitement around the stu- dio when the interviewee busted out in a little polite profanity in quoting John L. Joan Ray sing- ing “Love Moon,” displaying nice voice. Segued into Hawaiian mu- sic, then a quartet harmonizing on “Lazy Louisiana Moon,” seguing into Chili Peppers again. Made- laine O’Brien in “Hopechest of Dreams” scored. Jimmie Kendricks in a comedy tune, and then the California Rhythm Boys repeated, followed by Togo and Archie in a dialogue sequence that might have been scis- sored by about two minutes. Har- ry McKnight displayed nice tenor voice in “Vagabond King.” Ru- dolph’s orchestra did “Pm In the Market For You” and then Made- laine O’Brien and John Teel dou- bled up to chant “Tea For Two,’ and nice. Carl Tobin sang “You Will Come Back to Me” and seg- ued into sign-offff number. Very good program. Bock. WRIGHT'S PUIY SET FOR S. F. SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Andy Wright opens his play “Philadelphia” at the Tivoli . on May 4 for an indefinite showing. Wright has taken a one month lease on the Eddy street house with an option for five more. House will operate under a road show policy. With all of the original Holly- wood cast of the Andy Wright production of “Philadelphia” re- ported to be in San Francisco ready for the opening there at the Tivoli, Sunday, May 4, doubt was expressed in some quarters as to whether the play would actually open. The show closed in Los Angeles April 19, and according to Equity rules there is supposed to be a lay- off of eight weeks unless applica- tion is made to Equity Council for permission to reopen. Los Angeles Equity office stated that "no application had been made to them for such a permit, and also that no bond had been posted to protect the players for the San Francisco engagement. Wright’s counter is that the members of the cast have volun- tarily waived the bond, the pro- ducer having undertaken to ad- vance salaries to such of the cast as need it, and he claims also that no Equity permission will be re- quired for reopening, the players having been continued on his pay- roll since the closing of the Vine Street engagement. The only rea- son for closing, he asserts, was that the house had been previously engaged by the producers of “Among the Married,” and it had not been possible to find a suit- able house in which to continue the local “Philadelphia” presenta- tion. Equity officials state it is in or- der for players to waive bonds if they so desire, but at press time no indication of this had come to them from the players themselves. .Wright declares the San Fran- cisco presentation will open as scheduled, and that no trouble either with Equity or the players is anticipated. REST IS ORDERED Polly Moran, M-G-M contract comedienne, was ordered by her doctor to the hospital for a rest, as the result of a breakdown at the studio, while working on the set Saturday. LUCY GETS ROLE Arnold Lucy has been signed for an important role in “Man- slaughter,” being produced by Paramount. SMASHING! Return Engagement EDDIE PEADODY “THE BANJO BOY OF JOYLAND” PLUNKED OUT ANOTHER BOX-OFFICE RECORD AT THE FOX THEATRE SAN FRANCISCO PERSONAL MANAGEMENT OF MRS. EDDIE PEABODY San Francisco Radio Notes SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— After having been located for some time in the Marshall Square Building KFWI is now in its new studios in the Bellevue Hotel. Roy Metcalf has been named pro- gram director, succeeding Henry C. Blank, who resigned to join KGW, Portland. John B. Geisen is station manager. * * * Making a play for the better type of listeners-in KTAB has se- cured Elizabeth Gerberding, promi- nent local clubwoman, to speak each Thursday night on current events, books and plays. * * * By electrical transcription we have been hearing much lately of our good friends Duke Attebury and Ken Gillum, who, we under- stand are broadcasting from KNX, Hollywood. The boys do their dialogue and singing by records from KJBS here. * * * Some especially nice vocalizing emanated from KYA the other night When Greta Gahler, tha station’s ttitian-haired . songstress, was heard on the Musical Parade. * * * Billy Page, juvenile star of the National Players in the NBC stu- dios, celebrated a birthday last week and was serenaded at his home by Max Dolin, Walter Tie- ban and others of the NBC musi- cal staff. * * * Arthur Johnson, operatic tenor, has joined the KFRC artist staff. * * * Hearst’s Examiner put out a ra- dio section this week that included considerable advertising from sta- tions and sponsors of programs. Perhaps such issues indicates a trend toward advertising of radio programs as do the theatres. * * * The newest of dance bands on the air in the Bay region is Harry Davis’ orchestra broadcasting from Sweet’s Ballroom, Oakland, every night except Monday, over KTAB. George Druck, director, arranges all the orchestra’s music. * * * Meredith Wilson is at it again. For several weeks he’s been laying low on those excellent rhapsodies of his but he busted out with one on Monday night’s Jamboree that was a pip. He titled it “Going Places” and it included such tunes as “Broadway Melody,” “Constan- tinople,” “Missouri Waltz,” “On a Train For Alabam’ ” and “Califor- nia, Here I Come” Mighty clever musical work. * * * Bill Foy, Bob Spencer and Larry Yoell are a trio broadcasting over KJBS on Tuesday and Fri- day afternoons between 3:30 and 4 o’clock. It’s dialogue, somewhat similar to the vaude act Bill used to do some time ago. * * * Max Dolin, NBC musical direc- tor, is spending an early summer vacation in the Northwest. He re- turns next week. * * * June 1 has been tentatively set as the initial date of the new and better KYA—new equipment, en- larged programs and more of them. Plans are rapidly swinging into shape for the forthcoming Annual Masquers’ Revel, to be staged this year at the El Capitan, Holly- wood, on May 10, with present in- dications hinting it’ll be the big- gest attempt yet by the actors’ club. The curtain is scheduled to rise promptly at 11:30 o’clock, there will be six master of ceremonies, Sam Hardy, Little Billy, Ben Bard, Lew Cody, Joe E. Brown, Law- rence Grant and Bert Wheeler, and also by the entire club. The performance, which is fash- ioned after the famous Lambs’ Gambols of New York, will be given exclusively by the members of the club. There will be no women on the stage, all the female roles being played by the younger Masquers. It will be devoted this year mainly to short, snappy acts. There will be only one_ dramatic number, “Farewell to Dickens,” a playlet written and staged by Jo- seph Santley, which was the sen- sation of last year’s public gam- bol of the Lambs’ Club. The playlet depicts Charles Dickens on .his death bed. The most noted character of his novels come and bid him farewell. Robert Edeson will be the Dickens of the play and the other characters are to be portrayed by Ivan Simpson, John Sheehan, Frank McHugh, Richard Carle, Montague Love, Frederick Howard, James Eagle, Charles McNaughton, William Farnum, Brandon Hurst, Conway Tearle, Edward Earle, Harry Stubbs' and Robert T. Haines. Richard Tucker, Edmund Breese and A1 Ray will be seen in “The Return,” a black-out; Joe E. Brown, with Mitchell Lewis, Billy Sullivan, Lee Moran, Matthew HOLT RESIGNS FOR FOX POST SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Nat Holt has resigned manage- ment of Publix’s California to leave for Wichita, where he will take charge of the Kansas group of Fox West Coast Theatres, the most important position he has ever held. Stanley M. Brown of Milwaukee succeeds Holt at the California. Prior to his leaving this week Holt was tendered a luncheon at which 40 theatrical and film men were present. A. M. Bowles, di- visional head of Fox West Coast, was host. Brown was formerly an execu- tive of the Brinn circuit, Mil- waukee. STRAYER IS SIGNED Frank Strayer has been engaged by Tiffany to direct a feature ten- tatively titled “Snowbound,” ac- cording to Phil Goldstone, chief studio executive. Silent produc- tion of the same title furnished the original story idea. Betz and James Gleason, will stage “The Kid’s Last Fight,” and “The Gossipers of Hollywood” will be presented by a group of clever farceurs. Julian Eltinge, in a new act, Frank Fay, Bert Wheeler, Vernon and Tryon, Harry Gribbon and Jed Prouty, and Charley Chase with Little Billy are among those who will contribute specialties. There are several dancing num- bers on the bill, a Honolulu act, in which William Langan and a “chorus” of Kanaka “girls” sing music arranged by Billy Sullivan, and “Montmartre,” written by Ben Bard and Murray Bloom, will be presented by about 100 members of the club. In this act there will be a fashion parade, designed by Lady Jane Lewis. EARLE WALLACE Always Busy Developing Dancing Stars but Never Too Busy to Create and Produce Original DANCE ROUTINES and REVUES That Sell Belmont Theatre Bldg., First and Vermont Phone Exposition 1196 Los Angeles, Calif. „,SUB MURRAY m \ SCHOOLy^STA&E (Associates) Gladys Murray Lafe Page S636 BEVEB.LT BLVD. — Los Angeles — Tel. DU. 6721 PRACTICAL STAGE TRAINING STAGE TAP DANCING (In All Its Branches) BALLET —T^nigao By SIGNOR G. V. ROS1 GEORGE- HICKMAN BROS. —PAUL COMEDIANS and WRITERS Yes, We’ve Trouped With Medicine Shows, Burlesque, Minstrels, Circuses, Biggest and Best in Vaudeville. And not forgetting our own big Musical Comedy Success, “WHO STOPPED THE FERRY BOAT?” Our telephone number is GRanite 1555. CRASH! BANG! BIFF! When their cars collided on Sun- set boulevard this week, Leonora Summers, 24, screen actress, and Arthur Reed, same age, a camera- man, both received cuts and bruises. Hollywood cops said each put the crash blame on the other. STARS IN “IDEAS” George K. Arthur and Polly Moran are the most recent motion picture stars signed by Fanchon and Marco. Arthur opens in Loew’s State Theatre, Los Angeles, on May 1 and will be followed later by Polly. JANE COWL HERE Jane Cowl is reported to have dropped into Los Angeles this week, with plans of casting a pro- duction of “Experience” here, and also do some Shakespeare. Up to press time Miss Cowl could not be located. GEORGE and FLORENCE BALLET MASTER AND MISTRESS Formerly 68 Successful Weeks Producing Weekly Changes in Australia’s Largest Theatre THE STATE, SYDNEY Producers Desiring Originality WRITE or WIRE Permanent Address; INSIDE FACTS, Los Angeles HENRY WARNER SONGS YOU LIKE TO HEAR NIGHTLY — UNTIL ? Tait’s-at-the-Beach SAN FRANCISCO Thanks to JACK COAKLEY and SAM WALTER J. RUDOLPH KTAB MUSICAL DIRECTOR SAN FRANCISCO