Inside facts of stage and screen (May 2, 1931)

Saturday, May 2, 1931 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Eleven NEWS OF TIN PAN ALLEY Five Close Doors In Majestic BIdg. The local Tin Pan Alley is feel- ing the creeping tide of "Hoover prosperity." Five firms have recently put the Gone Dark sign up on their doors, with any date for a return engagement not yet set. Those who have closed their former offices are Irving Berlin, Robbins, Red Star, Sherman Clay & Co. and Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble. Harry Coe of the Robbins of- fice is conducting business for the firm from his suite in the Warner Kelton Hotel. Tubby Garron of Red Star is now in Marquis El- lis' office. Majestic Building. George Wendt Opens At Roof Garden Cafe SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.—- Negotiations were completed this week for George Wendt to open June 2 with his own band at the Roof Garden Ci.fe. Val Valente will step out May 31 in favor of another job. Nightly broadcasting over the Don Lee chain has built Valente into one of the ace band names of the coast. Wendt has been holding the first trumpet chair in Walt Roesner's orchestra at the Fox Theatre. Music Notes EVERETT OPENS DENVER, May I.Hume —Ev- erett and his All-Coloradoans Or- chestra opened in^the El Patio Ballroom at Lakeside April 26. This band is fresh from a Euro- pean tour and should pack them in at the popular res it- DUO IN S. F, SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Influx of Los Angeles music pub- lishers' representatives was fur- thered by the local presence of Jack Archer of Donaldson and Harry Hume of Kornheiser, Inc., here for the past week. CHANGE IN BAND SEATTLE, May l.—Nitely from Cole McElroy's Spanish ballroom you can hear one of the hottest bands in captivity. George Eich- horn wields the baton and does an A-1 job of it. Recent replace- ments in thi sorganization are Rod McCreary, Bill Bullard and Larry Smaltz. WITH SYMPHONY SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Nathan Abas has been named con- cert master of the San Francisco /Symphony succeeding Mishel Pias- tre, who leaves shortly for New York to accept a similar position with the Philharmonic Symphony. Con Conrad is opening offices here, with Bob Cole as his repre- sentative in Los Angeles. Bobby is leaving this week for Chicago and New York, where they are also opening offices. Con Conrad is at present located in New Y'ork. Babe Coombs, assistant to Ed- die Janis, is all hopped up about "I'm Spending Too Much Time by Myself," the latest tune to drift into Janis' office. Incidentally, Babe is a classy addition to any office, full of enthusiasm and friendly greetings all the time. Too much plugging is as bad as— or worse than too little plugging when it comes to radio-ing a song to death, according to Lucky Wil- bur of Remick. He cites several current popular numbers which he predicts will run a sensational but short course, netting less ultimate profits than songs which go over more slowly but more perma- nently. The Witmark office, under com- mand of Art Schwartz, is currently engaged in a campaign to slash overhead. Art has let several of the staff go and is moving the Witmark sign to smaller quarters. Both the old and the new offices are in Warner Brothers Theatre Building, Hollywood. Alice Hallett refuses to hear anything about a depression. No such thing, says Alice, everything in the Shapiro Bernstein office going hummingly. Gene Johnson and Vern Elliott are all enthused over a tune they now have in process of prepara- tion for the market. A couple of local boys did it, and it sounds like a winner, say Gene and Vern. Miller Music Company has ac- quired the exclusive publication rights for the forthcoming Zieg- feld Follies, according to word received here from New York. The score will be written by Harry Revel, Mack Gordon, Ben Trivers, Jack Murray and Ben Oakland, all practically unknown. Miller will personally supervise the making of the orchestrations. Sherman Clay Will Close Many Stores SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Sherman Clay & Co. are closing their stores in all cities except San Francisco, Oakland and Se- attle. Slashing will be completed by June 1. Among the stores to be dark- ened are Fresno, Sacramento, Stockton, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Modesto, Portland and Tacoma. Sherman Clay's headquarters for music publishing and the sell- ing of instruments remains in San Francisco. Anson Weeks to Get Big Welcome Home SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Hotel Mark Hopkins is planning a big welcme home night for Anson Weeks when that maestro returns with his band on May 5 to the Nob Hill hostelry, after swappin'^ jobs with Earl Burtnett of the Los An- geles Biltmore. With him W^eeks is bringing Cugat's tango orchestra, a new vocal trio and in addition M. W. Erskine, entertainment director of the Mark Hopkins, is adding Jack Holland and June Knight, dance team, and Lani Ruttner, hulaist, to the return night's program. Burtnett packed *em into , the Peacock Court during his three weeks stay here under the trade deal arranged by Music Corpora- tion of America. WANT JESSE STAFFORD SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Negotiations were under way be- tween Fox West Coast and Jesse Stafford, as this paper went to press, for Stafford to double his Palace Hotel band into the Para- mount Theatre, while Jan Rubini temporarily filled in at the Fox Oakland. Stafford has been at the Palace Hotel for two years and is a big name here. MUSIC FESTIVAL STARTS DENVER, May 1.—Hume Ev- Music Week Festival begins May 3, being practically the first event of note of the summer season. TED HENKEL MUSICAL PRESENTATION CONDUCTOR AND DIRECTOR CAPITOL THEATRE Melbourne, Australia Pit Orchestra of 30 Stage Band of 20 Val Valente's Music Broadcasting Over KFRC—Don Lee Chain ROOF GARDEN CAFE SAN FRANCISCO Jesse Stafford And Hi« San Francisco PALACE HOTEL ORCHESTRA Featuring Hi. and Gene Ro.e'. Song Hit, "Tonight Will Prior MUSICAL DIRECTOR 1187 South Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles Oxford 6571 Offerings Lukewarm, Public Is Likewise (Continued from Page 2) mouth bo'in^r much more Hall than Gilbert or Idea. W. B. Weak Warner Brothers Downtown house was having the semi-dol- drums with Warners' *'Misbehav- ing Ladies/* Lila Lee and Ben Lyon being accounted the pulls in this picture, and neither having sufficient strength to deliver. Fig- ure was $9500, and that's not hot. Warner's Hollywood hit a some- what better average at $11,10 with Warner Brothers' laugh pic- ture, "God's Gift to Women," said gift being Frank Fay. The RKO Orpheum went into its first week without presenta- tions or other in-person entertain- ment, and garnered a figure of $6610 on the first five days. This was just about half as much as the house did when it had enter- tainment on stage, last week's figure for five days being $11,- 230. Picture on the week closing Wednesday was Columbia's "The Last Parade," Jack Holt and Tom Moore being the cast headliners. Vaude Pulls The RKO Theatre with its eight acts of vaudeville and "Laugh and Get Rich," RKO picture with the two non-box office names of Edna May Oliver and Hugh Her- bert heading the cast, continued to pull, bettering last week's fig- ure to the tune of $13,500 in six days. Looks like this spot is pulling lots of the Orph patrons since that house went all-screen. The Paramount had a mildly good week with "City Streets," the picture doing little good for the house but George Olsen's band on stage and Oscar Baum's in the pit building up what draw there was. The Pantages in Hollywood had "Dance, Fools, Dance," a Joan Crawford MGM picture, for a total of $14,000. Support was an F. and M. Idea. Good figure. The Biltmore Theatre, gone movie pro tem with the German- made ^ "Die Lindenwirtin V o m Rhein," had a very good session of $3500. Now in at this spot is another German film, and a darn good one, *'Sein Liebeslied." Song Leaders LOS ANGELES Ten best sellers for the current week were: 1. "Out of Nowhere"—Famous. 2. "For You"—Marks. 3. "One More Time"—DeSvlva. 4 ."By the River Sainte Marie" —Robbins. 5. "Were You Sincere ?"—Rob- bins. 6. "Wrap Y o u r Troub^*^^ in Dreams"—Shapiro. 7. "When Your Lover Has Gone"—Rem ick. 8: "In a Cafe on the Road to Calais"—Red Star. 9. "You Didn't Have to Tell Me"—Donaldson. 10. "Just a Gigolo"—DeSylva. "If You Should Ever Need Me," "Have You Forgotten?" "Please Don't Talk About Me" and "By My Side" were other heavy sell- ers. SAN FRANCISCO "N 0 w h e r e" and "Sincere" swapped ace and deuce places for the past session, all other leaders remaining about the same. Top- notchers are: 1. "Out of Nowhere"—Famous. 2. "Were You Sincere?"—Rob- bins. 3. "River Sainte Marie"—Rob- bins. 4. "I'm Alone"—Witmark. 5. "Sugar to Tea"—Famous. 6. "One More Time"—DeSylva. 8. "Hello, Beautiful" — Donald son. 9. "Walkin' My Baby" —De Sylva. 10. "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"—Shapiro. NORTHWEST The best sellers in the North- west for the curent week were: 1. "Reaching for the Moon" Berlin. 2. '*99 Out of 100"—Robbins. I 3. "When Your Hair Has • Turned to Silver." , 4. "By the River Sainte Ma- • rie"—Robbins. Vern EUiott and Mrs. Vern Celebrate 5. "Were You Sincere ?"—Rob- bins. 6. "Walkin' My Baby Back Home"-~DeSylva. 7. "I'm Alone Because I Love You"—Witmark. 8. "Heartaches"—Olman. . 9. "One More Time'—DeSylva. 10. "Blue Pacific Moonlight"— Santly. Runners-up: "Wrap Your Trou- bles in Dreams," "It Looks Like Love," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "Would You Like to Take a Walk?" "Out of Nowhere." Hoagland's Band to Play Olsen's Club A complete change of plans for the Olsen Night Club in Culver City sees the opening date set back to May 14, with Joe Lewis going in as master-of-ceremonies and Olsen not returning to the spot. Everett Hoagland's Band will be the music, with flloor show policy not yet definitely decided upon. Olsen's Club, formerly the Plantation, was a poor money spot for years until Olsen opened there in person. Former attempts to bring it into the money were floppo, including the engagement there as m. c. of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbucklc. The Olsen draw was due in large measure to his ability to bring out gratis name entertain- ers from among his big circle of big league friends. The club went along merrily, but upon de- parture of Olsen immediately re- turned to the doldrums. How- ever, with Lewis on the job, and Hoagland's Band for the dance fans, prospects for a successful re-launching are considered good. Vern Elliott, arranging partner of Publisher Gene Johnson, took a day off last Thursday to cele- brate his eleventh w^edding anni- versary. Vern and Mrs. Vern made a gala event of the occa- sion, and no wonder when Vern has a record like this to his credit: Some of the songs arranged by Vern are: "I Surrender, Dear," "When the Bloom Is on the Sage," "Faith in You," "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips," "Painting the Clouds With Sunshine," "Am I Bine?" "Song of the Nile," "Weary Riv- er," "Puttin' on the Ritz," "With You," "One Hour of Love," "Watching My Dreams Go By," "Dance of the Wooden Shoes," "Orange Blossom Time," "Sing- ing in the Bathtub," "H'llo, Baby," "Lowdown on the Low- down," "Crying for the Caro- lines," "Have a Little Faith in Me," "Looking at You," "Lady Luck," "When the Little Red Roses Get the Blues for You," "The Kiss Waltz," "Fleur D'- Amour," "As Long as I Have You," "Knock Knees," "Looking for the Lovelight in Your Eyes," "Under a Texas Moon," "Leave a Little Smile," "If I Can't Have You," "Sally," "Let Me Dream," "Wouldn't It Be Wonderful?" "The Sneak," "Do You Ever Think of Me?" "Let Bygon^^^^e Bygones," "Are You Plaj^^ Fair?" "Why Dear," "West of the Great Divide," "Painted on a Spanish Shawl," "Medicine Man for Your Blues," "Still They Fall in Love," "In a Kitchenette,' "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy," "In the Morning," "Sing a Little Theme Song," "Mandalay." Vern arranged the music for the following pictures: "Gold Diggers of Bruaawa^,' "Hold Everything," "Sally," "No, No, Nanette," "Show of Shows," "Bride of the Regiment," "Song of the Flame," "See Naples and Die," "Spring Is Here," "She Couldn't Say No,r "The Painted Angel," "Loose Ankles," "Mam- my," "Footlights and Fools," "The Drag," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," "Is Evervbodv Happy?" "The Rainbow Man," "Mexicana." Composers for v/hom Vern has made an-angements include: Joe Burke, Harry Akst, Emest R. Ball, Harry D. Kerr, Henry R. Cohen, George Meyer, Al Bryan, Irving Berlin, Michael H. Clear>^, Ray Perkins, Pete Wendling, M\ K. Jerome, Eddie Ward, Gus Ed- wards, Fred Fisher, Al Dvibin, Harry Warren, Stept and Green, Ted Shapiro, Earl Burtnett, NnHo Herb Brown, Al Piantadosi. CADMAN ON KOA DENVER, May 1.—Charles Wakefield Cadman is to be fea- tured piano soloist in a half-hour program of his OAvn composiiions broadcast during Old Wagon- Tongue's "Reminiscences of the Old West" over KOA, I^nver, at 8:15 p.m. (MST) Friday, May 15. MAY MOVE STUDIO DENVER, May 1. — S t a t i o n KOA w^ill move into a new studio downtown if the Federal Radio Commission grants a request now pending to increase its power from 12,000 watts to 50,000 watts. Several sites are now un- der consideration, one being the two upper floors of a large down* town office building. MEL HERTZ Ors^anist—Entertainer Fox £1 Capitan San Francisco BERLIN CLOSES SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— With the expiration of its office lease on May 1, Irving Berlin is closing its Kress building head- quarter.<?. Abe Bloom will work out of the Ambassador Hotel. SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— Uzia Bormani's orchestra is out at the Orpheum and Buss McClel- land, organist, is on two weeks' notice. FOR SALE — SAXAPHONE Carl Fischer C Melody Sacrifice Full Price--$25.00 Call WEstmore 1251 After 7:30 P. M.