Inside facts of stage and screen (May 23, 1931)

INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Pagre Thre« PUBLIX TO SLASH UNIT COSTS AND ROUTE "Pubfic Enemy" Is Best in Fair Week Warner Brothers* Hollywood Theatre had the best conipai*ative showing in a mediocre week at the picture palace box offices. This spot, with James Cagney in ''The Public Enemy," another (Granghtcr film, but a ;?ood one this time, did $18,000. A Bobby Jones golf short ivas in support, prob- ably accounting for some of the draw. The Warner Brothers' downtown house took in $15,000 w^ith the same program. The RKO Theatre had a good average wee4c of $15,;>10, with William Haincfl* in MGM's "Tailor Made Man." Eight vaude acts, four big-time and four local book- ings was the stage support. Runs Drop The Orpheum had Constance Bennett in the second week of Pathe's '^Born to Love," taking a drop of $4000 to a total of $7300 for six days. The heaviest money was that put on th^ line by wom- en at the matinees. Tb«^ Criterion took a drop of $ in the third week of an- other gangster film, "The Secret Six," \Nith Wally Beery the big noise. The figure w^ae $12,327, still holding up the run to a very nifty level. Loew's State was in the bear side of the market with "Young Sinners," with no particular name pull in it. The takings at this spot, with Fanchon and Marco's "Three Big Figures" Idea in sup- port on stage and Lou Kosloff in the pit, were $16,693. Oakie Not Hot The Paramount was another not so hot spot, with Jack Oakie in "Dude Ranch," Jimmy Savo on stage and Oscar Baum's music. The United Artists, after a ca- pacity opening with Marlene Diet- rich in "Dishonored," fell off as the week progressed, and figures wer^ considerably less than fair. P: res Holl 'd had Wheel- er ariu VVoolsey la Cracked Nuts" and F. and M. Idea in support to the tune of $12,462, which is quite okay for this spot. The Biltmore, with the German "Die Foresterchristl" had a very good $0800 week. TOUR TO BOOM UP TRADE Novelty Acts For Revival of Vaude (Continued from Page 1) in for the name draw of feature vaude acts. A checkup shows that circuses and outdoor entertainment is go- ing big on the coast this year, par- ticularly in the big towns. By an dlarge this form of enter- tainment, when properly handled, is having the best season it has had in the last two years. The big town returns are making the dif- ference, the income from the small spots being about the same as last year. Barnes is understood to be donig one of the biggest years in the history of that circus. INSTITUTE OPENS The Health Culture Institute, Ltd., has opened at 5751 Holly- wood Boulevard, in the former lo- cation of the Marshall Health System. The institute is for phys- ical culture and health building, open-air conditioning exercises, baths and massage, with depart- ments for both men and women. Alan M. Gage is consulting physi- cian, and Carl Raepple is manager. PHILBIN TO COME BACK Mary Philbin, who for years was one of Hollywood's biggest silent day stars, is being set for a smash comeback in the talkes. It was learned this week that Jerry Mayer, her representative, has her set for an ace role w^ith one of the major studios, definite announcements to be forthcoming early next week. AL'S MOTHER DIES The mother of Al Wager, popu- lar local booker, died this week. HEDDING HAS MARYLAND The Maryland Theatre at Los Angeles is now under the owner- ship of S. A. Hedding. E. B. Cur- tis has tokpTi ovor the duties of manager. Harry Holman Harry Holman, ace character man of stage and screen, it so popular with the movie producers that he can't fill all the spots for which he is wanted. Rufus LeMaire had him on the dotted line for a neat part in ''The Star Witness" at "^irst National, but Ben Thau, MGM casting di- rector, and Charles Brabin, MGM director, discovered they needed him badly for the part of a South- ern horserace man in ''Horseflesh." So negotiations were started be- tween the two studios, and Le- Maire agreed to release Holman for the MGM role. A number of the "Horseflesh** company, including Holman leave for location Saturday. Southern Exhibs Signed for A. T. 0. G. A. Metzger and A. Alper- stein, president, secretary and business manager respectively, of the Allied Theatre 0^\Tiers of Southeni California, met with the San Diego exhibitors on Wednes- dayof this week at a meeting in the southern city. All inde ex- hibitors of San Diego, La Jolla and Tia Juna, Mexico, signed to join the A.T.O. of Southern Cali- fornia which is associated with the Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, na- tional organization of which Abraham F. Myers is president. A majority of all inde houses in Southern California, number- ing approximately 130. are now included in the membership of the organization. WITH DOC VAN CLEVE PORTLAND, May 22.—Tommy Parker and his wife, Mae Tibbit, are here rehearsing with Doc Van Cleve's tent show. This engage- ment will probably continue through the summer. In the fall Parker and Miss Tibbit are expect- ing to return to the Majestic The- atre in Spokane, Parker as pro- ducer and Miss Tibbit as one of the principals with the company at that house. They left the spot May 12, after being at the house in the respective capacities of pro- ducer and principal for 12 weeks. BUY THRILLER "Murder by the Clock," Rufus King's mystery novel, has been purchased by Paramount as an all- star production for William Boyd, Lilyan Tashman, Wynne Gibson and Regis Toomey. Ira Hards, New York stage director of "Dra- cula," "Blood M o n e y'* and "Twelve Out," has been signed by Paramount to direct. NEW PLAY "Balloon" by Padraic Colum, will be the second Potboiler pres- entation of the current season, opening Tuesday, May 26, for a five nights run at the Theatre Mart. The play has never before been produced anywhere. It will be directed by Ole M. Ness. TOLER WITH HUGHES Sidney Toler, Broadway stage actor, has been added to the How- ard Hughos* air cofnedy, *'Groiind Hogs." A Manufacturers* and Distribu- tors* Exhibition on wheels, carry- ing 50 or more trucks and a troupe of about 70 performers, is set to open on the vacant lot at Sunset and Vine Streets, June 15, and thereafter take the road throughout Southern California for a 24 weeks tour. The enterprise is in charge of Harry D. '^Bob" Matthews, man- aging director, with executive of- fices established at 4272 South Broadway. Entertainers will be mostly girls, and entertainment will be on the circus order, with two shows a day, running 46 min- utes. Admission to the public will be free, the idea being to get across the business plugs of the exhibitors to as many people as possible. Also there will be no catch «• penny sideshows and county fair booths or similar stunts. All effort will be concen- trated on" giving the public a good free show, and the exhibs a good big exhibition boost, includ- ing also a street parade, advance publicity and the like. Backers of the enterprise claim it is just the tonic needed to give a boom to business during these hard times, when some such stim- ulant is absolutely necessary to wake up the lassitudinous buying public. In order to make the traveling pageant as impressive as possible, Matthews has set the rates low to exhibitors, the week- ly price on displays ranging from ^5 to I72..30. The exhibit booths are motorized, on 10' by 10' di- mension, with 18 feet of front railing. Matthews delivers the booth without outside paint and decorative specifications complete. Displays, built inside, may be thus kept intact for an entire season. Small exhibits can be as effectively handled as well as the largest. All the exhibit units will be in the opening day parades, esti- mated to be a mile of floats, two bands, a drum corps, a public address system and the tradi- tional calliope. The drum corps i s composed entirely o f girls, with their big specialty a class Scotch number. Ronald French put on the drum corps numbers, and the band. Entertainment features as an all-girl International Pageant Ex- travaganza and Circus Revue, a "Peep at Olympic Year." Clowns will be led by Rube White. Choice spots in the ten South- ern California counties will be played, three and four-day stands being made. Bob Matthews is a man who has had many years experience in the exploitation field, and also is an experienced showman, having staged many entertainments, in- cluding specialties for Fanchon and Marco. SEATTLE, May 22.—Carl Rei- ter giving a speech at the U. of W. School of Business Administra- tion called "Business and Monkey Business." What ho!... Charlie Wellman living at the Olympic Hotel. ... Joe Pinard busy with plans for the coming Iks* conven- tion. . . . Roy E. Oxman m.c.-ing at Coffee Dan's. Let us say right now tion. . . Roy E. Oxman m.c.-ing at new tune that is a winner. .. . The Ed Krafts celebrating their first wedding anniversary. . . . Bill O'Hanrahan giving out a recipe for hash. . . . Tommy Olsen looking as though he had lost his last friend.. .. Eleanor Boardman and King Vidor in town awaiting de- livery of a ne\7 cruiser. . . . Matt Moore slated to join them for a cruise of Northern waters. . . . Nebo Harshman replacing Polly Butler at Coffee Dan's. . . . Spen- cer Hill nursing a, fever blister. .. . Harry Mills meandering along with his inevitable pipe. —RUTH. REGAS IN "ROPES" George Regas has been includ- ed in the cast of "Ropes of Sand," produced by Miracle Pic- tures. Lead Sheet Panic Gives Boys New In With Ladies SAN FRANCLSCO. May 22 —Music men are giving out so few lead sheets and orches- trations that when local play boys want to impress a gal they say ''Listen babe, be nice to me and I can get you all the music you want." It's a variation on the "I'll put you in t>^<^ how business" line. Flay Practice Of Ads In Pictures DENVER, May 22. — Theatre o^vners of Colorado and other Rocky Mountain states at their annual convention here deplored in a scathing resolution, the re- c e n 11 y inaugurated practice of* some picture makers of conceal- ing advertising in pictures that are supposed to be purely of an entertainment nature, branding the ad film as something that ''takes unfair advantage of ex- hibitors and creates dissatisfac- tion among theatregoers, and is, therefore a condition detrimental to the welfare of the theatre." Block booking was also put on the pan as abusive to the theatre ownef. The former officers of the as- sociation were all re-elected, with Harry E. Huffman to continue as their president. To Cut Time Down To 10-Week Route Publix is going to take another slash at its expense budget, ac- cording to word received here this week. The new cliop-<lown is to apply both to the number of Publix units formed, and to the produc- tion costs of the individual units. Publix recently slashed their route list way doXNTi, cutting off the Pacific Coast and elsewhere economizing in their booking spots. Outconje of this left ap- proximately 16 weeks for Publix units. The forthcoming slash will reduce this to 10 weeks, it is un- derstood. Also, the report says, orders are out to unit producers that they must hold down their ex- penses considerably under the prevous figures. This ultimate-'m was said to have followed a : of the Fanchon and Marco pro- duction system, units of which are formed more flashily and with far less cost than those of Publix. The F, and M. budget- ing system is said to be the Pub- lix aim. This will be about half the present Publix budget figure. W. B. Cut Prices In Local Houses The summer price-cutting is on. Following the recent Orpheum cuts, both Warner Brothers The atres are now down in their scales. The DoA\Titown W.B. house is 25 cents from 10:45 to 1; 35 cents from 1 to 5, and 50 cents from 5 to closing. Children at any time are 15 cents. The Hollywood house scale is now 35 cents from 1 to 5; 50 cents from 5 to closing. Children are also 15 cents here at any time. F. and M. Seeking House in Denver Fanchon and Marco are looking for a spot to show ther Ideas in Denver, and it is believed that they will get a booking into that town soon. They would also like to go into Chicago, it is understood, but op position by stage show producers there has succeeded in keeping them out thus far. The proposed home M. in Sacramento is open wth the Ideas next month or so, it for F. and now set to within the is reported. the re- old RESUME CONCERTS After a two weeks vacation Long Beach Municipal Band sumed their concerts in the beach band shell Tuesday, May 19. After September 1 they ex- pect to move into their new quar- ters in the new Municipal Audi- torium. BIG ADVANCE DENVER, May 22. — Advance reservations at the Elitch Gardens Theatre point to a record-break- ing season. Rehearsals to start at this historic old playhouse on May 31, with Jack Hayden directing a strong New York cast. Theatre opens June 6 with "Death Takes a Holiday" lined up as the open- ing production. START SEASON DENVR, May 22. — Lakeside Paik, popular summer spot here now open only on week-ends, will start its regular summer season tomorrow (May 23). Dancing, boating, swimming and regular amusement park features are of- fered for the pleasure seeker. In-Front Ballyhoo On the Main Stems The old time "circu&ing" at- tractions made a hefty comeback in Los Angeles during the past week, and not on Main Street, either. The spots where the Barnum- esqueries were put into effect were the Fox-Palace Theatre and the RKO Theatre. The Fox-Palace had the Hill- billies of radio station KMPC in person, and between a^^pearnrr^c on the stage, the troupe bo'ikeci out onto the sidewalk where they did clo\\Tiing to at- tract the passing throngs. And with lots of results, this spot packing them in for the entire week—being the only downto^NTi spot which did so. The RKO Theatre went back- wards to the old spieler gag, with a man out front to shout the glories of the inside show to the passersby. Also to mention tin* amount of sbow which could be seen for the money, and other- w i 3 e do the hear-ye, hear-ye which is most familiar around the side shows of circus lots. Incidentally one of the orches- tra boys at the RKO got his first earful of the newly established spieler, and turned aghast to a fellow orchestra member. "My Gawd," he ejactulated, wonder if next week they'll have us out front doubling in brass." TO HANDLE NEWS SAN FRANCISCO, May 22.— Fox-Hearst Corp., producers of Fox Movietone and Hearst Metro- tone newsreels, have installed James Seeback, cameraman, and Warren McGrath, sound engineer, to handle local news stuff for the reels. OPENS BRANCH OAKLAND, May 22—Dance Art Shoe Co. has opened a branch store here, operating it in con- junction with the San Francisco headquarters. Dance Art carries a standard line of shoes and ac- cessories. Sol Reines is in charge. OFF FOR MEETING Dave Bershop, chief film buyer, and Jeff Lazarus, Southern Cali- fornia division manager and pub- licity director of Hughes-Franklin Theatres, left Friday for Dallaa, Texas, to take part in the Texas- Oklahoma convention of the Hughes-Franklin Theatres in those states. FLAVIN WITH PAR. Martin Fla\in, author of "The Criminal Code," has joined the writing staff at Paramount. Fla- vin wrote the dialogue for "The Big House," the adaptation and dialogue for "Passion Flower" and the dialogue for "Torch Song.' TAKE COLONIAL The Colonial Theatre at Orange has been taken by Roy Terry and Miriam Lee. The house re-opens under their management on l^tav