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

Saturday, May 23, 193x INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Eleven NEWS OF TIN PAN ALLEY Song Leaders LOS ANGELES Ten best sellers for the week are: 1. "Out of Nowhere'*—Famous. 2. ''River Sainte Marie"—Rob- bins. 3. *'Were You Sincere?"— Kobbins. 4. "For You"—Witmark. 5. "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"—Shapiro-Bernstein. 6. "If You Should Ever Need Me"—De Sylva. 7. "Please Don't Talk About Me"—Remick . 8. "One More T i m e"—De Syiva. 9. "Moonlight Saving Time"— Feist. 10. "When I Take My Sugar to Tea"—Famous. SAN FRANCISCO While the first five remained virtually the same , presence in San Francisco of a flock of music representatives forced an equal number of fresh tunes into the best-seller-ism. Here they are: 1. "Out of Nowhere"—^Famous. 2. "Were You Sincere?"—Rob- "River Sainte Marie"—Rob- Pratt Bros. Take Over Cross Corp. SAN FRANCISCO, May 22.— S. L. Cross Music Corp. has been taken over and reorganized by Pratt Bros, and Associates, with Cross entirely out of the firm. Move was accomplished this week after considerable negotiations. Cecil F. Pratt, head of the company, is a merger engineer and business expert. With him will be Ronald Jonson as profes- sional manager and A. J. Ray- mond, secretary. The new execs are planning ex- pansion of the company and are plugging the current catalogue heavily, putting out new orches- trations on "Sally and the Baby," "Forgiven," and *at's Gone." It's possible that the firm name will be changed later. *Wrap Your Troubles • s"—Shapiro. Wabash Moon," Berlin. •*By My Side"—Santly. "For You"—Witmark. "Two Hearts in Waltz Time" —Harms. 9. "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain"—Robbins. 10. "Why Shouldn't I?"— Freed-Powers. * • 8. PLUGGERS' "CONVENTION' SAN FRANCISCO, May 22.— Lineup of visiting publishers has been further augmented by the arrival of Art Schwartz of Wit- mark, Lucky Wilber of Remick, Artie Mehlinger of Harms and Bobby Gross of Marks, who check- ed into the Ambassador incognito. Tubby Garron of Red Star, Sig Bosley of Olman and Bob Cole of Conrad are still here. Union Plans To Put Over Music Monday in Style SAN FRANCISCO, May 22. —Local 6, Musicians' Union, is making big plans for its annual Living Music Day next Monday. All local orchestras will play in leading stores and several of the musical groups will meet trains, boats and ferries as they arrive. Sunday's Chronicle will have a special eight page section publicizing the event. HELLER DIVORCED SAN FRANCISCO, May 22.— The wife of Herman Heller, or- chestra leader, has divorced him in Reno on charges of cruelty. JNIEL HERTZ Organist—Entertainer Fox El Capitan San Francifco The Beverly Hills Hotel an- nounces that the orchestra direct- ed by Paul Ochi-Albi, will be re- tained for the ensuing fall sea- son. Mr. Oehi-Albi is at the present time turning his attention to the new tango orchestra as the latest innovation of the dance field. Master Art Products, a subsid- iary of the recently merged Ad- vance Trailer Supply Company and National Screen Service, is now established at the former lo- cation of Advance Trailer, Bill Quinn, in charge of Master Arts Products, has some nifty novelty lobby displays on hand and also novelty films. The merger is evi- dently proving beneficial to ex- hibitors who are finding that dupli- cation of trailers is eliminated un- der the new conditions. JESSE STAFFORD And His San Francisco PALACE HOTEL ORCHESTRA OPENING PARAMOUNT MAY 23 WILL PRIOR MUSICAL DIRECTOR 1187 South Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles OXford 6571 The New Waltz Ballad "Fm Burning Your Old Love Letters'' A Sherman Clay & Co. Hit Kjerulf Harpists Going Big in Japan Kjerulf Versatile Harpists are proving a box office smash in Japan. Cabled reports from To- kyo show that Paramount houses into which they are booked have been doubling their weekly re- ceipts. To date the act has play- ed two and three return engage- ments at every important house in their route. Working along the lines of a vaude stock com- pany they change their offering from pop flash turn to Spanish act for the repeats. ^ On arrival in Japan Kjerulf Versatile Harpists were met with a striking welcome by native of- ficials and theatre men. Receiv- ing strong advance exploitation and special billing, interest is at a high pitch wherever they ap pear. Barbara Taylor Kjerulf, harp ist, who heads the act, has in her company Dot and Lewis, adagio dancers, Sylvlin Jarvis, lyric so- prano, and Fern Staben, Eileen Packer, Ethyl Severin and Bonnie Kjerulf, harpists, the last being an eight-year-old child prodigy, whose performances are met with acclaim. There are still many spots in the Orient where harps have never been heard and adagio dancers are equally unknown, and it is in these locales that Kjerulf Versatile Harpists are pioneering to sensational returns. After filling their Paramount bookings, this group is slated for other appearances in Japan, China, Sumatra, Java and Aus- tralia before returning to the States. Outdoor News FOR SALE — SAXAPHONE Carl Fischer C Melody Sacrifice Full Price—$2S.OO Call WEstmore 1251 After 7:30 P. M. TED HENKEL MUSICAL PRESENTATION CONDUCTOR AND DIRECTOR CAPITOL THEATRE Melbourne, Australia Pit Orchestra of 30 Stage Band of 20 (Continued From Page Ten) added to this year's program. The theatre will not open until June 6. Rides and concessions are getting good play. Jantzen Beach, Portland, open- ed to over 30,000 people May 2. Rain greeted the opening day but that did not keep the throng from enjoying themselves in this A-1 park. Police Ball in the pavilion, with DeForrest and his boys fur- nishing the music, helped to swell the gate. Maurice Smith is man- ager. Butte, Mont., will not hold a 4th of July celebraton this year. Town has always been noted as a great celebration spot on that date, but owing to the fact they are holding a rodeo in August, the Independence Day affair has been called off. Music Corporation Bands In Openings The Music Corporation of America sends through word of recent and near-future bookings of importance, as follows: Ted Weems and his orchestra opened at the St. Netherlands Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a limited engagement start- ing May 19. George O 1 s e n opened at the Dells, Dempster Road, Morton Grove, 111., 20 miles west of Chi- cago, May 20. Bobby Meeker and his orches- tra opened on the same date at the New College Inn, Hotel Sher- man, Chicago. Bemie Cummins and his New Yorkers orchestra opened at the Barker Hotel, Dallas, Texas, on May 21. Earl Burtnett and his Los An- geles Biltmore orchestra open at the Lincoln Tavern, Dempster Road, Morton Grove, 111., (20 miles west of Chicago) May 27. Jan Garber and his orchestra open at the Rice Hotel, Houston, Texas, May 30. SALES MGR. IN S. F. SAN FRANCISCO, May 22.— Robbins' sales manager, B e r n i e Prager, blew in from New York this week to convene with Dick Arnold, local representative. A few days here and then he scrammed for the Northwest and then home. AT AIRPORT Proff Moore, who conducted the orchestra at the Roosevelt Hotel some months ago, is to open soon at the Airport Country Club with an orchestra. CRAWFORD OPENS SAN FRANCISCO, May 22.— Ted Crawford opens this week as organist at Warners' Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, using "Burning Your Old Love Letters" as his initial number. Elmer Vin- cent is doing the same tane at the console of the San Mateo The- atre. SEIGER DOES BALLAD SAN FRANCISCO, May Rudy Seiger, musical director at the Hotel Fairmont, has just com- pleted a ballad *'Let Me Dream" with lyrics by Jerry Jermaine. It will be sung by a double quar- tette at the California composers* night at the Fairmont on May 28. SHEPHERD DIES SAN,. FRANCISCO, May 22.— Virgil Inglis Shepherd, northern California representative of the Wolfsohn bureau and Arthur Jud- son, concert management, passed away at his home here. Musical Musings By Alexander Broude Last Sunday's offerings of thf Los Angeles Festival Orchestra furnished a few surprises to the attending patrons which were not listed on the program. For one thing, Mme. Schumann-IIeink en- tertained the audionoo in her usual enthusiastic manner. After a well received plea urging the general public to support all mu- sical undertakings in a more whole-hearted manner, the offi- cial mother of the American Le- gion introduced no loss a digni- tary than "Roxy." Contrary to general expecta- tions Roxy dk\ not open with his customary salutation of "Hello, Everybody." Rather he proceed- ed to astonish those assembled by conducting the orchestra in a stir- ring rendition of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance," getting great effects with his brasses. In the sincere way that Roxy managed to hold the huge audience with a few impromptu words one easily sees why he has been selected to managed the contemplated Rock- efeller Foundation in New York. Assisting artists in the persons of Rosalinxla Morini, soprano, and Calmon Lubiviski, violinist, were well received. Miss Morini, a protege of Caruso, has a x^oice of prieasing quality and this ability was fully evinced in her rendition of popular arias from "La Travi- ata" and "Mignon," in which her coloratura work was particularly fine. Lubiviski was in decidedly good form, judging from his in- terpretation of the well known Bruch violin concerto which he played with great beauty and richness of tone. Tchaikowsky's "1812 Overture" conducted by Baleininkoff brought the evening's program to a con- clusion. This week's offering eludes Max Rabinowitch ai^ Georgia Clark as soloists. David Mendoza will wield the baton. According to current reporto the Hollywood Bowl managen*" has disposed upward of 200 boxes for the coming season of the "Symphony Under the Stars." As an added convenience to patrons parking facilities have been im- proved. The stage has under- gone extensive alterations for the ballets to be staged under the direction of Ernest Belcher. Eda Edson, musical comedy and stage star, will be featured with her orchestra on the cominp stage offering at the Million Dollar Theatre. Miss Edson is superb in her characterizations of Swede dialect. The entire act is one of the fast moving variety and combines a lot of frolic to some nice tuneful music. We believe a minstrel (colored or white) under canvas would get money out this way this season. Cork oprey is not dead by any means. In fact, four of the larg- est minstrels in the country arc taking to the road this year. Al G. Field minstrels included. Where is Sam Griffin, the coast minstrel king ? The Russian River country (Marin County, Calif.), is start- ing its usual ballyhoo to get the vacationists and week-enders to visit that playground. Somebody is overlooking a lot of good bets in that territory. Portable rides are needed up there. Look into it, Mr. Steffens, et ah Fiesta de la Roses at San Jose was a tremendous success, Foley and Burke shows were the mid- way attraction. Business was very good and the outfit made a grreat appearance. YAL YALENTE'S MUSIC Broadcasting Over KFRC—Don Lee Chain ROOF GARDEN CAFE SAN FRANCISCO Soon to begin a road tour backed by a sinash publicity campaign and a great radio reputation. JOHN WOLOHAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA EL PATIO BALLROOM SAN FRANCISCO California's Finest SallrooDi — BARNEY POETZ, Manager VERN ELLIOTT Arranger of Hit Songs Majestic Theatre Building Los Angeles 4* DICK ARNOLD San Francisco Representative, and the ROBBINS MUSIC CO. present those new hit tunes— "I'M THRU WITH LOVE" "ONE NIGHT ALONE WITH YOU" WERE YOU SINCERE?" "RIVER STE. MARIE- "WHEN THE MOON COMES OVER THE MOUNTAIN'