Screen Guilds Magazine (June 1936)

"The Cavalcade of the Show World" H OLLYWOOD will see the greatest stage presentation ever held when the 55th Annual Actors 7 Fund Benefit is produced Wednesday evening, July 1, in the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Bev¬ erly, near Fairfax. The spectacle will enfold in review a half-century history of the theatre and screen. With the greatest array of talents ever assembled, it will be given on the largest stage in the world, constructed especial¬ ly for the presentation. Returns from the production will be used for the sick and the unfortunate of the theatrical profession. Unfolded before a mighty audience accomodated by the 11,000 seating ca¬ pacity of the auditorium, will be a glit¬ tering galaxy of gaiety. Stars galore of the film firmament will be on hand, tak¬ ing part in lavish pageantry, elaborate dance ballets and every conceivable form of theatrical entertainment. World-famous actors, cinema stars, writers, directors and producers gener¬ ously have provided their talents to make this surpassing show spectacle possible. Daniel Frohman, 86-year old presi¬ dent of the Actors 7 Fund Benefit, will personally supervise the entertainment, coming here especially for the occasion from New York. Alexander Leftwich, Frohman 7 s personal representative, is in charge of the actual production de¬ tails. H istorically, the presentation will review the past half-century progress of entertainment. It will start with the old variety days when artists trouped the “'boards 77 of many an un¬ certain stage. It will continue through the glorified cycle of vaudeville which became a national institution. Then will come melodrama, drama, Shake¬ spearean efforts, musical comedy, grand opera, light opera, comedy and circus—• down through the silent picture era, sound pictures, talking pictures, radio, and the coming development of televi¬ sion. The keynote of the spectacle will be fresh and different. With the creative genius of Hollywood, coupled with the spontaneity of the foremost artists par¬ ticipating, the result will surpass any¬ thing ever done before. Scenery, set¬ tings and technical effects alone will set the entertainment apart. The hugeness of the production is beyond explanation. As many as 1,000 dancers will be used in a remarkable ballet number supervised by the fore¬ most terpsichorean director in the pro¬ fession. Hundreds of artists will take part in the various units of the produc¬ tion, while other hundreds—writers, directors, composers, producers, etc.— are now working and will continue to aid in making the undertaking a success. The plans already under way assure that enthusiasm for this worthy en¬ deavor will amount to a point where all eyes of the entertainment world will be focused on it. This is the first time in 15 years that the benefit has been held in Los Angeles. In 1921, a mammoth produc¬ tion was given in the old Beverly Hills speedway, long since subdivided in resi¬ dential and business property. Ap¬ proximately $100,000 was made for the fund on that benefit. I N order to distinguish between the screen and stage benefit, proceeds from this endeavor will go to the Actors 7 Fund which takes care of professionals of the stage. Motion picture actors are taken care of by the Motion Picture Re¬ lief Fund, and where an actor is both engaged on the stage and screen, the Actors 7 Fund is assessed 50 per cent. For many stage actors who have never been in pictures, and this includes many fine artists, the Actors 7 Fund is wholly responsible. But the motion picture world is as equally interested in these thespians and is giving its full support. Money turned into the Actors 7 Fund is used to take care of actors without funds in the cases of illness and old age. This aid is available to any member of the theatrical profession. Homes for the aged are maintained at East Islip, Long Island (Percy Williams Home) ; at Englewood, N. J. (Actors 7 Fund Home) ; and in Philadelphia (Edwin Forrest Home). In every key city of the United States there is a rep¬ resentative of the Actors 7 Fund of America, except on the Pacific Coast where the entire responsibility lies with the Los Angeles office. Charles Miller administers it here with the aid of Nedra Stafford. This work is done without compensation of any sort. T HAT the fund is a worthy charity, all actors know. In an individual case, as much as $16,000 has been ex¬ pended over a period of years for the care of one actor. At the local office, emergency cases are handled, but in ordinary procedure all applications are sent to New York before permanent aid is given or aid involving large sums. In the meantime, temporary help is issued by the local office. The Fund supplies money for operations, doctors, medicine, nursing care, dental work, and any expense necessary to aid a needy actor. At the homes, good food and accomo¬ dations are the rule. Entertainment in the form of motion pictures is provided, as well as recreation such as golf, tennis, etc. Residents are allowed a certain amount weekly for pocket money in ad¬ dition. And all of this is supported by the Actors 7 Fund of America. With the display of enthusiasm al¬ ready apparent, the “Cavalcade of the Show World 77 cannot help but be a success. Boxes, selling at $100.00, are being reserved for major stars, pro¬ ducers, directors and writers who are marking the date on their calendars. Prices offered on the seats will range from $1.00 to $10.00. Blue book members of the motion pic¬ ture industry are heading the commit¬ tees and lending every effort to make (Continued on Page 19) <•* Hollywood will see the greatest stage pre¬ sentation ever held when the 55th Annual Actors 1 Fund Benefit is produced Wednesday evening, July 1, in the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, Beverly, near Fairfax. The spectacle will enfold in review a half-century history of the theatre and the screen. June, 1936 9 #