Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

38 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD October 5, 1929 THE STUDIO Warners Celebrate Opening of New Theatre with "Qold Diggers" Show at Los Angeles House Proves Success — Beall and Gamer Opening Chain of Publicity Offices By DOUGLAS HODGES HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1. — Warner Brothers celebrated the opening of its new theatre in Los Angeles Thursday evening with the premiere of "Gold Diggers of Broadway." The show was a success and the opening of the theatre was a success. The program was held down to less than three hours, which is an hour briefer than most of these flashy affairs. There was much swish and swash about the premiere and silk hats were not out of order for the opening. JACK WARNER represented the Warner Brothers in topping fashion and chose seats near Al Jolson and Sid Grauman. Warner and Jolson as well as Nick Lucas, Roy Del Ruth, William Bakewell, Robert Lord, Larry Geballos, Ann Pennington, Conway Tearle and a host of others were hailed by Frank Fay from the stage for a bow or two. Not all of them responded. Del Ruth, Jolson and one or two others got stage fright at the thought of Fay's anticipated remarks and ducked. Fay proved one of the most entertaining ceremony masters Hollywood has had in its prolonged search for men who can cheer up the audience after three hours of fidgetting. He said a few nice things about people but the nicest was, "Jack Warner is sort of a nice guy." The best performances were by Winnie Lightner, Nancy Welford, Ann Pennington and Nick Lucas. The latter was at the disadvantage, however, of having too many numbers. Pennington was at the disadvantage of having too few. Nancy Welford, an expert vocalist, had little opportunity to prove it because of the great number of slides that occupied her time and permitted her no chance to sing. Roy Del Ruth should be and probably is pretty proud of his work in "Gold Diggers." He has taken a good story written by Robert Lord and given it settings that are dramatic, beautiful, novel and good show business. The scenario is well perfected. Lord has probably never given the screen a better piece of his work than he has in this. All the picture is in color. A good part of the best part of the picture is pure musical coined)'. It is a reproduction of a stage show. The off-stage stuff is a story of Broadway's so-called gold diggers and their way with two millionaires and the son of one of them. It is farce with very little seriousness to cloud the brain. In other words it is purported to be a tonic for the tired business man. Music, dancing and good acting make the tonic. Lots of young women usually prove such an undertaking a success. TRVIN WILL AT has left for New York ■*■ to begin the direction of a picture to be announced within a few days. During the past few weeks he has written a number of scenarios and originals. H ARRY HAMMOND BEALL and Oliver Garver will announce within a few days that they are opening a chain of publicity offices with headquarters in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Peoria, 111. Commercial advertising as well as theatrical publicity will be handled by the company. THERE is only one studio in Hollywood that did not offer to put up a prize for the third annual motion picture golf tournament. The others volunteered such things as silver flasks, cocktail shakers, Ford automobiles, golf equipment of all kinds and various kinds of merchandise valued as high as $500. Caddo Productions sent the golfers a huge silver zeppelin containing silverware, cups, cocktail shaker and whatnot. The committee received 40 prizes and sent out the word that that was enough. And 20 more came pouring in before the committee could make itself understood that it did not want more than one prize for every two players. Fox Music Hall Dedicated; Brilliant Program Offered (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.— The Hall of Music at Fox Movietone City was dedicated September 22. Thousands of music lovers attended the ceremonies. Dr. Rufus von Kleinsmid, president of the University of California made the dedicatory address. Among the artists who took part in the musical program are Lawrence Tibbett, Mojica, Lumsden Hare and the 100 piece symphony orchestra led by Arthur Kay. An ensemble of 300 singing voices concluded the program. Christie Film Has West In Lead; Many Locations (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.— Indicating that talking pictures are moving moving pictures, "The Dancing Gob" is being filmed and recorded in various locations. In Schildkraut Picture? They Only Say They Are (Special to the HeraldWorld) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.— Numerous undesired "self elevated to leading roles" actors and actresses, have issued statements that they are to be either featured or co-featured with Joseph Schildkraut in his latest film for Universal. Carl Laemmle, Jr., has confirmed an announcement that Schildkraut will star alone in the picture, with Barbara Kent the feminine lead. Schildkraut found that there were many undesired players willing to chisel in honors which he alone won. Radio Pictures Busy with $2,500,000 Expansion; 8 Big Talkers Are Starting (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.— Studio expansion involving $2,'SOO,000 and eight big talking musical features on the eve of shooting makes the home of Radio Pictures a real live spot of activity in Hollywood. Included in the expansion program is the largest sound stage in the world, 150 by 500 feet, it is said. Ground will be broken soon for the stage and it will have facilities for the making of four talking pictures at one time. A new studio restaurant will seat 250 persons, a mono rail system for the transportation of sets from stage to stage and a sprinkler system operating in every building in the studio. Rudy Vallee, the crooning star of the pres^ entation stage, is well into his initial picture, "The Vagabond Lover." Richard Dix, Bebe Daniels and Olive Borden each will face both camera and microphones on big productions within a few days. "Hit the Deck," "The Case of Sergeant Grischa," "The Firewalker" and "Hunted" are being made ready for early starting. Bert Wheeler, Broadway stage comedian, has been signed under a long term contract by Radio Pictures. The work he did in the R K O musical extravaganza, "Rio Rita," brought him a contract from William Le Baron, production chief. Harry Tierney, composer of "Rio Rita," "Kid Boots," three annual editions of "Ziegfeld's Follies,' and other stage hits, is writing music for "Dixiana," called the first light operetta ever written directly for the screen. Bebe Daniels will play the featured role. Niblo Host at Tennis Party (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 1.— Fred Niblo, Enid Bennett entertained at night tennis and a swimming party here. There were 20 visiting tennis champions including Betty Nuthall, John Van Ryn, and Edith Cross. Tennis enthusiasts who attended were Anita Page, Ronald Colman, Katherine Dale Owen, Betty Bronson and William Powell.