Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

November 23, 1929 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 69 J. C. Jenkins — His Colyum HOLLYWOOD, CAL. November 6, 1929. DEAR HERALD-WORLD: Were are still learning things about Hollywood and Los Angeles. Last Sunday we heard the Rev. Bob Shuler of the Trinity Methodist church, open up his secondary batteries on some members of the city administration, and when he got through there was hide, hair and feathers scattered all over the downtown district. When Bob shoots, he shoots both barrels, and they generally ring up the ambulance corps to clean up the mess. Some of the city officials have scratched Bob's name from their visiting list, and it seems that about all he can do now is to flock with the common herd. Sometime ago Bob was fined for contempt of court. He had said something about somebody which they didn't like. He broadcast the result over his radio station and asked all who wished to do so, to send him a penny to help pay bis fine. Not over one penny came from only one person, but Bob counted sixty thousand pennies, then his fingers got so sore he had to quit. He took out enough to pay his fine and put the balance (amounting to $500) in a sack and toted it over to the home of the widow of the Japanese who was mortally injured by Mrs. Pantages' auto. Last Sunday he had the widow on his platform to thank the people. We have always had a desire to hear Aimee Semple McPherson, and last Sunday night that desire was gratified. The Angelus Temple of "The Four Square" gospel was jammed full and she did a turnaway business. Aimee's stage settings would make Grauman's Egyptian look like a hay barn. She took as a text for her remarks, "The Gold Diggers," but didn't specify just what book of the Bible it was taken from. But it didn't matter, as part of the scene was laid in Alaska and part in Los Angeles. Everything about the place harmonized with the text. Aimee is a showwoman enough to see to that. The choir and orchestra marched in with gold bands around their heads and red bandannas around their necks, and each carried a pick over his shoulder, and when everything was set, Aimee marched down front and took a bow, and the big show was on. Aimee and Bob Shuler keep things warmed up around this country, and it is a question always which one will make the front page first and oftenest. Sofar it has been a neck and neck race. The best advice we can give you is that if you come to Los Angeles seeking entertainment, don't overlook Aimee and Bob. Among other noteworthy institutions here in Hollywood are the cat and dog hospitals, of which Hollywood has 27, all doing a thriving business. It is to these hospitals that the stars take Fifi and other mongrel for treatment. We visited two of these places recently and made some little inquiry about the business, thinking that possibly that line would be just about our size. At one place we were told by the doctor that a lady had just driven away with a pup that he had been treating for about four days, and that his bill for "professional services" was $27.50, and that she was so overcome with joy at the speedy recovery of her little darling that she drew him a check for $50. We asked the doc what was the matter with the pup, and he said it was a desperate case of flybitis, otherwise known to the laymen as a sore ear, caused by the flies. Then we said, "Well, Doc, if it isn't unprofessional, might we inquire your line of treatment of such desperate cases?" And the doc grinned a little and said "Axle grease." At another hospital we were shown a dog that reminded us very much of Crocket Brown's Bullfoundland, except that this dog's legs were so short that the rough spots in the pavement had worn all the hair off, and the doc had to keep the dog strung up in a sling so he could grow some more hair. He showed us another dog he had kept for two years. The owner had only had him out of the hospital once during that time, and then only for a couple of hours. The doc was getting $40 per month for keeping him. A cat or dog in the back seat of a Packard, Lincoln or Rolls-Royce will attract more attention on Hollywood Boulevard than a ten-pound prize winner at a baby show. If our wife would come out here and bring her old Angora cat and open up business and get the cat a good press agent and business manager she could mop up in Hollywood as easily as she could in Neligh. We are going to take this matter up with her as soon as we get to Tucson. * * * If you see a girl walking down Hollywood Boulevard with no stockings on and smoking a cigarette, you may know that she is an "extra" playing in some super-special. Since coming here we have been making a study of phrenology and have become so proficient that we can tell what's in a girl's head by the length of her skirts. Doug says we can't do it, but we can. . . . And now we will give you a list of a few more celebrities we have met and seen. Phil Gersdoif (publicity director for Pathe) — Phil was born on Friday the 13th, in the dark of the moon. Lays all the blame on his parents, but has developed into a fine publicity man in spite of it. Jimmy Parrot (Roach director) — Jimmy is not related to Polly and says he doesn't care for crackers. Has directed some of the big successes coming from the famous Roach studios. Steve Roberts (Educational director) — Steve's favorite beverage is buttermilk. When a boy he was loved by his Sunday school teachers and the hired girl. Slipped a little in after life, but recovered when he joined Educational, since which time he has contributed much to Educational'? popularity. Ricardo Cortez (freelance actor) — Handsome both on and off the screen. Favorite with the ladies. Milt Howe (publicity director for Vivianne Segal and Raymond Hatton) — Milt's wit is only exceeded by his good looks. Calls Douglas Hodges "the Swamproot doctor," which convinces us that he has a thorough knowledge of humanity. Al Jolson (Warner Brothers star) — Sings "Sonny Boy" and other ditties. Alberta Vaughn (Darmour productions for RKO) — Met her on the set, and she said she was glad to meet us. Shows she's a girl of good judgment. Larry Darmour (Darmour Productions) — Impressed us as having better knowledge of what's wrong with the business than any man we have thus far met. Can give a plausible reason for all his conclusions. Business would be better off if there were men like Mr. Darmour in the business. Very glad we met him. Our next letter will probably be from some place in Arizona, presumably from Tucson. We are leaving Hollywood in the morning with an untarnished reputation and two pair of clean socks, which is better than a lot of folks have done. We have learned a lot about Hollywood but as between Hollywood and Chicago, we'd sooner live in Nebraska, for — That's where they grow the wheat and clover, That's where the corn and taters grow, That's where the folks are mostly sober And that's where we'll alwavs want to go. J. C. JENKINS, THE HERALD-WORLD man. P. S.-THE HERALD-WORLD COVERS THE FIELD like an April shower.