Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 47 April 26, 1930 Hollywood Tunes (Special to the Herald World) HOLLYWOOD, April 22. — How much do you value your sense of hearing? Harry Tierney, R K O composer, had his insured for $100,000. “Hearing is a vital asset and no composer except Beethoven was able to create music without it, and I’m no Beethoven,” he 'contends. * * * Freeman F. Gosden and Charles J. Correl are known to thousands as “Amos n’ Andy,” respectively. Nine months ago these boys were i on the radio at $100 per week. They have just signed to make a film for R K O which will I net them $1,000,000! * * * Fatty Arbuckle was toastmaster at a dinner given to Paul Sloane, R K O director, who was presented with a $20 gold piece containing a Swiss movement watch. The donors were Robert Woolsey and Bert Wheeler who had the Government Treasury Department permission to deface the coin and install the watch. Just a token of appreciation. jR 5R * Bebe Daniels is happy, she should be, owner of a shiny new Rolls Royce this week. * * * Billy Kernell, lyric writer, signed for a new long term this week at Fox. Kernell’s “A Pair of Blue Eyes” in “Song O’ My Heart” is getting a lot of attention as a hit number. *• * * Lee Zahler goes to Universal as musical director for the Sidney-Murray series being produced by Nat Ross. Zahler’s experience dates back to the days of silent celluloid and set musicians. * * * Abe Lyman moves to M G M after a long engagement at the Chinese here. He plays “Meet Madame,” “Madame Satan Waltz” and a number written by Elsie Janis and Jack King called “Lowdown” in M G M’s “Madame Satan.” * * * The “Ingagi Shuffle” is reported as a new dance craze here. Its hard to imagine the movement. “Ingagi” is just another term for Gorilla. * iR * _ “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes” is the title of a song written by A1 Dubin and Joe Burke for Warners. * * * Lew Pollock, father of the theme song is here to work for Warners. Pollock is the writer of “Charmaine” and “Diane” from the Fox films “What Price Glory” and “Seventh Heaven.” >R :R George Gershwin and Mable Wayne invited many of the local music makers to the world premiere of “The King of Jazz.” The film opened “cold” here for its world premiere. MADAME OCTAVE. Witmark Celebrates 45th Anniversary M. Witmark & Sons, music publishers for Warner Bros., rounded out forty-five years of activity in the music field last week. The first song published by Witmarks was, “I’ll Answer That Question Tomorrow,” written by Isidore Witmark, president of the firm, for Mile. Rennee, popular star of the early nineties, who became the wife of William A. Brady, and the mother of Alice Brady. Witmarks’ first phenomenally successful song was “The Picture Turned Toward the Wall,” a ballad that wrung the heart-strings of a sentimental public, and filled the coffers of an astute publishing firm. Geis Tells ’Em About Winnie Lightner in Own Poem A cleverly devised poem, in which the letters of Winnie Lightner’s name can and have been used to further the interest in Miss Lightner and her latest Warners Brother picture, “Hold Everything,” has been written by Hy C. Geis, the chief organist of the Warner Brothers circuit of theatres. The poem can be used in many ways — as a placard in the lobby, as an organ solo, or as a contest in the local newspapers. Geis is the featured organist at the WarnerStanley theatre, Jersey City, N. J. The poem follows: To WINNIE LIGHTNER and “HOLD EVERYTHING” By Hy C. Geis ““■W— Is for Wild, and wild she is; How that girl sings songs, is nobody's biz. — I— Is for Indian; how that girl can whoop; Make funny faces, and boop-oop-a-doop. “-N— Is for Nymph, with form divine; She sings in the bath-tub, but without the wine. — “N— Is for Necking; this dame knows her stuff; When she starts to gold-dig, don't give her the bluff. — I —Is for Idol; of Screen-land fame; There'll never be another, quite the same. — E Is for Eyes, that love to roam; Hers are the reason, why men leave home. — L— -Is for Light, of a shining Star; They come to see her, from near and far. — I —Is for “It” Personality rare; She'd make a. Minister sing “What Do I Care.” —G— Is* for Gags, with plenty in store; When 6he starts to pull ’em, you'll howl for more. —II Is for Heart, so cheerful and kind; A cure for your blues in her you’ll find. — T— Is for Talk, that spreads her fame. Wherever you go, you’ll hear her name. — N Is for Novelty, “Hold Everything” is a treat; With acting and singing she turns on the heat. — E— ds for “Everything” rolled into one— “Hold Everything” is a barrel of fun. — R— Is for Roars, until your sides split; See “Hold Everything.” It sure is a “Hit.” THE USHERETTE She’s clad to represent the show— Perhaps, as cowboy, she will go In chaps and wide ten-gallon hat— I quite admire the girl for that. ▲ Sometimes to Scottish kilts 6he turns; As Spanish don, her pay she earns; And now with lei and grassy skirts As hula-maid she coyly flirts. ▲ Or when the pirate’s horrid band Disturbs the sea and spoils the land, A black cocked-hat with skull-decked crown She wears with cutlass hanging down. ▲ In bandit films her part she claims And wears a mask like Jesse James. Whatever on the screen is shown She capably claims as her own. Whate’er her guise, she always smiles As she escorts you down the aisles. For her you never have to fret— The MOVING PICTURE USHERETTE. — THEME SONGS "Puttin’ on the Ritz” and “With You,” the two latest song hits written by Irving Berlin, head the list of best sellers, according to the Irving Berlin Publishing Company. These two songs are featured in “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” in which Harry Richman, Joan Bennett, James Gleason and Lilyan Tashman appear. . e * “There’s Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie” and “Singing a Vagabond Song,” also from “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” are among the first ten best sellers on the list of Santley Brothers, publishers of these two songs. * * * Gloria Swanson will sing “To the One I Love," “Love Is Like a Song” and “Say Oui, Cherie” during the course of “What a Widow !,’’ the all-talking and singing film on which she is now engaged. Vincent Youmans, composer of “Hallelujah,” “Tea for Two” and other hits, has completed these three melodies for the star whose “Love, Thy Magic Spell Is Everywhere,” became a national hit after “The Trespasser” had had its first showings in key cities. The lyrics are by George Waggner and J. Russell Robinson. The orchestrations are now being prepared, and Mr. Youman’s own publishing house will bring out the songs. RUSSELL SAYS Things will happen so read some of them in this column this week. . . . Looks like Balaban and Katz are bound that they will operate all the theatres in Chicago, I see where they are adding the Belmont theatre to their chain. . . . You no doubt have read the lead story of this section telling of Balaban and Katz adding their organ solo service to the Great States, Kunsky circuits as well as Indianapolis and Iowa. Looks a great deal better for organists than a year ago. . . . John and Mary Jennings and entire new show have been added to the College Inn in the last week. The Jennings are well known around Chicago having played and danced for long engagements at other cafes. . . . Ethel Waters made a personal appearance at the Regal theatre last week. . . . Doris Gutow is now solo organist at the Romona theatre in Detroit. Don Miller is at the Grand Riviera and Arsene Seigle is introducing community singing at the Fisher. Arthur Gutow is at the State theatre recently renamed the Paramount also in Detroit. . . . Carme Romano well known as the Realtor to the profession is well satisfied in his new office on the ninth floor of the Woods theatre building. He has inaugurated a new plan for saving your money, drop around and see him. . . . Herman Starr, executive of Warner Brothers, was in town last week to hold a meeting at the Blackstone hotel. All of Warner’s music managers were there, Parrish, Talbert, Mellin, Perry, Stool, Mannc, Fink and the rest of the boys. . . . Harry Fink, manager of Harms, told me of a new song that we’ll all be hearing a lot of in a few weeks. While there I met Red Leinen, manager of Danceland, who was in town looking for Name Bands to play dates at the ballroom. . . . E. S. Hartman, attorney for the Music Publishers association, and McFarlane made a raid on the distributors of the bootleg music sheets around Chicago. The case against the distributors is now in federal court. . . . The many friends of Jack Lavin among those in the trade, performers, orchestra leaders, organists, and others associated with music business, will be glad to learn that he has been placed by Pat Flaherty, general manager of the new Red Star Music Company, Inc., in charge of the elaborate, spacious and excellently appointed Chicago offices of this organization, in the Woods Theatre building. Jack has made a huge success of his handling the catalog of Villa Moret, Inc., in Chicago for the past six years. The new offices when completed, will be the largest music publishing office in Chicago. Mr. Lavin will be capably assisted by the well known and well liked Martha Young (Lavin) who, prior to affiliating with Villa Moret, Inc., as assistant to Jack, worked with Grant Ege of the J. W. Jenkins Company, Kansas City. Sydney Lachman remains as assistant in the Chicago offices and will handle the sales as heretofore. . . . Fred Keating, the smiling and soft-voiced magician who lately starred in John Murray Anderson’s “Almanac,” is making his debut in a motion picture theatre on the stage of the Capitol theatre. New York, this week, as Master of Ceremonies, in the new revue, “Varieties,” which has been devised and staged by Chester Hale, under the personal supervision of Louis K. Sidney. . . . Happy Phil Lampkin, one of the leading trumpet players in the country, and his band of ten pieces known as Portland Paramounteers were booked in the Portland Paramount for an indefinite engagement. During the opening week, also, Boris Morros, musical director of all Publix theatres was here in person and installed the band and supervised the musical offerings. This marks a distinct change in the house programs, as Paramount has been without a stage band for the past year. It also marked the fourth week of the Pageant of Progress month at Paramount. . . . Jimmy Carins, Chicago manager of Santly Brothers, is making a trip to St. Louis and Kansas City this week and left the capable Johnny Fouche in charge. ... Of course, Jack Goodwin does the honors also. . . . Sid Berman gave me this bit of news. A1 Dodson, western sales manager for Irving Berlin, working out of Chicago, has moved to St. Louis. He will make his home and headquarters there and will continue in the same capacity.