The Film Daily (1931)

THE Sunday, September 13, 1931 ■£M^ DAILY t Presentations By JACK H ARROW ER, Roxy "Blues," the Roxy stage presentation, supplies color, beauty and dash, and abounds with melodious melodies, both old and new. It is preceeded by a miniature edition of "Rigoletto," programmed merely as the "Overture." Several arias from the opera are beautifully sung by Benjamino Ricco, Rosemary Cameron, Sunworth Frazer and Louise Scheerer. Three scenes from "Rigoletto" are depicted and the orchestra under the direction of Maurice Baron, does a fine job. "Blues" opens with a cleverly conceived "water fall" ensemble. Yascha Zayde, pianist, plays two numbers masterfully and is followed by a modernistic "Blue" dance by Roger Pryor Trio. The presentation ends with a snappy number by the Roxyettes in which they dance to the "Memphis Blues." A new shadow effect, during the dance, is worth while seeing. Paramount Ben Bernie and Band headline the Frank Cambria presentation currently at the New York Paramount. The musical maestro of radio and vaudeville fame has a snappy and talented bunch of performers with him, and among the featured principles are Eileen Dougall, Pat Kennedy and an Albertina Rasch ballet which appears in an elaborate overture conducted by Irvin Talbot. This is Bernie's only Broadway stage appearance in 18 months, and he leaves next week for Chicago. Jesse Crawford's organ concert includes an "Eli Eli" duet with Leon KairoflF. Dave Schooler Returning Dave Schooler, after an absence of more than eight months, returns to the Capitol next Friday as master of ceremonies. New Minneapolis Suburban House Minneapolis — Ground for a new suburban theater in the vicinity of 48th and Chicago avenues, has been broken by the May Theater Co. of which Frank Woskie is the head. It will be of Spanish design and seat 650. Total cost is given as $40,000. Australia imported 1,859 American films in 1930; 175 from the United Kingdom and 114 from other countries. msir • • • AT THIS writing the casualty list following the carnage at the Dixie hotel Thursday iiite is steadily growing it seems that the Gang started out to put a certain film kolyum ist on the spot but the Victim is alive and normal practically at least able to do his daily stint, as you can readily see but somewhat handicapped by constant ringing of the phone there goes the blamed bell again excuse me a moment "Hello you say, madame, that your husband didn't get home from the Ball and Chain Party? and he hasn't reported at his ossif?" too bad oh, yes, he was most certainly there . .1 distinctly recall seeing him about one a. m. in the Dixie he was in the third floor corridor, all alone, delivering a nomination speech for William Jennings Bryan for president so I suggest that you call the lost property room they probably checked him there .... you're entirely welcome." • • • THAT'S THE way it's been going all morning another perturbed wife called up it seems that all night long telegrams kept arriving at the house from her hubby each wire stated "On the way home" all from different towns up the Hudson the last one just arrived before she phoned us dated Poughkeepsie so we assured her that he was undoubtedly on the way home to the Bronx via Boston the poor woman was greatly comforted another mugg woke up this morn to find himself in the Municipal Lodging House and a half dozen companies are seriously shy on man power, and calling up asking what we're gonna do about it . the only thing we can suggest is to stage another party and they'll ALL be missing that'll make it even . « * * 4> • • • EVENTS LEADING Up to the Tragedy Pat Garyn of National Screen Service staged a warming-up party in Paul Benjamin's room at the hotel just before the Main Event downstairs the entire National Screen organizashe drifted in and out for an hour and Pat, hospitable Irish soul wot he is kept phoning the service desk for ice and whatnot and opening up Paul's private stock Paul being busily engaged on committee work downstairs but he'll learn all about it when he gets the hotel bill * * * * • • • THE PARTY itself is something we can only talk about hazily but we do distinctly recall a handsome, matronly woman at the start of the dinner she carne tearing down between the tables declaring in a high falsetto that Phil M. Daly had done her Wrong leaving her stranded in a midwest town with two kids and a sheriff in back of her, waving a legal document hauled us ignominiously outa the room a swell gag credited to Ed Hurley * * * * • • • A WORD for the Committee who did a beaucoup job for a mugg who'll never forget the Spirit in Back of It All I Paul Benjamin, George Harvey, Ed Mc Namee, Jack Level, Pierre Armaud, Billy Ferguson, Ed Hurley with a dozen lieutenants assisting . and the boys brought the shindig through out of the red that's Showmanship but the Gang was so noisy and hilarious that they missed a swell show lined up so the committee staged it after the party just for Themselves Ed Hurley having lined up enough talent for an all nite performance which they Had • • • WE'LL BE seein' you, fellers in a coupla weeks off for the Fatal Leap ya, ya, that Ball and Chain ceases to be a Gag starting 4 p. m. this afternoon say a prayer for the Gal NEW BOOKS On the Art and Business of Motion Pictures « « « » » » PROJECTING SOUND PICTURES, by Aaron Nadell. Published by McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York. $2.50. An interesting and practical textbook for projectionists, theater managers and others who are concerned with the reproduction of talkers. The author, Aaron Nadell, through his former connection with Electrical Research Products and subsequently with Publix Theaters, has been able to get authentic slants on the various problems involved, with the result that his book will give the reader a clear understanding of the intricacies of operating sound equipment. Numerous illustrations supplement the text, which includes chapters on film reproduction, mechanical requirements of sound-onfilm reproduction, sound on disc, mechanical requirements of soundon-disc, between the projector and the amplifiers, amplifier and rectifier apparatus, amplifier circuits, acoustics, the loud speaker, motors, generators, speed control, care of sound equipment and precautions to prevent trouble, tracing trouble, recording. There is also a list of symbols, a precaution index, a trouble index and a subject index. Theater managers who want to be properly informed on the important matter of sound, with a view to not only detect and adjust troubles but also to improve the quality of their reproduction, will find this volume a good investment. Many Happy Returns Best wishei and congratulations are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: September 12-13 Maurice Chevalier William Slavens McNutt Alice Lake John Stone Gerald Ames Jesse L. Lasky Matthew Betz Claudette Colbert Robert Dudley Olin Francis