Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH II George M. Cohan Is Honored by Famous Song Writers Armand Schaefer Directs New Universal Westerns COCOANUT CROVE WAS SCENE OF ONE OF GREATEST GATHERINGS OF STAGE AND SCREEN NOTABLES By Louis Jacobs Boy, pass me a box of high-powered adjectives ! A hundred million people in these United States and adjacent communities may have missed the wide throwing of the National Beesee on the occasion of the testimonial dingledangle in honor of George M. Cohan last Monday night at the Cocoanut Grove in the Ambassador Hostelry, but perhaps as many more got an earful. From the time thai Charley Murray started mastering the ceremonies to the mass singing of "Sweet Adeline," the enthusiasm as one "name" after another followed with their specialty, was a series of ovations. The program was divided into two parts; the first section devoted to the present day stars of melody, while the second half honored those of yesteryears. The highspot of the younger composers was climaxed with the appearance of Al Jolson, who was introduced as ' the man who put silent pictures on the bum. ' Al, against his inclination, was forced to sing "Sonny Boy" for which he admitted the authorship of the first Word to qualify as a Writer of lyrics. He followed with "California Here I Come," and wowed them with a Yiddish number in which he imitated a Jewish cantor and emphasized the point that it was not "Eddie." George M., in person, amid an ovation which could not have been exceeded were he a presidential wet candidate, was the feature of the second section. George was undeniably embarrassed, he didn't know what it Was all about, he said, and disclaimed being a song writer. He questioned whether the kind of songs he wrote would be popular today and told a bit of early song writing history when he was paid a dollar a Verse and two dollars for a chorus back in 1894, to Americanize English hits. The orchestra greeted him with Yankee Doodle Dandy seguing into "Over There." George volunteered to sing anything they wanted and it seemed that each in the crowd asked for a different song. He finally accommodated with "Over There," "Mary was a Grand Old Name," "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy." Bank Winters, the eighty-year old song writer, made a great hit when he sang his immortal "White Wings" in a remarkably clear and strong Voice. A tribute to John Phillip Sousa was offered by the rendering of "Stars and Stripes Forever" by Phil Harris and his orchestra backed by Jamie Erricson on the new organ. Those who participated and the songs they sang were: J. C. Lewis, Jr., "The Girl I Love"; Gordon Clifford, "Paradise" ; Harry Asch, "Dinah Lee" ; Jimmy Manley, "A Cottage Small by a Waterfall" ; Harry Tobias, "Sweet and Lovely"; Ruby Kalman. "Three Little Words" ; Rogers and Hart, "Son in My Heart" ; Harry Warren, "You're My Everything" ; Ted Fiorita, "Three on a Match"; Archie Gottlieb, "Kiss Me Goodnight" ; Burton and Jason, "Penthouse Serenade" ; J. B. Kornblum, "If I Were King"; Al Dubin, "Many Happy Returns of the Day"; Johnny Shoenherger, "Whispering" ; Oscar Rosbach, 'Trees" ; Sam Koslow and Arthur Johnson, NIGHT HAWK Buddy Fisher has Studios Very Much in. terested in His Orchestra at Stark's Bohemian Cafe The minute Eugene Stark places his stamp of approval on an orchestra or an artist, it seems that the motion picture producers, directors and casting directors cast an eagle eye on his selections, and so it is right now for he has had Buddy Fisher, the Nation's Joy-Boy, entertaining his guests the past ten weeks, and studioites have been visiting the Hollywood Playspot and reporting to their superiors about the dance orchestra and their many entertaining points and features. Cafe lovers have been dining and dancing to the Buddy Fisher brand of "Mellow Music" nightly, until the place would become a Very lonesome spot without their enchanting and entrancing symphonic music. What more, Buddy Fisher should be termed the one-man band for he plays actually every instrument in the orchestra, and it is uncanny at limes to see him go from one instrument to another, and to play such music as he does. It seems increditable to think that one man can master so many musical contraptions. The way that Buddy Fisher leads the orchestra one can readily understand why every show that he is connected with is a huge success, for he puts his very life in directing his ten men. This week he created a new Hawiian number for Charila Alden to do her sensational Hula Hula number too, it is a knockout for both the dancer and the leader. Billy Daniels, Kirby and Duval again score a tremendous hit way into the hearts of the great audiences nightly — here is a good bet for some fun-films. Carl Osborn, the greatest of all trumpeters, and the singing of Charles Beynon, Jimmy Halton and Evelyn Manis are feature offerings thai add much to the floor revue. Leo V. Youngworih was given a great reception by his many friends at Stark's the other night. • • • • • ROOF PATIO— ROOSEVELT HOTEL With Tom Coakley as the stellar attraction, the Roof Patio has a star leader of as fine an orchestra as has played for the Hollywood night life loOers in many a day, and what more, Tom is a fine picker when it comes to solo talent, for his selection of Virginia Haig, who knows what it takes to put her songs across, and actually pull on the heart strings of her listeners on the air or in the cafe proper, until they must be like us, crying for her to continue on and on. As a good running mate, Betty Kelly more than comes through in fine form with her pleasing songs. Her work stands out and is on a par along different lines than Miss Haig's and she, too, should go a long ways with Southland cafe visitors. They loo, have a Hawiian Siring Band that is a wow. We caught Bill Worlh inglon, Jerry Rice, Carl RaVazza, Bob Eng lander and Hans Brent, with Jackson Arvales at the piano. Is Joe Mann happy these days, all because Dave Boice, the manager of the Roosevelt selected such a fine orchestra. R. B. Carter, assistant manager, too, is smiling and rightfully so. We even caught Elanor Witlerman, social secretary to Manager Boice, all smiles while the Roof Patio Was filled with merrymakers, having the time of their lives, with the stars above them as their roof, dining and dancing among the stars of the stage and screen with the good old stars shining down on their heads. REGINA DeBORI, famous Rhumba Dancer, recently returned from a European and South American lour. Since her return she has been extensively engaged in motion picture work, and is now featured in the Jack Laughlin prologue al the Carthay Circle Theatre, where she is scoring a big hit in her original Cuban Rhumba Dance, assisted by the Havana Cuban Band and Alexis, the first male Cuban Rhumba Dancer here. Miss DeBori and her mother are making their home at the El Cortez Hotel in Hollywood. TOM COAKLEY VIRGINIA HAIG "Just One More Chance"; Wolfe Gilbert, "Peanut Vender"; Chuck Reisner, "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France"; Victor Herbert, Jr., "Sweet Mystery of Life" ; Lee Robbins, "Hallelujah" ; Chris Schoenbery, "Darling"; Mrs. Clare Ward sang her husband's "And the Band Played On" ; Edwin Carlton, "Erminie" ; James Brockman, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"; Richard Carle, "Lemon in the Garden of LoVe" ; Edward Madden, "Moonlight Bay" ; Caro Roma, "Can't You Hear Me Calling, Caroline" ; Arthur Lang, "Dardanella" ; Albert von Tilzer, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" ; Frederick V. Bowers, "Because I Love You"; Henry Fink, "Curse of an Aching Heart"; J. Kernan Brennan, "Let the Rest of the World Go By"; Carrie Jacobs-Bond, "Remember to Forget"; Chas. Daniels (Neil Moret) "Hiawatha"; Ray Gesl, "Me and My Gal"; Vin NOAH BEERY, JR., TO STAR IN SERIES OF NEW FEATURES FOR LAEMMLE Armand Schaefer, who has directed some of the best Western features lately, starring such box-office favorites as Ken Maynard, Buddy Roosevelt and Buffalo Bill, Jr., has been signed by Universal to direct a new series of big Western features, with Noah Beery, Jr. in the stellar role. Schaefer was formerly connected with Melro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Mary Pickford company, and has been devoting the past two years to direction of independent dramas and serials. He is also the author of a number of successful screen plays. This new series will bring the second group of big outdoor features to the Universal program. Tom Mix, dean of cowboy stars, having recently signed a new contract with the Laemmle company. Young Beery is one of the best horsemen in the film colony, and his knowledge of western customs and adventures, gained through days on ranches and in study of frontier history, will give him a ready understanding of the colorful roles he will enact under Schaefers' direction. Most of the stories will be laid in the adventurous days of the late 70's and 80s. In selecting Schaefer for this important series. Universal has obtained a man who will put box-office power and real dramatic punch in the pictures, as the returns on his other Western films will readily reveal. THORPE COMPLETES 12TH FOR CHESTERFIELD, AND "BUDDY" SHYER DOES HIS STUFF Richard Thorpe, one of the best directors in the independent field, has just completed his twelfth production for Chesterfield Motion Picture Corporation. It is a murder mystery, based on a novel by Charles Reed Jones, and features an all-star cast headed by Conway Tearle. Once again Thorpe had as his assistant director that up-and-coming young fellow, Melville "Buddy" Shyer, who has assisted Thorpe on all of his recent features with Chesterfield, the Invincible company, Big Four, Artclass and on seriels for Mascot Pictures. Shyer is regarded as one of the real comers among assistant directors, and has worked energetically to help Thorpe put over his siring of box-office knockouts. cent Bryant, "Tammany." Telegrams were read from Charles Wakefield Cadman, Eddie Cantor, Ann Caldwell, Ray Hubbell and Jean Buck, president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Writers. The affair was sponsored by Frederick V. Bowers and Chris. O. Brown. I CARLOS MOLINA and His Tango Rumba Band Saying "Adois" to the COCOANUT GROVE, Ambassador Hotel, after 3l/2 years pleasant and successful engagement, wish to thank their many friends who have made their stay so enjoyable. SOON ON TOUR! Jxdios, J± mig OS 1