Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH What Is Going On In Bay City Theatrical And Cinema Circles San Francisco by ROBERT A. HAZEL 378 Golden Gate Ave. Phone Franklin 7984 Filmograph's San Francisco Representative The most brilliant premiere ever seen in San Francisco took place last Saturday night when the new magnificient War Memorial Opera House opened its doors to some four thousand opera devotees who occpied every available space in the auditorium while several thousand turnaways swarmed around the entrance outside. It was a complete sell-out not only for the opening night, but for the entire season of nine evening performances and three matinees. The opera chosen for the initial performance was Puccini's "La Tosca" which was presented in an ideal setting by a cast of superlative artists headed by Claudia Muzio, Dino Borgioli, and Alfredo Gandolfi, with Gaetano Merola conducting. The house is of classic architecture and was erected by the city at a cost of $3,000,000 in tribute to the city's World War Heroes .... "Explorers of the World" booked for one week at the Columbia theatre was held over for a second week . . . Joan Crawford in "Rain" now in its third week at the United Artists Theatre, continues to draw big houses . . . Harold Lloyd in "Movie Crazy" scheduled to run for two weeks at the Paramount theatre was suddenly withdrawn after the first week and replaced by "The Big Broadcast' . . . Norma Shearer in "Smilin" Thru" booked for one week at the Warfield Theatre, broke all all house records and was retained for the second week, breaking the heretofore policy of a new show each week . . . The Children's Opera Company repeated the performance of "The Mountebanks' 'at the Tivoh theatre last Saturday afternoon. Over four hundred children from various orphanoges attended the performance as guests of Eva Leoni, who staged the operetta, and Maurice W. Green, manager of the company. If these two people could have watched the happy faces of the little orphans during the performance they would have felt amply repaid for their kind act . . . Fanchon and Marco's "Whoopee" is scheduled to open at the RKO Golden Gate Theatre next Friday . . . Horace Heidt and his Californians who have proven a powerful card at the RKO Golden Gate Theatre, recently had their ten weeks contract extended for eight weeks more. This group of talented young collegians from the University of California, is unquestionably the most versatile organization on the coast today. Every member of the band is a clever musician, singer, dancer and entertainer. What promises to be the surprise hit will be the appearance of "Balto," the police dog, who makes his debut with the band next week. The personnel of the aggregation include in addition to Horace Heidt, Gene Knotts, Harold Plummer, Harold Moore, Lee Lykins, Luke Erghott, Alex Laws, Walter Bradley, Lee Fleming, Paul Mertz, Art Thorsen, Jerry Bowne, Warren Lewis, Geo. Crozier, Elmer Crozier, Dick Morgan, Mel Peterson and Charley Preble . . . With the opening of the opera season the smart hotels and cafes are filled nightly with a galaxy of notables. At the Bal Tabarin, last Saturday night, every table had been reserved both preceding and following the opera. Robert Grison, the genial manager, makes every effort to accomodate the large crowds and to give them the best food obtainable. Tom Gerun and his orchestra tempt people to dance whether they can or not, and there is a great array of talent to entertain. Supporting Tom Gerun are Steve Bokers, Jimmie Davis, Frank McMunn, Bill Ames, Gary Nottingham, Al Ciceronne, Jack Bunch, Phil Kamp, Johnnie Scott, Woody Herman, who sings jazz numbers, Maurine and Norva, exhibition dancers, and a chorus of ten pretty dancing girls . . . Seen and heard on film row: — J. R. (Jimmie) Granger, vice-president in charge of sales and distribution. Fox Film Corporation, and one of the most popular men in the film industry, is here for ten days . . . Thomas D. vanOsten who has been calling on exhibitors in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, has returned . . . Elissa Landi, film star, is here on a vacation and at the same time will collect material for her new book . . . Clarence Hill, manager of Majestic Pictures, sold his output of pictures to National Syndicate for the entire circuit, and J. N. Randolph, who covers the northern territory, has sold the output at Klamath Falls, Oregon . . . "Cap ". C. B. Flora is now operating the Court Garage on Golden Gate Avenue near Larkin, and keeps busy repairing the cars for his old friends among the exhibitors and the boys from the film exchanges . . . A. P. Archer, manager of World Wide Films, has returned to Los Angeles . . . Phil Zenovich, independent press agent, handled the publicity for the opening of Otto Lochbaum's Regent Theatre, San Mateo, a turnaway business was the result . . . Bumped into Abe Jacobs, brother of Lou Jacobs, special writer for Filmograph, Abe is now owner of Maison Adelaide, a smart gown shop on Geary St. . . . Murray Philips, who's affable personality has made him popular with exhibitors, is celebrating his 13th year with Western Poster Company . . . E. H. Strickland, manager of Allied Pictures, has sold his product to Consolidated, in Hawaii . . . Mel Hulling, salesmanager for Majestic Pictures, is here from Los Angeles . . . Hulda McGinn, head of Public Relations Department, keeps busy trying to pacify all sides. The little lady has a great big job, but she knows how to put it over . . . Will King, (and who doesn't remember that funny comedian who used to make us hold our sides from laughing) well, he's busy supervising his new Will King RKO Grill, a rendezvous for film and theatre folk . . . Saw Bill Citron. He's sporting a new pearl gray chapeau . . . And Jack Frazier, all dressed up and no place to go . . . Jack Hunter reports that Golden State Theatres, Inc., will remodel the Amazon Theatre here, the Grove Theatre, Pacific Grove, and the Amazon Theatre, Oakland, as soon as plans are completed . . . Floyd St. John has returned from Hollywood . . . Harry Fontana, manager of the St. Francis Theatre, sticks pretty close to the job, we seldom see him on the row . . . Arthur A. Barnett of the Smoke Shop, and Sam "Insurance" Levin of the Cinema Club, have merged, and hereafter business will be conducted at the Cinema Club . . . Al Hickson, manager of the New Fillmore, says he's healthy, satisfied and putting money in the bank. "Ain't dat sumpin," nowadays . . . George Boles, manager of the RKO Golden Gate has purchased some new snappy uniforms for his usherettes . . . The Wilbur Players are now in their 19th week at the Fulton, Oakland . . . Frank Shaw, who acts as M. C .at his "Coffee Dance" took off enough time to reminisent with us about old times when he played comedy parts with Jim Post Company and we were the company manager. Those were the happy days, but where is the old gang now? Jim Post, Babe Lewis and Walter Spencer, all gone to the happy hunting ground — and the rest? . . . Allen King who has been absent from film row for some time keeps busy at his Moulin Rouge Theatre, Oakland, where he and his associates are to produce "Lysistrata" which is scheduled to open next Wednesday. MEL BURNS TO HEAD RKO MAKE-UP DEPARTMENT Mel Burns today was appointed to succeed Ernie Westmore, resigned, as makeup chief at the RKO Studio. Westmore today resigned the post he held three years to become an active partner in the Max Factor Studios. Burns was Westmore's assistant. He has had more than ten years experience in the cosmetics and make-up field. Although he will no longer be connected with the studio after October 15th, Westmore will be on call for special makeup assignments. His first two under this arrangement are "Sweepings" and "Topaze," respectively starring Lionel and John Barrymore. The First Appearance On West Coast Of Those Clever Children Dolly and Dimples Blackburn OL939I Courtesy To All Agents Pacific Coast Lecture Oiifo. Inc . . . Jrresents . . . LECTURE COURSE ON HUMAN RELATIONS BILTMORE HOTEL, SALA DE ORO Tuesday Night, Nov. I 8 P.M. SHARP Tuesday Night, Nov. 8 Judge Ben B. Lindsey 'A Constructive Discussion of Human Relations" DR. MAURICE B. JARV1S, Master of Ceremonies Shirley D. Parker "Man, Money and Mind' Thursday Night, Nov. 3 Lai Chand Mehra Joseph E. Huggins 'Gandhi and the New India — "Power of Suggestion, Relating What It Can Mean to You" to Self-Development" MAJOR R. L. DIESTERWEG, Master of Ceremonies Dr. Nathaniel A. Davis Dr. Clinton Wunder "Memory, the Practical Foun "Exit Depression — Enter dation of Success" Expression" CAPTAIN M. B. CRAIG, Master of Ceremonies Wednesday Night, Nov. 9 Burr Mcintosh Dr. J. Sanford MacDonald "Keep a Coin ' "Personality Building" Colonel Joseph H. Hazleton DR. WM. S. CASSELBERRY, Master of Ceremonies Headquarters, 914 Foreman Building Phone TUcker 1029 Enrollment Fee for Entire Course $5.00