Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1933)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH 7 Lucca's Restaurant Feeds 3500 People at Grand Opening Wednesday Night, Bert Rovere Acts as M. C. With Bert Rovere acting as master of ceremonies at Lucca's Restaurant, located at Western Avenue and Fifth Street, Wednesday night, the famous food palace held 3500 guests during the evening and ran out of food at 9:30, with hundreds demanding admittance for hours after the doors were closed. It was indeed the greatest opening of its kind ever staged and Joe Eliason, who with Bert Rovere, arranged the whole affair, are deserving of a world of credit. While we were there Otheman Stevens made a sterling speech. He was followed by Harry Burns who did himself proud by welcoming Lucca's Restraurant to the Southland, and said as the pioneer newspaper representative of the motion picture industry he had only one regret and that was that San Francisco had for the first time shown us how to put over such a great institution, while in the past the Angel City and the Southland led the way for all others, and last but by far not the least, that Lucca's was not in the heart of Hollywood instead of in Los Angeles. Moon Kwan boosted all concerned. Anna May Wong and Mrs. Lawrence Grant made neat and interesting speeches lauding the originators of Lucca's. Hundreds of notables stepped up to the "Mike" and did everything but kiss the five men who are back of the project for giving them what they said was the finest meal that they have ever enjoyed in Los Angeles, and some even said in all parts of the world. E. J. CLARK HOST TO COAST ARTILLERY E. J. Clark, managing owner of the California Carlsbad hotel at Carlsbad, Calif., was host on Saturday night to Col. H. H. Morehead and the 251st Coast Artillery, Anti-Aircraft division. The occasion was celebrated with a very brilliant formal dinner dance. Mrs. Elliott G. Colby, Mrs. Clyde Randall and Mrs. Bryant Kearney, hostesses for the evening, had many surprises in the form of entertainment and the seventy members present enjoyed a very jovial evening. Many of the important luminaries of the film capitol were present and a grand time was enjoyed by all. The beautiful California Carlsbad hotel is being hailed as the one playspot "AT THE SEA" where you can DINE, DANCE and ROMANCE as in the TROPICS. YOU SHOULD SUPPORT E. D. E. D. Horkheimer is running for the position of Councilman, Second District, at the Primary election, May 2, and June 6. Mr. Horkheimer is well known in the picture industry having been one of its pioneers in the days of the Balboa Studios. He is thoroughly conversant with the needs of the city, having been a resident here and active in its business life for over twenty-five years, and his acquaintenance in the industry are assured that it will be vastly benefitted by Mr. Horkheimer representing them in the City Council. His friends are earnestly requested to support his candidacy. CLUB AIRPORT GARDENS Marion Duval, pretty little dancer with Daniels, Kirby and Duvall in Carter De Haven's "Night Court Revue" at Club Airport Gardens, may soon be seen in talking pictures, according to De Haven. The fleet footed dancer with the sweet singing voice has received offers from two major studios for talking-singing pictures, it is said. Miss Duvall is of the Ruby Keeler type and, not unlike that lovely young star of "42nd Street," has been a featured dancer for several years. George Hamilton, orchestra leader and composer of Club Airport Gardens, predicts that Miss Duval will follow in the footsteps of Mrs. Al Jolson (Ruby Keeler) and reach stardom. Pauline Frederick Comes to El Capitan March 12 in "Criminal at Large" Henry Duffy today announced that Pauline Frederick, again in the stately, dignified robes she wears so superbly, will open at El Capitan Theater Sunday matinee, March 12, in Edgard Wallace's dramatic hit of the New York season, "Criminal at Large" It is also announced that Crane Wilbur, stage and screen favorite and noted playwright, and also Kay Hammond, who has a large following among local theatergoers, will be featured with Miss Frederick in this tremendously fascinating play which Guthrie McCIintic opened early in the fall and which New Yorkers are still flocking to see. D.D.D. goes GIRL CRAZY presenting Now In Fourth Week The "CELLARETTES" fcr,:) ♦ ^ by Myra Mason The Greatest Girl f . . . at the CELLAR GAPE 1653 Cosmo St. Hollywood Show in Hollywood* "OF THEE I SING" IS TUNEFUL MUSICAL, POLITICAL TOMFOOLERY; BACKGROUND IS VERY TIMELY Sam H. Harris has given Los Angeles a musical treat in "Of Thee I Sing," now on the Biltmore Theater boards. It is one of the funniest satires since "Once in a Life Time" and is from the pen of that author, George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with very tuneful music by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The singing and dancing ensembles by George Hale, Jo Mietziner's settings, and the musical direction of Harry S. Levant are all worthy of special mention in the same breath, for they seemed to understand the musical comedy tempo to a nicety and brought this latest of shows up to the high standard which won for it the Pulitzer Prize for 1931-32. The chief funmakers, Oscar Shaw, Donald Meek, Harriette Lake and Cecil Lean, more than hold up their end of the performance. In fact the cast in its entirety stood out in their respective parts. The chorus worked like Trojans, and unlike many of the musical comedies that come to Los Angeles, this show looked new, bright and breezy. Cinema and theatrical workers can well attend this show and pick up some new angles and treatments of funmaking situations. The rest of the folks who worked hard, outside of the principals, were Abe Reynolds, William J. Pringle, Francis Pierlot, Paul Everton, Betty Allen, Al Sexton, Audrey Christie, Tommy Texis, Sargent Reynolds, John Cherry, Jeannette Marion, Adrian Rosley, Tommy Thompson and about forty boys and girls Jan Rubini Is Given Great Ovation at Cafe De Paree. Ben Bard Acts as 1VLC. Smarroff Stages Fine Revue Night Clubbers journeyed over to the Cafe De Paree Wednesday night and gave Jan Rubini a good old fashioned welcome which must have done his heart good for he played better on his violin than we have heard him play in a long time. And the show that Smarroff put on compares with the best revues offered in any cafe. Among the entertainers that caught our eye were Smarroff's Chic Chic Steppers, The Falla Sisters, Frazee Sisters, Ken Wilmarth, Armand and Diane, Jackson Sisters, Rose Marie and Honor, Russ Cantor and a number of guest artists. Ben Bard acted as Master of Ceremonies and gained many a laugh. He brought Ruth Roland, Sammy Walsh, Vince Barnett, Eddie Lambert, Adele Crane (Mrs. Jan Rubini), Alex Carr, Harry Green, Ted Healy and Bonnie Bonnell and many others to the front and they entertained very highly. In the capacity audience was Sid Grauman, Estelle Taylor and John Warburton, Bessie Love and hubby, Alice Mills and hubby, Vada Lee Heilman, Roberta Gale, Pricillia Dean, Frank Sebastian, Arthur Silber and many others of note. The Cafe De Paree is a very restful and enjoyable place, looked after by Joe Pete Dokos and his associates. Capt. Jackson is the Maitre de Hote. He is aided by Robert Finlay, and Frank Kephart was very much in evidence. Santanella's orchestra backs up Jan Rubini and they play very entrancing and inspiring dance music. Fritzi Ridgeway Stars in the "Undress Parade" at Hollywood Music Box Any other actress but Fritzi Ridgeway would have ruined the leading role in the "Undress Parade." She treated the characterization with enough finess and understanding to make her audience feel that here was an actress who was giving an honest performance of a most difficult and hotter than hot role — which the author had certain ideas about — and whoever played it had to watch their step. We feel that Miss Ridgeway's experience on the screen during the silent and talkie days coupled with her vaudeville understanding of audiences' reaction saved the day for her. The rest of the cast — Dave Scott, Buddy Wattles, Elmer Ballard, Jack Phipps and Winifred Hari — strive hard to keep up the interest in the play. O. D. Woodward is credited with directing and did the best that he could do with Henry Gordon's play. THE CURTAIN IS RUNG DOWN ON One of the most beloved of characters and actors, Frank Spottiswoode Aitken, has passed on. The final curtain has been rung down on him and what he meant to cinema and theatrical circles. We knew and idolized "Spotty" and wanted so badly to see him pull through his long struggling and suffering last days in this good old world. He fought bravely and gamely and his fight was a losing one. We join his legion of friends and mourn him at this time and will always keep his memory within our heart for what he stood for in life. ELY CULBERTSON LEAVES MARCH 11th Ely Culbertson, worldfamed bridge expert, now completing his fifth of a series of bridge featurettes for Radio Pictures, today announced that he will finish and leave for New York March 1 1 . With him will go his wife, Josephine, also a noted player, and his confidential secretary, Doris Mandell. Mr. Culbertson just finished a short at Radio Studios produced by Lou Brock under the direction of Ben White assisted by Roy Rowland.