Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1933)

MAY 20, 1933 NIGHT HAWK Cocoanut Grove Prepares for Abe Lyman Ben L. Frank is making great plans for Abe Lyman's return to the Cocoanut Grove, Thursday, June 1 . It will be one of the big events of the season. In the mean time, Phil Harris and his orchestra, Cugat and his rhumba band, Margo and Carmen, great Spanish entertainers, Art Jarrett, Dorothy Lee, Leah Ray, and The Three Ambassadors are all doing their bit to continue to entertain until their closing night so they can make way for Mr. Lyman and his aggregation who are due to arrive as this issue goes to press. The Cocoanut Grove continues to catch the eye of the best folks in the Southland in every walk of life. We caught Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Joan Crawford breaking bread together Wednesday night and learned that Doug, Jr., was leaving for Europe Thursday night so this must have been the farewell dinner and dance for the pair. MONDAY NIGHT will be turned over to the gala Victor Herbert Testimonial party with Victor Herbert, Jr., and "The Only Girl" company, now holding forth at the Biltmore, all on hand to pay tribute to the great composer. Frederick V. Bowers, who put the George M. Cohan testimonial dinner over at the "Grove," is in charge of this affair. Maurice Chevalier dropped in Tuesday evenin, shortly after his arrival in town. Milk Man's Matinee Wins Greater Favor For Buddy Fisher and Hollywood Barn Than Ever Buddy Fisher is putting the Hollywood Barn on the map as one of the most unique show spots in the film capitol, if not the world. His "Milk Man's Matinee" Wednesdays at 3 o'clock in the morning is bringing out a larger attendance with each week and his Topsy Turvy Revue, featuring Boys will be Girls and Girls Will Be Boys, are becoming the talk of the town. Buddy Fisher himself, is headlining the show with his musical offerings and fine dance music, acting as M. C. as well. He and Little Spunky gain many a hearty laugh in between numbers put on by the entire cast. Monday nights Buddy Fisher broadcasts over KFAC from 7 to 7:30 for the American Legion Weekly Bulletin, and has as a guest star some famous actor or actress. Last Monday evening Miss Mae Murray made an appeal over the air to listeners-in to write a letter to President Roosevelt, begging him to set a fund aside for recreation for the people of the Unhited States as well as finding work for them. She asks that he have parks and bands installed so the poor people can dance and be merry certain hours away from their work and worries. It was indeed a sterling speech and stirred our very soul as we heard it and must have done likewise for those listening in. The Buddy Fisher band nightly broadcasts over KFAC and is winning favor on all occasions. LOOKING AROUND NIGHTS WE RAN INTO Harry Langdon enjoying himself at a ringside table, Mr. and Mrs. John Bright, Alice White, John Warburton, Jean Malin, Sammy Cohen, Jerry Lester, Leon Le Verde, Ralph Like and Blanche Mahaffey, Ernie Primm, Frank Hanofer, Lee Hart, Arthur Silber and wife, Jack Lester, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gorton and party, Bud Murray, Nat Spector, John Kelly — we could go on and on, but it isn't necessary, for everyone knows that the Hollywood Barn has gone over with a bang. The show is a fashion revue the likes of which is out of the question to see any other place but here. Club Ballyhoo Is Dream Spot of Night Clubs One of the guests at the Club Ballyhoo said it was the dream spot of night clubs and we agreed with him. It is the cosiest and most restful of its kind hereabouts and what more, the show, music and food are on a par with the place. The entertainment that is nightly being offered by such sterling entertainers as Jery Lester, Maxine Lewis, Leon Le Verde and six singing and dancing beauties who strut their respective abilities to the tunes as played by Earl Burtnett's orchestra, is sufficient to please the most fastidious person and hardened critic. We always feel right at home at the Club Ballyhoo. Sphinx Club Is a Spot for Good Fellows The Sphinx Club, located at 8535 Santa Monica Boulevard, is a place where good fellows get together and break bread, dance to the tunes of a famous Hawaiian orchestra and enjoy other pastimes which are numbered among the most popular these days with the clans who go to the night playspots in the Southland. Bruce Cabot and Adrienne Ames, Mr. and Mrs. John Bright, Stage Bill Boyd, Arthur Rosson and hundreds of others equally well known drop in nightly. It is open until the wee hours in the morning, and is very easy to reach as it faces on Santa Monica Boulevard and is within a stone's throw of La Cienga on one's way to the beaches or Culver City. Orville Knapp Orchestra and Fine Show Pleases Cafe De Paree Visitors The Cafe De Paree is nightly and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons pleasing their many visitors with the Orville Knapp orchestra and a fine floor show. The show consists of Frank Shaw as M. C. — and he is a howling success— Armand and Diane doing great dance numbers from Havana and Apache ; Miss Diane is one of the most fascinating bits of loveliness while Mr. Armand commands attention by the ease with which he performs the most intricate dance tricks. Jack Wallace and Carolyn Noel is another winning dancing team who go about their act with such grace and ease that you hate to take your eyes off of them for a second. Then there is Babette Barker, a blonde singing and piano playing beauty, who gains many a hand during the evening. June Earle, a newcomer around these parts, but a little darling who has that "It" that it takes to get the gladhand and which will eventually land her in a starring picture job in the studios. She has a sympathetic voice, knows, too, how to put over a crooning tune and can she dance — we say she can and then some. Mel Peterson sings in between shows and if you ask us, Orville Knapp has one of the sweetest dance bands around these parts and* is gaining many friends nightly, not only by his playing at the Cafe De Paree, but on the KHJ radio station hook-up. THE CHUCK WAGON TRAILERS BREAK BREAD SUNDAY Harry Gant, foreman C. W. T., The Chuck Wagon Trailers, Inc., announces that there will be another get-together Sunday, May 21 — the Spring Round-up No. 3 on the grounds of the Providence Ranch in Burbank. The cowboys will ride their horses to the event and when they yell "Come and Get It," you will see a sight for anyone's eyes to behold. The feed is slated for 1 2 o'clock noon. And will we be there ? — we say we will. Frank Sebastian Stages Greatest Variety Show He Has Offered in Years Frank Sebastian Thursday night introduced to cafe lovers the greatest variety show that he has offered at his Cotton Club in Culver City in years. Starring La Fayette and La Verne, the internationally famous dancers, he has featured Billy Snyder as M. C, who is causing gales of laughter nightly; Dufnn and Draper Revue staged by Matt Duffin; The Frazee Sisters, Fred Scott, Jack (Croaker) Douglas, Russ Cantor and many other features are topped by Louie Armstrong's Original Cotton Club Recording Orchestra. Frank Sebastian is noted for his creating novel ideas, hence his Saturday and Sunday afternoon beer dansants are becoming the rage of the Southland. Mildred Washington and May Diggs, colored entertainers who nightly amuse visitors with their singing and dancing, are certainly making many new friends. Miss Washington recently worked in two pictures — "Bed of Roses" and "Morning Glory" at the RKO-Radio Studios; the first with Constance Bennett and the latter with Kathryn Hepburn. Miss Diggs, every now and then, too, works in the talkies and scores heavily. Gus Arnheim Finishes Sunday Night at Beverly Wilshire Gold Room Last Sunday was a tip-top night at the Beverly Wilshire Gold Room, where Gus Arnheim and his orchestra are holding forth — and by the way, are closing Sunday night. There were plenty of big names present in the dining room. The music seemed to make 'em feel more like dancing, too. Jimmy Newell, Shirley Grey, Merri-Bell, Art Flemming and others came in for their share of applause. The Gold Room closes Sunday night for the summer season and will reopen in the fall. We will miss this place more than words can express for it was a delightful place to spend Sunday evening — in fact, any evening except Monday, when it was closed. MAJOR SCHOOL OF ACTING RE-OPENS FIGUEROA PLAYHOUSE The Major School of Acting gave a most delightful program at the Figueroa Playhouse last Saturday. A group of plays and specialties with unusual training were witnessed by the largest audience the Playhouse has seated in years. Robert Major is the president of this school founded more than twelve years ago. We must say Mr. Major graduates the most finished pupils trained by his own original method. GILLSTROM CLOSES DEAL WITH ABE MEYER Arvid Gillstrom, producer of a series of six Bing Crosby shorts for Paramount, has today contracted the Meyer Synchronizing Service to take complete charge of the musical synchronization for these pictures. Abe Meyer, Sam K. Wineland and Dan Milner are fast building up a reputation as sound-recording specialists for moving pictures. They are receiving countless expressions of praise for their excellent musical synchronization of the Sergi Eisenstein lecture "Thunder Over Mexico."