Inside facts of stage and screen (Jan 11 1930)

SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE THREE RUMOR ELECTRIC BAXTER’S PICTURE DOES BIG FIGURE OF $43,000 AT LOEW’S Warner Baxter, back in his ro- mantic character of a Latin cabal- lero and with an excellently done picture and splendid cast for sup- port, did things to the Loew’s State boxoffice last week. Queues were the order of the week for the Fox picture, “Romance of the Rio Grande,” the Baxter vehicle, and when the smoke rolled away the total gross, including the take- in for New Year’s eve, was $43,904, almost $15,000 over the house average. The Fanchon and Marco “Overtures Idea” ■■ was in support. Following picture was Norma Shearer in “Their Own Desire.” Sensation of the current week was the opening of Warner Broth- ers’ big revue special, “Show of Shows,” at the W. B. Downtown house. Opening night was accom- panied by a driving rainstorm, but nevertheless the lights and excite- ment drew a goodly crowd of on- lookers, through which passed enough screen celebrities and first- nighters to virtually but not quite fill the houses. But the next day the hold-outs started, and the pic- ture looks set for a lucrative run. Ziegfeld Flop The “Show of Shows” followed Irene Bordoni in Warner Broth- ers’ “Paris,” which wasn’t so hot. It took $16,000 for the week, just about holding up to average. Flo Zeigfeld’s supervision _ of “Glorifying the American Girl” (Paramount) didn’t meSn a thing at the Paramount Theatre. The picture—and it’s a weak sister— took only $23,400 as compared to a house average of approximately $25,000. Sensational trailers her- alded the next picture, “The Lady Lies” (Paramount), with Ruth Chatterton and Clive Brook. The Orpheum got away to a flying start with Radio Pictures’ “Hit the Deck,” with a first week of $28,750. “No, No, Nanette” is to follow. Tiffany’s “The Lost Zeppelin” proved a great bet for the Million Dollar, grossing $14,500 as com- pared to the average of around $7500 a week at which the house has been running. The picture, which has Conway Tearle, Ricardo Cortez and Virginia Valli for its name draws and plenty of ballyhoo possible on the sensational Arctic angles, was held over for a second week due to its good record in the first stanza. Other Figures Question as to how the popu- lace would accept Shakespeare got an affirmative answer in the sec- ond week of Doug and Mary in “Taming of the Shrew” at the United Artists. Boxoffice total was $24,000 as compared to a house average of $13,500. Warner Brothers’ Hollywood house had a good week with four closing days of John Barrymore’s “General Crack” and three open- ing days of Edward Everett Hor- ton in “The Aviator.” The four- day period took $15,000 and the three-day period $16,000. House average for a week is around $15,000. Robert Armstrong and Jimmie Gleason in Pathe’s picture, “Oh Yeah,” with five acts of RKO vaudeville, didn’t mean much at the RKO Theatre, going some $500 under normal to register a boxoffice of $17,000. RKO’s “Rio Rita” still held strong at the Carthay Circle, regis- tering $17,862, beter than $5000 over average. Chinese Good The other class run house, the Chinese, also did business to a nice figure, $22,375, also better than $5000 over normal. Ronald Colman’s U. A. picture, “Con- demned,” with Ann Harding in support, was the reason. “Hot for Paris,” capitalizing on “The Cockeyed World,” did some 500 per cent over average at the Criterion, grossing $15,802. Victor BARRY IN ‘BABIES’ Wesley Barry is to take Nor- man Peck’s part in “Bad Babies,” which _ is leaving Friday night to open in San Francisco. COMING JAN. 30th WHO IS “CHIC” KENNEDY? Turn to Page 4 McLaglen is the star, with El Brendel and Fifi D’Orsay fea- tured. “So This Is Paris” did well by the Egyptian, Hollywood, with the Fanchon and Marco “Hot Dominoes Idea” supporting. Fig- ure was $12,343. The Boulevard wasn’t anything up from normal with a $7781 fig- ure for “Nix on Dames,” and the Palace was weak with the closing stanza of “Sunny Side Up,” draw- ing $9159. “Dynamite” opened Wednesday. TESTCASElSEX FILMS PUSHED FOR RULING SHOWDOWN A suit was filed in the courts of New York last week by Ivan Abramson and the Graphic Film Corporation against the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., and 47 corpora- tions and individuals charging them with having refused or discouraged the exhibition of certain pictures the complainants produced. Sen- ator Smith W. Brookhart appeared as trial counsel for the plaintiffs. The pictures which the defend- ants are said to have discouraged are all said to be upon the sub- ject of sex hygiene which the de- fendants, through their counsel, C. C. Pettijohn, claim not proper for theatre exhibition to attempts to instruct the youth of the coun- try upon the subject which prop- erly belongs to the home, the medical profession and the school. The pictures in question are titled, “Enlighten Thy Daughter,” “Forbidden Fruit,” “A Fool’s Paradise,” “Sex Lure” and many others. It is believed that the plaintiffs filed the suit more for the purpose of drawing attention, to their product than from any sin- cere purpose of resenting censor- ship and that the defendants sprung a boomerang when they insisted that the suit be prosecuted. The Hays organization have al- ways followed a policy of en- deavoring to keep the screen free from pictures of that nature and welcome the show-down that will perhaps settle the question as to whether or not exhibitors shall be encouraged or required to show pictures of this nature. % It is believed that the suit would be given but little attention by either the courts or the press were it not for the fact that Senator Brookhart, who has long professed his interest was to encourage wholesome entertainment, will per- sonally conduct the prosecution of the case. O’MALLEY LEAVES ROACH Hal Roach at the present time is functioning without any regular publicity staff for the dissemina- tion of news and stills. The de- cision to let the office remain vacant for a couple of months is an economy move. Agnes O’Mal- ley, who has been in charge of the office, resigned for special ex- ploitation work at Warner Broth- ers, _ and no successor was named. While no news or stills are being sent out, the department is func- tioning insofar as giving out news on request is concerned with H. M. Walker supervising. Adele Burian Is Radio Star In 4 Tongues Adele Burian, whose picture ap- pears on page one of this issue of Inside Facts, is a radio star whose talents are certain to carry her into the talking picture and recording fields. This personality girl, who is a favorite with tuners-in on stations KTAB, KYA and KFRC, San Francisco, and KNX, Los Angeles, sings and plays her own accom- paniments. Besides English, she sings and talks fluently in French, Spanish and German. SAID TO OE PLAN 10 CHANGE SKED OF U’S PICTURES A report which could not be confirmed was in circulation this week to the effect that the elec- trics were going to step into ac- tive management at Universal. Due to the many rumors which have been circulating about U for the past several years, the report was discredited in certain quar- ters, official and personal, but nevertheless continued to make the rounds. The story went that the elec- trics were planning to send a gen- eral manager out from New York with a view to cutting down ex- penses on the U lot and also to effect a change in the policy of pictures to be made. The rumor went that Carl Laemmle jr. would continue as associate producer but that the general manager’s duties would be taken over by the New York man. _ The electrics were said to have tied in through money advanced to U in the leasing of recording and wiring devices. Universal’s policy at the pres- ent time is for big specials, with activity on the program product practically at a standstill cur- rently. Among the big ones be- ing made or just completed are “La Marseillaise,” “All’s Quiet on the _ Western Front” and Paul Whiteman’s “King of Jazz Re- vue.” Fault in the financial ar- rangements is reported as being too much outlay on product in the making without anything cqming in from program releases, as is the case with other studios. TAXI iCESPOTS UNDER 0.1. FI OAKLAND, Jan. 9.—Taxi danc- ers and ballrooms that feature such attractions in this city are in for a lot of trouble. With women’s clubs_ and similar organizations backing him, _ District Attorney Earl Warren is waging a strenu- ous fight to close these spots, while Chief of Police Don Mar- shal, aided by organized musicians and some business houses, is lined up against the d. a. Two taxi dance halls have al- ready been closed, one of them, the Maryland, when coppers dis- covered the manager of the spot had girls 13, 14 and 15 years old working for him. It cost the man- ager $100 in cold cash and 30 days in jail for this offense. Warren says he will ask a grand jury investi- gation of all the second rate jig joints, and municipal ordinances banning dance halls in all munici- palities of the county. Oakland is one of the outstand- ing supporters of the taxi dance racket on the coast, rating right along with Los Angeles which has about a dozen of the spots. San Francisco doesn’t tolerate the places. There are about 300 girls employed in the racket here and about 70 musicians, as well as other employes. _ Most of the spots charge two bits admission. The customer—be he white, Filipino or Japanese— can take his choice of any one of the girls in the place, lay down his thin dime for about two times around the floor and repeat the process until out of dimes. The girls are white. ADDED TO DOVE CAST Leila Hyams and Crauford Kent have been added to the cast of Billie Dove’s latest starring pic- ture for First National, “Sweet- hearts and Wives,” which Clarence Badger is directing. Formerly cast were Fletcher Norton. Alphonse Martel, Sidney Blackmer and Clive Brook. ECKLES IS EDITOR Eddie Eckles, formerly in charge of publicity for Fanchon and Marco under the supervision of Frank Whitbeck, has resigned and is devoting his time exclusively now to editing the weekly pub- licity sheet called “Now” for Fan- chon and Marco. C. J. VerHalen is doing Eckles’ former work . G. M. FOR U. CHECK-UP SHOWS BIG CHANGE IN PERSONNEL DURING 1929 A check-up of personnel at the<- studios at the beginning of this year as compared with personnel at the beginning of last year shows a shake-up which has been even more sensational than the day-by-day stories during the year indicated. About 50 per cent of the players under contract have been affected. Additionally, of course, there has been the influx of song w’riters and talkie technicians. Paramount has been the most active in elevating featured players to stardom during the past year, on this list being Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper, Nancy Carroll, William Powell and Evelyn Brent, whose Paramount contract was not renewed, however. In addition Paramount made a star out of Ruth Chatterton, who entered talkies on the strength of her stage reputation. Those who were with Para- mount at the beginning of 1929 but who are not there now are: Directors Clarence Badger. Victor Fleming. Edwin Knopf. Lewis Milestone. Merian Cooper. Robert Milton. Malcolm St. Clair. Ernest Schoedsack. Players Bebe Daniels. Emil Jannings. Adolphe Menjou. Baclanova. Doris Hill. Leone Lane. Ruth Taylor. Florence Vidor. Wallace Beery. Robert Castle. Lane Chandler. Chester Conklin. Jack Luden. Newcomers to the Paramount lot during the past year, who are still there are: Directors George Abbott. Otto Brower. George Cukor. Marcel DeSano. Perry Ivans. Roland V. Lee. Edward Sutherland. Players Dennis King (star). Moran and Mack (stars). Ruth Chatterton (star). * Virginia Bruce. Mitzi Green. Helen Kane. Jeannette MacDonald. Lillian Roth. Morgan Farley. Richard "Skeets” Gallagher. Harry Green. David Newell. Warner Oland. Eugene Pallette. Frank Ross. Those who survived the year were: Directors Dorothy Arzner. Ludwig Berger. John Cromwell. Ernst Lubitsch. Lothar Mendez. Richard Schertzinger. Frank Tuttle. Joseph von Sternberg. Richard Wallace. William Wellman. Players Richard Arlen. George Bancroft. Clara Bow. Nancy Carroll. Ruth _ Chatterton. Maurice Chevalier. Gary Cooper. William Powell. Charles “Buddy” Rogers. Jean Arthur. Mary Brian. Fay Wray. William Austin. Clive Brook. Paul Gurtzman. James Hall. Neil Hamilton. Phillips Holmes. Fred Kohler. Paul Lukas. Fredric March. Jack Oakie. Guy Oliver. Warner Brothers was another studio where changes in personnel took place in a big degree. Those who were with Warner Brothers at the beginning of 1929 but are not there now were: Players Fannie Brice. Conrad Nagel. Audrey Ferris. Sophie Tucker. Ted Lewis. Bert Lytell. Davy Lee. Thomas Meighan. Harry Wardell. Newcomers to the lot, who are still there, are: Players Marion Nixon. Frank Fay. . Betty Compson. Lila Lee. Louise Fazenda. Noah Beery. H. B. Warner. Patsy Ruth Miller. Tully Marshall. Edna Murphy. Marion Byron. Alice Gentle. Vivian Segal. Winnie Lightner. Lotti Loder. Those who survived the year are: John Barrymore. Dolores Costello. Monte Blue. Grant Withers. Myrna Loy. Lois Wilson. Edward Everett Horton. Rin-Tin-Tin. George Arliss. Pauline Frederick. At M-G-M the following direc- tors were let go during the' past year: Tod Browning. James Cruze. Alfred E. Green. Lucien Hubbard. Rupert Julian. Willard Mack. Bayard Veiller. Players who were let go are: Josephine Dunn. Dorothy Janis. James Murphy. Aileen Pringle. George K. Arthur. Bert Roach. Players who were brought to the lot during 1929 and are still there are: Jack Benny. Vivian Duncan. Rosetta Duncan. Charles Bickford. Edwina Booth. Rosemary Cameron. Marie Dressier. Cliff Edwards. Gus Edwards. Julia Faye. Lawrence Grey. Raymond Hackett. Marion Harris. Hedda Hopper. Lottice Howell. Players who started the year at M-G-M and are there now are: Lon Chaney. Joan Crawford. Marion Davies. Greta Garbo. John Gilbert. William Haines. Buster Keaton. Ramon Novarro. Renee Adoree. Nils Asther. Wallace Beery. John Mack Brown. Karl Dane. Mary Doran. Leila Hyams. Directors who were brought to the lot during the past year and who are still there are: Lionel Barrymore. David Burton. Sidney Franklin. Jacques Feyder. George. Hill. Albert Kelly. Sammy Lee. Edgar J. McGregor. Marshall Neilan. Robert Ober. Charles Reisner. Directors who started the year at M-G-M and who are there now are: Clarence Brown. Harry Beaumont. Charles Brabin. Jack Conway. Cecil B. DeMille. William DeMille. Nick Grinde. Robert Z. Leonard. Fred Niblo. William Nigh. Victor Seastrom. Edward Sedgewick. W. S. Van Dyne. King Vidor. Sam Wood. The whole F. B. O. roster of directors and players were let go, and a complete new organization built up.