Inside facts of stage and screen (Jan 11 1930)

SATURDAY, JAN. II, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE YERS’ RATING TO DATE IN TALKIES ROME, BERT—Always good and with good personality. “East Company,” “The Forward Pass.” RE VI HR. DOROTHY — Good personality and fills her talkie assignments with ability, “The Donovan Affair,” “D aiice Of Life” “The Mighty.” ROCHE, JOHN — Wears his clothes and the manners of a gentleman easily. “The Dono- van Affaifj” “The AWful Truth ” ROCHAY, JOE—Okeh as Jewish boy in “The Cockeyed World.” ROACH. BERT — An excellent eorhedian who develops laughs for a maximum. “Twin Beds,” “Young Nowheres.” RUBIN, BENNY--Some people like his style of forced comedy. “Marianne,” “It’s a Great Life.” RUDOLPH, OSCAR—Good com- edy delivery. “So This Is Col- lege.” RENAVANT, GEORGE—Excep- tionally good, arid forceful. “Rid Rita.” ROSITA, EVA—A real Spanish vamp with a great personality and ditto delivery. “Rot Rita.” Also can dance and sing well, REED, DONALD — Failed to show anything. “Little Johnny Jones.” S STONE, LEWIS —This trouper is consistently good, and his part always is made by him to stand out as a big feature of any film he’s in. “Trial of Mary Dugan,” “Their Own Desire,” “Wonder of Women,” “Mad- ame X.” SPARKS, NED —His personality bfiiigs the laughs, but he’s so distinctive that he should be used sparingly. “Strange Cargo,” “Street Girl,” “Nothing But the Truth.” SEDDON, MARGARET —Okeh. “The Bellamy Trial.” SiMPSON, RUSSELL —An ex- cellent heavy type, "Noisy Neighbors)” “Innocents of Paris,” STUBBS, HARRY—Can be relied upon. “Alibi,” "Three Live Ghosts,” SMITH, VIVIAN (colored)— Very good as Stepin Fetchit’s second wife in “Hearts in Dixie.” STEPIN FETCHIT (colored)— Well, called “the Bert Williams of Talking Pictures,” Stepin plays his comedy for big and sUre laughs, and is deservedly one of the few favorites Whose very presence brings laughs. “Hearts lh Dixie,” “The Ghost Talks,” ".Salute,” “Big Time,” “Thru Different Eyes." SWQR, BERT JR. —Very able and good presence. “Why Bring That Up?” “The Carna- tion Kid.” SIDNEY, GEORGE — Comedian who is a member of the laugh team of "Cohens and Kellys.” SWAIN, MACK—His appearance Is still the main reason for hir- ing him. “Cohens and Kellys.” SELLON, CHARLES—^Sometimes Very good and sometimes over- does. Excellent as to type. “Bulldog Drummond,” “The Man and the Moment,” “Big News,” “The Gamblers,” “The Vagabond Lover,” “The Satur- day Night Kid,” “The Mighty.” SHERIDAN, FRANK —Able trouper who is consistently a good casting. “Fast Life,” “Side Street.” ST, POLIS, JOHN —Excellent presence and able talker. “Co- quete,” “Fast Life.” SILLS, MILTON —Has proved an excellent talkie artist in his "The Barker” and "His Captive Woman.” SIMON, .. S. S. —Good. “The ST, JOHN, AL — Average for comedy relief. “The Dance of Life.” SHORT, GERTRUDE — Good. “The Gold Diggers.” STERLING, FORD —Funny in the talkie Slapsticks. Shorts. STONE, 6EORGIE—Good type when playing straight and his comedy, when not overdone, ss gpod, But it’s overdone most of of the time'. “The Redeeming Sin,” “Melody Lane,” “Weary River,” “The Desert Song,” STRAUSS,. WILLIAM K.--les- sors Jewish Poppa in “Lucky Boy,” average, SHEARER, NORM A—A splen- did talkie artist when her vehi- cles are rightly chosen. Out- standing. “Trial of Mary Du- gan,” “The Last of Mrs. Chey- ney,” “Their Own Desire.” SCHILDKRAUT, JOSEPH—Ex- cellent presence and artistic work. “Show Boat.” SWANSON, GLORI A — More magnificent in the talkies than in the silents, and her prestige has increased theteby. “The ^T'CCpt* ** SHUMWAY, LEE—Packs a load of merit, which he consistently puts over. “Night Parade,” "So This Is College?” SLOTT, NATE — Okeh. “Night fell* cldc/* SIMPSON, IVAN —An artist in whose hands assignments are sure to get good and full devel- opment. “Disraeli,” "Evidence.” STANNERMAN, LALKA—Okeh. “S even Faces.” STARR, SALLY — An alluring personality, well developed with attractive mannerisms and ade- quate ability. “So This Is Col- lege?” SHERMAN, LOWELL—Gives a standardized but sure perform- ance consistently. “Evidence.” SEYMOUR, MADELINE —De- velops her roles for a maximum, and is quite at home in them. “The Last of Mrs. Cheyney,” "Evidence,” “His Glorious Night." STUBBS, HARRY-r-Quite ade- quate. “Three Live Ghosts.” SMITH, STANLEY — Looks to date like a -real find for the talkies. Natural and sincere, with a pleasing voice for both singing and talking. “The Sopho- more,"Sweetie.” STUART, NICK—Okeh. “Cradle Snatchers.” T TEARLE, CONWAY—Most ex- cellent and natural, knowing all the shadings necessary for best delivery. "Gold Diggers of Broadway,” “Evidence,” “The Lost Zeppelin.” THOMPSON, KENNETH —De- livers. “Broadway M e 1 o d y,” “Bellamy Trial.” T AS HIM AN, LILY AN—An asset to any cast where her type can be used. “Bulldog Drummond,” “Gold Diggers of Broadway,” “Trial of Mary Dugan.” TALBERT, E. H.—Strong per- sonality and able. “The Can- ary Murder Case.” TWELVETREE, HELEN—Can stand development. “The Ghost Talks,” “Words and Music.’’ TOOKER, WILLIAM — Good. “Bellamy Trial.” TOOMEY, REGIS—Has a mil- lion dollar smile, if not over- worked, and knows his acting. “Alibi,” “Wheel of Life,” “Il- lusion.” TODD, THELMA—Nice acting always, and attractive personal- ity. “Her Private Life,” “Ca- reers,” “H o u s e of Horror,” Shorts. TRACEY, LEE — Good casting, able to put over both, comedy and appeal. “Big Time.” TERRISS, NORMA —Distinctive type who appeals for those who like something beside the baby dolls. Great singing voice, and a good actress insofar as natur- alness is concerned. “Married in Hollywood.” THORNE, W. L.—Good casting for the tough dick and similar roles. “Pjeacock Alley,” “Thun- derbolt,” “Drake Case.” TREVOR, HUGH—Light to carry leads but okeh for supports. “Night Parade.” TRYON, GLENN—Not so hot in “Broadway.” TOLER, SIDNEY—Good. “Ma- dame X” TORRENCE, ERNEST — Better in talkies than in silents, and that was good for his type. “Un- tamed.” u ULRIC, LENORE—Puts a .lot of stage action into her roles, and they’d be better without it. Otherwise okeh. “Frozen Jus- tice.” V VALEZ, LUPE—Some people like her, but her clientele is due for a decline if she continues to at- tempt the curies stuff which could he ,got away with in the silents—and so far she’ll still doing it. Very affected and more Lupe than actress. “Tiger Rose.” VON SEYFFERTITZ, GUSTAV —Very effective. “Canary Mur- dcr Case VAUGHN,’ ALBERTA—Cute and a good talker. “Noisy Neigh- bors.” VIDOR, FLORENCE—Her ultra accent was a laugh, not in- tended, in “Chinatown Nights.” She’ll have to tone it down if she wants to get anywhere in f hp ■f’UlKlPQ VON STROHEIM, ERIC—A real artist whose portrayal in “The Great Gabbo” was one of the acting highlights of the year. VALLI, VIRGINIA—Carries lead- ing lady roles adequately. “Isle of Lost Ships,” “The Lost Zep- pelin.” VAUGHN, HILDA—Above aver- age. “Three Live Ghosts.” w WARNER, H. B.—Adds a splen- did touch to any picture he’s in. “The Doctor’s Secret,” “Tiger Rose,” “Trial of Mary Dugan,” “Conquest,” “The Gamblers.” WALES, ETHEL — Good type supported by ability. “The Doc- tor’s Secret,” “The Donovan Af- fair,” “Saturday Night Kid.” WOLHEIM, LOUIS—More than holds his own in the talkies judging by his work in “Shady Lady” and “Frozen Justice,” and should, with proper casting, go big. WEIGAL, PAUL—Okeh. “The Leatherneck.” WARE, HELEN — One of the best of the lady character act- resses and develops all her roles for full value. “Speakeasy,” “The Virginian.” WALTHALL, HENRY B Never fails to make his part stand out by ability put therein. “Speak- easy,” “The Trespasser,” “River of Romance.” WELLS, MARIE — Excellent singer and a most capable act- ress, plus very alluring person- ality. Excellent casting. “The Desert Song.” WATSON, BOBBY—Very good. “Syncopation.” MACKENZIE, WIARD—For those silly ass roles he’s very good. “Syncopation.” WATERS, ETHEL (colored) — She can blue sing. “On With the Show.” WRAY, FAY — Quite adequate. “Thunderbolt.” WILSON, LOIS — Okeh. “The Gamblers,” “Conquest.” WARD, KATHERINE — Excel- lent mother trve. “Drag.” WALLACE, JOHN—Good. “The Donovan Affair.” WITHERS, GRANT—Careful se- lection of parts is needed for this boy, but when he gets rightly set he’s very good. “Sat- urday’s Children,” “Tiger Rose,” “Headlines.” WISE. JACK—Excellent. “Head- lines.” WHITE, ALICE—She’s popular, they say, but why is hard to understand. Her egotistical man- ner militates against her. “Girl From Woolworth’s,” “Broadway Babies.” WILLIAMS, G W I N N “BIG BOY”—He lost ground by the coming of talk, being very rou- tinish in his delivery. “The For- ward Pass.” WYCHERLY, MARGARET — Excellent except for too much staginess. “The 13th Chair.” WAITE, MALCOLM — Okeh. “The Vagabond Lover.” WHEELER, BERT — A stage comedian transferred to the screen. “Rio Rita.” WOOLSEY, ROBERT — Ditto, but more of the screen about him. “Rio Rita.” Y YOUNG, ROLAND — He’s ex- ceptionally good and should keep on the up-and-up. YOUNG, LORETTA—Good per- sonality and sufficient ability to put it across. “The Forward YOUNG, NOAH—After the man- ner of Karl Dane, but not so good as Karl. But highly ade- quate to get the laughs, and a riot with the kids. “Welcome Danger.” Due to inadvertence several names were omitted from the above list’s first half of which ap- peared in the fast issue. Also sev- eral listed here had not appeared in pictures prior to making up of the list. They are listed below. AUSTIN,, WILLIAM—A good comedian who commands the laughs. “Sweetie.” BURGESS, DOROTHY—Attrac- tive type but over-inclined on the vamp wiggle. “In Old Ari-“ zona.” BENNY, JACK—Master-of-cere- monies who knows how to m. c. for full value. BENNETT, BELLE—Very good. “Their Own Desire.” BAKER, BELLE—Not so good on the screen. “Song of Love.” BRICE, FANNIE—Her reputation still goes big, she doesn’t. “My Man.” COURTNEY, WILLIAM—Stage actor who commands his roles in the talkies. “Evidence.” CRAWFORD, JOAN—Her first talkie, “Untamed,” okeh but she was more distinctive in the sil- ents thus far. CRANDALL, EDWARD—Okeh. “Glorifying the American Girl.” CARON, PATRICIA —Adequate but not highly distinctive in any way. “Oh Yeah.” CORTEZ, RICARDO—Good ex- cept for a certain lack of flex- ibility. “The Lost Zeppelin.” FRANCIS, ALEC B. — Every character Francis does is as near perfection as it can be made. Asset to any picture. FINE, BUD—Good type for brute heavy. “Oh Yeah.” FAY, FRANK—A quite adequate master-of-eeremonies who can peddle the sentiment via songs. “Show of Shows.” GLEASON, JAMES—His resur- rection of the Gleason-Armstrong team for pictures okeh but not as good as on the stage. “Oh "Veah HEALY, DAN—Good type, well enough _ done as a hard-boiled small timer in “Glorifying the American Girl.” HAGNEY, FRANK—Good type brute heavy. “Oh Yeah.” JOLSON, AL—Still A1 Jolson, but his last picture, “Say It With Songs,” was one too many in the ultra sentirhental s.eries he started with “The Jazz Singer.” OWEN, KATHERINE DALE— Intriguing type, but her one role to date, in “His Glorious Night,” called for stiffness in acting. PADULA, MARGUERITA—Sold “Hallelujah” for a wow in “Flit the Deck.” WALKER, POLLY —An attrac- tive girl who can sing and win appeal by her acting. “Hit the Deck.” EDGAR KENNEDY NOW DIRECTING CHASE FILM Edgar Kennedy, famous as the Irish cop in H'al Roach comedies and features for other studios, is getting his first chance as a direc- tor on the Roach lot. Kennedy’s assignment is the di- rection of Charley Chase in his current picture, “All Teed Up,” a golf story, with Thelma Todd in her usual spot opposite the star. RKO PEP MEETING A general managerial pep meet- ing was held for all RKO man- agers Tuesday called by Frank Vincent, wetsern manager of RKO. At the meeting were included Cliff Work, San Francisco man- ager; Sam Harris, manager of the RKO here; Carl Walker, RKO Orpheum manager here; Jack Coudy, manager at the RKO, San Diego; Grant Pemberton, manager at Salt Lake, and the press agent at San Diego. After the meeting the group visited the RKO stu- dios where they had a luncheon. SIG BOSLEY RETURNS Sig Bosley, local representative for Robbins Music Corporation, returned last week from a busi- ness trip to the New York office, where all representatives were called on a regular sales meeting. GARON QUITTING Pauline Garon has given her notice prior to quitting the “Bad Babies” company, which is due to leave Friday night to open in San Francisco. It is probable she will open with the company in Frisco, quitting when her two weeks’ no- tice period is up. One reason for her action, it is understood, is the frequent rehearsal the company is called upon to do. HARDY’S BAD TONSILS Oliver Hardy is again having trouble with his tonsils, this time in such an aggravated form that he may have them jerked. The Roach comedian began having the trouble following a recent pneu- monia illness prior to the jaunt he and Stan Laurel made to San Francisco for personal appearances, and this rime he may decide to have them out. NEW WALLACE CLASS Earle Wallace, head of the Earle Wallace School of the Dance, is opening a class for adult begin- ners on Wednesday evening, Janu- ary 22, at 8 p. m. TO REOPEN DIVISION The Division Theatre here will be reopened shortly by H. R. Wakerman and T. W. Henderson. The house has been closed for the past few months. OPEN SECOND SERIES OF DANCING CLASSES The second series of beginners’ classes in tap, acrobatic and. mu- sical comedy dancing opened last Monday at the Wills-Cunningham Dance Studios in Hollywood, with one of the biggest enrollments in the school’s history, according to Walter S. Wills. Wills accounts for the large number of enrollments in the de- mand by moving picture studios for dancers and dance units, the latter being trained and routined by the Wills-Cunningham studio in complete ensemble. FOX TRIO ON EUROPE TRIP NOW COMING BACK Harry Hartman, division man- ager of the Fox San Diego the- atres, has been here for the past week, fulfilling Harry Arthur’s duties. Arthur left for Europe last month with Bud Lollier and Charles Buckley to join the “wrecking crew” that was sent from the coast to organize the new Fox purchases in Europe. The trio got as far East as New York but, so the story goes, Fox didn’t know that they were sched- uled to go abroad so the trio are now on their way back to the coast and are due here next week. FIRST ASSIGNMENT FOR LANGAN TO CO-DIRECT John Langan, Paramount direc- tor, is co-director of “Light of Western Stars,” a Western picture to star Richard Arlen. Langan, a former stage director, arrived on the Paramount lot some months ago. PAR READYING THREE Three new pictures are being prepared for early production on the Paramount lot. “The Benson Murder Case,” with an all-star cast, directed by Frank Tuttle; “The Light of the Western Ex- press,” starring Richard Arlen un- der the direction of Otto Brower and John Langan, and an untitled story which is to be done with an all-star c_ast and A. Edward Suth- erland directing. RE-SIGN DANCE DIRECTOR David Bennett’s contract as dance director at the Paramount studios in Hollywood has been re- newed. Bennett joined Paramount six months ago and prior to’that during his career in New York he directed dance ensembles for such productions as “Rose Marie,” “Sonny,” “Kid Boots,” “Sally,” the Earl Carroll “Vanities,” Ham- merstein productions, Fred Stone shows, the original Chariot’s Re- vue and several Will Rogers shows. TEN DAYS TO PAY BUCK JONES CLAIMS According to a decision handed down by Labor Commissioner Lowry those responsible for the salaries owing members of the Buck Jones Wild West Shows were given ten days to pay up. The matter 'concerning the vari- ous claims has been pending be- fore the commission for several weeks and all sides have been given opportunity to present their contentions. At the last meeting, Buck Jones was present, and, following' his. statements, the commissioner de- cided in favor of the claimants. The matter was prosecuted pri- marily by Local No. 32 of .the Bill Posters and Billers Union of which C. J. Hyans is president. ASSISTING CUNNINGHAM Jerry Jarette has been signed as assistant to George Cunningham, of the Wills-Cunningham School of Dance and prominent ditector of dancing numbers and ensembles for pictures and the legit. Miss Jarette’s first assignment is assist- ing Cunningham with numbers for the Louis O. Macloon production of “New Moon” at the Majestic, of which Cunningham is in charge of dance direction.