Inside facts of stage and screen (January 25, 1930)

PAGE TEN INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, JAN. 25, 1930 VANCOUVER, B. C. A. K. MacMartin REPRESENTATIVE 901 Bekins Bldg. ^NORTHWEST n* WASHINGTON JEAN ARMAND DISTRICT MANAGER :: OREGON :: IDAHO :: MONTANA SEATTLE Joseph D. Roberts REPRESENTATIVE 1118 Northern Life Tower GET COPYRIGHT ON IN SEATTLE HOUSE SEATTLE, Jan. 23.—Ron and Don, the duo organ team now in their second year at the Publix Seattle Theatre, have recently copyrighted the drawings on their “Baby Console.” It is claimed that it is the smallest console in existence. The minute instrument at no point measures over 36 inches, in height, breadth or depth, and, by an intricate system of wiring, the entire range of the four-manual organ is made available at its one keyboard. It is connected to the main organ by a cable 185 feet long which contains over 5 miles of copper wire. Change of tone color is made possible by 10 combination pistons in positions directly above the keys. An example of the scale of size of the “Baby Console” is the dimensions of the pedal keyboard for the feet. Where the ordinary pedal key rises some 9 inches off the floor, the “Baby” pedals are exactly 154 inches over all. Ron and Don introduced the “Baby Console” to the public at the Seattle Theatre the week of February 16. 1929. FOSTER AND KLEISER REMODEL BILLBOARDS SEATTLE, Jan. 23.—One of the many improvements in the Foster and Kleiser expansion pro- gram for the new year is a com- plete remodeling of the boards in the northwestern district. Included in this program is the rebuilding of over 300 panels in Seattle alone. The new boards are six inches deeper than the old ones, with three feet of lattice between and under each panel, giving each panel a “single panel” effect. Ac- cording to the program, there will be no more than three panels on any one location. One of the first accounts to en- joy a showing on the new plant was the heavy poster order placed by Eddie Fitzgerald for the cam- paign he is conducting for Eddie Peabody’s engagement at the Fifth Avenue. The others, sensing the value of the new Foster and Kleiser program, include Vic Gauntlet, who stepped out on John Barrymore’s “General Crack’” at the Music Box, and Roy Cooper who has made a big splurge on “Paris” for Sterling Chain The- atres, Inc. DOING LOBBY STUNT Tm Following You Should Be Her Next SEATTLE. — Betty Shilton, or- ganist at the Fox Fifth Ave. Theatre for the past three years, pulled the prize one the other morning on her way into town to broadcast over KOMO. It appears that Betty was speeding, got caught, and told the guy just “why.” He proved to be one of her fans and turned her loose with a warning. Betty told him she’d play a number for him and she led off thait evening with “I’ll Get By So Long as I Have You.” There the story should end, but he called up and asked for more plugs, so she let him have :‘The Prisoner’s Song” with the death march from Saul interspersed. The next evening he called again and told her that he had clocked her stepping on it that morning and she’d have to tone dcwn some, else she’d really have need to play the “Prisoner’s Song.” She came back with “I’m Sorry, Dear,” an4 at the last broadcast the gang around town who are hep to the budding friendship are wondering what Betty is going to use next. ORGAN DUO ON KJR SEATTLE, Jan. 23.-—Lorain Le Bel, the wife of Henri Le Bel, both organists of repute, are broad- casting daily over KJR. Le Bel is one of the most original organ- ists in the business and the tie-up on the air with Lorain Le Bel is expected to bring forth some un- usual arrangements. The latter has quite a rep at the console. WITHERS WITH F. N. SEATTLE, Jan. 23. — Ruth Layne and Dave Gordon, well known in and around Los Angeles and San Francisco, were recently signed by Charles Kurtzman, head of the Publix on the coast to do four weeks in each of the coast houses. The pair do a novelty act in the lobby of the theatre, sing- ing requests from the patrons, mostly the themies from the pres- ent and coming attractions. The gag is somewhat new here and is going over great. Eddie Meets Old Friend Long Way Off SEATTLE, Jan. 23.—The phrase “You never can tell” was brought home to Eddie Peabody a short while ago while playing Philadel- phia. Some years ago, while Ed- die was playing the Met in L. A., Jim Loughborough, one of the smartest exploitation men in the business, together with Mrs. Pea- body formed with Eddie an “Eddie Peabody Club” throughout the high schools. Memberships ran into the thou- sands with the ballot for vice- president going to Le Roy Green at Polytechnic High school. Le Roy walked back stage in Phila- delphia and found Eddie reading his review on the show. Le Roy is now drama critic on the Eve- ning Ledger. SEATTLE, Jan. 23. — W. T. (Tillie) Withers, has just joined the First National Exchange as a member of the sales organization. Tillie is well known in this terri- tory and relieves Tommy Gib- bons. JOINS WILBUR Florence Holland has left for Honolulu to join the Wilbur Players as ingenue. The com- pany has undergone a reorganiza- tion with a guest star policy put into effect. Dick Wilbur intended to come to the coast shortly after the first of the year but post- poned his trip because of the ne- cessity of his presence with the company during the change-over in policy. LOOP JOINS I. F. SEATTLE, Jan. 23. —Ed Loop, vvho is connected with the display advertising de- partment of the Seattle P. I., has joined the forces of In- side Facts as assistant to Jean Armand, district man- ager. Loop will cover the ac- tivities of the profession in Seattle. TO (EOT LOW LEVEL SEATTLE, Jan. 23.—Still sub- zero weather up here, considerably hurting the standing line proposi- tion. Even the heroic efforts of the press agents, who surpassed themselves in their attempts to en- tice the populace downtown, failed to bring >the grosses up. Tough breaks all the way round on good offerings due to the weather breaks. With the weather man reporting a rise in the thermometer, the boys expected the long-horded en- tertainment dough to start rolling in. The Orpheum topped the week with an estimated $16,000 with Rudy Vallee’s “Vagabond Lover” and five acts of vaudeville. Maurice 'Chevalier’s “Love Pa- rade” (Paramount) was another disappointment at the Seattle where it took $15,000. Had the weather been better, both of these would have done from $5000 to $6000 more easily. Close behind in the trey spot was “Hot for Paris” (Fox) at the Fox Theatre, which took $11,000. Vic Meyers and his band in their sixth week helped considerably; Owen Sweeten takes the organi- zation for two weeks. The big surprise of the week was “Red Hot Rhythm” at the Fox Fifth Avenue, which cost the house dough. The F. and M. “Jazz Temple Idea” did its share to- wards getting what came in. The house did $8000 for the week. Ed- die as m. c. followed and made the red on this back in his first four days. Hamrick’s Blue Mouse with Colleen Moore . in “Footlight and Fools” (F. N.) did $6200, while the last five days of “Shows of Shows” (W. B.) at the Music Box did $1000 a day for a $5000 total. At the two night clubs “Tiny” Burnett and his orchestra at the Venetian Gardens did a nice week- night business with a sellout Fri- day and Saturday; while Vic Mey- ers’ Club Victor is making plenty of dough, pulling in the newly edu- cated Seattle nighthawks. The Duffy Players did $3100 on “Boomerang”; nice business. VANCOUVER By A. K. MacMARTIN NEW ACTS BOOKED NEW YORK.—Among acts re- cently booked by RKO, are: Billy Mack . and George Wright, in “Highlights of Harmony”; Bento Brothers and Rita, an acrobatic team; Lerner and Calvin, musical comedy and vaudeville steppers; Moran and McBan, in a rustic odd- ity, “Slick and Slicker”; Don Gal- van, “the Spanish Banjo Boy”; the Teller Sisters; the Alexander Troupe, gymnasts and pyramid builders; Roslyn and Gertrude .Green; Colby and Murphy, terp- sichorean artists; Milo?; and the Monge Troupe, equilibrists. Phenomenal business is being chalked up at the Dominion with George Arliss in “Disraeli.” The Warner Brothers’ feature is now in its third week and still holding them out from the opening to closing shows. George Bancroft in “The Mighty” (Paramount) polled big returns at the R-K-O Orpheum. Four acts and an after- piece supported the screen feature with Willie and Joe Mandel hold- ing down the topline honors. Aver- age boxoffice takings were regis- tered at the Strand with Reginald Denny in “One Hysterical Night” as the screen feature and F. and M. “Idea in Green” as the stage attraction. “Gold Diggers of Broadway” (Warners) missed the mark at the Capitol. After a nine-day run this feature, which has shown big re- sults in other cities, has failed to reach the goal expected. Playing second run. to the Strand, “Her Private Life,” featuring Billie Dove, was not strong enough on the repeat to poll anything better than poor business. Going it alone in the legit field, the British Guild Players hit the near-capacity mark at every per- formance with “Interference.” The production was high class in every respect and the natives, following the usual custom, turned out in force to welcome the “over ’ome” product. The Vancouver was dark. * * * The stage show has been pulled out of the Pantages here and sec- ond run talkies make up the pres- ent program. W. P. Dewees, who purchased the leasehold interest from Alexander Pantages at a reported figure of $125,000 some time ago, has not yet made an announcement of the transfer to the public. It is rumored in local theatrical circles that Dewees in- tends to book the F. > and M. “B” units and open with a big pub- licity campaign in the near future. He operates the Strand, where the F. and M. Ideas have been shown in this city. * * * The Strand Theatre, which has been playing Fanchon and Marco Ideas for the past two years, has cancelled and played its last stage show the week of January 20, “The Jazz Temple” Idea being the last one in here. Jackie Souders and his Band will, be retained. The band will be increased to 25 members from the present 11 and will put on a a musical program three times a day. To overcome the drop in draw when the Ideas went out stronger pictures were featured. “Paris” is the feature on the talk- ing screen the week of January 27, the first time in two years that this house has opened without a stage show. The following week will have “Romance of the Rio Grande.” The Strand, which seats a little less than 2000, has cancelled its stage show because the extra over- head, amounting to about $3000 a IT FIFTH IE SUES ILL HOUSE RECORDS SEATTLE, Jan. 23.—Eddie Pea- body, the banjo wizard, opened at the Fifth Avenue on Thursday, January 16, proceeding to smash all house records to a total of $14,- 260 for four days. The dough came in as follows: $3260 opening day, $3200 Friday, $3400 Saturday and $4200 Sunday. The latter fig- ure for Sunday tops anything Pea- body has ever done at this the- atre. The grosses are considered phenomenal and are of a sensa- tional order due to the inclement and sub-zero weather which actu- ally.forbids any line for any length of time. Despite this, Peabody lined ’em Sunday night for over a block, besides packing the lobby. Any doubt as to his drawing power or popularity due to his absence from the Northwest has been easily dispelled. It is re- ported that Peabody’s engagement was due to personal invitation and hunch on the part of Jim 'Clemer, manager of the Fifth Avenue The- atre. It is further reported, while Peabody’s verbal agreement is but for four weeks, his engagement here will be indefinite according to an announcement made by Mrs. Eddie Peabody, his sole personal representative. MULVIHILL DIES DENVER, Jan. 23.—John M. Mulvihill, president of Elitch Gar- dens and Broadway Theatres and prominent figure in local theatri- cals for many years, died last week of pneumonia. “IDEA” GIRLS BACK Sunkist Beauties, who termi- nated their tour with “Up In the Air,” Fanchon and Marco “Idea,” when the act closed Jan. 14 at Waterbury, Conn., are back in Los Angeles for a brief rest before being offered a route with one of the “Ideas” now in rehearsal. week, has been eating up all the profits. The house belongs to a group controlled by W. P. De- wees and Ira Edison is house manager. * * * The Rex Theatre, which is di- rectly opposite the Pantages, on Hastings St., East, has been closed temporarily. W. P. De- wees, who operates both houses and recently acquired the Pan- tages, is experimenting to see what effect the Rex being dark will have on the attendance on the Pan house across the street. Talking pictures, second run. with- out a band or stage show of any kind, was the policy of both houses when the Rex went dark. The house staff at the Rex are continuing on the payroll and the talkie equipment is being over- hauled while the house is closed. Dress Your Theatre or Your Act With The Finest and Most Artistic Drop Curtains Picture Screens Presentations Cydoramas Unusual Fabrics DESIGNED - RENTED ■ PRODUCED By the Largest and Best Staff of Scenic Artists In America’s Most Beautiful Studio LOS ANGELES SCENIC STUDIOS, Inc. 1215 Bates Ave., at Fountain, Near Sunset Hollywood, California Phone OL. 2914