Inside facts of stage and screen (February 1, 1930)

SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE SEVEN VANCOUVER, B. C. A. K. MacMartin REPRESENTATIVE 901 Bekins Bldg. ^NORTHWEST JEAN ARMAND DISTRICT MANAGER WASHINGTON :: OREGON :: IDAHO :: MONTANA SEATTLE Joseph D. Roberts REPRESENTATIVE 1118 Northern Life Tower THEME GROSSES ACT IN PAST WKS, SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — The past six or eight weeks in this town have witnessed a rapidly changing barometer of theatre grosses. Many stellar attractions have been offered the public, of which sev- eral took a husky wallop from the frozen fist of old king winter. Throughout the period, of all the houses, possibly John Ham- rick’s two 800-seaters, the Music Box and Blfle Mouse, have best weath- ered the storm. Opening War- ner Bros’, all-color classic, “Show of Shows,” on Xmas day, the Mu- sic Box continued to stand ’em on the sidewalk for three consecutive weeks. It must be granted, though, that the intake would have taken a 25 per cent tilt, had not a blanket of snow which later froze solidly over all streets and sidewalks throughout the city, fallen. Fol- lowing this at the Music Box, came John Barrymore’s first all- talker, “General Crack,” currently in and holding up well, consider- ing the elements. At the Blue Mouse across the way, the popular impresario has showed, successive- ly, “Tiger Rose,” “Wall Street,” “Footlights and Fools,” “The Lost Zeppelin” and “The Aviator,” mediocre attractions, but the popu- larity of the house kept them coming. Liberty Opens The greatest furore during this period was caused by the reopen- ing of the old Liberty Theatre on First avenue. The Liberty was included in the deal when Jensen & Von Herberg sold to North American which was, in turn, later absorbed by West Coast. Through (Continued on Page 9) VANCOUVER By A. K. MacMARTIN Practically all down town houses in this city are now wired. The last two to go talkie being the Globe, on Granville street, oper- ated by Bill Brown, and the Royal on Hastings, which is con- trolled by W. P. Nichols. The last named operator has also taken over a small house on Gran- ville street south, called the Fair- view. He is having it enlarged, a marquee erected in the front and Western Electric wiring installed. These are second and third run houses with a grind policy. * * * The Maurice Colbourne Com- pany closed at the Vancouver Theatre, after playing a return engagement, Saturday, January 25.- They put over three bills in their last week, in an extra . effort to attract patronage but without re- sult. On the opening Monday night, two women’s clubs filled the house as guests but even their boosting failed to bring any busi- ness. The three bills were “Arms and the Man,” “John Bull’s Other Island” and “Man and Superman.” This company of English players is a strong aggregation of clever troupers. Their productions are well staged and should draw big patronage but for some reason the fans failed to deposit at the b. o. * * * Instructions have been issued by the Famous Players Canadian Cor- poration to their architects to pro- ceed with the plans for the new half million dollar theatre they will erect at Broadway and Granville. Another new house they will build will be at Rossland, B. C. This will be a much smaller one costing only $40,000. Both theatres will be equipped with the latest type talkie apparatus. (Continued on Page 9) SSUES STATEMENT 1 JENSEN IT , G. SEATTE, January 30.—Earl R. Crabb, northwest manager for Fox West Coast Theaters, Inc., issued a special statement to In- side Facts regarding the suit filed last week by the Jensen Invest- ment Co. and Mary £. von Her- berg, holders of preferred stock in the Pacific Northwest Theaters, Inc., when the former filed suit against the latter and the Fox West Coast Theaters Inc., asking that they either be paid certain moneys alleged due as past divi- dends or that a receiver be ap- pointed. “I have just Received a wire from Jeff Lazarus regarding a telephone conversation held be- tween M'r. H. B. Franklin and Mr. von Herberg. “Application for dismissal of the suit by Mr. von Herberg will immediately be made following an explanation by Mr. Franklin re- garding dividend policies in the past and for the future.” Internal Differences Crabb also stated that the suit was one of purely internal differ- ences and has absolutely no con- nection with the actual manage- ment of either the Pacific North- (Continued on Page 10) No Written Contract For Eddie Peabody SEATTLE, January 30.—One of the most unusual arrangements between a producer and headline artist, which bespeaks for the confidence of the latter in the former, came to light this week with Peabody’s opening at the Fifth Avenue Theatre here. It is understood that there is no written agreement between Mrs. Eddie Peabody, wdio is the dimin- utive banjo-artist’s sole represen- tative, and Marco, the producer, all details being strictly verbal. RENAME BAND SEATTLE, Jan. 30. —Arthur Clausen’s Seattle Grand Orchestra was recently refhristened by Man- ager Bob Blair of this Publix stand, the Seattle Serenaders. The personnel of the band is made up of capable men, each one a mas- ter of his instrument. Arthur Clausen, as leader, is heard at fre- quent intervals, in pleasing violin solos. John Barbour, as concert master, heads the string section. The remainder of the personnel includes Grant Kuhn, William Haine, George Kirchner, Barney Goodman, Herbert Taylor, Otto Lorbeer, Floyd Smullin, Ed Carey, Jr., Bid Haw, Thomas Cubbfn and Lou Jepson. BETTER WEATHER 7 GET B!Z SEATTLE, Jan. 30, — Even though the bad w%ather let up, with the thermometer climbing a few degrees, business with the ex- ception of the Fifth Avenue, where Peabody opened to a smashing first week, remained at a low ebb. A brand new stunt, credited to Charles Kurtzman, of the Publix theatres on the coast, tied the papers up with a daily editorial and free ads on a “Come Down- town Week.” All the local sheets went heavy for the stunt, which also assisted in bringing out the hybernated lo- cals to the business and theatre district. Peabody at the Fifth Avenue took the cream of the long- hoarded dough to the tune of $19,000 for his first week here. “The Lone Star Ranger” was the screen feature. Credit Marco’s “Black and Gold Idea” with some of the gross. Peabody brought ’em in. Nice business and puts the house well out of the red. The Publix Seattle did $14,000 with “Sally.” Good business. Tough to get ’em to go up the hill here. Clausen and his sym- phony orchestra, also Ron and (Continued on Page 10) My Dear Marco:- In Justifying Your Showmanlike Faith In My Engagement My Thanks .... and Reply Is .... “GROSSES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS” In All Sincerity EDDIE PEABODY FREELANCING Indefinite Engagement Fifth Avenue Theatre, Seattle UNDER THE SOLE PERSONAL MANAGEMENT OF MRS. EDDIE PEABODY