Inside facts of stage and screen (February 15, 1930)

SATURDAY, FEB. IS, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE RADIO- KEITH- ORPHEUM CIRCUIT OF THEATRES VAUDEVILLE EXCHANGE General Booking Offices PALACE THEATRE BUILDING 1564 Broadway RKO FILM BOOKING CORP. General Booking Offices 1560 Broadway NEW YORK CORPORATION 1560-1564 Broadway, New York Telephone Exchange: Bryant 9300 Cable Address: “RADIOKEITH” RKO PRODUCTIONS Inc. Producers and Distributors of RADIO PICTURES LAUNCHING AN ERA OF ELECTRICAL ENTERTAINMENT 1660 Broadway New York TIFFANY RUMORED IN FIELD IQ HARRY WEBER - SIMON AGENCY PALACE THEATRE BUILDING, NEW YORK CITY MANAGING ONLY THE BEST IN VAUDEVILLE and PICTURES HOLLYWOOD OFFICE BANK OF HOLLYWOOD BUILDING Corner Hollywood Boulevard and Vina Street HO. 2181—Telephones—HO. 2182 HARRY WEBER SHRINE CIRCUS LOS ANGELES (Reviewed Feb. 2) Acts from Ringling, Hagenback and Al. G. Barnes circuses make up a bill opened with a flash act of swinging ladders, illuminated with colored lights, and a girl go- ing through poses on each; closing with the Flying Fords in. their standard high trapeze act, this last act winning a fair hand. In between came Tony Pina and his walking ladder; Hart Brothers, Three Joeys, Schaller Trio, Kitchens, Three Comiques and McAffee and Phillips, comedy acrobats; Ariel Christensons, Vera Patt and Frank Zerado, trapeze acts; Lita Hewitt in loop-the-loop; Barnes Elephants (3), Klinkhart Midgets; Vera Patt doubling with Marie Sweeney on the webs, Caro- line Hodgini in her cloud swing; Havemann in his cat act, familiar in vaude; Pina and McKeone fam- ilies, tumbling, and the Rooneys, comedy riders. Business for Sunday matinee was about half capacity, with tick- ets pushed by the Shrine mem- bers, profits for charity. Show closes Sunday night, February 9. Music was furnished by the Ben L.aietsky Circus Band, under Charles Roderick. The customers were steered through a side show section, main performance being given on the huge stage of the Shrine Auditorium. A dozen or so clowns filled in during prop changes. Off-season lethargy was evident. Y eat es. DROP CHARGE The charge against W. E. Wag- ner for operating a movie school without a license was removed from the court’s calendar as Wag- ner is expected to appear as a state’s witness against U. M. Dailey and V. M. Barnett, who are charged with 11 counts of grand theft in connection with their alleged film school activi- ties. VISITING HOLLYWOOD J. G.. Schurmann, chief of the Wilton-Brockliss-Tiffany organiza- tion, which handles Tiffany Pro- ductions in France, is a visitor in Hollywood. Her Fan, But Scared to Ask For a Picture Following the story printed in Inside Facts last week to the ef- fect that Equitable pictures were negotiating for the Tec-Art Stu- dios comes the report that Tiffany are also seeking to acquire this property. Insofar as Tiffany rep- resents the Allied States plan of releasing while Equitable are con- nected with the Motion Picture Congress of America, rivals for the business of the independent ex- hibitors, it is expected that some interesting bidding will result. For many years Tec-Art was the hot spot for producing inde- pendent pictures and it was not until the talking pictures brought the indes to a cessation of activities that intensive produc- tion at this studio slacked up. It is one of the most thoroughly equipped studios in the industry, having all of the modern facilities including RCA filmtrack recording equipment and Harris disc record- ing device available. Two Stages There are two sound stages, one stage capable of handling any sized set and ample grounds suitable for street scenes or any outdoor loca- tion. There are over a hundred offices and other conveniences for numerous producers. Tiffany with its Allied States arrangement has undertaken a large program with which to sup- ply the 2000 or so franchise hold- ers and will have the aid of sev- eral independent producers in pro- viding the material for their undertaking. Studio facilities at the Tiffany Studio are rather lim- ited to permit of the expansion necessary to take care of the other producers. Tec-Art would be a valuable acquisition to them at this time. On the other hand, Equitable plans to release through the Mo- tion Picture Congress one feature a week beginning around May 1. It is their plan to finance inde- pendent producers whose past rec- ords have shown that they possess the ability to make high-class pictures. Anticipate 6000 Houses It is expected that by the mid- dle of the year, the Congress will have signed around 6000 theatres to their chain. The distribution plan of the Congress is an adaptation of the old Imperial Picture plan made suitable to modern requirements. Broadcasters vie with picture stars in quantity and variety of fan mail. Jackie Archer, the pop- ular pianist and singer of KFI, has a persistent wooer whom she has never seen but hears from by mail regularly. In the latest epistle from him the following choice passages occur: “If what Big Brother Don stipu- lated today concerning your age is true there is no great par- tiality between us . . . You gave me a scare by denying his descrip- tion of you, and saying you were big and fat. I could hardly, imag- ine a voice such as yours being at- tached to a fat lady. I am afraid to ask for a photograph of you for fear it might shatter the illusion I have built . . . Please laugh more, Jackie, I love to hear you laugh.” And so on, far into the stationery supply. ‘STAGE PLAYS NOT F It is in many respects, similar to the original First National plan that was considered eminently successful while it was in vogue. The idea is briefly to make pic- tures for a flat sum and sell for a flat profit. The producer knows in advance what profit he is to receive for his product and the exhibitor is assured against over- charge as his cost is based on a percentage of his actual business so that even a run of bad weather would not cut into his profits. Minimum Guarantee A small minimum guarantee is exacted of the franchise holders which is based upon his business of the past year. The Congress does not share in the profits, the officials being selected from among the exhibitors and producers. Meiklejohn Bros. ASSOCIATED VAUDEVILLE MANAGERS Fourth Floor, Spreckels Bldg. Phones: 714 So. Hill St. TRinlty 2217, TRinity 2218 LOS ANGELES VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURE HOUSE ENGAGEMENTS AVAILABLE FOR STANDARD ACTS BEERYS RECONCILED Noah Beery and his wife Mar- guerite have kissed and made up. After living separately for almost two years they have agreed to bury their differences and start anew. The Beerys have been married for almost 20 years. Hollywood must supply its own stories for the talking screen and not depend on outside sources for material, in the opinion of James A. Creelman, Jr., Radio Pictures’ writer, who has just returned from New York after a vacation of sev- eral weeks. Creelman, whose latest effort is “The Vagabond Lover,” starring Rudy Vallee, is convinced talking pictures are definitely crowding out legitimate productions and limiting successful stage plays to a few of the highest calibre. “None of the purchasable cur- rent stage productions on Broad- way are suitable for adaptation to the screen,” Creelman declares. “Apparently there are none in the offing. “It is this condition which leads me to believe that the stu- dios and their writers must cre- ate their own stories in the fu- ture.” CHANEY TO TALK Under terms of a new five-year contract just signed by Lon Chaney with M-G-M, Chaney will do talkies. Heretofore . he has been consistent in declining to talk, and it remains . to be seen whether the new decision is a wise one. Doings of The Duffys Henry Duffy announces a very interesting line-up of plays and players for early appearance here. Frank Craven has left New York and is en route to the coast. He opens at the Hollywood Play- house in two weeks in “Salt Water” his most recent eastern hit. He will have Gay Seabrook prominent in his support. Percy Pollock has also been signed and is on his way . here from Florida. His vehicle will be “Broken Dishes.” This will he Pollock’s first appearance here since “Lightning.” He will open at the Dufwin, Oakland, before coming south. Leo Carrillo will also open shortly in “Mr. Antonio,” in one of the northern theatres. Charlotte Greenwood, who is at present on the road under the Duffy banner opens at the Er- langer theatre, Chicago, on April 20 with Kansas City, St. Louis, St. Joseph and Denver to follow. Nel- lie Revelle is in advance. SIGN DANCER Fanchon and Marco have signed Lucille Page, now at the Chinese Theatre, with all managerial rights for a term of five years, and plans are under way for starring her either as a feature of one of their “Ideas” or by playing her as an outright single attraction. PATRICK and MARSH (AGENCY) VAUDEVILLE—ORCHESTRAS WANTED! ACTS SUITABLE FOR PICTURE HOUSE PRESENTATION AND CLUBS W jbITE—W 11*35— OA I * T > 607-8 Majestic Theatre Bldg., 845 South Broadway, Los Angela* Phone TUcker 2140 BOOK TWO MORE Two more theatres in Oklahoma have aranged to play Fanchon and Marco Ideas. They are the Orpheum at Oklahoma City, starting February 24, with “Water- melon Blues” Idea, and Coleman Theatre, Miami, Oklahoma, start- ing February 19. Oklahoma City will be a four-day date, playing the Ideas Monday to Thursday, with Miami playing them two days, Wednesday and Thursday. IN FOX CAST WANTED—Acts Suitable for Vaudeville, Picture House Presentations, Clubs and Talkies THEATRICAL AGENCY AL WAGER (Artists’ Representative) 221 LOEW’S STATE BLDG., LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Phone: VAndike 3619 Cast for Fox’s “In Love With Love,” with Hamilton MacFadden directing, includes Regis Toomey, Kenneth MacKenna, Joan Ben- nett, Lumsden Hare and Sharon Lynn in featured roles. IN TIFFANY SHORT Evelyn Pierce, Jack Mower, Pietro Gallante and Tamara Shav- rova are in the cast of the current Tiffany Color-Symphony, a short feature directed by Aubrey Scotto. LOVE SUES TIFFANY Montague Love has brought suit against Tiffany for $1625, which he claims is due him on two written contracts. Walter Trask WANTS STANDARD ACTS and ENTERTAINERS for THEATRES, CLUBS, LODGES and SMAROFF-TRASK PRESENTATIONS WALTER TRASK THEATRICAL AGENCY 1102 Commercial Exchange Bldg. 416 Weit Eighth Street Lo* Angela* Telephone TUcker 168# WILLS-CUNNINGHAM Gladstone 9502 7016 Hollywood Boulevard Studio of Dancing Professionals Taught by Professionals Routines Created and Perfected for Single, Double and Ensemble Dancing Acts Walter Wills Theatrical Employment Agency Talent Booked for Pictures, Vaudeville, Production, Clubs Ackerman & Harris EXECUTIVE OFFICES THIRD FLOOR, PHELAN BLDG. F.1U Herbert Weston, Booking Manager Market, Grant and O'FarreU St*. SAN FRANCISCO LOS ANGELES—20 Film Exchange Bldg. Washington and Vermont —Telephone: BEacon 7966 Artists and Acts Register For Theatrical Bookings, Orchestras and Club Entertainment IRA F. GAY AGENCY 206 Majestic Theatre BuilcEng 845 South Broadway FA 3421 Los Aneeles 35