Inside facts of stage and screen (February 22, 1930)

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SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE THREE PREDICT 10,000 VOTERS IN GROUP t Five Year Contract Effective March 1st jj (Continued from Page 1) toward squeezing out the ‘middle class’ of picture makers. “I don’t agree. The talkies, re- quiring the larger capital for pro- duction, were an excellent medium for hurrying up the process, but as I see it, the handwriting was on the wall, talkies or no talkies. Wall Street not only does things in a big way, but also in an ex- clusive way, and it usually ends up with things tied up 100 per cent. Whether or not there had been talkies, I believe, tne indus- try would have been put to the task of turning out big specials with which no independent of lim- ited means could compete. And it would undoubtedly have followed that the money-men would have wanted to grab off all the gravy on their big ■ ones. To do this they would have gone into the theatre-buying and theatre-build- ing fields about as extensively as at present, and that would have meant little chance for indes to realize from their production in- vestments.” Big One To Come Notable flops by former reliable indes have been marked, since the big business move started. In one instance a picture made netted plenty for the purchaser, who had a contract release with an established concern, but prac- tically nothing for the producer. The picture was well up to the standard being turned out by the big studios, both as to content and names in the cast, but it couldn’t be sold for any profit by its maker. In another, a man who former- ly raised capital regularly, year after year, and showed a profit on it, finds himself with some great, almost _ surefire ideas, but not a penny interested in backing them— not unless he can show a release with a big company. And so on down the line. But even the present situation is nothing to what is to come, ac- cording to general opinion. in fact a rumor is widespread right now of a big deal which will equal and perhaps surpass anything that has gone before. Three big or- ganizations are reported to be tentatively negotiating it, and one report had it that ex-President Calvin Coolidge’s trip to Los An- geles was for the purpose of get- ting his help in putting it through in a manner that will not offend the government’s anti-monopoly sensibilities. This ties in with the fact that many of the big picture men from New York are gathered here. In addition to Will Hays, who is on his semi-annual coast visit, some of them are representatives from Stone and Hayden and from Blair and Company, Adolph Zukor of Paramount, and Hiram S. Brown, of the RKO. BLUES SINGER HERE SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10.— Beanay Venuta, Los Angeles blues singer, is in town for an extended stay. GETS JOB QUICK Eddie Shubert, connected with the Shuberts in New York for over three years but no relation, arrived from New York Sunday and went to work Monday at the Mack Sennett Studios in Harry Langdon’s latest, “King.” PURCHASE AMUSA A. Freed and A. J. Garrett have purchased the Amusa Theatre, a L. A. neighborhood house, and changed the name of it to the Beacon Theatre. “RITZ” PREMIERE Harry Richman’s U. A. pic- ture, “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” will open at the U. A. Theatre March 12. Premiere admission will be $5, with Richman being there in person. T WAY OF FI1L ACT 10 PUT li FORGE The proposed new contract for freelance picture players, as out- lined in Inside Facts issue of last week was accepted without dis- sension at a meeting of 200 repre- sentative Hollywood actors last week. The only change made was to term it a basic agreement for a five-year period, subject at any time to amendments, revisions or changes by vote of committees composed of actors and producers. Formula for such a change is to be a majority vote by each of these committees balloting sepa- Wilbur Evans This good-looking and personable actor played the romantic lead in “Bambina,” a musical operetta that recently played the local Mayan Theatre. Evans scored heavy returns with his rich baritone voice and it’s a cinch that the smart picture exec signing him on the dotted line will have gilt-edged security in the services of this juvenile type. We hear in fact that two competitors from the cinema lots are angling right now for his contract, the result of favorable mike and photog- raphy tests taken recently. Evans’ first bid for notice was when he won the first Atwater Kent contest, competing with 75,000 radio voices for a reward of $5000 in cash, plus a 3-year ether contract and a 2-year tuition course at the Curtis Institute of Music at Philadelphia. He’s a student of the distinguished Mark Markoff, local teacher, who has trained many other famed personages of the stage and screen world. SIEGEL SEEKING ET Fred W. Siegel, former manager at the Hotel Ritz, Los Angeles, and present owner of the Spreck- els Theatre, San Diego, and Mike Newman, general manager of the same theatre, are now negotiating for two other houses. The Spreckels Theatre, which is now playing a straight picture pol- icy, formerly operated with a legit roadshow policy. It is doing very good business. It is said that the theatre displays one of the most attractive Neon flashes of any theatre in the State. Siegel intends buying several more theatres in Southern Cali- fornia. CHANGES AT RITZ Changes were made this week in the managerial posts at the Ritz Hotel here. George M. Bur- bank, who formerly managed the El Miramar at Paim Springs has replaced Fred Siegel as manager. Siegel, owner of Spreckels Thea- tre, San Diego, has returned there to resume duties at the theatre. Ben Wagner, who has been con- nected with the Ritz Hotel for some time, has been made assistant manager. The hotel is patronized by many performers. EQUITY MOVING Equity is moving its offices from its present location at 6412 Holly- wood boulevard to Suite 240-241 Cherokee Building, 6636 Holly- wood boulevard, next week. Per- sonnel will be kept intact, consist- ing of Charles Miller, western coast representative; William Con- klin, assistant to Miller, and Pa- tricia Henderson and Florence Welles, secretaries. Gay Seabrook Scores Big in Duffy’s Shows Gay Seabrook, w'hose picture appears on ttie rront page of this issue of Inside Facts, is one of the most popular of the younger Duffy players. For the past several years, she has appeared in various roles several times in each of the local Duffy houses, where she is a decided favorite with the patrons. Miss Seabrook has a quaint in- dividuality heightened by fetching mannerisms and a charming man- ner of speech, and in juvenile roles suited to her is without a peer as a comedienne. She opened last Sunday at the Hollywood Playhouse as the fea- tured player in support of Frank Craven, who brings to Hollywood his newest New York success, “Salt Water,” for an extended run. MAY DO “FRENCHMEN” Louis O. Macloon and his wife, Lillian Albertson, producers of the current hit “The New Moon” at the Majestic are leaving next week for a trip to New York to con- clude negotiations for their next offering, which will probably be “Fifty Million Frenchmen” a sen- sational hit now playing on Broad- way. The growing grosses at the Majestic make impossible any pre- diction as to the probable date of the next attraction. ‘BAMBINA’ MAY REOPEN “Bambina” closed at the Mayan Saturday. Salary claims were fully covered by the bond. It is reported that “Bambina” may re- open later at another house, after the book has been revised and the show otherwise doctored. She Wanted To Get A.E.A.O.K. On Contract While there was no dissen- sion at the last meeting en- dorsing the proposed new standard contract for free- lance players in pictures, there was one laugh. The matter of the contract was stated to the 200 or so persons present, and then the question was asked if there was any discussion. One woman got up and said: “I’d like not to cast my vote until I’ve conferred with the Equity officials in New York.” rately. The committees are to be composed of five members each. Five-Year Period Undoubtedly due to the fact that the producers wish to forestall any re-attempt of Equity to get into pictures, the contract, which pro- vides relief in several phases of which actors have complained, is to run a period of five years. At the first committee meeting the contract was stated to be for a period of six months only insofar as the pledge not to strike was concerned. Extension of this pe- riod to a further four-and-a-half years was clever engineering. How- ever, it is provided that at the end of the six months period the clause providing for a 12-hour rest period after each period of work is subject to be changed by vote of the committees of actors and pro- ducers in favor of a 54-hour cumulative week, if such is desired at that time. Effective March 1 Time set for the new contract to become effective is March 1. While still lacking acceptance by the various studios, the con- tract is deemed all set except for printing and distribution. The pro- ducers’ representatives at the prior meetings merely accepted the in- strument as a committee repre- senting the producers in general, subject to ratification by the vari- ous producing companies individ- ually. Now, to make it binding, it is necessary that the various producing companies sign. Inso- far as the members of the M. P. P. D. A. is concerned, this is considered an open-and-shut mat- ter, and it is understood persuasive measures will be advanced to bring in all the big studios not members of this association. DAN’S M. C. DENVER, Feb. 20. — Goddard Lieberson is the new master-of- ceremonies at Coffee Dan’s here. He also represents American Mu- sic Co. ENGLISH ACTRESS DUE Lillian Sande, English actress, is due here under contract to Fox. Her first assignment is a role in “So This Is London?” with Will Rogers. OPENED AT BEACH Gene Morgan and a company of forty people under the direction of Bill Meiklejohn opened at the Strand, Long Beach, last Sunday. With more than 500 prominent theatrical names already promised to support the move for an Actors’ political organizations in Southern California, Charles Miller, western representative for Equity and ini- tiator of the move, predicts there will be more than 10,000 eligible voters in the organibation by pri- mary time in August. The organization, Miller ex- plained this week, is intended for all whose interests are identified with the theatrical profession, no matter in what capacity. Since publishing a story con- cerning the move a couple of weeks ago, Inside Facts has re- ceived innumerable letters and phone calls asking for further de- tails. Many of these have been from persons who are not actors or actress but whose interests are so identified with the profession that they feel the organization as necessary to safeguard their ca- reers as is the case for people ac- tually appearing on the stage or in pictures. Present plans are for crystalliza- tion of the move into a definite body within the next few weeks, with election of officers to be made within a month. Several weighty names are under consider- ation for nomination for the post of president. Following the organization meet- ing, the lists will be thrown open for all those who desire to join. No obligations will be entailed by this, the purpose of the organ- ization being merely to keep thea- trical voters advised as to poli- ticians who have shown traits of friendliness or unfriendliness toward the profession, and of matters of legislation of particular interest to them. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10.— Re-enactment of the judicial farce that ran “Bad Babies” out of town may possibly have the same effect on Sid Goldtree’s produc- tion of “The Peephole,” which was twice arrested this week at the Green Street Theatre. Determined that he would not repeat “Bad Babies” history—con- tinued arrest ever after acquittal by jury—G o 1 d t r e e temporarily closed his show and awaited jury trial due today. If the result _ is not favorable Goldtree will bring an injunction to enforce reopen- ing of the show. Captain Arthur D. Layne headed the troop of officers who carted the Peepholers to the Central po- lice station where they were re- leased on $20 bail. Those arrested were • Goldtree, Joseph Kemper, Taylor Graves, Hugh Metcalf, Jack Lindsay, Larry Cook, Bruce Payne, Betty Blossom, Gudy Swanson, Carol Winston, Connie Carlisle and Mauren Fluernoy. LYCEUM GETS W. E. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10 — Lyceum Theatre, Mission district house, has ordered installation of Western Electric equipment. BUSINESS GOING UP Art Wenzel, exploitation expert, is now manager of the Fox Up- town. Stars of the picture appear in person weekly. A set of Fifi Dorsay pearls were given away to each lady attending the Monday evening performance for the pic- ture, “Hot For Paris.” Business is increasing steadily. SWEENEY DIES D. F. Sweeney, connected with the RKO Orpheum Theatre for the past seven years as relief stage doorman and elevator man, died last week. Sweeney was 55 years of age. Mavis, of. Mavis and Ted in Fanchon and Marco “Trees Idea,” fell while doing the act at the Egyptian, and received a deep gash on the head. Act finished out the week, however.