Inside facts of stage and screen (March 8, 1930)

PAGE SIX INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1930 Published Every Saturday One Year - $4.00 Foreign - $5.00 Advertising Rates on Application As a bi-monthly publication : Entered as Second Gass Matter, No- vember 17, 1924, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. As a weekly publication: Entered as Second Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. < ^H1^ > i Published by Inside Facts Publishing Company, Inc. 800-801 Warner Bros. Downtown Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif. Telephone TUcker 7832 JACK JOSEPHS - President and Editor ARTHUR WM. GREEN .... Vice Pres, and Counsel WILLIAM C. OWENS ... Secretary and General Manager Vol. XI Saturday, March 8, 1930 No. 10 Like everything else, material for the talking pictures is seeking a level after the turbulency of the earliest miking days. At first everyone with the central idea for a pay was of the opinion that, if it were given a local production, the talk- ies would grab it up, being, so it was said, hard up for material. Bad Tooth, He Gets Rep For Being Done Up Edward B. Cassidy, character actor who for the past two years has appeared here frequently in Henry Duffy performances return- ed to Hollywood, from a season of stock in Duffy’s Seattle theatre. Much to his surprise, on his ar- rival in San Francisco and from thence on to his home, his friends have commented upon his excellent appearance and extending their sympathy for his illness. “111?” blurted Ed, “I never was sick a day in my life!” A report had been circulating the rounds that he had been stricken with an attack of paralysis in the north. Cassidy traced the report to a friend whom he met casually in Seattle one day when he was returning from the dentist having had treat- ment for an ulcerated tooth. His speech was rather thick at the moment and his friend jumped to the conclusion that he was re- covering from a paralytic stroke and so heralded the sad news among his friends hereabouts. Ed admits he has been stiff many times but never paralyzed. WIRE MATSON LINERS But the results have proved the usual rule that good stuff is marketable; poor stuff is not. However , and despite the debacles of some locally-done shows, L. A. is certain to become increasing a production center. Louis O. Macloon and Lillian Albertson have shown by their “Desert Song,” “Hit the Deck” and “New Moon” what can be done with good musical shows on the Coast; Henry Duffy is proving the same thing in the dramatic field; and other shows can be adduced as proof, such as the re- cently all-L. A. musical show, “Oh, Susanna.” So the lesson remains that, while persons with good ideas for the stage should by no means despair of making their venture locally, they should first be strictly certain that they have something worth while to offer, and secondly that it has been perfected up to its pre-production maximum. That’s the way net profits are written in show business everywhere, and Los Angeles is no exception. SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— Matson line of steamers, plying between San Francisco and Hono- lulu, has installed Western Elec- tric equipment, selecting “Girl of the Port” as its initial talkie. Open house was held on the boat on Washington’s Birthday with the public being given a peep at the ship and its new entertainment feature. Sally O’Neill, star of the film, was up from Hollywood to sing a few songs. FOX SIGNS EASTON Frank Easton, New York actor, has signed a long-term contract with Fox. He will have the lead- ing juvenile role in “The Fox- Movietone Follies of 1930” which Benjamin Stoloff will direct. TEL-A-PHONEYi JAMES MADISON Hello, Walter Catlett. Hello, James Madison. You claim a Scotchman’s hair is different. In what way? It doesn’t give out elec- tricity. Hello, Clarence Darrow. Hello, James Madison. If the Jones Law was en- forced against drinking sena- tors, what would happen? Congress would probably have to hold its sessions in jail. Hello, Joseph Scott. Hello, James Madison. What is the labor situation? I’ve never seen so many mar- ried women out of work. Hello, Rodney Pantages. Hello, James Madison. How does screen vocalism impress you? Some of the heart songs sound as if they come from the liver. Hello, Irving Berlin. Hello, James Madison. What in your opinion is the height of irony? Shipping bootleg on a milk train. Hello, Lawrence Tibbett. Hello, James Madison. What is your definition of a bachelor? A married man’s understudy. Hello, Captain Billy. Hello, James Madison. How do you rate a re- former? He’s a guy who enjoys rid- ing on a sewer in a glass-bot- tom boat. Hello, Norma Talmadge. Hello, James Madison. In Africa there are elephants 300 years old that have never been out of the forest. Aged in the wood. Hello, Vera Gordon. Hello, James Madison. Is a Chicago City Hall job very strenuous? The hardest part is collect- ing your pay. Hello, Irving Thalberg. Hello, James Madison. How can you imply a man’s a liar without saying so? Suggest that he ought to be writing cigarette ads. PERFORMERS ILL HAVE SUPPLEMENT What’s Wrong With Radio Some Opinions From Near and Far By HT. HON. PERCIVAL HEMENHAW-STRAN- GENHOW LONDON.—I have the honor to acknowledge your radiogram com- missioning me to indite an article dwelling generally upon the sub- ject: What Is Wrong With Radio? I note with interest your remark to the effect that “there is a bare chance you have some interesting ideas on radio.” Permit me to parry with the comment that I believe there are many more bare chances upon the musical comedy stage than upon the air, and vastly more interest- ing, too. Humorous, what? When you speak of something being wrong with radio I take it for granted that you refer to American radio. Such a question could by no manner of means be implied as having the slightest reference to radio broadcasting as practiced in the British Isles. To state what is wrong with your radio over there is a tall order. To attempt to go into it in detail would be to fail, as you have not given me sufficient time in which to enumerate the vari- ous defects of your system of broadcasting and the kind of en- tertainment material cast thereby upon the ethereal surroundings. Therefore, I shall sum up briefly to the point, or perhaps I should say, should I not, in your quaint American idiom, make it snappy. One word will do. Very well, then, here we are: Q.: What is wrong with (Ameri- can) radio? A.: Everything. Perhaps by the time your next special radio number rolls around I shall be in a better position to become specific, as possibly by then I shall have had the oppor- tunity of hearing an American radio program. RE-SIGN MANKIEWICZ _ Plerman J. Mankiewicz has been signed to a new writer contract by Paramount. Mankiewicz has been with Paramount for three years. By TRUE LE ROORAL TERRA OOTTA CORNERS.— Dere editor, being as I am a drammer cricit and cricitize every thing what comes hear to our town I thot as may be you would like me to rite you a peace for youre paper about the raddyo. Is there any thing rong with raddyo is the berning qeustoin to day. Well. They has to be some thing rong about some thing befor you can rite about it, or theys nothing to rite about. Am I right, I am. Still an all they is some thing rong with the raddyo an you woud be sprized to find out wear it is and m&y be you wont believe me. Well. Its rite hear in my own house and whot do you think of that, an theys lots other marred men will agree with me. Wots rong with the raddyo in my house is be cause my bitter half (ha ha, thats my wife) insisses on terning the dile to sute her self an wont pay no tention to, what I want to hear. I like to hear the line tamers an the murry makers and lauf at their joaks but she wants to hear some guy moon about love an some woman gab about cookin an dresses. They say theys going to fix the raddyos so you can see whots going on when you hear it. Thatel be some thing else rong when it corns, an lie have to go to a raddyo speakeesy to see the gall shows (ha ha). Juss imajinn a man after hes had to wash dishes having to sit in the parler and see a raddyo woman demstrate more cookin when youre stum- micks full. 'I ant newer been in a raddyo studyo. Why dont you ask me to come to Loss Angels an look round them an rite you a story for youre paper? P. S. Thats juss a gagg. Its juss a excuse for me to tell my wife to let me comme to Loss Angels, you dont have to have me rite a story if you dont want it. LOOKS WIN PART Because of his resemblance to “Diamond Jim” Brady, Broadway figure of the ’90’s, Russ Powell has been cast for a part in M-G-M’s “The March of Time.” By RICARDO CREEDONI LOS ANGELES.—I thank you for the opportunity of breaking into print as a press agent in my own name. I have to write so much about other people that I feel at times my own light is smothered to near extinction un- der several bushels. I am in a unique position to know what is wrong with radio, and I can state, without fear of contradiction, that the things wrong with radio are legion, limited only by the numbers of microphone performers who are dissatisfied with the publicity the station press agent has been able to get for them. I have always found that the poorer the performer the bigger his hunger for free publicity. Of course he wants to offset the bad news his work spreads, and when the radio editors refuse to plug him I, me, the press relationist, get the dirty looks, the mean stares _ that imply that I am a poor insignificant worm with less than no influence at the press club. (It is quite true that I am too lucky at craps to be popular.) But the very worst of all our wrongs comes as a result of suc- cess! Some dangfangled blues singer takes me out and buys me a free lunch and I come back to the office believing he’s the best performer on the air. In my en- thusiasm I work up, all kinds of news angles for him, deliberately lose a few games of craps, get his pictures planted and his phiz breaks out in print all over the coast. Success! Yeah, and wotta laff on me. Why? Because the galoot meanwhile has jumped to another station. He gets the personal plug and the obliging radio editors, de- siring to be correct, give the new station credit for him and here am I, broken hearted. What’s wrong with radio? Heh- heh. Ask me—I know. RIVIERA RANSACKED SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— Two cracksmen hammered their way into the safe of the Riviera Theatre, suburban house, and made way with $600 in silver, Charles Moser, manager, reported to police. SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— Illness struck into the ranks of performers at RKO’s Golden Gate last week forcing two people out of the week’s shows. Rose Alex- ander of the Three Alexander Sis- ters was retired with an attack of flu, the two remaining sisters con- tinuing the act with the aid of Claude Sweeten and his house or- chestra who played two special numbers permitting the Alexanders time for costume changes. Bar- bara Bronell (Mrs. Christy) of the Ken Christy act was out owing to a general breakdown with Verna Mercereau filling her spot in short order. FORD STARTS John Ford has started produc- tion at Fox of “Born Reckless,” based on Donald Henderson Clarke’s story, “Louis Beretti.” In the cast are Edmund Lowe, Mar- guerite Churchill, Catherine Dale Owen, Warren Hymer, Lee Tracy, William Harrigan, Frank Albert- son, Ben Bard, Paul Rage, Eddie Gribbon, Mike Donlin, Paul Por- cassi, Joe Fox Brown and Pat Somerset. GENE McCORMICK HURT SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— Returning to San Francisco from Seattle, Gene McCormick, profes- sional manager for the S. L. Cross music company, ran his car over a cliff to avoid striking two children and was injured. CAREWE IN “PLAYBOY” Arthur Edmund Carewe has been signed for a role in “Play- boy,” at Warner Brothers. Cast is Frank Fay, Lilyan Tashman, Florence Eldridge, Beryl Mercer, Vivien Oakland, Marion Byron, Flora Finch, James Gleason, James Bradbury, Sr. Michael Cur- tiz is to direct, production starting this week. HAL ON LEAVE SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— Hal Horne has been granted a four weeks’ leave of absence from his duties as manager of Publix’s Granada and will spend his vaca- tion in Los Angeles. John Smith, who was once assistant manager here, is being brought from Port- land to replace Horne. FARNHAM RE-SIGNED Joseph W. Farnham has been signed under a new long-term contract by Metro- Goldwyn- Mayer. A special supplement insertion consisting of four pages has been added to the weekly publicity sheet of the Fox West Coist Theatres called “Now.” The supplement is devoted to one F. and M. “Idea,” the one currently playing in Los Angeles. It describes in full de- tail each member of the idea and gives information to the theatre manager as to their billing and rating. In other words it is a regular advance publicity sheet for the theatre manager. BANCROFT AT BALL SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— Paramount’s husky star George Bancroft was guest of honor at the annual Policemen’s Ball held last week. Bancroft was taken in tow by Sergt. Wm. Bennett and Larry Yoell and Bob Spencer. CHESTERFIELD SHOOTING Chesterfield Motion Picture Cor- poration, George R. Bathceller, producer, is shooting at the Tec- Art. The picture is “Ladies in Love,” directed by Edgar Lewis, and story is by Chas. Beahan. The cast comprises Alice Day, Johnny Walker, Dorothy Gould, Elinor Flynn, Jimmy Burtis, Mary Carr, Mary Foy, Freeman Wood and June Purcell. SERGEANT BENNETT HURT SAN FRANCISCO, March 5.— Police Sergeant William Bennett, who doubles from the Hall of Justice into KJBS where he con- ducts the Restful Hour each week, was injured in an auto ac- cident last week. Says: Heavy mail this week. SLIM TIMBLIN going great with new RKO Unit. JACK LAUGHLIN arrived from Chi. Will pro- duce in Hollywood. • • • e P. S.—The CELLAR is at Cosmo Street and Hollywood Boulevard . . . between Vine and Cahuenga . . . the phone numbers are GRanite 3 3 8 2 and Hollywood 9 15 9 . . , parking is free at the lot aeross from the CELLAR . . . the CHRYSLER and SAM SONS are there. Thank You.