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

SATURDAY, MARCH IS, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE MacDOWELL TO GO ON AIR MARCH 19 ON KHJ Pathe Studios are going to make an experiment with radio as a pub- licity medium, with plans for their first broadcast set for Wednesday night, March 12, over KHJ and the Don Lee chain. If it goes over it is expected they will expand the program from thirty minutes to a full hour, and broadcast every week. An imposing array of talent is lined up for the first program, with T. Roy Barnes as master of cere- monies, Dorothy Burgess furnish- ing drama, Ben Turpin, Chester Conklin and Daphne Pollard pro- viding comedy, the team of Ted Snyder and Mort Harris intro- ducing their newest pop composi- tions, and Fred Scott in tonsil ex- ercises. Bryant Washburn, Jim- mie Gleason and Robert Armstrong are in reserve. Color effects are to be provided by nineteen negro singers. Mary Lewis, the grand opera prima donna now under contract to Pathe for some singing pictures, has been released for four radio appearances during the life of this engagement, and it is planned to use these as features of the Pathe broadcasts now being tried out over KHJ, if they prove suc- cessful. THE VAGABOND KING’ (Continued from Page 4) Mankiewicz, adapter. It is the continuity, in the weakly trans- lated climaxes, and in stilted dia- logue. Ludwig Berger has handled his crowds, spectacular shots, and an- gles extremely well; but as much cannot be said for the dramatic direction. Henry Gerrard gets credit for many excellent camera shots. CASTING DIRECTORS’ VIEWPOINT: In a comparison between Dennis King and Law- rence Tibbett, an inevitable com- parison, King comes off second best. His voice is clear, pleasant and effective, putting him neck- and-neck with. John Boles for sec-, ond place honors. But he lacks the fire, the uplifting thrill of the Tibbett tones. Tibbett also far excels King in acting—so much so that it is re- grettable Tibbett did not have this virulent role instead of King. He would have sent ’em home sing- ing to themselves. King has that unfortunate habit, which other Hollywood singers also have de- veloped, of seeming to gloss over the assignment between his songs, as though only his singing voice is of sufficient importance to com- mand his efforts. He will ac- cumulate no audience good-will that way. Jeanette MacDonald is again her lovely self, with a voice as exquisite as her personality. Her vivacious charm does not find the play here that it had in “The Love Parade,” but nevertheless she makes a most attractive Kath- erine. Insofar as straight acting hop ors are concerned, O. P. Heggie, playing the superstitious Louis XI, wraps up the picture and takes. it home. It is impossible to imagine a better interpretation, and he misses no shade possible for ful- lest development. Lillian Roth does well enough with the part of Huguette, and offers one song which is well enough done. Warner Oland is very weak as Thibault, his unchangeable char- acteristics not falling well into this casting. Lawford Davidson, Arthur Stone and Thomas Rickets are satis- factory in their lesser parts. MURRAY SELLS SHOW Remembered for eighteen years as co-star with Fanny Davenport, and her husband in private life, Melbourne MacDowell takes the air on March 19 over KHJ in a scene from the third act of Sar- dau’s classic masterpiec", “Fedora.” Supporting MacDowell is Irene d’Arville as Fedora and Randal Le Feore as Gretch. MacDowell is to read the part of Count Loris Ipinoff, the assassin of Fedora’s sweetheart, and the scene to be broadcast is the one in which she coaxes from him his confession of the deed. This production is in the nature of a trial horse. If it proves ac- ceptable to the listeners MacDowell is slated to appear regularly before the microphone. F San Francisco Radio Notes WILLIAM DON WINS CONTRACT WITH N. B. C. Lon Murray, dance director and instructor, has sold a comic opera libretto he wrote in collaboration with G. V. Rosi, to Wm. B. Friendlander, New York producer, but he has reserved picture rights. He has just opened his own school for stage dancing in Los Angeles, specializing in individual instruc- tion for a small number of stu- dents rather than large classes. His largest class will be eight pupils. PAT HENDERSON LEAVING SEATTLE, March 13.-—E. M. Doernbecher, president of the Puget Sound Broadcasting Com- pany, operating Stations KVI here and in Tacoma, this week an nounced the purchase of KOL from Louis Wasmer and associ- ates. Wasmer had but recently acquired KOL from Archie Taft, who had, in turn, purchased the outfit a year ago from the Rhodes Department Store. Under the new alignment, KVI, releasers of the Columbia and Don Lee Chain programs, will be given full time on the air. KVI has been suffering restriction in daily broadcasting, being silent from sundown to 9 p. m., and was forced to release some of the ace bets to KXA, a rival station. The new step will enable KVI to carry the chain programs on full time by means of the clear channel rights of KOL. A new holding company for the entire outfit has been formulated, with Doernbecher, president; John Sparling, station manager, secre- tary, and Cassius Gates, local at- torney, treasurer. It is also un- derstood that John J. Sullivan, lo- cal lawyer, is heavily interested in KVI. Doernbecher, reputedly wealthy, is associated with his family in extensive furniture manu- facturing holdings in this terri- tory. What disposition will be made of the excess equipment and staffs accumulated by the merger has not been disclosed as yet. ‘MEN WITHOUT WOMEN’ (Continued from Page 4) names in the cast, so the plug is the sub disaster angles and the true-to-life bar scenes in Shanghai. PRODUCERS’ VIEWPOINT: Producers should delegate all their directors who have any earmark of genius to See this picture. There is an innovation in picture-mak- ing here, which, if not witnessed, leaves one as not knowing all the potentialities of the talking screen. Ford has established himself by this picture as of that very select class who should be given plenty of rein in their selection and di- rection of pictures. He rates no less than this -hereafter, certainly. James K. McGuinness was Fordls collaborator in writing the storj/j and Dudley Nichols did the screen play and dialogue, and a mighty good job of it, too. Credit for the excellent camera work goes to Joseph August. CASTING DIRECTORS’ VIEWPOINT: Kenneth MacKen- na, playing such lead as there is to the picture, gives a virile, strong characterization that is among the good things of the current year. Warren Hymer is another who is most admirably cast, losing no opportunity to develop -his role to its fullest. Stuart Erwin, J. Farrell Mac- Donald and -Charles Gerrard are a third, fourth and fifth who make their parts stand out from among a consistentcy of good perform- ances. Completing the cast, and with- out a noticeable flaw therein (which reflects more credit unto Ford) are Frankie Albertson, Wal- ter McGrail,. Paul Page, Warner Richmond, Le Guere, Ben Hend- riks, Jr., Harry Tenbrook, Roy Stewart and Pat Somerset. SAN FRANCISCO, March 13.— Benay Venuta has joined KPO’s artist staff, where she sings her blues songs daily. She formerly did vaudeville and production work. This marks her first entry into the local radio field. * * * Bob Allen, of the “1640 Boys,” broadcasting over KYA, has joined Tin Pan Alley. He has opened offices in the Kress building where he has a school of music. * * * We like the way Walter Bunker, Jr., conducts his request hour of recordings between 12 and 1 each night over KFRC. Bunker has a lot of zip to his work and cracks wise in no mean manner. * * H= John Moss, basso, has been added to KFRC’s artist staff, do- ing several programs a week. Be- fore coming here he did concert work in Canada and was at the Fox here for about six months. * * * KFWI has inaugurated a series of travel programs conducted by Henry C. Blank with the Travel String Trio. * * * A new Tuesday night program came over KGO this week. It’s the Spotlight Review which has been made into a two-hour broad- cast by Ted Maxwell, production manager of NBC, who acts as master of ceremonies. * * * G. Donald Gray, baritone, has joined KPO. ‘SERGEANT GRISCHA’ (Continued from Page 4) and Betty Compson, playing the leads, develop their parts dramati- cally and with skill. But it is not the skill demanded by the story. Effectiveness of the book rested on the childish lack of understand- ing of these two Russian peasants caught in the maelstrom of war and their futility in the face of it. Both Morris and Compson display too much intelligence,. particularly in their high emotional scenes. Their sufferings are the agonies of refined natures, not those of dumb stolidity. Two very difficult roles to catch in the spirit of the book, and not caught in this pic- ture. Leyland Hodgson, playing . the part of an aide to the division commander, gave a performance which was outstanding. This lad was well under the skin of his role throughout, and his work herein should put him on the “wanted list” of casting directors offices for constant call. Gustav von Seyffertitz was ex- ceedingly impressive as the stern Prussian disciplinarian; and. in the diametrically different role of the benign Prussian general, . Alec B Francis did equally praiseworthy work. Jean Hersholt was very good as a German officer, and Paul Mc- Allister was a good corporal of the M. P.’s Completing the cast with bits of perfect work to their credit were Frank McCormack, Percy Bar- bette and Hal Davis. WAGER BOOKING REVUE Another local radio product wins recognition from the Big Time of the air. William Don, English character comedian, who has been appearing before the microphones of KFI, KECA, KMTR, KFVD and other Los Angeles stations, has accepted a contract from the Na- tional Broadcasting Company and left Sunday to enter his new and wider field. Don’s characterization of “Doctor Oojah and His Laughing Tonic,” burlesque advertising program which he originated and for which he writes all material, won him one of the biggest fan followings in California, and affords an example of the rewards that await sincere effort and originality. Replying to an articel in Inside Facts last week, it was declared from producer sources this week that the investigation of the agency situation is going to con- tinue until “the agency racket has become the agency business.” The Inside Facts article stated that it was not believed the probe would result in other than dis- iplinary action against a few _of the meeker agents. This point was not disputed, it being stated the investigation was more to make the racket a business than to take any steps concerning de- linquencies in the past. “But the whole business will be cleaned up thoroughly,” it was declared, “and when the matter is through a good many of the pres- ent agents may be surprised to find that they rate just with all the others, and former favoritisms are now completely defunct.” The producers’ committee, which consists of J. J. Murdock, E. J. Mannix, M. C. Levee, Fred Beetson and George Cohen, at- torney for the M. P. P. D. A., plans to lay out a complete set of rules governing future conduct of the representatives, with fran- chises liberally extended to all legitimate agencies but promptly revokable upon the first breech of rules or ethics. A written code will be formulated and published within several weeks, it. was said, the meantime being given over to the collection of data by the committee. It is expected that one outstand- ing rule will be the prohibition of the present methods of solicita- tion in advance of picture casting, and that agents generally will be limited to going out to talk busi- ness when called by studio cast- ing directors, or other studio ex- ecutives. NEW W. C. CONTRACT Patricia Henderson, of the local Equity staff, is returning for a visit to her home in Australia the end of this month. Temporary successor to her post as assistant to Charles Miller, Equity represen- tative, has not been named as yet. The Sciots, of the Long Beach Masonic brotherhood, are to cele- brate St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, with an extravaganza program, entitled “A Night on the Nile.” It is to be staged at the Masonic Temple, Long Beach, and will in- clude 18 vaude acts, a line of 12 girls, eight-piece band and a mas- ter of ceremonies. A1 Wager is booking the show. W. B. STARTING FOUR Fashion News has made a new long-term contract with Fox West Coast Theatres, whereby the col- ored fashion reel will have exclu- sive showing in all the houses of the circuit. In the future Loew’s State and the Criterion will have the first run Los Angeles showing of the feature; the Uptown and Egyptian second, and neighbor- hood houses such as the Ritz and Beverly, third. ST. JOHNS’ GRIEF PAR SIGNS ROSITA Rosita Moreno, Spanish dancer, singer and actress, more familiarly known as “Rosita,” has been Signed to a contract by Para- mount.' She :- is scheduled to re- port on the Par lot in Hollywood April 14. Four new productions are get- ting under way at Warner Bros, within a 10-day period. They are “Fame,” with John Adolfi direct- ing, and Belle Bennett and John Halliday featured; “Sweet Kitty Bellairs,” with Claudia Dell, Perry Askam and Walter Pidgeon; “See Naples and Die,” with Irene Del Roy and Charles King, and “Moby Dick,” starring John Barrymore, with Joan Bennett opposite, and Lloyd Bacon directing. MISS CARRICO ARRIVES A1 St. Johns still finds troubles pouring in. Latest is that all his “Bambina” money goes to the U. S. treasury, by special request, to defray money said to be due on back taxes. While many of the picture pro- ducers have been convinced, by heavy public response, of the great value of radio publicity for their output, and while the ap- pearance before the microphone of picture stars always attracts a tremendous audience, Frank Whitbeck, publicity chief for the Fox-West Coast Theatre organ- ization is dubious about its actual value to exhibitors. His point of view is apparently that they are of greater value to radio than to the theatre, because the fact that the public rushes to tune in the picture stars proves that they are already famous through their pictures. “Stars like Garbo and Norma Shearer,” he says, “may actually do themselves harm by appearing before the radio microphone be- cause they are not radio-trained and therefore do not register satisfactory entertainment value through that medium. Such stars are often disappointing to air fans and thus are liable to lose boxoffice value at the theatre. “Good radio entertainment can only come from radio specialists, in my opinion,” he continued, “and unless a studio or theatre organ- ization is willing to write spe- cially adapted radio continuities and use radio specialists for their programs, I cannot see where the expense can be justified. I do not believe that the majority of film- sponsored radio programs now on the air reflect any special credit on the producers.” Whitbeck believes that at pres- ent at least the best value from radio advertising comes through the plugging of a theatre or pro- ducer in connection with enter- tainment provided by seasoned radio artists, in the same way that other sponsors plug their wares. ‘THE GIRL SAID NO’ (Continued from Page 4) veteran’s sureness. Francis X. Bushman, Jr., intro- duces himself as a big talkie po- tentiality, and up and up is hereby predicted for him. William V. Mong does every- thing possible with a short part as Haines’ father; Clara Blandick opposite him is satisfactory. William Janney plays the young brother neither well nor illy; and Phyllis Crane is equally neutral as younger sister. Junior Coglan as a still younger brother handles his chances well. The man who played the boss (part uncredited) deserves special mention for the veteran manner in which he made every chance in it register for full value. ‘SONG OF THE WEST (Continued from Page 4) time mellers. His handling gets the laughs. Marie Wells displays a remark- ably pleasing miking voice, and tops off this initial revelation with a full and convincing acceptance of all chances afforded her in the heavy woman role. Here’s a bet for the talkies, and it is to be hoped that, because she has been a heavy in this one, she’ll not be always cast so. She’s a mighty good leading woman for someone. Marion Byron puts her person- ality across to good advantage in every opportunity. Satisfactorily completing the cast are Sam Hardy, Eddie Gribbon, Ed Martindel and Rudolph Cam- eron. GWEN LEE CAST Gwen Lee has been cast for a part in M-G-M’s “Caught Short.” TOMMY BOB Mr. and Mrs. Steve Carrico, the former of whom is head of the Screenland Select Agency, are re- ceiving congratulations from the Hollywood colony on the advent of a daughter. They have named her Betty in honor of Betty Comp- son, for whom Carrico acts as business manager. MUNROE and ALLEN “16-40 BOYS” Broadcasting for Lloyd K. Hillman, Over KYA, San Francisco Management: Wm. Stein 50,000 Fox El Capitan customers CAN’T BE WRONG DORY and LOU Stopped Every Show Last Week at This Ace San Francisco House Doubling In From KFRC