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

PAGE TEN INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1930 VANCOUVER, B. C A. K. MacMartin REPRESENTATIVE 901 Bekins Bldg. NORTHWEST WA SHIN GTON OREGON Division Offices JEAN ARMAND DISTRICT MANAGER 502 EASTLAKE AVENUE Seattle, Wash. I DAHO MONTANA Phones: Main 9425; Capitol 1932 PORTLAND, ORE. F. K. Haskell REPRESENTATIVE Postoffice Box No. 16 OPENS FIE CLUB FOB SHOW PEOPLE SEATTLE, March 20. — Ken Schoenfeld, local lad who has made good in a big way at his father’s huge furniture emporium, numbers among his closest friends practically every theatrical lumin- ary in this territory. A scion of one of the wealthiest families in this end of the country. Ken this week announced the formation of the Theatre Club and declared that he personally will furnish a cot- tage on the shores of Lake Wash- ington, at which press agents, man- agers, etc., will be free to gather at weekly intervals for supper dances and the like. Young Schoen- feld is putting together rather a snooty place. The gag has already caught on and the Theatre Club bids fair to be one of the show places of the Northwest, where notables who play here can mingle with the lads stationed here. Ken queried the p. a.’s of the town for a nonicker for his cot- tage, which will be maintained free of all cost to the show people. Due to the huge campaigns that have been evident here recently, one of the word slingers has suggested, instead of the “Lambs’ Club,” the “Liars’ Club.” No decision has been reached as yet, although the club is due to open within the next fortnight. VANCOUVER By A. K. MacMARTIN SEATTLE, March 20. — Since the election of Jean Armand, local theatrical figure, to the office of vice-president in charge of promo- tion and exploitation for the S. L. Cross Music Corporation, local publisher, evidences of rapid prog- ress are reported by the organi- zation. Rapid strides are being made by the company, who report 100 per cent plugs and spirited sales on their current plug num- ber, “Rock-a-Bye to Sleep in Dixie.” The Cross Company ex- pect to announce further additions to their catalog shortly, including a new fox trot. T I T SEATTLE, March 20. — The opinion that Australia is just be- ginning to feel the effects of the talkies was voiced by George and Florence Barclay, ballet master and mistress, here to take up their permanent residence. The team has just returned from an 18- month tour of the English pro- vince. Stage presentations and a vaude- picture policy are in high favor over in Australia, declare George and Florence in pointing out that Will Pryor, with a stage band of 30, working with a ballet of 16 girls, is a heavy favorite at the State in Sydney, Australia’s larg- est house. No expense in build- ing their presentations is spared by Australians, according to Bar- clay. Rowland V. Lee has signed a new contract with Paramount. VANCOUVER, March 20.—The Capitol is putting across a plug on the coming week’s attraction in the shape of a 16-page program, which is handed to the fans by the ush- ers as they leave the theatre. Al- though it is made up mostly of commercial advertising, it contains cuts of the stars, theme songs and other advance material. * * * Norman Cannon, part lessee with David Clyde of the Empress The- atre, left last week-end for Holly- wood on a business trip. “Eliza- beth Sleeps Out,” which is now in its seventh week at this house, has made some real “dough” for its producers. * * * The local Kiwanis Club drew good houses at the Vancouver with their production of Gilbert and Sul- livan’s “The Chocolate Soldier.” They scaled the house at $2 top, the proceeds to go toward their club charity work. * * * Business at the majority of Van- couver’s show shops was not so forte on the last stanza. U. A.’s “Taming of the Shrew” with Mary Pickford and Fairbanks at the Capital was the biggest draw of the week, but at that was far be- low average. “Elizabeth Sleeps Out,” now in its seventh week at the Empress, showed a slight drop in its opening of the sixth week, but came back strong during the week. W. B.’s “Gold Diggers of Broad- way” at the Dominion, second run after the Capitol, filled the house nightly . The Strand was about average with F. N.’s “No, No, Nanette.” The Beacon, formerly the Pan, had Universal’s “Desert Heroes” for the first three days of the week and “Alibi” for the last half to fairly good b. o. A1 Tra- han headlined a strong four-act bill of RKO vaude at the Or- pheurn, with William Plaines in M-G-M’s “Navy Blues” on the talking screen, with business the first part of the week off but build- ing. STATUS THE SAME SEATTLE, March 20.—Edwin G. Cooke, local representative of the. Erlanger interests, has received notification from the head office that the status of the local house, the Metropolitan, will be un- changed under the realignment of the organization. The reorganiza- tion of the Erlanger corporation, which follows A. L. Erlanger’s death, _ finds Mitchell L. Erlanger becoming vice-president and Judge Erlanger, Charles B. Dillingham, Florenz Ziegfeld, Marcus Heiman and Saul J. Baron on the board of directors. The Metropolitan, declares Cooke, will continue to be sub-leased to Publix for pic- ture showings when no stage at- tractions are booked in. SEATTLE, March 20.—James A. Carrier, divisional manager for R-K-O in this district, left this week for the regular quarterly di- visional managers’ confab in New York City. LEADS BOOB WEEK SEATTLE, March 20.—Richard Barthelmess’ “Son of the Gods,” helped by heavy exploitation and exceptionally fine show weather, brought $18,000 into the coffers of Publix’s Seattle Theatre, now the Paramount, to lead the local race for boxoffice honors. All the lo- cal p. a.’s have expended much effort in selling the “go-to-theatre” idea, and the campaign is com- mencing to show results. Fox’s big Fifth Avenue Theatre was forte with $17,500. William Haines in “The Girl Said No,” and Fanchon and Marco’s “Over- ture Idea” were the drawing fac- tors. Eddie Fitzgerald’s colossal campaign the previous week on the “Peach Idea” obviously had its effects on this week, the man- agement reporting the addition of countless new patrons. ‘Grischa’ $13,000 RKO’s Orpheum, backed by a heavy publicity campaign, gleaned $13,000 with “The Case of Ser- geant Grischa,” and a four-act vaude bill to take third honors. Division of opinion on this one probably offset the ballyhoo. John Hamrick’s little Music Box showed plenty of activity in gathering together $11,750 for the first week of John Boles in “The Song of the West.” Long lines of outside standees evident daily at this little 800-seater. Picture now in second week and continuing hot. The Blue Mouse across the way was neat with $6500 for Do- lores Costello in “Second Choice.” Ramon Novarro brought $6000 into the coffers of the New Fox for the third week of his “Devil May Care.” Twenty-one days a long time for any opus in this big stand and results declared to be highly satisfactory. Owen Sweeten and his jazz band boys stand ace high with the patrons here and must be given much credit for the recent healthy biz at Manager Lou Golden’s house. House is currently minus an organist due to Le Bel’s transfer to Portland. The Metropolitan, under Publix guidance, continues to show a lit- tle profit weekly. “Behind That Makeup” the past week’s attrac tion. Night Club biz found Tiny Burnett and his band at the Olympic Hotel’s Venetian Gardens still getting the heaviest consistent play. Vic Meyers’ Club Victor on the up, following heavy advertis- ing and boosting by the luminaries, theatrical and otherwise. John Savage’s Trianon, featuring Tex Howard and his versatile band, formerly very quiet during the mid-week, showing healthy in- crease on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Monday and Saturday con- tinuing exceptionally strong. Cole McElroy’s Spanish Ballroom, with special gags, doing heavy biz nightly. Coffee Dan’s, with the novelty not yet worn off, reports plenty of activity. Gordon Kil- bourne’s band and pop prices the drawing factors here, with the balance of the entertainment and the general lay-out nothing to holler about. IVAN DITMARS STAFF PIANIST KOL — SEATTLE MUSICAL DIRECTOR Sammy Siegel On Staff of Inside Facts SEATTLE, March 20. — An- nouncement of interest to the pro- fession was made here this week by Jean Armand, Northwest Dis- trict Manager of “Inside Facts,” naming Sammy Siegel, local press agent and recently affiliated with the American Music Company of San Francisco, as representative in charge of radio and musical activ- ities in this territory for “Inside Facts.” Siegel will replace Joe Roberts, whose resignation was accepted this week. Armand also announced that all “Inside Facts” business will now be transacted from his downtown offices, 502 Eastlake avenue. PREMlEFCElIiST SEATTLE, March 20.—Recog- nized as one of the premier cel- lists on the Coast, Jan Naylor, currently playing over KJR, here, holds an enviable spot in the hearts of real music lovers of the Northwest. Having appeared with various theatre orchestras, as well as with all the larger symphony orchestras, Naylor is considered a drawing factor wherever he ap- pears. Naylor is heard regularly over KJR with Damski’s Neapolitans. HUGHES IN ‘DICK’ Lloyd Hughes will play a role in John Barrymore’s “Moby Dick,” at Warner Brothers. TWEfiTY BUIS FOB DISTURBING POLICE SEATTLE, March 20.—A1 Tra- han, Orpheum vaudeville head- liner, is out twenty bucks. And all through no fault of his own. It seems that Johnny Northen, p. a. of the local Orpheum, and Joe Cooper, divisional exploitation chief for RKO, cooked up a gag to arrest the comedian on his ar- rival here. The stunt was planted with the blue-coats all right, but it seems the coppers had one up their sleeves. Instead of taking Trahan direct to the theatre in the patrol wagon, which was brought down to the station especially for the event, the strong arms of the law went straight for the jail house, where the vaudevillian was booked on a charge of “disturbing the police” and fined the twenty smackers by Police Judge John B. Gordon. The dough went into the coffers of the Policemen’s Benefit Fund, and the Judge announced that, hereafter, when press agents desire a police escort for such occasions, someone will have to cough up for the sick and wounded flat- footed boys. The stunt got nice story and picture breaks in the dailies. TEAGUE AT KOIN PORTLAND, Ore., March 20.— Cecil Teague, organist, who for many years successfully appeared at the console of the Wurlitzer at the Majestic, has now been con- nected for some time with KOIN. He officiated this week at the opening of the new studios in the Heathman Hotel and presided at the new Wurlitzer. DICK BUCKLEY Announcing the “Graveyard Watch** Nightly over KFQW Seattle, Dick Buckley is one of the most popular announcers appearing before Seattle microphones. The “Graveyard Watch on KFQW nightly from 12 midnight till three a. m., has the night-owl listeners of this town corraled. Plenty of pep, a voice that’s easy to listen.to and a wealth of personality are the faculties Buckley brings into play to hold the attention of his listeners. Snappy “wise-cracks” and an occasional song, displaying a beautiful and powerful baritone voice, are frequently interspersed between the broadcasting of records by Dick. He"s a big favorite here and a healthy addition to the station.