Inside facts of stage and screen (March 29, 1930)

PAGE SIX INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1930 Published Every Saturday One Year ... $ 4.00 Foreign ... $5.00 Advertising Rates on Application As a bi-monthly publication: Entered as Second Qass 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. 1 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 29, 1930 No. 13 Purveying- of amusement is the second oldest profession in the world. The oldest not being respectable, show business may, for all purposes, be declared the most ancient. Not only is it the oldest, but it is also one of the most eminently meritorious. Certain of the ancient and of the German philosophers, arriving at the final conclusion that a wise man would hang himself and have done with life, based this result upon the reasoning that the percentage of joy in life, as compared to the pain and misery of it, is negligible. Anything that militates against the grim conclusion by in- creasing the percentage of joy is certainly to be considered per se most praiseworthy. But certain of the show people refuse to see this obvious reasoning. Elated by their sudden jump from unromantic professions to world prominence in the most romantic busi- ness in the universe, these persons desire to pedestal them- selves as Educators. Ridiculous, but in this day of ridiculous things, their pose passes almost unchallenged, and we hear of the screen as “being the greatest educational medium in the world.” Just what is meant by that is not set forth. If it means that the impoverished, who are wondering where their next meal is coming from, are taught the proper manner of giving a banquet to their society friends, or that foreigners are taught the proper rhythm for gum-chewing, or that philoso- phers will learn the final devastating word in their learned debates is “Oh, yeah?” then we may agree. But if it means any fundamental education, other than the inevitable propa- ganda for things-as-they-are, then there is little basis for the claim. Let us, not thereby meaning any offense to the very good entertainment qualities of certain of the outstanding pictures of the current year, attempt to discover just what this sec- ondary claim has for a foundation. The lessons learned, so long as we must have “lessons” can be listed as follows: “Hit the Deck”—Girls, never love a sailor. “Taming of the Shrew”—Treat ’em rough and you’ll be happy—of course, provided you don’t go to San Quentin for wife-beating. “The Cockeyed World” — Join the marines and make the women. “Hot for Paris”—Don’t run away from a process server; he may have news of a fortune for you. “Glorifying the American Girl”-—There’s more than one way to waste 65 cents and an evening. “Their Own Desire”—Be blase to be fashionable. “The Laughing Lady” — Don’t think too harshly of her when you learn that a woman has had a nocturnal visit to her bedroom by a male life-saver. “Navy Blues” — The ladies love a cad. “The Girl Said No”—Ditto.' “Son of the Gods”—A true heart may beat beneath a yel- low skin. “Men Without Women”—Life in the sub department of the navy is a varied affair. “Such Men Are Dangerous” — Life’s pretty nice if you have several billion dollars. But why continue? Of course, there were a couple of pic- tures which really went deeper than the 9999/100 per cent majority. There was “Anna Christie,” which had the O’Neill contemplative touch; there was “Sergeant Grischa,” which was a plea against the inhumanity of system; and there was “Lummox,” which might awaken some spark of sympathy for the submerged classes. But by and large the frivolity of the screen has no lesson to teach; it is just an amusement medium and any other claim is ridiculous. And that’s enough credit for it. GUILD TO BREAKFAST TELAPHONEY ftp JAMES MADISON The Catholic Motion Picture Guild will hold its sixth annual breakfast of the organization at the Beverly Hills Hotel next Sun- day. The breakfast will follow the 8:30 Mass in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, at which the members of the Guild will receive Holy Communion in a body. The Right Reverend John Cawley, P. P. Y. G., will of- ficiate at the Mass and distribute Holy Communion. Steven Mc- Groarty, _ author of the “Mission Play,” will be the principal speaker at the breakfast and Monsignor Cawley will be guest-of-honor. Johnny Hines, the vice president of the Guild, will act as toastmas- ter. DENY ‘IDEAS’ RUMOR SAN FRANCISCO, March 27.— A report that Fanchon and Marco “Ideas” would be shifted from the Fox to Loew’s Warfield was this week spiked as erroneous by A. M. Bowles, division manager for Fox West Coast. The rumor fur- ther stated that the Fox’s present concert orchestra would be en- larged to SO. MANY ‘COMERS’ IN MARCH RELEASES IN PICTORE HORSES (Continued from Page S) dous spectacles to enhance by col- oring, but in the Paramount pic- ture, which had lavish and roman- tic settings, the color work helped considerably. But it didn’t seem to spell much at the boxoflice. Insofar as Hollywood’s person- nel was concerned, there were also developments of interest. Personal Performances Marie Dressler’s continued ad- vance to the topmost comedy rungs was the most outstanding among them. Marie, who did a classic in “Anna Christie,” followed it up during the current month with laugh-riots in “The Girl Said No” (M-G-M) and “Chasin’ Rain- bows” (M-G-M), easily writing herself the foremost comedienne in pictures today. She far outdis- tanced her usual running mate. Polly Moran, and seemingly cinched a place over Winnie Lightner, who looked set for the honor following her knockout work in "Gold Dig- gers of Broadway.” But Winnie has never equaled that work since, due to parts not as admirably suit- ed as was that. The month developed a number of plays deserving of special com- ment for outstanding work, either in big or in small parts. Winifred Westover made a strong artistic comeback in U. A.’s “Lum- mox,” doing the slow-spoken Scan- dinavian of the Hurst novel to perfection. If proper vehicles can be found for her, she’s an excel- lent talkie artist. Fem Singers Shine Jeanette MacDonald further en- hanced her prestige by her work in “The Vagabond King,” though not equaling the alluring part she did in “The Love Parade.” But Jeanette should go up and up, ac- cording to her work to date. The month introduced another sweet-voiced fem lead in the person of Vivienne Segal, in Warner Brothers’ “Song of the West.” Vivienne was alright, but she can stand a bit more polishing on her technique before she’ll be in Jean- ette’s class for all-around work. Exceptional Work John St. Polis put over a classic in Columbia's “The Melody Man,” doing one of the best in the often- played old musicmaster who loves the ancient melodies. St. Polis is to be most highly commended, not only for a performance which never gave a let-down moment, but also for the fact that he did not stick to the David Warfield tradition, but created his own true-to-life and lovable old master. George Arliss contributed anoth- er of his perfect performances in Warner Brothers’ “The Green God- dess,” again demonstrating that a 100 per cent artist gets beneath his offerings even up to the limit of his eyebrows. Another to spring forth with ex- ceptional work was Kenneth Mac- Kenna, who had the most diversi- fied emotional role in Fox’s “Men Without Women.” He wrote him- self as one to be watched by the talkie makers seeking able talent. O. P. Heggie easily stole acting honors in the role of Louis XI in “The Vagabond King,” having a dexterous touch which made his work stand out and create a wish for more of it. Francis Bushman, jr., brought a new type of heavy and an excep- tionally good one to the screen in M-G-M’s “The Girl Said No.” Warner Baxter played his usual role to good advantage in the lat- ter half of Fox’s “Such Men Are Dangerous” and, for an overflow of good measure, did a gutteral, LETTERS There are letters at the Los Angeles office of INSIDE FACTS for the following: ATES, Roscoe BIDMEAD Bros. DOWNING, Harry GILLETTE, Bobby MATHEWS, Madelyne MILLARD, S. S. MINOR, C. Sharp PEDRO, Milly SHARLAND, Fred C. Hello, Aimee McPherson. Hello, James Madison. Will you keep me posted on your ocean voyage? Yes, indeed; I’ll write if anything comes up. * * * Hello, Child’s Restaurant. Hello, James Madison. How are your flapjacks sell- ing? Like hot cakes. * * * Hello, Andrew Mellon. Hello, James Madison. Now that you have reached the three-quarter century mark, how do you feel about prohi- bition? The first seventy-five years are always the wettest. * * * Hello, Frank Fay. Hello, James Madison. I understand that at one time, John D. Rockefeller had patent leather hair. Well, if he did, his patent has certainly run out. * * * Hello, Myrna Loy. Hello, James Madison. What is your definition of a self-made man? One who creates his own openings, except the one he gets buried in. Hello, Henry Duffy. Hello, James Madison. Why are tight trousers like a crowded theatre? Standing room only. * * * Hello, Sally O’Neill. Hello, James Madison. What is the favorite slogan of Russia? Watch your steppes. * * * Hello, Georges Carpentier. Hello, James Madison. Who determines which is the favorite pugilist of the mo- ment? The “Hook - of - the - month” Club. * * * Hello, Armida. Hello, James Madison. What is a good sign for an office executive? “Gone for five minutes; back in half an hour.” * * * Hello, Marilyn Miller. Hello, James Madison. Why did Gus Arnheim get in bad with the Umbrella Makers’ Association? started playing “Taint Gonna Rain No More.” EXPECTED 111 GIVE Taking issue with a recent “In- side Facts” story, James McNab, business agent of Local 154, Mo- tion Picture Operators’ Union, called attention to an error con- tained therein. According to McNab, the trend of the story was such as to leave the impression that the Sterling Chain Theatres, Inc., against whom the action was brought, was victorious in the Supreme Court. The suit was brought by the the- atrical organization to prohibit the unions from stationing pickets on sidewalks in close proximity to the theatres. In 1925 the State Su- preme Court upheld the unions in allowing them to place their pick- gruff continental financier in the earlier portion, which is among the great character performances of 1930. Others who made their parts stand out in pictures released dur- ing March were Roland Young in “The Bishop Murder Case” (M-G-Mj; Gustav von Seyffertitz and Leyland Hodgson in “The Case of Sergeant Grischa” (R. P.); Warren Hymer in “Men Without Women” (Fox); Bessie Love in “ C h a s i n' Rainbows” (M-G-M), and Albert Conti in “Such Men Are Dangerous” (Fox). Joe E. Brown had two comedy roles, in “Hold Everything?’ (W. B. and “Song of the West” (W. B.), which Joe’s fans de- clared were knockouts. George O’Brien and Sue Carol were leads in the first talkie but otherwise old style western, and were both just so-so for such parts. Charles Ruggles did his usual drunk in “Roadhouse Nights,” demonstrating that he’d better go in for some different kind of cast- ing if he wants to last. John Boles again sang his good voice in "Song of the West,” but he’ll have to put more screen allure into his stuff if he’s_ going to remain a golden-voiced idol of the matinee ladies. ets on the walks to within 10 C feet of the theatre entrances. This action was made binding againsl the Capitol. Colonial, State. Flor ence and Star. In February of this year, Mc- Nab states, they again broughi action, with the union once more emerging victorious. The Sterling Chain, since ac- quiring the Columbia and Wintei Garden Theatres from Universal has brought suit to restrain the union from placing pickets neai these houses. The lower courts disregarding this recent decisior of the Supreme bench, gave their a restraining order applicable against only these two spots, bui both McNab and Jay G. Brown business agent of the local The- atrical Federation, are confident that the Supreme Court will af- firm its own decision and make the order applicable not only tc the Columbia and Winter Garder but to all houses now owned 01 later acquired by the Sterling Chain. An early hearing on the union’s petition is expected by labor of- ficials. EVENING DANCE CLASS The Wills - Cunningham School opened a new beginners’ musical comedy dancing class last week, designed particularly for business women who are employed during the day. The classes are held twice weekly. Says: Going legit this week. Two new shows opening. Fred War- ing at the Mason and “Phila- delphia*’ at Vine St. Must go and give the pals a big hand. • • •• P. S. — The CELLAR is at Cosmo Street and Hollywood Boulevard . . . between Vine and Oahuenga . . . the phone numbers are GRanite 3 3 8 2 and HOllywood 8 15 9 . . . parking is free at the lot across from the CELLAR . . . the CHRYSLER and 8 AM 60NS are there. Thank You.