Inside facts of stage and screen (April 5, 1930)

ESTABLISHED 1924 EDITED BY JACK JOSEPHS VoL XI Entered as Second Class Matter, April 29, 1027, at Post* office, Los Angeles, Calif., under Act of March 3, 1879. Saturday, April 5, 1930 Published Erery Saturday at 800*801 Warner Bros. Down- town Building, 401 West Seventh St., Los Angeles. Calif. No. 14 LABOR UNIONS IN MOVE TO REVIVE JOBS IN THEATRES NICKEL-TOP OOOSES AOE UTEST PEKN ORA GAREW Featured in **Philadelphia** Vine Street Theatre, Hollywood A new theatre chain, purveying entertainment in continuous day and night performances at the tariff of only a nickel per head, is being considered by a local thea- trical promoter, he disclosed in an exclusive interview with Inside Facts this week. This promoter states he is now working out the details of a propo- sition that will, he believes, cause considerable flurry in the amuse- ment industry. The following, briefly, are the chief points of his idea: 1. Continuous performances, day and night without cessation. 2. All performances continuous- ly new; no repeat acts. 3. Admision, five cents per head for all comers; come when you like,, stay as long as 5 'ou like, which will enable the theatre to make money because— Little Capital 4. No production costs. .5. Little capital required. The- atres and halls now dark can be used without structural changes and secured on rental or percent- age basis. 6. Performances by the biggest vaude and legit names, name bands, great symphony orchestras; prize fights, baseball and football games. According to the promoter his idea is surefire because it not only will confer a great boon on the poorer stratas of mankind without working ill on anyone else. Radio Is Answer The only equipment required will be a radio set with a good loudspeaker capable of filling the theatre without distortion, and the only staff needed will be a box- office girl and a doorman. No ushers will be necessary as the hall will be lighted, and no re- served seats. The answer to all this, the pro- moter says, is radio. According to this promoter there could be no serious objection to his taking advantage of radio broadcasts in this way, as he be- lieves that once a program is cast upon the air, it is delivered for public consumption. In fact he thinks that radio stations might well cooperate with him in spon- soring his theatres, in that way tying up a certain house for ex- clusive reception from a particular station. There is a great floating popu- (Continued on Page 3) SUCCEEDS LUKAN SEATTLE, April 3.—L. O. Lu- kan, for many years identified with First National Pictures Exchanges on the coast, has tendered his res- ignation. Lukan was for the past three years manager of the local branch. A1 Oxtoby, recently the branch manager in San Francisco, replaced Lukan here. GORDON TO PRODUCE ■‘Captive Man,’’ an original com- edy by Henry Gordon, is contem- plated for early production here at the Egan, but nothing is definite yet, either as to opening date, cast or director. Gordon is expected to produce the show himself. BUILDING UP STOCK M-G-M is currently building up its foreign-language stock com- pany, following decision to make pictures in five languages without dubbing. Willard Mack is doing the interviewing, but no contracts had been signed the early part of the week, it was understood. STKGE HANDS. MUSICIANS TO Acting to relieve the unemploy- ment situation and banking on their belief that in-person enter- tainment is a big drawing card with the public, the I. A. T. S. E. and the Musicians Union local at Den- ver are planning to take over the Denham Theatre in Denver and open it with stock. The house will be run as a co- operative enterprise by the two or- ganizations, if the plans materialize. Opening date is set for April 20. The experimental move is un- derstood to have been encouraged by the national administrators of the two unions, with a likelihood that the plan will be attempted in numerous other cities if the Den- ver move is successful. Counteracting Move This is not the first time such a venture has been undertaken by theatrical union labor, and financial success has followed in some for- mer instances. But at the present time, with musicians out of houses all over the country, and with stage hands also seriously affected by the talking pictures, it is the first time the idea has had the se- rious import of the present plan. The contention has been made that the movie magnates are pur- posely discouraging stage shows despite added receipts which they would bring to the boxoffice, hop- ing that dearth of them will edu- cate the public to go for the all- screen entertainment to a point where the added overhead of in- person entertainers will no longer be in demand. More May Follow It is to counteract such a move, as well as to provide employment for its membership, that the I. A. T. S. E. and Musicians are encour- aged in the Denver venture, with other similar ones to follow else- where, it is reported. . Officials of the local unions said they did not know of any plans for a similar union labor cooperative venture in Los Angeles “at the present time,” but they did not state whether such a move was to be expected here provided there is a successful tryout of the policy at the Denham. NEW STREET PUZZLE New fancy traffic buttons at Vine and Hollywood boulevard have the autoists guessing. No one yet found who understands one"fancy swirl there that has no known counterpart elsewhere. YOU’LL SEE IT IN FACTS