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

SATURDAY, APRIL S, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE SEVEN Harold J. Bock Manager PHONE DOUGLAS 2213 SAN FRANCISCO KRESS BLDG. 935 Market SL, Office Suite 504 BEACHES AND PARKS TAKE TOLL OF PICnjRE GROSSES SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.—■ Beaches and parks continued to profit by the summer weather that has set in, leaving picture houses in the lurch. Fox, with Gaynor and Farrell in "High Society Blues,” Fanchon and Marco’s "Skirts Idea” and Walt Roesner conducting the concert orchestra did $45,000 on the week. Vilma mmm eiifiT ON COLOMBm SOOVl! SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— With casting virtually completed rehearsals are due to get under way this week for "Hi There,” the Paul Bissinger production which will open at Erlanger’s Columbia on May 12. Heading the cast will be Ken Murray, Odette Myrtil, Lester Vail, Frank Beaston, Teddy Wal- ters, Helen Charleston and brother, Billy Griffith, Neal Spaulding, Griff Williams and Paul Speegle. Murray is due to arrive here next week on the RKO circuit and will leave that chain for the local pro- duction. Alexander Leftwich, who did "The Little Show” in New York, is directing "Hi There.” Carlton Kelsey and his orchestra will be in the show, and dances will be staged by A1 Siegel, who is as- sistant to Sammy Lee on the M-G-M lot. Settings and costumes are being designed by Harold Helvenston, dramatic director of Stanford University. Music of the show is being done by eight men, among them being Anson Weeks, orchestra leader at the Hotel Mark Hopkins here, and Thomas Hamilton Breeze; Jack Wiggin and Gregory Williamson; Richard Myers and Eddie Eliscu; and Joe Meyers and Griffin Wil- liams. Young Bissinger, producer of the show, is a San Francisco man, graduate of Stanford University and son of a wealthy hide mer- chant. LEAVES ROOF GARDEN SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Frank Martinelli has left Gus Oliva’s Roof Garden Cafe, where he acted as manager for several years. Martinelli instituted numer- ous of his ideas in the management and decoration of the popular night spot. It is reported that he is seeking and will open a dine-and- dance emporium of his own within the next 30 days. LOBBY CONTEST SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Paramount Theatre now has a lob- by entertainment contest, sched- uled to close April 14. Winners will appear in the lobby daily for two weeks, with Publix officials having an option to send them on tour if they so desire. SWEEZ PASSES THROUGH SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Bert Sweez of the Pioneer Print- ing Co., Seattle, theatrical printers, was here this week en route to Los Angeles for a vacation.- Banky in "A Lady To Love” is current. M-G-M’s “Bishop Murder Case” okay but not up to snuff for Loew’s Warfield, which, together with C. Sharpe-Minor at the or- gan and Peter Paul Lyons’ or- chestra did $20,000. Ruth Chatterton in “Sarah and Son” (Paramount) at Publix’s Paramount grossed $19,000. Har- old Ramsay at the organ and Don George conducting the orchestra, aided. Buddy Rogers in “Young Eagles” now in. St. Francis with fourth and final stanza of Par’s “Vagabond King” did $9000. Fan- nie Brice in U. A.’s “Be Yourself” holds the screen now. California, with second and last week of Harry Richman in “Puttin’ on the Ritz” (U. A.) did $14,000. “Light of the W’estern Skies” (Par) cur- rent). Orpheum opened Columbia’s “Ladies of Leisure” to the tune of $11,500, low but better than some previous flickers. Tommy Boyd’s orchestra and Buss Mc- Clelland at the organ helped. Ackerman and Harris’ Casino dropped to $9500 on Fox’s “Seven Faces” with Paul Muni. Picture was good but over Casino custom- ers' heads. A stage show com- pleted the bill. “Hideout” holds the screen this week. CELEBRATE LONG STAY OF KING AT OAKLAND OAKLAND, April _ 3. —With Hermie King entering his seventy- fifth week as master-of-ceremonies at the Fox-Oakland, Frank R. Newman, manager, arranged a “Hermie King Week” for the house, plastering the entire city with publicity on the event. King opened the house 75 weeks ago and since that time has been highly popular with local show- goers. The Fox-Oakland, playing Fancho'n and Marco “Ideas” and first-run pictures, does probably the best business of the city. W. B. THEATRE DOUBTFUL OAKLAND, April 3.—Current reports indicate that the deal for a proposed Warner Bros, theatre in this city has fallen through, as city hall records show no trans- feral of property that was an- nounced as a site for the house. Publix theatres, however, are forg- ing ahead in their plans for a de luxe house which will bring the list of first run houses up to five. IS W. V. E. REP SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Phil Frease has been named rep- resentative for the entertainment department of R-K-O’s Western Vaude Exchange. He begins May 1. HAYAKAWA SAILS SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Sessue Hayakawa, Japenese film player, sailed from here this week for his native Japan on his first trip home in eight years. He is preparing to establish a picture production company there. SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Louvre Cafe has discontinued its entertainment, letting go Chuck Thode and Jimmy Curry, who pi- anoed and sang during the dinner hour. LIME TRIO “THE GOLLYWOG” Direction: Weber-Simon Agency Market St. Gleanings SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.—A checkup on recording sales in San Francisco reveals that there are more Johnny Marvin records pack- aged and passed over the counter than any other one vocal disc. In the orchestra group Leo Reis- man and Guy Lombardo run about neck-and-neck for sales values. ^ ^ Hi Back in 1895 the original Or- pheum on O’Farrell street sold beer at 10 cents a stein during per- formances. This week, on the opening of “Ladies of Leisure,” the house instituted a Parisian sidewalk cafe idea and gave the foaming stuff to passers-by. ♦ ♦ * We like the clever idea Bob Har- vey occasionally uses in his Fox- West Coast ads. He utilizes the outstanding comic strip characters each week and has them voice their favorable opinion on the Fox, War- field and El Cap operas. It’s catchy and effective. * m Spotlights Henry Pincus, in his new car, combing the town for dimes on a Sunday . . . Fred Hamlin worried about walking down the Rialto in gt>lf knickers and black-and-white shoes . . . Harry Bush even plug- .ging “Springtime in the Rockies” in the 1300 block on Eddy . . . Clarence Foster, the sax and clari- net tooter, now behind the desk of the Hotel Governor . . . this kol- yumist ham-and-egging in the morning with William Don . . . Walter Beban still with a bum foot . . . the golfer’s fate . . . Larry Yoell with a song about His Old Gal . . . the newest likker in this town causes blisters all over the body . . . good stuff . . . must be just off the boat . . . scraped off . . . which may not be funny, but just look at the space it uses. EDITH LOSES SUIT SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— As her own attorney she’s a good actress, Edith Ransome decided this week when she assumed the role of a Portia in and lost her suit for $100,000 damages against Richard "Tucker in Judge Roche’s Superior Court. Just because she lost one suit isn’t going to stop the former star of “White Cargo,” for she has two more up her sleeve, the first for $150,000 damages against Equity and the other a default judgment for $20,000 against Lionel Samuels, theatre manager. GETS “GHOST” PLAY SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Pacific Coast rights to “The Blue Ghost.” mystery play by Bernard McOwen and John P. Reiwerts, have been purchased by Henry Duffy who opens it at his Presi- dent here April 6. McOwen, au- thor of “The Skull,” will play the leading role, with Earl Lee, Lulu Hubbard and Paul McGrath also in the cast. FIRE IN FOX HOUSE VALLEJO, April 3.—Damage estimated at $30,000 was do'ne to the $70,000 Fox Vallejo by fire which broke out in the loges after the theatre had closed Thursday night. A. M. Bowles, Fox West Coast division head, Charles Thall and W. H. Lollier flew up from San Francisco the following day to look over the damaged house. HARRY WEBB ILL SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Harry Webb on the R-K-O Gold- en (Jate bill, was forced out of the show last half of the week by illness. SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— After a week of four shows daily, Ackerman and Harris are reverting to a three-a-day policy at their Casino. FOIIK NEW LEGIT SHOWS HAVE OPENINGS IN CURHENT WEEK SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— The Aveek just beginning founds four new legit shows _ opening, with other vehicles running at an average pace. Heat and Lent com- bined to take their toll. Geary opened with the Ring Lardner comedy, “June Moon,” playing to capacity on its first night and holding up well since. Dailies were kind to the show and it has been getting good word-of-mouth publicity to help hold it up. “Rope’s End” came into the Curran for a short run and opened okay. Erlanger’s Columbia had Madge Kennedy returning for one week, this time to do “Paris Bound,” which has been drawing pretty good business. Henry Duffy opened with Violet Heming in “Let Ps Be Gay” at his Alcazar and it’s doing nicely. Previous week found _ legit at a low ebb. Fay Marbe in her one \TOman revue at the Curran grossed a low $6000 for her sole week. House said to be out of the red even on this. Frank Craven in “Salt Water” closed at Duffy’s President with a gross of $4000 while Mary Bo- land in “Ladies of the Jury” bowed out of Duffy’s Alcazar with JO MENDEL IS LESSEE OF COTTAGE AT BEACH $4500 to its credit. In Oakland Duffy’s Dufwin did $4000 on “The Old Homestead.” “Journey’s End” road-showed into Duffy’s Fulton for a week and did $8200; a good intake. Erlanger's Columbia, with Sir Philip Ben Greet in a week of Shakespearean rep took in $10,000. msWIi FOR LUTE SHOWS OAKLAND. April 3.—Frank R. Newman has inaugurated a policy of Saturday midnight shows at the Fox Oakland, the first of which got under way to good returns this week. Oakland has been hampered in its night life by lack of transpor- tation after 1 a. m. By a tieup with bus and taxi companies New- man secured good transportation facilities for his customers with the result that they turned out in large numbers to see Hermie King. Fanohon and Marco’s “Marble Idea,” six local radio acts and Fox’s “Such Men Are Dangerous.” FRED HAMLIN ARRIVES FOR NEW PUBLIX DUTY SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.—Jo Mendel has taken a 10-year lease on the former Canary Cottage and will open it May 1 with a big $5 first night as Jo Mendel’s Cafe-at- the-Beach. Mendel has spent about $25,000 in redecorating and remodeling the place, and when he opens will have one of the classiest night spots of San Francisco. He will have a 10-piece band, a singer and a dancer. Maxine al- ready has been signed for the dance job. On the opening night —a formal affair—Max Dolin will appear as guest star and will con- tribute several violin solos. In ad- dition to the formal opening night Mendel will have an informal evening on May 2. Place will feature a $1.50 dinner with a 50-cent couvert. For five years Mendel was or- chestra leader at the Lido, North Beach cafe, where he built up a big local following. HO ON U. S. ’VISIT SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— On his first trip to the mainland, Joseph W. Ho, for the past nine years head of the art depart^nent of the Consolidated Amusement Co. of Honolulu, arrived here this week to begin a three months’ stay in the states. CROOK BACK SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— L. R. Crook, head of National Theatres, has returned from a two- weeks’ trip to Los Angeles and Yosemite Park. Local offices of National Theatres in the Golden Gate Building, have been com- pletely remodelled and redecorated. TO DO JOB SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— The J. L. Stewart Co. probably will get the contract for approxi- mately $45,000 worth of improve- ments on the Civic Auditorium, city fathers decided at a meeting this week. SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— Appointed to the newly created post of division advertising man- ager of Publix Theatres, Fred Hamlin arrived here this week to take up his new duties. He will travel up and down the coast vis- iting the various houses of the. Publix chain, conferring with man- agers on their advertising, pub- licity and exploitaion. Hamlin was formerly with First National studios and prior to that with the A. H. Woods Produc- tions. G. G. ANNIVERSARY SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— R-K-O Golden Gate is this week celebrating its eighth anniversary. House opened in 1922 as a Junior Orpheum theatre and, with recent reorganizations of the circuit, is now the only vaudeville theatre in San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.— The De Celiletos, ballroom dance team, are appearing at the Hotel St. Francis with the Laughner- Harris Band. “A LITTLE SMILE” Words and Music by GEO- B. L. BRAUN (A Fox Trot Sensation) CONCORD PUBLISHING Ca 1179 Market St. San Francisco Artistic Scenic Advertising Curtains By Far the Beat in America CURTAIN PRIVILEGES BOUGHT FOR CASH OR SCENERY Chas. F. Thompson Scenic Co. 1215 Bates Avenue Phone OLympia 2914 Hollywood, Calif. HOTEL GOVERNOR TURK AT JONES SAN FRANCISCO THE HOME OF ALL THEATRICAL PEOPLE PLAYING SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL RATES TO PROFESSIONALS JACK WOLFENDEN, Prop. BERT HENDREN, Aaat. Mgr. SCENERY BY MARTIN STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD. CALIFORNIA