Inside facts of stage and screen (May 24, 1930)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE NINE M-G-M lit K SIS SHORTS SKED An increase of 25 per cent in short-subject production has been announced by M-G-M. For the year 1931 a. total of 164 short sub- jects of varied nature, including two new series, is scheduled. They will include a series of twelve Burton Holmes travel subjects and eight new Hal Roach comedies in the “Boy Friend” series, condensed dra- mas of high school age, after the Tarkington manner. Comedies, novelties and 104 newsreel subjects are other listings in the new schedule. The “Boy Friend” series will have casts of youngsters of high school age, from 15 to 19. Includ- ed will be Dorothy Grangers, Mary Kornman, Gertie Messinger, Grady Sutton, David Sharpe and Mickey Daniels. Six Laurel-Hardy comedies, eight featuring Charley Chase, eight “Our Gang” comedies, eight colortone re- vues, six talking dog comedies and four two-reel novelties are other items on the new schedule, in addi- tion to semi-weekly issues of Hearst Metrotone newsreel. siiitoM IS BIG SPICE GETTER PORTLAND, May . 22. — Henry Santrey, band-leader entertainer, is currently gathering a bushel of free newspaper publicity for the RKO Orpheum here with his local talent try-out stunt. Santrey is one of the four head- line acts now touring the RKO circuit authorized by the main of- fice to seek new talent for the time. The newspapers here, espe- cially the News, Scripps sheet, went heavy for the stunt, with the result that Santrey crashed page one on several occasions. The stunt took the town by storm, with the result that the Orpheum had one of the biggest weeks in several months. Santrey shows a lot of showmanship in staging his stuff, and proves himself a great bet for anything in the show line. START PATHE COMEDY Pathe started another of its two- reel comedy series last Tuesday morning, making a total of three pictures in production. Ann Hard- ing’s “Holiday,” which Edward H. Griffith is directing, is finishing up, and Pathe’s biggest picture, “Be- yond Victory,” with John Robert- son directing, started last week. Fred Guiol is directing the two- reeler, which is titled “For Crying Out Loud.” In the cast are Rob- ert Agnew, Addie McPhail, Rich- ard Carle, Phyllis Crane, Vincent Barnett and Patsy O’Byrne. IN TALKIE DEBUT George Sweet, stage actor, who had the lead in the musical com- edy, “My Girl,” has made his talkie debut in “The Bubble Party,” a short subject for Warner Brothers. The picture, directed by Arthur Hurley, is based on a sketch by John Hobble, which was presented recently at a Lambs Gambol. POST FLOP NOTICE A notice has been posted on the windows of the Pom Pom Night Club, reading: “Seized for the ac- count of the United States, on May 12, 1930, by virtue of warrant for distraint issued by the Collec- tor of Internal Revenue. Signed, G. M. Donovan.” The club closed two weeks ago. DROPS PANTAGES SUIT Further credence to the wide- spread belief that Alexander Pan- tages was framed in the Eunice Pringle case was given this week by withdrawal of a suit filed against Pantages by Frederick T. Wise. In dropping the suit, which was for $250,000 for alleged attacks on Wise’s credibility as a prosecution witness, the plaintiff stated that he believed the theatre man had been framed. Didn’t Have Him Tied Up Tight Enough The leasing offices of some of the studios which make a practice of renting out stages and office space don’t think so highly of some of the independent producers. One office this week told of re- ceiving a call from an inde say- ing he would be out right away to rent space. “But he never arrived,” it was stated. “I guess his angel got out of the machine on the way out.” B. B. RH CELLIB CRICKS PICE ODE Plenty of publicity was secured by B. B. B.’s Cellar in Hollywood after a prohi transaction, that brought front-page breaks in the Los Angeles dailies. Two federal agents were in the cafe last Friday when an asserted Hollywood scofflaw, who had ap- parently been imbibing too freely of his own product, took occasion to broadcast to all present that he had “without doubt the best stock in town.” Kiddingly, the rum hounds, who had all the appearance of men about town, offered to do business with the mug, who, they thought, was kidding also. They got the surprise of their lives when the lad named a spot to deliver 20 cases of gin. But imagine the scofflaw’s embarrassment when the. kidding repartee wound up in a trip to the calaboose for him and two assist- ants. From the tone of many of the Saturday daily stories and headings, it appeared as though the B. B. B. Cellar had been the object of a raid, etc., etc., with business taking a heavy drop until Monday, when most of the papers ran follow-up stories explaining that the Cellar had not been raided, that the trans- action between the bootlegger and the federal men had been their af- fair and that the arrest had been made miles from the Cellar. HUNTER MAY PRODUCE Glen Hunter, picture juvenile, is understood to be planning the pro- duction in Los Angeles of H. H. Van Loan’s “Forward March.” It is believed the play may open at the Belasco, with a coast run to follow if it clicks in the local house. CASTING ‘LAST MILE’ The Lillian Albertson production of “The Last Mile,” due to open at the Majestic June 2, is now cast- ing. The definite choices up to press time were: Clark Gable, lead; Edward Woods, juvenile, and Russell Hopton. LEW ON TRIP Lew Oesterle, well known the atrical publicity man and formerly with Alexander Pantages, left this week for a 30-day tour of the Northwest to develop plans for the exploitation of what he claims to be “something new” in enter- tainment. He is withholding his announcements until his return. AHEAD OF SHOW Harold McAnally and Irving Sussman, advance and publicity men, have gone to San Francisco to arrange for the opening of the Lillian Albertson production of “Student Prince” in that city, fol- lowing which they take the same producer’s “New Moon” for a tour of the valley towns before going into the northwest. COWL REPORT WRONG Jane Cowl, who was reported coming to Los Angeles to open a Shakespearean repertoire engage- ment, has no such plans, accord- ing to advices received from the east. Miss Cowl, who is in Can- ada, is said to have received the Los Angeles reports as “news to her.” PRELIM. MEETING Oil MATTERS FOR IflTSE GATHERING Important matters for consider- ation at the vonvention of the International Alliance of Theatri- cal Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada are. to be prepared at a previous meeting here for the executive board of the Alliance. This executive meeting opens at the Alexandria Hotel on May 26, one week prior to the . general convention. On the committee are President William F. Canavan; General Secretary-Treasurer Rich- ard J. Green; Assistant President Harry Dignam; Adjustment and Claim Manager William D. Lang; and Vice-Presidents Fred J. Demp- sey( Boston), William Covert (To- ronto), William Elliott (Cincin- nati), Cleve Beck (Oakland), George E. Browne (Chicago), John P. Nick (St. Louis), William J. Harrer (Philadelphia). No clue is available at this time as to the exact nature of the im- portant matters to come up, but it is expected that a cooperative spirit will be shown to assist the return of stage attractions to a show world now practically domi- nated by talking pictures. Recom- mendations will be drafted for con- sideration at the general conven- tion. The convention opens June 2, and is the first meeting to be staged outside of Ohio in the last 17 years in recognition of the prime position now held by Los Angeles as the world’s leading theatrical producing capital. At the meetings will be dele- gates representing camera men, laboratory technicians, studio me- chanics, theatre projectionists and theatrical stage employes. Film Row By FRED YEATES Fred L. Daniels, former booker for the Tiffany exchange, is sell- ing “Ingagi” through the Arizona and Southern California territory. * * * Murray Ross has been added to the Tiffany sales force, covering Southern California. He was for- merly with Paramount in the East. * * * George Caldaras,. manager. of the Tiffany exchange, is beginning to get spry as his broken leg mends. He is still on crutches, however, and makes no attempt to climb the stairs to his mezzanine office. * * * The current RKO sales conven- tion seems to have thrown a heavy burden on the exchange phones. All sorts of feminine voices call in to know if Mister So-and-so is in town to attend the convention, and some of them even go so far as to ask if he has a wife with him. * * * The Fox convention looms _ for next week and great preparations are being made out at Fox Movie- tone City. The boys are expecting a more than usually significant meeting, in view of all that has been going on of late. * * * Columbia exchange has organ- ized a Social Club, and holds what it hopes to be its first “annual” outing at Catalina next week-end. Everybody is to be there, from the big shots down to the bb’s. * * * L. E. Hillman, Columbia’s divi- sion manager, is expected back this week from his motor tour of the western territory, which takes in Denver and Vancouver. * * * The sale of Columbia product to RKO has not reduced sales ac- tivity, but has greatly increased it, making the product more attrac- tive to second-run exhibitors. The salesmen and bookers are. more busy now than ever before in their history. PICTURE REVIEWS (Continued from Page 4) ders of the heavy, kidnap the fem romantic lead, and imprison her in a fastness. The Americans make the rescue, after lots of dan- gers, played in a broad comedy vein. EXHIBITORS’ VIEWPOINT: The comedy in this one is not subtle. It is played straight across the boards for laughs, and manag- ers with that kind of a house will please their clientele by booking it. It is doubtful if Wheeler and Woolsey have enough name draw from their “Rio Rita” . work to make it a panic, but it will be wel- come, and most excellent hot weather divertissement. PRODUCERS’ VIEWPOINT: Adapter Cy Woods and Director Paul Sloane prove that they know their laughs. The comedy is built up to a fare-ye-well, with no ap- parent loopholes where laughs were missed. The remainder of the pic- ture is comparatively unimportant. Pearl Eaton contributes some more of her dance ensembles. They are up to average in this department, but neither more nor less than that. A couple of times the picture goes technicolor, and that is a most decided disadvantage. The film is so fuzzy and blurry as to be very unpleasantly indistinct, at these times, and the studio would have done much better to scrap the color shots, and re-shoot the scenes in black and white. It is some of the worst color photog- raphy seen in recent months. CASTING DIRECTORS’ VIEWPOINT: Cinching the start they made in “Rio Rita,” Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey confirm themselves as a comedy team which should go a very long way in favor of picture audiences. They climb right up the ladder, at the top of which stands Laurel and Hardy and Dressier and Mo- ran not up with the others yet, but mounting steadily. Jobyna Rowland takes the top honors next to the comedians. Her Junoesque stature, plus a natural ability to either foil or generate laughs, makes her a most import- ant addition to the cast. Mitchell Lewis makes a most effective and menacing gypsy chief, with a rumbling basso that comes nicely over the mike for power. June Clyde and Hugh Trevor carry the romantic leads satisfac- torily, playing their parts in the usual manner such parts are played in stage and musical comedies. Dorothy Lee has a mannerism which may be assumed or other- wise. In either case it should be got rid of . The mannerism is that of speaking her lines as though she were a kid reciting at a school oratory contest. With the various ones who spoke that way before the mike when the talkies started, and who are now gone, it puts her in a class, not of eccentric de- livery, but of those who couldn’t stand the mike test. Which is very much to her disadvantage. Ivan Lebedeff does everything possible with his uneventful role as the heavy, and Marguerita Padula has a bit as a gypsy queen. Frederick. “COURAGE” W. B. HOLLYW’D THEATRE (Reviewed May 14) Director Archie Mayo’s screen version of “Courage” from Tom Barry’s stage play by the same name is excellent comedy drama of domestic life. Leon Janney as the little boy who maintains his great admiration, trust and affection for his mother through- out a series of trying situations, proves himself to be a most talented boy actor and well worthy of the high place in pictures which War- ner Brothers have planned for him. Belle Bennett is ideally cast as the modern mother who is greatly mis- understood. Although extravagant and somewhat preposterous, she is very human withal and demon- strates capably the real fighting spirit and deep mother-love for her children, even though they turn against her, which is the crux of the story. “Courage” is the story of a wo- man who gave up her girlhood sweetheart to marry a man who had OPENINGS FOB HCERS III UNITS By special arrangement with Fanchon & Marco, Bud Murray, principal of the Bud Murray School for Stage and Screen, has started rehearsing a unit of “Bud Mur- ray’s California Sunbeams.” This will be the first of a series of units featuring “The Bud Murray Sun- beams.” The second unit will be a merger of Ballet and Off-rhythm, and will be conceived and staged by Prof. G. V. Rosi, ballet direc- tor of Bud Murray School, and Bud Murray. There are places for two expert tap dancers in the unit now rehearsing, and places for eight girls in the Ballet and Tap unit just organizing, which starts re- hearsing June 1. “Present Arms,” N. Y. musical comedy, will be made a talking picture by Radio Pictures. wealth, culture and social position, but who proved to be heartlessly cruel. Following the death of this unworthy husband, the mother en- dured many trials in rearing her seven children, and financial re- verses due to her own mismanage- ment. The plot ends happily with the youngest son inheriting a for- tune and the mother marrying her girlhood suitor. The big thing in the picture is the great love and perfect under- standing between the mother and the youngest son, played by Leon Janney. By his striking personality, his enthusiasm and sincerity this little fellow easily walks away with first honors. Miss Bennett renders a satisfy- ing portrayal of a weak but very lovable mother. Marion Nixon gives a splendid performance as the oldest daughter. Others in the cast who did excellent work are Blanche Frederici, Rex Bell, Richard Tuck- er, Carter De Haven, jr., Dorothy Ward and Don Marion. Much credit is due Archie Mayo, the director, as “Courage” will add another success to his credit, artis- tically as well as from a boxoffice standpoint. Jean "Riley. “LIVE AND LEARN” PATHE COMEDY (Reviewed at Orpheum) Plenty of fast action, well-con- ceived situations for comedy devel- opment, well done, and a snappy line of dialogue make this one a bright spot for the short end of any picture bill. No time is wasted in coming to the laughs in “Live and Learn.” They start right in with a situation in which a second husband is be- pestered by the smarty kid of his wife’s first marriage, and they run right through butter-in-the-eye, bruised shin bones, water-soaked trousers, and similar mirth-provok- ing gags. But the best fun starts when hus- band No. 1 calls on his ex-wife and both are quarantined by an out- break of measles, while husband No. 2 paces up and down outside, seeing his wife being consoled by the man of whom he is still jealous. In his efforts to break up the situa- tion he climbs into the window of the room of a woman whose hus- band is already jealous of him, and the hilarious complications en- sue. The picture ends with this lat- ter husband demanding that “You get out of my wife’s apartment,” with the result being swarms of men clamboring down the side of the apartment building.. Fred Guiol did the direction, and missed no bets. The fast-action scenario and dialogue were written by Monte Carter, who proved con- clusively that he is a laugh-master both in incident and plot. Addie McPhail and Ed Deering are the two comedy leads, and they leave nothing to be desired when it comes to developing the fun-stuff. David Durand, capable 9-year-old youngster, again proves his ability by taking advantage of all the laughs assigned him. Maurice Black and Gertrude As- tor play the second husband and wife to good results, and George Towne Hall as the first husband accounts ably for all the possibili- ties of his role. F. A. H. MACK BISSETT PRESENTS 20th CENTURY-STEPPERS 20th IN FANCHON AND MARCO’S “ROMANCE” IDEA AT LOEW’S STATE, LOS ANGELES, THIS WEEK