Inside facts of stage and screen (June 21, 1930)

PAGE SIX INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1930 Published Every Saturday One Year ... $4.00 Foreign - $5.00 Advertising Rates on Application As a bi-monthly publication: Entered as Second Gass 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 Gass Matter, April 29, 1927, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. 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, June 21, 1930 No. 25 Phoney Press Agents THERE COME regularly to the editorial offices of this newspaper and to those of many other publications, daily and weekly contributions marked in huge letters, “NEWS.” Do not confuse the subject of this discussion with the regu- lar contributions of the legitimate studio publicists and the few reputable free-lance press agents. FOR THESE inane, badly written, stupidly phrased and ignorantly punctuated screeds bear no mark of the news-' paper experience that won most of the reputable publicists their positions. They are the product of half-per cent chis- selers, apple-saucing moochers, who snatch coffee and cake money from unwise professionals in exchange for their dubious “services.” MOST OF these petit larceny pin-money grabbers are scarcely able to operate the one tool of the writing craft, a typewriter. Yet by dint of sheer crust and the gullibility of many professionals, they manage to hang along the fringe of the industry, milking one or another artist of sometimes small change, and occasionally finding the chance for a bigger touch. THEY ARE heartily disliked, both as to character and activity, by the reputable studio publicists and free-lancers. And they bring their clients little benefit in exchange for their hire. NEWSPAPER editors and dramatic critics should scan their droolings carefully. Artists should consider well before promising to pay fees, even on a chicken-feed basis, to the chiselers. And the reputable press representatives in Holly- wood should forget some of their petty differences and per- sonal grievances and get together to wipe out a species of cheap racketeering that is a blight on their profession. Do We Need More Sunshine ? Many coast newspapers are intelligently opposing the at- tempt to foist Daylight Saving time on California. Typical of the attitude of the public-spirited press in the matter is the following editorial reprinted from the Sacramento “Bee”: “That hardy perennial, daylight saving, is about to crop up once more, this time in the form of an initiative measure to be submitted to the voters of California in November. “The proponents of this measure always have been beaten in the legislature up to this time. Now apparently they hope to put their scheme over by opposing to public apathy a well organized minority. “But there must be no public apathy. This daylight sav- ing scheme is essentially vicious. It is designed to further the interests of a small group at the expense of the public gen- erally. “And it is opposed in principle by nearly every one out- side the specially interested group that is fathering the plan. t t “It is opposed by motion picture companies and theatre owners generally on the ground that everywhere it has been tried theatre attendance has fallen off and revenues conse- quently decreased. “Who, then, favors this bill? A group of stock brokers in Los Angeles and San Francisco, who wish for their own convenience to be able to set their clocks to correspond with those of New York, in which state daylight saving exists. “No one else is in favor of it that The Bee has been able to find, and it certainly is the acme of gall for these people to sacrifice the habits and comforts of the whole state in order to further their own private convenience. “If daylight saving gets on the ballot in November it should be voted down overwhelmingly.” TEL-A-PHONEY ft?) JAMES MADISON Hello, Satan. GETS LONG CONTRACT Valma Valentine has been given a five-year contract with Radio Pictures. Before joining the Pearl Eaton dancers at RKO a year ago, Miss Valentine was on the New York stage. Recently she appeared in small parts in “Rio Rita,” “The Cuckoos” and “Dixiana.” XYLOPHONE FOR SALE CHEAP Phone TRinity 2217 Station 4 RUTH HIATT SIGNED Ruth Hiatt, who has been ap- pearing in comedies for the past seven years, has just been selected by Pathe to essay the leading fem- inine role opposite Charles Kaley in “The Beauties,” a musical com- edy being directed by Frank Davis. BERKELEY’S CONTRACT Busby Berkeley, New York mu- sical comedy director, has been signed by Paramount as a director. He directed the entire production of “The Street Singer.” Letters From Facts Readers These discussions do not necessarily re- flect the editorial opinion of this news- paper. If you disagree with us, say it anyhow. NEW VOICE HEARD LONG BEACH: I am one of many who has been enjoying the instructing and amusing discussion between Mr. Lloydwell and Music Editor Tenney, and I agree with both, but I certainly do not agree with Mr. Moore who wrote last week. He sounds like a schoolboy who must get a belly laugh out of everything. But while speaking of orches- tra leaders from the viewpoint of the “front oif the house,” let me call attention to the chap who stands up in the middle of a small group and saws on a violin, the while swaying and swinging as though pulling the rest along by sheer might and main. The other boys saw or blow away seemingly unconcerned, about a half beat be- hind. This lead violin is always a squeally, caterwauling thing, and the result is annoyance rather than entertainment for the audience. Europe long since recognized the importance of properly drilling conductors, and it is impossible to get a leadership over there unless a graduate of a director’s school. I have often wondered how our boys ever get their leader jobs. Can Mr. Tenney inform us? H. BARCLAY-SMYTHE. MAYBE HE HAS LOS ANGELES: Let me sug- gest to Mr. Lloydwell that if he does not like the personal appear- ance of orchestra leaders, he do the same as I. Stay home and listen to the radio. WESLEY CHARLSON. SMALLER INDES BREAK SEEN IN SILENT POLICY The decision of the majority of the large producers to dispense with further production of silent pictures is being hailed as an op- portunity by many of the smaller independents. Less than fifty per cent of the country’s film theatres are equipped with sound, and without silents these houses would be forced either into darkness or into sound installation. Speculation as to whether silent production has been dropped at the inspiration of the electrical in- terests, in order to speed the de- mand for sound equipment, is rife around Hollywood, but the non-silent policy has been adopted not only by the major producers whose affiliations with electrical interests are known, but by the larger independents, such as Co- lumbia. However, the free-lancers have taken sudden hope that a quick splurge into silents might result in a ready market from the non- wired houses, and Poverty Row is seeing a hurried dusting off of old camera equipment, rejected scenarios, title writers and ambi- tions. BARITONE SIGNED George Houston, who recently completed a year in the leading role in the eastern run of “New Moon,” has been signed by M-G-M to play romantic singing roles in forthcoming musical productions. Says: Leaving the 24th for New Orleans . . . invited hy the Mayor . . . gone two weeks . . . watch for the new m. c. at the Cellar . . . great understudy . . . will be seeing my brother, Henry, at the Club Forest, which is some consolation. . . . • • •• P. S. — The CELLAR is at Cosmo Street and Hollywood Boulevard . . . between Vine and Oahuenga . . . the phone numbers are GRanite 8 3 8 2 and HODywood 9 15 9 . . . parking is free at the lot across from the CELLAR . , . the CHRYSLER and SAM- SONS are there. Thank You. Hello, James Madison. What are bedbugs called in the lower regions? Hell’s Angels. Hello, Noah Beery. Hello, James Madison. What’s “The Song of the Flame”? Fire insurance. Hello, Charlie Chaplin. Hello, James Madison. Who is the biggest boob you met last week? A fellow who thinks that custard pies are kept in the casting room. Hello, Conlin and Glass. Hello, James Madison. That was quite a fire they had in the periodical room of the Los Angeles Public Li- brary last Sunday. It’s a lucky thing that none of the magazines exploded. Hello, H. Purdy. Hello, James Madison. What’s a good way to greet a person who has a cold in the head? Good bordig. Hello, Mark Linder. Film Row Cuttings By FRED YEATES After a few weeks of almost tropical lethargy in evidence around the Row, with salesmen and their curb conventions conspicuous by their rarity, W e found this week a veritable hive of seeming industry. At least there was much more man power visible; legs propelled bodies about from place to place, much conversation was to be heard, and not less than three silewalk con- ventions could be found in prog- ress almost any time. Scenting big news, we dawdled casually along the gutter, our ele- phant ears shamelessly distended to gather crumbs of knowledge from the feast of discussion and flow of talk. We gathered plenty, but not about the film industry. Thrilling stories of golf, both of the Tom Thumb and the daddy long-legs varieties, and something about “un- derhanded baseball.” We scented scandal here, but it turned out to be indoor ball. Fishing, picnicking, and even pinochel. But nothing about pictures. Still, it was nice to find the boys interested about something, at last. And now the big conventions are over and the big shots have gone back east, they can come out of hiding. ♦ * * Lola Gentry, of the local Film Board of Trade, has gone to Seat- tle to be aiway a couple of weeks. The assumption is that there is to be a zoning and clearance meeting up there, and Miss Gentry’s mis- sion probably is to indicate the lines along which, the dove of peace was coaxed into the local cote a few weeks ago. Another piece of news from the B. of T. office is that Miss Appel- soss has gone back east. * * * Exchange managers from Unit- ed Artists, Pathe and First Na- tional were observed in close con- ference in the latter’s office. Does ■this, by any chance, mean a mer- ger? * * * George Caldaras is now able to ascend his throne at Tiffany. Next time he falls, he says, it will be up instead of down. * * * The Columbia office is trying hard to appear modest under the Hello, James Madison. Eight million straws were used by soda fountains last year. We’re getting to be a regu- lar nation of suckers. Hello, Jimmie Brockman. Hello, James Madison. I read in the paper that Blackstone is retiring after 31 years. That’s what I call making a night of it. Hello, Nat Spitzer. Hello, James Madison. What is that trouble be- tween you and some of the movie moguls? They are trying to put the GAG on Ingagi. Hello,i Will Rogers. Hello, James Madison. What’s your opinion of the Literary Digest poll? It’s a very insecure one for the _ prohibitionists to lean against. Hello, Dorothy Mackaill. Hello, James Madison. What is your definition of the perfect sap? compliment handed out by the N. Y. execs here last week for the convention, who said this was the cleanest office in their organiza- tion. It’s true, too. You can look behind any ear in the office and find it spotless; even in the ship- ping room. * * * The whole district is clean. Res- taurant flies are polite and never settle on the food, there are mo massage parlors in the district, and the prevalent'' wind keeps the re- fuse rolling east and north. It is no place for an enquiring reporter. MAJOR’S NEW JOB Port Major has been assigned from the Fox-West Coast home office to assume charge of the newly created Portland division, which takes this territory from un- der the supervision of Earl Crabb. Crabb will concentrate his atten- tion on the Seattle division of the theatre chain. Major has been at- tached to the home office for the past eight years. LAEMMLE RETURNS Carl Laemmle, Sr., president of Universal Pictures Corporation, is back at Universal City after a visit of several weeks in New York. The Comedian is a monthly publication that vaudeville folks, ra- dio entertainers and all public humorists should become acquainted with. It contains only new laughs and costs $1 per copy, or $10 by the year. Small but good, and sold with a guarantee. No. 1 is now ready and I really think you’ll like it. Pub- lished by WALTER LONDON P. O. Box 139, Vine St. Station Hollywood, Calif. One who thinks you can get pyorrhea from eating pie.