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

PAGE TWELVE INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1930 Facts 9 Echoes From Melody Land Hot Licks of Music By JACK B. TENNEY It was my intention to ignore C. E. Moore’s communica- tion published in last week’s issue of Inside Facts, though I will admit I felt a keen desire for recrimination. A letter from Dr. Harry Rifkind, Master of Rhythm, in this morn- ing’s mail caused me to change my mind. The argument is summed up consicely in this clever letter and so thoroughly answers Mr. Moore that I cannot refrain from publishing it in full: * * * Hot Licks, Inside Facts. (An Open Letter.) Permit^ me to say a few words concerning the recent discussion between Mr. Tenney and Mr. Lloydwell that has caused one of your readers, not only to laugh, but to express himself in a man- ner that is laughable. I have ref- erence to Mr. C. E. Moors who wishes someone to tell him “what the boys are arguing about and why’’ and whose conclusion is summed up with a grand compari- son between the above mentioned writers and the gagmen of Holly- wood. This gentleman asserts that Mr. Lloydwell seems to be mad at all the musicians and that Mr. Tenney seems to think that he does not have to back his state- ments with logic. I will agree with Mr. Moore, if his letter is an example of logic. The reverse, however, is sadly obvious. When two people argue it only proves one thing conclusively:—- they disagree. When a third party gets comical it proves fatal. Mr. Moore has enjoyed himself by ex- tracting the' seriousness from con- scientious effort; turning it into levity without permitting the read- ers to share his particular pleas- ure. For the benefit of the read- ers (and specifically for Mr. Mtoore) the essence of the comedy should be stated. Mr. Lloydwell expresses his views sincerely and well when he asserts the need and demand for showmanship for orchestra leaders and, certainly, this fact can- not be denied. He further asserts “The way some of these fellows beat time they should be set in front of a garage wall, with a paint brush and then they might do a fair job of painting or whitewash- ing.” My experience agrees with much that Mr. Lloydwell says:—a major- ity of these leaders certainly beat around the bush more than any- thing else. According to Mr. Ten- ney, this type (to be successful) THREE HITS “BONITA” “WHEN THE LONELY DAY IS ENDED" “IRELAND, MY HOMELAND” KARAN-DUNN SONG CO. Kress Bldg. San Francisco should not endeavor to lead an orchestra, unless the fundamentals of music are acquired first. There was a time when the boy with the baton had to know his business, but the inception of the m. c. has changed things in this respect to a large extent. Mr. Tenney was careful to emphasize dance aggre- gations. Certainly a knowledge of music is the first essential. Paint brushes and garage walls, after all, will fall into the proper hands. The thorough knowledge of music will give the conductor the proper twists and flourishes and they will be executed rhythmically, pleas- ing the public, and the musicians will be relieved of excessive irri- tation. Plainly, Mr. Tenney considers the orchestra and the public from the musical standpoint. Mr. Lloyd- well has reference to a graceful conductor plus personality. A leader may be ever so graceful, however, and yet fail at every step in properly conducting an or- chestra. Contortions, handstands and whatnots belong to the acro- batic department. The modern successful orchestras long ago dis- carded the pink-tights. Salesman- ship, of course, is another story. Both qualities are essential. Now from the logical standpoint. (You will pardon me, Mr. Moore.) Both Mr. Lloydwell and Mr. Ten- ney recognized the type—'“big m en from the south,” capable of doing only two things: making those in front of him wonder what it is all about and those behind him cry. (It is not my purpose to be un- kind to these promoting leaders. Many of them are clever in every- thing except music.) The successful type in this ca- pacity are those who have nothing to say at rehearsals and follow the orchestra instead of trying -to lead it at performances. This is a dif- ference truly worthy of considera- tion. Just where Mr. Moore dis- covers the lack of logic is a mys- tery to me. No doubt, that is where the comedy comes in. His idea about some talkie producer signing the two gentlemen up for a talking-short is evidently the re- sult of the laughing episode. I sincerely trust that this does not happen, as we would miss their articles in your excellent paper. In conclusion, Inside Facts and Mr. Moore are both to be con- gratulated—Mr. Moore for writing (Continued on Page 13) Song Leaders LOS ANGELES “Monterey” won back its lead last week by a scant margin over the “Stein Song,” possibly helped by a shortage of the latter number at the jobbers. The rest of the field are about the same numbers, shuffled around somewhat as to position: 1. “It Happened In Monterey”— Feist. 2. “Stein Song”—Radio Music Co. 3. “You Brought a New Kind of Love”—Famous. 4. “So Beats My Heart”-—De Sylva, Brown and Henderson. 5. “Springtime In the Rockies”-— Villa Moret. 6. “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes”—Witmark. 7. “On the Sunny Side of the Street”—Shapiro Bernstein. 8. “Exactly Like You”-—-Famous. 9. “The Moon Is Low”-—Rob- bins. 10. “Loving In the Sunlight, Loving In the Moonlight”-—Fa- mous. New numbers growing in popu- larity are: “Singing a Song to the Stars” (Robbins), “I Love You So Much” (Famous), and “My Future Just Past.” RECORDS The USC College song, “Fight On,” tops all record sales for the week. Pop song leaders, none of them heavy, are: 1. “You Brought a New Kind of Love”-—All recordings. 2. “Living In the Sunlight”—All recordings. 3. “Ten Cents a Dance”—All re- cordings. 4. “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes”—Victor. 5. “Reminiscihg” — All record- ings. 6. “Stein Song”—All recordings. 7. “It Happened In Monterey” —All recordings. 8. “Telling It to the Daisies”-— Victor. 9 . “Dangerous Nan McGrew”— Victor (Helen Kane). 10. “So Beats My Heart.” SAN FRANCISCO A new tune, “New Kin-d of Love,” popped into first place for the current week while “Anchors Aweigh” and “Tears in M‘y Eyes” also showed for the first time. Leaders are: 1. “New Kind of Love”—Fam- ous. 2. “With My Guitar”—Sherman, Clay. 3. “When Little Red Roses”— De Sylva, Brown and Henderson. 4. “I Never Dreamt”—Santley. 5. “It Happened in Monterey” —Leo Feist. 6. “Exactly Like You” — Sha- piro, Bernstein. 7. “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes”—Witmark. 8. “Under a Texas Moon” — Remick. 9. “Ten Cents a Dance”—Red Star. 10. “Stein Song” — Radio Mu- sic Co. NORTHWEST 1. “Stein Song”—Radio Music. 2. “It Happened In Monte- rey”—Feist. 3. “Moon Is Low”—Robbins. 4. “Rock-a-bye To Sleep In Dixie”—Cross. . “Woman In the Show”—Rob- bins. 6. “Ten Cents a Dance”— Harms. 7. “When It’s Springtime In the Rockies”—Villa Moret. 8. “11:30 Saturday Night” — Sherman, Clay. 9. “When the Little Red Roses” —Dy Sylva, Brown and Hender- son. 10. “I Never Dream’t”—Santley. CRAWFORD CLOSING Jack Crawford closes June 20 at Solomon’s here for a long jump across the continent to open at the Steel Pier, Atlantic City. “A LITTLE SMILE” Words and Music by GEO. B. L. BRAUN (A Fox Trot Sensation) CONCORD PUBLISHING CO. 1179 Market St. San Francisco RED LION CAFE IN BIG OPENING Jerry Ryan opened the Red Lion Inn on Washington boulevard Thursday, June 12, to a large house. Among those there were Red Grange, Mr. and Mrs. Roy McCray, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Parks, Jean Cowan of KFWB, and many others. Jerry had a few performers out there that evening to help put the evening over, including Marion Kane, Ba- bette Barker, Irene McKenney, Esther Pressman and Jack Ray. Spot is olf the intimate type with Jerry having a chance to get over his impromptu entertainment. Jim Sumner and his music is the fea- tured band, a snappy compact ag- gregation. CHANGES MADE IN BANDS HERE With Irving Aaronson doing a disappearing act from the Roose- velt last week, the orchestra, which had a long-term contract, closed suddenly, with Ben Bernie going in on Tuesday to a $10 opening, doubling from a current engagement at the Egyptian, Hol- lywood. Aaronson, who left because of marital difficulties, is scheduled to go into the Casa Granada, open air cafe in Chicago. Ted Fiorito and his Victor Re- cording orchestra opens June 27 for a limited engagement at the Ambassador Hotel, following Johnny Hamp’s Serenaders. Gus Arnlieim returns to the Am- bassador Cocoanut Grove for an extended engagement, following Fi- orito. With him will be a new vocal trio, scheduled to be ex- ploited heavily, composed of Russ Colombo, Eddie Bush, Art Flem- ing and Ed Landry. REPORT SALES UP SEATTLE, June 19.—Gene Mc- Cormick and Syl Cross returned from San Francisco this week and report increased sales on their new releases—-“Tonight” and “Rock-a- bye To Sleep In Dixie.” Since Jesse Stafford and his boys have made a recording of -the former the sales in sheet music have been boosted considerably. SOUDERS TO L. A. SEATTLE, June 19.—Jackie Souders will enter Southern soil, leaving Wednesday for Los An- geles and taking over the baton at the Boulevard. He played a very successful three-months’ engage- ment at the Fox Fifth Avenue. NEW TUNE READY SAN FRANCISCO, June 19.— Concord Publishing Co. will soon have on the market the RKO con- test song “Springtime Every Day For Me” with music by George B. L. Braun and lyrics by Dr. J. G. Lehner. RUSSO AT RKO Dan Russo is now functioning as guest conductor of the house orchestra -at the RKO Theatre, Los Angeles. Billy Small remains as house leader. THOMPSON SIGNED Keene Thompson, scenarist and short-story writer, has been given a contract by Paramount and has been assigned permanent offices in the studios in Hollywood. Thomp- son wrote Clara Bow’s new talking picture, “Love Among the Million- aires,” now in production. HAUPTMANN IS HOUSE LEADER SAN FRANCISCO, June 19.— Liborious Hauptmann has been awarded the orchestra contract at Wagnon’s Embassy and opens there this week with an eight-piece combination, including himself. Hauptmann has been musical di- rector at KYA but left there last week. For more than a year the Em- bassy, owned by W. B. Wagnon, has been non-union, but after a series of conferences Wagnon and organized labor kissed and made up and the house is now operat- ing under a union banner. Wag- non also owns the Davies. MEYER FIRM TO HANDLE SCORES Abe Meyer, president and gen- eral manager of Myer Synchroniz- ing Service, Ltd., reports that within the past week a number of producers have signed with them to supervise and score ex- clusively all productions, including: Christie Film Co.; Lloyd Hamil- ton Productions; Metropolitan Studios Industrial Department; Rogell Productions; Halperin Pro- ductions; Brown-Nagel Produc- tions; Robert C. Bruce Outdoor Talking Pictures, and Phil Ryan Productions. HESTER IS VISITOR SAN FRANCISCO, June 19.— Mickey Hester, representative of Witmark’s music publishing house, is here from Los Angeles for a short stay. MILLS IN S. F. SAN FRANCISCO, June 19 — E. C. Mills, president of Radio" Music Co., music publishing -sub- sidiary of Feist, was here for two days conferring with A1 Sather, local representative. From here he went to Los Angeles. KERN GOES EAST ^ SEATTLE, June 19.—H e r b Kern, jthe Fox organist, left this week for New York. No one has been -chosen to succeed -him. CHINN AT COLISEUM TACOMA, June 19. — Doctor Chinn and His Patients of Music are being featured at the Green- wich Coliseum here. BROOKS AT S. D. SAN DIEGO, June 19.—Sunny Brooks and his orchestra are play- ing a summer season engagement at Mission Beach here. EMIL STURMER Musical Director Paramount Theatre San Francisco KENNETH RUNDQUIST Baritone LEIGHTON S CAFETERIA Market at Powell San Francisco RUDOLPH N. SCHRAEGER PREMIER ORGANIST Chinese Theatre, Hollywood INDEFINITE BREAKING A SO-CALLED JINX—GETTING BUSINESS WHERE MANY OTHERS HAVE FAILED OWEN FALLON AND HIS CALIFORNIANS; NOW IN THIRD YEAR AT WILSON’S BALLROOM (Formerly Cinderella Roof) Los Angeles WRIGHT-O! IN ’FRISCO JOE WRIGHT AND HIS SILVER SLIPPER ORCHESTRA Broadcasting over KPO, know what’s right in dance music That’s why this discriminating leader invariably features those all-Wright songs— “BLUE IS THE NIGHT” “THE MOON IS LOW” “WHEN I’M LOOKING AT YOU” ROBBINS MUSIC CORP. 799 SEVENTH AVE. NEW YORK CITY