Inside facts of stage and screen (April 19, 1930)

PAGE TWO Inside facts of stage and screen SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1930 NEW PROCESS SLASHES COST BIG INTERESTS PLAN Picture Grosses Still Down (Continued from Page 1) broadcasters, hundreds of theatres would be forced into darkness, transforming to worthless paper the securities of the theatrical in- dustry and making radio-television the undisputed, preeminent enter- tainment medium. Methods Perfected An English method of broad- casting television has been a prac- tical fact for some time. Ameri- can methods, designed in the re- search laboratories of the big in- terests, have been developed along different principles to avoid the necessity for paying royalties to foreign inventors, and also, it is claimed, made as complicated as possible in order to keep its oper- ation under the control of the major leaguers. The A. T. & T. method is now completed to the point of practical demonstration, and the General Electric is said to be perfected to the point of getting it into the tube of the receiving equipment*. But matters have been compli- cated by a German inventor who, it is revealed, has reduced the American methods to the point of such utter simplicity that construc- tion of television reception equip- ment is as easy as the making of the old crystal sets used to be. Great Changes The keenest minds of the aoun- try are now concentrated on this television problem. The magnitude of the changes to be wrought by it are almost beyond the power of present human conception. What it will mean to the pro- fesional performer is something that can only be conjectured. It may mean the centralizing of en- tertainment production to such a point that unemployment will be even greater than it is now. On the other hand it may mean such an impetus to production and such a widening of demand that it will be necessary to keep a continuous flow of new entertainment on tap day and night, providing increased employment and wider oppor- tunities. Whatever the exact nature of the development, however, it is true beyond all argument that the changes brought about on the en- tertainment ma*p during the past fifteen years will be made to ap- pear insignificant in the face of the sweeping changes now on the threshold of the industry. LOCiWlLL Vaudeville Is Favorite With This Audience (Continued from Page 1 ) Married" goes in, and this is ex- pected to be followed, opening May 4, by "Questionable Elaine." This is a play by Allan Moody, and the author is slated to pro- duce, with Jack Leigh as director. Following is the cast already picked: Kay Hammond, Grace Hampton, D e it n i s D'Auburn, Eleanor Jackson, Josa Melville, Joseph Challen, Ernst Murray, Elwyn Daton, Byron Alden, Lydin Knott. John Hill's Pacific Coast pro- duction of "The Little Show," New York success now playing Chicago, is in the cards for June 1. Casting is not yet completed. NEW SHOW CAST The following have been named as in the cast of the Civic Reper- tory Players production of "The Imaginary Invalid," to open at the Hollywood Music Box April 21st: John Sheehan, Elise Bartlett, Marion Clayton, Eric Snowdon, Marguerite Fischer, Warren Ash, Alfred Jenkin, Carlton Young, Jane Laverne, Mears Pitcher and Paul Irving. STEARNS NEW G. M. Nat H. Spitzer, president of Congo Pictures, Ltd., announces the apointment of A. C. Stearns, Jr., as general manager of the or- ganization's headquarters, in Hol- lywood. Vaudeville licked talking shorts to a frazzle for audience appeal in a unique test applied last Wednes- day by Harvey^ Hart, whose Hart Players are doing stock at War- ner's Egyptian Theatre in Pasa- dena. Hart tried out talking shorts be- tween the acts of his stock produc- tion at the theatre, afterwards re- questing an audience vote of yea or nay by applause. Part of the house responded in fairly enthusi- astic approval. Hart then asked the house for its mass opinion on vaude special- ties as contrasted with the short talkers. The hand was unanimously cast for the vaude. WIDE SCREEN FLOP It looks like cold storage for the wide screen, at least for the present, and exhibitors are breath- ing easy again. Following the lukewarm recep- tion of the Fox Grandeur showing at the Carthay Circle, producers generally have abandoned ideas of going further with their various and sundry wide screen proposi- tions. Further development of the idea will be left entirely to spare time in the research laboratories. Shoot- ing with the wide film has been discontinued, and all current work is to be confined to the standard width. • Exhibitors are breathing a sigh of relief over the situation. Prac- tically none of them were ever convinced of the merits of widies, and all they could see in it was another financial burden, but with- out the increased box-office brought by the talkies. Cameramen, however, are still playing with it as a hobby. There are many shortcomings to all of the present methods, especially in short angle distortions. A man 15 feet up-set, walking into the cam- era, enlarges in such proportions with each step that he seems to bear down on the audience like a cyclone and dwarfs all the figures remaining in the background. The Eastman company has pre- pared a great deal of the new wide film, but it is of such size that it can easily be cut to standard width without waste. NEW PRODUCING TEAM PLANNING EGAN SHOW "For Cryin' Out Loud," penned by Joe Lawlis, is planned for the Egan opening next Monday. It'll be put on by a new producing team, Harry C. Brown, Jr., re- cently here from the east, and Cyr Forrest. Author will head the cast with Toni March, straight lead, Lor- raine La Val featured, and a sup- porting group of Etta Dalmas, William Ruhl, Don Wilson, Al Aldrich, Louise Bowden and Leslie Thomas. MENJOU WITH PARA. Adolphe Menjou was re-engaged by Paramount, following his return to the United States from Europe. He will star in a talking picture to be filmed in Spanish and French and to go into production at the company's Hollywood stu- dios within two weeks. His last production filmed in Hollywood was "Fashions in Love," which introduced him as a star of the talking screen. He went abroad soon after the completions of this picture. NEW SCENIC STUDIO The Armstrong Scenic Studios in the film row district, a brand new fireproof plant now building to replace the one destroyed by fire recently,' is now in its final stages of completion. An elabor- ate opening celebration is planned. CHINESE ILSO OFF Box-office takings at the picture houses are generally off again this week with the exception that the United Artists, Loew's State and Paramount are back nearer normal averages. The last of the Grandeur showing of "Happy Days" at the Carthay tells a sad tale, and "Rogue Song" is fading rapidly at the Chinese. The take at Carthay Circle regis- tered $6676 for six days of the' sixth week of the wide film, less than half the house average and the lowest figure hit by this house so far this year. "Happy Days" comes out on the 20th, to be suc- ceeded by Universal's "Al Quiet on the Western Front." The Chinese in Hollywood grossed $11,042 for six days in the thirteenth week of "Rogue Song," about half this year's aver- age. This picture gives place to John McCormack's singing opus, "Song o' My Heart," on Satur- day, April 19. The fadeout of "Phantom of the Opera" showed $6430 in the till, also about half the average of the Fox Criterion. Paul Whiteman's "King of Jazz" steps in their April 19. Loew's State came back to life to the tune of $34,983 for Joan Crawford , in "Montana Moon," supported by F. & M.'s "Bells and Belles" Idea. This is $2200 better than average and the best showing of the week. The Boulevard went places with the film "Let's Go Places" and F. & M. Varieties, grossing $4969. Average for this house runs around $8000. The Egyptian was $3000 below the previous week and a thousand below average on the Garbo "Anna Christie," taking in $10,- 785. F. & M. "Changes Idea" was in support. Warner Brothers' Hollywood house, in the third and last week of "Hold Everything," grossed $20,700, just about average for the house although considerable of a drop from the 'business this pic- ture has been doing. The Down- town Warner house, for the third and closing week of "Texas Moon," drew $16,900, six grand below average and the previous week's business. "The Benson Murder Case" brought 'business at the Paramount up to general average, grossing $27,800, while Fanny Brice in "Be Yourself" surprised everybody at the United Artists by jumping business seven grand up to $17,000, which may not prove anything, and then again may prove that Fanny's racial supporters have no regard for Lent. The R-K-0 with Columbia's "Vengeance" on the screen and a four-act vaude bill, held up well to the tune of $15,000, and the closing week of "Ladies of Leisure" at the Orpheum repeated the previ- ous week's business of $14,500. The gorilla picture, "Ingagi," is in the Orpheum now and packing them to the murals. SAVOY PLAYERS FINISH FIFTH SAN DIEGO YEAR The Savoy Players, San Diego stock company, are now celebrat- ing the completion of their fifth successful season in that city. Production offered during the week is "The ✓ Scarlet Woman," by Zelda Sears and Reita Lambert. In the cast are: Vane Calvert, Ruby Kisman, Marie Gray, Wil- liam Heater, Anne Berryman, Billy Mourning, Forrest Taylor. Howard MacNear, Lillian Bol- lander, Austa Pearce, Edward Porter. Eddy Lawrence and How- ard Watson. During the period they have played 780 matinees and 1820 evening performances. GEO. ARLISS RETURNS George Arliss has arrived in Los Angeles, direct from England. Mrs. Arliss is with him. Arliss is here two weeks before the production of his new picture, "Old English," is scheduled to start. Free Booze For Moguls Bad Business One of the boys, out here from New York to crash pic- tures, figured the. best way in was wining, dining and entertaining, directors, writ- ers and execs. He tried it. Everything fine on the social whirl stuff and he built up plenty contacts. Then—making the studio rounds, he learned he was too much of a drinker, etc., etc., to do in the moral mov- ies. METHOD FITS IN SAN FRANCISCO. April 17.— Hailed by musicians as "the most important triumph in years for union labor" and setting an en- tirely new precedent, a decision was handed down * this week by the State Appellate Court hold- ing Nasser Bros, and the Allied Amusement Industries, Inc., to their previous contracts with union musicians. According to Nat Schmulowitz, attorney for the theatre interests, the theatres will file an appeal for a rehearing, and, if that is not granted, will carry the case to the Supreme Courts. The Appellate Court's decision reversed a previous one handed down by Superior Judge J. J. Tra- bucco. He had ruled that theatres did not have to carry out their contracts with the musicians who were ousted by advent of the talkies. However, the Appellate Court ruled that employment con- tracts are binding and must be carried out, since "the law does not permit one law for the em- ployer and another for the em- ployee," according to the latter court's decision. The fight first began over a year ago when the theatre owners ousted musicians, when talkies were installed. The plaintiffs, rep- resented .by Walter A. Weber, president of Local No. 6, A. F. of M., and Albert A. Greenbaum, sec- retary, with Milton Sapiro, at- torney, filed suit to hold the the- atre owners to their previous con- tracts. The musicians' suit against the theatre owners is the first time labor, in the West, has ever gone to court on the question of col- lective bargaining. WESTWOOD BUSINESS MEN STAGE CARNIVAL Business men of Westwood Hills tried out some showmanship last week-end and attracted over 100,000 people to the University village. Thirty vaude acts, two bands, a Spanish orchestra and singing and dancing ensembles, with batteries of lights borrowed from Hollywood, attracted the crowds in great flocks and brought a lot of money to the village. Colored light effects on live steam brought the oos-and-ahs in volume, and the verdict was that it was the biggest street stunt ever pulled in these parts. HARBACH TO SUPERVISE Otto Harbach, playwright, is here to write for "Warner Brothers and to supervise the transfer of some of his established successes to the screen. Mrs. Harbach and their two sons, William and Robert, are with the author. The first picture actively supervised by the play- wright himself will go into pro- duction within three weeks. Je- rome Kern is writing the score. NEW COMIC BOOK Charlie Grapewin, old-timer of vaude, has written a book titled "Squawk Bridge," concerning the Pea family of Peaville. The first five hundred copies are to be per- sonally autographed by the au- thor, and some are expected to ar- rive in Los Angeles during the current week. A new camera process, adapt- able to all present equipment and film at infinitestimal expense, but revolutionary in reduction of pro- duction costs, is claimed by its inventor, Dorwin Dean, to be now perfected and ready for use. The Dean Process is the result of five years of intensive experi- mentation and development, but in its final analysis is so simple, ac- cording to Dean, as to occasion the wonderment of those to whom it has been demonstrated as to why it had not been developed long before. The chief secrets of this devel- opment, revealed to Inside Facts in an exclusive interview, lie in the chemical treatment of film and in the qualities of a special oil paint for scenic effects. There is no "double exposure" work, and no camera changes, except in one or two old model styles now rarely used, and then only at a cost of about ten dollars. Here are some of the virtues claimed for the new Dean Proc- ess: 11 ( 1. Dispenses with the necessity for building of massive sets. 2. Dispenses with the need for model-made scenes. 3. Makes possible the shooting of any scene the mind can con- ceive, no matter how impossible such shots may have been in the past, and so removes all limita- tions on photography. 4. Makes wholesale reductions in mechanical staffs possible. 5. Reduces location work 90 per cent. 6. Shortens production time at least one-half. 7. Greatly reduces volume of lighting required. 8. Improves sound recording, indoors or out. 9. Tremendously simple. Practically all shooting can be done without leaving the lot, and a cast can be planted in Cairo, Constantinople or Connecti- cut without cutting out, in or double exposing, and as convincing as if filmed on actual location, ac- cording to the inventor. Dean has prepared demonstra- tion film showing airplanes crash- ing into buildings, the leaning tower of Pisa crashing to earth and the Statue of Liberty waving her torch in greeting, and he claims ability to produce scenes that do, or do not, exist anywhere in the world, without leaving the studio and without building sets. No details of his method, he claims, infringe on any previous patents, and none of his results show any "special effect" work. The inventor calls his develop- ment "Dean Process Pictures" and has perfected his idea over five years of exhaustive research and experimentation. Dean is a former news and in- dustrial cameraman. JURY FREES JAILED A jury disagreed with blue-coat- ed and censorious law-enforcers in Municipal Court here last week and twelve woman performers went free of charges of presenting an "improper" performance. Police Sergeant William Crane and three aides raided the show, staged at Sawtelle, Soldier's Home site, near Beverly Hills. Police contended the show was not the proper thing for soldiers, ex-soldiers or anyone else to see, closed it, and brought the partici- pants to jail. The jury thought otherwise. MAUDE ARRIVES Cyril Maude, signed to make his first screen appearance in the part of his familiar role in "Grumpy" for Paramount, arrived here this week. The late Theo- dore Roberts starred in the silent version of the play, done by the same company.