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

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE SEVEN Harold J. Bock Manager PHONE DOUGLAS 2213 SAN FRANCISCO KRESS BLDG. 935 Market St., Office Suite 504 FILM HOUSES BEAR BRUNT FOR PRE-EASTER ATTENDANCE DROP SAN FRANCISCO. April 17.—- Holv Week did it. It was "in the bag" for local churches to take the heaviest attendance of the week, and picture palaces felt the re- ligious trend keenly. Again it was "Ingagi's" week, that animal picture holding to a steady pace in its second week at the RKO Orpheum with $21,000 showing on the cash register. Pic- ture is good for at least two more weeks, after which Radio Pictures' "Cuckoos" with Bert Wheeler and Bobby Woolsey is due. It's a funny thing about this "Ingagi." W. B. Wagnon, operator of the Embassy and Davies Theatres, had an agreement to show the film at one of his local houses for a re- ported consideration of $1750. He turned over his contract to the Orpheum, which house has been taking a mighty sweet profit since its capacity opening two weeks ago. The Fox had two ace cards in its deck in Eddie Peabody on stage, and Buster Keaton on screen in M-G-M's "Free and Easy." F a n c h o n and Marco's "Coral Idea" and Walt Roesner's concert orchestra aided in bringing the total gross up to the $42,000 mark. There is no doubt of the fact that the banjo-plunking Pea- body is a draw in this town There were good houses through- out the week to substantiate that Norma Shearer in "The Divorcee' is the present week's screen at- traction. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Mys- terious Island" came near being submerged at Loew's Warfield. House dropped down from a usually good gross to the figure of $13,000. However, big things are expected of "The Rogue Song," M-G-M's smash hit with Lawrence Tibbett, which opens Saturday. In the Publix ranks the Para- mount fared best of all with George Bancroft the screen attrac- tion in "Ladies Love Brutes," Don George and orchestra, Harold Ramsay at the organ, and Nina Frellson's kiddie revue. The house had an intake of $18,500. "Vaga- bond King," after a run at the St Francis, comes in here for a week at pop prices. Fanny Brice's "Be Yourself" bowed out at the St. Francis after two weeks with a closing figure of $8000 with "Her Unborn Child" succeeding. At the California, second and final week of "The Light of Western Stars" did $18,000. Lillian Gish in United Artists' "One Romantic Night" is currently in. First week of Warner's "Under a Texas Moon" at Wagnon's Em- bassy did $10,000 and continues for another seven days. Ed Hor- ton in "The Aviator" weak at $7500 for Wagnon's Davies. House this week makes a change of pol- icy shifting from a 65-cent top to 50 cents and showing two pic- tures. Ackerman & Harris' Casino with Billie Dove in "The Other To- morrow" and a stage show that, for two days had Primo Camera in at a thousand bucks a day did $10,500. Camera was a compara- tively good draw despite unsavory publicity arising from his fracas with Chevalier, the Negro pugilist. Market St. Gleanings LEGITS HOLD UP FAIRLY WELL IN S. F. DESPITE LENT PERIOD MiDIN CAFE IN S. F, GOES FLOPPD SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— Mandarin Cafe folded Sunday night, leaving debts of $6600 to be ad- justed by the Board of Trade among approximately sixty cred- itors. Since December 30, 1928, the downtown night spot on the edge of Chinatown has dropped about $18,000, according to the at- torney for Dr. Kane, owner of the building. A few months ago Paddy Dillon eased out of the place, leaving it in the hands of Bill Muldoon, who is currently attempting to settle the place's financial difficulties. The place had two floors, the first being used as a cabaret where a floor show and Ray Tellier's or- chestra provided entertainment. Up- stairs on the third floor the Whoo- pee Club opened at 1 a. m. and featured ginger ale and entertain- ment. CHINESE STAR'S DATES SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— Mei Lan-Fang, Chinese portrayer of women's roles, is due to show the night of April 23 at the Tivoli, and will then open for a week at the Great China Theatre, Oriental playhouse in Chinatown. ANOTHER REPEAT "SURE SHOT PEABODY "The Big Draw" at the Fox San Francisco, last week SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— We have yet to see a better silent trailer than the one Herman Kers- ken has at the Fox this week on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 'Divorcee,' a flicker made from the recently published and sensational "Ex- Wife." Throughout its entirety the trailer stresses the fact that the book, which was banned, has a flock of snappy lines and actions and that the picture is hardly less spicv. "It just gets by the cen sor." the trailer reads. And does it excite audience comment? Well, we should eskl * * * UNSOLICITED INTERVIEWS Hurryintr into the sanctum of Charles (Publix Coast Supervisor") Kurtzman. we startled that indi- vidual with the querv, "Do you think there will be many old peo- ple this year?" "Publix Theatres are leaders in their field." he retorted, smilinerlv. "I mean, wVi.it dn von think will Vtannen to Bolivia if Kolster Radio rices?" we continued, nonplussed. "Why, rln vou know that in 1929 Puhlfa Theatres, west of the Rockies alone, plaved to more peo- ple than there are musicians in fa- vor nf the talkies?" Not beinqr aware of that fart, we retreated. As we left the office, in the left-hand pocket of our coat we discovered this notation neatly pen- eiled in the" fine Italian hand of Mr. Kurtzman: "Publix Theatres are leaders in their field." * * * Not only do stenogs c:o into "Off to Buffalo" between dictation, but college studes fall for the pedal aeilitv in a big way. University of Californiaites have taken up the art of tapping to such an extent that the U. has instituted a course in that gentle pastime. * * * SPOTLIGHTS George Nickson buying pajamas . . . gorgeous Russian ones . . . Abe Bloom 'Tuttin' on the Ritz" . . . Radio singers panning vaude players . . . and vice versa . . . Helen O'Neil ultra busy with her Pepper Box program over KTAB . . but still finding time to look ttractive . . . Arthur Ward taking an early morning hike on the beach with this kolyumist . . . Carlton Kelsev working on orchestrations for "Hi There" . . . Al Trahan's crack "Oh. you use Life Buoy soap . . . I'll have you know this is a high-class act" . . . Marie Dressier nursing tired feet after a shopping expedition . . . and hav- "ng photos taken for the dailies . . Al Sather and Larry O'Dowd still at it . . . wonder where Ron Jonson was . . . Eddie Holden giving us a bust ... not on the nose, you dope . . . it's a plaster one of his Frank Watanabe char- acter . . . Charlie Hamp doing a number for us . . . thanks, Chas . . Eddie Peabody tardy . . . and his excuse was an animal picture. . . . Walt Roesner, Herman Kers ken and Joe Sinai post-mortemiz ing everything in general . . . Don E. Gilman taking issue with Carl Haverlin's recent story in this pub- lication on radio surveys . . . Lew Rosenberg in from L. A. . . . Graf Bros, hustling on their new record- ing plant ... Jo Mendel hustling on his new night club . . . four ac tors hustling away when we sug gested "how about an ad" ... the gag in "June Moon": "I'll sue her for alienation." "Oh, you can't do that; she was born in this coun- try." , . . Stop me if you've heard this one. THE TRUMP ACE THAT TAKES EVERY HAND SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— A plentitude of good shows held up local legit boxoffices fairly well despite the heavy competition of Holy Week and several days of rainy weather. Again "June Moon" at the Geary topped all else in town for its second week, the Ring Lardner comedy grossing approxi- mately $13,000. Holds on until Monday night when "The Criminal Code" comes in. All Duffy houses got by okay, the first week of "Elizabeth Sleeps Out" doing $5000. The President with "The Blue Ghost" in its sec- ond stanza took in $5100. Across the bay in Oakland, initial week of May Robson in "Helena's Boys" took a gross of $4000. The Curran was dark this week with Lillian Albertson due to bring in "New Moon" on Sunday. Erlanger's Columbia turned pic- ture for the current session with Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson's animal flicker "Across the World" holding the screen. Capital and Tivoli both dark. COOGANS VISITORS CARNERA AT $1000 GREED STREET PUY SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— After four trials and two grand jury indictments, Sid Goldtree has again resumed "The Peephole" at his upstairs Green Street Theatre. And again, it is expected, Police Captain Arthur D. Layne, exponent of all that is good and pure in the theatre, will haul Goldtree and his troupe before the courts on charges of giving an immoral and indecent performance. The original cast, with the ex- ception of Jack Phipps, was in the reopening night's show. Phipps was replaced by Arthur Welling- ton. Remainder of the cast in- cludes Joe Kemper, Hugh Metcalf, Carol Winston, Taylor Graves, Connie Carlisle, Betty Blossom, Judy Swanson, Gene West, Mau- ren Fleurnoy, Bruce Payne and Larry Cook. In defending Goldtree before Judge S. J. Lazarus, Attorneys Hugh McKevitt and Morris Op- penheim branded the series of po- lice raids on the Green Street The- atre as persecution rather than prosecution, and requested Capt. Layne to clean up this city's liquor and redlight districts instead of raiding shows. TREASURER TRANSFER SAN FRANCISCO. April 17.— Louis Tavolara has been trans- ferred from Publix's California to the Paramount as treasurer, suc- ceeding Jerry Forsyth. BURTON IN S. F. SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— Billy Burton, representative for Ager, Yellen and Bornstein, is here to play the firm's catalogue. SAN FRANCISCO. April 17.— Primo Camera, Italian giant heavyweight, appeared at Acker- man and Harris* Casino on Tues- day, Wednesday and Thursday at a reported salary of $1000 a day. House boosted its price to 50 cents for the added attraction. Food Fit For a King LOUVRE CAFE THE PROFESSIONAL HEAD- QUARTERS NEAR THE WARFIELD THEATRE 972 MARKET ST. SAN FRANCISCO EDW. MITCHELL, Prop. SAN FRANCISCO. April 17.— Mr. and Mrs. Jack Coogan, with their youngest son, Robert, were here this week visiting Mrs. Coo- gan's mother, Mrs. Junior Dol- liver. OUT FOR WEEK OAKLAND, April 17.—Joe Pet- ley of the Arthur Petley act was out of the last half of the week at the R-K-O Orpheum, due to stom- ach trouble. Arthur Petley, aided by two remaining members of the act, continued without the other member. BARNES SHOW DATES SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— The Al G. Barnes circus opens here April 24 for a four-day stand. MARIE VISITS S. F. SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— Marie Dressier, comedienne of "Chasing Rainbows" and other Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer p i c t u r es, was here this week on a short va- cation. MOTHER IS DEAD SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— The mother of Selby C. Oppen- heimer, concert manager, died at her home here this week. CRABILL IN HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— Ralph E. Crabill, Publix exec, was confined to the hospital for three days last week by an opera- tion on his tonsils. W. G. GORMES DIES SAN FRANCISCO, April 17.— William G. Gormes, stage hand, died April 8 at his home here. NINA FRELLSON'S JUVENILE FOLLIES PARAMOUNT SAN FRANCISCO "A LITTLE SMILE" Words and Music by GEO. B. L. BRAUN (A Fox Trot Sensation) CONCORD PUBLISHING CO. 1179 Market St. San Francisco Artistic Scenic Advertising Curtains By Far the Best 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, Asst. Mgr. SCENERY BY MARTIN STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA