Inside facts of stage and screen (April 26, 1930)

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE TUMIJ. WARING SHOW JUMP SURPRISES SmGE MUSICOMEDY T IFTEB SLOW STIRT Legit takes were still holding fairly steady last week, in spite of Holy Week, the feature being the upshoot of returns at the Mason. "Rah, Rah Daze," the Fred War- ing revue, showed the effects of drastic priming and polishing and stepped up to a gross of $11,000, $3000 better than any previous showing. The production is set for an indefinite run. The Civic Repertory offering of "The Hero" took $4200 for its third and final week, off from the previous two weeks but satisfac- tory. "The Imaginary Invalid" opened April 21 to a good start. "Going Home" will follow in two weeks, and is now casting. Andy Wright's "Philadelphia" closed at the Vine Street April 19 with a gross of $4500 for its third week, making way for "Among the Married." Wright is negotiating for a house in San Francisco. The Henry Duffy houses pa- raded right along their steady way, the Playhouse leading with $5200 for the first week of "Holiday," featuring Dale Winter. The El Capitan grossed $5000 on the third week of "Broken Dishes," which is scheduled to close April 26, to be followed by "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em. Sixth and closing week of "Your Uncle Dudley" at the President attracted $4700, a very good showing. "The Blue Ghost" opened there April 20. The Egan opened April 21 with "For Cryin' Out Loud" comedy. Exploitation consisted of wide street distribution of passes with the 50-cent "courtesy tax" gag tacked on. The Majestic opened Thursday, April 24, with Lillian Albertson's "Student Prince" pro- duction. The Belasco opened April 21 with "June Moon," and the Biltmore opens May 4 with "Strictly Dishonorable." Figueroa Playhouse opened April 23 with "Up and at 'Em," colored revue. $100 Box Sale For Actors Club Annual Show EXIS tllE SMART 10 TELEPHONE Enter the picture plugger! The fact that exhibitors like to know what the public \yants in screen entertainment is being used extensively to promote the sale of films. The racket is to phone managers and ask, "When will 'Pale But Passionate' be played at your the- atre? We are all so anxious to see it." Such calls will be fre- quent over a given period, and if the manager seems disposed to argue against running the film he will find himself answered with ready sales talk. There are some flaws in the sys- tem, however. The conversation is not quite amateur enough, the voices too often the same, the calls frequent enough to cause com- ment among managers who, com- paring notes, thus discover the ex- tent of the racket. It's a racket that is paying small dividends, according to the ex- hibitors. That the "Code," recently pro- mulgated through the Will Hays organization for the moral and esthetic guidance of the picture- producing industry, is being taken seriously and is not merely a polit- ical move to head off censorship or government commission control, is the import of a statement given out from the office of Fred H. Beetson, western representative of the pro- ducers' organization, this week. Colonel Jason F. Joy left Holly- wood Tuesday night for New York, where he will view all the current Broadway productions which might eventually reach the screen, and on his return, in about 30 days, will take up with producers the various modifications required to fit the ne- cessities of the Code. Meanwhile, five of the major stu- dios are calling meetings of their entire producing executive staffs, including all departments, to dis- seminate to them not only a com- mon knowledge of the require- ments of the Code, but to affirm their intent. These studios are Publix-Paramount, Warner Broth- ers, First National, Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer and R-K-O. Others will follow. Beetson points out that the Code originated with four of the pro- ducers, elaborated by five more, ratified by the industry as a whole and released for publication through the Hays office; that the Code is something designed within the in- dustry as a sort of constitution for self-government and for its own benefit, and that the Code is to be- come an actual working standard. PERSONAUTIES AND DOINGS PICKED UP ALONG FILM ROW By FRED YEATES j Eddy Eckles, F. & M. publicity chief, is celebrating. The event is his birthday, and he's doing it by going on a camping trip. * * * Charlie Caballero, purchasing agent and one of the originals of West Coast Theatres organization, has been transferred to New York to function as general purchasing agent for all of the Fox interests * * Eddie Hill Eddie Hill, rotund and personalized master of cere- monies, who has been a featured performer for Pub- lix and RKO during the past eight seasons, is at present featured in the Fanchon and Marco "Bells and Belles" Idea. Eddie is possessed of a clear, high tenor voice and his comedy numbers and introductions are highlights in the new Idea. MEIKLEJOHN SHOWS RETURN With the RKO office set to book the Million Dollar here a sudden change in plans will swing the house back under the Meikle- john banner, RKO booking the bills for but two weeks. Reported reason for RKO stay- ing out of the weekly change house is a wish to maintain the exploita- tion billing for its RKO Hillstreet of "The Only RKO Vaudeville Show in Town." LOUIS FELD HERE Louis W. Feld, well known to the theatrical fraternity, and cam- paign manager for Mayor Jimmy Walker in New York, has arrived here to act as campaign manager for Superior Judge Walter B. Thompson at the August 26 pri- primaries. Judge Thompson has many friends in the picture colony. RUGGLES IS MOVING Wesley Ruggles is moving from his Beverly Hills house to Malibu Beach to work on early details of casting and production for the talkie version of Edna Ferber's "Cimmaron," which he will direct for RKO. Ruggles just finished up on "The Sea Bat" for M-G-M GETS INJUNCTION SAN FRANCISCO. April 24.— Frank W. Healy, local impressario, this week secured an injunction against Curran D. Swint, Virgil Shepherd and Arthur Judson, Inc. to restrain them from presenting D ino Borgioli, Italian tenor, in con- cert. Healy says he had Borgiol under contract since 1928. H. B. Franklin, Harry Arthur and Marco have gone to New York to say hello to the new board of directors. A lot of the local boys wish television was available. * * ♦ Finlay E. Benson is back on the managerial throne of the United Artists exchange after an eclipse of two years, and there is much rejoicing not only along the Row, but among the exhibs as well. "Benny" is not only popular, but is respected. * * * The U. A. sales force have re- turned from a three-day conven- tion at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, where they joined in meeting with delegates from Salt Lake, Seattle, Denver and San Francisco. They report being all pepped up over the big releases to come, and claim next year will see them back on the old peak of five or so years ago. The year just closing was not so hot. * * * Irene Mears (now Mrs. Joseph Marks), who has been secretary and cashier of the U. A. exchange for the past eleven years, is now on a three-months' leave of ab- sence to recuperate from a general breakdown. * ♦ * "Polly" Pollock, of the Film Board of Trade, is slated for a x-acation during the first two weeks of May. She won't tell where she is going, claiming she doesn't know. Any time, any time. Any girl with that sort of a light in her eyes knows where she is go- ing. And howl * * * The Capitol Theatre at Long Beach has been leased from West Coast by Milton Arthur, who for- merly handled the Fox Figueroa in L. A. Hal Lichtman, general sales manager for U. A., with headquar- ters in New York, is sojourning temporarily in the new world capi- tal. He is due to go back to ex- ile in about a week. * * * Columbia exchange is rejoicing over landing a couple of big prizes in the ten-year anniversary con- test held throughout the country. Second prize for the Cashiers was taken by Mabel L. Puckett, and Melvin Klein took the Bookers' second. Prizes were $75 each, but Harry Cohn doubled it just for fun. Mabel is expected to invest hers mostly in that new hope chest. * * * But amang Columbia's rejoicing there is a discordant theme. In the gross results, Los Angeles is just one-tenth of one per cent be- hind Philadelphia, the national leader. One blinkety-blank cancel- lation did the dirty work. * * * Salesman Joe Wolfe has been sent to Kansas City to manage Columbia's exchange there. William Mays has taken over operation of The Victor at Victor- ville; formerly operated by Way- cott Brenan. * * ♦ A gentleman by the name of Ketick has taken over the Rim- pau, L. A., from Clarence Rov- inek. « * * Ralph Pollock breezed through on his way from Spokane to as- sume his duties at the Fox, Long Beach. ♦ ♦ ♦ Full billing of the new Marco star is to be "Ronald Marco Wolfe." -He will headline the Mar- co household show during the com- ing season. Marco thinks he's a great "Idea." PRIOR IS PLAYING FAMILIAR ROLE AT MAJESTIC Allen Prior, whose picture appears on page one of this issue, is starred in the Lil- lian Albertson production of "The Student Prince," which opened at the Majestic The- atre on Thursday, April 24, for an indefinite run. Mr. Prior was starred as Prince Karl in the original New York and London produc- tions. Other productions in which he has been -starred are: "Love Son g," "Rainbow" (made into the picture "Song of the West" by Warner Bros), "White Eagle" and "Katga the Dancer." Mr. Prior has just com- pleted work on "Bride of the Regiment" for First Nation- al and has received other of- fers for pictures, but has not signed for further picture work pending the new "Stu- dent Prince" production. 1330 IVEL PLUHS With 100 Masquers doing their stuff, the Hollywood Actors' Club is rapidly working things into shape for its forthcoming annual Revel, to be held at a midnight show at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday night, May 10. Four boxes in the El Capitan will be sold at $100 per six-seat box. First ten rows go for ten bucks, the rest downstairs at five. Balcony loges are scaled at three iron-men and the balance of the shelf at two bucks. As usual, the prominent item will be a musical production, staged by Larry Ceballos, depict- ing a "Night at the Montmarte," with manly Masquers taking a hand, or rather leg, at being cho- rines. The "young ladies of the ensemble" will be furnished cos- tumes from the Lady Jane Lewis shops and furs by Willard George, Inc. There will be 65 Masquers in this number. This year's show will have but one serious dramatic sketch, it is announced, the balance of the Rev- el being devoted to mirth, melody and blackouts. This year's Harlequin, Sam Hardy, will be Jester of the pro- ceedings, with Ben Bard, Paul Nicholson, Joe E. Brown and Lee Moran as "assistant head men." Harry Joe Brown will again be stage manager, with Robert Ede- son, Edward Earle and James Gleason as assistants. Ray BaileV will be musical director. One of the features of the Revel will be the introduction of Julian Eltinge's new act, which he is readying for a vaudeville engage- ment on an elaborate scale. BEPERTOBy THEHTBE IT BULF-Wliy HISTORY STUDENT STARTS NEWEST VAUDE SLOGAN A local vaudevillian, noted for his absent - mindedness, v/alked into a booking office the other day still slightly woozy from poring over one of these now very popular historical biographies, which in part, dealt with the fam- ous orator, Patrick Henry. "And what can I do for you?" asked the booker. "Give me liberty or give me—^the last half" was the answer. He got the air. The Civic Repertory players at the Hollywood Music Box Theatre started this week on the second half of their scheduled series of eight productions for this season. "The Imaginary Invalid" is the current show, to be followed on May 5 with Rideout's "Going Home," directed by Paul Irving, with the association of George Renavant. The next two produc- tions are not yet definitely chosen. The venture this season has been successful beyond expectations, and a civic ocmmittee is currently at work to make it a permanent civic institution. This plaj'^house is more fortunate than most of its kind, not being dependent upon volunteer or stu- dent talent to fill even minor roles. Each production brings an aval- anche of the highest grade players now in Hollywood, who seek parts as opportunities to exhibit their a'bilities to distinguished audiences and under good production condi- tions. It is the high quality of this season's offerings that have made the venture so successful, and with the civic sponsorship now be- ing sought it is believed that an- other season will see the Playhouse in a position to offer adequate financial reward as well as oppor- tunity. WINS A CONTRACT SBOW ABE MYSTEBY Mystery surrounds the identity of the backers of the colored mu- sical, "Up and At 'Em," which opened Wednesday at the Figueroa Playhouse here, under the official sponsorship of Hal Reid and Ralph Pollack, and Associates. One oft repeated rumor is to the effect that 10 prominent busi- ness men are the "Associates," in- terested in putting on the colored revue. Walter Richardson, colored nut comic, is featured in the produc- tion, since the producers failed in negotiations with RKO to have Bill Robinson, dancing star, dou- ble from picture work into the re- vue. Ethel Waters may come out to jump into the production for name draw billing, it is under- stood. Cast of the show includes the Four Covans, Lasses Brown, "Stompy" Albertine Pickens, Flora Washingtonfi Down Home Boys Quartet, Claude Collins, Tessie Mazie and Sonnie Clay's recording band with Clay working on the lyrics and music. Dark for months, the Fig house was suddenly in demand by two producers, with Andy Wright af- ter the show to move his "Phila- delphia," legit, downtown from the Vine Street in Hollywood. After being outbid for the house, Wright is now in San Francisco negotiat- ing for bookings there and may bring his political satire back here for a downtown showing later. Lucile Wideman, 17-year-old Los Angeles girl, who has been study- ing tap work with Bud Murray for the past two months, applied to Dave Bennett, dance director at Paramount, for an engagement of specialty dancing, and after showing her off-rhythm dance to Mr. Bennett, was given a contract to appear in Paramount's screen production of "Follow Thru." WRIGHT NEGOTIATES SAN FRANCISCO, April 24.— Negotiations are under way be- tween Andy Wright and Abe Ruef for the former to bring his "Philadelphia" from the Vine Street, Hollywood, to Ruef's Capi- tol, currently dark. Wright is in town this week checking over the house prepara- tory to a possible May opening. No papers have been signed y«t. It is Wright's plan to first put "Philadelphia" on; then follow with "Little Show" and an origi- nal, "Souvenir Sadie," staging them under a super stock arrange- ment.