Inside facts of stage and screen (May 31, 1930)

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN FAGE ELEVEN (Continued from Page 1) to sell the services of these enter- tainers to independent stations throughout the country, just as they sell their picture products to independent exhibitors. To Use Records It is not the intention, of course, to have these performers tour the stations in person, but to use the newly acquired facilities of the Brunswick-Collender Company to record their efforts, and rent the records to the individual stations. This will not only return profits on the otherwise idle time of contract players, but also publicize their names and build returns for W. B. pictures. Meanwhile, according to the re- ports, preparations will go ahead for the production and transmis- sion of television to the units of the great Warner theatre chain now building or in process of acquisi- tion, and which the producers are expected to pioneer just as they pioneered talking pictures. First Announcement The first definite announcement that television would be reserved by the big interests for protection of their theatre holdings was made public in Inside Facts and provoked nationwide interest. This, similar- ly, is the first announcement of the definite plans of any particular pro- ducer. Interviewed while attending the Fox convention in Los Angeles this week, Harley L. Clarke, presi- dent of the Fox Film Corporation, acknowledged that television will be used by the motion picture in- dustry, and will be made available to theatregoers as the talking pic- tures are today. "It is my belief," he said, "that the industry is entering a new epoch and one in which great heights will be attained. Labora- tories are working full blast on many devices and processes." WANTS EARPHONES Don Lee is broadcasting an ap- peal for earphones for use in hos- pitals. Anybody having an old set kicking around the attic will confer a boon on some sick person by sending it down to KHJ. ON CBS NETWORK Florence Stern, a young Califor- nia violinist, has been given a spot on the CBS network program, "Around the Samovar," produced in New York. HELEN IN S. F. SEATTLE, May 29.—Among the Seattle radio artists who have left the home town and made San Francisco their destination is Helen Hoover Lindsay, former staff solo- ist at KOMO and now singing for the National Broadcasting Com- pany. Her husband, Art Lindsay, former chief announcer for KOMO, is on the announcing staff of the National Broadcasting Company. To Radio Entertainers Who aim to earn their stipend by making folks laugh. If you want to arrive somewhere and be more than a mere micro- hack, get new stuff. Take a chance. Perhaps you are a good entertainer and won't like my material. Or perhaps again, my material may be all right and you can't 'sell it.' Take a chance. Send $1 for the first issue of THE COMEDIAN, my monthly compendium of laughs that are really new. But whoa —wait a niinute. I .aid 'Take a I got that twisted. I'm takmg the chance, for your dol- lar goes back if you're not satisfied. WALTER LONDON p. O. Box 139, Vine St. Station Hollywood, Calif. Pickups AND Fie wpoints In answer to our crack last week about a shortage of strings in the otherwise effective Don Lee or- chestra, Lee has authorized an aug- mentation which will provide a string section comprising seven first violins, four seconds, three vi- olas, two cellos and two string basses. This strengthened orches- tra makes its first appearance on the opening "California Melodies" program produced here for national network consumption, and it is hoped he will see his way clear to keep it at this strength for the daily feature programs. It will then have no superior as a staff or- chestra. 4> * The production staff at KHJ are trying to find somebody willing to sponsor a 100-piece orchestra in programs featuring nothing but the lighter melodious classics. They believe such an offering would at- tract a 100 per cent audience, based on observation at Hollywood Bowl concerts. Maybe they are right. It would certainly attract the 100 per cent support of musicians as well as a 100 per cent expense bill. 41 4< * KGER down at Long Beach seems to have come to life with a rush since Bill Ray went down there from KFWB. Ralph Power is doing his publicity (it's Power- full stuff), and among the new fea- tures is a series of recreated fights, announced by Ed Murphy, and a minstrel show inspired by Herb Conner. Power (not Ralph this time) has been increased to 1000 watts, and KGER now has to be reckoned with. ♦ ♦ * Confinement in a radio studio and the steady grind to put out new and interesting programs seems to take its toll of radio people. The latest victim is Robert Hurd, who collapsed at his post of duty last week, and still looks groggy. Radio is a gluttonous giant who requires TEAM REUNITED A former vaude team, Montgom- ery and Lee, have been brought to- gether again by radio. Miss Lee offers babv impersonations on Eve- lyn Torrey's "Just Kids" nour over KMPC, Beverly Hills, and Mont- gomery is writing her material. Since leaving vaudeville Miss Lee has been in pictures, while Mont- gomery teamed up with Kenney for the "Two Turks in Cork" act recently featured on the KHJ Mer- rymakers. Kenney is now in the East. KOIN ORGANIST PORTLAND, May 29. — Leon Drews is now the staff organist of the Heathman Hotel, home of KOIN. Drews opened the Pub- lix theatre here as top organist. MIDNITE SHOWS SAN FRANCISCO. May 29.— Ackerman and Harris inaugurate midnight shows at the Casino this week. Eddie's Midnight Party they'll call them. ^' SIGNED FOR 'CRIME' SAN FRANCISCO. May 29.— Arthur Wellington has been signed for his old part of Frank Smiley m "Crime" which Duffy will open at the Alcazar June 1. AGAIN SUES EQUITY SAN FRANCISCO, May 29 — Allegmg that Theodore Hale and Richard Tucker conspired to have her ousted from Equity and to prevent her from obtaining stage employment. Edith Ransom this week filed a third amended com- plaint agamst Equity. Hale is the organization's local attorney A previous case was thrown out of court. PLAYERS' GUILD OPENS SAN^ FRANCISCO, May 29.— Players' Guild opened its new the- atre last week with Lonsdale's "On Approval " with Elizabeth Wilbur, .Sheila MacGregor. Ronald Telfer and Malcolni Moulder. Guild opens Children of Darkness" for a two weeks run beginning June 2. incessant feeding and a varied diet; and then there is that electrically charged atmosphere, combined with the focussed attention of thousands of listeners. >i< « « The production of "Traviata" over KFI Tuesday night of last week was admittedly one of the finest of radio productions, in which Virginia Flohri sang as she never sang before. Her performance brought her the biggest flood of T rnoM ipuis SEATTLE, May 29.—A perma- nent feature of KOL radio service will be broadcasting from airplanes. KOL is now using a 100-watt airplane set, but will eventually in- stall a transmitting set of 1000 watts. With this much power, en- gineers anticipate clear projection of voice over a distance of 300 miles, KOL'S first attempt to broadcast from the air was made the day that Washington and California held their crew race. Since then Engineer Paul Gale and his assist- ants have improved the equipment and tests have been successful. HAS NEW PLAY SAN FRANCISCO, May 29.— Within a month Ted Maxwell will have available for production a new play, "Octaroon," a drama of the early South. Maxwell, who is pro- duction manager for National Broadcasting Co., handles his own plays in the west, and currently has on the market "Cross-Eyed Parrot," "Hoodlum," and "Cinder- ella O'Reillv." SECOND PRODUCTION SAN FRANCISCO, May 29.— Lucille Gordor^ last week made her second production at the Commun- ity Playhouse, when she presented Pinero's "The Second Mrs. Tan- queray" with a cast that included Del Lawrence, Thomas Kelly, Ruth Saville, Shirley Reid, Dana Burns and Miss Gordon herself. ANN HOFMANN BACK fan mail of her experience, unani- mous in its praise and confirming her as one of the most consistent drawing cards of Pacific Coast ra- dio. The production as a whole brought great credit to the An- thony stafT. * ♦ ♦ KHJ has inaugurated a Rise-and- Shine period, starting at seven in the morning and consisting of com- edy-novelty as well as recordings. The point is, do people want to be kidded at this hour? Do you, for instance? ^ ^t^ * A week back we heard Ken Niles, in introducing a program, say that the Chopin Minuet Waltz was in- spired by the sight of a dog chas- ing his tail. He probably was thinking of Opus K9. Chopin had his moments. * * ♦ Barks from the Office Dog: Carl Haverlin speaking basso profundo ... a hoarse on him . . . Bob Hurd looking peaked ... no mamma to guide and care for him . . . Jose Rodriguez pridefully exhibiting his new amusements . . , Kathryn Harms is the name . . . Roland Foss fresh from the barber . Dick Creedon missing the last car to Cheviot Hills . . . joys of sub- urban life . . . Kenneth Niles re- hearsing between cuts . . . and asking the press for a tip on how a reporter acts ... a reporter acts only when he has to . . . Kenneth Frogley going Hollvwood . . raising his first hair-suit adorn- ment . . . Marillah Olney now considers a drive to Laurel Can- yon uneventful if she fails to crash at least one fireplug, three tele- phone poles, drive through an open- air market, coast backwards down \ ^'1^ • • • drive right up to the front porch of home . . . then find three or four bumpers tangled in her own . . . Ho, hum, it's a dogs life! NEEDS VOCAL SOLOISTS KGER. Long Beach, is short of vocal^ soloists, and Manager Bill Ray is getting ready to give some auditions. BIG FAN MAIL CITT PEEVED WHEN LOST SAN DIEGO, May 29.—This city is up in arms because of the fact that National Broadcasting Company programs have been switched by Earle C. Anthony from KFI to KECA. KFI, a 5000-watt station, is eas- ily heard in San Diego, and the eastern network programs have for a long time been the favorite fare of local radio fans. Lately, how- ever, Anthony has been switching one program after another to his less powerful station, KECA, which can be heard here only by high- grade sets, and then only under favorable atmospheric conditions. Considerable feeling has been worked up on the subject, 'and a local newspaper has fostered a movement to have the NBC offer- ings released for San Diegans by one of the local stations unless An- thony will agree to switch them back to KFI. The subject has been given much space and large coupons are being published, which readers are asked to sign and turn in to .the newspaper, petitioning the NBC to restore service to this city by some manner of means. It is understood that Anthony, accompanied by A. F. Kales, man- ager of his two radio stations, is now visiting New York and Wash- ington to discuss the matter with the NBC and the Federal Radio Commission, and either to get 5000- watt power for KECA or to get a license for a new station for San Diego. SIGN BILTMORE TRIO SAN FRANCISCO, May 29.— After hobbling about on crutches for several weeks as the result of an accident caused while exerting herself in a new dance step, Ann Hofmann has returned to her Mar- ket Street studios. At present she is engaged in rehearsing some hun- dred kiddies for her annual exhibi- tion, which takes place the second week in June at California Hall. FIRE THREATENS SAN FRANCISCO, May 29.— The old Wigwam Theatre, now the New Rialto, was threatened by fire last week when an adjoining ware- house, housing settings and props of the theatre, caught fire. Ward Morris, Rialto manager, stopped the show and had the house staff lead the customers into the street. No damage was done to the theatre. PICTURE REVIEWS Billy Van and Jeanne Cowan are the recipients of over one hun- dred letters each over Radio Sta- ll?" ^J^^- ^'"y toured the RKO Circuit with his own band, and Jeanne has a large fol- lowing over the waves at KFWB. PRESENTS BAND SAN FRANCISCO. May 29.— William H. Bickett presented his Columbia Park Boys' Band in an- nual concert at Scottish Rite Audi- torium this week. Band was founded in 1894 by Bickett and has traveled around the world and to Australia on concert tours. The Biltmore Vocal Trio has been signed by KHJ for two pro- grams a week. Owing to their popularity in the East they will be used on programs that originate here for the Columbia network, and will be featured in the "Cali- fornia Melodies" hour. KNX STAFF WRITER Hoy Lawler, veteran newspaper man of the east and recent addi- tion to Hollywood, has become a staff writer for KNX. He is spe- cializing on adapting light operas for radio purposes. RADIO'S PERSONALITY GIRL JEANE COWAN Dally At KFWB HAVE YOU HEARD BILLY VAN? At KFWB, Hollywood On the Air Continuously Since 1923 LEAi *N' LAPE "DE TWO DAHK CLOUDS O' JOY" Management—Chic Arnold—KFRC, San Francisco (Continued from Page 4) the opportunity he has had in other pictures. Emily Fitzroy overdid in her role, most particularly in a drunk sequence. It wasn't funnv, some way. Miss Fitzroy's hard menace IS so good it's a shame to waste her in this kind of part. Claude Gillingwater was very good as a crusty old man, while completing the cast well enough were Anthony Bushell, Leila Hyams, William Austin, Laura Bramley and Wilfred Noy. Frederick. YMGINIA KFI Artist IN APPRECIATION OF Spleai^id ]Radi(0 Pag®