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

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE FIVE In Holly wood—Now By BUD MURRAY A hot week IN HOLLYWOOD—NOW and a weak one in the theatres—yet we must write of those whom we meet, whom we worked with and for—or they worked for us—as that is the “themie note” of this column— and you can write your own music—and so, apropos of heat, we will take you to the beach—for our weekly portion of California Sunshine— On the Boardwalk—noticed our pal and co-worker, formerly at Winter Garden, Lew Pollack, now writing at Warner Brothers, and his “ball-an-chain,” Helen Mellette, a couple of our proteges—just returned from a year’s tour on the Fanchon and Marco circuit—Nelson and Thatcher—who mar- ried one another while en tour (strange things do happen in show business)—an old- timer rite off 47th St. and Broadway—Ned “Clothes” Norton—do you remember those days of “titles” befitting the actor, like “Uke Henry,” and “Banjo Mike”—a surprise visit from our ballet directress and associate, Mary Frances Taylor and Lafe Page—and, strolling briskly along the waterfront, another old-timer from Noo Yawk, Paul Nicholson, an ex-Geo. M. Cohan player, and IN HOLLYWOOD, NOW. Two days in advance reserved a table in the Brown Derby for lunch, and on arrival Nick Junios, genial head man, and formerly of the Club Alabam, in Noo Yawk, gives us the well-known salve, of “just a second,” but it’s the way Nick does it, that lets him get away with it—no sooner did we sit down than Don Kerr, of Kerr and Weston, a great comedy act, enters a formal complaint about rumors saying “he went to Noo Yawk, disgusted with Hollywood— Don explained he never went to Noo Yawk, but in reality, did a few shorts with Dorothy Burgess—and went to Portland on a fishing trip to “cool off”—but is now back, ready to take on Clara Bow—who can tell?—Dotty and Ethel Bryant—two of our former Winter Garden dancers—we remember when Dot brought Ethel to us in 1921 for her first job and now Ethel is a very fine specialty dancer—Dot is hap- pily married to Sidney Mitchell, another very good “themie” boy at F. N. A, i* A In a huddle in a booth, are three old pals from “Scandals”—cute Ann Pennington—looking darling—Georgie Lerch—who likes “garlic and raviolla”—and Rose Perfect, our wonderful prima donna. Rose is certainly going very big at the Pantages this week. Noticed another real musician and “Class A” musical director— whom we were with in 1918 in “Monte Cristo” at the N. Y. Winter Garden and Century Roof—yes, it is Frank Tours—and with him is Sammy Ledner, now at United Artists, who was with George White for many years—Tommy Dugan, in a make-up, looks like he is working—and no test, either—Warren Jackson, who was with us in the “Passing Show” of 1916, now playing vaudeville with Bobby Cal- lahan, and then bumped rite into a flock of dance impressarios, as we were fighting our way out—Larry Ceballos, “Barnum of Dance Directors,” and his assistant, Carl McBride, and also Jack Lester, who staged the shows at George Olsen’s nite club— A call from the Fox Studios and into the test department to meet the head man, Herman Paley, who didn’t “make” us until we said—“can, you remember back about 1907, when Tin-Pan-Alley was in 28th Street, Noo Yawk?”—and Herman said—“Yes, why?”—and we forthwith said—“We used to sing your songs when it was ‘Kendis and Paley”—we had to take our glasses off and have Paley imagine a nice head of hair on us—-and then finally he recognized the vaude ville team of 1907—“Murray and Armstrong”—on our way out ran into Andy Rice, Jr., who is now assisting Seymour Felix—a real dance director with ideas—this is a great spot for Junior, because he will absorb plenty, and learn a good trade from a real craftsman—then into our beloved friend—John Swor—formerly of Swor and Mack— when we were with “Maid in America,” in 1914— For a change dropped into the Olympic Fights, and noticed the most artistic hotel man, in America—the man with the green gloves— Patrick Francis Shanley—genial host of the Waldorf and Continental Hotels—Patrick looks younger every day—Sam Kramer saying he isn’t Redmond Wells’ step-son—but Wells is his silent partner—these two “buckoos” are proudly showing passport and steamship accom- modations to sail next month for the old country—did Kramer mean Russia?—and Wells Africa?—however, here’s wishing them bon voyage—yes, their wives go with them—no foolin’—lo! and behold— Harry Green, minus his six weeks’ beard, with birds and all gone— noticed Kitty Flynn, who was a darn good understudy in our produc- tion of the coast “Good News”—Kitty is sure doing marvelously in pictures for Universal—Leon Errol—the man with the funny legs— and Ben Lyon strolling in late— A surprise visit from that charming little protege of ours—Sylvia Shore—whom we discovered in the coast “Good News” chorus—and whom we later groomed—and Sylvia, having just returned from an F. and M. tour, was immediately re-signed for a unit opening next week—another visit with Harry Gribbon—for whom we played straight back in 1909 in Trenton, N. J., stock companies—who is now playing half of that famous comedy detective duo of “Mulligan and Garrity” in “The Gorilla”— Into Henry’s for a snack—and we see that Henry “in person” is back on the job and conversing with his old friend and pal—Charlie Chaplin—Charlie looks younger every day—along comes Jack Boyle— At Tom Gallery’s. Hollywood Legion Stadium Fights Friday night— we noticed Johnny Murray, who played trumpet in Max Fischer’s band back with the coast “Good News” company and is now war- bling a mean tenor under contract to Warner Brothers—in back of us—a very clever script writer, Cyrus Wood, now at M-G-M—whom we worked with on “Lady in Ermine” in 1923—and in 1923 we were stage-directing “The Dancing Girl” at the Colonial in Chicago, when an amateur chorine came to us for a job and we placed her in the company—we saw her at the fights, too—Mae Cairns is the girl— coming to the front in pictures—another dear friend of many years ago—Georgie Stone—talked a few minutes with Dad and Eddie Quil- lan, who are contemplating a vaudeville tour in the fall— To the Blossom Room for a few minutes and a “snack”—got a big surprise meeting Lew Hearn, who candidly confesses he arrived two days ago, with a return ticket to N. Y.—he’s no fool—but a great comedian—and another old timer and a real comedian—Alex Carr—Billy Joy—a real Hollywood boy—and not a bad song writer in his spare time—Ben Harris—a young fellow who operated Young’s Pier many moons ago, and how surprised we were to meet him— Jack Haley sitting in the lounge room—looking in perfect health after his long siege of illness—and our old friend, Paul Gerard Smith—the man who made “Remington Firearms” famous, with his blackouts. RADIO PROGRESS TOLD Two New Plays Being Cast EL CAPilAN AND EARLE WALLACE Always Busy Developing Dancing Star* but Never Too Busy to Create and Produce Original DANCE ROUTINES and REVUES That Sell Belmont Theatre Bldg., First and Vermont Phone EXpoiition 1196 Lo* Angele*, Calif. BELASCO SHOWS REHEARSE SOON Casting was under way this week on two forthcoming legit productions here. “It’s a Wise Child” will fol- low Ina Claire’s “Rebound” into the Belasco, following which “Lysistra” is scheduled. Leslie Pierce will direct the latter production, and will begin casting in about ten days. “Tea for Three" is slated to open at the El Capitan August 3, following “To the Ladies,” which is to close August 2. The new production has not yet been cast. It only requires three principals. DIVER AIDS FILM Tom Owen, a deep-sea diver for twenty-seven years, is acting as technical advisor during the mak- ing of the under-ocean scenes of Paramount’s “The Sea God,” which features Richard Arlen and Fay Wray. SIGNS NEW CONTRACT Samuel Spewack, playwright, journalist and short story writer of New York, has just signed a new contract as a member of the Para- mount writing staff. McLEOD GETS CONTRACT Norman McLeod, for many years a writer for motion pictures and more recently a director, has 'been given a directorial contract by Paramount. McLeod made his first success as an illustrator for Christie com- edy titles. WARNERS SIGN KEANE Warners have signed Robert Em- mett Keane for a featured role_ in “A Gay Caballero,” forthcoming Vitaphone comedy. Fay Wray and Victor Varconi will be seen in the leading roles, with Alan Crosland directing. COMEDY UNDER WAY Stephen Roberts will soon start directing the second Mermaid com- edy at Educational studios. The story, as yet untitled, features Ber- nard Granville, Dick Stewart, Kath- erine McGuire, Jerry Drew, A1 Alt, Marcia Manning and Rae Daggett. FINAL FILM STARTS “For the Love O’ Lil,” final pro- duction on Columbia’s 1929-30 schedule, went into production this week. Sally Starr, Jack Mul- hall and Elliott Nugent have been signed for the three leading roles with James Tinling directing. FLYING FILM STAR SEATTLE, July 24.—Flying from the Hollywood studios last week, Jean Harlow, star of “Hell’s An- gels. 11 made personal appearances in coniunction with the presenta- tion of the picture at the Fox here. ADAPT “TOM SAWYER” William Slavens McNutt and Grover Jones are working on the adaptation and dialogue of “Tom Sawyer,” in which Jackie Coogan will be seen for Paramount. The direction of Mark Twain’s classic will be in the hands of John Cromwell. PAULTON JOINS STAFF Edward Paulton, Broadway “play doctor,” author, stage director and dialogue writer, is the latest addi- tion to the editorial staff at Uni- versal studios. WINCHELL IN SHORTS The Vitaphone Corporation has closed a contract with Walter Winchell, Broadway columnist, to appear in a short reel picture. Icy Lobby Stunt Changing the entire front lobby atmosphere of the Warner Brothers’ Downtown this week, a huge igloo, done to represent a structure of blocks of ice, was built in around the theatre box-office, which fronts at the corner of Seventh and Hill streets. Idea was conceived and carried out by Hub Robin- son, theatre sign artist, with an expenditure of around one - hundred-and-fifty bucks, using a wooden frame and chicken screen and covered over with plaster, then painted and touched up to give the icy atmosphere. One small sign pointing out the effective refriger- ation was the only printed work used, making an out- standing lobby setup, of a semi-permanent nature. RADIO PICTURES LOT VERY BUSY There doesn’t seem, to be any sign of a slack summer produc- tion sked at Radio Pictures in view of the present lineup of pic- tures scheduled for early starting dates with the studio now busy on a large group. Late in July seven pictures will be in various stages of produc- tion : The “Amos ’n’ Andy” special, with Sue Carol as the feminine lead, directed by Mel Brown; “Cimarron,” Edna Ferber’s epic of Oklahoma, starring Richard Dix and directed by Wesley Ruggles; “Half Shot at Sunrise,” directed by Paul Sloane. with Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey in leading roles; “The Silver Horde,” fea- turing Evelyn Brent and Joel Mc- Crea, on location in Alaska with director George Archainbaud; “Heart of the Rockies,” and “Nick and Tony” featuring Henry Ar- metta. COAST RAPIDLY ADVANCING FOR HOOKUP CENTER FEMININE M. C. First feminine master of cere- monies in the Screen Snapshots series is played by Patsy Ruth Miller in the snapshots issue No. 25, directed by Ralph Staub for Columbia release. NEW MANAGER M. A. Raymond is the newly appointed branch manager for Warner Brothers in Des Moines, Iowa. SAN FRANCISCO, July 24. —Radio’s place in modern in- dustry is evidenced substan- tially by the Pacific Coast division headquarters of the National Broadcasting Com- pany, which have been lo- cated here slightly more than three years. Spending approximately $1,500,- 000 annually in this city and repre- senting an investment of well over $200,000 in studios and equipment, the institution remains the only one maintained on the Pacific Coast by a nation-wide broadcast- ing _ system, though representative stations of other networks have ■been established. The western division celebrated its third anniversary this spring by announcing the inauguration of a regular weekly schedule of trans- continental sponsored programs originating 'in San Francisco. This is characterized as concrete recog- nition of the importnace of the West’s contribution to radio pro- grams and an expression of faith in the stability of radio broadcast- ing nationally. Two NBC sus- taining programs also are built at San Francisco for eastern distribu- tion. The Pacific Coast unit of the transcontinental network has en- joyed spectacular growth since the inauguration April 5, 1927. From a hotel suite, the organization has grown to require the entire top floor and much of the twenty-first floor of the Hunter-Dulin build- ing. This expansion, which is con- tinuing, is characterized by Vice- President Don E. Gilman as a definite example of the acceptance of radio in industry 'as an import- ant and stable item as well as its acceptance 'by the public as a cul- tural, educational and entertain- ment medium which has become a necessary element. “The growth of radio is perhaps (Continued on Page 8) Geo T. Hood THEATRICAL MANAGER Address: Inside Facts, 801 Warner Bros. Downtown Bldg., Los Angeles WALTER S. 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