Inside facts of stage and screen (August 23, 1930)

PAGE SIX INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1930 Published Every Saturday One Year - $4.00 Foreign - $5.00 Advertising Rates on Application Established 1924 As a weekly publication: Entered as Second Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. i Published by Inside Facts Publishing Company, Inc. 800-801 Warner Bros. Downtown Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif. Telephone TUcker 7832 JACK JOSEPHS ...... President and Editor ARTHUR WM. GREEN .... Vice Pres, and Counsel JEAN ARMAND .... Secretary and General Manager LOU JACOBS ........ Associate Editor Vol. XII Saturday, August 23, 1930 No. 8 WORST SLUMP SINCE WAR EXISTS We are in the midst of perhaps the worst slump that show business has had since the war. Everybody connected with the game is suffering to some degree, most of them se- verely. The amount of unemployment is apalling; never has there been such a large percentage of dark houses as there are at present. Something must be done at once to relieve the situation and from the best information, it seems to be up to the unions and Equity to a large degree. Some of the strict lines of union rules must be, or rather should be, set aside for the time being at least in the spirit of co-operation, for the situation is desperate and this is no time to quibble. We are informed that in the east there are twenty houses, now dark, that would be willing to open forthwith playing Fanchon and Marso Ideas, providing arrangements could be made with the unions that would enable them to meet the present conditions. What they are asking might seem unreasonable in normal times, and Inside Facts, always loyal to the best interests of the workers, would be firm in upholding the A. F. L. dic- tates if theatre conditions were different, but work is needed and twenty houses would give employment to many perform- ers, stage hands, musicians and others. LET STAGE HANDS DOUBLE, IS PLEA What the theatres are asking in this crisis is to arrange the 48-hour week so that there will be no or very little over- time ; an interchangeability of departmental work so that the property man can help the carpenter, etc., if time permits, thereby allowing a house to operate with fewer stage hands or as few as can properly work a show by doubling up the departments wherever feasible. It is far better to have a large percentage of the unem- ployed taken care of and houses operating than to have all idle because of the sacredness of a union rule. The concession of this ironclad rule, while it strikes at the soundest principle of the union, can be limited to a time pe- riod of say three months as an emergency measure. The situation in Los Angeles at this time is terrible, with but one stage show, the State; one vaudeville house, the RKO; and one Legit house, the El Capitan, open. Two or three legit houses are scheduled to open, it is true, but this will not materially relieve the situation so far as the unions are concerned. Equity has shown a willingness to co-operate with the managers in whatever way is possible. It is work now that must be afforded. Everymody must aid in every possible manner to induce the managers to risk their money to pro- vide employment. GOLF LINKS CERTAINLY TAKE TOLL The managers have just gone through a frightful siege of bad business. The miniature golf links, regardless of what anvone might say, are taking thousands of people nightly away from the theatres and collecting money that would otherwise be spent in theatre amusement. There is no em- ployment afforded theatrical employees there. Even their music is provided by radio. If a law could be passed prevent- ing the use of the radio for this purpose, it would unquestion- ably afford employment for musicians on the larger courses. Such a law is within the bounds of reason, for the radio dealers could effect it themselves. They will not permit the radio to be used in a theatre where admission is charged, because their tubes are protected and limited for amateur or experimental use only. Admission is not charged at the links, it is true, but money is collected for amusement and a clever lawver might have such a ruling handed down if a test be made. NIGHT BASEBALL ALSO DENTS Then, too, the theatres have been suffering largely from night baseball to which thousands attend who might other- wise patronize the theatre. Here again, stage workers are not afforded employment. Out at the Hollywood Bowl, other vast thousands attend the concerts and while the Bowl employs a large number of musicians and a few stage hands, it is not gainsaid that show business as a whole suffers somewhat as a result. Also the recent epidemic of infantile paralysis, which kept children away from the theatres by police edict, cut deeply into the box office of the theatre, especially it being vaca- tion time. Now that the ban has been lifted, the kiddies have been educated away from the film houses and show a reluc- tance to forsake their present manner of amusement to go back. Short Shots At the News Fifty thousand dollars already has been taken in for the grand opera season, which runs at the Shrine September 29 to October 13, according to Col. William Eric Fowler, chairman of the gen- eral seat sale committee for the Los Angeles Grand Opera As- sociation. Colonel Fowler esti- mates the advance sale will pass $58,000. * * * Ethel Barrymore Colt, daugh- ter of Ethel Barrymore, the act- ress, will have an important part in Julia Peterkin’s “Scarlet Sister Mary,” when it opens 'in Cleve- land Wednesday. The mother will be star of the play. * * A four-year organ course will be offered by the College of Mu- sic, University of Southern Cali- fornia, in September, it has been announced by Prof. Arthur M. Perry, assistant dean. * * * Charging her husband, Michael Bohnen, a singer, with desertion, Mary Lewis, opera star, appeared before Judge J. Walter Hanby seeking a divorce. Miss Lewis stated in her complaint that she and Bohnen had married in April, 1927, and had separated July 1, 1929. There is a very important communication in this office for MRS. LYDIA M. KUHL- MAN. Anyone knowing her whereabouts please notify. George O’Brien, film actor, is reported recovering from an in- jury to his leg due to falling from a horse. O’Brien was thrown against a wall while working at Fox Hills. * * * * Annette Sleeper, sister of Martha Sleeper, screen actress, will marry Horace Stephen Tuthill, Jr., of New York in September. The wed- ding will be held at the home of J. J. Murdock, the bride’s uncle, in Beverly Hills. * * * Petitioning to be appointed legal guardian to her daughter, Sally Wray, stage dancer, Mrs. Evelyn Schupback declared in Superior Court that the girl was incapable of handling her own financial af- fairs. Miss Wray, known legally as Josephine Barbee, is only 20 years old. * * * Peverell Marley, camera man and husband of Lena Basquette, may file a divorce complaint charging mental cruelty, it was learned recently when Marley and his attorney visited the actress. * * * “The Dawn Patrol” continued to appear on the screen this week, following refusal of Superior Judge Cosgrave to grant a re- straining order against further ex- hibition of the film. Producers of “Hell’s Angels” sought the re- straint, declaring that part of their picture had been plagiarized. * * * Charles F. McGrew, III, son of a Chicago attorney, appeared in court to tell why he should not be restrained from altering a trust fund in Chicago out of which he is supposed to pay his wife, Har- lean Carpenter McGrew, known on the screen as Jean Harlow, $375 a month. Miss Harlow is suing McGrew for divorce, charg- ing cruelty and intemperance. * * * Melville Daniels, father of Bebe Daniels, screen star, passed away at his home in Camp Lake, Michi- gan, this week. He was 65 years old. Miss Daniels will attend the funeral. Eddie Rubin, formerly con- nected with Harry Weber, is sell- ing acts for Erlanger. LETTERS There are letters at the Los Angeles office of INSIDE FACTS for the following: ANTONE, Franco BIDMEAD Bros. BIDMEAD, Mr. BUSHMAN, Francis CLAIN, A1 DECKER, Kirke M. GRANSTEDT, Greta KUHLMAN, Lydia M. PARSONS, Ruth RIFKIND, H. TELA-PHONEY, bj) JAMES MADISON Hello, Rube Wolf. Hello', James Madison. Only a quarter dozen lots in Los Angeles have no golf courses thereon. “The ‘Unholey’ Three.” Hello, Elliott Nugent. Hello, James Madison. Congress will be in session again shortly. Greater Talkie Season. Hello, Una Merkel. Hello, James Madison. What is your opinion of Hol- lywood motorists? When they’re reckless, they’re seldom wreckless. Hello, Cyril Maude. Hello, James Madison. A certain author states that he cannot think in a taxicab. Perhaps he’s a “hack” writer. Hello, Eddie Kane. Hello, James Madi'son. I understand that the gov- ernment is about to incorpo- rate San Quentin. A sort of holding company. Hello, Charlie Chaplin. Hello, James Madison. The Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company is offering rum-fla- vored peaches. I call that meeting the public with the right spirit. Hello, Nat Carr. Hello. James Madison. What’s the funniest thing you saw last week? A sign in a Scotch restau- rant, reading, “No service less than a penny.” Hello, Doug Fairbanks, Jr. Hello, James Madison. What do you think of Henry Ford’s idea of giving two months’ annual vacation? Great, if a guy changes his job six times a year. Hello, . Hello, James Madison. A friend of mine, who’s tall- er, has just become the father of twin boys. What shall he name them? Roy and Corduroy. Hello, Harry Cohn. Hello, James Madison. You can’t get into the Brown Derby without a coat. And yet a Scotchman can get in without pants. SNACKS of FACTS William Janney begging his uncle for the return of his checkered cap . . . Director Ed Griffith preparing for his European trip . . . He’s going to make “Rebound” next . . . Eddie Prinz at the Mayan . . . selecting 30 girls out of 300 . . . Fern Dale taking a tap routine from Bud Murray . . . James Gleason breeding horses . . . He’s “Lookin’ for Trouble” at Pathe . . . Russell Gleason shooting up Hollywood . . . With a; camera . . . And Phyllis Haver waiting for his results . . . Louise Fazenda looking chic (ken) at the Embassy Club; . , . Lowell Sherman swanking it in a new limozene . . . Bearded extras at Uni- versal. * * * Universal City looking like a battlefield . . . They’re shooting “See America Thirst” . . . Mary Duncan and her dogs, “Ping” and “Pong” . . . Harry Langdon shivering ... In pictures . . . Playing the part of “Shivering Smith” . . . Ned Sparks leaving for Quebec . . . Going on a fishing trip . . . Dorothy Lee planning a trip_ to Arrowhead . . . Hugh Trevor and his new beach cottage . . . Faith Baldwin, Holly- wood author, looking pleased . . . Paul Lukas, Ladies’ Man, the title role in Paramount’s newest . . . Chinese extras speaking Spanish at M-G-M . . . Laurence Tibbett singing to Marie Mosquini . . . Little Bobby Dukes yawning . . . A1 Bernivici paying a 'bill at the Mont- martre . . . and playing host to the crowd. jjs * sfc Manager Brown at the Paramount Theatre . . . displaying real courtesy over the ’phone . . . Ollie Wallace recognizing a telephone voice . . . You can’t disguise the “limey” accent . . . bli’me . . . Aida Broadbent sending and receiving best wishes. * * * Gwen Evans preparing for the “big show” . . . Rube WoE re-meet- ing the boys . . . and glad to get back . . . Louise McCormack giv- ing the R-K-0 previews the “once over” . . . and bumping smack into Richard Dix ... her favorite star . . . Barbara Kent giving out a recipe . . . Lee Parvin in the harness again . . . Jeannette Loff wiht amber fingernails . . . Charlie Murray and George Sidney are motor bus operators . . . in their next “Cohen and Kelly” picture . . . Kane Richmond is on his feet again . . . sprained his ankle . . . John Wray writing stories. * * * Jeane Cowan trying out a new song . . . Atterbery and Gillum . they’ll appear over KFWB soon . . . Gillum just closed with ‘ The Collegians” ... Sol Lowe back at the Manchester . . . Mildred Dale recovering from an operation . . . Lee Wilmont playing in San Jose F and M. officials worrying about scenery . . . they lost a bunch of it . ’. . fire sale due soon ... an idea . . . Earl Keates on his vaca- tion . . . Doc Howe going to New York . . . Harry Wallen back from his vacation . . . Fanchon looking over the Lane dancers ... at the Westlake . . . Hal Neidas also looking ’em over . . . Harry Worthen sending out publicity . . . Monte Carter at Pathe . . . and rewriting a story . . . Herbert Weber running around at M-G-M . . . Toots Novelle back in L. A. * * * Novelle Brother writing from the earthquake zone . . . they’re in Rome now . . . Bill Seiter playing on his new golf course . . . Monta Bell and company in San Francisco . . . Henry King and unit going to Lake Tahoe . . . Helen Cohan, George M. Cohan’s daughter . . . making her screen debut. __ PARIS-BOUND Edward H. Griffith, Pathe di- rector, will leave soon for Paris to |et the authentic background for his next picture, “Rebound,” in which Ann Harding will play the lead. DARMOUR SIGNS KID With the signing of three-year- old Billy Barty to a term con- tract, Larry Darmour, producer of RKO comedies, Jnow has the youngest contract player is pic- tures.