Inside facts of stage and screen (August 30, 1930)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE THREE PICTURE BIZ IN UPWARD SLANT FRESNO HOUSE CLOSES IDEAS TO SOCK UNION FRESNO, Aug. 27.—The manager of the Wilson Theatre snapped right back at the stage hands’ de- mands for increase in salary last week and handed every member of the crew two weeks’ notice of house closing. Oliver Alberty, master of ceremony, and the stage band also received notices. Fanchon and Marco units play Fresno on a split week with San Jose, breaking an otherwise long jump. It is rumored that Marco does not favor the stage shows being taken out of the Wilson. The house is a 2000 seater and packs ’em in with the “flesh” pro- grams. Warners’ Theatre, across the street from the Wilson, is under- stood to be far in the red, and is running on a straight picture policy. This house formerly was the Pantages. If the Fox West Coast house should take out its vaude units, it is reported that Warners will put in a five-act vaudeville bill, booked out of San Francisco. GOLF ADOPTS SHOW TACTICS Golf courses are going in for showman tactics. A marathon contest is being held at a miniature on Wilshile boule- vard, a girl being the lone con- testant. June Blossom, former Pom Pom Cafe dancer, started going the rounds last Saturday. The stunt didn’t draw at first, but caught on as the girl went into her third sleepless day. HART PLAYERS AT BELVEDERE After a two months’ vacation following a consecutive run of three years at Warner’s Egyptian Theatre in Pasadena, the Flart Players will open at the Strand in Belvedere Gardens for a two weeks’ engagement, after which they will play a season of rota- tion dramatic stock. Personnel of the Hart Players includes Wilbur Mayo, Audrey Phalen, Fuby Hart, Jack Brady, Joe Haggerty, Vayne Hart, Chas. Ritledge, Rose Graves, Millie Adele and Joe Kearns. WOLHEIM WILL TURN DIRECTOR What the P. A. Says By THE OFFICE COPY BOY KOLB AND DILL TO OPEN HERE Kolb and Dill will open at the Hollywood Playhouse on Sept. 1 in a play called “Those Good Old Days.” This will be the first appearance of the comics in Hollywood. Last year they scored tremendously at the President downtown, and their popularity with the colony should insure business. If this play clicks, it is their in- tention to follow it with “High Cost of Loving,” one of their great successes of a few years ago. In the cast of the present play, is Margaret de la Motte, the' screen star, who will be seen for the first time on the stage here. Also, will appear Franklyn Far- num, James Bush, Julia Blanc and others. One of the features of the en- gagement will be a bar in the patio, where free beer and enter- tainment will be served between acts. “KIKI” DECIDED MARY’S NEXT Louis Wolheim has turned di- rector. Not satisfied with being credited one of the cleverest com- ics and character actors, he will add to his laurels by swinging the meg. RKO has given him his first assignment with a sea story to be selected, and Mary Astor has been chosen for the feminine lead. Wolheim is the second actor that RKO has entrusted with di- rectorial authority, Lowell Sher- man being the other. ANN SKELLY FLIES JOHN LEROY JOFINSON, Universal—One of most pretentious social dramas—The dynamic player gives the best performance of her meteoric career—Fingernails must match gowns and accessories—Add a cup of seedless raisins if desired and bake in a quick oven—Have been heralded as the most distinctive beauties of the film city—A picturesque motorist folded up in his tiny new •—Has won a long-term contract—Accomplished some exceptional photographic and dramatic effects—Can’t act at all without a machine gun obligatto— Work stopped before it had begun—A large rattlesnake startled mem- bers of the company—Helen Twelvetrees and Lilyan Tashman gave feminine shrieks of horror—The snake was evidently in a hurry—The bearded army of Hollywood began to storm the gates of Universal City—Virtually have fame and fortune tossed into their laps— Women’s dresses and coats will be longer this winter—Necklines are changing, too—Mary Duncan went to buy a house, and compromised by purchasing a pair of Pomeranian pups—Harry has gradually be- come a master of the shivering art—Talking pictures gave Bessie Love the break. * * * DON EDDY, RKO—Sixteen technical advisors, seven assistant directors, five script clerks, three cutters, and a comparable strong pro- duction staff will assist Wesley Ruggles—What do Alaskans do for fish after they can all the salmon and ship it away? * * * HARRY BRAND, United Artists—Film fans are beginning to ask for the kind of pictures they want—Requested permission to rob a suburban bank at night—A score of men and women stayed out all night—Most thrilling moment in the life of Una—One of the best known comedy character actresses on the American stage—Climax was carried in his own hand—Great guessing contest—Three Knights who tilted with fame—Six hundred different stage roles are credited to Spencer Charters—West had a property man catch an ordinary bat, and within a few minutes had the creature flitting from one point of the set to another, alighting and taking off again, with perfect tim- ing for the cameras. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28.— Following a telephonic message from the East, Ann Skelly flew from here this week to open Fri- day in the Hammerstein show, “Luanna,” in New York. She was vacationing with Joe and Jane Mc- Kenna, currently at the Fox. She is the sister of Hal Skelly. LON CHANEY Lon Chaney has taken his final bow and stepped behind the curtain into Eternity. We, who knew and loved him well, are deeply grieved at his passing. From the day he first arrived in Los Angeles, stranded and seeking employment,'to the very end, he was our friend. Adversity did not daunt him. Success did not change him. He was above the effects of laudation. His greatness was in his fine character, which was reflected in his marvelous screen characterizations. Lon Chaney was always the craftsman; he took his work as such and never glorified himself because of his fame. He was reputed a mystery man, because his human nature resisted the pose of the publicity seeker. He longed for the day he might retire into the seclusion of commonplace life. He detested the limelight and sought relief from public gaze by frequent trips to out of the way places. Lon was a staunch friend, a good husband and a considerate father. He will be missed sincerely by his friends, co-workers and public admirers. Mary Pickford will make “Kiki” as her next picture for U. A. Sam Taylor, who made two pic- tures for Miss Pickford—“My Best Girl” and “Coquette” — and the Mary Pickford-Douglas Fairbanks co-starring vehicle, “The Taming of the Shrew,” will write the talk- ing screen adaptation of “Kiki” and direct Mary. Miss Pickford will start making tests this week and rehearsals are scheduled to begin as soon as a cast is recruited. GLECKLER IN HEAVY Robert Gleckler has been signed for a principal heavy role in the United Artists picture co-starring Dolores Del Rio and Walter Hus- ton. JOINS STUDIO SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28.— Hazelle Michael has joined the Ann Hofmann studios and will inaugurate and direct a dramatic class, as well as one for musical comedy work. FILMlTRIKE in CAPITAL LOOMS Washington, D. C., is facing a shutdown of all motion pictures on the first of September unless a satisfactory settlement can be ar- ranged with the unions. What the managers are asking is the right to abandon their or- chestras. The projection machine operators have announced a sym- pathetic strike if the managers persist in their demand which would automatically close the houses. !!! ATTENTION!!! Motion Picture Producers JUST THE THING FOR THAT NEW PICTURE OF YOURS A NEW FACE Don’t Fail to See Don SANTO f jg ♦ HOW HE MAKES THEM LAUGH! HE CAN TALK! ♦ HE CAN DANCE! HE CAN SING! NOW Headlining R. K. 0 Theatre NOW LOS ANGELES A NATURAL FOR THE TALKIES MOVIE HOUSES DOING BETTER AS HEAT ENDS Theatres generally report a slight increase in the takings for the week just past. This is largely due to the weather, as well as the fact that vacations generally are over and families are returning. In a great measure the number of excellent pictures being shown is responsible for good attendance. Seldom has there been such a splendid collection of screen fare offered at one time, and interest in the movies is returning. Warner’s Downtown takes the first rank with $28,400. John Bar- rymore in “Moby Dick” is re- sponsible. The business being done at this theatre has been so tremendous as to warrant holding the picture over for a third week. The Warner Bros. F-N sched- ule provides for 26 pictures each year to be alternately exhibited between Hollywood and the Downtown. It was the intention to strictly adhere to this policy: but the demand for “Moby Dick” has been so insistent as to cause the powers to break into their plan. It means that some picture will probably have to be satisfied with a week’s run later on. At the W. B. Hollywood, Joe E. Brown in “Top Speed” drew them in to the drag of $27,900, the lar- gest biz this house has registered in some time. Loew’s State, with “Good News,” scored $24,987. Chinese in Hollywood showed a falling, off with “Hell’s Angels” in its thirteenth week, getting but $16,288—about half of the opening week’s collection. Carthay Circle also let go a bit, receiving $13,096 for the third week of “Holiday.” In the first three days, “Our Blushing Brides,” in its last week at the Criterion, clicked $5485, which will mean about $12,000 for the week. Egyptian is doing its usual bad business, attracting a mere $2947 for four days, which will indicate about $5000 on the week. “Common Clay” at the Boule- vard got $4600 for its first four days, showing a possible $10,000 for the week. Fox Pantages got $7990 with four days of “Love Among the Millionaires,” indicating about $11,000 gross. Paramount, with Ruth Chatter- ton in “Anybody’s Woman,” checked off $26,000 while the United Artists, playing “Eyes of the World,” reported $10,002. DELF WRITES ANOTHER “For Bed and Board,” the latest play to be authored by Harry Delf, will probably be produced on Broadway, with Delf, the author, playing the leading male role. DIRECTOR HIRED George Fitzmaurice has just been signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on a long-term contract. Things We Can’t Understand By ARCH WOODY Why Georgie Stoll should not be up in the concert violin class Why some producer doesn’t cap- italize on B. B. B.’s talent for gags . . . Why Jimmie Durante isn’t a pic- ture star . . . Why Bud Murray doesn’t stop plugging Jack Shubert . . . Why Jay Brower isn’t up where he should be . . . Why Harry Vernon’s singing hasn’t been appreciated by picture people . . . Why Bob Montgomery doesn’t stick to light comedy . . . Why film studio dance producers don’t produce . . . Why flesh shows went out of Warners’ . . . Why Fatty Marcus didn’t accept Horace Greeley’s advice . . . That’s all for this week. See you next week—NOW MISS PAR- SONS DON’T THROW THAT!