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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1930 PAGE FIVE INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN In Hollywood'"Now By BUD MURRAY FALL SHORTS r iim r ow NOW SHOOTING Cuttings ROCK TO MAKE COLOR TALKIES Another marvelous time for your humble “dirt getter,” and that was to be the “head man” at “The Breakfast Club,” who gave a “BUD MURRAY morning,” at 8 a. m. Wednesday, August 20, arranged by our old friends, Maurice DeMond and Harold Link, “head breakfasters.” Two years ago we would have told anyone they were “balmy” if they suggested a breakfast and entertainment at 8 a. m., but now IN HOLLYWOOD it’s a pleasure. Rube Wolf was an honored guest and opened up the program with a most wonderful cornet solo, as only RUBE can play it. One thing that shows Rube is big, he isn’t afraid to open a bill. Then in quick succession came a fast-moving pro- gram of proteges and pupils and teachers of the school of which the writer is head man. Julane Davis, contralto, whom we directed in “Oh, Susan- na” ; Abe Dinovitz, our assistant in “Oh, Susanna”; Mary Frances Taylor, our ballet directress, did a charming solo. Then Lafe Page, our associate, showed what off- rhythm should be. Tut Mace, sensational acro- batic and off-rhythm dancer; Kark Sibbert and August Werner, in an operatic duet; Leona Hunter, a prima donna, who sings beautifully; Christa Shaffer, in a pianologue; Betty Le Roy, dancing saxophonist and off-rhythm dancer; Junior Coghlan, juvenile picture star, who just finished “River’s End,’ featuring Charles Bickford, at Warner Brothers; our old friend, Nat Spector, a real singer of songs; and cute Sylvia Shore, now en tour with F. & M. “Modes” Idea. John Medbury, of the Examiner; Patrick Francis Shanley; Sey- mour Felix, a real dance director, now at Fox Studios; and Arthur Wenzel, a hot “contact man”; and if we are pot too fresh we might add we were m. c. on the air, and got a big load of talk off our chest- — and we thank “The Breakfast Club” for the honor and a most marvelous morning, IN HOLLYWOOD, or anywhere in the world. Again we went on the air at KTM for Billy Sharpies, who is now the “head man” at KTM, and gives a great show if you^ can,make it at 8 a. m. And again we were pushed into a couple of “new” Golfies, one run by A1 & Mort Nathan, at Hollywood and Wilcox, and it s a peach. It seems the more we see of them, the more we can under- stand the attraction—and we noticed Harry Meyer going around for the third time. Polly Moran, very sedate and serious; Johnny Walker socking the pill—and our brothers in crime, the Mosconi Brothers — then to our pal’s “Golfie,” Frank Kerwin, who runs one of these things at Seventh and Bixel, and a lot of stage and screen notables play this one, too, because of its tricky course. On the Boulevard ran into one of the finest lady organists in the West, who just returned after a tour in the East— Bertie Kober —and we talked about that former great vaudeville team of Barnes and Crawford, who took us back to the night T. Roy Barnes hopped into the “Justine Johnson” show on the 44th Street Roof Garden, in Noo Yawk, about fifteen years ago. What a comedy sensation, and they are all IN HOLLYWOOD NOW. Bertie is_ T. Roy’s sister-in-law— that’s how our conversation started. A big fat robust gentleman nearly crashed into us at Hollywood and Vine, and it turned out to be our very dear friend Bob Murphy, that' heavyweight m. c. and laugh provoker. Then to lunch at the Brown Derby —and noticed in a booth one of the “Siamese Twins,” Bobby Woolsey, who is now smoking big cigars —when we were with him in N. Y. in “The Lady in Ermine” he smoked ones—Noticed that marvelous cartoonist Bert Levy —how we used to admire his act IS years ago at Hammerstein’s— Russell Glea- son looking in the pink and promising to drop in for some “Rhythm work— -Wm. Collier, Sr., looking younger every day and still digging up new wise cracks— Lew Pollack and Lou Silvers, a couple of real music men, both formerly of the Winter Garden in our time;— Lionel Barrymore walking in and with a most suave manner “grab- bing” a table— Charley Foy, of the famous Foy family still IN HOL- LYWOOD—and an old timer of that famous singing team— George Whiting, of Whiting and Burt —another peach of a singing and danc- ing juvenile—who doesn’t seem to click here—WHY?—and Skeets Gallagher with his premature grey hair—all IN HOLLYWOOD NOW. —A surprise letter from Redmond Wells and Sam Kramer on board the Leviathan saying everything is a “clam-bake”— To the Olympic fights and Glenn Tyron pushed his way past us-^ and another old timer formerly of Tracey and McBride, Carl McBride, now assisting Larry Ceballos at Warner Brothers—one of the Siamese Twins, Bert Wheeler —and our old friend, Sammy Ledner, who pre- ceded us with George White’s Scandals—a good old hard shoe dancer and whom we were with in “Scandals of 1927” with his old side-kick, Georgie Lerch, also with Scandals— A1 Jolson, whom we were with for many shows—A fine writer of dialogue, Edgar Allen Woolf —all IN HOLLYWOOD NOW— Then to Henry’s for a “snack” and we were delighted to see a real legitimate actor and gentleman, Wilton Lackaye —gosh he looks great—and with Wilton Harry Meyer —in a corner Bobby Vernon call- ing us by another sur-name—and the fine legit director of pictures, Wm. Beaudine —and another old-timer, Stuart Holmes —and the Dummy Newsboy, a study in dark blue, now back selling his papers— and everything is O. K. IN HOLLYWOOD NOW. For weeks the dailies have continually had Sid Grauman leaving or about, to leave for Noo Yawk—and, like the “Wolf at the Door,” when he left, not a word was said—how come? —Sid’s now in Noo Yawk—and we would like to know his re-action— To the fights Friday night—terrible—and to-wit—a terrible house— but we noticed Ben Bard in a “Mussolini black shirt”—right next to our old friend Dolly Nelson, and her girl friend— B.B.B. clowning with “Joe Frisco” —our brother Masquers, Walter Weems and Harry Gribbon— Noticed Ray Henderson and Buddy De Sylva on opposite sides of the house—a trio of ace dance directors formerly at the Win- ter Garden— Seymour Felix, at Fox Studios; Larry Ceballos, at War- ner Brothers, and Davei Bennett at Paramount Studios— Ray Hallor and Mollie O’Day four ex-pupil), looking so thin and cute—(we mean MoIIie)—Johnny Murray, who worked for us in “Good News” in the Max FisHer band as cornet soloist—now is a featured singer with Warner Brothers— Harold Atteridge, former Shubert writer of all Winter Garden productions. Right in back of him, El Brendel, a former comic of the Winter Garden—and “Bakky,” a peach of a gentleman and a first class musical .director, whom we worked with in “Oh Susanna”— Paul Ger- ard Smith, whom we also worked with in LeMaires Affairs and Texas Guinan’s Padlocks— Harry Delf, another ex-Shubert actor—and Eddie Buzzell, also an ex-Shuberite—and we bumped into Morris Black, brother Masquer, who confides he starts this week making a picture at Pathe called “Breakfast in Bed,” with Daphne Pollard, who takes us back to the Winter Garden about 18 years ago, when Daphne first came over—what pep—and so dear readers, this is my weekly story about “Who’s Who IN HOLLYWOOD NOW.” “EX-MISTRESS” NEXT .SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28.— Sid Goldtree has bought the local producing rights for Ursula Par- rot’s “Ex-Mistress,” and will stage it at his upstairs Green Street Theatre, following the run of “Hot ’n’ Bothered.” U. SIGNS TREACY Universal has signed Emerson Treacy to appear in the principal roles of eight two-reel talking comedies, the first of which, “A Day to Live,” is now being di- rected by Albert Kelley under the supervision of Sam Freedman. Nine pictures now in various stages of production are scheduled for Educational’s fall release. At Metropolitan, Nat Ross has started the second of a new series of Vanity comedies. Shooting has started on “One Good Turn,” Charlotte Green- wood’s first comedy for Educa- tional. Metropolitan is editing “Won by a Neck,” first of a new Lloyd Hamilton series. Stephen Roberts is directing the second Ideal Comedy with Lee Moran and James Bradbury, Jr. “Love a la Mode,” second of the Mermaid series, features Bernard Granville and Katherine McGuire. Mack Sennett is preparing a two-reel comedy and the first of a series of Breveties. At Audio Cinema studios in Long Island City, Paul Terry and Frank Moser are working on a cartoon. Robert E. Gillaum is supervis- ing “A Flying Trip,” the first of a series of Lyman H. Howe’s Hodge Podge. KLEIN RETURNS TO FOX STUDIO Philip Klein, scenarist, has re- turned to the Fox studios and is collaborating with Lynn Starling on the story and dialogue of “Stolen Murder.” J. Harold Murray and Jeanette McDonald have been engaged for the leads. Hamilton MacFadden will direct. Originally MacFadden was slated to direct “The Princess and the Plumber,” this assignment now going to Alexander Korda. FOX WILSHIRE TO OPEN SOON The Fox Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills is rapidly nearing completion and will be formally opened on Friday, September 19. Mervin C. Park, formerly man- ager of the Fox Ritz Theatre, will be the manager of the new theatre. IRENE’S DAUGHTER WORKS IN MOVIES Frances Rich, daughter of Irene Rich, is working as an extra in talking pictures. Her mother has no intention of permitting a career until the girl’s college course is completed. Frances leaves soon to enter Smith College as a senior. Irene Rich is working in “Check and Double Check” with Amos ’n’ Andy at RKO. By THE ROUNDER They don’t believe in jinxes at the United Artists exchange. Thir- teen pictures of their forthcoming releases decorate the walls. All of these pictures announce some of the coming big shots they expect to bombard the trade with this fall. Among them ate “Hell’s Angels” after it gets through road showing; “Abraham Lincoln,” D. W.’s masterpiece; the new Pick- ford and Fairbanks opi; A1 Jol- son’s “Big Boy;” Gloria’s latest; “Eyes of the World,” and — but we’re superstitious and we’re not going to tell them all and put a jonah on this column. * * 4 Doc Howe is back at his desk from a swing about the W. C. houses in the Middle West. He looks sleek and well nourished. Why not, eating on the boss for several weeks? You shouldn’t eat yourself sick, Doc, just because it doesn’t cost anything. * * * L. E. Tillman, district manager of Columbia exchanges left by plane fora five weeks tour of the territory, last Monday. He will alight at Denver and Salt Lake while on the tour. * * * Harry Lustig thought he was sitting on top of the world with John Barrymore’s “Moby Dick” up his sleeve and along comes First National with Joe E. Brown’s “Top Speed” to run him neck and neck. You see the rivalry be- tween these two exchanges is deadly even though they both have to say “Yes, sir” to the same boss. * * * Harry C. Arthur, formerly Cali- fornia Division manager of West Coast, now the vice-president and general manager of Fox Theatre Corporation in N. Y., is here on a vacation. * * * Jack Leo, manager of Fanchon and Marco’s New York office, is here aranging advance publicity for his territory of the Ideas that are being prepared. The object is to affect a better tie-up between the west and eastern branches of the F. & M. tour. * * * Colonel Early is looking like the cat that ate the canary. His first set of Akme reproducers is ready to be installed. Now if he can jar the corporation commission into handing down the permit, he’s all set to go like a house afire. Joe Rock, head of Premier Pro- ductions, is about to start a series of 26 multicolor single reelers with sound, featuring Mykoto, the Japanese premier dancer. These pictures are to be made at his studio on Glendale boulevard be- fore a release is decided upon. He has several outlets for his product offered. Rock recently completed a series of six pictures in color, fea- turing Jimmy Adams and Bud Jamieson, that are being released by Tiffany. GERMAN FILM JOLSON’S NEXT A1 Jolson is going to Germany to make an all-talking and singing picture entirely in German. Jolson has left for New York and plans to sail for Germany early in September. The supporting cast for Jol- son’s foreign picture will be re- cruited in Germany. The story is an original, and the director will be Fred Zelnik, Hollywood-trained German director, who formerly was associated with the United Artists Studios. Jolson expects to complete the German picture in time to be back in Hollywood in November to start his first United Artists fea- ture, “Sons O’ Guns,” in which Lily Damita will play the prin- cipal feminine role. Miss Damita will have the same part in the screen version that she had in the sensational New York stage suc- cess. Jolson’s early American-made talking and singing pictures were smash hits in Germany and ran for months in Berlin and other large cities. The German public is reported elated over the prospect of Jol- son’s visit to their country to make a picture with an all-German cast and technical staff. Jolson speaks German fluently. “DR. KNOCK” BILLED “The Importance of Being Earn- est,” by Oscar Wilde, is now in its last week at the Pasadena Com- munity Playhouse. Charles Levi- son plays the leading masculine role. “Dr. Knock” follows Sept. 11. “SEA LEGS,” NAME “Sea Legs” will be the release title for Jack Oakie’s new Para- mount starring picture being di- rected by Victor Heerman. ! BERTIE KOBER O RGANIS T “IN HOLLYWOOD NOW” Three Years Soloist Fox Theatrees Glendale* Featured at K. T. M. One Year, Also All Leading Broadcasting Stations, “IN HOLLYWOOD NOW”