Inside facts of stage and screen (September 20, 1930)

SEPT. 20, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE FIVE In Hollywood—Now By BUD MURRAY Eight Pictures Are Being Made What the P. A. Says By THE OFFICE COPY BOY To the Million Dollar Theater, for the opening of Greater Vaudeville where Bert Levy was M.C., introducing a list of celebrities, includ- ing JACK HOLT, featured in the current picture, “Hells Island”— Judge Valentine, the “save a life Judge,” and then your humble writer, with a host of proteges—-Our cute Chicago pal, BABE KANE, who came out with us to open in “Good News” did our pet “Varsity Drag” and HOW, even though the “band” wasn’t so hot. Junior Coghlan, who just finished “River’s End,” did his eccentric dance and was quite a hit with the youngsters— Perk Lazelle and Paul Pierce showed how an Off-rhythm dance should be done— B.B.B. was there right in the aisle— Eddie Quillan did a neat talking bit and a short dance— Mary Frances Taylor (our Ballet Directress), got up for a bow—and we had a nice chat with our boy friend, Sid Gary, a real singer of songs. Driving down the main stem in a FORD we noticed Sam Hardy back from Noo Yawk, with a Bud Murray GREEN Fedora( and we mean Green)— Sam does like those soothing shades. We had a surprise visit from an old timer, and we confess he had us stopt when he started to talk about the days, when he played with N. S. Wood—on the Bowery, in 1883 in good old “Noo Yark,” in “Light- nin Lou,” the “Boy Detective,” and “Markt for Life”; our dear friend from the “Avenoo,” COLIN CAMPBELL TAYLOR, well-known actor, director and writer for SO years, and an uncle of Sam Taylor, now direct- ing picture in Hollywood. Now dear readers—we are not as old as that, although we were informed today by Lee Wilmot, an eccentric dancer and a real comedian, that a few of the “know it all boys,” cannot understand “this guy Bud Murray” —“How Old is that Mug”—So you see its not so good to tell your rite age-— Colin Campbell doesn’t look over 40, so that makes the writer 12 years NET—in Hollywood. A letter from Art Rogers, now employed in Luna Park, Coney Island, N. Y., who says he enjoys the dirt “In Hollywood Now”—Art was the “Beef” in our “Good News” Coast company. On the Boulevard, a few words with charming Nancy Welford and Darry, her sister—both the girls looking great—then smack into Wallace MacDonald, who has taken plenty of weight off working nite work in First National pictures-— Wally was the male lead in “Oh Susanna,” which we staged at the Mayan Theatre, last year—and while getting the boots polished, our old girl friend, Winnie Lightner, whom we trouped with in “Scandals” of 1927, stopt to say she goes back to Noo Yawk soon—Winnie is a peach of a scout. It looked like everyone was on the Boulevard this afternoon, as we ran into A1 Latel, who is the best dog impersonator we know of—A1 was with his charming partner, Sylvan Dell (one of our first California pupils)-—and so we naturally talkt about the prologue at Grauman’s Chinese last year, which we stage directed for 6 months, where A1 did his turn, consistently stopping the show—and they are all on the Boulevard in Hollywood now. To the Olympic Fites again and for no good reason, but we mite finally see a good show there—-We noticed Wilson Mizner and George Bancroft—Bobby Woolsey back from his Caliente sojourn —Ike Edwards with his funny cap—We see Macklin Megley is back from “Noo Yawk” after a quick, mysterious visit—Mack is our pet boss, whom we had a most delightful S months of presentation work with—in Hollywood at the RKO Theatre. Then with Doc Mace rite into the heart of Chiantown, and met a most wonderful Chinaman ONG LIM, and Yut Gum, and Louie and Gee and then -we went after a “mess” of the finest food we have tasted in a long time—Try this Chinese food for your “bum stomachs”— Junior Coghlan couldn’t sleep or two nites, flighting off the dragons— Lafe Page sure was off-rhythm while teaching our students Tap dancing—-and Doc called his Mrs. and daughter “Tut,” long distance (Kansas City) where Tut is playing with F & M Hollywood Collegians Idea. To the Brown Derby for lunch with a real gentleman, scholar and writer, now at M-G-M —Eugene Walters— Gene started to talk about old times, when this column was discussed—Again we have to “fade-out” when Gene started about the “one niters” he played in the ’80’s—A few minutes with Lina Basquette, who looks absolutely great—so nice and thin and everything—We were together in “Le Maires Affairs” and we can’t forget the “hit” she made with her Toe Ballet. To the Booth with Sigmund Romberg, or “Rommy,” as we affection- ately called him for so many years at the Winter Garden—Rommy has been slated three times as “gone to N. Y.” but there he was, as genial as ever—However he said he does leave Thursday (no foolin’), but comes back to Hollywood very soon to write some more tunes for Warner Brothers—At one table one grand gang of “Musikers”—looks like Musi- cians “feel” day—We see huddled in close conversation— Sid Claire, who writes at RKO— Louis Silvers at Warners— Grant Clarke and Lew Pol- lack at Warners— Arthur Franklin and Wolfe Gilbert, and everyone of them top-notchers in this “Music racket.” In another booth, Mervyn Le Roy, that youthful F. N. director, with Buster Collier and his illustrious wise-cracking Pop, Wm. Collier, Sr. — Harry Bannister over to the table for a few minutes asking us how old Jake Shubert was—We talkt about the “Passing Show of 1921” and some great old times—Harry is one husband of a famous star who is a real actor and is “on his own”—whether it be Stage or Screen. And now to Tom Gallery’s Hollywood Legion Fites Friday, and again it proves to everyone in the entertaining business that if you give them a show, “they will buy tickets”—Tom had a great show and that final bout was a “pip”—House was jammed and we noticed our Philadelphia “bird,” Frankie Richardson, is back in town after a vaudeville tour and is parin’ to go—where are all these Musicals?—What a tenor at large?— Rite in back of us a very pretty girl, Flo McFadden, who was in our Winter Garden production, “Dancing Girl”—with the “boy friend” Jack Haley who was the comic in the Chicago company of “Good News”— Jack just finished the picture version of “Follow Thru.” Strange as it may seem, near Jack is Gus Shy, who played in both “Good News” and “Follow Thru” New York companies and Gus just finished picture version of “Good News”—both were great in both stage and screen versions— Cy Kahn, another peachy “ballad yodler”—sitting with our “oil and garlic” friend,_ Tom Patricola and his girl friend, Georgie Lerch, also of George White’s Scandals—and near them our pre- decessor in the capacity of Stage Director for George White—our pal, Sammy Ledner, who just finished another picture at United Artists— not bad for a newcomer only out here a year—new to the picture game and only laid off 6 weeks in a year. A couple of real old timers— Wm. Courtney, a legit of high merit, and Bobby North (formerly of that famous team of Gordon and North) and we played for Bobby in the “World of Pleasure,” in Burlesque if you must know Billy Arnold, a tenor who can act and sing, whom we S e ut. ,n ^e P as3 ' n 8' Show of 1916—After looking at the “pans,” Bobby La Salle (pug) makes, showing the “bridgework,” we‘ can see where B.B.B. got his prop laugh— Dave Bennett, a Dance director who knows what it is all about, now at Paramount, whom we were with in 1923 with the Shuberts and we are all in Hollywood now. t, 0 Henry’s after the fites for a bite, and in a booth our perk pupil, Mildred Van Dorn, with a swarthy looking individual— Billy Leiser now P.A. for our dear friend, A1 Christie— Bill Beaudine and Bobbv Vernon and Harry Burns seem to be another sort of “Unholy Three”— And with our back to that cute Frances McCoy who seemed more charm- ing than ever, and we had to look again and again and we spoke— Frances was with Mrs. Herman Paley but they lost Herman in the shuttle. By Par . Studios Eight pictures are in process of being made at Paramount. Rowland V. Lee is directing an untitled story, with George Ban- croft as star. John C. Cromwell is directing an all start cast in “Tom Sawyer.” Victor Heerman is pro- gressing nicely with Jack Oakie’s new play, “Sea Legs.” Charles “Buddy” Rogers is hav- ing his new film directed by Corri- gan and McLeod as a directorial team. It is to be called “Along Came Youth.” Ruth Chatterton is working in “The Right to Love,” directed by Richard Wallace. “Fighting Caravans,” with an all- star cast is being shot under the meg of Directors Brower and Knopf. William Powell is in pro- duction, directed by Victor Schert- zinger in a play called “New Mor- als” and Jack Oakie starts an un- titled picture directed by Edward Sutherland. Film Row Cuttings By THE ROUNDER CHRISTIE—Wiliam Watson has been assigned the first Clyde Cook comedy, to be made at Metropolitan. Tentative starting date is Sep- tember 29. . . . Ford Sterling is scheduled to start about September IS in a comedy. Arvid Gillstrom will direct. . . . Jimmie Starr and Harry McCoy are completing scenario and dialogue. . . .Walter DeLeon is working on Lloyd Hamilton’s third production. UNIVERSAL—Universal’s “Fingerprints,” under the direction of Ray Taylor has moved to Balboa for a week on location. It is a mystery serial adapted from a novel by Arthur B. Reeve. Hobart Henley will direct. . . . Sidney Howard’s “Half Gods” shortly to go into production. . . . Universal will begin production of Spanish, French, and German versions of the “Boudoir Diplomat,” the picturization of the stage play by Fritz Gottwald and Rudolf Lothar, within a fortnight. . . . John Boles is back at Universal after ten weeks absence playing opposite Evelyn Laye in “Lilli.” . . . Mary Nolan has been granted a two weeks extension on her vacation. . . . Bela Lugosi, who created the title role in the Broadway stage version two and a half years ago, has been chosen by Carl Laemmle, Jr., for the lead in Universal’s film version of “Dracula.” Tod Browning will direct the Louis Bromfield-Dudley Murphy adaptation of the novel and play. . . . “The Cat Creeps,” talking picture adaptation of “The Cat and the Canary” will be released soon. Helen Twelvetrees, Raymond Hackett, Neil Hamilton, Lilyan Tashman, Jean Hersholt, Theodore Von Eltz, Blanche Frederici and Elizabeth Patterson are in the cast. RKO—’“Hook, Line and Sinker” is the title of the next co-starring vehicle for Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. Production starts in two weeks. . . . “Losing Game” has been rechristneed “The Pay Off.” Lowell Sherman directing. . . . Will Burn is the fire chief at the RKO Hollywood studios. What’s Fuller Water doing now, Don? . . . M-G-M—The Conrad Nagels are New Yorking. . . . Clarence Brown wall direct Greta Garbo in “Inspiration.” . . . King Vidor is to be the next director for Lawrence Tibbett. The opus is “The Southerner,” an origi- nal by Wells Root and Bess Meredyth. . . .Hale Hamilton will play the part of the district attorney in “Within the Law,” starring Joan Crawford. Sam Wood to direct. . . . William Bakewell also in the cast. . . . Marie Dressier, Wallace Beery and the rest of “The Dark Star” company back from location. . . . Wallace Beery has recovered from his recent attack of laryngitis. Film Board of trade is having a hot time getting together with itself. Ever since they did away with arbitration, they have been trying to devise a system that will work without the gab. Efforts have succeed- ed in one thing only and that is they have contributed more gab. To hear a session is like listening to fifteen talkies with a couple of radios, all going at once. * *. * U. A. is being complimented upon the advance book got out to exploit “What a Widow.” Cover has a finely lithographed portrait of Gloria, and contents are illustrated on rotogravure, with scenes of the play exquisitely reproduced. A nov- elty is a flap in the back containing several six-by-eight photos of Miss Swanson explaining the gowns she wears. . It is highly attractive, and was mailed principally to exhibitors. * * * Every Monday morning, the growls that can be heard along the* row makes one think of a bear convention during the open season. An exhibitor’s life isn’t worth a marivede (whatever that is) and they know it, so they put in their ten cents worth over the phone. Some of the telephone conver- sations one overhears in the exchanges make one think of the Devil trying to get St. Pe- ter to vise a passport that has been clumsily forged. * * * WALLACE STUDENT IN RKO PICTURES Reginald Denny Streeter, child student of the Earle Wallace Studios of Stage Dancing, was selected to play an important part in the RKO picture, “Cimarron,” which stars Richard Dix. Earle Wallace announces that new children’s classes will start on Saturday, September 27. Tap classes will be held at 11 a.m., and classes in acrobatic dancing 12:30 p.m. The class in ballet will be at 10 a.m. WALSH TO DO TWO Raoul Walsh w’ill direct Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in “The Man Who Comes Back,” and fol- low with the direction of Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe in “Women of All Nations,” further adventures of “Flagg” and “Quirt.” Walsh has just completed “The Big Trail,’ which will have its world premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. M. Gr M. NOTES Becky Gardner has been re-signed by M-G-M. She adapted “The Trial of Mary Dugan” and “War Nurse.” * * * Karl Dane has been added to the cast of “New Moon,” (M-G-M). Cast includes Adolphe Menjou, Roland Young, Gus Shy, Lloyd Hamilton, and Emily Fitzroy. Jack Conway, directing. * * * OSTERLE WRITING MAJESTIC STORIES Lew Osterle, for many years press agent of Pantages, is now press agent at Majestic theatre. “TRAP” NEXT FILM ON MAJESTIC LIST Majestic Pictures Company, Ltd., is preparing “The Trap,” thrilling tale by Norman Springer, author of “The Blood Ship,” to go into pro- duction Oct. 1. Their first picture, “Today,” recently completed, has created a small furore among inde- pendent exhibitors anxiously await- ing its release date. Harry Sherman, president of the company, states there is still some territory open for state right deal- ers, and is making attractive terms for responsible people. He has ar- ranged to make a series of eight features, all of well advertised sto- ries, with name casts. KEN AT PANTAGES Ken Hamilton, known to radio as “Big Brother Ken,” has signed with Pantages _ Hollywood Theatre to handle child activities at the house. Hamilton is conductor of “Ken’s Club for Kids,” over KNX. Plans call for Ken to hold his broadcast from stage of theatre week-days from 5:15 to 5:45 re- leased over KNX. Theatrical and moving picture manager of many years’ experi- ence open for engagement. One exhibitor contracted for a picture to play four days, he played it three and sent a check for three-fourths of the con- tract. He protested poverty over the phone. The exchanger bluffed that he had checked the business—both being. After a half hour exchange of amenities and exhausting the dregs of the language, they hung up status quo. Lord pity the next exhib- itor. He came in with a com- plaint as this Rounder walked out. Casualties not reported. * * * * Roy Reed is up and about again, making his first appearances on the row since the accident that “busted” a full hand of ribs, an ankle and a few sympathetic nerves. He’s been laid up for several weeks and de- cries the fact that he was hurt rid- ing in a Lincoln, with a fellow who wore a four carat diamond. The showing of affluence forced them to pay their own hospital bill.. Doc- tor and medicine, along with hos- pital, is free to the poor. By the way, Roy is now a Yellow Dog. * * * There is a merry little war being Four-year-old Dicky Moore has been assigned by Director William C. De Mille a role in M-G-M’s pic- turization of “The Passion Flower,” by Kathleen Norris. * * * M-G-M has purchased the Ger- man comedy, “Menchen in Hotel,” by Vicky Baum. fought from the trenches along the row. You don’t hear the guns nor see the flares, the airplanes are there and so are the blimps, the ar- mies are opposed and hard at it, and while the fighting is silent, it is none the less desperate and bloody. Principal contenders are strug- gling for supremacy of the box of- fice with but little advantage to any side. It is a four sided battle, with First National with its “Dawn Pa- trol,” Tiffany with “Journey’s End,” Universal with “All’s Quiet on the Western Front” and United Artists horning in with “Hell’s An- gels,” all battling for top honors. If you only could believe them, they are all leading each other. Address Box E INSIDE FACTS PARTNER with $2500 to invest in guaranteed!, profitable, established theatrical bus- iness — with or without services. See P. L. Greenburg 423 Rives-Strong Bldg. 9th and Spring Los Angeles Mr. and Mrs. Harry Meyer and Henry himself back on the job, with Joe the Head man busy as a bumble bee—and business looks O.K. in Henry’s— Henry Clive (brother Masquer)—and in a corner, Jackie Fields, in a Zebra striped suit—and we talkt a few minutes with Charley Thompson, head man of L. A. Scenic Studios,—maybe we didn’t talk shop—and so dear readers that’s that—in Hollywood now.