Inside facts of stage and screen (October 4, 1930)

OCT. 4, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE SEVEN Harold J. Bock Manager PHONE DOUGLAS 2213 SAN FRANCISCO OAKLAND—SACRAMENTO—SAN JOSE KRESS BLDG. 935 Market St., Office Suite 504 DUFFY BACK TO RE-OPEN NEXT WEEK SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2— Henry Duffy will re-enter the thea- trical field next week by opening as a producer at the Alcazar and President here, both of which houses were formerly links in his chain of coast legit theatres. Duffy is under contract to the Alcazar Improvement Co. to pro- duce at the two theatres, just as he is producing for the Tobelman in- terests at the El Capitan, Holly- wood. Winship estate owns the property and directs the Alcazar Improvement Co. Instead of lowering his prices, as many believed Duffy would do, he has boosted them from a $1.25 to $1.50 top. As soon as Duffy wipes out all indebtedness to the Winship people, he will resume personal control of the Alcazar ad President.. Associated with Duffy, is George T. Hood who will act as general manager of the two houses. Hood will manage the Alcaxar and Charles Josephs will handle, the President. Herbert Mitchell is in as treasurer. Alcazar opens on October 9 with Duffy and his wife, Dale Winter, in “Michael and Mary.” President opens the following day with Bert Lytell ad his wife, Grace Menkin, in “Brothers,” which Lytle did be- fore in New York. It was just six years ago that Duffy came to San Francisco as a producer and opened at the Alca- zar with Dale Winter in “The Cat and the Canary.” Since then he built up a chain of coast legit houses, including theatres in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Portland, only to lose them on June 30 when he went into bankruptcy and his business was taken over by cerdi- tors. ROB MARTINEZ HOUSE SAN FRANCISCO, let. 2.—T. and D. Jr.’s State Theatre in Martinez, was robbed of aproxi- mately $1000 on Sunday night. Thugs threatened John Shaw, as- sistant manager, and then bound his hands and feet, fleeing with the cash. TO DO SECOND RUNS SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2.— After waging an uphill fight with a mediocre run of pictures, Wag- non’s Davies goes into a second run policy this week, operating at 40 cent admission for nights. Last of the first runs is “Primrose Path,” a sexie. PEGGY TOMSIN JOINS SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2.— Peggy Tomson has joined the cast of Sid Goldtree’s “Hot ’n’ Bother- ed” at the Green Street. She fol- lowed Germaine De Neel, a walk- out. PLAN NEW THEATRE EUREKA, Oct. 2.—Redwood Theatres plan construction of a 2000 seat house, costing approxi- mately $500,000. Work to begin about January 1. SHERMAN READY Shooting script for “The Queen’s Husband,” which will be Lowell Sherman’s third picture as an actor- director for RKO Radio Pictures, is about ready and selection of the supporting cast will start within a few days. FOREVER FREE FROM UNSIGHTLY HAIR A few pleasant RAY-O treat- ments removes superfluous hair permanently. No sensation whatever in the treat- ment and the hair will never return. Write for booklet or come in for free and confidential consultation. Ray-O System 802 Anglo-Bank Bldg. 830 Market Phone SUtter 4714 SAN FRANCISCO Market St. Gleanings SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2. —Unless puny golf operators inject a lot more showmanship into their business, theatre men won’t have a thing to worry about. A new course opens, draws business for a while, cuts prices and then folds. No ef- fort is made to inject any sem- blance of showmanship into the affair, with the result that min- nie operators will soon be en- tering other fields. SPOTLIGHTS Bert Nauss in the California lob- by .. . the x in Frank Galvin’s name means . . . not the unknown quan- tity . . . but Xavier . . . which is an Irish monicker . . . wonder if Jean- ette MacDonald spends all her movie pitcher working hours in bed . . . about every flicker she’s been in so far has had her in a. flock of boudoir scenes . . . Joe Wright mid- night lunching at Kelly’s Tavern... Herman Kersken and Cliff Work also there . . . and Tim Crawford with his frau . . . Gene Fox inhal- ing a bit of the backstage atmos- phere . . . the door opens and in pops Carl Lamont for a chin fest. Wonder if Smoky Bill La Fay, squatting for 60 some days atop the Golden Gate flagpole, will sit for a week once he dismounts his high perch . . . Charlie Thall celebrated the sixth anniversary of his forty- ninth birthday this week . . . Louis Flint holds a Bachelor of Music de- gree . . . Jack Gross is getting well set in his new RKO divisional chief’s job . . . Angie Ward (Ward and Van) has a 14-year-old son, Harry Ward Jr., who is hotfooting it along the path of golf champiin- ship . . . Barney Poetz pronounces it “el Pash—ee-o” . . . not “el pot- ee-o” as most of us do . . . and he shuld know . . . it’s his ballroom ... can you imagine Tiny Epperson getting caught between two of those Market street trolleys? . . . Val Valente and A1 Pinetti pay a visit to Spotlights . . . Nina Mitch- ell also drops in ... so do Helen McColl and Jack Archer and Rita ell and Joe Duggan . . . Peggy O’Neill on the phone . . . Jack Souders on his way to Oakland. * * * FAMOUS LINES OF SHOW BUSINESS: It’s a shame; my get- ting this big dough and not stop- ping every show.” ERICKSON TO MANAGE SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2. — Arvid Erickson, press agent at the RKO Golden Gate left this week to take over the managership of the Orpheum, Tacoma. Change is one of the few made by Cliff Work since his recent appointment as western RKO chief. Temporarily. George Bole is alterating between the manager’s and the p. a.’s desk at the Gate. NEW NAMES FOR CAP. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 2.— Ann Allison and Ginger Britten leave Warren Irns’ burlesque show at the Capitol this week, going to Hollywood. Jane Rhodes replaces Britten. Charlie Fritcher, comic, is temporarily out of the show, Bobby Fitzsimmons taking his place for a while. CAFE GOLF COURSE SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2. — Roberts’, beach night club, has opened a baby golf course, operat- ing it apart from the night spot activities. Place features baked beans and hot dogs, and soaks ’em only two bits, a dime less than the usual tariff. NAME NEW MANAGER SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2.— Bill Wagnon has named Donald Robinson manager of the Embassy, succeeding John Victor, out. Other Wagnon attaches will remain. RITA BELL MOVES SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2—Rita Bell leaves here this week to open Oct. 9 for Publix at the Paramount, Los Angeles. Plaza Operated By Stage Hands At Sacramento SACRAMENTO, Oct. 2—Follow- ing a similar policy tried at Denver a few months ago, local IATSE has taken over the Plaza, and opened a stock company there this week. House has the only orchestra in town, an eight piece concert group, directed by Charlie Lear. Stage crew is paid after the cast. If the house makes money the deck hands are paid on a co-op basis. Walter Silva, a union exec, is business manager of the company. Rupert Drumm is producer and character man. Wills Bass is house manager. Cast is headed by Alice Holcomb and Cameron Prud'homme, with the remainder made up of Ray Lawrence, Rollon Parker, Edna Ellsmere, Arthur Wellington, Mil- ton Owen and Irene Dennis. Plaza was last occupied by Jack Russell, with a musical tab com- pany, and prior to that, by Roy Clair, who operated the Plaza for some time as a stock company. “Salt Water” was the opening piece with “Dear Me” set to follow. Umpire Plugger Misses No Bets SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2.— Chalk one for Harry Bush, doctor of melody and master of compro- mise. Scene: Recreation ball park. Cast: Ball playing members of Jesse Stafford’s and Val Valente’s orchestras. A Valente man poles a flier out into left field. He runs for second and slides into the bag. Sock! And the ball zooms into the baseman’s glove. Out?” yells Bush. “What?” yells Valente. “Safe!” yells Bush. Bush is no chump. He’s a song plugger and Valente’s orchestra uses tunes. BIG THEATRE FIRE SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2— Hyman Levin’s West Portal theatre suffered approximately $ 1 5,0 0 0, when all seats and draperies were burned in a fire that was discovered by the janitor. Levin will recon- struct the house. KLEIG GOLF OPENING SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2— This metropolis had its first Kleig light opening of a microbe golf course, when Barney Poetz threw open his new 36 hole links in the El Patio ballroom building. The pill chasing is being done entirely separate from the ballroo activities. MODEART Permanent Wave Best in the West Ton cannot buy a better wave. ‘Indi- vidual, distinctive, beautlfnl and last- ing 1 . With or without ringlet ends. A WAVE YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Your choice of Modeart, Duart, Ring- lette or other celebrated methods. Haircutting by Mr. Yon Medicated Shampoo, Including finger wave $1 Dried in If! to 20 minutes by the Duart Chief French paper curl $1 Marcels 75o Manicure BOc MODEART ' Permanent Wave Studio 1007 Market St., at Sixth, Entire &nfl Floor Telephone HEmlock 6873 Qpen > to • with or without appt. SAN FRANCISCO Oakland Pickups OAKLAND, Oct. 2.—Vaudeville reports say, will be put into the Vitaphone within a month or two, with T. and D. Jr. enterprises mak- ing this their sole flesh entertain- ment. Management does not deny the rumor. Currently the Vitaphone, a non- union theatre, is on first runs using the Warner product and doing a fair business. * * * Rod Sinclair, stage manager of the Fox Oakland, is vacationing in Los Angeles. * * * A theatre romance between Mil- ton Barnes, trumpet player, and Velma Ireland, head usher, both of the Fox Oakland theatre, culmi- nated in marriage this week. * * * Fox Grand Lake temporarily went first run this stanza, with Fox’s “Wild Company.” * * * Francis X. Bushman opens at the Dufwin Sunday in “Thin Ice.” * * * Pearl Hickman opened a dance studio in the Roseroom Academy this week with some 50 pupils re- gistered. O’NEILL SISTERS IN NEW DANCE STUDIO SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2—The O’Neill Sisters, Peggy and Helen, have opened a dancing studio down- town in the Balconades Ballroom building, where they are specializ- ing in the teaching of stage routines. Place will be maintained in addition to the present Frederick street studio. Associated with the O’Neills, are Bert Darrell and Alice- Sullivan, who handle individual and class in- struction. Peggy O’Neill is the producer of stage shows at the Fox El Capitan here and the Fox Wilson, Fresno, and Fox California, San Jose. FOX WITH IRONS SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2— Bozo Fox, Fox and Ferris, has joined Warren Irons’ stock burles- que crew at the Capitol as comic. He was on the Columbia wheel for a number of years. SHERWOOD’S BIZ Babe and Gale Sherwood, of vaudeville, are running a tea room in Pasadena. LOW GROSS THIS WEEK FOR FILMS SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 2— Some woefully low grosses charac- terized the week just passed for picture houses, “Good News” , and “Scarlet Pages” being especially blue when check-up time came. MGM’s celluloid version of “Good News” dropped sadly in its first and last week at Loew’s Warfield, effective"exploitation and publicity even failing to bring it over the $15,000 mark. A four reel educa- tional film, “Bottom of the Wdrld” and Jan Rubini with his violin, aided considerably. “Madam Satan” opens today. Dick Spider is not confining advertising on this one to the newspapers, as is the case with “Satan” in Los An- geles, but is using the regular line- up of 6 and 24 sheets, changing it from _ the exchange paper, Foster and Kleiser previously turned down. First National’s “Scarlet Pages” played to a flock of empty seats at the Paramount. Picture is the same as “The Crimson Hour,” which Pauline Frederick played at the Curran only a few weeks ago. A stage show supported, with Allan Kane bowing as master of ceremo- nies. The intake was around $16,- 000, the lowest in weeks. Par’s “Monte Carlo” bowed out of Publix’s California after two weeks with $12,000 to its credit for the final six days. Eddie Cantor in “Whoopee” opens today. St. Fran- cis, Publix, with “Spoilers” was healthy at $13,500, a sweet gross. “Love in the Rough,” Metro, and F. and M.’s “Southern Bells Idea” ad Hermie King as m.c. drew $51 - 000 into the Fox boxoffice. “Those Three French Girls,” heavily adver- tised in advance, and with Jan Rubini conducting the concert or- chestra constitute the ensuing week’s show. Orpheum had “A Lady Surren- ders,” and did well at $10,000, hold- ing it for a second week. Warners’ “Matrimonial Bed” was fair for Wagnon’s Embassy, $8000 being the gross and in for only the week. “Old English,” with George Arliss, opens today. . Wagnon’s Davies makes its final bow as a first run house next week, follow- ing the current run of the sex pic- ture, “Primrose Path.” SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT DANCE ART SHOE COMPANY takes pleasure in announcing the exclusive presentation of the world famous NAT LEWIS DANCE COS- TUMES and ACCESSORIES. All of the models created by NAT LEWIS are available at our shop. UNIFORMITY IN DANCE COSTUME is ac- claimed by the D.M.A. Inc. Dancing Teachers, Producers—Call, write, or send for complete new catalogue. SPECIAL LOW PRICES IN QUANTITIES. DANCE ART ||| SHOE CO. Theatrical Footwear Headquarters Warfield Theatre Bldg. San Francisco HIRSCH - ARNOLD BALLET MISTRESSES created and costumed all dance numbers now en tour Fox Circuit with F. & M.’s “Brunettes” Idea. STUDIO—545 SUTTER ST. SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL GOVERNOR TURK AT JONES SAM FRANCISCO THE HOME OF ALL THEATRICAL PEOPLE PLAYING SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL RATES TO PROFESSIONALS JACK WOLFENDEN, Prop. BERT HENDREN, Asst. Mgr. PROFESSIONALS— ADD ^ ® O’ROURKE’S NEWEST and ORIGINAL ” Miniature Golf Tap Routine TO YOUR REPERTOIRE Studio, 226 Fillmore Street Phone WEst 9343 San Francisco Under personal direction of O’Rourke & Montal