Inside facts of stage and screen (October 11, 1930)

ESTABLISHED 1924 EDITED BY JACK JOSEPHS Vol. XII Entered as Second Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at Post- office, Los Angeles, Calif., under Act of March 3, 1879. Saturday, October 11, 1930 Published Every Saturday at 800-801 Warner Bros. Down- town Building, 401 West Seventh St., Los Angeles, Calif. No. 15 NEW FIELD FOR VAUDE NIGHT CLUBS BADLY SHOT; RAIDS, YARNS Chatter writers, prohi agents, and other snoops have knocked the bottom out of the night clubs in Los Angeles and Hollywood. Big shots in financial and film circles remain at home rather than have a chatter write-up in some baggy maga- zine about their being seen with “so-and-so” at some gay club. Such is the concensus of opinion of those in the know, and drastic advertising and publicity campaigns are on foot to urge the spenders back to the bright light spots to turn loose is badly needed to keep the joints going. Prohis have been, laying heavy hands on tables, (not mincing any words, in their orders to proprietors and patrons alike, and some unpleasant publicity has resulted, with the cash register going deader and deader. Special nights with a load of give- away tables have also failed to drag ’em in, so some of the managers are resorting to heavy billboard advertising in an effort to get the laymen, who may be feeling he has been stung once too often on heavy cover charge. Good bands, that become medi- ocre after a week, has hurt trade, with no help coming from some of the floor entertainment. One of the bright spots arising from this condition is the coming of Ted Weems and his orchestra, an M.C.A. aggregation, to the Blossom Room. Perhaps the only spot not af- fected by the business has been Earl Burtnett and his Biltmore or- chestra at the Biltmore Hotel. Con- sistant good music and steady fol- lowing of friends, with no run-in with prohis, chatter writers and whatnots, brings this spot into the regular money class. Another effort tpward the revival of patronage is the bringing of Eddie Cantor to Olsen’s night club as master of ceremonies and “spec- ial added attraction.” If they don’t go to see Eddie, the death knell has been sounded, as this is one of the biggest tie-ups ef- fected between night spots and stars. Cantor’s salary would be prohibi- tive, but the element of friendship between Olsen and Cantor has en- tered into the situation. No mone- tary consideration has been an- nounced. REALIZING NECESSITY OF OFFERING ENTERTAINMENT OF A TANGIBLE SORT SCH- MIDT HAS WIRED A CON- TRACT TO “LIGHT HORSE HARRY COOPER,” famous pro TO GIVE PLAYERS POINTERS ON THE GAME. COOPER WILL ALSO REPRESENT CAL- IENTE IN ALL “OPEN” AND PRO TOURNAMENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WINTER. Aid from vaudeville, and other legit sources is being in- voked by Oscar Shmidt, mil- lionaire owner of the Caliente Golf Park at Fourth and Ver- mont, in an effort to bolster business on the elaborate min- iature links. CHIEF SHUNATONA The Versatile Director of the U. S. Indian Band LOEWS STATE Photo By HARRY WENGER THIS WEEK BOLAND WITH TIF TWO BANDS IN FILM Two of Los Angeles’ leading dance orchestras play for scenes of “Sin Takes a Holiday,” Pathe’s new Constance Bennett starring picture. Earl Burtnett’s Biltmore Hotel supper room orchestra provides the music for a New York night club sequence. Maury Paul’s Rainbow Gardens musicians appear as mem- bers of a ship’s orchestra in action filmed on a trans-Atlantic liner setting. Eddie Boland, who appeared as the dumb prize fighter’s manager in “One Punch O’Toole,” Paul Hurst’s first starring prize fight story for Tiffany, will repeat in the second of the Series, which Frank Strayer will direct. Boland is one of the old-timers of the vaudeville game and faces favorable prospects in talking pictures. He appeared in silent films for years. THIRD “DRACULA-ITE” A third member of the original stage cast, in the person of Her- bert Gunston, has just been en- gaged for Universal’s screen pro- duction of Bram Stoker’s vampire drama, “Dracula”, which has just gone into production under the di- rection of Tod Browning. Bela Lu- gosi and Edward Van Sloan already cast. Going still further in his inten- tion to combine the show business with miniature golf, Mr. Schmidt has announced intention of secur- ing vaudeville acts, specialty num- bers and singers to appear nightly at the course. Negotiations are being made with several leading radio stations for the the broadcasting of these acts by remote control from the links pro- per. Mr. Schmidt further states. Theatrical people and golf course owners are realizing that miniature golf of the better sort is in reality show business. Acquiring of pro- fessional talent to appear on our course will not only help materially in the gate receipts of the course, but will also aid members of the profession to find steady employ- ment under contracts at the other elaborate golf courses located throughout Southern CalitoffiiaT A series of canopies will be erected over the entire golf course and platform where the acts will be presented, insuring steady work throughout the winter. It is estimated that the venture has cost Schmidt, president, and Gust Lewis, vice president, more than $80,000 for construction work alone. While other courses are cutting their prices to almost noth- ing, the Caliente will maintain the entrance fee of 50 cents a game for either of the two 18 hole golf courses. While no contract has yet been signed for music, negotiations are now under way with several leading orchestras for Ion time engage- ments at the unique course. With inaguration of vaude at this course, arrangements are reported underway to line up several of the more prominent courses to offer acts several weeks’ booking. YOU’LL SEE IT IN FACTS VAUDE, BANDS CONSIDERED IN NEW VENTURE