Inside facts of stage and screen (October 18, 1930)

PAGE TWO INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN OCT. 18, 1930 DUFFY PUTS LEGIT LIFE INTO S. F. n 0 Local Radio Will Be Hard Hit If Day Savings Wins TWO DUFFY SHOWS GET RECEPTIONS BROADCAST HERE NEEDS MORE CASH By ART LA VOVE # Reshifting of chain program time, owing to replacing of daylight sav- ing in the east with standard time, is looked upon with disfavor in local broadcast circles. By moving all programs an hour ahead, sponsored time, employing local artists, will be shortened to make room, for numerous Columbia and National Broadcasting ‘super- programs.” Majority of station managers here conceded superiority of radio pre- sentations of the eastern studios, brought here by chain. NBC and Columbia programs re- leased by KFI and KHJ could be named as heavy winners. Demand and preference indicated by the radio public for chain broad- casts is based upon two major facts, apparently. Extreme perfection, of presentation and thrill of hearing a program coming from a point prob- ably thousands of miles away. DX fans thus are satisfied, as well as Easterners who want old home stuff. What is considered an important reason for “radio big-time public favor” is the vast money and time spent on these' programs, before they go on the air. Time and money, inducing per- fect teamwork between musical, technical and continuity depart- ments are the "whys and where- fores,” of their success. “The True fetory Hour,” and the New York Philharmonic Concert Orchestra Sundays over the C. B. S., and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowsky over NBC, via KFI are proving juggernauts to local talent. This should not imply incapabil- ity on the part of coast staffs to produce as good programs. With the proper resources they could. Symphonic broadcasts of the Hollywood Bowl in summertime, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as the Sai\ Francisco Sym- phony Orchestra and Shell pro- grams during coming months are making progress for the west. Originating chain programs from Los Angeles and Hollywood will eventually prove a wise move as the cream of talent is at present cen- tered about the motion picture in- dustry. Spokane By Chester F. Cooke SPOKANE, Oct. 16. — Allen Doone Players closed here after playing to empty houses for a week. Although the play, “Kerry Gow,” was well staged and cast, Doone said gross for the week was not equal to nut for a day. This is second company to fail in audito- rium this season. Early in fall, Kelly Players closed after trying for two weeks. . Only one stage show left in the city, musical tab with line of six girls, at Majestic, third rate house seating 500. * * * Work on the new Fox here has started. Three years ago it was an- nounced Fox would erect a $1,000,- 000 temple to movies at Sprague and Monroe. Buildings were razed but property stood empty. Land changed hands several times, and it is said a New York capitalist real- ized 100,000 profit after holding the site a year. Financing was done by local investors. DAY SAVINGS FIGHT BEING PRESSED BY ALL THEATRE FOLK PLUGGING “L. W. R.” contributes the following: “Gee But I’d Like to Make You Happy,” “What’s the Use,” “Oh Gosh! Oh Gee!” “Go Home and Tell Your Mother,” but “Don’t Tell Her What Happened to Me.” I’ll be just “Around the Corner,” dancing the “Kiss Waltz” “With Tears in My Eyes,” or, “Swinging in a Hammock” “Confessin’ ” “Little White Lies.” “If I .Could Be with You One Hour Tonight” “Down the River of Golden Dreams,” and be “Just a Little Closer” for “I’m Yours” dear, it seems. “Tonight” a “Song With- out a Name” will be featured by “Betty Co-ed.” She will have no competi- tion, for the “Stein Song” you know, is dead. INDE FUTURE CLEARING Ui Blea-Blanc-Rouge Nous venons de nous adjoin- dre les services de Maurice Goulet, qui fera la chronique francaise des acdvites thea- trales et cinematographiques. Monsieur Goulet nous arrive apres plusieurs annees de the- atre, en France, aux Etats Unis et au Canada. 11 a aussi dirige plusieures postes de radio, tels que CNRW, CKY, et CJRW-CJRX, postes de la Province du Manitoba. Journaliste experimente il ne manquera pas de donner a tous nos lecteurs les nouvelles propres a les interesser, et le detail des evolutions de ses compatriotes de langue fran- caise. WHICH MEANS We have just retained the services of Maurice Goulet, who will conduct our French column, for film and stage. Monsieur Goulet comes to us fresh from stage and screen in France, Eastern United States and Canada. He has also considerable experience in radio work, having man- aged the Foreign Department of several Canadian stations, CNRW, CKY, CJRW and CJRX, in Manitoga, Canada. An experienced newspaper man. Monsieur Goulet will chronicle activities of his com- patriots, in the film and stage industry. (.Continued from Page 1) headquarters of the anti-daylight savings group, headed by Senator Tom Maloney. Arch M. Bowles, Northern Cali- fornia division head of Fox West Coast, was chairman, acting as chief of the get-together, introducing speakers and not forgetting to put in a few neat cracks at the pro- posed sun-delaying legislation. BIG SHOTS THERE On stage along with Bowles and D e T -^ or Malone y were Jack Gross, RKO divisional chief; Herman vVobber, Paramount exec; Frank McDonnell, labor chief; Henry Duffy, Bert Lytell, Hulda McGinn of Allied Amusements; Harry Noreigher, projection chief; Bob McNeil, head of Golden State The- atres, and others. As summed up by Senator Maloney, campaign plans for the ensuing three weeks prior to the balloting include a strenuous pub- licity campaign to be carried on by the local headquarters; propaganda in the form of film and literature in the theatres; distribution of liter- ature through theatre employes to families, friends and neighbors; aid from merchants, support from labor bodies^ and even house to house campaigning. San Francisco head- quarters are at 25 Taylor St., from which all operations center. NEW MAN SPEAKS Ruminating on his experiences with daylight savings in South Bend, Ind., where he was formerly located, Jack Gross told the listen- ers that the plan resulted only in confusion and was responsible for an estimated drop of 50 per cent in theatre receipts. “Proponents of daylight savings say they will give you an extra hour in each day,” said Gross, “but God only put 24 hours in each day and there’s no way on earth of getting an extra one.” Upon introducing Herman Wobber, Bowles said that Wobber was personally respon- sible for influencing the Cham- ber of Commerce to retract its previous support of the daylight saving plan and to cast its vote.. against the proposition. This drew Wobber a big hand. In a brief statement of facts, Bowles declared that the united the- atrical field was the greatest indus- try in all California and was re- sponsible for the rapid growth of this state. Motion picture making, Bowles said, is one of the nation’s greatest industries and daylight sav- ing plans are not conducive to picture making. LABOR SPEAKS A hearty laugh was injected into the situation when A1 Greenbaum, secretary of Local 6, American Fed- eration of Musicians, stepped into the spotlight for a forceful talk and concluded by saying that, despite his many fights with certain gentle- men on-the stage, this was one time when all must unite for a common cause. Greenbaum has been closeted with Bowles and Bob McNeil, among other theatre execs, on a good many days since September 1 Independent picture producer’s horizon is clearing up nicely, accord- ing to the opinion of Irving Meili- ken, the manager of Tec-Art Stu- dios. Studio space is constantly in de- mand, so that he has difficulty in ar- ranging the office allotment/ A few production details show the conditions there. The popular .Beverly Hill Billies will start soon in a series of pictures. Willis Kent has just completed the script for his next picture and will start production immediately. Chesterfield pictures'* will resume production in about 10 days. Unit production of Majestic’s company is awaiting on Sherman’s return from New York to start shooting. This unit made “Today,” with Con- rad Nagel and Catherine Dale Owen, as their last. Future plans provide for eight more features, of which the first will probably be “The Trap.” In addition, the studio is constant- ly busy with the regular programs of the Star Series, the Vagabond Director series, and the fashion col- or revues. No Changes For United Artists, Schenck States TED WEEMS BAND GETS BIG OPENING Opening of Ted Weems and His Orchestra at the Blossom Room of the Roose- velt Hotel proved the most elaborate effort of this sort that Hollywood has had. In bringing Weems from New York, Roosevelt management went the rest of them one better. Following their ela- borate policy, they opened Weems and his orchestra with the Blossom Room entirely redecorated at a cost of $ 20 , 000 . Weems had an enthusiastic reception and the Blossom Room was packed to the tune of ten dollars a couvert for the opening night. Now the band is settled down for a nice run in the Roosevelt’s es- tablished policy. United Artists is not involved in any deals for change of control, or mergers with any other company, and Howard Hughes nor anyone else has bought into the film cor- poration. Joseph M. Schenck, president and chairman of the U.A. board, has re- turned to Hollywood after a several weeks’ stay in New York, bringing this statement. Mr. Schenck denied all rumors that the present status of United Artists would be changed in any way. He said his corporation is pre- paring to launch the biggest produc- tion schedule in its history. He conferred with his brother, Nicholas Schenck, president of Me- tro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and other film leaders in the east, and told of fi- nancial optimism in the show world voiced by everybody. Mr. Schenck revealed that Mary Pickford has abandoned plans to re- turn to the stage, and will resume her former status of producer-star after she completes her present pic- ture, “Kiki,” for the Schenck or- ganization. Mr. Schenck is enthusiastic over the future of wide film. He also sees a field for a certain number of sil- ent pictures as a result of Charles Chaplin's forthcoming United Artists feature, “City Lights,” two years in the making, which is silent but synchronized. TEMPTATIONS RUNS ADDITIONAL WEEK A last minute decision kept the “Temptations of 1930” at the Mayan theatre another week. This snappy revue of modern subtitles was scheduled to close, but biz picked up and doors stayed open. Clarence Nordstrom, one of the featured players, is adding to his popularity after success in eastern shows. The Ziegfeld Follies and the Greenwich Village Follies em- ployed him with great success, and the westerners are now agreeing with the easterners. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16.— The theatre-going contingent of this city by the Golden Gate rallied to the support of red-headed Terry Duffy when that local favorite made his comeback at the-Alcazar and President this week. Opening of these two houses and continuation of “Young Sinners” at the Curran and “Cup of Sugar” at the Columbia gave this city more legit "activity than there has been in months. Duffy and his wife, Dale Winter, played “Michael and Mary” at the Alcazar, and did the plenty healthy figure of $8000, more than that house has taken in months. At the President, there was Bert Lj'-tell in “Brothers,” and $7500 was the intake there. Both continue for several weeks. Dorothy Mackaye in “Cup of Sugar” was held for a third week at the Columbia, closing to a gross of $5000. Understanding is that producers of the play had to keep it on the boards for a certain num- ber of weeks in order to get the film rights; thus the third week here. “Young Sinners” bowed out of the Curran after three weeks of pretty good business—’though San Francisco thought it a little too broad minded—and Pauline Fred- ericks plays a return date in “Crim- son Flour.” Opening the same night, October 20, at the Geary is Dorothy Burgess in “Bird of Flame.” Sid Goldtree opens “Ex-Mistress” at the Green Street on October 30, and “Death Takes a Holiday” bows, also on Oct. 20 at the Columbia. MARJORIE RAMBEAU SIGNS FIVE YEARS Marjorie Rambeau, who scored an outstandng hit in Pathe’s “Her Man,” was signed this week by M-G-M to a five year contract through Herbert Weber. Her first assignment was immedi- ately announced, as that of a sup- porting lead opposite Greta Garbo and Wallace Beery in “Inspiration,” to be followed by the leading role in “The Secret Six,” with Wallace Beery. when musicians’ contracts expired and as yet nothing has been done on this score. Charlie Thall, Dick Spier, Her- man Kersken, Dan McLean, Ed Smith, Bill Wagnon, Perry Silvey, Morgan Walsh, Bob McGinn, Char- lie Koerner, Jan Rubini, Claude Sweeten, Bob Gilmour, Rufe Blair. Tim Crawford, Georhe Boles, Char- lie Manning, Emil Sturmer, Neil Crowley, John Smith, Dick Foster, Maury Foladare, Gene Fox, “Bill” Billings, Phil Phillips, A1 Hixon, Terry Duffy, Ellis Arkush, A1 Levin, Mike Lewis, Bill Citron, Horton Kahn, Bill Hicks, Cliff Work and all of the Nasser Brothers were there. Projectionists, deck hands and many musicians were out in full force. Mel Hertz, Fox El Capitan ’or- ganist, opened the meeting with an organ novelty, which includes a healthy swipe at the daylight gag. BARTON AND YOUNG SIGN LONG TERMER Barton and Young, musical com- edy comedians, who are featured in Fanchon and Marco’s “Fountain of Youth Idea,” were signed to a long term contract by the western pro- ducers. The duo of funsters recently completed eastern engagements at the key houses, and at the conclu- sion of the present 4our, will return to the coast for picture engage- ments. While no definite plans have been announced for their picture debut, it is understood they will appear in a featured role in a major studio musical comedy release. Henry Duffy, former lessee of the Hollywood Playhouse, has re- gained control of the house for an extended series of productions. The opening under his management will be on November 3, with Leo Ca- rillo’s presentation of “Mister An- tonio,” the Booth Tarkington com- edy hit, to be followed by “The Bad Man.” Carillo’s picture career is well launched; he has signed with M-G- M to make “Lombardi, Ltd.” after the runs of his stage plays. PREMIER FOR KIDS WILSHIRE NOVELTY Fox West Coast’s Wilshire-Bev- erly district showhouse turned its first _ matinee into a children’s premier. This matinee premier was held prior to the official opening that night. Junior members of the film colony were in attendance, and many contributed their talents to the stage fare. Betty Bronson was guest of honor. ARMSTRONG FINISHES Bill Armstrong has just com- pleted his role as the sergeant in the talking picture, “Red Fork Ranch,” latest production of the National Pictures Corporation. WARWICK ADDED Robert Warwick, veteran star of the stage and screen, has been added to the cast of “The Queen’s Husband” at RKO. HUGHES DROPS HIS PLAN TO PURCHASE ART CINEMA CORP. Howard Hughes has definitely abandoned all plans for buying into United Artists, he has advised his Hollywood offices. Negotiations with Joseph M. Schenck for purchase of Art Cine- ma Finance Corporation, production unit for United Artists pictures, have been dropped completely and all offers withdrawn, Mr. Hughes telegraphed from New York. But They Didn’t Forget to Wire About It Anyway When C. Merwin Dobyns and Bill Ray, owner and man- ager respectively of KGER left for Washington last week, they thought everything was well under control. But both of them had for- gotten something. _ Bill telegraphed to have his car taken from the park- ing station to the garage, while C. Merwin wired to turn off the ornamental fount- ain in his private office.