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

PAGE SIX INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN OCT. 18, 1930 INSIDE 'ACTS S<§E?(S(MaL Published Every Saturday One Year $4.00 Foreign $5.00 Advertising Rates on Application Established 1924 As a weekly publication: Entered as Second Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Published by Inside Facts Publishing Company, Inc. 800-801 Warner Bros. Downtown Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif. Telephone TUcker 7832 JACK JOSEPHS ARTHUR WM. GREEN JEAN ARMAND President and Editor Vice Pres, and Counsel General Manager Short Shots At the News Vol. XII Saturday, October 18, 1930 No. 16 GOOD ACTORS SHORT ON PAT It pays to be just a little dumb in the motion picture racket. Prominent film players are learning that they should not be too 'good in learning their parts, or their bankroll will suffer. They say that they have to take it slow and easy or the producer gets more than his share of the breaks. Consider an experience of Richard Tucker. His excellent screen technique has made him a popular player and many pic- tures, now unwinding, show him in featured roles. They usu ally shoot a talkie approximately as the story unfolds; so if a man appears in the first, the middle and the end, he will be carried for the entire shooting schedule. But in one instance Mr. Tucker found that he knew his stuff too well. Requiring little rehearsal and coaching, Mr. Tucker’s scenes were shot in three days-although his part was very prominent; thus he got three days’ pay instead of four weeks. If he had been a little slow in mastering his part and required constant rehearsal, the company would have had to carry him for the entire picture Now Tucker asks himself if he is too good. Ben Hall is another case in point. Beji was signed to play a featured comedy role with Alice White, and congratulated himself that he was in for a nice run. Imagine his embar rassment when all his stuff was shot in three days. Checking up on his year’s income, Ben finds he has played more and better parts this year than ever before, but he has made less money. He is doing some head-scratching, too. This is not always the case. Many players in very small parts are carried through picture, which is all the more gravy for them. But Ben Hall and Richard Tucker are wondering if being good actors pays less than being bad actors. BILLBOARD’S GOOD POINTS That billboard advertising of the right sort can do a great deal of good is generally overlooked in the present furore of opposition to encourage legislation against it. Competent companies like Foster and Kleiser work out artistic ideas for their signs to beautify the city. On Wilshire boulevard the boards are done extravagantly in good taste in a setting of shrubs and lawn that would do justice to a well ap pointed estate. If they do nothing else, the fact that they hide the ugly backs of apartment buildings is commendable. And, more important, companies of this type donate hun dreds of square feet of space to charity organizations like the Community Chest in an effort to promote good civic ideas. On the contrary, they have refused posters portraying salacious ideas such as a recent motion picture offered. The whole in- fluence in these respects has been one of uplift, an influence that everyone must realize. Main point is that there are many small boards that con- stitute a nuisance and destroy scenic beauty, but these larger ■companies employ experts to determine how to combine "the business of advertising with a high degree of artistry; and there must be-some differentiation in any attacks on billboard ad- vertising as a whole. TELEVISION ON HORIZON Television is latest cloud looming on producers’ horizon, pro- viding a new problem for theatres and motion picture industry in general. It is pointed out that as the advent of sound several vears ago and the resulting temporary confusion was finally righted, so the new medium will be overcome and utilized by pictures. Movie studios probably will project talking pictures onto a screen, to be, in turn, broadcast by microphones. Theatres will continue to draw the public, as different entertainment and change, and for the of seeing favorites perform in person. a means of opportunity WRITERS SPLIT DeMille and Macpherson have split, Jeanie Macpherson signed with Paramount on the usual long term contract early in the week. Miss Macpherson will do both orig- inals and adaptations, but her first assignment ‘has not been decided. COMEDY PAIR TEAMED Roland Youno- and Cliff Edwards have been paired together as a com- edy team for “The Southerner,” Lawrence Tibbett’s new starring picture at M-G-M. RE-SIGNS WITH MGM A. P. Younger, scenarist, has re- turned to M-G-M on a new con- tract. First work will be on the Fanny Hurst stor^ “Five and Ten,” slated for early production. THREE IN HALF GODS Casting of the three principals for Universal’s next feature, “Half Gods,” was settled with announce- ment that Genevieve Tobin, Conrad Nogel and Monroe Owsley would portray leads. Hobart Henley will direct. STANWYCK TO STAR Barbara Stanwyck’s first role since she was raised to stardom by Columbia Pictures, will be a dra- matic story of dancehall life, under direction of Lionel Barrymore. This will be Barrymore’s initial produc- tion for Columbia. Preparatory to entering a hospi- tal for a long deferred operation, William Sistrom, executive manager of RKO studios, yesterday resigned his position. A steady milk diet for many months failed to cure. * * * Final decree of divorce was granted Mrs. Mildred Manning Cook, New York actress, from Os- mer Elton Cook in district court in Denver, Colorado. The couple were married in New Orleans January 31, 1929. Desertion and non-sup- port were charged by the actress. * * * Carol Lombard, young film star who recently signed a Paramount contract, was notified she is sole beneficiary of $10,000 estate of grandmother. * * * Annual California orange show, Oroville, opening and closing dates have been announced for November 25 and 30 respectively, according to exposition officials. * * * Mary Garden claims that singing gives her as great a “kick” as cham- pagne. That must certainly give her a big wow. * * * Jean Jarvis, Los Angeles show- girl and stormy petrel of “love affairs,” refuses to make statement concerning her beating in San Francisco last week, also of any knowledge concerning the shooting of Jack “Legs” Diamond. * * jK From Wales, England, comes word that the song hit “Betty- Coed,” is no song at all, since there is a town named Bettwa-y-coed, lo- cated at the head of the Vale of Conway. * * * Ferris Hartmann, comic opera comedian was arrested by dete tives of the “bunko” squad on com- plaint of two girls who were em- ployed for office work on the highly plugged Ferris Hartman Comic Opera Company which was sche duled to open at the Shrine last summer and didn’t. The girls, Miss Jeanne Moore and Louise Muehi- hausen charge Hartman of not pay- ing salaries. * * * Raimundo Marquez, 13-year-old wonder pianist, who was praised by Ignace Paderewski, gave a farewell concert before leaving for Mexico. * * * Mrs. Belle Chamberlain, former light opera star who died Sunday at the Hollywood hospital, following an operation, will be laid to rest at her birthplace in Grand Rapids, Michigan. * * * TORONTO, Ont., Oct. 14.—A $1,000,000 permanent building is re- ported to he considered for exhibit- ing horses, cattle and cats. Build- ings already on Toronto exhibition grounds are valued at over $20,- 000 , 000 . TEL-A-PHONEY J>p JAMES MADISON Hello, Cliff Work. Hello, James Madison. I remember the time Yeomen wore bustles. That’s going back. when VETERAN IN COMEDY Ford Sterling is making a Gayety comedy for Educational, under di- rection of Arvid Gillstrom. DADE IN ’DRACULA’ Frances Dade has been engaged for the role of Lucy in Universal’s forthcoming production of “Dra- cula.” Tod Browning directs. Hello, George Olsen. Hello, James Madison. What’s worrying you these days? Why do they arrest cafe pro- prietors for serving ginger ale and cracked ice and permit cigar stores to sell pocket flasks? Hello, Ted Weems. Hello, James Madison. What is the best kind of a saw to draw musical notes out of? A band saw. Hello, Harry Cohn. Hello, James Madison. What is your dearest wish? To see a crocodile shed croco- dile tears. Hello, Elsie Janis. Hello, James Madison. What do you think of Jim Jeffries’ new Vine Street mar- ket? They tell me that in the meat department, upper cuts are very popular. Hello, O’Neill Sisters. Hello, James Madison. Who is the biggest rube you met last week? A fellow who thought Moby Dick was a policeman. Hello, Chain and Conroy. Hello, James Madison. What is this operation I un- derstand they are talking of performing on Bob Shuler? I believe they wish to cut out his radio. Hello, Everett Hoagland. Hello, James Madison. What is your re-action to mod- ern existence? A roof over your head is better than shingles on your body. Hello, Alice White. Hello, James Madison. Where can I find a touch of spring? The seats in the Pacific Elec- tric Red cars furnish that. Hello, Betty Bronson. Hello, James Madison. An Eastern publisher is about to get out my latest book, “The sex of the onion.” I hope it proves to be a ‘best smeller.’ Ray Bailey with a weakness for stills ... his room is covered with pics of stars . . . Someone at KHJ wondering about Leslie Fenton . Dorothy and Mary, duo with KMTR embarrasing a reporter . . . prais- ing his “widow’s point,” on his forehead . . . Gilmore Millen, the “Merry- Go-Rounder,” of the Herald, now with MGM . . . who doesn’t want to work . . . That boy surely can write ... but all he wants to do is read . . . hear good music . . . and run after ritzy blondes ... An ideal aim in life . . . Art Wenzel . . . rushing about mailing photos to every paper in town . . . What would we do without Art? ... a certain young news- paperman is very found of Maureen O’Sullivan ... not telling who . . . Dick Hunt of the Herald playing Indoor Baseball nights . . . and enjoy- ing it . . . Eddie Stodel, also with “Hearst,” trying a bit of football and changing to Indoor . . . Oscar Shmidt, millionaire owner of Caliente Golf Park posing with Ernestine Pierce for a picture . . . Peterson ... a cartoonist . . . flirting with death walking down S.C. campus with yellow paint brush . . . Harry Geise announcing in booth . ,. . and eating apples . Charles Forsythe working his train effect at KHJ . . . very realistic . making everybody want to go into second gear . . . Bud Jones and Tommy Tomson of the “Times,” going into the Press Club . . . Lyn Slaten and Tommy Askens, “two young men of Los Angeles,” playing pee-wee golf at 4 a.m. . . . Ben McGlashan, 26 year old owner of KGFj all steamed up about his new yacht ... a 45 foot cabin cruiser . . . named the Broadcaster . . . now the fishes will realize what we have to go through . ... Ray Martinez leading the orch at KFWB with one hand and reading lines with the other . . . The spooky organ passageway in KTM . . . Glen Hall Taylor frightening the phone girl by playing weird music at 1 am. when everybody else had left . . . Hal Reese slapping the drums at KHJ and reminding us of train wheels clicking over joints . . . hot sticks . . . that lad . . . “Wag,” of the United Press . . . teeing off . . . Jimmy Hall at Fox Wilshire with a titian blonde . . . and brand new Cadillac . . . Dick Wile and party of wild Frenchmen at opening of Orchid Annie . . . and apparently liking it . . .Rob Wagner watching the audience . . . Eleanor Barnes playing miniature golf . . . Hal Rorke in- haling coco-colas with Walter Merrick . . . Tom Breneman of KFWB is still on the moon . . . Met the Romancing Racketeer of KFWB and found him Jack Joy, program director . . . expected to find George Bancroft . . . which reminds us that Bancroft’s rubber float once collided with us while swimming in the azure deep . . . He didn’t recognize us . . . Voices on top of voices ... six men and a girl shouting “Walla Walla,” into a “Mike,” during mob scene in Star Reporter at KMTR ; Prop man whistling heroically and booming drum to imitate “All Quiet,’’ shell fire effects . . . and succeeding pretty well . . . Pretty Kay Van Riper . . . continuity girl at KFWB . . . busy composing programs „■ whata racket . . . big business men with their stenogs at the Paris Inn . . . this looked like a gag at first . . . when an irate wife caught big butter and egg man with sweetie on lap . . . very embarrassing . . . Bert Rovere calmed both parties with aid of bouncers . . . and that’s all. KENTON SIGNED Erie C. Kenton has been signed to direct “The Columbia. Last Parade” for STAHL HOLDS PEN John M. Stahl is the latest screen director to join ranks of Universal picture writers. VINCENT RETURNS Frank Vincent, former Western manager for Orphem, returned Monday from a trip east. Back to Normal “Charlie,” said George Sid- ney to his partner in com- edy, “won’t you be glad when we get through this series of ‘Cohens and Kellys’ so we can go back to wearing reg- ular clothes instead of Scot- tish kilties and Arabian and African shorties?” Charlie Murray glanced down at the abbreviated khaki shorts. “Shure, and I will at that,” said he. “Let’s go over to the cafe and you or- der gefultefish and I’ll get me a mulligan stew, just to keep our identity.” BAXTER IN SPIDER Warner Baxter has been assigned lead . role in “The Spider,” Fox- Movietone version of Fulton Curs- ler’s stage drama. Henry King to direct. WEST FINISHES PIC John and Buster West have just completed a new Educational-Van- ity comedy, titled “Don’t Give Up.” ‘MOON’ DATE SET Lillian Albertson and Louis O. MacLoon will open “The New Moon” at the Biltmore October 27. CARLE TO GOTHAM Richard Carle has left for New York to join Goetz’s new musical show which had Charles King and Ted Healy. WILL MARRY AGAIN Alan Roscoe has announced in- tention of remarrying his divorced wife, Barbara Bedford. JOAN FLIES BACK Joan Bennet has returned by air to Hollywood after a three weeks vacation in New York City. FELIX WITH FOX Seymour Felix, dance director, is the newest addition to the Fox- Movietone directorial ranks. CHARACTER GAL SET Lillian Leighton has been signed by Charles Brabin for a role in “The Great Meadow,” which he is now making from the Elizabeth Maddox Roberts novel of early Kentucky days. Three Directions Motion Embodied In ‘Rotary Shot’ What is called the “rotary shot” has been perfected at United Artists for Mary Pick- ford’s “Kiki.” Giant perambulator-elevator, containing a caged camera platform, was built.. Peram- bulator hangs from a rail at- tached to the ceiling of one of the stages. Perambulator moves in either a straight line or a semi-circle as desired, and the elevator moves up or down at will by a special sys- tem of weights and pulleys. It giyes a camera range of the entire stage in any direc- tion and from floor to ceiling and requires a crew of six men.