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

PAGE FOURTEEN INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN OCT. 18, 1930 Vaneouver Varieties College Employs Shoivman Stunts In Selling Qame Motes Along Fifth Avenue STOCK HOUSE IN VANCOUVER SETS A PACE VANCOUVER, Oct. 18—Busi- ness at local show shops again has done a brodie. Empress with Brit- ish Guild Players in stock, is lead- ing the parade with largest attend- ance. House seats more than any in town. Current bill is comedy, “This Woman Business.” RKO-Oypheum boasts the next largest draw, four acts of vaude headlined by “Bomby and his ra- dio gang” with Paramount’s “The Sea God,” on the screen. At Royal, Toby Leach and his Royal Canadian Players are doing well in tab stock and a picture pro- gram. Capitol is below par with Para- mount’s “Follow Thru,” ditto Strand with F.Ns. “Scarlet Pages.” Colon- ial is also off with Columbia’s “Last of the Lone Wolf.” Dominion is better with Radio’s “Lawful Lar- ceny.” Rex has reduced its price to two bits, feature being "Hold Every- thing,” but draw is light. Maple Leaf has two features for opening with talkies, “Navy Blues” and “This Thing Called Love,” sec- ond runs. Beacon, former Pan, with sum- mer price of 25 cents still in force, is doing well. This week “The Bad Man,” billed. GOOD TOUR PLAYED BY McELROY BAND SEATTLE, Oct. 16.—Cole J. Mc- Elro'y, dance hall impressario oper- ating here and in Portland, returned to town this week with his musical unit after what is reported a highly successful barnstorming trip of Ore- gon and Northern California. The band, with Johnny Northen ahead, travelled as far south as Eureka. Including in the itinerary, was the Pendleton Roundup, a job which McElroy has handled for the past several years. Local dancers welcomed the re- turn of the orchestra to the Spanish Ballroom by a hefty turnout. This, spot continues, to attract the fox trotters in droves. Tom Curtis, as house manager, and Bill O’Hanara- han, p. a., are continually pulling nifty stunts that click. McElroy is reported as arranging a series of added attractions for his Portland, and possibly his local, spot. First of these, Joy and Laz- zeroni, whirlwind skaters, go into the Portland Spanish ballroom on Monday of next week. SINGER OUT WEST SEATTLE, Oct. 16.—Mort H. Singer, RKO official, paid Seattle a visit during the week, to super- vise matters in connection with his company’s contract with the various unions in the I.A.T.S.E. James Madison writes to order for stage, screen and radio. Hitch Your Talents to the best material and get big- gest results. Subscribe to my monthly comedy service, called THE COMEDIAN; price $1 a copy $10 by the year. It’s small but good and caters to those who de- sire brand-new laughs and whose salary permits them to get THE BEST, in the way of monologue material, double routines, stories, single gags, etc. No. 4 is now ready at $ 1 ; or for $3 will send No’s 1, 2, 3 and 4. My money- back guarantee protects you. Send orders to James Madison 465 South Detroit Street Los Angeles Phone ORegon 9407 VANCOUVER, Oct. 16.—Fa- mous Players Canadian Corporation as the Publix-Paramount theatre chain is known in Canada, has made a shift in two more house managers. Paul Pitner, manager of the Nelson, B. C. house has been placed in charge of the Columbia, New West- minster, while Joe Millman, from that house, has been moved to the Kitsilano, Vancouver. * * * Paramount’s “With Byrd at the South Pole,” which was the biggest flop played at the Capitol for many moons, did capacity at the Domin- ion when it ran there for a week. * * * RKO-Orpheum has a new front door man, Reg. Cross. * * * Basil Horsfal, manager of Edu- cational exchange, is also a musi- cian. He is conducting the big or- chestra from Meridian Lodge, A. F.M., which is putting on a Sunday concert at the Vancouver theatre shortly. Calvin Winter, leader of the RKO-Orpheum band, is assist- ing. * * * W. P. Nichols has reopened the Fairview theatre, a small downtown house which was equipped for talk- ies last spring and after a feeble drawing folded for the summer. An- other independent. * * * Maple Leaf, second run down- town house, independently operated by Dawson Bros., has installed Nor- thern Electric talkie equipment. This is last of silent houses to break into spoken picture field. * * * Steve Ralston, former booker for First National exchange here, is .now on the road for Paramount. * * * R.C.A.-Photophone equipment is being installed at the Edison, New Westminster, replacing a local in- stallation which has not proved very satisfactory. Edison is an in- dependent house operated by Frank Kerr. MUSICAL TAB FOR PORTLAND HOUSE SEATTLE, Oct. 16.—C. M. Dunn, owner of the Capitol, Port- and, and president of the corpora- tion operating the Follies here, this week announced a new policy for the Portland house. Under the changed schedule, A1 Franks and a small musical tab company, will play there three days each week, with the vaude fare, coming intact from its week’s stand at the Follies, will complete the seven-day stanza. Capitol plays first and second run films to com- plete its program. SEATTLE, Oct. 16. — A real dis- play of modern showmanship, one that local theatre boys admit they can easily take a neat lesson from, is being currently exhibited by the University of Washington in ex- ploiting present football season. What with bringing in a new football coach, Jimmy Phelan, and ballyhooing him plenty, and pub- licizing the current season and the respective games with a lavish dis- play of sign boards, all hand painted and in brilliant colors; street car cards and newspaper space, the boys are doing a great job of it, and get- ting results. Activities at the college are di- rected by Earl Campbell, graduate manager for the associated students, and his henchmen, Carl Kilgore, Jesse Jackson and the publicity di- rector, Dook Stanley. MAJOR APPOINTED TO BOOKING WORK SEATTLE, Oct. 16.—Promotions were in order at offices of Fox West Coast theatres during the past 10 days. Upon telegraphic announcements from Oscar S. Oldknow, E. Port Major, Oregon division manager, was boosted to the position of as- sistant buyer and booker of Fox theatres. He . is succeeded in the high Oregon position by Floyd Maxwell, who for the past four years has been manager of Fox houses in Portland and manager of the Fox Broadway. Marc Bowman has now been named manager of the Fox Broad- way, and F. O. Bryant succeeded him as exploitation and publicity promoter at the home of Fox and MGM pictures here. NEW AD CHIEF David Skip Weshner has been promoted from his post as general manager of Warner Brothers the- atres in Northern New Jersey to the position of director of advertis- ing and publicity for all Warner Brothers theatres in the country excluding New York City. WRITE THEIR OWN Bob Carney and Si Wills, Pathe comedy-team, are writing an origi- nal story entitled “Gobs of Joy" to serve as their next comedy short. CAWTHORNE STARTS Joseph Cawthorn has begun re- hearsals for role of impressario in “Kiki,” starring Mary Pickford for United Artists. Sam Taylor di- recting. Ivan Ditmars going on the air . . . and giving someone the air . . . Owen Sweeten winning second prize at the horse show ... with his horse . . . Tiny Burnett chipping in four bits for a square meal at Blancls . . • Joe E. Howard remi- niscing . . . about songs he com- posed when most men were in their cradles . . . Johnny Northen talking about a new job . . . Eulala Dean buying space . . . and filling space . . . Jerry Owens, Lee Jaxon, and the boys leaving the theatre in a hurry. . . as if there were a riot call . . . Madge Baldwin in red . . . becoming . . . Jerry Green doing double duty . . . Betty Shilton out . . . and somebody singing" “Chloe” . . . Marie Wagner with a tooth- ace . . . should tune in on the Pep- sodent hour . . . Milt Franklyn and Bob Blair visiting the opposition . . . and paying for it. . . Stan Adams putting an added fixture on the Music Box . . . Fran- ces Perry smiling . . . personality personified ... Ted Harris talking good business . . . and proving it . . . Tom Curtis doing the same . . . Johnnie Robinson visiting Club Victor . . . and meeting some of the boys . . . Vic Meyers dancing with a fair damsel . . . Margaret Jonston joshing jubilantly . . . Emma Jane Epler taking a train . . . Sammy Siegel getting rid of too much busi- ness. . . . Harry Mills and his pipe out for a walk . . . Carl Winge still plug- ging . . . would make a good cheese manufacturer . . . Harold Weeks up to Bellingham . . . for some fishing . . . or perhaps to write another scenic song . . . Henry Ross look- ing for someone . . . Alice Darstien now in the Coliseum box . . . Zach Freedman riding up the street in that flashy car . . . Dave Blumenthal having a hectic time . . . Niles Lar- sen going places to do things . . . ditto for Ralph Mayer . . . Karl Plorn in the right atmosphere at the German wedding. HOWARD IN NINTH SEATTLE, Oct. 16.—On Mon- day of next week, Tex Howard and his orchestral unit complete their ninth consecutive month in the best-liked units heard here in a long Trianon Ballroom here, establishing a record for this big dance spot. Tex has established a wide follow- ing and, with several recent addi- tions to the band, has one of the time. BRADT AT COLUMBIA SEATTLE, Oct. 16.—Joe Bradt has been appointed manager of the Columbia theatre by John Danz, and it is reported that the old vet- eran, Frank Lacey, will be at the helm of the Winter Garden. FILM STUFF TAKES FLOP IN SEATTLE SEATTLE, Oct. 16.—Northwest show business was not so forte this week. Practically everybody that has something to do in this line, particularly complained about bad matinees. Reason is unknown, as patrons are accommodated with special prices. One leading house cut its matinee price and thru out a picture before the usual week’s run. There have been many mat angles worked, but the right one seems lacking. Fifth Avenue, a leading factor with shows and the location, held fourth anniversary of the house, and in honor of the occasion, presented “Liliom,” with a different native wedding each night during the week. It was a good angle and netted the house $22,000. Paramount, with “Follow Thru,” did much better than last week’s in- take, grossing $17,000. Milt Frank- lyn and his new band, with the first Hollywood produced show helped to make things merry. Orpheum, with an educational picture, “Africa Speaks,” together with an average stage bill, drew $15,000. Not bad, as neither offer- ing meant much. Fox, with the first week of “Mad- am Satan” holding the boards, did fair, taking an estimated $13,500. Will be held another week. Owen Sweeten has his steady patrons at this house. Blue Mouse had Norma Tal- madge’s latest “Du Barry,” to tune of 7000 berries. Music Box made whoopee on the last week of “Whoopee” and car- ried a bag of sheckles that aver- aged $6,000. Dance emporiums and night clubs seem to be making a go of things in the Northwest. McElroys, un- der management of Tom Curtis, is doing a flourishing business, and the large Trianon, under Ted Harris’ leadership also can’t complain. Both of these plates have fine mu- sic, former employing McElroy’s Columbia recorders with Freddie Morlock doing the vocals, and Geo. Eichhorn doing the leading, and the latter having Tex Howard’s boys. MARSHALL WINS ROLE After trying three actors for the role of Runch in “Criminal Code,” Columbia Pictures has settled defi- nitely on Clark Marshall. KERRY RESTING Upon completion of his work in “Ex-Flame” for Liberty, Norman Kerry is visiting friends in Long Beach.. 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