Inside facts of stage and screen (November 1, 1930)

NOV. 1, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE THREE BELASCO, CURRAN TO DROP GEARY In Hollywood—Now By BUD MURRAY Bud Murray Two Farce Openings this week—“My Girl Friday” at the Vine Street Theatre and “Young Sinners" at the Belasco Theatre—Looks like all that the playwrights nave on their minds, is “sex" and with the young-bloods the main-offenders, although we can truthfully say that “young Sim.ers” was much better than ‘ Girl Friday”—it was more human and not so harsh, also a much better cast of good-looking young people. _ . Mollie 0‘Day (our pupil), was extremely fine in a small part, and she should do big things on the stage in “Noo Yawk”—She lookt very enticing the nite we saw her, and her sister Sally O’Neill cer- tainly was enthused over her reception. We also no- t ced Betty Compson—Mervyn Le Roy—Edna Mur- phy—and our dear Tin Pan Alley friend of long ago, Herman Paley, who is now Head Man in the Test Department at Fox Stijdios. In Hol.ywood NOW. We cannot understand how our pal, John T. Murray, can get into a play like “My Girl Friday”, and not be hurt by it. He is too good an actor to be thrown in with an inferior cast — Even when we were with J. T. at the Winter Garden, he was the “cream”—A few words with Florence Lawrence, a most charming lady, and Dean of Dramatic critics in Los Angeles and Hollywood, NOW. In our same row a real old time me.ler-drammer king, Harry Clay Blaney who is now play-agenting here—A1 Newman, former Musical Director with the Shuberts and George White—John Sheehan and Gus Shy, two former “Good News” players—Ethel Shutta, (Mrs. George Olsen) looking younger all the t me—and that marvelous songstress, Margaret Padula and her boy friend, B. B. B. all gathered to do honors to our friend John T. Murray IN HOLLYWOOD NOW. A surprise visit from Wilbert Dunn, a former adagio and ball-room dancer at the N. Y. Winter Garden, now at the Casino Studios—Bui showed us a letter with news from Noo Yawk, saying that a new show is in Rehearsal there, headed by our dearest friend, K tty Do er, the world’s greatest Male impersonator—and in the same cast is—The Creole Fashion Plate, Karyl Norman—Frances Renault—Les.er Lamont ana Olin Landick (all female impersonators) and the title of the show is “A Big Box of PANSIES” (Whoops)—Where is Lester Sheehan in this outfit? A few minutes with Walter Brooks, who made colored shows pay— and Walter now has a script that he is raving about, which he intends to stage and it sounds immense—All he needs is the Theatre—IN HOL- LYWOOD NOW. r J Ai _ On the Boulevard ran into Teddy Hayes and his boy friend, Al Fay who is really O. K.—Al fought a funny fite Friday at the Legion, but the “Egg” he fought, Dutch Elliott, would make any man look foolish— Along came our French sa lor, Charley Judels, who told a few funny gags with B. B. B. rolliing in the gutter—Then a very long talk with Henry Bergman, who runs “Henry's” famous restaurant on the Boule- vard—Henry confinded he used to dance and do acrobatics before he came to Hollywood about 18 years ago—Funny he d dn’t open a danc- ing school too—What we need are more Dancing Schools in HOLLY- WOOD NOW—(to make it an even fifty). Georgie Harris, who played “Wong Lee” in “Oh Susanna,” the op- eretta which we staged last year at the Mayan Theatre, is the busiest little feller we know of—Last week all at one tim.e he played a part in “Little Orchid Annie", doubled over with same make-up on for a part in Ronald Colman’s new picture, then simultaneously rehearsing for the new operetta of Lillian Albertson’s, and—Oh yes. he has time to run his picture frame store—If you have any other odd jobs, get in touch with Georgie, in Hollywood Now (where are those hard times?) A trip down to the Million Dollar Theatre, to take a look-see at Jack Laughlin’s Stage shows—which were very fast and plenty of danc- ing included—If only a real comedy act could be inserted each week, these shows look like real money—The numbers and dancing acts go. real applause and the costumes are great for this style of audience—the scenery does not come up to the costumes, girls and ideas—Why not spend a few more dollars on real sets—The band in p t certainly played the trick tempos Jack set for the numbers—and Joe “Petroli” our former piano player at RKO) and Danny Carins (our former Drummer of Good News) are rite in there—How they can hold tempos is nobody’s busi ness. , A few words with George Ormiston, who built all of Grauman s sets and designed them tro— George is now do ng “Laughing L"u’s Macloon’s” new operetta—Well “Louie is lucky” as usual—IN HOOLY- WOOD NOW. The Brown Derby was cluttered with some new faces back in town and some we haven’t seen for years—for irst nee H’rold Lloyd in a booth with the boss and owner of the “Derby,” Herbert Sanborn, who re- ally eats in his own “Hat”—In another booth a young su -burned chap— Tom Mix, all smiles and looking fit as a fiddle—At another table in e very serious conversation, and we know it’s about Fatty’s new shorts *is our pal. Macklin Megley, whom we workt with at the RKO Theatre— Cyrus Wood, another ex-co-worker in 1923 on the “Dream Girl”—and Lew Cody and Fatty Arbuckle—Now you know something is st'rring— (You’ll find out)—Lew Schreiber, the agent and Louis Silvers, the Mu- sical Director and both formerly w'th the Shuberts. On the way out noticed Gilda Gray, and how thin she has gotten which takes us back to a Nite at the Sunday Nite Winter Garden Con cert, when Sophie Tucker was play : ng there in 1916—She brought her protege, who just arrived from Chicago, on the stage to do one number and this snappy protege stopt the show—Tt turned out to be Gilda Gray and they are all in HOLLYWOOD NOW. To take a look at Jack Part’ngton’s stage show at the Paramount Theatre, and all we can remember is the gorgeous scenic effect, and that outstanding personality, Frances Shelley—How they buried “Rub ber Legs” Bolger in a Navy Uniform—What good were those comical legs of his—And why the dialogue in a presentation? Maybe we are wrong. For our one Nite a week off, over to the Hollywood Legion Fites, and now they are “High Toned.” they have n'ce new Theatre programs with a Columnist who writes about “Who’s here” and it’s no one else but B. B. B.—See Frankie Richardson back in the first row ready to “duck” out early to make his show at George Olsen’s Nite Club—Bobby Agnew there too. Harry Green arguing with the Fiters; they just won’t do what Harry says—Dave Bennett, a regular Fite fan, but a darn good Dance Director, now being paid by Paramount—Our old boy fr : end and em- ployer in the good old stock days, in Johnstown, Pa.—when Roger was Head man and we used to play “Whisker Parts," ’way back in 1912—Sid Grauman’s double, Edgar Allen Woolf steps into the arena all smiles— and we see our dear friend, Ruby Keeler is back in town, rite with her “Hubby” Al Jolson—Looks like Ruby is runn'ng Al a clo^e second on who takes more trips to Noo Yawk and back—Oh yes, Harry Wardell is with the folks, and how. Max Steiner, that happer little Musical Director with a darn clever dance man, Busby Berkely—who seems to have rejuvenated Dam-e id°as for pictures thru the fine work he did in “Whoopee”—Jack Oakie gives us the high-s : gn. but we didn't see his leading man at the Fites to-nite— We mean the Dummy Newsboy—A couple of boys with a real g'ft o' gab when it becomes necessary to gab—We mean Tommy Dugan and Wilson Mizner. just a couple of young kids trying to get along—Rite in back of us, those two regu ars at th<* Fites or any place, Mr. and Mrs Macklin Megley—In Hollywood NOW. B. & C. STICK WITH CURRAN SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30. — After the Civic Rep. production, “The Apple Cart,” it is reported Belasco and Curran will give up the Geary, confining their local legit act.vity to the nearby Cur- ran. It is understood that Belasco and 1 Curran's lease on the theatre is near expiration and they do not care to continue operating the house. A dearth of available legit produc- tions has caused the theatre to be darkened occasionally, as will be the case when “Bird of Flame” closes this week and “Apple Cart” follows next month. San Francisco legit acivity is at a peak right now with every house in town operating. Geary and Cur- ran are running most of the time, Duffy’s President and Alcazar are going along okay. Paulire Frededick did so well at Curran in a previous run of “Cr’m- son Hour” that house brought her back for two weeks. Flopped mis- erably and piece folded at end of the first seven days with about $5000 intake. Curran is dark until November 2 when Lillian Albert- son’s “Paris In Spring” makes its American debut. ST. FRANCIS STAYS SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 30.— About facing on a previous decision Publix officials this week elected to keep open the St. Francis theatre rather than close it at the end of the current Chevalier picture. New- est thought, however, doesn’t mean that Pubkx will not build in San Francisco but does delay the pro- jected theatre on the present St Francis site until a later date. CALIFORNIA POLICY SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30.— Effective immediately, Publix will curtail pictures at its Californ'a to one week runs, holding over only exceptional films. This move leave Loew’s Warfield and the Orpheum the only long run houses in the citv. JACK KAY RETURNS SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30.— Jack Kav has returned from a three months engagement at the Littl Club. Shanghai, where he m.c.’s and entertains.. He was formerly m.c. at the Lido here. MAYER AT RALLY SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 30.- A b’g Republican political pow wow here this week featured Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM and vice president of the State Republican Committee. EMIL STURMER MUSICAL DIRECTOR PARAMOUNT THEATRE SAN FRANCISCO STOP and LISTEN to the WESTERNERS MALE QUARTET KFRC San Francisco Behrendt-Levy-Rosen Co., Ltd. General Insurance Imurance Exchange Building VA 1261 HAVE YOU HEARD BILLY VAN On K. G. E. R? Auctions for Stage Talent, everv Wed. at 11 a.m. Children’s au- ditions, every Sat., at 11 a.m. Chief Shunatona The Versatile Director and Master of Ceremonies with His Official U. S. Indian Band Now Headlining for Fanchon and Marco en Tour Kjerulf's Versatile Harpists Sing, Whistle, Dance AVAILABLE ON PACIFIC COAST AFTER NOV. 7TH Now Playing Central State* Theatre* BARBARA TAYLOR KJERULF Manager and Producer HEmpstead 0376 132 N. Wilton Place EARLE WALLACE Always Busy Developing Dancing Stars but Never Too Busy to Create and Produce Original DANCE ROUTINES and REVUES That Sell Belmont Theatre Bldg., First and Vermont Phone Exposition 1196 Los Angeles, Calif. HARVEY KARELS 7377 Beverly Blvd. SCHOOL OF DANCING VALUE OR. 2688 N. Y. * STAGE & DANCE DIRECTOR & PRODUCER * L. A. PRACTICAL DRAMATICS AND STAGE DANCING TAP, Off-Rhythm, “Modernized BALLET” & Acrobatics “MODERNIZED BALLET" by Mary Frances Taylor (Premier Danseuse) "Oh Susanna." "Gone Hollywood,” "Student Prince," "Broadway Melody" “THE ORIGINAL MURRAY SCHOOL”, ■■m I nc. UniUHtHL. IVI I ovuvws. JIJMUUU It .OF NEW YORK. CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES GEORGE and FLORENCE BALLET MASTER AND MISTRESS Formerly 68 Successful Weeks Producing Weekly Changes in Australia’s Largest Theatres THE STATE, SYDNEY Producers Desiring Originality WRITE or WIRE -Permanent Address: INSIDE FACTS, Los Angeles—