Inside facts of stage and screen (November 8, 1930)

PAGE TWO INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN NOV. 8, 1930 WILL ROGERS NICKS LOEW’S GROSS SIX FILMS IN AWARD HONOR Awards of Merit for outstanding individual achievements in motion pictures were announced and pre- sented by Academy of Motion Pic- ture Arts and Sciences Wednesday night at Ambassador, as follows: Performance by actress: Nor- ma Shearer for “The Divorcee. 1 ’ By male actor: George Arliss for ‘‘Disraeli.’’ Achievement by director: Lewis Milestone, “All Quiet on Western Front.” Production: “All Quiet on West- ern Front,” Universal Studios. Cinematographic achievement: “With Byrd at the South Pole,” Willard Van Der Veer and Joseph T. Rucker, jointly. Art direction: “King of Jazz,” Herman Rosse. Sound Recording: “The Big House,” Souund Department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Writing: "The Big House/’ Frances Marion. ACKERMAN, HARRIS LEGIT DATE IS SET SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5.— November 12 has been set as the opening date for Ackerman and Harris’ initial legit venture at the Tivoli. Richard Marshall is gen- eral manager. Cast of “Ladies of the Evening/’ opening show, is Irving Mitchell, Earl Lee, Jo Wallace, FlcVence Grimes, Jeanne Kent, Barlow Bar- land, Charles Bartlett, Carl Dwire, Allan Ryan and Ed Byron. Walter B. Gilbert is director. Nancy Dover has been selected for a supporting role in RKO Radio Pictures’ “Cimarron.” Radio Qolf Links In Bargain Flop Miniature golf is on the bargain counter. The putt missers are be- ing coaxed. Eighteen ho.es, with Amos ’n’ Andy on the radio thrown in, for five cents. Public interest in under sized va- cant lot pool is in some spots down to ten below zero, and no interest, even with open fireplaces every other hole. Hot dogs and coffee will probably be the next inducement, but that bars the bicarbonates, and they fig- ure half of the gate. If a customer forgets to leave the ball, that means five cents in the red. Bigger courses are still holding out for original admission prices, but adding special attractions that don’t. The big scare to legit and pictures turns out to be a pumpkin head with a candle in it. ‘BEAU IDEAL’ SET SCORES A RECORD A record in set building has been established by RKO Ra- dio Pictures for “Beau Ideal,” sequel to “Beau Geste,” now in production under direction of Herbert Brenon. The “set,” representing two streets, a square and market place of an Algerian city, cov- ers nearly 10 acres near En- cino, and was constructed in two weeks. Sixty laborers, 250 carpen- ters and 25 painters worked in triple shifts. RACES TO START SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6.— Racing season is due to open Nov- ember 15 at Tanforan, closing Dec- ember 13. PATRICK and MARSH (AGENCY) VAUDEVILLE—ORCHESTRAS WANTED! ACTS SUITABLE FOR PICTURE HOUSE PRESENTATION AND CLUBS WRITE—WIRE—CALL 607-8 Majestic Theatre Bldg., 845 South Broadway, Los Angeles Phone TUcker 2140 Walter Trask WANTS STANDARD ACTS and ENTERTAINERS for THEATRES, CLUBS, LODGES and SMAROFF-TRASK PRESENTATIONS WALTER TRASK THEATRICAL AGENCY 1102 Commercial Exchange Bldg. 416 West Eighth Street Telephone TUcker 1680 Los Angeles RKO QUITS MASON Question whether RKO will hold Mason is answered. War- ner Bros, moves in after Jan. 1. “Women Who Take” goes to San Francisco. Future RKO stage production prob- ably will play legit theatres on a percentage basis. It is believed some tie-up will be made with Curran and Belaseo theatres here and in San Francisco. RKO has scheduled 12 productions. Stage tryouts of material intended for the screen will also be adopted by United Artists. This method of get- ting definite appraisal of screen value in stage plays is apparently favored by all of the major producers. AUSTRALIA ROUTE IS BEING OFFERED BY UNION LIMITED Len Mantell who is representing Union Theatres Limited, Australia, arrived in town this week from the north, and is making his headquar- ters at the Bert Levey office, here, through which circuit acts will be booked for Australia. Big feature acts and novelties are wanted. Acts will be booked individually, but become part of stage presenta- tions for Union Theatres. Booking for 10 weeks, with option for 10 more is reported offered. Trans- portation is promised both ways, as formerly. This is the first time American acts have been booked into Aus- tralia for more than a year. Ac- cording to Mantell, the talkies are not drawing to expectations. Stage shows are needed to stimulate and bring the box office back to normal. In addition to booking Australia, Mr. Mantell is buying acts for thea- tres in China and Japan. DICTION LANDS JOB Claude King picked Lillian Bond for the “Princess” in “Apple Cart,” Civic Rep production at the Music Box, because of her diction. Role called for a good looking girl with a nifty accent. Scores of beauts appl'ed, but their mishandling of Plnglish put the skids under them. Being of Canadian birth, Miss Bond had the edge. GYP CLAIM MADE SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6.— Charging that Paul Corbell had gypped him out of $5000 by selling him stock in Duncan Sisters, Ltd., a subsidiary of Music Supply Corp. Nils Asther has filed an application with the grand jury to indict the promoter. Asther, husband of Vi- vian Duncan, is but one of many asserted victims of Corbell. RICKARD AT KFRC SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6.— Dick Rickard has joined KFRC as a member of the announcing crew, doubling into the production de- partment. * Nicola Acquires Easy Five Qrand The Great Nicola, with his magic show, has returned from the Orient, where he spent two years, bringing a story of how he earned five grand in one morning from a wealthy Chinese opium magnate. Approached one morning in the hotel at Hong Kong, Nicola was asked by the Chinese to explain how he did his tricks. Nicola, thinking to rid himself of his visitor and not understanding the importance of the magnate, cooly said, “I’ll show you for $5000, American money.” Next day, he was approached by the Chinaman’s English lawyer, with contracts for signing. Of course, Nicola gave a special per- formance, with the Chinaman on stage, getting a close-up of all de- tails. Chinaman topped his five grand by presenting the magician and his troupe of four girls and four men with costly robes, fetiches and other tokens of gratitude. It developed the Chinese magnate owned an exclusive government monopoly on opium in Hong Kong good for six years. He stated he wanted to know one thing that nr other Chinaman knew, and feared he would be out of a job, as though he needed one, when his opium franchise ran out., BOMBO, OF RADIO, PLAYS RKO TIME Radio has enabled the pub- lic to obtain an immediate measure of an artist. Names become household words al- most over night, and among these names is Aldo Bomonte better known as “Bomby,” ra- dio’s pioneer tenor. “Bomby.” who is now at the Oakland Orpheum, and dur- ing the week of November 13 will be at the RKO, Los An- geles, has temporarily desert- ed the “mike” so that he may meet his many friends face to face and may meet new ones. “Bomby” is under the di- rection of Blondell and Mack, 1560 Broadway, New York. WINNIE LEADS IN TWO SPOTS Will Rogers got his $12,500 salary for personal appearance at Loew’s State, with house grossing $34,529, a profitable deal for Will and the Community Chest, but tough on the house, playing “Lilliom” and F & M stage show. Seating capacitv is 2418, 35c-65c. Best gross of week, despite hot weather, which made it a bad show week, was Winnie Lightner at War- ners’ “Downtown” in “Life of the Party,” scoring $24,000. At War- ”ers’ Hollywood, same pic grossed 321,000. Hollywood house seats 2156, 35c-65c. Downtown house seats 2300, 35c-65c. Criterion (seating 2000, 35c-65c) 318,747 for six days of “Billy The Kid.” Grauman’s Chinese (2030, 75c- $1.50 twice daily.) Fourth week of “The Big Trail” did $13,473. Carthay Circle (1650, 75c-$1.50 twice daly.) Fourth week of “Just Imagine” (6 days) 10,825. Hollywood Pantages (3000, 40c- 55c) Will Rogers in “So This Is London” and stage show $13,052. Orpheum (2700, 35c-65c.) Second week of Amos ’n’ Andy, $19,250. RKO (2700, 35c-65c) Vaude and pics, Eddie Quillian in “Big Money” ind personal appearances, $13,000. Boulevard (2300, 35c-65c) “Up The River,” $5593. Egyptian (1800, 35c-65c) “Last of the Duanes,” $3261. BURSON ORCHESTRA AT SILVER SLIPPER SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6.— Bunny Burson’s orchestra opened last week at the Silver Slipper cafe, with the management giving them a good publicity break on the new job. Members of the group are Burson, sax, director; Ed McLane, drums; George Whitney and A1 Ciceroni, saxes; A1 Grijalva, trumpet; Roily Furness, trombone; Bob Logan, banjo; Tex Langston, bass; Bunny Hall, piano. gmiiniiiimiiiiiiimiiniimiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiminiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiMimiimiiiiiiiiiiimimiiiiiiumiinMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniinf D A N C I N G Swagger Inn TU 4749—MU 9661 Art Varian Master-Ceremonies + + + E N T E R T A I N M E N T 1 719*4 s. HILL STREET = Former Location of Coffee Dan’s | NO COVER CHARGE 1 CARL PELLEY, Mgr. | iiiiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiniiiniiiiiiiiiiiiHiiimiiiiiimiiniritiriiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiitiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiTiMiiiiniiiiiiHi’P A COMPLETE LUNCH 50 Cents + + DINNER DE LUXE 75c TURKEY or STEAK With DINNER $1.00 FITZROY 1241 GENE DAVE FITZROY 1241 KLIEGL BROS. LARGEST PACIFIC COAST STOCK FITZROY 124 1 PINEAU & HOWSE THEATRICAL STAGE LIGHTING CO. ROAD SHOWS COMPLETELY EQUIPPED COMPLETE RENTAL DEPARTMENT WRITE FOR GELATINE SAMPLE BOOK 1451 VENICE BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CALIF. FOOTLITES BORDERLITES SPOT LITES OLIVETTES PORTABLE SWITCHBOARDS DIMMERS GELATINE EFFECTS FITZROY 124 1 SALES RENTALS COMPLETE STAGE EQUIPMENT SCENERY STAGE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTATION SETTINGS FABRICS—RIGGING—SCREENS J. D. MARTIN STUDIOS 4110-18 Sunset Boulevard HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA OL. 1101