Inside facts of stage and screen (November 15, 1930)

NOV. 15, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE SEVEN SAN FRANCISCO HAROLD J. BOCK, Manager, Phone DOuglas 2213 KRESS BLDG., 935 MARKET ST., Office Suite 504 ON THE INSIDE - IN SEATTLE ROY OXMAN Representative—630 People’s Bank Bldg., MAin 0799 SNEAKED PIC SETS RECORD SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 30.— Without a lot of advance heralding by the MGM lot but with plenty of local publicity on it “Min and Bill" sneaked into Loew’s Warfield and did one of the three record breaking weeks of the theatre. Receipts ran near $42,000. Another stanza of good business at Publix’s California where Harold Lloyd in “Feet First” grabbed $20,- 000 . Fox clicked also. Metro’s “Billy the Kid” with Wallace Beery ap- pearing on the initial day knocked off $47,000. Amos ’n’ Andy didn’t live up to all expectations at the Orpheum, third and final week, doing only $10,000. Deuce and last week of Warners’ “Life of the Party” dropped, closing at $5500 for the Embassy. Paramount up somewhat over pre- vious week with “Only Saps Work" and last o$ the Coast produced stage shows, grossing • $16,000. Chevalier bowed out of St. Francis in “Playboy of Paris” after four weeks, doing $8000. DANCER WEDS SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13.— Meryl Prince and John Babb, non- pro, were married last week. Miss Prince operates a dancing and voice school in the Kress building. HOWARD SIGNS GIRLS SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13.— While at Golden Gate two weeks ago, Joe E. Howard signed Connie and Natalie, dance team curently at the Roof Garden. He will put them in his Toy Shop act next season. CARMEL GOES TALKIE ' SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13- Swank artists’ colony of Carmel has turned theatrically plebian. In- stead of dramatic brain children of colony members, Theatre of the Golden Bough will henceforth house talkies. PARK GROUP FORMS SACRAMENTO, Nov. 13.— Articles of incorporation have been filed here for El Verde Amusement Park Ltd., Southern California out- door enterprise headed by Frank Bowker and Henry Coley of Los Angeles. HEADS ORPH BAND OAKLAND, Nov. 13.—Nick Sturiale was awarded the orchestra contract at the Orpheum here and stepped into the pit this week to start working. House will not have a stage band since previous plans to bring Horace Heidt’s band in blew up. Market St. Gleanings On a tour of San Francisco clubs and hotel dining rooms this department was impressed by the lack of comfort of dining (or drink- ing) tables that are a part of the furniture in each of these establish- ments. Americans, being the notorious leg crossers that they ace, are forced to keep both feet on the floor or stick them out in the aisles where they become stumbling blocks. Some cafe that builds its tables high enough to permit cus- tomers crossing their knees ought to draw a lot of trade for that reason alone. * * * Fred Johnson, Lloyd Thompson, Lew Serbin, Rufe Blair and Ed Waite double O-ing Sid Goldtree’s production of ‘Ex-Mistress” at the Green Street . . . which is the best thing Sid has done yet ... at the opening of “Stepping Sisters” at Duffy’s Alcazar . . . the ubiquitous Mr. Waite again present . . .Walt Rivers, Maxford, the jeweler, Georgia Brown entertaining the press. . . . Rita Bell rendezvousing in a clam chowder palace ... we take back what we said about Bob Roberts being a reformed radio crooner . . . he’s not reformed . . . Dick Mar- shall hopes to throw away his crutches muyo pronto . . . Harry Bechtel in a mid-day reverie . . . discovering what’s the matter with show business . . . Louis MacLoon on the phone . . . looks like he has a hit show on his hands in “Paris in Spring” . . . George Harris and Richard Powell have played here so much in the past six months they ought to be eligible to vote soon . . . Joe Wright drops into the Roof Garden with his charming wife for dinner and a dance . . . his first time away from the fiddle and baton in a year . . . Bill Horst- meyer doing a good job of swing banding on relief night . . . Jay Brower is on the sick list again . . . bum teeth put him there this time . . . FRITCHER OUT SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6.— Charles Fritcher has retired from the cast of Warren Irons’ burlesque show at the Capitol, with Bozo Fox batting for him. ANOTHER THEATRE SACRAMENTO, Nov. 13.—Con- struction will start within the next 90 days on a Warner Bros, theatre to be erected at Tenth and L streets. W.B. is putting about $1,500,000 into the house including cost of the site. GUS GAGEL and HIS TROUBADORS Cinderella Ballroom Long Beach, California “Featuring Many Musical Men with Versatility” Paris In Spring Leads The Legit SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14.— Premiere of the Albertson-Macloon operetta, “Paris in Spring,” at the Curran, drew top honors, while “Dracula” at the President came second for satisfactory grosses. “Paris” did around $19,000. Most of patronage is going upstairs, where prices aren’t as high as the $2.50 tariff down. Considered an indication customers can’t and don’t want to pay $5.00 a couple for a show. “Dracula” at the President, with Frederick Pymm, started off heav- ily and at end of initial stanza drew $7500. Alcazar perked up with sec- ond week of “Stepping Sisters," $6000 gross being an advance over initial seven days. “Death Takes a Holiday” bowed out of Columbia after one month and house is dark until Nov. 17, when Mrs. Patrick Campbell opens in “Ghosts.” Tivoli teed with “Ladies of the Evening" Wednesday and looked good. Green Street is holding with “Ex-Mistress.” Geary still dark. MOSBY IN S. F. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13.— Curtis Mosby’s Apex Club opened Wednesday night with the most pretentious floor show in the city and also the highest tariff at former Mandarin, Bush and Grant. Mos- by’s Blue Blowers, 12 piece colored organization, holds band stand, while floor show is produced by Mildred Washington with personnel of Mary Richards, Sue Hoy, Edith Spencer, Teddie Peters, Claude Collins, Three Brown Buddies, Hoyt Jenkins and a chorus of ten. TO LET CONTRACTS OAKLAND, Nov. 13.—Within two weeks contracts will be let for construction of 3800 seat house for Paramount Publix on a site at Twenty-first and Broadway. ETTLING’S GIFT SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13.— Harry Ettling is preparing his an- nual New Years’ show for San Quentin inmates, when he takes over all local performers for a big morning show. STUDIO of DANCING 577 Geary St. San Francisco Franklin 2562 Acrobatic, Stage, Tap, Rhythm, Ballet and Ballroom Dancing ROUTINES FOR THEATRICAL PEOPLE Private Lessons by Appointment Children’s Classes Saturday at 11 Young People’s Classes, Eves., 8 to 11. VERY SPECIAL Guaranteed Permanent Wave A Wave you can care for yourself. Only at Mode- art Is this ex- clusive wave obtainable. A bargain offer no woman can fsHns? «» c . ln s»v h :f5?i , .nii and** remember chars, for Ions hsir. there is no substitute for experience. Marcel Wave. 75c. Medicated Shampoo, including finger wave. SI. MODEART Permanent Wave Studio L007 Market St., at Sixth. Entire 2nd Floor Telephone HEmlock 6873 Open 9 to 9 with or without appt. SAN FRANCISCO Bill Ross cutting up with Fred Ireland on the carnival hour . . . Don Steele soon to leave for San Francisco . . . Harry Mills seen in five different places the same eve- ning . . . that has been proven thro- ugh press reports . . . Betty Shilton out of some air . . . Tiny Burnett eating . . . Syl Cross and Gene Mc- Cormick to SF ... for another jaunt . . . Carl Winge with some new songs . . . and smiles . . . very cheery . . . Myrtle Strong ambling over some new music . . . Maxine Blakemore and Ed Eaton entertaining on col- lege night at the Paramount . . . Zach Freedman being kidded by Sallie Sue White . . . Owen Sweeten and his boys getting dolled up as “Rewshuns.” SCHOOL TRAINING NEW F. & M. LINE SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13 — Hirsch-Arnold dance school has in rehearsal another line of girls for a forthcoming Fanchon and Marco Idea, which will take to the road soon. In addition, Mildred Hirsch and Ruth Arnold are preparing a pre- tentious dance spectacle for the Chronicle’s annual Christmas party for which the H. and A. have al- ways contributed entertainment. Currently, Hirsch-Arnold have a lineup in Fanchon and Marco’s Brunettes” Idea, en tour Fox houses in the East. PAR IN CUT TO GET BIZ SEATTLE, Nov. 13.—Everybody here making the best of this era of bad biz. The Paramount has recog- nized the condition, and reduced its prices to a 50 cent scale. Fifth Avenue came back this week to resume its usual lead i.n town re- ceipts, and reported a gross of $14,- 500 on “Renegades,” flicker, and Fanchon and Marco’s “Southern Idea” for the stage fare. Not bad, but far from good. Orpheum took second honors on “Check and Double Check,” which is still clicking, and appropriated $13,000 for the week. Fair vaude bill on this one. Paramount, with Horace Heidt’s college boys on the stage, did dis- appointing biz for what was offered. Too bad such high class stuff has to suffer. Intake only $10,500. Fox registered $9,000 on “Billy the Kid,” nice returns. Owen Sweeten and boys clicked well. Blue Mouse and Music Box are running neck and neck, each hitting the ball for $6000 on “Rivers End” and “Abraham Lincoln,” respective- ly- Venetian Gardens catching the only high class trade of the town in the way of cabaret entertainment, with McElroy’s and the Trianon setting a good pace for the dance business. AVALON CO. OPENS SPOKANE, Nov. 13.—Avalon opened Sunday with a stage show in addition to its regular policy of second run talkies. Avalon Play- ers have cast of five men, three women, a line of five girls and a three-piece orchestra. BROWER ILL AGAIN SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13 — After two weeks of work, Jay Brower landed back in the hospital with an infected jaw, shortly after he had been released, following a previous operation. Brower’s m. c. job at Fox El Capitan was taken over by Jack Souders, rushed in from San Jose. Eph Engleman batted for Souders. PEGGY IN SOUTH Peggy O’Neill, producer of stage shows at the Fox El Capitan, San Francisco, was in Los Angeles this week on business in connection with her producing and dance studio work. GENTILE ON AIR “Rogue Song”, with Pietro Gen- tile in main role, to be heard Wed- nesday night over KHJ, marks second of movie musical Comedies to go on air. GAUNTLETT JOINS FOX WEST COAST SEATTLE, Nov. 13.—Vic Gaunt- lett, associated with the John Ham- rick interests in the Northwest since the days John took up the theatrical enterprise, has resigned and taken the same poistiomwith West Coast Theatres succeeding Ted Champion. Johnny Northen, formerly with RKO succeeds Gauntlett at the Hamrick houses. SING WITH BAND SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13.— Arline Golden and Frederick Bittke were vocal soloists with Ralph Murray’s Golden Gate park band on Armistice Day in a big concert. NEW ROOF TEAM SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13 — Dave and Ruth go into the Roof Garden Cafe this week as featured dance team, following Connie and Natalie. GREENMAN WEST SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13.— Coming from the Haymarket, Chi- cago, Jack Greenman has replaced Bozo Fox as comic with the Irons’ burlesque company at the Capitol. PIERONG EAST Nick Pierflhg, former manager of Spokane Pantages, is in Minneap- olis opening the dark Pantages there for an indefinite run of a U.F.A. super special. SPOKANE, Nov. 13.—Legitimate drama, extinct in these parts, has a possibility of revival in a newly announced rotary stock hookup. It has been reported E. G. Cooke, Seattle manager and representative of Erlanger interests, has joined with Bainbridge of Minneapolis and will sponsor a circuit, which will include Seattle, Portland and eventually Spokane if it clicks elsewhere. * * * Walter Fenney, manager of RKO grabbed a lot of free space in local sheets with a stunt in connection with opening of “Check and Double Check.” An afternoon daily ran a three column cut showing eight young men sleeping in front of the box office waiting to be first in line at the opening. * * * RKO Orpheum is planning a complete redecoration including new seats. Work is being handled by B. F. Shearer of Seattle. In the projection booth, new lamp houses are being installed and high inten- sity arcs will be used henceforth. The ceiling of the marquee has been illuminated with a total of 31,500 watts, according to house electrician C. R. Cook, and the walk beneath it is about brightest spot in town. * * * Irene Rich, former Spokane girl, is making a name for herself in the big film city, much to the interest of Spokane folk, who stayed at home. JESSE STAFFORD And Hi* San Franciico PALACE HOTEL ORCHESTRA Featuring His and Gene Rose’s Song Hit, “Tonight”