Inside facts of stage and screen (November 22, 1930)

PAGE TWO INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN NOV. 22, 1930 MOVIE HOUSE GROSSES IN TICK UP UNION VOTE FIGHT LOOMS SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20. One of the stiffest fights in the his- tory of Musicians’ Union, Local No. 6, is on the cards when the annual election of officers conies up on December 18. Following candidates have been nominated: president, Joseph Walk- er and Walter Weber (incumbent); vice-president, Frank Borgel (in- cumbent), Caesar Brand, A, Jack Haywood; recording secretary, Al- bert Greenbaum (incumbent), El- mer Slissman; financial secretary, Clarence King (incumbent). Board of directors, Art Articary, Reg Code, William Culley, Sam Davis, Glenn Goff, Art Guerin, Eis- ner Hammann, Elmer Hubbard. Walter King, G. W. Lerond, Arthur Linden, Eddie Love, Frank O’Con- nell, George Pinto, Jerry Richard, George Schultz, Jules Spiller, Wal- lace Tenney, Ed Vinal, Elmer Vin- cent, Buell Walbridge, Art Weid- ner. Five of these to be chosen. Board of relief, William Culley. Barney Frankel, Elmer Hubbard Curley Jacob, George Kittler, A1 Greenbaum. Delegates to the A.F.M. conven- tion, J. H. Cray, Sam Davis, Karl Dietrich, Clarence King, Arthur Linden, Jerry Richard, Elmer Vin- cent. Delegates to the California State Federation of Labor convention. Barney Frankel, Glenn Goff, A. S. Morey, F. J. O’Connell. REQUEST SCENARIO TO GO ON STAGE Request for suitable starring ve- hicle by Chesterfield Productions for Norman Phillips, Jr., has brought “The Rich Little Poor Boy,” by Eleanor Gates. It is reported that the new Gates story will first be presented as a play and later transferred to the screen with Norman Phillips, Jr., in the title role. TRIO SCORES HIT The International Trio, now play- ing at KFI under the name of Iris Luncheon Trio, is making a splen- did showing . with its programs. Trio is sending some good melodies over the air, and, best of all, are the interpretations of the music of the nations. TIVOLI 75 CENT STOCK SUITS HARD TIME ERA SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 2Q.—In a day when theatregoers have been g ven the best of musicals and dramas by the talkies, and at prices generally averaging 65 cents, Irving Ackerman and Richard Marshall have struck ucon a smart idea. While Henry Duffy is asking $1.50 top, and Curran and Co- lumbia $2.50, Tivoli operators are taxing only 75 cents, and for this they are staging productions of such plays as “Ladies of the Evening, with “Front Page” and others in the offing. Question to be settled is whether or not people prefer paying six bits or two dollars and a half, and the opening night’s turnout seemed to indicate the “ayes” have it. There are two other important factors. First, Tivoli is most accessible leg t house in town, with ex- ception of President, being near to all Market street car lines. Secondly, smoking is permitted in the upper 1 q<*»s and balcony THREE PLACES TAKE LEAD IN MOVIE HOUSE EARNINGS Grosses picked up a little over the preceding week with Loew’s, U.A. and Paramount leading. Harold Lloyd’s "Feet First” got away to a good start, while “Fast and Loose” at the Paramount did a consistent good week. Takings were as follows: Loew’s State, Warner Baxter in "Renegades” with the F. and M. show on stage, $30,670. Last week of “The Big Trail” at the Chinese took a weak $10,470, while the last stand of “Just Ima- gine” at Carthay Circle did $9531. Hollywood Pantages, with “Play- boy of Paris” and the F. and M. stage show, did $13,633. Criterion reported a $9255 gross for “Billy The Kid.” Warner Brothers Hollywood took in around $12,500 on a week for “The Truth About Youth,” while the downtown house did the same figure for a week of “The Gorilla.” At Orpheum Amos and Andy did a reported $12,000, and at the RKO “East is West” did $13,200, with the pic and five acts of vaude. At BelasCo, Dorothy Burgess was the reported flop surprise of the week in legit circles, and they’re going to hold "Bird of Flame” two weeks more as per contract. This house seems to be a steady money loser. Exploitation poor. Duffy is doing nice at both his houses, the veteran showman get- ting a nice figure at the El Capitan, with Charlotte Greenwood in “Par- lor, Bedroom and Bath,” while at his other house, Hollywood Play- house, Leo Carrillo in “Mr. An- tonio,” did over $6000. Hollywood Music Box, which is housing the Shaw vehicle “The Ap- ple Cart” did $8000, and reports a good advance on next offering, "The Infinite Shoeblack.’ CARTER GOES INTO MOVIES Charles Carter, the Great, is here to organize a “Carter the Great Motion Picture Company,” which he expects to have working shortly. The magician is liberally sup- plied with valuable film, which he announces he will put into the com- pany. He also is reported search- ing for a downtown theatre in which he will exhibit pictures, and do his magical work. Carter is understood to possess about 5000 feet of silent film, which he made on his numerous trips to all parts of the world, as well as tons of baggage, props and scenery. One of his films is tentatively en- titled, “The Lion’s Bride.” He plans to put it to sound, as the initial re- lease. FILM HOUSE SCRAP RAGES Book Reviews “GLORIFIED” BY DOROTHY WEGMAN Bretano’s, New York In conception and treatment, this story is presented with keen insight and discrimination. Molly Robbins, Jewish beauty of Russian extraction, develops before our eyes through her mother-ridden childhood. She is a vividly authen- tic character, with fine mind and many talents. Molly’s career as a chorus girl of- fers a wholly trustworthy picture of backstage life, lending that subject a new and enthralling interest. Astutely drawn characters are Joan, the lady, shanty Irish Mimi, and Nancy, with her tawdrily fic- titious virginity. The logical climax occurs when Molly finds her man, and together they plan a presumably successful fulfillment of their lives. Well handled, this book would make a popular talkie. Vi. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20.— Affairs of the Wagnon theatres were in a chaotic state late Wednes- day night, as Dan Markowitz pre- pared to take back the Embassy under terms of his lease, while Wagnon exerted every effort to keep the theatre, even booking a Tiffany picture “Third Alarm” to keep the theatre open. Warners have been booking the Embassy for Wagon on a percent- age. basis taking it on the chin right along, with the house opera- tor on most weeks. Markowitz ho’ds the lease on the Embassy or which, it is claimed, Wagon owes back rent. Wagnon also operates Dav'es lease of which is held by Car! Laemmle. LICHTMAN PREDICTS BETTER ACTIVITIES BIRNBAUM ON NBC SAN FRANCISCO, Nov.—Ken- neth Birnbaum, juvenile trumpeter and protege of Bill Bennett, is doing programs over NBC, often featured. Artiitic Scenic Advertising Curtains By Far the Best in America CURTAIN PRIVILEGES BOUGHT FOR CASH OR SCENERY Chas. F. Thompson Scenic Co. 1215 Bates Avenue Phone OLympia 2914 Hollywood, Calif. Stronger activity than has been apparent in many months is mak ing itself felt in the business of screen entertainment, according to A1 Lichtman, vice-president of United Artists in charge of distribu- tion. Lichtman has just arrived in Lor Angeles on his semi-annual visit in connection with United Artists’ film product for the coming year. He said the company’s plans for pro duction are on an increased scale. AMERICAN TO RUN DUFWIN OAKLAND, Nov. 20.—Amer- ica 11 Theatres of Los Angeles and ban Diego this week closed a deal with Income Properties to take over the Dufwin, formerly a link m the Duffy chain of legit theatres and to operate it as a picture house House will be renamed the Roxi and will open around Christmas oince it will play the Umted Ar- tists pictures, reports indicate the a a £ re to be one of a chain of U A. houses to be acquired on the coast as a result of recent wordy battles with Fox West Coast. Fred Seigel of the Spreckels, Sat Diego, and general manager of the American chain, closed the deal Opening picture will be Eddie Can- tor s "Whoopee.” RUSSELL INTO L. A. HOUSE Jack Russell, musical comedy comedian, who has had a long sea- son of successes in Long Beach, is going to bring a show into the Ma- je-stic for a Thanksgiving day open- ■ng. In the company, in addition to Kussell, will be Florence Spurier George Stanley, Jackie Brunea. Evelyn DuFresne, Ted Ulmark, Garrett Price, Naomi Edwards and a trio yet to be picked. Roy Reid, formerly with Strand and State, Long Beach, will man- age. VAUDE EXECS VISIT COAST Pat Casey and J. J. Murdock ar- rived in Los Angeles this week. Just what their presence here at this time may mean could not be learned. Vaudeville managers, many of them out of a connection at pres- ent, were hovering around, trying to figure out whether the visit por- tended anything with jobs tied in with it, or whether it was just another early winter vacation trip. Boom For Marks Seen As Qilbert Named Pro.Head Row Cuttings By VI HEGYI MURRAY STUDENTS APPEAR AT O. P. Popularity of the Bud Murray School bay district branch is far be- yond the fondest expectations of Bud Murray, well-known stage and dance director and principal of the Bud Murray School for Stage and Screen, 3636 Beverly Boulevard. Mr. Murray has taken the nucleus of his classes and formed a juvenile line-up, and through Miss Janice Sprague, head of the Murray Branch School, at Ocean Park, has arranged to have the Murray-Sprague pupils appear in a revue once a month, at the Municipal pier, and the Dome theatre, Ocean Park, the first of these being November 22. Classes are now held for children at the Los Angeles School every Saturday in four separate groups under personal direction of Gladys Murray and Mary Frances Taylor. A1 Lichtman, United Artists’ -entral manager is in town, also District Manager Jack Slaver look- ng hale and hearty. United Artists announces that “Whoopee,” that outstanding attraction, is doing great business on repeat dates * * * Universal Exchange is glad to let everyone know that Mr. Naylor, ex- change manager, is back on the job after being on the sick list for some time. Mr. Reisman, general sa’es manager, is out here on business from New York. * * * Murray Ross, salesman for RKO, is laid up with infantile paralasis. His recovery is expected soon. * * * A chat with Messrs. Shaw and Nelson at Educational leaves the mpression that no news is good news. So that's that. ELLIOTT ROTHE SET Elliott Rothe, stage and screen juvenile, has returned after four years in New York shows. He will start with Ann Harding in “East Lynne,” Fox. RAY COFFIN INTERNATIONAL PUBLICITY 6607 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, Calif. Phone GLadstone 3201 L. Wolfe Gilbert’s appointment as general professional manager and staff writer of Edward B. Marks Music Company is being taken by he song profession as meaning that .he firm is about to launch a cam- paign of song merchandising that will be felt from coast to coast. While several other concerns are reported retrenching, and none of them are spreading any noticably big campaigns, the opportunity seems rife for Marks to step in for a big killing. Such are the reports drifting this way from New York City, co-inci- lent with the first of an extensive series of advertisements, and strong plugging moves. Mr. Gilbert’s first two songs un- der the new arrangement are a waltz, “On the Winding Santa Fe,” written with Abel Baer, and a fox trot, “There’s Something Missing in Your Eyes,” upon which Dave Dreyer collaborated. There is a particular significance to his signing with the Marks Com- pany, for it was with this firm that he first established his reputation as an unparalleled song exploiter moreover, as one of the profession’s most consistent hit lyric writers. Among his star sellers are “Wait- ing for the Robert E. Lee,” “My Little Dream Girl,” “My Sweet Adair,” "Shades of Night,” "Lily of the Valley,” “By Heck,” and the famous Hawaiian successes, “My Own Iona’ and “My Hawaiian Sun- shine.” He recently returned from two years in Hollywood with Paamount. Fox and Warner Bros, studios. His two notable theme-song hits being "Ramona” and "Jeannine.” Fritzi Jacoby has been appointed Gilbert’s office assistant. GUILD MEET HEARS ACTS Catholic Motion Picture Guild on Monday held its monthly meet- ing in the Hollywood Columbus Club, 1441 North McCadden Place. James Ryan, president of the Guild, presided and Johnny Hines, vice-president, acted as master of ceremonies for the program, which had been arranged by the enter- tainment committee. A few of the acts presented in- cluded Skeets Gallagher, Vernon Rickard, Elinor Flynn, Hickman Bros. Eddie Hennessey, little Jane Slater and Estelle X. Wills. "9£SS"' Auditions for State' Talent every Wed. at 11 a.m. Children's au- ditions, every Sat., at 11 a.m. 1747 N U$ PALMAS HOUrwOOO PHOHETT <X)86 Wallace Debuts Y oungAdagioists Two of the hardest working youngsters among the more ambi- tious pupils of Earle Wallace, dance director, are Miriam and Melville Strann, who have been diligently training during the past year. They are to make their debut be- fore an audience of disabled war veterans at Sawtelle, Wednesday evening in a novel adagio, that Wal- lace claims is as sensational as any routine he has arranged in the past for any of his famous professional teams. Jack Lester Originator of Triple Rhythm Jack Lester, who is featured in Larry Ceballos’ “Enchanted Garden Idea,” recently completed a seven- month engagement for the latter at Warner Brothers, Hollywood. He has the distinction of teaching Alice White, Bessie Love, Bert Wheeler, Mae Murray, Buster Keaton, Tom Patricola, and other motion picture stars rythm tap dancing. Lester, following a six-months’ engagement at Olsen’s, satged many musical shorts at Pathe and the work of the Larry Ceballos line in the latter’s present idea, now tour- ing the west coast, was originated and conceived by him.