Inside facts of stage and screen (Aug 16, 1930)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1930 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN PAGE THREE MANY LEGIT OPENINGS ON TAP EL CAPITAN SOLE LEGIT OPEN; OTHER HOUSES MAKING READY JACK OAKIE'S 'SAP' TOPS CITY; LOEWS 'OUT WEST' IS SECOND Jack Oakie is proving one of the best draws in the pic- tures. His "Sap From Syracuse" scrambled summer records at the Paramount garnering $31,250 for the period just past. Loew's State was a poor second, with Hill Haines in "Way Out West." Their takings for the stanza was a mere Jack Oakie is proving one of^ the best draws in the pictures. $26,456. This is not a reflection upon the picture, but rather due to the general summer depresion, and accredit some of it to the Tiddle de links as well as the tremen- dous attendance at Hollywood Bowl, the "Symphonies Under the Stars" taking an average of $15,000 potential theatre patrons into the hills. Joan Crawford at the Criterion in "Blushing Brides" is keeping that house packed. The popular star dragged them in to the tune of $23,457 in six days, which is considerably good. "Hell's Angels" at the Chinese is also doing its phenomenal stuff, dumping into the bottomless maw of its box-office $21,420 in its eleventh week. At Warner Brothers' Hollywood house, Frank Fay and Lilyan Tashnian in "The Matrimonial Bed" attracted $19,000 into the coffer while at the Downtown Elsie Ferguson in "Scarlet Pages" was the magnet for $18,000. Pantages showed William Powell in "Shadow of the Law," which did a goodly share of the Holly- wood big, gleaming $13,491. Ronald Colman in "Raffles" at the United Artist held down a drag of $12,750. The Carthay Circle in the last week of Will Rogers in "So This Is London" took $11,198. Boule- vard had showed "The Big House," getting $9939 therewith, while the Egyptian, showing "Journev's End," .clicked $4782. STA. BARBARA FOX W. C. HOUSE Announcement was made this week By Harold B. Franklin, president of Fox West Coast, of another house to be erected in Southern California. Latest ac- quisition will be in Santa Barbara, where an agreement has been for- mally executed whereby the Ar- lington Corporation of California will erect a theatre building to be under a twenty-five-year lease to Fox West Coast Theatres. With a seating capacity of 2500. the house \vill feature early California design. The theatre will be one of the prime factors of a new civic cen- ter, to contain hotel, bank and office buildings. Edwards and Plunkett of Santa Barbara are the architects and the building con- tract has been let to Henry Bel- ler. Work on the new theatre will start immediately. GELSEY ON JOB Erwin Gelsey, former head of the Paramount story department m New York, has arrived in Hol- lywood to succeed Charles A. Logue as director of the Universal editorial staff. RICHMOND LAID UP Because of a badly wrenched ankle. Kane Richmond, featured as Kid Roberts in Universal's "The Leather Pushers" series, is con- fined to his bed. A two weeks' layoff will give Richmond oppor- tunity to be in good condition be- fore the cameras and microphones are set for the fourth episode of the boxing talkies. BARITONE HERE Nikolai Nadejine, baritone, to- gether with his wife, herself an ac- tress and poetess, arrived in Holly- wood this week en route to Europe followmg completion of a concert tour which embraced South Africa and Australia. MARCO GETS PRINZ Jack Prinz, dance director for tarl Carroll, has signed on the dotted line for Fanchon and Marco to produce several units. EQUITY GAINING LOST STRENGTH Equity is laughing up its sleeve. One by one, sheepishly those who fought long and shouted loud last year against the invasion of the actors' association in the studios, are going into Charley Miller's of- fice asking questions and signing up. Miller claims that Equity's jurisdiction still exists in pictures, and picture players who essay the stage must become members and must remain such as long as they are in show business. So, therefore, the news that Arch Selwyn has designs upon the names of Hollywood and is seeking to lure the big types of the studios to the glamor of Broadway, brought a sleek smirk of satisfaction to the Equity-ites. Selwyn has recently secured the names of Rod La Roque and his wife, Vilma Banky, to an Equity contract, which means that they are to leave soon for the big stem on the Atlantic seaboard. It is known that he is flirting with Mary Pickford and the queen is ogling back over her fan. Other names are being mentioned also to grace the White Way boards this fall in a movement which can well be termed "Back to the Stage." MURRAY "FIND" ASSIGNED TRIP OF 40 WEEKS Sylvia Shore, pupil and protege of Bud Murray, well-known New York and Los Angeles stage and dance director, and head of the Bud Murray School for stage at 3636 Beverly boulevard, is being featured this week with the Fan- chon and Marco "Modes" Idea at the Hollywood Pantages theatre. Miss Shore was discovered two years ago by Bud Murray, who was then directing "Good News" at the Mayan, and was slowly de- vel^oped into a singing and dancing comedienne, who now bids fair to reach the ultimate goal of most embryo stars. After she leaves the Pantages she is booked for 40 solid weeks over Fanchon and Marco tour, and directly follows the Fanchon and Marco "Wild and Wooly" Idea which features a unit of "Bud Murray California Sunbeams." Mr. Murray announces attractive summer rates now prevailing at the school will be available until September 1 in both tap and bal- let classes. Ballet is under the personal direction of Mary Frances Taylor, premiere danseuse of na- tional repute, and tap under direc- tion of Lafe Page, associate di- rector and instructor. DRESS MILLION DOLLAR Million Dollar theatre has added three new drops, in one. two and m full stage with borders to match, also new box set and wings. This is quite an improvement and sets the stage off in great style. With new lights on the front of the house, it looks like a new place. HAS NEW ACT Marion Sunshine has re-entered RKO Vaudeville Varieties in a new act called "So This Is Broad- way." Miss Sunshine, who for many years was teamed with her sister, Florence Tempest, is open- ing her new offering in Greater New York theatres. CRESPO IN "MR. WU" Jose Crespo, Spanish actor who recently returned to Hollywood for the starring role of Captain Kovacs in the Spanish version of "Olvm- pia," is remaining on the M-G-M lot for the juvenile lead in "Mr. Wu. TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY A little advice to radio art- ists. It's always good policy to let one hand wash the , other. The point is that radio is providing more work for musicians, singers and enter- tainers today than is the the- atre. This is made possible by the fact that many busi- ness concerns are paying heavy money for time on the air as well as salaries to per- formers. They do it to boost their business by increasing the sale of their commodities. It is but turn about that the profession get back of the products that are furnishing them a livelihood, and still further aid by patronizing the firms who patronize them. It will be appreciated by luore work for you and the en- couragement of other firms to sponsor radio programs. Boost one another and kill hard times. SUMMER REVEL MASQUER PLAN The Masquers, headed by their new president, Mitchell Lewis, will stage their midsummer revel at Hoot Gibson's ranch Sunday, Aug- ust 17. Harry Joe Brown, chairman of the entertainment committee, has finall}' completed "casting." A potato race will be staged by Bert Wheeler, shoe race by Lew Cody, sack race by Charles Chase, golf ntting by Robert Armstrong, three-legged race by William Col- lier, Sr. Silver trophies will be awarded winners, according to Lewis. The judges will be William Farnum, John F. Dillon, Wm. Jennings Bryan, Jr. Timers are Edward Everett Horton, Robert Woolsey and Ford Sterling. Mitchell Lewis. Hoot Gibson and Sam Hardy will be officers of the day. "The Grand Finale" will be a baseball game with Laurel and Hardy as umpires and Jack Denip sey. Little Billy and Louis Wol heim as policemen to protect the "umps" from the players as well as the spectators. "Midsummer Revel" strictly stag NO MORE SHUT DOWNS FOR W. B. The annual custom of Warner Brothers Pictures in closing down for a vacation period each fall, will be discontinued after thi year, Jack L. Warner, vice-presi- dent in charge of production, an- nounced this week. During the past four years the studio has had an eight to twelve week vacation period. Warner Brothers now own or control more than 1000 theatres throughout the United States and Canada and to supply this demand hte west coast studios will here- after operate on a full year's basis, instead of having the usual layoff period in the fall, Warner stated. FOUR NIGHT RUN TWO STARS GO TO HONOLULU Richard Wilbur, who has been here several weeks engaging talent for his Honolulu company, leaves Thursday for San Francisco and will sail from there to Honolulu. While here Mr. Wilbur was legally separated from his last wife, Tove Linden. A^nong people engaged were Richard Keane and Barbara Brown. ICE BILL BOARD KILLS EVIDENCE Dayton Lummis, popular young actor, who opened Aug. 13 at the Theatre Mart for a four night's run in Katherine Von Blon's one- act play, "The Blue Peacock," which is being directed by Francis Josef Hickson, is a well-known player in productions on the west coast. WILL OPEN LAB Louis Graf is in Los .Angeles preparatory to opening a new laboratory. SOUND COMEBACK SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 14.— "Birth of a Nation" with sound opens at the Geary following the stage production of "Candle- Light." • SEAY AT "MART' Dorothy Seay is playing the wife in Francis Josef Hickson's production of Kath- erine T. Von Blon's one-act play "The Blue Peacock." which opened at the Theatre Mart Aug. 13. El Capital! theatre in Hollywood is sole prevailing- sur- vivor of that unfortunate family, "the Legitimate Brother- hood." Last legit house, located farthest away from all cen- ters of metropolitan activity, the one theatre, which for two years remained dark and was the last to open its doors to ..regular productions, has won the endurance contest. Thirteen stages of the "in-person" type of amuse- ment arc dark this week. Last week, with "Tea for Three," E| Capitan grossed $5500, which is its average. Manager Matt Allen, optimistically observed that he anticipated the comeback of stage plays with a vegeance. He said his business was keep- ing up by the fact that the gen- eral public is becoming alarmed at the prospect of losing the hu- man form of entertainment alto- gether, and is making personal efforts to, see that plays at El Capitan are well attended. Next week will be the last of the present bill, and it is to be followed August 24 by "The Poor Nut," starring the author, Elliot Nugent, supported by the entire original cast, all of whom are at present in Hollywood. Among those, who will appear, are Ruth Nugent, Percy Helton. Norma Lee, Cornelius Keefe, Eric K'alkhurst and about 50 super- numeraries who will provide the necessary atmosphere. Although dark at tlie present time, the other houses have elabor- ate plans afoot for a brilliant season. At the Vine Street they are preparing to open September 1 and although Manager Sid Mil- ler refuses to divulge the opus, he remarked that it will be a wel- come surprise to the playgoers. Dave Thompson will open the Hollj'Avood Play House with Grant Mitchell in "The Champion" on Sunday, the 16th, for what it is hoped will be an extended run. "Candlelight" by Siegfried Geyer is coming from San Francisco to open at the Biltmore on the 26th. Leon Leontovich, Reginald Owen and Alan Mowbray are the group of stars. Belasco opens "The Wise Child" next Monday, the 18th. William Trumbell is preparing Lynn Star- ling's "Cup of Sugar" which goes to San Francisco where it is scheduled to open on the 26th. Mayan is slated for an early musical opening. "O, Susanna," an operetta with fine music and un- fine book, reported being rewritten by Bill Atteridge, will be given another fling before Franklin War- ner essays to foist it on Broad- way, N. Y. The Majestic and President the- atres have definitely been taken out of the l^it columns and are being prepared to house the flick- ers. VVilliam Eugene and Maude Fealy are rehearsing for a play that is soon to open at the Egan while the Mason is dark indefi- nitely. Not such a bad batch of pros- pects after all. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14.— A stunt that caused more public comment and more police inquiry than any publicity —^'r in months was sprung by Cliff Work when the Orpheum opened Columbia's "Rain or Shine" with Joe Cook. Work, divisional chief for RKO, contracted with an ice company to freeze about 300 blocks of ice with a colored placard in the cen- ter, announcing "Rain or Shine's" opening. The sun soon melted the evidence, which prevented Work's arrest. Without consulting the law or waiting for an omcial civic okay. Work ordered a cake of the ice planted on every important down- town street corner during the heighth of the Saturday afternoon rush when the trattic arteries are packed. Within fifteen minutes minions of the law were hot op the trail of the responsible party, who had mysteriously disappeared. By the time he was found the evidence had melted away. CHINA "CONEY" HEAD IS HERE E. K. Fernandez arrived last week 'from Shanghai, China, where he operates the Shanghai Coney Island, one of the largest amuse- ment parks in Asia. Fernandez is on his way to New York to secure sonie new features for his park during the coming season. He will take back as well* a musical com- edy and dramatic company which will present alternate performances in his theatre. He is stopping at the Biltmore. 'DRACULA' CAST "Dracula" now being cast at Universal. ?'red Pymm, who played the vampire role in Woodward's legitimate production of the thriller, reported under consideration for the same part. WIFE IN COMEBACK Now that Eddie Dowling worked in the East in his vaudeville-varie- ties turn, his wife, Ray Dooley, has decided to effect a comeback of her own, in association with Florenz Ames, who for many years was a comedy headliner when he was as- sociated with Adelaide Winthrop. IN THIRD YEAR SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14.— Harriet French and her Melody Maids are entering their third year at Lcighton's Cafeteria, where Miss French conducts the orchestral group, offers violin solos and does vocal work with Kenneth Rund- quist. CAE AT WORK Gae Foster has been putting in six days of her week at the West- akc Theatre rehearsing a Fanchon and Marco production. BOLES RETURNS SOON John Boles will complete his role of Count Mirko in "Lilli" for Sam- uel Goldwyn the last week in Aug- ust, and will return to Universal City a few days later to begin re- hearsals for "Resurrection," which Edwin Carewe will direct. Dimitri Tiomkin. eminent Russian concert pianist and composer, is writing three songs for Boles to sing in "Resurrection." . Lupe Velez will be seen opposite Boles in this mod- ern translation of Tolstoy's mem- orable classic. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14.— As he sat in a chair on stage Tommy Smith, electrician at RKO's Golden Gate, suddenly slumped over dead last Saturday night. Physicians declared Smith's death was caused by a clogged blood vessel in his stomach. He had just finished playing cards with members of the stage crew and was waiting for the vaude to start when he passed away. SEE JACK'S TUX Jack Dempsey arrived in town last week and is staying at the Roosevelt. He'll be signing auto- graphs Mond.ay in front of the lotel. Jack looks great in a tuxedo.