Inside facts of stage and screen (January 24, 1931)

Page Two INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, January 24, 1931 A. E. A. BILL FOR ACTORS INTRODUCED SEX STUFF IN FADEOUT AS LEADER Exhibitors throughout the coun- try are frowning on musical revues and stage show reproductions that favor too much of the sex stuff. They state that the last three months revealed a balance of good dramatic and comedy mate- rial that developed its entertain- ment out of situation and charac- ter, thereby elevating the general ■quality of picture output. They insist that any reversion to sex on a broad scale will put a crimp in receipts and set the industry (back; that the non-theatregoer who 'has been won to the picture houses by a genuinely better dramatic output will be lost if the producers revert to the It stuff. General conditions -were bad, but a reasonable improvement lias been noticeable in theatre earn- ings and the exhibitor is as much inclined to credit this to a por- trayal of life that is not constantly dramatized by humans on the make, as anything else. The Clara Bow, Alice White and other productions identified wdth the type of character verging on the risque or forbidden are not be- ing received with the same enthus- iasm they once enjoyed. Times have been bad and the working classes, more discriminat- ing in their expenditures for their amusement, have expressed a defi- nite taste for pictures in a man- ner that indicates their preference as never before. This preference is voiced in greater returns on the .non-sex picture than any others. There has been a minimum of the "It" pictures, for which ex- bibs express approval. The ru- mor that the producers are going to throw more into production has given rise to many protests, much grumbling' and pessimism. BIG WAR -LOOMS IN COLOR FIELD (Continued from Page 1) first, that they never felt the com- petition of other companies, as they were always three or more months behind in their schedule of production;-secondly, that they felt that up to the present moment the presence of all possible legitimate color companies in the field was necessary to build up a maximum of interest in color, an interest which would redound to the bene- fit of the Harriscolor people far morc than would any attempt to monopolize the color field at any prior time. Also it is understood that new money has come into the Harris organization since the recent per- fection of new color processes “which have removed virtually all •of the previous objections to the .use of color. New Processes . The three main objections to color film shooting in the nast •were the limited number of colors which could be shot to good ef- fect, the ' excessive lighting re Mexicans Prefer All Blondes Gentlemen prefer blondes—and so do Mexicans. That’s wliat the Dalton Brothers can verify these days'. Recently the Daltons, whose Main Street standby is the Follies bur- lesque theatre, negotiated a contract whereby they are to put a girl stock show into a Mexico City theatre. But the contract specifically provides that the time girls shall be all blondes—not a break for so much as one brunet. The Daltons will continue to operate the Follies Theatre as formerly. All the blondes they extract from this spot to take down to the Mex cap- ital will be replaced, though whether the hair color scheme will be the same is not yet stated. It is also understood that the Daltons will take several of their Follies principals down south, and that these spots in the cast are now being filled. The troupe is due to start for Mexico City next week. quired good effect, and the length of time for developing out the negative. This latter process used to require 'anywhere from three days to a month, and "Whoopee” had to be developed in Boston due to lack of coast facili- ties for getting it through. The new Harriscolor processes are said to do awav with all of these objections. Color pictures can be shot under newsreel condi- tions with the new inventions, and can be developed within 18 hours, ft is said. TESTING PUBLIC KFOX at Long Beach is con- ■duiting a contest in an effort to determine just what their listen- ing audience enjoys. Letters are rolling in at the rate of several hundred a day. The one outstand- ing conclusion to be drawn so far in the contest, is that the listencrs- in enjoy informality of program, and simple, straightforward adver- tising announcements. ; The writing-directing team of Tay Garnett and Tom Bucking- ham are back together again pre- paring another original story for Pathe. SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 22.— Clarence Kolb and Max Dill are backing themselves in their first show together in more than-a year, “Apron Strings,” which they will open at the Geary on Washing- ton’s Birthday. They are now in Hollywood lining up the - cast -which will in- clude, in addition to themselves, a flock of male voices and an octette of fern specialists. “Apron Strings” will be dog- to-wned in Reno, Sacramento and possibly Oakland before it is brought into the Geary following “Porgy.” Glen Bncey Registers Big In New Spot Glen Bucey, whose picture appears on Page 1 of this is- sue, opened at the Chinese Cafe, now operated by Nick Ara, last Thursday. . Bucey was ace entertainer for a twelve month period at the Pom Pom a year ago. He has a line of hot syncopations that is hard to beat and his return to the Chinese sounded the signal for gala festivities among local night clubbers. It was a smash opening. Bucey carries the following people in his nifty orchestral aggregation: Jule Schwartz, Jack Flores, jack Clinton, and Gene McMullen-. Bucey has ben in the East for some time, where he was received with high favor and plenty of successful engage- ments. His local following is extensive and are crowding the cafe with the return of this - favorite. Nick Ara’s $1.25 dinner is extremely popular and he has a clicko line-up of girlies, in- cluding Gladys, Edith and Margaret Lawrence, Vivian Smith, Thelma Morris, and Jessie Perry. Earl I!addon is also rating himself a popu- lar feature. L. A. PUBLISHERS UP NORTH SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 22.— Eight of the Los Angeles music publishers’ representatives were in town this week. Among them were Dick Arnold of Robbins; Charles Virian, Santlys; George Waggner, head of his own firm; Bob Cole, Hollywood’ Syndicate; Bobby Gross, Remick; Ed Jams, Famous; Lucky Wilber, Harms; Art Schwartz, Witmark. Wilber and Schwartz are not en route to New York as previously reported. AT ORANGE SHOW Orange Show, which will run from Feb. 19 to March 1, is to have Harold William Roberts and his thirty-five piece band as one of their feature attractions. There will be twelve acts in the show this year. Roberts is the leader of the Trojan Band, also direct- ing such musical units as 160th Infantry Band and the Santa Monica Municipal Band. To Represent Inside Facts In N . W. Area Ruth Edwards, newspaperwoman and widely known in show busi- ness, will be the new Inside. Facts Division Manager in the northwest under our recent reorganization plan. She leaves Los Angeles Tues- day and will, immediately, upon her arrival in Seattle, open offices 3 t 3910 Eddy street. Phone num- ber of the new ' I. F. northwest offices is Rainier 3241. Ruth Edwards formerly was with the Hearst publications, being; well known, in Seattle through her con- nection with' tile Post-Intelligencer there. Legitimate Review AMBULANCE CHASER HOLLYWOOD PLAYHOUSE (Reviewed Jan. 21) There is just one Marie Dress- ier, one Ruth Chatterton, one Charles Chaplin, one Leo Carrillo, and each in his own right, without qualification, deserves high praise. So there is just one Harry Green. In this new play he has carved a place for himself in the ranks of our most skillful artists. With the material — which at times* threatened to get out of hand — first . night and everyone slightly nervous — Harry, through sheer ability, kept interest at a pitch which assured all critics he could uphold the best traditions of the theatre. Viewpoint may be divided, in regard to “The Ambulance Chaser” bowing in for a long run but one thing all will concede, that Harry Green is a consummate artist; that he gave a performance which dis- played a capacity for emotion and pathos hitherto unsuspected. Harry . Green stirred Wells of audience sympathy which gags and mugging never reach. Fitted with material that will give Green an.. .opportunity to _ exercise the power and talent He revealed in “ The Ambulance Chaser,” he •should check up a nice return for his picture producer. He offers more boxoffice potential than that of a relief comic or a supporting character. Paramount now boasts four clever comedians: Errol. Green, Erwin and Oakie. Of the four, Green displays substance that should be measured for bigger dra- matic roles. Incidentally,, permit me to also note that Erwin should be carefully groomed. He is un- tried to a certain extent but at the same time authentic timber of wide appeal. “The Ambulance Chaser" . is melodramatic and not so .much the story .of a shyster, as the title im- plies, as that of a young lawyer, just out of college, struggling for the breaks and finely woven in with a story of unrequited love. Careful treatment of this, play in its preparation for the screen will, I believe, bring it up to a stand- ard that would not detract from Paramount quality. Outstanding performances noted were those delivered by Thomas. Jackson, A1 Hill, Willette Morris and Don Gallaher. Ted Price. Immigration authorities have re- leased Duncan Rcnaldo on a $2000 bond pending a hearing February 16 regarding deportation. I. B. Kornbium, prominent L. A. attorney well known in theatrical circles, is handlling the case for Renaido. A move by Mrs. Renaido to have her divorce from Duncan set aside was denied. Her statement of Duncan Renaldo's failure to pro- vide was laughed off at the city prosecutor’s office when it was definitely established that Renaido had overpaid her to the extent of $ 200 . Hal Elias, exploitation director at M.-G-M exchange, is so oblig- ing with bits and blurbs of news that it would, be easy and profitable to sit around in his office for hours. George A. Hickey, M-G-M divi- sion supervisor for the Pacific Coast; and Mrs. Hickey are on a four weeks’ trip to Honolulu at present. J. J. Mallstein, city sales, is on a trip through the southern part of the state. * * * Exploitation activity in connec- tion with the “Trader Horn” open- ing at the Chinese Theatre is among the biggest and most enterprising ever attempted. Frank Whitbeck of F. W. C. and Howard Strick- ling of M-G-M are in charge. Pic- ture had a special preview at the studio, for newspaper -critics. Arthur Sterling, traveling auditor for western division, is in town. * * C. E, Buchanan has been ap- pointed M-G-M salesman handling only foreign versions. Their suc- cess in this- territory warrants this step, according to M-G-M. * * * Mary Peters, formerly with Tif- fany in Salt Lake City, has joined the office force in the’ L. A. branch. * Morrie Sttdmih, Fox West Coast booker, will be married on Sunday to Miss Lillian Strauss. He has been with the Fox organization for about eight years. W. T. Wall, Fox salesman, is in Imperial Valley on business. * =t Columbia has sent Bert Lentz on a little trip to Calexico. ■* * * RKO’s division manager, ; 'H. C. Cohen, is in town, while N. P. Ja- cobs is off on a trip. “Cimarron” will open in 325 the- atres' throughout the country on February 7, day and date. Or- pheum will house it in Los Angeles, y =t * Theatre changes are Egyptian at Maywood taken by F. K. Pless- ner; Ramona, Los Angeles, taken by Schaak and Goldberg; the Garden at Southgate by A, E. Delniore, and Rainbow, Los An- geles, taken over by W, R. Mc- Cormick. * * * Lola- Adams Gentry was mak- ing a fire inspection tour Wednes- day afternoon, with the amiable Jack Nelson, in tow lending valu- able aid ,. timing each, exodus, ringing fire i bells and being gem erally useful. Everybody lends a WOULD BAN JAIL RAIS ACTORS SACRAMENTO, Jan. 22. — A bill providing jail immunity for players in an indecent show was introduced to the state legislature bj: Assemblyman Ray Williamson, acting in behalf of Equity. Submitted legislature asks amend ment of the penal code providing that in the event of a raid on a risque stage production only the manager and director can be hauled off to jail. Williamson’s bill is outgrowth of police raids in Los Angeles on such shows as “Bad Babies” and other plays when cast members spent considerable time in jail and court. Charles Miller, head of the coast A. FI. A., was the moving spirit in initiating the movement for intro- duction of the bill. It is under- stood letters will be sent to Equity members shortly urging them to address the legislators in support of it. LEGIT SET TO DO SPURT UPWARD (Continued from Page 1.) situation than just a first-of-the- year pickup in activity. One an- ; thority stated that the business be-__ mg done by the few shows now T running indicates that the long • starvation period in this depart- i ment of show business has whet- 1 ted the public appetite to a point ' where any clever and well-pro- j duced show can get into the money. Optimistic Mood “Show business is largely a mat- ter of intuition,” he stated, “aiA everyone I’ve been talking to is full of optimism. They feel a boom for the legit stage insofar as this coast is concerned, at least, and many are predicting that shortly the stage out here will be above the normalcy of a year ago. - “At any rate, present indications aie that there are plenty of show-' men who are going to test out the situation by producing;—which is a very healthy sign.” Rankin Improving Arthur Rankin, who is in the ; Naval Hospital in San Diego due to a breakdown from overwork, is . reported to be on the upgrade toward complete recovery. He has , a lot of weight to get back, how- ever, having lost in poundage from around 160 down to 114. Handling Fund Charles Miller, chief of the Coast Equity Office, is also west coast representative for the Actors’ Fund'. At Sanitarium Lillian Albertson is resting at a sanitarium in Santa Barbara prior to starting work on a production which she and Louis O. Macloon are reported to be planning, ALMA RUBENS DIES Alma Rubens died of pneumonia on Wednesday night while fighting a losing battle with the drug habit. For the last two years Ricardo Cortez, her former husband, has stood by faithfully, and only .after her cure was announced were they divorced. Miss Rubens , leaves a mother and sister. COMING TO COAST “Limberlegs” Edwards has been engaged by F. and M. for a new unit opening March 5. This will be Edwards’ first local appearance after a lengthy eastern swing he is now doing. hand and a nimble foot at these sessions. Practically. every in- spection room was in good shape and some looked very doggy with their elegant modern equipment. Vaults with such neat-looking rows of cans are amazingly well protected, much depending on fuseable links . of trifling appear- ance but great import since they are comparatively delicate little wires, on fire doors- with heavy weights attached. They burn at the first sign of heat and fire, the weights drop, fire, doors close, and all is safe for picture. posterity. Even poster rooms which could so easily be in a continual mess were above reproach.