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

Saturday, January 24, 1931 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Three m lm'rece if ts hitting - upgrade Opening Of “Horn Has Film Spot Smash opening of M-G-M’s “Trader Horn” at the Chinese Thursday night was the only out- standing event in a picture house week which showed 'only average box-office returns and had only average attractions to offer. Metro put their whole might be- hind their African jungle picture, making up in quantity wllat their publicity lacked in quality. Their line, which they ran on street cars and elsewhere, was “It’s up to you to see ‘Trader Horn. ” They should have known better than that—people don’t like to be told they must do something. 13ut when the gala night came, it galaed itself for another one of H o 1 1 y w o o d's much-ados-about- nothiiig. That is, considering the prices they extract opening -nights for pictures which in a few months will be playing half empty houses on Main street at 10 cents admis- sion. The usual roster of stars were there, Charlie Hamp, the so- called $150,000 radio baby, was as- signed to master-of-ceremouy the stuff over the air, and the lights drew the usual throng of star- gazers. Seven Days All in all, it was play a-plenty for this picture, which had been held up an unseasonably long time after the troupe trekked back to the home town lot and at least one divorce smut. That was that, and otherwise the week was just another seven days. El Brendel, whose rapid ascent in public popularity now seems fading through too much sunning, was the stellar film name at Loew’s State, The picture wa Toxs box-omce lemon, "Just Im- agine,” and the .neat $28,464 which the house did must be credited in large part to the pull of the F. and M. stage shows, which got their steady and faithful following in the days when all other down- town houses were screen only. The current stage show was “Africana.”. George Bancroft’s Paramount picture, “Scandal Sheet,” drew a good business to prove the film’s ace he-man is still high in popu- larity. Whille exact figures were not obtainable (and consequently no figure is printed here) the at- tendance went up somewhat over the prior week and bettered the spot's average. A New i ork stage show was in support. Not So Hot “Hell’s Angels,” .Howard Hughes uptymillion-dollar air “epic,” didn't have the magnetism to make them continue to walk up to the United Artists Theatre. It registered only $14,000 in its last week, and the shortness of run warranted better than that. Warner Brothers “Divorce Among Friends” rated a fair in- take of $16,000 at Warner Broth- ers Downtown Theatre; and their Hollywood house did a luke- warmer at $17,000. The RKO Theatre had the farce comedy “Free L'ove” and vaude in support for a $13,000 intake; and RKO’s Orpheum returned $10,000. The Criterion went to $11,710, while two Hollywood houses, the Pantages and Egyptian, did aver- age business of $12,491 and $3244 respectively. Will Rogers “seen in the papers” where his Fox picture "Lightnin' ” dropped to $10,805 at the Carthay Circle. FOX VALLEJO REOPENING VALLEJO, Jan. 22.—Fox Val- lejo will reopen under Jack Ryan’s management after an extensive renovation following the fire of several months ago. House will have first run pictures on a policy similar to the Fox Virginia, also under Ryan’s wing. UNDER WAY “The Iron Man” has gone into filming at Universal. Lew Ayres heads the cast. Tod Browning is directing. NUGENT IN LEAD Elliott Nugent has been cast in the leading male role of “Apron Strings” at Universal. Allis Skip- worth has also been added to the cast. Yin Moore is directing. A Hollywood Moses of Cant At no time does Welford Beaton set down a basic plan for the improvement of picture production; a definite starting point that would intelligently lead producer, director and writer out of their vale of pessimism and doubt. Welford Beaton fails to do this because he can’t. He is a purveyor of doesn't through a medium of cant. The industry doesn’t do this and it doesn’t do that. He CANTS eternally on what it doesn’t do because he can’t tell it definitely what it should do. He CANTS for more silence in pictures and he is mostly sound. He deepens pessimism and increases doubt because he is unable to clear either. If he could there would be no Welford Beaton. Pessimism and doubt are the twin breads of life to him He seems to know exactly what state the physical and mental organization of production is in. Or does he? If so, then why does he withhold the first step to be taken in bringing about correction and betterment? There is a first step. It is definite and singular in character and will advance production, if definitely adopted. Keeping in mind the present physical and mental state of organized production, Welford, what is the first step? Come, you manifest a healthy disgust for the fellow who thinks that because a sex picture is successful all pictures should be sex to be successful. Your sense of values on that particular subject is substantial. Yet, why stop there? Tell us. the first step to lie taken to balance out a sense that attaches too much importance to sex in these writers, directors and supervisors you faintly praise and so subtly abuse. These fireside “friends” you have cowed by your generalizations. Come, come, what are the definite qualifications of a supervisor? As essential as a superintendent of building construction, what, then, should they qualify with? What is the measure of a supervisor’s capacity? What knowledge? Experience? What authority should he be vested with? How should the industry go about to secure progressive supervision of production? Come, come. You stand on the sidelines and carp at conditions; belittle the men- tal capacity of the directors and supervisors and story departments. You have tried to tell exactly what is wrong with the industry in terms that spare no feelings. Any reporter can do that. Even the scribes on the high school papers know what is wrong with the movies. They scorn the subject because what is wrong with the movies is NO LONGER NEWS. How to right the wrong is what we seek now. What step should be taken to do this? You are no tyro. You are the Tin God of Know when it comes to picture production. How about using your knowledge con- structively ? Set the boys right. Come, you prophet of all-seeing intelligence; you Moses of enlightenment. You have everyone in a proper state of submission. Now set their feet in the path. Show the good brothers the relative value of the many elements that make a money-maker at the boxoffice, and how to assemble them for maximum result. 1QLLQ LLOYD WILL DIRECT TOPIZE’ Rollo Lloyd, writer and director under ’ Pathe contract during the past year, is to direct the staging of the coast production of “To- paze,” soon to be presented by Belasco and Curran at the Belasco Theatre here. Mary Duncan, Alan Mowbray and Henry Kolker will be in the principal roles. “Topaze” will play an indefinite engagement in San Francisco and then will be transported to Los Angeles. Upon completion of the staging of “Topaze.” Lloyd will return to picture direction. U. A. PLANS NEW HOUSE SAN JOSE, Jan. 22.—Incorpo- ration papers for the United Artists' Theatre of California, a $3,000,000 corporation, were filed here this week, indicating a U.. A. theatre in this city. San josc is dominated by Fox operating the California and Mission theatres. DR. WUNDER IS C. OF C. SPEAKER OAKLAND, Jan. 22. — Theatre manager members , of the Chamber of Commerce brought up Dr. Clinton Wunder, executive man- ager of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as a speaker at last week’s luncheon. Bootlegger Is Barometer of Film Finance In these hard times no one knows what’s what but the bootlegger. Or so one in- surance company thinks, any- way. Recently, with the time of the year due for renewal of various insurance policies of big name film execs and stars, the insurance company called up one of the fore- most bootleggers of Holly- rood and asked him which on a selected list of film big names were good pay. They figured that any diminution in income would be reflected early in the grade of liquor purchased. This bootlegger's cheapest commodity is at $82 a case. Racketeers Seek Data- as Hollywood In The racketeers are looking for a new in into Hollywood. Having made tentative tries to break in through the cus- tomary channels of just walk- ing in with a load of nerve, and having failed due to that sanctity which surrounds a film luminary, they are now reported trying to line up an inside man to act as ttteir con- tact. This man, who conducted an investigation into various matters for the federal gov- ernment some time ago, came across all sorts of secret stuff while conducting his probe. A racketeering gang, having this information, could turn it into lots of cash — millions, it is es- timated. Now thev are offering the man all sorts of propositions if he will give them his dope and help them get the neces- sary introductions, b~ut so far j without success. TURNAWAY AT OPENING SHOW Warners’ new San Pedro Theatre got a great opening with all the civic representatives turning out. Two shows were run, both to packed houses, and about a thou- sand people had to be turned away. On the eve of the San Pedro opening Warner house cuts prices from fifty and seventy-five cents to twenty-five cents for first-run pic- tures. immediately following L. A. showings. "Little Caesar” is still the big surprise money-maker. It was a Literary Guild selection, which may be another surprise. BROTHER DIES Charles Butters, doing a wire act at the Shrine Circus, received a telegram in the middle of his act advising him that his brother, Ed, had died in Columbus. Ohio. KEEP AMES RKO has taken up its option on Robert Ames. F. 10 M. HE TO NEW OFFICES Fanchon & Marco will conduct future construction of their 1931 stage presentations entirely from the new Hollywood offices and studios at Sunset boulevard and St. Andrews. Several departments of the Fox West Coast stage unit have already been installed in the new location, and it is expected that the last transfer, that of the executive office, will be made by the latter part of February. Four large buildings, originally contained in Sunset boulevard’s automobile “Luxury Lane,” consti- tute the housings which are being taken over by the Fox West Coast subsidiary. Scenic studios, six re- hearsal halls, accounting offices, the vaudeville department, execu- tive offices, and property units are all to be contained in ~ the new quarters. The Fanchon & Marco costume department, for several years lo- cated at Sixth and Olive streets, will be transferred to the Holly- wood studios, as will the music li- brary of the company. TALKIE PLOT PLUG SEATTLE, Jan. 22.—RKO is creating quite a stir in town with a local talkie plot. There is a rep from every high school in the city, and with til" publicity that the house gets there ought to be no complaint from the B. O. Hays Ban On Queer People Rumor %Saith “Queer People,” Carroll and Garrett Graham’s sensational satire on Hollywood, may not be made into a picture after ail. Howard Hughes was to have done it but since his connection with United Art- ists has been established, doubts are dimming the prog- ress of his plans. It is understood that sub- sequent to Hughes’ entrance into the Hays group through his connection with U. A., pressure from above has been brought to bear which has definitely t h u m b s downed “Queer People” as screen ma- terial. NEW FILMS GIVE GOOD ’31 OUTLOOK General business conditions in the picture field are slightly up. The increase in receipts, which, vary from 8 to 11 per cent over the preceding month, give food for encouragement and hope of better times in the offing. The exhibitor report is that production is showing a definite improvement, which accounts as much for the boost in receipts as a general lift in depression. That the current year’s grosses are bound to go u|» is the general reaction to previews of releases for the next month. This "van- guard” of‘production bears alt the earmarks of better quality and greater efficiency and sympathetic coordination back of it. There is every indication of a successful ironing out of the squeaks and faults that kept 1930 output at a low level. Very few real box office productions came out of the: cans the past year. In some parts of the country pessimism is bitting the down trail at a gait that makes good times for the box office look like a cinch. Many exhibs are radiating optimism that would make a sun arc in a cave look like a candle at high noon. “Hig'h class pic- tures are becoming consistently better,” they say. "More interest is being shown in pictures than ever before.” Whether this is the lon^-looked-for result of building and orosperity campaigns or an actual improvement in production, however, is the question. Nebraska, Omaha and other states in that vicinity see a good omen not only in improved pictures hut the fact that producers are put- ting real steam into their exploita- tion. The Southern belt is opti- mistic but not enthusiastic. Condi- tions along the Fast Coast and Central West are holding to about the same level of the last month in 1930 and do not attach much significance to an optimism that springs from only the second week in the New Year. graumanIhow OPENING AT S, B. “Once in a Lifetime,” Sid Grau- man's coast production of the sen- sational Broadway travesty on the early Vitaphone days, opened at Santa Barbara Wednesday for a week’s run prior to opening in Los Angeles on January 27. Heading the cast of 48 are Aline McMahon, Charles Lawrence, Ma- rie Nordstrom. Russell Hopton, Louis Soriiij Marion Byron, Moss Hart and Camille Revelle. SERVE COFFEE AND SEATTLE, Jan, 22.—The Para- mount, now a Fox W. C. house, made a neat tieup with Gold Shield coffee distributors and is serving coffee and cake in the lounge room. Miss Moore was put in charge of the innovation. The radio is used to good advantage around 8 p. in., when Amos and Andy make their apapearance. It attracts quite a crowd and funny part about it is that nobody cares to be seated un- til after the broadcast, when they all scram for the seats. CUT TARIFF Fox Cabrillo Theatre ill San Pedro is operating on a new cut price policy. Twenty-five cents for any seat in the house instead of the former 50 and 75. Some first run pictures and added attractions will continue to be shown. FREDERICK DRAWS BIG SEATTLE, Jan. 22.—Pauline Frederick, who was originally scheduled for a two weeks' stand here, has. been held over for an ex- tra two weeks period due to the fine biz she brought in to the Moore. Virginia Valli is due to follow. SIGN MARY ASTOR Mary Astor has been signed for the feminine lead in RKO’s “Wait- ing at the Church.”