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

INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, January 24, 1931 Page Ten New Night Club Opens Big The Chinese Cafe, at Wilshire and Detroit, opened under new management and to capacity busi- ness last Thursday night. Nick Ara, head of a chain of grocery and delicatessen stores, is the new proprietor, and the way he put across the opening night marked him as a night clubber de luxe. Everything was to the Queen’s taste to a tee, and the whole evening went through with an ease and a maximum of enter- tainment that insured a big busi- ness for the spot. Glen Busey and the other mem- bers of his Hi-Hatter Orchestra was one of the smash night joy features Ara had on tap. The group is aces when it comes to dishing out the hot syncopation, and all of the five are smart en- tertainers. Can't be topped here- abouts as evening-time entertainers. Under direction of Nick Ara, a floor show was presented which had the well-known “it” from en- trance to finale, and the customers showed a vast appreciation. Another draw is the seven- course $1.25 dinner served by the Chinese. With no cover charge and a de luxe cuisine at this fig- ure, it is already set as a right place for the movie colony — who also are feeling the general de- pression to that extent that ex- cellent food is well savored with a reasonable tax thereon. Olsen’s Club, formerly the Plan- tation, closed during the past week. The spot hadn’t been a draw since Olsen left, and finally it took the bumps to a fadeout. Henry Halsted’s Orchestra Was re- puted to be drawing down $1200 a week, and when an average of week night customers is around the dozen figure, profits can’t be figured on that basis. HOLLYWOOD OFFICES WILL BE OPENED BY INSIDE FACTS NEXT TUESDAY, JAN. 27th THE NEW OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN SUITE 230 THE BANK OF HOLLYWOOD BLDG. • OUR FRIENDS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO VISIT LS IN OUR NEW HOLLYWOOD HOME _____ # * _____ • • For the Further Convenience of the Profession We Will Continue to Maintain Downtown Offices at Our Present Location— 809 Warner Brothers Downtown Theatre Building: ______ • • __ • • All Communications Should Be Addressed to Our Main Offices in The Bank of Hollywood Bldg. One Year Published Every Saturday - $4,00 Foreign Irn Hollywood " Mow By BUD MURRAY AGUA CALIENTE, Mex., Jan. 18th.—Down here lookt like any time IN HOLLYWOOD—what with the play-off between Johnny Golden and George Von Elm, for the Agua Caliente Second Annual Open Golt championship—and then the Races in the afternoon—Johnny Golden, from Norotou, Conn., who looks more like a “wrassler,” played a steady even game of golf, and just nosed out George Von Elm, the “businessman,” golfer in an 18-Hole Play-off—75 strokes to Von Elm’s 79—When you think of a Diamond Medal and a $10,000 pot of gold, and besides that splitting the receipts of today’s game—Golfing isn’t a bad “business” game at that—And, we do NOT mean Miniature Golf (ask Bobby Woolsey—Jackie Coogan, Jr.—Bill Seiter, Sid Algier and a few other “suckers” who invested in Miniature courses, IN HOLLYWOOD, last year)—Then to the track for luncheon with the family and seated in the Grand-stand we noticed our most charming pupil and Star of “Hell’s Angels,” Jean Harlow—who was later called oil to make the prize presentation to Johnny Golden—giving him the $10,000 Pot of Gold and the Agua Caliente Diamond Medal—Johnny proudly showed off his bouncing 1-year-old Baby—Jean Harlow lookt stunning up there in the judges’ stand making the presentation and then as usual the News Reels with a flock of Senoritas—George Von Elm, the “’business man” golfer, doe3 not object to this title, adding “That business was pretty good”—We also noticed Jack Coogan, Sr?, dressed very “summerish”— Charley Mosconi and the (Mrs.) Mar- garet Young with Frances X. Donegan, one of the real singing and dancing, juveniles—Harry Wardell without his boss, A1 Jolson—Harry nearly won more times than we lost—At that we didn’t do so “bad”—Our daughter, Martha, pickt them better than her “Pater "— Morrie Cohen, who runs the Pasadena Fite Club, and his shadow, Dave, were there, with Morrie picking and Dave playing—BUT—Dave played his “own” to his sorrow—Victor Barevelli, an A-l Musical Director of long ago, with the Shuberts and Zeigfeld, brought back memories of Bustonoby’s and Tom Healy’s of Noo Yawk—Vic is now head Music man at RICO—Mr. Allen, head man in the stage depart- ment for Henry Duffy, did not do badly either—Tom Kennedy 'former pugilist and now a “pitcher actor”—walking in and out of the pad- dock—A few words with Baron Long who has his own string—and as tne sun slowly sank over the Hills where the Caliente track is located the crowds wended their way back to the states, and don’t be- lieve all you hear about getting back over the Border by 6 p. m.—It took u s cx?3, c tly, from 5:45 at the end of bridge until 7:20 to get past the border—Those U. S. agents certainly have the eagle eye—Take care and observe the LAW and you will be all right—We dropt in to the Waldorf Hotel run by the Shanley and Furness crowd and business seems to be picking up in San Diego, and maybe the New Year is going to be O. K. IN HOLLYWOOD NOW. Strolling up Hollywood Boulevard—we run into Johnny Murray a trumpet player who sings at RFWB, Warner Bros.—and Carlton. Kexcey, whom, we workt with on Texas Guinan Padlocks -of 1927 in Koo Yawk and was our Musical Director here with the cast “Good News’—Carl went to the Big town to look things over, but found nothing to look over—and along comes Con Conrad, who did the same thing; funny what a small world this really is—Con and Carl only bumped into one another on the Great White Way and here they are both vowing that Hollywood any time is better than Noo Yawk— J-h en comes Lester Dorr, who workt for us in many Broadway revues and is here doing picture work—George Boyce, formerly of Melissa & Boyce, went back a few years with us; he, too, boosts HOiLIYY- WOOD and is now dance master at Walter Wills, our boy friend who runs a darn good dancing school IN HOLLYWOOD, too.—This day is kind of ‘hottish” and we wonder why Jack Oakie argues in this heat, wearing a heavy hunting jacket and white flannels—Vine Street and Hollywood Boulevard (our Times Square) a trio of old-timers are waving their hands excitingly—probably writing a new play and we see Addison Burkhardt, who in about 1900 was the king-pin of Chicago Tin Pan alley—Fred Santley about this time was making the grade— Neil Abel, a black-face comedian, with a dialect on and off—so then we di opt into the Brown Derby for a little lunch, and we are suavely greeted by Doctor Salve, himself; Nick, Captain of the Guard at this well-known eating establishment—John Medbury, creator of Mutter & Mumble as a side line, but now in the RADIO business as M. C. and very much in demand—B. B. B. “showing off” with a bronchial affliction he acquired at Palm Springs, Calif., during his first vacation he has taken in three years—It doesn’t pay one who is used to “foul” air as B. B. B. is accustomed to in liis “Cellar” to suddenly make a change to bright sunshine and Fresh Desert air—In a booth Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Gleason; aren’t they grand? We wave a hello to our charming pupil, Mary Brian; always she is charming—Two extreme personalities directly next to each other, Louis Wolheim and the Count De Segurola, juggling his monocle—Rita Gould, now playing RKO vaudeville, who played in “Maid in America” with us about 1914— - Elmira Lane, a very young prima donna, who was in our “Lady in Ermine” chorus in 1923 and also understudied Helen Shipman, got a chance at the part, made good and came West with the RUSH—An- other ex-Winter Gardenite, Joe Keno, who doesn’t have to worry about split-weeks now that he has raised Mitzi Green to a star—IN HOL- LYWOOD. To the Olympic Fites Tuesday, and lately nothing but Boxing commissioners are, being introduced—This nite it was dear old Robert Edgren, a sports writer, who knows and ought to be O. K. on our Boxing Commission—With Bob sat Dr. Harry Martin, who is no slouch in this Fite racket either—Both got up for a great big hand— Next to us that ace pair of song writers, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, without Buddy De Sylva—Charley Murray back at ring- side—Patrick Frances Shanley, the Hotel man with the bright green gloves and his carnation— Dropping into Henry’s Restaurant we run into Nat Carr, who is IN PIOLLYWOOD doing some one-reelers—another ex-Shubertlite— Along comes Cy Kahn, all spruced up and still hasn’t workt a dav. but c y claims he is a remittance man, so WHAT?—Harry Langdon with his shadow, Eddie Shubert—Mushy Callahan in a booth with the same old smile and claims business is immense—Not the fite business—■ TIES, haberdashery, etc.—Charley Chaplin making his last few times around, for soon he will embark on a World tour and will be missing from Henry’s for nearly a year—so Bon Voyage, Charley. Friday Nite at the Hollywood Legion Fites, run by Tom Gallery, we were greatly impressed by the many couples, including—Dr. and Mrs. Harry Martin (Miss Luella Parsons)—Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon—Lupe Velez and Gary Cooper—Alice White and Cy Bartlett— Marjorie White and Ed Tierney—Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gribbon—rite in back of us John Murray, who doesn't understand why these fites are held—Dolly Nelson rite opposite without her Eddie, and she looks lonesome—Lo’ and behold, B. B. B. smack in front of us and he got his voice back and is coaching the fiters once again in his sweet voice —Eduardo Cansino, another good dance master enjoying the Fites even though tired—The Virginia Judge, W. C. Kelly, explaining every blow by gestures—Then Dan Toby introduced The Fighting Chaplain, Minister Kelly, the other member of the Boxing board, who. in a very few well-chosen words told what the new Commissioners would do— Let’s hope they do something—Because Boxing is on its last legs now —Mervyn LeRoy, F. N. Director, rite in the first row “bawling” the Fiters out for “no action”—William Wellman, another Director, snif- fing the rosin out of his eyes, when one of the “knock-outs” do a Tail-spin—Bill directs air pictures superbly, being a former war-air- ace, he ought to know—and that’s why he is in HOLLYAVOOD NOW.