Inside facts of stage and screen (February 7, 1931)

Page Six INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, February 7, 1931 One Year - Published Every Saturday $4.00 Foreign $5.00 Advertising Rates on Application Established 1924 As a weekly publication: Entered as Second Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Published by INSIDE FACTS PUBLISHING CO. 230 Bank of Hollywood Building, Hollywood, Calif. Telephone HEmpstead 8797 Downtown Office: 809 Warner Bros. Downtown Theatre Building JACK JOSEPHS - ALAN EDWARDS President and Editor Secretary and Business Manager Vol. XIII Saturday, February 7, 1931 No. 5 A Bad Radio Habit By means of much experience and many raps from critics, who, Siftin’ With the Public, could g'et the proper impression of how the habit Seemed out front, Vaudeville learned that ad libbing is a pastime'which redounds neither to the bene- fit of the performer or of the profession in general. The public in the last analysis pays the performer’s sal- ary, and this self-same public is entitled to the very best the performer has to offer. This means weighed, measured and rehearsed material. The side talk, which usually hinges around some personal happening's, the humorous intricacies of which are unknown to any but the performers, is in nine instances out of ten, exceedingly unfunny to all but the par- ticipators. Besides which, as anyone with even moderately good bringing up knows, to make references to subjects un- known to all present is extremely impolite and insulting. It is a shame that members of a profession so ancient and so honorable as that of acting should behave themselves in pub- lic in a manner of winch they would not he guilty in private. The reason for this writing is that radio seems to have fallen heir to the vicious ad libbing practice. Many pro- grams are marred by it, and, unless we are sadly mistaken, many and many a dial turns elsewhere because of it. If that’s a fair break to the sponsors of the program, or to the station which is doing the broadcasting, then times have changed since the vaude ad libbing went into the discard. That bored the audience but the audience couldn't walk out on it. It's even worse on radio, because in that field the audience does walk out. And while we are on the subject of radio, there’s a word or two to he said regarding the lack of skill shown in the arangement of programs. Every other branch of the entertainment industry knows the value of spotting interest toward a climactical smash. Plays, hooks, vaude hills, circuses, medicine shows, prizefights, movies, are all built to a cohesive whole: Then why not ra- dio? But no; apparently the ether industry is content, by and large, to throw thing's together higgilty piggilty, clashing numbers which should he separated, separating numbers which should he brought together and otherwise indicating that program arangement around the radio studios is re- garded as a haphazard matter to be left to the gods of chance or what have you. Vancouver _ By A. K. MacMARTIN _ VANCOUVER, Jan. 5..—Bush sess at the majority of houses has been away below par for some time past. The smaller houses, however, with the smaller scale, are doing better than ever. The only major house to click consist- ently above the red has been the Strand, which has been sponsoring a month of big features. They opened the series with "Hell’s An- gels,” which stood ’em out for the week, followed by "Whoopee,” "The Big Trail,” and "Kismet,” which is the current attraction. The Capitol picked up the current stanza with Paramount’s "The Right to Love.” The Dominion has Fox's “Lightnin’ ” to fair busi- ness. The RKO Orpheum Fox’s "Just Imagine,” as screen fare, and Al K. Hall and Jr. headlining the vaude. ■M-.G-M’s “Billy the Kid" is do- ing well at the Beacon (old Pan at a 25c top. The British Guild Players at the Empress have fal- len back on "Charlie's Aunt” for the present week, with a bargain matinee and all seats 50 cents for the Monday night opening. The Vancouver is dark. T. H. Eslick, a promoter from California, proposes to erect a half million dollar Amusement pier at English Bay, Vancouver. He has an option on the proposed site and is awaiting the decision of the Parks Board, before going ahead with the idea. Show Biz and Press Clash Manager Thail, of the Mount Baker Fox Theatre, Bellingham, Wash., was a recent visitor here. Al Paynter recently brought to a close a dance Marathon at Seat- tle, coming through with a fat roll of the filthy. Before closing the Seattle affair, he opened a Walk- athon Endurance Contest in the State Street Auditorium, Belling- ham. It went over with a bang from the start, but he ran into tough luck when the authorities banned all entertainment features in connection with it. Earl Fagan is acting as M. C. for Paynter at Bellingham and will he moved shortly to Portland with the entire organization of floor managers, radio announcers and others who make up the show. Paynter will open in that city as soon as the necessary "spot” is located. MARCO GOES EAST Marco of Fanchon and Marco left for New York this week for an in- definite stay. (Continued from Page 1) financial interests of the city take far less advertising than the the- atrical profession, and yet the former are given far more pub- licity, comparatively speaking. And as for sports, they get, in comparison, more free publicity than all others combined on the basis of advertising space. Just how far the battle will ex- tend is still a matter of conjecture, as no one is prepared to say that the showmen are going clear to a showdown. But the feeling that they arc being gypped by the press has existed for years, and now- adays when budgets are cut to a minimum, the feeling has flared to a hot degree. Developments may be expected. The broadside fired by the Daily News at the Orph opening was run under a five-column line, reading, ‘L. A. to Get Two Ballyhoo Ex- tremes.’ Drop head of one column was, “Silk-Hat Show Tries Order- ing Police While Racket Perils.” News Article The article follows: "Men and women of Los Angeles who have nothing else to do, .may witness two extremes in spectacles tomorrow. “In the mprning, labor racketeers plan to stage a march of the.unem- ployed on the city hall, with a com- edy movie star expected to lead the procession. "At night, ermine-clad ladies and silk-hatted gentlemen will parade to the Orpheum Theatre, at Ninth and Broadway, to witness the .premiere of a motion picture, ’Cimarron? starring Richard Dix. 1 h e Los Angeles police depart- ment, harassed and undermanned, will he expected to break up the morning demonstration. And then the same policemen will be re- quested by exploitation experts to rush to the Orpheum Theatre and escort the silk-hatted parade, push- ing back the curious who may be drawn to the theatre by a battery of roving lights, billboards and loudspeakers. “Aid to Criminals "Meanwhile, crime can be ex- pected to flourish, in ratio to the number of citizens who flock to one or both demonstrations. Both parades are being energet- ically exploited. Labor racketeers who seek to prey on the city during the present depression are “talking up" the morning march on the city ball and ^ have announced that Madge. Bellamy, screen star, may lead the parade. "They were refused a parade per- mit yesterday, so police will be en- forcing the law if they disrupt the proceedings. Press agents, carrier pigeons, billboards and broadsides have clut- tered up the streets of Los Angeles for days, announcing the movie pre- miere. “Everybody come and see the stars!” is the cry of the press agents. “100 Police Demanded “And yesterday, while the sus- ceptible public was preparing to take up stands in front of the the- atre and “sec the Stars,” the the- atrical powers tlepehoned police headquarters. “ 'We’ll need plenty of policemen? they said. ‘It will probably take 100 or more. Make it a big num- ber.’ " ‘Y\ ell, I’ll be d — sighed a vet- eran patrolman. ‘They invite every- body to come ami see their bally- hoo — on the sidewalk — and then ask us to come and “drive these yokels away so the people with tickets can get in.” ’ "But Chief of Police R. E. Steckel was somewhat irate at the demand for ‘at least 100 cops.’ "Stunt Falls Flat “ ‘I see no reason for sending more than enough men to keep traf- fic running,’ he declared. "Which means that a grand ges- ture by,the theatre men was turned down flat. They suggested to Dep- uty Chief Finlinson that he ‘send one regular patrolman for every re- serve officer we employ.’ “Finlinson accepted, hut Chief Steckel, and Mayor John C. Porter decided that Los Angeles police- men, instead of pushing taxpayers off the sidewalk in front of a the- atre, could be doing a greater pub- lic service by battling crime. In this connection, it was point- ed out that every citizen who makes up _ the ‘sidewalk section’ at a premiere like that scheduled for tomorrow night is indirectly aid- ing the criminal. “ ‘The more people in such a crowd, the more policemen needed: to control. that crowd,’ a police ex- ecutive said. ‘These policemen must be taken from divisions where they are sorely needed, which is a vir- tual invitation to burglars, bandits and thugs in general.’ “Stay Away, Citizens In short, the best way a citizen can help in the war .on crime is to refuse to join mobs at any and ail demonstrations. “The competition among theat- rical men to see which premiere re- quires the greatest number of po- licemen has resulted ip numerous protests on the part df taxpayers. "It was learned last night that a movement is on foot to introduce an ordinance which would bar all premieres in the downtown district, confining such spectacles to out- lying areas where traffic congestion would not lie costly. ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS Will Hays By STAFFORD PENCAN Will Hays, oftimes called the Czar of the Cinema, is underrated quite as often as he is overesti- anated. His . service and accom- plishments in behalf of the picture andustry however have been derided and extolled by. the trade press all according to whose political door- step his critics happen to be yowl- ing from. Praise and censure of the Hays person is purely political. 1 ransplanted from politics at the peak of a successful career, Will Hays brought to the chairmanship of this industry a knowledge of the tricks of his old trade that have laenefited his new employers in many ways. He has been the po- litical and moral front and rear Dumper of the business as well as its repairman on many occasions. It wasn t long after certain .pro- fessional promoters of public wel- fare and gangsters of lobbyland •discovered Hollywood to be a” suc- culent source of income, easily tapped, that Hollywood found itself cm the verge of being hobbled'and •sucked dry. Will Hays was then drafted to _ combat the Pirate' of Pennsylvania avenue. Shortly after Will accepted the job he learned •that he had let himself in for more than sharp shooting of political parasites and keeping Hollywood’s legislative front line strengthened. Along with this item in his daily itinerary is the detail of keeping a 'woman club membership of some millions in a good frame of mind. .-. he job of keeping unrestricted and individually opinionated censorship froi^i fastening greedy talons on the picture pocketbook. Keeping job hunting censors in leash has to a degree saved many film. . editors from going compeltely off their nut. ■ Responsible for Lne moral as well as the political health of the busi- ness Will Hay's has had no small task_ holding wildcat producers within the corral of reason and de- cency. The tendency to go sex and sin loco is ever present. And to peacefully arbitrate production and exhibition rights between executives who must see that billions of dol- lars move profitably is another problem that keeps the Hays’ working schedule from growing monotonous. Considering the heftiness of the assignments tossed to Will Hays he should be commended by all. Oc- casional star pilfering is the only indication of any weakness in his dictum. On the side of the pro- ducer the great error lies in their mistaking him for a scenario editor. SUNDAY MOVIES The measure granting Sunday opening to Memphis and cities of the same class in Tennessee has passed both Houses of the Legis- f lature. In Pennsylvania a bill granting local option on Sunday Opening is pending in the Legis- lature. The Motion Picture The- atre Owners of America are the active agents behind the fights. SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER • UNTIL MARCH 30 th $1.00 MONTHS INSIDE FACTS 935 Market Street SAN FRANCISCO Gentlemen: Kindly enter my subscription,, for which I enclose One Dollar, for Four Months. Name Address Town State inside: facts of stage and screen