Inside facts of stage and screen (February 21, 1931)

Saturday, February 21, 1931 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Eleven VANCOUVER, B. C. A. 14. NsscMartiai! REPRESENTATIVE 901 Bekins Bldg. jT NORTHWEST JT SPOKANE, WASH. C. A. Cook REPRESENTATIVE 122S Carlisle Ave. SEATTLE, Feb. 19.—Seen along Fifth Avenue—Florence Reed hur- ried down Fifth Avenue. Nobody will have to hold the curtain on “The Shanghai Gesture” while this lady on the job . . . Jack Paige, Georgia Reese and Edgar Reeves make an imposing threesome as they stop for a bite after the mati- nee . . . Jessie Pringle has good reason to smile as she reads her fan mail before the show . . . John W. Moore finds it tough to keep in character after the grease paint somes off . . . Two shoppers get lots of attention along the Avenue. No wonder. They’re DorO'th} r Rich and Ruth Lee, “Shanghai-ing” at the Moore . . . The two Caligary Brothers dining in state at the Olympic Hotel find their panto- mime a wow of a help with the waiters . . . I J ate de fois gras comes easy when you can order it in that international language . . . Bob nd Eula Burroff are sufficient unto themselves . . . unlike so many married couples .... Niles Marsh strolling along as if he hadn’t a worry in the world . . . Maybe he hasn’t . . . That warble backstage at the Paramount means that Doro- thy Thomas is warming up her voice for “Topical Tunes” . . . Don Carroll tells ’em all about it with the assistance of several ladies of the ensemble, . . . Bowing his w»ay down Fifth Avenue, Owen Sweeten chuckles at the flaps who wonder if he can be Gary Cooper . . . Hav- ing long since outgrown being just Will’s brother, Hermie King steps into a store for another of his natty outfits . . . Dess Howard hum- ming that new tune he’s plugging over KXA . . . Uncle Frank re- hearsing spiels as he saunters . . . Henry Damski coming into KJR finds more fans interested in his highbrow music . . . Sports an- nouncer versus band leader, Ken Stuart and Vie Meyers come to an oral clinch between broadeasts at the station . . . The biggest and best nose on the Avenue belongs to Harry Seymour, accompanying Sis- ter Ann to' the RKQ Theatre . . . Roxv la Rocco, also RROing. looks dazzled at the flash made by the Five Jewels and the Diamond Boys, and grabs a laugh on his glittering gag . . . All along Fifth Avenue. Tommy Olsen calling on Owen Sweeten for a preview . . . Owen with too many things on his mind ... Chet Gibson waving farewell to Sammy Seigel . . . Betty Shil- ton doing her banking ... so there are a few cents left regardless of the depression . . . tlermie King ' entertaining some “U” students and getting genuine response . . . Ber- nie Brin and Eddie Jariis callingon Hermie . . . Kent Thomson doing heavy biz at the Moore and taking pride in the daughters pub cam- paign sponsored by Pauline Fred- erick . . . Harry “Condenser” Mills taking on some pork chops . . . before returning to Seattle theatri- cal situations . . . Myrtle Strong window shopping . . . without hubby . . . therefore not actually buying . . . Bob Monsen on the warpath . . . and with a good rea- son . . . Olive Reynolds trying to think of an old Berlin song . . . Gordie McBean and Arden Smith to make talkies . . . Bernard Reiter studying law . . . Ellis Bostick back-stage . . . Bess Hill getting an ovation upon entering a certain scene . . . George Barclay report- ing an increase in biz . . . Aubrey Knoff added to Homer Sweetman’s new band . . . and what an im- provement! sex’ mw PORTLAND, Feb. 19.-^Cbester A. Lyon is heading a movement to rid the town of sexy billboard ad- vertising. The alleged offender tins time is “Aloha” looked into John Hamrick’s Music Box Theatre. This is the second time this house has had a battle oil this score. Lyon will not prosecute if an adjustment can be arranged with Hamrick, he states. A petition against so-called “in- decent” advertising has already reached 15,000 names. SEATTLE, Wn, Feb. 20,—“The Shanghai Gesture” is being held over for another week. Played to packed houses last week and is sold out for its continued run. Next the Bainbridge Players present “The Mirage, ’ starring Florence Reed. We istated in last week’s issue that Hermie King was playing at the 5th Afenue Theatre. Our error, it is the Paramount. E! SEATTLE. Feb. 19—W. J. “Doc” Goodlette’s Ebony Serenaders. a 11- piece colored band, is currently playing a gala engagement in the Hotel Butler Rose Room here. The boys have plenty of class, and to them belongs a large share of the credit for making the Rose Room a favorite Seattle rendezvous. “Doc” has had a band organized under the title of Ebony Serenaders for 10 years, and the group now with him has scored heavy returns in night clubs from New York to Galiforn ia. Six of the boys do song and dance specialties, and their dance music is hot rhythm. 3 VAUDERS ILL N E W YORK. — The French Hospital here is furnishing bed and board to three vaudevillians. Harry Brooks has been battling an attack of ptomaine poisoning. Jean Gordon has just come off the operating table. Joe Bartlett got rid of a case of gallstones bv means of an oper- ation. All are reported recovering from their assorted troubles and ex- pect to be up and about again as soon as they can escape the watch- ful eyes of doctors and nurses. Spokane By CHET COOK NEIGHBORHOOD REOPENS _ SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 19.— Sam Levin’s neighborhood house, the Coliseum, reopens Friday night with some $30,000 worth of new carpets, drapes, decorations and scats in it. SHOW FOLKS’ HOME THE HIGHLAND TAVERN Best Eats 187 Broadway Portland, Ore. SPOKANE, Feb. 19—Will May- Ion’s Walkathon opened Valentine’s day to a slow start. The old Au- ditorium Theatre has been reno- vated to accomodate the walkers, Eddie Cotton, Don Coles and Dick Lackyp are acting as in. c.’s with Will Maylon filling in for special occasions. Twenty-one couples en- tered. Music is supplied by a six- piece orchestra in the evening and a radio the rest of the time. Marathon dancing seems to have arrived at a professional point. At least 10 of the couples have com- peted in previous contests. One couple has’ come from Chicago and others from San Francisco. Seattle and Tacoma. Nut is said to he about $350 a day and biz is going to have to pick up to crack it. SET N. W. RECORD SEATTLE. Feb. 19.—Cole Mc- Elroy and his Columbia Recording Dance band have set a new North- west record bv holding, a 21 months’ run at Me Elroy’s Spanish Ball- room. The McElroy aggregation is composed of 10 musicians playing 53 different instruments, with sing- ers and entertainers. Included are Goe Eichhorn, director of the band, who is a popular blue singer, and Freddie Morelock, master-of-cere- monies and comedian of the band. McElroy's Spanish Ballroom, one of the most popular ballrooms of the country, is conducted in a high class manner under the manage- ment of Tom Curtis, who is Cole McElroy’s Seattle representative. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19.— A. H. and J. N. Tochini are plan- ning erection of a 750-seat picture house at Martinez, near here. May 15 is the the tentative opening date. Doc Hamilton has enlarged arid redecorated his old barbecue pit to nite club proportions. Presents some of the hottest colored enter- tainers ever, Arthur Trent, known for many years as “Hambone” over radio KNX is lending His best vocal chords, Pauline (Jones) Coffee, for- merly a feature at Sebastian’s and Plantation in L. A., is croonin' her way to increasing popularity. Harriett Colaway, a blues singer par excellence. This little girl is on her first engagement. Predict a great future for her. Florenz Ziegfeld paid Seattle a visit last week. Proving that the N. W. boasts of beautiful scenery, he picked.four U. of W. coeds as “winners.” Of what? ADD at end Round the Lots jo Paramount has just signed Lily.an Tashman on a long term contract. Dorothy Arzuer returned from New York Monday, after complet- ing “Honor Among Lovers’ for Paramount. Imboden Parish, son of George Parish, L. A. health commissioner, has been signed for a part in “Dude Ranch,” starring Jack Oakie. LCLU s. r. o. Busies SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 19.— Helen Crowe Snelling was in charge of the direction of another successful concert of the Nordica Choral Club of Seattle in the Span- ish ballroom of the Olympic. They had to use the S. R. O. sign, the hall being filled before the program began. Soloists were June Cowan, violin- ist and Louis Arend Helder, bari- tone who Were Very well received. Classical numbers were featured by solosists, the chorus offering lighter ballads. Hazel Hammer Hill played piano accompaniments and a group of solos. Joe Bonomo has also been signed for a part in "Dude Ranch." William Powell is preparing to., start work on his last picture for J Paramount. The title is “Man of the World.” Richard Wallace will direct. The Mttrdi Gras hour on. KJR, with Ward Ireland as master.-of- ceremonies, is an afternoon feature that is gaining widespread popu- larity. This program is in the in- fant stage, two weeks old to be ex- act. Already it is bringing in more fan mail than any other KJR broad- cast. It is strictly impromptu, in- cluding nearly every artist on the staff. The Northwest Broadcasting Sys- tem has annexed another station to its chain, namely KPO in Wenat- chee. February 15 was the initial broadcast. Daily programs will be heard over this station from 8 a. m. to 12 midnight. Rogan Jones is manager and Hugh Feltis is studio manager. BREAKS RECORDS NEW YORK—“Little Caesar’ has been held over for a fourth week at the Warner Strand here, shattering every record that house has ever known. Previous records were held by “The Doorway to Hell” and Charlie Chaplin in "The Circus.” During the first two weeks at the Strand “Little Caesar” was seen by 284,464-persons. NEW VAUDE ACTS NEW YORK.—Among new acts seen for the first time in RKQ vaude this week are Wilma and Earivne Wallace in a dance act; Jim Morgan and Tony Gill, Jules and Josie Walton in a new dance act, Jim Tom Story and Company with a musical divertissement, The Hollywood Four and the Bellong Sisters. TO DO “MIRAGE” SEATTLE, Feb. 20. — Florence Reed’s final appearance with the Bainbridge Players will be in “Mirage,” which opens Sunday at the Moore Theatre. < IS HUM SI B. 0, SEATTLE, Feb. 19. — Despite the general slump this week, the Paramount, with “Scandal Sheet” chalked up a healthy gross. The Fanchou and Marco Idea. “Topical Tunes,” was played up in the ad- vertising matter with bold type for Hermie King, the Caligary Broth- ers, Alexander Sisters and Niles Marsh. “Fighting Caravans” was the at- traction at the Fox Fifth Avenue and did a fair week, Owen Sweeten drawing with his “In Persia” pres- entation. The Fox Theatre had an off week with “Fast and Loose.” The final week for RKO’s “Cimarron” - at the Orpheum held up nicely. The vaude section had Ann Seymour, with Brother Harry, Roxy La Rocco, Five Jewels and the Diamond Boys. “Millie” came in Friday. Charlie Chaplin’s “City Lights,” announced as “too big for one the- atre,” opened at both the Blue Mouse and the Music Box Friday (20). “Captain Applejack” was the screen attraction at the Liberty. Morocco” came into the Columbia on Tuesday, giving indications of a heavy week. Vancouver _ By A. K. MacMARTIN VANCOUVER, Feb. 20—“Here We Are,” billed as an all British cabaret, opened at the old Avenue Theatre on Main Street February 12 for an indefinite run, showing the last three days of each week with a Saturday matinee. They put across the English Variety type of entertainment at a 50 cent top. The Avenue is on the unfair list with local theatrical unions, and though at one time the regular legit house, has been dark for a number of years with the exception of staging a few local amateur pro- ductions. The run of this organiza- tion is expected to be of brief duration. PORTLAND, Feb. 19.— Floyd Maxwell, director of activities in Paramount theatre — has everyone on the go — an ornate fountain which graces the lobby — been made into miniature fish hatchery— eggs are brought to theatre by Oregon fish and game commission to hatch within a week—this thea- tre is trying any gag to get them in—and will say all gags are okay. Here is a hot shot — elevator back stage of Paramount—place of F. & M. units—locked on the folks —and look who was in it—Miles .Marsh—Alexander Sisters (2) girls —boys—well it was one-half hour of fun for those not in the lift. KEX has a very young staff— will say all are up and at ’em—at all times. RKO Manager Ted Gamble is going nuts over “Cimarron,” pill- ing all the gags he can—hope they all bring in the rent money—as that is what counts any place. This town has some club book- ers—very few clubs. Paramount band with Mr. Lea- pold telling the boys what to do— looks like the-IT-band of this town —and the drummer? (very hot). Chas. Gill in town—won’t talk— something in the wind. Looks like Portland is in for another stage show—very soon—believe town can stand it. Hope everything is okay with everybody west—east with me its Hey-Hey. Therie is a person on KOIN sing- ing staff using a number "No- body.” Remember that great col- ored comic Bert Williams? Paramount Theatre giving away hot coffee—wonder bread—I won- der how they do it. George Metcalf, former local con- ductor at the Strand, has been Re- hearsing an eleven piece band n' jcie up of boys from Vancouver Lo^al 145 A. F. M. They recently ap- peared before the management of the Strand in a snappy progrim with a view to having them, bofok his organizatoin as a weekly fea- ture. . ( . There has been no band in Ljus house since Jackie Soudcrs wont South for F. and VI. some IS months ago. So far no definite decision has been forthcoming from the Strand management. Ivy Evans, organist at the Cap- itol has been given a little leeway by the management the past few weeks and is putting over scope fairly snappy presentations, using from one to six people each week. The present stanza, six of the Gladys Atree Dancers, do a spring dance behind a scrim with country’ slides lending the right atmosphere to Ivy’s work at the Wurlitzfr. It pulled plenty of applause. The British Guild Players, who have had two highly successful seasons at the Empress Theafre here in stock, may move to Cal- gary in the near future for a bripi sojourn. They will probably botjk into Edmonton a>.s well as CalgatV. So successful was their stock en- gagement here that they purchased the Empress Theatre from a ’jfe assurance company who owned the building at the end of their first season. Notwithstanding the pres- ent business depression they have had a very successful season, much better in fact than they expected. Messrs. Clyde and Cannon are (Jo- owners of the B. G. Players. The Vancouver Symphony Or- chestra will give a benefit perform- ance for unemployed members pi Vancouver Local carlv in March. Their last two Sunday concerts filled the R. K. O. Orpheum's 3000 tseats to capacity. The Kiwanis Annual theatrical production this season, " 1 he Coun- try Girl.” is playing to capacity audiences this week at the V au- couver. The proceeds are for char- ity purposes. During the current stanza local plavhouses showed the following bills: R. K. O. Orpheum—Screen. W. B.’ts “Maybe It's Love.” Four vaude acts with Ann Seymour and the Diamond Boys headlining. Capitol—M. G. M.’s “Paid.” with Joan Crawford. Strand—U. A.'s “What a Widow, ’ with . Gloria Swanson. Empress—British Guild Players in “It’s a Wise Child.’ Vancouver—Kiwanis local produc- tion. “The Country Girl.” Ave- nue—Variety bill. "Here We Are.” Dominion—“Brothers.” second ran. Colonial—Double bill, W. B.'s “Captain Thunder’’ and Sono-Art's “Reno.” SAVE HALF! SPECIALISTS IN PERMANENT WAVING—FINGER WAVING FASHION PERMANENT WAVE CO., Inc. SEATTLE—Phone Elliot 3414 TACOMA — Phone Main 5335 W. J. “DOC” GOODLETTE AND HIS 11—EBONY SERENADERS—11 America’s crack colored band. Ballroom and Nite Club sensation from New York to California. Now playing ROSE ROOM : : : HOTEL BUTLER : ; = SEATTLE