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

Page Fourteen INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, February 21, 1931 (Continued from Page 12) “RANGO” PARAMOUNT PICTURE Unless public taste has changed mightily since the days of “Grass,” Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson, the late-lamented “Ingagi” and the like, Paramount has a winner in “Rango.” It has, as one preview nighter was heard to remark, the most nat- ural . cast ever assembled for film- making, and drama which is above the ken of a shut-in scenario writer. The cast is headed by mon- keys, leopards, lions, water buffalo and similar denizens of the jun- gle, and the story is the struggle for life in that primeval environ- ment. The story is that of Rango, a monkey father, and his efforts to maintain himself and his son amid the hazards of the jungle. The shots are remarkable, testifying to the high patience of the camera- tuan who could thus lie concealed for hours waiting for the drama of the jungle to unfold before their lenses. The “story” has everything. There is a gripping pathos In the love of Rango for his offspring, there are tense moments of battle between the monkey and the leop- ard, and other of the animal cast, and there are many, heart-throbs for those who love animals—and few are those who do not. The only talk is that of an ex- pounder of the various happenings which are shown. This figure is introduced in a prologue, telling his soil the story of “Rango,” and he follows through on the sound track, which, also, at the proper moments, gives forth the chatter and sounds of the jungle. All in all, as excellent a wild animal picture as this reviewer has seen. Betty Gale. “THE BLACK WIDOW” Clifford Reed Productions CLIFFORD REED PROD. Forum Theatre With the picture season still run- ning largely to comedy and farce, Cliff Reed has struck on a great idea in putting out a series of dra- matic short subjects for the shorts end of a bill. To tie the field up tight, he got William J. Burns to supply the Fanchon and Marco Route List of “Ideas Following is the Fanchon and Marco aeas route schedule, with the opening - and closing dates, all of the current month, In parentheses beside the name of the town: PASADENA (19-25) Colorado Theatre ■ . “Submarine” Idea Aenal Bartlctts Redcli/e and Boh Ivobert Cloy ard anc j pjnkjg. Steve Moroni LOS ANGELES (19-25) Loew’s State Theatre “Vaudeville” Idea The Marinellis George P. Wilson Kohn and de Pinto Gaynor and Byron Jean Carr and Family SAN DIEGO (19,25) Fox Theatre “Moroccan” Idea .rafcdji Ali Oscar Taylor Ali Ben Hassen HOLLYWOOD (19-25) Pantages Theatre “Golden West” Idea Wul Aubrey Russell & Johnson Eagle Feather Jimmie Ames Albertina Rasch Tr. FRESNO (26-28) Wilson Theatre 4 , “Love Letters” Idea Will Aubrey George Warde Aelson and Knight UTICA (20-26) Avon Theatre “Gondoliers” Idea The Romeros Jazzlis Richardson Moro and \ aconeplli Sunkist Beauties SPRINGFIELD (20-26 Palace Theatre “Seasons” Idea Frank Melion Co. Lottie Loder Ada Broadhurst Ted Ledford WORCESTER (20-26) Palace Theatre “Enchantment” Idea Jun Fong Three Mayakoas Jack Lester Sensational Togo Sanami Co Sunkist Beauties HARTFORD (20-26) Capitol Theatre “Doll Follies” Idea Les Klicks La Salle and Mack Ramon and Virginia Bebe Sherman Roy Loomis Co. NEW HAVEN (20-26) Palace Theatre “Way Back When” Idea Three Bennett Bros. Charles Irwin Jellybean Johnson Max Hart Arthur Turelly Madeline Du Val Carla Torney Co. BRIDGEPORT (20-26) Palace Theatre U. S. Indian Reservation Band Chief Shannatona Bella Donna VIC DE LORY SAN JOSE (22-25) California Theatre “Headliners” Idea Mel Klee. . Yacopi Family Gay Sisters Wells Winthrop and S SAN FRANCISCO (19-25) Warfield Theatre , “African Idea” Chene & Tomasita Foster & Ma’Belle Ed. & Morton Beck OAKLAND (19 r 25) Oakland Theatre - “Top of World” Idea Jack Pepper Fawn and Tardon Kay Menard Sunkist Beauties PQRTLAND (20-26) Paramount Theatre “Prosperity” Idea Lucille Page - - Jack Lavier - Danny Beck Sunkist-Girls TACOMA (20-26) Broadway Theatre “Vaudeville Echoes” Idea Kine Allisons Aerial Rooneys Bobby “Uke” Henshaw SEATTLE (20-26) Paramount Theatre "Icy-Hot” Idea Three Le G.rphs Betty Lou Webb Hams, and Wallace Sunkist Ensemble BROOKLYN (20-26) Fox Theatre “Fountain of Youth” Tdea Lottie Mayer Eddie Hanley Frank Slever B. and J. Crosby Ed Cheney Sunkist Diving Co. NEW YORK (24-26) Audubon Theatre “New Yorker” Idea Callahan and Jackson Whitey Roberts Marjorie Burke Leah Sanborn Dorothy Bartosch Sunkist Beauties - PHILADELPHIA (20-26) Fox Theatre “Southern” Idea Halt and Herman Jimmy Lyons Joe Rose Derby Wilson Helen Warner WASHINGTON (20-26) Fox Theatre “Gobs of Joy” Idea Arthur “Pat” West Three Jolly Tars Scotty Weston .Holly Kramer Treen Wanda Allen Moore and Moore Curtis Coley Johnny Jones Doyle Four Rena and Rathburn Ken Gatewood ATLANTA (21-27) Fox Theatre “Wild and Wooly” Idea Hart s Krazy Ivats Kirk and Lawrence Aussie and Czech Bud Carlell Ray Angwin CHERIE and TOMASITA FEATURED MANGERS Fanchon and Marco’s AFRICANA IDEA Staged by LARRY CEBALLOS BUTTE (21-22) Fox Theatre “Topical Tones” Idea Caligary Brothers Bob and Eula Burroff Alexander Sisters Dorothy Thomas Sunkist Beauties MILWAUKEE (19-25) Wisconsin Theatre , . “Society Circus” Idea Harris Twins Tabor and Green Betty Martin Mayo and Caruso DETROIT (20-26) Fox Theatre “Monlight Revels” NIAGRA FALLS (20-26) ^ Strand Theatre t o tt • “Espanola” Idea J. & H. Griffith May Packer Abbey Green Harry Vernon Mayo and Caruso LOUISVILLE (22-28) -National Theatre “Modes of Hollywood” Idea Shore and Moore Haline Francis Danny Joy Harry Smirl 12 Unison Dancers Holly. Studio Models ST. LOUIS (19-25) _ Fox Theatre “Victor Herbert” Idea Buddy Howe Electric Twins _ _ W alter Powell Elmer Hefling Milo V ickery Anna Lavaska OKLAHOME CITY (21-27) Warner Bros. Theatre “Green Devil” Idea Peg Leg Bates Bobby Gilbert Miles and Kover Harvey Karels Rita Lan e Mel Elwood NELSON & KNIGHT Broadway King and Queen of Comedy” Smart Comedians F. & M. Love Letters” Idea material. If that doesn’t mean en- thusiastic kid response, and a more than satisfied adult reaction, then what have you? “The Black Widow” is the eighth in a. series of 26 winch Cliff is do- ing for Educational release. They arc highly condensed detective mys- teries which, in less than 1000 feet run the whole gamut of thriiis and mystification. This Condensation is accomplished by means of using newspaper headlines for tranposi- tions from one phase of the case to the next, only the highlights be- ing given footage. The direction, which Reed did, displays great skill in sustaining a high point of in- terest under the handicap of this limited space. Paul Power, as the nephew of Ramsey, the murdered man, did ari excellent job with this leading role assignment. He worked his scenes with sure salesmanship, Vastly aided by a voice which records smoothly. Leona Lane, opposite him, was not so fortunate. Her voice is too high-pitched to record well, and this circumstance was not helped by the fact that she over-acted constantly and at times very obtrusively. Oth- ers in the cast, all acquitting them- selves wells included Dick Rush, Bull Knight, John Dillon, Harry Lorain, Tom McGuire, Jimmy Mack and Bert Wilson. Both photography and recording were excellent, the latter being ex- ceptionally so. BETTY. GALE. (Continued from Page 9) Big Brother Ken who handles the children’s activities at KNX has signed Gus Meins as production chief of kid programs. Meins, who is also a cartoonist, calls these the Comic Strips of the Air. He is pre- paring them for stage presentation as well as radio. Perry Askam will offer four Sun- day evening broadcasts over KNX starting this week. Tunes from “Paris in Spring,” the Askam show, will be featured. Wesley Tourtel- lotte,. staff organist, will accompany the singer. ICFWB’s English character actor, Pat Cullinan, is opening at the El Caprtan Theatre in “The Butter and Egg Man.” i KMPC is going in for animals this week. Barnacle Bob has a broadcasting parrot named Static, and the Hill Billies have Cornpatch, a pet pig. Veterans at the Soldiers' Home sent in a playmate for Corn- patch, but the boys think he will make better roast than playfellow due to his tendency to bite shins and gnaw baskets. KNX reports that last week Ethel Duncan, question and answer seer of the ether, received 17,022 letters. She answers all of them. Ted Dahl and his Ten Dollars of KMTR were the first band on the west coast to broadcast the new Duke Ellington hit, “Mood Indigo.” These smart boys got the tune off the record before it was published. KMTR has a new one that’s been filling the air without a name. It has finally been dubbed Highnoon Plighlights. The band and vocal- ists take care of this hour. Fred Stark, who conducts the Don Lee Symphony on the Mon- day night classical programs, does all the musical arrangements for that hour. The station had some nice words to say about this cap- able artist. Felix Mills has been drafted from the music department of Fox studios by KHJ. He is staff ar- ranger now. There’s a radio fan who brings Marcia Conrad of KMTR a flowery tribute every Thursday. This popu- lar lady is secretary of the station and head of the let-Marcia-do-it- department. Dave Hartford and Frances Nordstrom are new to ICMi'R. They are putting on a series of dramatic skits. Both are: from the screen and stage. The Hollywood Sweepstakes are back on the air. KMTR found that listeners were missing this air gam- ble, so it’s on again by popular re- quest. Margery Prevost is KFI’s new continuity writer. She’s new to ra- dio but is said to know Hollywood upside down, has written movie continuities and made sets for De Mille. Not a bad list of recommen- dations for one making her radio debut. (Continued from Page 9) mouthed believers, can step out and buy the book she plugs, send for her course of mail-order lessons, or maybe, if they’d rather, a couple of horoscopes. At any rate, that's the most dependable and conclusive in- formation she gave out. Don’t mis- understand, she didn’t over-plug her commercial stuff at all. It’s just that the listener must have something tangible to hang on to— and these were the only comments not open to debate, speculation or amused eyebrow lifting. Louise Johnson raised questions and be- fore you knew it the answers had rolled off her tongue, through the ether and into and out of the un- biased and long-suffering loud speaker. As long as these prog- nosticators confine themselves to amiable vaguenesses they can go as far as they like without hurt or harm. KMTR PODOLOR MOTOR CO. 6:30-7 p.m. Feb. 8 Continuities come and .continui- ties go, but the Ethiopian Oriental Supper Club still grabs the spot- light for easy-flowing fun. The Nite Club has challenged the in- terest and tickled the imagination of its enormous following for about two years. Mr. Bull continues to bully pbor old Lhicle Herb, the dusky boy whose dumb line is al- ways good for a couple of grins. “8 Ball” hasn’t been on for some time, being in jail on suspicion of murder. The whole affair is just a lot of swell nonsense that has clicked big on the air. Advertis- ing is especially well done, show- ing originality and shrewd under- standing of what the fans fall for. KFI 7:15-7:30p. tn. Feb. 8 A mystery of stolen diamonds, an innocent gal, a great big hero and a German dialect comedian are the theme song of Molly and Mike’s ether opera. The pair offered nat- ural reading of lines in rich Irish brogue. Mike’s singing came over with tinny resonance, due perhaps to faulty transmission. Dark and dirty- hints as to who stole them jewels and a routine of comedy gags filled this episode. It’s advis- able to stand by from broadcast to broadcast to get any pleasure here. KECA REED BROS., TAPLEY & GEIGER 7:45-8 p. m. Ruth Easton, accompanist, con- tributed a music box number on the ivories that made it easier to refrain from giving the dial a de- liberate twirl off the long suffer- ing wave lengths that carried Frank Geiger's baritoning. His singing smacks of amateur night in a neighborhood house a couple of decades ago. The voice is not bad, but stuffy and pretentious in style, sadly lacking in sustained quality and accuracy'of pitch. The numbers were of ballad type, if it makes any difference. KTM AUSTIN-LOS ANGELES CO. 9-10 p. m. These Ranch Boys are no mean performers. Their continuity con- tained good material, well deliv- ered. Their meandering is always to the point. There were a few soloing cow hands whose fiddling and singing had the hot wire am- meter needle kicking clear off the scale with their melodies. The clowning poetry of Lena was dumb enough to be a natural for laughs. Here was aee high entertainment all the. way through, rivaling the best wide-open-space dope on the air today. Jimmy Adams, A1 Flail, Allan Daley, Salvini Biano, Cactus Mac Peterson and Squeak, whose real name unfortunately was. not ob- tainable, make up the personnel of the Nifty Ranch Boys’ air opera. KGFJ 12-1 A. M. Curtis Mosby and his Blue Serenaders had a musical layout on their midnight broadcast that placed them high up in the neat and nifty class. Mosby, with his vigorous rhythms, goes in for hot syncopa- tions in even the tamest tunes, ’ He handed them out in his own speedy way, every member of the combina- tion contributing heavily to piling up a big melodic gross. C. L. Burt and Willy Jones added vocal effects, their tenoring coming right up to the Mosby standard. “Imagine,” “Cheerful Little Earful” and “I Still Get a Thrill” were in- cluded among the tunes that pulled ’em to’ their feet at the Apex Night Club, from which spot the broad- cast originated. STATION KOA DENVER, COLO 9:15-9:30 P. M„ Feb. 13 One of the most interesting of all radio entertainers is "Old Wagon .Tongue.” He gives a vivid description of events and happen- ings of the old west. This program comes weekly oyer 'this station, sponsored by the Kuner-Empson Co., and the folks around here go for it in a big way. Du six. OLLIE WALLACE Artist at Organ Entertainer on Mike PARAMOUNT PORTLAND Artistic Scenic Advertising Curtains By Far the Best in America CURTAIN PRIVILEGES BOUGHT FOR CASH OR SCENERY Chas. F. Thompson Scenic Co. 1215 Bates Avenue Phone OLympia 2914 Hollywood, Calif. HAVANA C. DE ARMAS IN HOLLYWOOD Makers of Fine Havana Cigars Specializing in Individual Blends Boxes c<t‘ 25 and 50 do'.|vere-4 everywhere GRanite 0359 5921 Hollywood Blvd. TEL. 6721 IBIjiini®, N. Y.—STAGE and DANCE DIRECTOR and PRODUCER—L. A. (FACULTY—Bud and Gladys Murray, Byron Cramer—(BALLET)—Mary Frances Taylor PRACTICAL DRAMATICS AND STAGE DANCING TAP, Off-Rhythm, “Modernized” BALLET & Acrobatics Only AUTHORIZED "Bay District Branch”—JANICE SPEAGUE SCHOOL, 127 Marine St., Ocean Park—Tel. Santa Monica 63145 ‘THE ORIGINAL MURRAY SCHOOL” OP NEW YORK. CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES JACKS BACHELORS CRYSTAL ROOF BALLROOM LONG BEACH LONG BEACH JACK YOUNG Gill Scott Bill Schoeder Art Brunelle Jimmy Wood Buddy Crowell Larry Hill, Mgr, KGER WATTY WATKINS KGER