Inside facts of stage and screen (March 14, 1931)

Saturday, March 14, 1931 r INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Three IE FUTURE POLICY Stage shcr.vs are to be taken out of the Paramount Theatre, accord- ing to well authenticated reports this week. As offset, the orchestra is to be increased materially and specialties arc to be put on stage. Oscar Baum, present Paramount orches- tra leader, will remain in that ca- pacity, and will also have charge of the orchestral prologues and the stage and pit offerings. Organ offerings will be discon- tinued, it was stated. Con Maflie is at present officiating at the con- sole keys at this spot. the shore next week is the last one to play the houSe, it was said. Rumors that Fanchon and Marco might produce for one week show- ings at the house were branded as being highly improbable. The reason for the lopping off of stage shows at the Paramount was the expense of getting them here. They are produced in New York and routed west from there. The jump here is from Denver, and there follows a two weeks' layoff afterward, meaning a lot of invest- ment for the one Week's engage- ment here. All Local Bookings For Paramount Soon SPECIALTIES ID u. s, forei gn ver s io^marke tGaining CALIF.. !L BEST SPOTS ST PRESENT! Spanish versions are bringing in surprise money to some of the pro- ducing companies. Made at first exclusively for foreign exportation, several companies tried out South- western United States territories as an experimental market for these versions. While the German, French, and Italian versions are practically unmarketable in this country, with the exception of incidental show- ings for foreign club's and organiza- tions, Spanish versions are growing- increasingly important for release in this country. M-G-M lias thirty foreign version- features scheduled, with some itn production and others already re- leased, and at least that many com- edies, the comedies running front two to five reels. Fox has twenty- two foreigns planned for the com- ing year, with eight Spanish ver- sions now selling. Paramount, too, is reported to be going heavy. Uni- versal, Warner Brothers, and Sono- Art have a few each. C. E. Buchanan, foreign salesman, for M-G-M. states that Arizona, and California territory are at pres- ent the most profitable spots for Spanish versions. Conditions are bad in New Mexico due to wide- spread unemployment, but it is ex- pected that the state will be open- to Spanish service in a very short time. The border towns of Arizona, are an especially" good outlet just now. Dallas territory, too, is said to be doing well. Locally, the California Theatre is doing good business with first runs and week’s stand policy. Fred Miller has put on some special pre- mieres for the Spanish versions. West Coast is running these fea- tures in class A houses in Douglas, Calexico and Nogales. i RATES H. 0. “Unfaithful,” a sexy title with practically no competition as titles go, skyrocketed the Paramount gross into holding Ruth Chatter- ton s worst picture over for a sec- ond week. Outside of the Chat- terton draw and a hot label there was little to warrant the contin- uance. More evidence , that a good name and a stimulating tag is the thing that pulls. United Artists did a great week with “Reaching for the Moon,” carrying Douglas Fairbanks. The outstanding b.o. feature, however, “Trader Horn” in its seventh week at Grauman’s Chi- nese doing $18,011. “Min and Bill” downtown at Loew’s State culled $29,680, which was expected. This feature playing the downtown stand second run was augmented by Vic luce, ace trumpeter and m. c. and a Fanchon and Marco Idea. RKO Orpheum did approximate- ly $19,000 for its last seven days of Cimarron, ’ which could have con- tinued but had to make room for Millie, ’ the Radio hit that smash- ed records in New York- Out Hollywood way “The Royal Family of Broadway ’ with Fred- die March and Ina Claire collected $12,930 This gross was aided ap- preciably by Slim Martin, a Fan- chon and Marco Idea and Flarry Holman, rushed in as a special added attraction. The Egyptian offered Marion Davies in “Bachelor Father” and a Buffano stage idea for $5,190. Warner’s did $13,500 even with Viennese Nights” and no addi- tional attraction. This is consid- ered very, good for this musical. Vv arner s downtown rang up $9,000 with “Captain Applejack”- which was well within expectations. RKO Hillstreet responded nobly to the new eight-act vaude policv offermg “Behind Office Doors” one of the finest programmers emanating from the Radio studios. The B.O. checked up $16,795 for the seven days, an increase of bet- ter than $5,000 over the preceding week. E HOUSE OUTS IS BOOKINGS POOR The Los Angeles Theatre, which opened recently with a big bally- hoo, a stage show and a class 24- piece .orchestra under the manage- ment of Jacques .Beaucaire and the baton of A1 Short, this week went on an all-screen policy. The house management could not be reached for a statement prior to press time, but other sources de- clared it was because the house, an independent, could not get pictures of sufficient box office class to draw the money necessary to in-person entertainment. The first picture in at the house was Charlie Chaplin’s “City Lights.” U. A. is badly handicapped by lack of good release, and the L. A. The- atre was a natural spot for the synchronized C h a p 1 i n. Opening with the picture was an elaborate stage show and Short’s orchestra. However, Chaplin’s demands on the fast money in at the box-of- fice, coupled with lack of drawing power in the picture, caused a change of policy during the “City Lights” run. The stage show was eliminated,- a singing trio being sub- stituted for the prior , elaborate re- vue. Jacques Beaucaire came in to conduct the orchestra pending a change which brought Willie Stahl in as conductor. Then the Beau- caire group, was let go entirely last, Thursday. A Tiffany picture, “Aloha,” fol- lowed the Chaplin opener, and now current as the third picture in at the house is Fox’s “Once a Sinner,” with Dorothy M'ackjaill, and not rated as any box-office wow by any means. EDDIE PEABODY IS SIGNED FOR EUROPE Eddie Peabody signs a European contract. He leaves May 15 for London where he opens at the Pal- ladium for seven weeks. Jean Ar- mand, Peabody’s representative, will probably join Eddie at Detroit for the over-seas tour. Peabody’s op- tion reads for 24 weeks but it is doubtful if he will exercise it as he feels obligated to Fanchon and Marco who released him from a 24-week contract to take advantage or the London booking. Eddie fin- ishes his last far eastern date at New Jersey and goes to the Fox Detroit for four weeks before em- barking. Jane and Katherine Lee Now playing R.li.O. Hillstreet Theatre, Los Angeles OF ILilOMIDE Dot Darling, off-rhythm dancer at Zucca’s Silver Slipper Cafe, suddenly emerged into the midst of romance, real money, and perhaps a deal of trouble this week. Dot, who is reputed to be only 16 years old, took a wedding jaunt to Agna Caliente with Paul Mit- chell, 28, son of a Hollywood mil- lionaire, and then set off for a honeymoon in Paris. But Dot’s mother is said to be not so joyous at this sudden de- velopment in the life of her child. In fact she is understood to be considering the filing of annulment proceedings and also the asking of investigation as to whether any criminal action is possible, due to the youth of the bride. And this despite the fact that Dot protested when young Mitchell proposed that she couldn’t accept him, as she was her mother’s sole support. Upon which Mitchell is said to have given her a $1000 bill to give her mother, hoping thus to assuage any possibility of maternal wrath. The romance was of sudden hap- pening, with the young heir a nightly visitor at the Silver Slipper for the four or five nights prior to the elopement. GOES TO HOSPITAL Things broke tough this week for Arthur George, ex-actor and now doorman at the RKO Orpheum. All set in his job, and enjoying the work and the contacts which it brought him, illness which has been of several years standing, took a turn for the worse, and he was forced to return to the Veterans’ Flospital at Sawtelle, Friday. STOCK CLOSES The Savoy Stock Company in San Diego has closed after five years there. The Savoy Theatre is doing musical tab shows, retaining some members of the former stock company. CASTING “ELIZABETH” Belasco and Curran are currently casting for “Elizabeth,” in which Pauline Frederick is to star. Re- hearsals were set to start late this week. Rose Valyda back in town from a Fanchon and Marco tour and says she is going to buy a home up in the hills. AIK. Hall, Jr. Scoring Big In First Season A1 K. Hall, Jr., whose pic- ture appears on page one of this issue, is still in his ’teens, but already he is establishing a goodly reputation for himself as a comedian. And no wonder, for his dad is none other than that A1 K. Hall who is knffwn to vaude fans the country over, and wherever known, known with gusto to those who like their laughs. A! K., Junior, is at the RKO Hillstreet Theatre this week, having arrived here in his first season as a comic. Fie works with his dad in a number of gags, and for the encore which they always take, Senior arid Junior have a “My boy—My dad” line that always serves to tie tighter an already tied tight show. Plenty of future for this lad, vaude, pictures and what-have- you in the show line all look- ing ready fields of conquest for one with his personality and ability. THEY LIKE LEE Lee Wilrnot is playing a return benefit performance this week at the Soldiers’ Home, Sawtelle. This is the sixth time recently he’s gone out there to give the ex-soldiers a treat, they clamoring for him when- ever there is to be a show put on— can't get enough of that dumb- pan class dancing of his, it seems. MURRAY AT ROACH KEN DAILEY JOINS RKO BOOKING STAFF Kenneth Dailey has switched his booking activities to the RKO book- ing offices, which continue under the supervision of Bern Bernard. Ken got into the booking racket when a mere boy, succeeding his father, the late William R. (Bill) Dailey, who was general manager of the Levey offices in its heyday. Starting as office boy, during the many years of his association with the Levey forces, Ken held down every important post in the organi- zation. Young Dailey was office manager, field man, traveling repre- sentative, and finally general man- ager, and this at a time when the Levey offices rated at the leading independent boking offices in this country. Due to his loyalty and great friendship for Bert Levey, Ken stuck to the ship the last couple of years despite the many offers that he had for more lucrative positions. MURNAU KILLED IN CALIF. AUTO CRASH Bud Murray is staging the dances for a series of two-reelers directed by Flal Roach and featuring Thelma Todd and ZaZSu Pitts. STACKMAN ILL A. W. Stackman, secretary of the Motion Picture Relief Fund, is confined to his home by illness. His recover is expected soon. BACK FROM SALT LAKE Cameron Prud’homme and John De Weese have returned from Salt Lake City, where they were in stock at the Playhouse Theatre. F. W. Murnau. considered by many as Hollywood's most asrtistic director, was killed in an automo- bile accident this week. Fiis car swerved to avoid a truck 20 miles north of Santa Barbara and over- turned. At the time Murnau was en route to San Francisco and thence to Germany for a vacation. Murnau sprang into American prominence by his direction in Germany of Emil Janniugs in “The Last Laugh,” and he directed a number in this country for Fox, his first outstanding one being Gaynor- Farrell in “Sunrise.” GUILD MOVES The Catholic Motion Picture Guild has moved its offices from 817-818 to 716 Taft Building, Hollywood. The phone remains GRanite 2251. SPECIAL FOR KIDDIES A special course in interpretative work and platform deportment is being given by the Harrison-Wal- lack Studios of Dramatic Art. The course, which is for children from four to fourteen years of age, start- ed March 7 and will continue until June. All children taking the les- sons are also being given the regu- lar courses in dancing, singing and drama. it; 'Pis’ DO BIG GROSSES The Mayan is still well up in front of the legit field with “Once In A Lifetime,” the Grauman im- portation The take for the week was well over $14,280. The satire on Hollywood will continue for two- more weeks. Out Hollywood way the “Butter and Egg Man,” starring Johnny Arthur, at the El Capital! did $6,500 for its closing week. Frank Craven moved in Sunday with "That’s Gratitude,” the New York smash,, authored by and produced by the star. It got away to a record business for the opening and an. increasing gross for the first half of the week. Looks good for a run and some predict will kick over a record. The big surprise was the gross that Lillian Albertson’s new Musi- cal, “Paris in Spring” built up at the Hollywood Playhouse. Highly enthusiastic and more than favor- able notices from the press gave it a deserved boost and the collection plate showed $13,500 for the second week. Two weeks is all that this musical has been slated for at this house. It moved Friday to the Majestic, downtown. Perry Askam, Eddie Lambert, Richard Powell, Janice Joyce, Georgia Har- ris, Cecil Stewart, musical director, and an unusually fine mounting contributed a lot to the success of “Paris in _ Spring” and Albertson showed prime judgment in casting. OPENING STOCK Morton Lloyd is opening a stock company in San Diego. Eddie Lawrence of the Savoy Theatre will direct. Jacobs and O’Brien have cast the' following people for the new company: Milo Boulton, Sanford Macauley, Virginia True Boardman and Ray Lawrence. NEWT KELLY BACK Newton Kelly, film and legit player, and cabaret entertainer and m. -c., has returned to Los Angeles from an engagement at the Willows Cafe, Reno, Nev. CHANGE TITLE “Laugh and Get Rich” is the new title for Radio Pictures’ “Board and Room.”