Inside facts of stage and screen (March 28, 1931)

Saturday, March 28, 1931 Page Three INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN CALIF. ANTI - OUTDOOR SHOW BILL IS KILLED KID AU01ENCES ABE SOUGHT BY RADIO SAN FRANCISCO, March 27.— Taking their cue from theatres, ra- dio stations are going hot and heavy for kid audiences, figuring them as good listeners-in for the future, as well as the present. Most of the current programs aimed at the youngsters are studio offerings, but one or two' of them are sponsored by such firms as an auto brake band concern and others. Programs include chatter, music and novelties. One of KYA’s pro- grams has the kids right in the stu- dio taking an active part in the of- fering by telling about their schools, teachers, pets and games. Seattle Radio SEATTLE, March 27.—Three new Songs were introduced by Pear! Dempsey and her orchestra over KJR, Sunday afternoon; namely, “Do I Really Deserve it From You,” “Broken - Iie’arted Waltz” and “Mine Yesterday, Sis Today." The Sun Dodgers, under the di- rection of Earl Heroux and Dick (Buckley, keep things going from midnite till 6 a. m. and how! Re- quests pour in so fast that only a tenth of them can be taken care of. Casey Jones is now m. c’iiig at the Hi-Hatters, Seattles’ new mem- bership nite club. For the past few weeks, Casey has been at the Club Victor. A Kimball three manual organ is bciiig installed at radio station EOL by Balcom and Porvotse. It is the largest radio organ on the coast and will be played by Ivan Ditmars, from the Boston Conserv- atory of Music. Ditmars formerly Was on the staff at KOL and has just finished an engagement at KJR. KID CIRCUS TO PLAY 10 WEEKS ON COAST .Plans for the Hollywood Juvenile Circus, an under-canvas affair with 500 kids on the payroll, have been virtually completed by its sponsor, A1 Lichter. Opening is set for June 22 in Pasadena, and 10 weeks on the coast will follow, including dates in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Di- ego, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Stock- ton, Sacramento, Berkeley and Oak- land. Featured act will be Culver Stan- ton’s Acrobatic Wonders, and a pet show will be taken along to further stimulate juvenile enthusiasm. There will be two platforms and one ring for the performers to show their stuff in. SPANISH PLAY “Las Bodas de Plata” is being presented at Hollywood’s newest little theatre, the International Intime, at 5710 Santa Monica Boule- vard, for seven performances, be- ginning last Thursday. The cast includes Francisco Abadia, Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer player; Mrs. Ros- end de Alvarez, widow of the late General Francisco de P. Alvarez and well-known in Mexican theatri- cal circles; Samuel Lucas; D’Arcy Corrigan; Lili d’Amor; Mrs. Elba Lebeyc; Arnold Madrid; Ramon Dominguez; Lorenz Madrid; and Lilia Joers. Arnold Madrid stage directed the play. WRITERS TO MEET The Writers Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hold a special meeting next Thursday (April 2), preparatory to a conference with the producers’ representatives later. REOPENING BROADWAY DENVER, March 27—Arthur M. Abeofelder reopens the Broad- way Theatre April 6 for one week, presenting William Thornton and a company of 2d in Shakespeare repertoire. RIVERS HERE Walter Rivers is in Los Angeles for exploitation work on Colum- bia’s “Dirigible,” which opens at the Chinese April 7. Rush Was On .When they’re here they let them go, but when they start away they try to grab ’em. That’s Hollywood. Ethel Hunter, blonde beauty contest winner of Vancouver, and experienced on the stage, came to Hollywood. For two months she was here, wtih only the medium re- sults given those who aren’t well “in.” Then George White wanted her for his “Scandals,” Holly- wood heard about it, and the rush was on. But Miss Hunter went east, despite pursuit by many, in- cluding Fox execs with offers of a good contract. SPORTS SUBJECTS GETTING BIG PLAY Sports shorts are getting a play on several production schedules for the coming year. The tendency is to take advantage of the gen- eral interest in sports that is now being worked up for the coming of the Olympic games in 1932. Such names as Rockne, Ruth, Til- den and Jones are expected to stimulate interest in the shorts end of picture and vaude bills and are being used to exploit these one- and - two - reelers. R K O - Pathe’s Grantland Rice Sportlights, re- leased on alternate weeks over a period of six years or more were the only sports series of import- ance in the past. Now other stu- dios are bidding for a cut-in on tlie athletic dough. Universal is planning 26 sports subjects for the coming year. These include eight featuring Knute Rockne and five with Babe Ruth, the balance to be made by special- ists in various lines of sports. War- ner Brothers, at present releasing a series of 12 Bobby Jones golf subjects, are using other picture and sports personalities in each in order to build up their selling po- tentialities. M-G-M has six Tilden tennis shorts and little further in- terest or activity reported in this field wth the exception of some few singles just for fillers. The Paramount schedule will not be set for another two weeks and will probably include only a few sport subjects. RKiO-Pathe has the advantage of having used most of the big star names in every branch of athletics. Nurmi, Johnny Weissmuller, Char- lie Paddock, or Ty Cobb were a flash in the pan for single shorts, and Pathe grabbed off a nice profit on the novelty and diversity of subjects and personalities presented. The Pathe news service- too, has furnished plenty of material for Rice’s shorts. What the sports cameras missed the news trucks picked up, which has been no small aid in getting a strong authentic punch into the Sportslights. TO CLOSE GLOBE The Globe Theatre, at Globe, Ari- zona, Fox West Coast house, which was reopened February 21, after having been shut clown, will be closed again on March 29. SDLDNS GIVE IT mam veto SACRAMENTO, March 27.—Ef- ficient work by show business rep- resentatives this week squashed an assembly bill designed to put the kibosh on carnivals, circuses, tent shows and all other performances or exhibitions held under canvas. Projected bill was pigeon holed and looks like a dead issue. Leading the fight against the proposed meas- ure was Charles Paine, secretary and manager of the California State Agricultural Society, backed by the Outdoor Showmen’s group and the' Stage and Screen Voters League, of which Charles Miller, Equity repre- sentative, is active representative. Bill, new section of the penal code, would have prohibited fairs, circuses, carnivals, beach conces- sions and the like being held under canvas or other inflammable ma- terial. H-F ISSUE WILL BECOME NATIONAL The controversy between union labor and the Hughes-Franklin the- atre chain was on the verge of be- coming a national issue this week. Originating here when Harold B. Franklin used union labor to service -the H.-F.. Miinror (theaSje up to opening day and then substituted it! m-union operators, it was now being carried back to the national president, William S. Canavan in New York. Walter F. Croft, Cara- van's personal representative on the coast, was en route by plane for conferences in the east with bis chief. Few Days More It was stated that unless a set- tlement was m'acle here within the next three or four days, the matter would be entirely out of the hands of the local operators union, and be- come national. It was intimated that this probably would result in any further negotiations being upon the basis of the eastern wage scale. But for the next few days the local oper- ators’ officials continue to have full authority to settle the matter for the entire United. States. It was understood that Hughe's- Franklln are negotiating for an in- terest in the Lazarus houses, the Strand and the Million Dollar, and that these spots will also* be drawn into the controversy if the sale is completed. Not Optimistic Union officials were not. how- ever, optimistic regarding a settle- ment here if the main money man, Howard Hughe's, continues to dele- gate the matter to the care of Har- old B. Franklin. They declared they had made every concession possible, asking rio more from the H.-F. houses than from the small houses of West Cofist and other western circuit’s, and had even stretched pofnltls wherever consistent with fair dealing to other employers of oper- ators, But, it was stated. Franklin’s personality was considered the main stumbling block at that time, he taking 'an attitude ithlat special con- cessions should be made him be- cause (of bias standing in the finan- cial circles of show business, and' Hold Customers SEATTLE, March 27.—Days of real showmanship still exist, as proved at the Fox Theatre recently. Puget Sound main light lines .went off at 5:10 p. m., leaving the house lightless. Jimmy Hicks, manager, threw Paul Tutmarc and his mando- lin out to entertain; Gordon McBean and K. Arden Smith, the Musical Racketeers, came along and helped; Three Brown Buddies, from the F. & M. “Idea” at the Paramount, jumped in, and Dick Buckley, amiable and versatile radio an- nouncer from KFQW, m.c.’d the impromptu performance. Kept the crowd going until the lights came on at 8:10, with less than five dollars in refunds asked. CO-OP. SHOW B. 0, GHA0BED—FADEOUT The co-op venture of Continuing “Paris In Spring” after its produc- ers, Lillian Albertson and Louis O. Macloon, moved it from the Holly- wood Playhouse to the Majestic Theatre downtown, lasted briefly only. The cast, musicians and stage- hands, acting in concert with Miss Albertson and Macloon, voted to carry on with the play despite the fact that it was not doing good box office at the Majestic. It re-opened to good houses Sat- urday and everything looked rosy. But along came a man, and he had some papers with him, and bang, attachment on the intake. . Curtains. ORGANIZE UNITS TO PLAY SMALL TOWNS Lee Prather and Luther Yandis, recent arrivals from New York, have organized two units known as the Circle Stock Company, similar to their former eastern Organiza- tions. The companies will play Alham- bra, Pasadena, Glendora, Oxnard, Ventura, and three more outlying spots. They will offer full plays with music playing split weeks and one night stands. ANDERSON AT ORPH Millroy Anderson, whose reputa- tation as an assistant manager here- abouts is second to none, has been transferred from the RKO Theatre to the other RKO house, the Or- pheum. Harry Golub has been brought from Salt Lake City to be Orpheum manager, succeeding Roy Reid. HOUSE CLOSED The Alamo Theatre at Gardena was closed on March 23. that his attitude nlow is that he wants to be left entirely alone. ■Closing, the union speakers statec! that 'they had unlimited funds to carry the issue to a showdown, and were assured of every cooperation i from ithe eastern union chieftains. Yes, We Have Radio Ham Actors By Kay Van Riper, of K F W B In the first place, the minute you A ham actor! Yes, we have ’em in radio! Only, it doesn’t mean the same thing as the stage jargon does. In this case, it isn’t the gen- tlemen in the checkered vest, with a diamond stickpin and a derby hat, who struts across the stage and bel- lows: “It’s rrrevenge I want, Jes- sie Rrrevenge!” In our case, it’s the gentleman who stands in front of the micro- phone with an absolutely dead ex- pression, who doesn't move a muscle of his body or his face, and pours out in his voice all the emo- tion of his being with “Ride into the sunset with me, Leila! Ride— and we’ll forget what’s past!” And does he sound ham-my! Well Now, that gets me right into the middle of the fast growing argu- ment of: Should an actor act in front of the microphone? Atid from the horrible examples I have seen in the past, I draw my conclusion, which is a great big “YES!” In the first place the minute you divorce an emotion from its muscu- lar accompaniments—such as grow- ing taut with anger, or tense with fright, or relaxed with love—and you try to put that emotion all in your voice, the effect is going to be rather sad. It will be insincere. It will be overly dramatic. It Will detract from the great problem of radio—how to achieve absolute real- ity. Without costumes, stage sets, lighting, or action, the radio per- former must give his listener a feel- ing of actually witnessing the drama. Yes, it all comes from the voice. But! Linless lie “feels” the emo- tion which he is trying to make real to his listeners, the actor’s voice is going to do him some low- down tricks. He is apt to have too many pitch changes, so that he sounds like a bird warbling at eve. He is apt to have a tremolo, that puts any organ stop to shame. In other words, trying to do every- thing with his voice is going to make that voice sound unreal. His emotion is unreal. And believe me, his listeners are going to snicker, and turn the dial to find some good music! Unfortunately, radio chains an ac- tor to one spot. Being in one spot doesn’t make for naturalness or reality, which are the two goals in radio-drama. But the actor who is willing to forget that limitation, and to feel, in every part of his body, the emotion which his lines call for, will receive the cooperation of a voice which is absolutely in tune with the situation. The successful radio-drama is one which creates an illusion of reality, regardless of time or space. Human beings don't react to emotions or other human beings simply with their voice. Therefore—if you’re called upon to read some lines for a radio continuity—ACT! In the famous old saying, GIVE YOUR ALL! And your listeners will love it. NEW TRANSMITTER FOR STATION KOL SEATTLE, March 27. — Radio' station KOL will put its new 1,000- watt transmitter and new studio control mechanism into service by the last week in April, if not sooner. The new equipment, designed to meet exacting governmental re- quirements, should considerably in- crease KOL’s signal strength. Dual crystal control units will prevent frequency variations. The new equipment is being installed under the direction of A. D. Gunstan, KOL’s chief technician. It will be inspected and officially dedicated by an engineer from the Western division of the Bell Laboratories. About People Carlotta Monti, stage and film player, has returned front a two weeks vacation at Palm Springs. Theodore Dreiser has arrived in California for a visit. Paramount is now filming his “An American Tragedy.” Billy Elmer, Dick La Reno and Tex Driscoll have been signed for roles in M'-G-M’s “The Squaw- man,” which Cecil B. DeMille is directing. All three played in the first version 17 years ago. George 'Bancroft has signed a new long term contract with Para- mount. Thomas Boyd, writer of war novels, has been signed by Radio Pictures on a 10-weeks contract to do a war scenario. Paul Sloane will direct “Consola- tion- Marriage,” an original by Bill Cunningham, which Radio Pictures will produce. Humphrey Pearson is doing the script. Myles Con- nolly will supervise. Katherine Brown, head of Radio’s New York story department, ar- rived here for a week’s conference# on story material. James R. Grainger, vice president of Fox Films, is spending three weeks in Hollywood in connection with plans for the coming pro- gram. Leyland Hodgson has signed a five year contract with RKO. His first assignment will be the male lead in “High Stakes.” The con- tract was made through the Mac- Quarrie agency. Leo McCarey has been signed by Howard Hughes to direct “Queer People,” the story of Hollywood by Carroll and Garrett Graham. The picture will be devitalized of the satire which made the book so popular. Edward . Martindel and Leyland Hodgson have been signed for Ra- dio Pictures’ “High Stakes,” now shooting. Pat Hartigan has been signed for a crook .part i'n Radio Pictures' “Big Brother,” Richard Dix’s cur- rent starring vehicle. WANTS SINGERS Jack Wall is looking for three quartette members to go out with a revue now being organized by Bob Cole. Wall, who is stopping at the Ramona Hotel, needs a base singer, a baritone and a first tenor, preferably about 5 feet 7 or 5 feet 8 inches. Also young, but not too young to know something about show business. The revue, which is planned to open the middle of next week, will play through the middle west. HUGHES PLANS Howard Hughes’ next picture will be an original aviation comedy, as yet untitled. It will go into produc- tion on April 6, under direction of Edward Sedgwick. “Scarface,” which Howard Hawks will direct, will fol- low and “The Age for Love,” star- ring Billie Dove,” will follow that. All are United Artists releases. HAS STRAND Paul Swick has taken over the Belvedere Strand Theatre, in Los Angeles. The house will be closed six days for repairs.