Inside facts of stage and screen (May 2, 1931)

Record Details:

Something wrong or inaccurate about this page? Let us Know!

Thanks for helping us continually improve the quality of the Lantern search engine for all of our users! We have millions of scanned pages, so user reports are incredibly helpful for us to identify places where we can improve and update the metadata.

Please describe the issue below, and click "Submit" to send your comments to our team! If you'd prefer, you can also send us an email to mhdl@commarts.wisc.edu with your comments.




We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.

Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.

Saturday, May 2, 1931 INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Page Three LACK OF BIG PICTURES HITS CLASS SPOTS 4 Dramatic Ability of Bow Is Recognized It is not without a certain de- gree of self-satisfaction that In- side Facts heard around the Para- mount lot that Clara Bow's role in her new picture, "Kick In/' was played by her for straight drama, and with none of the so- called **It" touches that at once have been che making and the down-drag of this star. For, as our back files remind us, when the talkies first came in Inside Facts in reviewing one of Clara's early talking pictures, predicted that, given the right kind of vehi- cle, this little girl would make them all step to keep their dra- matic reputations. In the picture reviewed Clara was mostly direct- ed for *'It," but in one sequence she went into straight drama— and how.. She did plenty to the heartstrings in that one sequenec, and hence tlie Inside Facts rave on her ability in this line, though no other critic mentioned it. So strong was the impression she made at that time, that, in the Christmas issue, summing up the standing of film players, In- side Facts declared that Clara couid be made one of the leading dramatic actresses of the ensuing year if cast in dramatic roles. We still believe it, and our wager is that the end of 1931 will find La Bow named among: the 10 best of Hollj^vood's dramatic actresses. Miss Bow has had certain un- favorable publicity recently. If inspired and motivated as present indications make one believe, she has the entire sympathy and good wishes of Hollywood. From what can be gathered, this sentiment to- ward her is shared by the general public. And when she sweeps into public ken as the really capable, and more than capable little dra- matic actress that she is, there can be small doubt that she will double- clinch the grip she has always had on the public heart. ASSISTANT TO BONNIE Helen Rose Is now assisting Bonnie Cashin in the designing for the Fanchon and Marco wardrobe department. Bonnie has done all the designing unassisted for the past several seasons, and what this girl doesn't know about the job hasn't yet been learned. NAMED COVERNORR DENVER, May 1.—William E. Bryan, commercial manager of Radio Station KOA, Denver, has been elected governor of the 11th District of the American Federa- tion ow Advertising. Patrick & Marsh Book Orange Show Some Close-Ups By the Sundodger Man's capability of extreme in- humanity is vividly illustrated in the case of Clara Bow. What a great idea it would be to insti- tute a "mind your own business" week. If the whole truth were published about every man and woman in our great and glorious land what a mess would ensue! Let's all try to get along—pots, kettles and the whole works. Life is a tough enough job at best. The crucifixion of Roscoe Ar- buckle was an example of cruelty that has never been topped, and now the wolves are on the trail of the little Bow girl. Did it ever occur to any of our brilliant film executives that a director named Chester Withey is available and still possessed of plenty of punch and ability? It is a bit tragic to overlook a man ^f such talents. Large salaries are being paid to many with a lot less stuff on the ball. Here we sat down to live up to our well - known reputation of panning hell out of a lot of peo- ple and we seem to be motivated by the milk of human kindness. Agents have been getting their share of criticism and a lot of them deserve it. But there is one boy in the game that is about as white as they make 'em. His name is Grant Dolge. Grant is more like a kind father to his clients than a mere agent. His level head guides the destinies of a group of actors, directors, writ- ers and other artists and they gratefully swear by instead of at hira. We wonder how many are aware of the fact that Dolge is the son of the Dolge who manu- factured Dolge's felt slippers back in Dolgeville, N. Y., and that he once controlled the sale of wood used in making pianos. Also that he is a high reserve officer in the United States army and an aviator of great skill. And a fine musician, ^nd a real estate authority. And a fine he- man. I 55 Acts, 2 Bands For Anaheim Event For the tenth consecutive year, Patrick & Marsh are booking the Anaheim Orange Show. The entertainment at this an- nual event has always been one of its big features, and the Or- ange Show committee just nat- urally spot P. & M. to furnish it for them. This year's quota is 55 acts and two bands, none of which have yet been signed. Acts will vary from single turns on up to big spectacular offerings. Outdoor News .By Rube Cohen. RKO WOKi^ STARTS DENVER, May 1.—Work has at last started on the new RKO- Orpheum. After many delays, due mostly to the inability to get an entrance on 16th Street, two steam shovels were moved in and ixri- rapidly digging in. GARDENS OPENING DENVER, May 1.—E I i t c h e s Gardens, summer spot, opens May 2 for the season. Music in the Trocadero Ballroom v/ill be fur- nished by Earl Kayo and his band of 12 local boys. No announce- ment has been made as to the cast for the i.iitche Theatre, which opens June 6. This little theatre is one of the big draws to the park. WALKATHON BIG BUTTE, Mont., May 1.—The Walkathon now in progress here is the biggest thing to ever hit the town. The capacity of the Shrine Temple where the contest*is being held, is 2200 people. Packed houses the first thfee niphts and Friday (opening night) ;;500 peo- ple were turned away. The Walk- athon is being broadcast over ra- dio station KGIR. Joe Egan, vaudeville performer, never writes a telegram. He just rushes into a telegraph office, shows his card and grabs the key. He started out as a teleg- rapher and still carries his cre- dentials. And how he can tickle that wire! Phil Lampkin Opens At Fox in Detroit After breaking the record for continuous m. c. appearances at the Academy of Music Theatre, New York, Phil Lampkin opened at the big Fox Theatre in Detroit, Mich., yesterday (May 1). Upon leaving the Paramount in Los Angeles, Lampkin went on to New York, where he severed con- nections with Publix, to join Fan- chon and Marco. He opened for F. and M. at the Academy of Music Theatre, where for six weeks he conducted the concert orchestra and acted as master-of-ceremonies for the F. and M. Ideas. Tliat was the long- est period of time anyone in Phil's capacity ever stayed In this house. 'The reason was the high popularity which he started checking up in his first week and augmented weekly thereafter. cently given him by the Governor of WyoJ^iingT- Governor Club of San Francisco is planning an indoor circus. May 11-16. at its clubhouse, 1974 Page Street. VIC MEYERS SEATTLE, May 1—Vic Mey- ers, popular orchestra leader and nite club owner, is confined to his bed as the result of a fall from a ladder. Fractured his arm in three places. Is rumored that Meyers is going back in the Roseroom at the Butler Hotel. ASSISTANT TO BROWN George Brown, coast division director of publicity and adver- tising for RKO, has appointed Kenneth L. Eagon as assistant in special exploitation in Los An- geles. Eagon was for two years assistant to Floyd Scott when the latter was chief of the Orphcum circuit publicity. *'B n n y" Bunting, advance agent and newspaper man, is now manager of the Elks' Club in Oakland, Calif. And if any man on earth has more friends than "Bunny" we'd like to hear about it. Last week the review of "Round Heels" in Inside Facts mentioned a newcomer named Marcia Madden. This little girl has had three studio offers as a result. Which seems to indicate that Inside Facts is read by the signers of pay-roll checks. Miss Madden will be heard from as a screen star in the not distant fu- ture. More power to her! Al Ray and his wife, Frances Hyland, have been giving New York the several times over. This talented pair are going great and it will not be surprising if Fran- ces has a best seller in the novel list next year. Al is a cousin of Charles Ray. The "Great Alexander" is up in Washington looking over his summer estate on the shores of the Pacific. "Alex" has retired from the stage and is loaning money—with security—and is on the way to bring a multi-million- aire. The "Man Who Knows" used to be his billing, and it looks like it was accurately de- scriptive. Dick Parks has cleaned up with marathon dances. Dick is the theatrical agent who was respon sible for the formation of West Coast Theatres, but he did not reap the harvest in that deal. He is well up in the mon^^y now, however. PEABODY ON AIR Eddie Peabody will be guest of honor on a special Rudy Valce program to go over the entire NBC network on May 7, released locally through KFI at 4 p. m. The scheduled program marks Peabody's last appearance before sailing for London where he opens at the Paramount Theatre on the 15th for a seven-week en- gagement, with appearances in Paris and Berlin to follow. FAN'CHON AND MARCO Present THE FLYING BARTLETTS In Their 'SUBMARINE" IDEA Act Fully Protected — Patent Applied For BILLY JACICSON. Personal Representative RKO Office ARMAND AT BILTMORE Jean Armand has joined the staff of the Biltmore Theatre as exploitation director and contact man. He is creating a patriotic and cultural interest in the series of German talkies now running at the Biltmore with talks at va- rious clubs and organizations throughout the city. Armand, knowing show business on both sides of the Atlantic, is particu- larly well suited for this work. He is also continuing personal rep- resentative for Eddie Peabody. FISKE TO PLAY L. A. Mrs. Minnie Madden Fiske will present her "Mrs. Bomstead Leigh" at a downtown L. A. the- atre, probably the Mayan, it was reported this week. Harrison Gray Fiske, her husband and manager, will be backer of the venture, the report said. Economy Policy Is Now Taking Revenge An ill-advised "economy policy** I which a panicky section of pic- SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.— ture business engaged upon sev- Rumor has it that Ringling-Bar- eral months ago is now begin- num Circus will come to the Pa- ning to take toll. Big run houses cific coast this year. Claim is made throughout the country are suf- that conditions are better here fering from the lack of pictures than any place in the country, worthy of a million dollar set- Good news, if so. ting. Many are doomed to clo.se unless Hollywood (and its sub- Barnes circus rang up a new urb, New York) call a halt on a business record on its local three- completely assinine penny-pinch- day stund despite its locating in a ing and go back to the policy of new spot at considerable distance making good specials. Right now from the center of things and de- the movie industry is turning out spite two days of damp weather, an assortment of dishes about as Side rhowp, too, kept crowding 'em orij?inal as the links of a wienie- in at tv/o bits a throw under Aus- chain. Economy stories, economy tin King's expert management, casts, ^onomy schedules and a The Five Gretonas, high wire act, sum total of a product which were the out^^tanding features of should rightfully be exhibitwi on the tent show. the bargain counter of a WooU worth emporium. Corrected route of the Barnes The Chinese Theatre in Holfv- troupe has that outfit plaving as wood is closing May 2. o follows: Ukiah, May 10;* Sacra- house didn't go dark without a mento, 12th; MarvsviUo, 13th; struggle. It even booked a Co- Reno, 14th; Alturas, 15lh; Klam- lumbia picture, ''Dirigible.' which ath Falls, 16th. had no greater drawing names than Jack Holt. Ralph Graves G. Arthur Blanchard, theatrical and Fay Wray. And those names printer, has turned over to the are not box office for ^1.50 audi- Flcishacker Zoo two wolves re-1 ences. Also Desperate The Carthay Circle is also tak- ing desperate measures. It is now showing a Universal picture (not Universal's PICTURE, **All Ouiet," but just a Universal pic- ture, "Seed"). And rumor has it that this class spot is also due for a temporary fadeout because of lack of suitable booking possw bilities. Similar discouraging reports come from other sections of the country regarding class houses— all dressed up and no pictures worthy of showing. Hollynvood has made many mis- takes, but none ever so liable to result in continuing disaster as the present policy. The old star favorites, whose fandom was as loyal as a Scotch clan, were played down in favor of a bunch of Broadway people because the latter happened to be cheaper. The same theory upon which a man might buy a shoddy suit. And the same result. Poor re- turns for the investment. Enough of it, and bankruptcy. Foalisk Trinity Similar folly was applied te the selection of supporting castas. And the same result. Pictures were ruined for the sake of sav- ing $50 a week. Tightening up of shooting time made the trinity of insen;- -".-o complete. Almost imp. le time limit*^ were set, and 100 per cent ri were expected from a bunch of performers whose tongues were hanging out from weariness. Those conversant with the manner of formerly turning out the smash pictures yelped, but what was the use? Bankers whose other money was invested in sausage factories, chain-store circuits and made-to-hand-me- down garment works, knew it alL Cut the overhead and standard- ize means of production. Now the class houses arc shut- ting down. Two and two Ai make four. Jantzen Park in Portland, Ore., is spending $125,000 in improve- ments preparatory to opening early in May. Outlay includes en- tirely new lighting system, new ballroom, with 3000 capacity, min- iature lake, ten motor boats, and ten miniature islands. This is the largest outdoor park on the coast. M. L. Smith is general manager. V/e hear a new park is to be built in Seattle, Wash., soon. Un- derstand the ground is already se- lected and the site will be along- side the beautiful bay. Hitt Fireworks Co., Seattle, has contracted more outdoor events this year than for the past six years. This company has come along until it is the largest in the country, having branch factories in Maryland, Pittsburg, Pa., -nd Hongkong, China, together with the maip factory at Seattle. W. E. Priestley and Thomas G. Hitt are the owners. ConkJin & Garrett Canadian Shows open in Vancouver, B. C, May 2, under auspices of Van- couver Elks. Frank Conklin has recovered from his recent illness. Prinz Making Record at Fox With Follies SAN FRANCISCO, May 1. —Le Roy Prinz, whose pic- ture appears on page 1, is cur- rently producing the spectacu- lar Fox Follies at the Fox Theatre, San Francisco, where he is hanging up a record in keeping with his previous achievements. Fox Theatre's stage revues are outstanding in the West, if not in the entire country, and Prinz's exceptional talents are building them up to an even higher level. Foley and Burk Carnival got under way at Fruitvale (Oakland), Calif., April 11, This is the twen- ty-fourth tour of this coast de- fender. Charley Albright is man- ager of concessions; Glenn Young, cookhouse; Ed. Foley, owner and general manager; Joe Geissler, assistant manager; Lee Brandon, secretary-treasurer; Ralph Hauser, trainmaster; Al Crooks, press and special agent; J. S. Andress, ad- vertising agent; Frank Selby, elec- trician. Show's next stop is at Sixty-sixth Avenue and Four- teenth Street, Oakland. Sacra- mento next stand. BISCHOFF AT U Sam Bischoff, formerly business manager and associate producer at Columbia, has signed as associate producer at Universal. His firvSt assignment will be "The Homicide Squad.'' Regular season of Lakeside Park, Denver ,will open May 23. F. D. Fowler is the manager. Milt Holland Indoor Circus is at present playing under auspices in Billings, Mont. Report business good. The old medicine show is com- ing back Two such shows are al-f employee of the Postal Sav- ready in the sticks on the coast and . { ^ Chicago, is a regu- doing big business. Blackface and old ballyhoo is getting 'em. SEES BROTHER'S DEBUT SEATTLE, May 1.—Carl Lang. A good tent rep show with the right bills, right people, well or- ganized and conducted in a busi- nesslike manner, using the real old circus methods of exploitation, as in the old 10-20-30 days, will get some big money for a real live wide-awake showman. Motorized, of course. (Continued on Page 10) lar customer of Inside Facts. Re- cently he saw an article saying his brother had made his ' ' as an actor, assisting Bert L>Lcil in "The Spider." Who is the brother? No one but our own Carl Re iter. MEYER BACK Abe Meyer, ^ head of the Meyer Synchronizing Service, has re- turned to Hollywood from a busi- ness trip. Morey Amsterdam "DOCTOR OF MIRTH CONTROL" AH Kiads of Material for Radio, Sta^e and Screen Loew*» Warfield Theatre. Care Rube Wolf San FrancUco