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

Page Ten INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, May 2, 1931 To the A He Objects to C. S. Slant In a recent issue of Inside Facts appeared a story concern- ing a man who is a Christian Scientist, and who has been get- tine: away from home each Wednesday night on the pretext of PCoing- to church, and who was found in a cafe booth with a C.S. (Cute and Slim). Of course, no reflection upon the Christian Science relig:ion was meant thereby. Had the man been a Methodist, Baptist or any other religion, the story would still have been the same; it just happened that he was a Chrisian Scientist. However, one of our readers took exception and sent us the following letter, which we print, with due apologies for having given offense, even though none was meant: April 20, 1931.. Editor of Inside Facts: facetious comment in "Some Close-Ups/* in your issue of April 11, might give a wrong impression, and I should like to say that the ruse and deviation mentioned in the item are not consistent with Christian Science. Earnest students of Christian Science soon discover that they must destroy tendencies towards intrigue and dissimula- tion, and that they must acquire integrity, fidelity, truthfulness and other high moral qualities in order to attain an under- standing of Christian Science. They find that moral progress is necessary in order to heal through Christian Science. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Chris- tian Science, lived a life that was above reproach, and she set a high standard for her followers. In her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 497), she presents the following as one of the religious tenets of Christian Science, "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just and pure." Yours truly, (Signed) ALBERT E. LOMBARD, Christian Science Committee on Publication for Southern California. Outdoor News Continued from Page 3) When will the carnivals, big and little, get next to themselves and furnish uniforms (brown pre- ferred) for their concessionaires, ride help, talkers, show attaches, etc.? Towners complain about the dirty looking carnival people when they visit a lot. A little sawdust, more light, new banners, painted platforms and ticket boxes, paint- ed rides, and less talking out of the side of the mouth, would also do some of the "Gilly" shows a lot of good and mean more money. The boss could wear a clean shirt once in a while, too. It is advisable that everyone connected with the outdoor show world join the Pacific Coast Show- men's Association. The address is Orpheum Theatre Building, Los Angeles. Much can be done to a.ssist showmen to get information, help on contracts, local permits, legislation, fight phoney laws, cre- ate contacts with local authorities, and other valuable assistance. Write the secretary today. Conessionsers, Promoters: Vet- erans Foreign Wars State conven- tion; Long Beach, Calif., June 14- 16. Brotherhood Locomotive En- gineers, Oakland, Calif., June 25- 27; Knights Pythias, Sacramento, Calif., May 18-22; Sons of Her- man, Petaluma, May 10-12; G. A. R. Encampment, Sacramento, May 10-15. Concessionaires at chutes at the beach, San Francisco, have had a break in the weather this season so far. Business has been good. Joints that have been properly flashed and throw .ut merchandise have had the biggest play. Are you fellows looking forward to the Olympic Games at Los An- geles in 1932? Thousands of tour- ists will be out here for that event. Boost it to the limit with every means at your command. It means business for you and cre- ates a good impression among the locals where you might be playing. The Los Angeles Chamber of Com- merce will furnish stickers and ad- vertising matter. Write them. MU^AY (FACULTY)—Bud and Gladys Murray. Byron Ccaaiftr—(BALLET)—Mary Franon Tayl»r PRACTICAL DRAMATICS AND STAGE DANCING Tap, Off.Rhythm, ''Modernized" Ballet & Acrobatics Bud Murray** "California Sunbeams" Alwayt in Demand— 3 Units Now PUyins •THE ORIGINAL MURRAY SCHOOL" «< 3RD YEAR—SAME PLACE' AverOI On Stage, Air and In Cafe Bud Averill, presentation head- liner, picture player and who re- cently became the proprietor of a restaurant on Crenshaw at West Adams, is now the in-flesh entertainment at the Fox-Adams Theatre, situated across the street from his eating-spot. Bud, who is known as the singing: Paul Whiteman," start- ed his Fox-Adams engagement this week, singing to the accom- paniment of guitar and banjo in the hands of his brother, Kelsey Averill. This duo also entertain over two radio stations, KFI on Wednesdays and Fridays, and KECA on Mondays and Thurs- days. Bud's air draw is rated plenty hot, as barometered by the fan response. Bud's new restaurant, known as Bud Averill's Cafe, got off to a flying start last week. Besides the neighborhood draw, which in- cludes the Chamber of Commerce business and most of the eaters- out around and about, he is get- ting a good patronage from his friends in show business. Every night finds a bunch of them hold- ing forth there, Bud being open until the gang choses to go home. Specialty at the spot is South- ern Style Coon Fried Chicken, which is nowhere else obtainable this side of Salt Lake City. Prices are popular, luncheons running on a 40-cent tariff, and dinners selective at 50 cents, 75 cents and $1. Vancouver By A. K. MacMa rtin. VANCOUVER, May 1. — Ca- nadian cities are forbidden terri- tory to American newsrcel cam- eramen unless they pay full duty on their apparatus each time they enter, without hope of refund when they leave, according to the latest advice received from Ottawa by the local customs officials. Formerly provision was made for a relaxation of regulations, permitting refund of duty on the camera apparatus when the cam- eramen took it back across the line. The Vancouver and Victoria publicity bureaus are taking the matter up with Ottawa in an en- deavor to have the old regulations kept in force. A couple of high class promot- ers hooked the local Musicians Union, Local 145, for a couple of grand recently. They staged a benefit dance using the musicians as a draw in the big arena which they filled, and only turned over $100 to the boys. The officials of the union, who made the ar- rangement with these fast work- ers, came in for some severe criti- cism from members at a recent meeting. James and Smith, a new com- bination in show cii'cles here, have leased the National Theatre, Has- tings street, from Jake Ising, owner. They have fixed this sec- Expert Exploitation -By Jay Perry Silvey, S. F. Office. Inside Fact.. live down, espe- and is impressed SAN FRANCISCO, May l.—How many managers and press agents make the mistake of telling too much of the plot of their forth coming attraction? This is a fault that is hard to cially if the advertising man has seen the picture or sold on it himself. A skillful advertiser selects the high-lights or teasers from a pic- turc and endeavors to focus the advertising appeal on these It is practically impossible to tell everything about any product, and thU goes double for a theatre i^rogram. Try and select just enough to intrigue the curiosity and create the desire in your patron's mind to see the complete show. The greatest picture made today will proba- bly sound like a dime-thriller in a five hundred-word synopsis as given in the average press sheet. So concentrate on that that makes your attraction different from others, and present it in a attract attention as well as awaken curiosity. This that garners the box office shekels.^* way that will being the factor as There is such a thing, too, timely advertising, using some- thing that will tie in with a local or national event, taking advan- tage of the publicity already being used on it. Paul Spier at the San Francisco Paramount comes to the front again this week with a gag of this nature for his picture, "The Finger Points." He has a col- ored card made up approximately inches high by 15 inches wide. IG Processed on at the top of the card is the wording "Who killed Lingle? Was Leo Brothers guil- ty? "THE FINGER POINTS" will do a little explaining at the PAR- AMOUNT." Below this he has pasted a colored litho 11x14 action stiU taken from the regular ex- change stuff. This stunt is cer- tain to attract attention, not alone that the Lingle case and subse- quent Brothers trials have been featured in papers and magazines for some time, but also because Spier has hand-picked his window spots for cards of this type. Proper equipment and are going after the business. They are plugging the change of management over the air through a local radio station. Business at the present stanza at local show shops is on the up and up. Lent being over and strong attractions offering is re- sponsible for the jump in attend- ance. Charlie Chaplin in "City Lights" at the Strand, built up the mati- nees, with better than average night business. Weaver Brothers and Elviry, ^leadlining the RKO Orpheum stage show and Para- mount's "Fighting Caravans" on the screen, drew better business into the big Granville Street house. At the Capitol Fox's "East Lynne" drew big matinees. On the stage the Gldays Attree Dancers in the Floradora Sextette, with Ivy Ev- ans at the house organ, proved a popular added attraction. The Do- minion had a double bill. Para- mount's "Finn and Hattie" and "Rango" billed as a sequel to "Africa Speaks," which had a big run at this house sometime ago, was responsible for nice business. The Vancouver Legit House and the Empress, late home of the B.C. Guild Players, were both dark. Second run and suburban ond-run house up with new talkie houses all did well. DPE55 YOUR THEATRE OP VOUB ACT WITH THE FINEST AND MOST APTISTIC ENERY AND Willi lilt I lnL«/l /Ai^L/ i^iv/^i /AKII^II\# DRAPERIES MNTFf) RY TMF lADAFVT AND MOST DE5I6NED MADE UP AND PAINTED BY THE LAP6E5T AND MOST EFFICIENT STAFF OF SCENIC APTISTS, OESIQNERS AND DRAPERY EXPERTS IN AMERICAS LARGEST AND MOST BEAVTIfVL STUW05 Anceles Scenic Stvdios 5 IIJ 111 133 ciRir AFFILIATCO WITrt OVXS T fnOMpSON SCttK CCl 1215 BATES AVE. AT FOUNTAIN fi^t. NEAR SUNSET BLVl\ Plioiie OLyinpiaL291 * r.rr r r r DROP CURTAINS PICTURE SCREENS PROLOGUES CINEMAS STAGe CVCLOPAMAS ASBESTOS CUI?TAINS VniOUE ErrECTS^'SETTINOSroRTnc MODEPN STAGE UNUSUAL FABRICS I DRAPERIES TAPESTRIES -WALL tlAN6iN3S MURAL DECORATIONSA CURTAIN TRAVELERS OPECATED BY PEMOTE CONTROL placing means everything in the distribution of practically all kinds of advertising, and there -is no sense in spenaing a wad of money on advertising, if said advertis- ing IS going to be hidden away in almost inaccessible spots. Spier is also creating an advance sale on his forthcoming Tallulah Bankhead feature by passing out beautiful miniatures of Bankhead star stills appropriately lettered with the theatre name* and date of showing. The lettering is put directly onto the star still and made up by the Pictgraph process. More of this timely business is in evidence this week through the noble efforts of Bob Gilmour of the San Francisco Fox staff. Bob came to the bat with two excellent gags that deserve a great deal of credit. The first was his taking advantage of the 1931 straw hat season by planting a story and pic in all papers. The picture, a sketch of Wait Koesner, the genial Fox leader, all dolled up in a fancy straw sailor, and surrounded by a ring of dancing ladies, took a place in the news section along- side of a sizeable story. Story was that the Fox Theatre would offi- ciaily recognize straw hat day by having all the musicians decked out in the latest hay neadgear cre- ations for the masculine sex, and also carried a plug for the Fox feature "Shipmates" and of course the Koesner ensemble. The other was for the Warficld; a co-op page commemorating the opening of the fishing season and topped off with the banner line "Warfield Fishing liiquipment Ex- hibit Lures Anglers." Tie up was made complete by showing the lat- est dope in what the weil-dressed fisherman will use and wear for 1931. Atl stores catering to this class of trade were eligible for the page and were well represented on it. Sharp had a great break in the reading matter, and all in all, a nice time was had by all. William B. Wgnon's Davies had the appearance of a South Sea Isl- and stronghold last week for the showing of "Gow," a South Sea Island travelogue. Lobby was hung with every conceivable kind of spear, ornaments, fishing nets, utensils, and what-nots used by these cannibals and head-hunters, as well as species of snake and game from their territory. A spe- cial stand in the outer lobby was used for a give-away herald de- scribing the picture, and practical- ly all those who stopped to gaze either attended the show, or car- ried away a herald for further perusal. The herald was large in size, measuring about eight by ten inches and was well laid out and illustrated, featuring the two dol- lar show at popular prices angle. Phil Phillips, handling the p.a. end of the Qakland Fox district, turned himself and staff inside out on '*Skippy" and made a beautiful showing. He previewed the pic- ture for the Motion Picture Coun- cil of the Federation of Women's Clubs, and they liked it so well that the president, Mrs. A. B. Armstrong, sent out 1500 letters at her own expense to all the mem- bers, on the merits of the picture. The H. C. Capwell store made a special reproduction of the shanty- town scene from the picture, filled it full of ''Skippy" dolls, and plen- ty of advertising for the picture. The extreme attractiveness of the window was evidenced by the con- tinual crowd in front of it night and dav. Phil also shot out 6000 cartoon strips of "Skippy" to the school kids to be colored, with passes for the first 50 brought in. About 500 came in, which is good percentage on this type of gag. The stage show was the **Mickey Mouf.e Idea,'' and Phil talked the Post into a Talkogram contest with $50 in prizes to the lucky ones. This stiint is merely a car- toon of Minnie and Mickey Mouse, with a place above to write in their imaginary conversation. The most subtle conversations re< <'V'- ing the money.