Inside facts of stage and screen (May 23, 1931)

Page Two INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, May 23, 1931 FRALICK, DOLGE, MAYER PLAN COMBINE Dorothy Burgess Set for Big Break One of the real big shots for talking: picture stardom, who has heretofore been s u b m e r e d through lack of vehicles which fully tested her wide versatility and flaming personality, is Doro- thy Burgess. But now she's go- ing to get that big break they're all looking for. She has been cast in the exacting role of Lasca in "Lasca of the Rio Grande." Sam Bischoff, now operating un- der a newly signed contract with Universal, did the casting. And when Sam picks 'em for the up- per rungs of fame he doesn't miss. He is predicting a response to Dorothy's portrayal which will sweep the country as Dorothy's former stage Portrayals swept Broadway. Miss Burgess' swept into sud- den picture fame opposite Warner Baxter in Fox's great master- piece "In Old Arizona." The pub- lic went wild over the charm and histrionic ability displayed by her in that film, but Fox failed to capitalize on this break to an ex- tent to make it stick. Under their economy policy, they placed her in a number of vehicles which didn't give her the opportunity to *'cinch'* the hold she had taken on the public heart. One or two more like "Old Arizona" and Miss Burgess undoubtedly would have been as big a talkie star today the screen has. Five Years ok Broadwaj- Funny, too, because Miss Bur- gess came to Hollywood with a background of five glorious years on Broadway, as a specialty danc- er in New York's Music Box, and leads in Edmund Goulding's stage play, "Dancing Mothers," "The Adorable Liar," "Bye-Bye Broad- way," "Crooked Squares," later made into film by Colleen Moore, and others. Los Angeles and Hol- lywood got a chance to see her stage ability in "Lulu Belle," at the Belasco Theatre, and this town went for her in a btg waj\ She wrapped that show <ap and took it right home with her, put- ting over a dramatic ability and a s.a. that left no room for any- thing but raves. Just Suits "Lasca" in which Dorothy will do the title role, is a part that couldn't have suited her better had it been written for her. It is a beautiful romance of the Rio Grande country in the days when people had time to think more of love than they do now\ Sam Bischoff will have direct supervision of the production, and the industry realizes that is a practical guarantee that it will be done in maximum style. Bisch- off, following his policy of exact- ing the best from people, has let it be known that Dorothy will be allowed to interpret Lasca with no restrictions, and that means that the role wiU be one of flame, bho is a living Lasca, and, inso- far as acting ability is concerned, IS a born rather than an acci- dental actress. To Ask Amos 'N' Andy Ban GET BIG CONTRACT F. H. Bowen of the seating de- partment of Barker Brothers has ju.st re-seated Popkin, Robbins and Lasher's Joy Theatre, in L, A wnth new Rolux chairs. The firm was recently awarded the largest Beating contract of the year in this territory, equipping Scripps Col- lege at Claremont with 2,500 full upholstered chairs. Barker Broth- ers has lately been equipping sev- eral theatres hereabouts with eve- rything for the front of the house irom the grand curtain out. IS RENDEZVOUS ^ An increasingly popular check- in spot for members of the pro- fession is the Campbell Apart- ments on Wilshire. The hard times have chased many of the old-liners out of hotels iiitj apartmentfl, and this spot has proved a major ren- dezvous under the new order of things. Miss Elsie Lehman, mana- ger, and the two desk grecters, Jimmie Lee and Eddie O'Neil, are well acquainted with the show buamess world, and extend them- setves for members of it. (Continued from Page 1) a bigamist, and there were vari- ous liars and other unfavorable persons of the colored race. Slanders Race The protest says that the con- stant broadcasting, night after night, of Amos 'n' Andy, with not a single redeeming member of the colored race being shown, i.e., the educated type of today who rate high in their profes- sions as lawyers, doctors, minis- ters, industrialists, etc., is ipso facto slanderous on the entire race. It is declared that the ef- fect on the rising generation, whch is an educated generation, will be most deleterious, tending to implant an inferiority complex which will work greatly to the detriment of their progress. Also it will make the white race adopt a false standard of impressions regarding the colored people, making them think that, despite brilliance of mind and rectitude of ethics, colored people cannot rise above the standard of intel- ligence and morals depicted in the Amos 'r' Andy broadcasts. Some letters, typical of the hundreds being received by the Courier, follow: A "FreaJc P rof ession" Mr. R. L. Vann, Editor, The Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dear Sir: Please accept this letter as congratulation for the Courier's position in the attack upon Amos 'n' Andy, who have and are be- smearing the Negro race by en- largi . upon their ignorance, and receiving a lucrative sum for do- ing so. The type of Negro that Amos 'u' Andy are imitating was, at one time, quite numerous in the South, This, of course, is a dis- credit to the Southern whites, who used ignorance or rather looked upon auch as a safeguard to slavery. The proceeds from such ignorance has made the South what it is today financial- ly. Hence, Amos 'n' Andy are following in the footsteps of their ancestors. It seems to me that learned men could find plenty to do in this modern day without trying to modernize and popularize ig- norance. Therefore, I as, a lead- er of my people, go on record as detesting this ''Freak Profession." Sincerely yours for the cause, qfi« TT- M ^7' ^' ybS Highland Avenue, Warren, Ohio, Don't Give Up Fight Mr. K. L. Vann, Editor, The Pittsburgh Courier Pittsburgh, Pa. Dear Sir: I am glad to know that there IS one race paper that is willing to take up the fight against the two "crackers" from the South, If Amos 'n' Andy and the rest of their kind would spend a lit- tle of their time broadcasting about the IjTiching and burning of Negroes in the South, I am sure that we could get some bene- fit from their tal and America could hold her head up. Please don't give up the good fight Yours respectfully, Henry Taylor. 99 Steuben St., East Orange, N. J. Shame and Disgrace Mr. R. L. Vann, Editor. The Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pa. Dear Mr. Vann: write to voice my views of propaganda, which is harmful to us in every way. J. Alexander McNeill, Business Manager. Washington-Douglas Improvement League, Fayetteville, N. C. Money-Crazed Actors Mr. R. L. Vann, Editor, The Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh, Pa. Dear Sir; I am a constant reader of the Courier. I write to voice my sen- timent of the Amos 'n' Andy program, I think it very unfair to the race to have two money- crazed, so-called actors intimidat- ing them. Were they real black men they would hardly get a tumble. No! I am neither Amos nor Andy. Nobody in my house- hold listens to them. When I first heard them broadcast, I thought but little of them imi- tating our race. It gives one the idea that Negroes are bom dis- honest and incapable. I like health talks, spirituals, religious and educational feature, but I certainly do not approve of the Amos 'n* Andy propagan- da. Whether this is considered a vote against them or not, I am glad of the opportunity to fight against such propagandists. Sil- ence them and all others who at- tempt to belittle the Negro. Respectfully yours, Mrs. Susie Hilliard. 896 N. Fourth St., Weirton, W. Va. Culls From The Alley By OTIS APPLEFISH. The only thing that used to j agent lost. So he went out and did keep the budding young geniuses a no«e dive off the bridge. You off the stage was the managers. Now they're not STAGE STRUCK; they're STAGE STUCK. ♦ ♦ know, HONOR compels a true gen- tleman to pay his gamblin' debts, or else. So he elsed. « ♦ « And vaudeville ain't the only bum business. Most radio enter- They're not tryin' to get ''on I tainers are takin' their fan let- the stage." They're tryin' to get ters and sellin' 'em for mattress ^^F. I stuffings. It's sorta sacri-religi- ous, and sad, BUT sentiment don't Makin' "cakes" in show busi-1 count for much when you're havin ness today is about as hard as Dining Room trouble, growing pear trees on a marble ♦ ♦ # 1 And pictures! The latest com- petition for the screen actor is And you know yourself, you I the AUSTIN. There's more of never see tomato vines growin' on them motor driven cockroaches in the front wheel of a steam roller, pictures now than there are REL- ♦ * ♦ IATIVES on the RKO lot. Some vaudeville performers haven't seen the face of their I One thing that makes Wallace own watch since the "squawkies" Beery such a great comedian is oozed in. i that so far he hasn't used an Aus- tin to ge a laugh, ThCs^ie's l>i»en more suitcases I ♦ ^ ♦ thrown outta windows, and pants Maybe I'm puttin' bad ideas in torn slidin' down rain pipes than your head, Wally. Well, in case any year since Sophia Tucker was you are temp j^, why not do a an ingenue. scene where you drive one head-on * ♦ * into a Five Ton Mack truck? Then The discouragin' thing about show the truck? Then show the vaudeville is that there don't seem truck rolled over in the gutter, to be no remedy. THE AGENTS and you out tryin' to rub a couple 3 Leading Agents May Join Forces ^* r e d d i e Fralick and Grant Dolge, two of Hollywood's lead- ing agents, have consolidated forces, with prospects that a third among the leading agents, Jerry Mayer, will join the combine shortly. With the names of Fral^k, Dolge and Mayer in one agency, the organization undoubtedly would become an ace spot for picture bookings such as Holly- wood has not heretofore seen. All three of the prospective members are now rated individually as right at the top of the top-notch ratings. While the proposed amalgama- tion of the Fralick, Dolge and Mayer interests is not attributed by the members to the recent formation of a group of agents into an organization of agents, all three refused to join the new- ly formed group. Watchful Waiting The new group announced as its intention the augmentation of good fellowship among the agents and the formation of a code of ethics for agents. Fralick, Dolge and Mayer declared prior to or- ganization of the group that they would adopt toward it an attitude of watchful waiting, allowing the group either to prove or disprove its worth before they took defi- nite action towards joining, or made a definite statement that they would not join. All three also declared that their offices were conducted on strictly ethical lines, and have al- ways been so, and that they did not feel in need of any code to further regulate their square dealings, Joyce Angle There was also a feeling among certain of the agents that the new organization was the handiwork of Joyce and Selznick, promoted to further their own^ inter'^*='*s. Various reports wero; curr<;i*o prior to the roganizL.ion meeting that the new group would by no means register a hundred per cent among Holly- wood's agencies if the election showed a Joyce-Selznick control was to be put into effect. From pro-organization sources it was declared that this was not to be the case, but when the results of Frank Joyce emerged as presi- dent. Other officers were Ruth tS^ I'^TM^^^T^^n^ ^^^^'Z? f small scratches off the front elekions were ^nnouncel THE FUNERALS OF THE AC- fender of the shiny new Austin. TORS WHO'VE STARVED TO ♦ ♦ ♦ DEATH THAT THEY AIN'T GOT It might get a laugh. They still I Collier, vice president; Eddie Sil- NO TIME TO SIGN UP NEW go ga-gft over some awful sad ton, secretary, and Morris Small, TPIEATRES. things. treasurer. ♦ ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦ Named as Board Even them guys that do crystal Well, patients; here's bottoms Board of governors was an- *'gazin," and tell the customers up to show business. And here's nounced as follows: Phil Berg, all about what's goin' to happen one actor about ready to give it Freddie Fralick, Grant Dtlge, in the future, are iayln' awake the go-by. (♦) nights wonderin' whether they'll THE END get a Saturday or Sunday — in (Also Selected Short Subjects) time. I (*) EDITOR'S NOTE: We George Frank, Morris Small, Har- ry Weber, Frank Joyce, Eddie Silton and Ruth Collier. Membership was announced as think Otis is a better ^^y>\A^rV^3r.^-r^'^^^^ Last week a gymnast staked his than he is an actor. Grant Dolge, Freddie Fralick, Harry Weber, Rebecca and Silton, riggin' against a Sunday from an OTIS'S NOTE: That's what Edward Small, Phil Berg, Dunlap agent m a game of p.nochle. The | Marco said. ^nd Frank, Jim Ryan, Dave the Amos 'n' Andy program, am not interested in the program because it is unfair to the race. They are a shame and a disgrace. I am neither Amos nor Andy and would not like to be called either of the two. I consider this pro- gram harmful to the American >J egro. Inasmuch as the Amos 'n' Andy program is a reflection, a dis- grace, and a shame to the Amer- ican Negro, let it be resolved that every self respecting Negro take up the fight against such Morey Amsterdam "DOCTOR OF MIRTH CONTROL" All Kind, of Material for Radio, Stage and Screen Loevr's Warfield Theatre. Care Rube Wolf San F rancisco MacQUARRIE BUSY MacQuarrie Agency in Holly- wood signed about 20 players for pictures this week. Included are Forrester Harvey in a comedy role in Sam Woods' MGM production of "Man in Possession"; Snub Pol- lard as comedian in "The Corre spondent," which Al Green is di- recting for Warner Brothers; May Beatty for a ^art in the same pic ture; Lorna Balfour, character in- genue in Fox's "Merely Mary Ann"; Russell Hopton in "Star Witness" for First National; and Lew Kelley in "Mississippi," work- ing title of Universal's picture which Russell Mack is directing. GLEASON HEADS GUILD James Gleason was unanimous- ly elected president of the Catho- lic Motion Picture Guild for the new year which begins June 1. The retiring president is James Ryan, who has been two years in office. The new vice presidents are: Johnny Hines, Neil Hamil- ton, C. E. Sullivan and Winfield R. Sheehan. May McAvoy was retained as treasurer. CASTING CLIVE PLAY Lyons and Lyons are casting "As Husbands Go," the play E. E. Clive, eastern producer, is putting into the Biltmore, June 8. The two leads are being brought from New York. Thompson, Arthur Landau, Frank GOULDING SAILS ! Joyce and Ruth Collier, Inc. Edmund Goulding sailed for Immediately upon announce- England May 18 for a visit with ment of the elections and of the his mother for three weeks. Also membership, both Fralick and while there he will look over his Dolge declared they were not pet charity." As usual, Goulding members of the organization hav- finished his latest picture, "Be- ing attended only one meeting to tween Two Worlds," for Para- "find out what it was all about." mount, in record time. He returns Operating Independently to the Long Island studios to com- -^^^1, amalgamation of Fra- pimnc fn/o«''^i?^ \ lick and Dolge, and the proposed calling for another picture. | j^j^i^^ ^j^j, ^^^em of Jerry Mayer personnel of the combined or- BICKFORD IN "PAGAN LADY" I ganizations is not known, but it Charles Bickford will do the is believed all the present staffs lead in "The Pagan Lady," which will be retained. For the pres- Columbia is making for RKO re- Fralick and Dolge are con- lease. The ast is all A-1, in-h-i^^i^g to operate independently, eluded besides Bickford being The present Dolge organization Evelyn Brent, William Farnum, includes Don Stetson Davis in the Roland Young, Lucille Gleason story department, Pierre Hun- and Gwen Lee. | gate, handling the writers, and Gus Corder as associate, working LOTS OF TEARS ' ^'"^ P^^^'^'' Zelda SanUy, with F. and M.'sl BUBBLES BACK Vacation Days" Idea at Loew's Bubbles, class diver with Fan- State this week, is doing four chon and Marco's "Under the shows a day, and part of her as- Sea" Idea, has returned to Holly- signment per show is to cry her wood, and, it is understood, is be- heart out. Tough job, but how ing negotiated with for a part in she puts it over! I Henry Duffy's "Irene." FANCHON AND MARCO Present THE FLYING BARTLETTS In Their 'SUBMARINE" IDEA Act Fully Protected — Pnient Applied For BILLY JACKSON, Personal Representative RKO Office