Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1933)

12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday. October 6. [933' Back Stage «"^ Off Record By FRANK SCHAFFER f^ DDIE DOVVLING, who is too busy on production to attend all \ meetings of tlie ABA of which he is the president, would like to •^ resign but the actors won't let him. . . . George Sidney automobiled all the way to Hollywood. Two days there he got a job as sound man at M-G-M. A few weeks later it was discovered he is the son of L. K. Sidney, executive of the Loew circuit. . . . Johnny Simon, who has been ill for many months, is getting better every day in every way. He is in Hollywood. . . . Many Paramount customers would like to see the two Crawfords back and many who visit the Music Hall would like to hear them play the twin organs of which only one is in use. . . . Esther Ralston who filed bankruptcy claims the other day, is said to have been a victim of Los Angeles real estate sharks. . . Martin Beck's vaudeville deal is off because he says he's not interested in teaching ■"them" show business. Wonder who the "them" are? . . . The foreign department of a large picture concern received a cablegram in French the other day, but none of the staff was able to translate it. . . . Alfred Loyal, dog trainer who has played practically every circuit, has bought a home in Fernwood, IM. J. . . . They say that La Belle From abroad: Every film studio in Italy is working overtime and show business is excellent. . . . Warners may build their own theatres in Holland. . . . Germany expects to do big business with "Cavalcade," "State Fair" and "Zoo in Budapest." ... A new studio has been built in Hammersmith, England, to be known as Triumph Film. Reginald Smith is managing director. . . Alsace-Lorraine needs foreign pictures. France only delivers about 200 a year, Germany only a few and America even less. . . . About 165 features are scheduled to be made in Germany in the new season. ... A little over four million people in Germany are out of work, or more than a million less than last year. . . . Titcorab died in Germany penniless. In former years she was the toast of Europe and played many times for B. F. Keith and Martm Beck. Nat Wills was her last husband. . . . "Tink" Humphry writes from Hollywood that he lives on orange juice one day and the next day on tomato with very light meals in between. His heart is beating better. . . . Irving Simon, the booking agent, who a few weeks ago tipped the scales at 225 pounds has reduced his weight to 190. . . . Lew Hearn, the pint size comedian, has found a partner by the name of Charita, an attractive woman with a splendid voice. . . . . Norma Shearer, who was given a gold medal for making good pictures, should also receive one for saving the life of young Sam Goldwyn. . . . Albert Gloria, the ball-room dancer, is now a "legit actor" in "Her Mask of Wax." . . . Dave Hutton, Aimee Semple MacPherson's husband who appears in vaudeville, has to pay commish to Arthur Silber, to Billy Jackson and to his personal representative, Harry Brandon. . . . Every big-time booking agent claims to have Josephine Baker under contract, but they all can learn here that the colored countess will not come to America to entertain publicly. . . . Morrison and Winkler, booking agents, refuse to handle freak acts and are not interested in colored turns. . . . Quarters of the RKO vaudeville department has been reduced to hall room. . . . Keyhole Stuff When Danjty Simmons, former vaudeville booker for B. S. Moss Theatres, went to Paris to live a life of dolce far niente, he killed most of his time by riding bicycle. He's now in Hollywood with two bikes. One for himself, the other for Moss. Can you picture them riding up Hollywood Boulevard? . . . Joe Laurie, Jr., is a pipe collector and smoker, but his frau does not allow him to smoke at home, or in her presence. So he hangs out 'till late in the morning at the Friars' Club. . . . Clifford and Marion are sort of unique among actors. They often refuse bookings at full salary because they'd rather play golf and bridge. . . The Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool is now a music hall playing eight acts of vaudeville. . . . "The Sign of the Cross" and "Rain" are, for the time being, forbidden in England. . . . "Moonlight and Pretzels" will be known in England as "Moonlight and Melody." . . . Gambling casinos on the style of Monte Carlo will be built in Carlsbad, Baden Baden and other German summer resorts. . . . Most American turns booked to appear in London engage "claques" to applaud their acts. . . . Poland has only one studio. Makes about a dozen pictures a year but needs 250 — a chance for America to cover the market better. . . . In 1923, Ike Rose imported from abroad a midget troupe to be known as Ferdinand Singer's Midgets (no relation to Leo Singer) and has paid the troupe over $120,000 in salary in six years. Yet these little folks have never paid the Government a cent of income tax. They are at present at the World's Fair in Chicago. . . . There are about 25 eating places on West 47th St., between Broadway and Sixth Ave. The only one frequented by actors and executives is Gerson's, next to the Palace stage entrance. . . . John Ringling, the circus king, looks worried and his hair is greying. . . . Morton Downey is getting stouter and Bessie Mack is reducing on a "Webers Tea" diet. ... Ed Davidow, booking agent for "legit" shows, would like to reduce his large quarters in the Bond Building, but by doing so, thinks it might hurt his business reputation. . . . Bert Lahr says: "The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those who feel." . . . The Theatrical Democratic League has sent a list of about a dozen names of so-called "chiseler agents" to Commissioner William Flynn, Senator Thomas F. Burchill and Senator Elwood M. Rabenold. About half a dozen names have also gone to the district attorney's office. A clean-up is expected by the whole trade. . . . The Circle Theatre, Columbus Circle, can use better ventilation. . . . Countess Albani, radio star, was born in Barcelona and not in Hungary. . . . Ruth Mix has taken up a course in aviation. Wants to become a pilot. ... A film studio is scheduled to be built on the French Riviera. It will be called "Riviera-Hollywood." An English concern is furnishing the capital. . . . Jake Lubin, head booker for Loew, says N. R. A. stands for "No Rotten Acts." . . . Rex Weber's contract with the Shuberts expires next May 15. . . . The "Brown Derby" restaurant in the Hollywood Building on Broadway, between 51st and 52nd Sts., is in opposition to Lindy's. . . Mack of Blondell and Mack, booking agents, insists that in time to come the public will demand vaudeville again. Others have different ideas. . . . Charles Griswold, manager of the Music Hall, is beginning to show the effects of too close application to business. A little rest would do him no harm. . . . Eddie Darling, former Keith booking chief, when in town invites a few actors for dinner and pays the bill a few days later by check. In former days, the actors paid the bills — and were glad to do so. . . . A married man, for 17 years back-stage doorman in various Keith and RKO theatres — 55 years of age — hale and hearty — needs a job. . . . I And Walter Kelly says: "If we cannot live so as to be happy, let us at least live so as to deserve it." . . Since Gomez and Vinona started the "Bolero" many dancing acts now are doing ditto. . . . Russell Patterson may do the scenery for the "White Horse Inn." . . . Mills-Kirk-Martin, comedy trio, will lose one of their members. It will be Harry Martin, who has an offer to go on the air. . . . Mrs. Berle, mother of Milton, who appeared for five weeks in Chicago, says she didn't get to the World's Fair, because she was too busy applauding Milt. . . . Cliff Hall, Jack Pearl's partner, is getting along nicely. The auto accident has marred his face and neck with 47 stitches. He resumes his broadcasting with Pearl Oct. 7. . . . "Count" Bennett has secured the right for America of the stage play "Die Stadt Ohne Juden" ("The City Without Jews.") . . . Dave Kramer and Jack Boyle are partners again. . . . Theodore Dreiser very often takes his meals at La Petite Bretonne on West 55th St. During luncheon hours one may see there many film actors in their make-up from the Fox studio. . . . Did you see the five carat diamond ring on Hatty Alhoff's finger? She tells everybody it is a present from an admirer. As a matter of fact, it is an heirloom from her father. . . . One hundred and twenty-five musical bell ringers from Sweden will visit America. They pay their own fares both ways, but will listen to dates for vaudeville or picture theatres. . . . Georgie Price who works strenuously for the A. B. A., sans pay, is an idealist. Erik Charell, European producer, can't understand why American managers plaster beautiful lobbies with cheap card boards. . . . Former Ambassador Gerard, passing the Capitol Theatre, made the same remark. . . . Roy Smeck has a patent on a "pick" for banjoes, guitars and "ukes" and collects $50 a week in royalties. . . . "Zit Cosmopolitan" is still the feature sign on top of the dark theatre. . . . Single monologists and also comedians with stooges will soon be no longer in. demand, says a broker of a major vaudeville circuit.