Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

11 /lay 16. 19 3 1 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 53 SLICES Cf MELLIN I By BOBBY MELLIN Wallace Butterworth, popular Chicago NBC Jnnouncer finds it necessary to frequently ad!i|ise his feminine admirers that he is unmarried. Ls a matter of inside information, however, it light be said that he spends much of his time, 'ttter his closing broadcast in the evening, using jie long distance wires between Chicago and jlontreal. . . . Ennio Bolognini, brilliant young ■outh American cellist, heard on programs rom the Chicago NBC studios, has other musi.fcil qualifications than his cello, it has been disclosed. A few months ago Bolognini began yH-acticing on the saxophone and now, so his ipusician friends declare, he has an ability with 'he instrument which is not surpassed by those rho have studied the instrument for years. . . . ["ifty cans of oil were sent by fans, to WENR •uring one week to be used in stopping the ;ueak of the curtain employed in the Weiner Jinstrel each Wednesday evening. The squeak, ilowever, lingers on. Hi £a^f^ and Dumke, those lovable Sisters of ^he Skillet, have been at work on health probmis for their suffering sisters. Reasoning that m apple a daj will keep the doctor away . . . -ji'o apples will keep two doctors away • •Mle a bushel will care for an average sized ■linic. These two clever artists are featured aily over the NBC "nutwork." More than ten ■housand fan letters for the first two broad'-'<asts of a new feature never before on the air quite a record, but that is ivhat happened vhen Johnny Wolfe, also known as Hometcader Johnny, began his broadcast of Jewish ''ialect stories on the Farm & Home Hour, ^he featiire was first tried experimentally, to ee what the public reaction ivould be, and was 0 enthusiastically received that it was made regular feature. \ George Devron opened at the Hotel LaSalle fast week, replacing Husk O'Hara. George and he band just returned from a record breaking rip through the south, and he should have no rouble at all in putting over this room. Lots if luck, George old boy. . . . Danny Russo is low at the Canton Tea Garden for the sumner. . . . Charlie Agnew opened at the Terace Gardens. . . . Henri Gendron went over A'ith a bang at the New Oriental Gardens. . . . liarold Bean, staff vocalist and announcer of CYW, has been holding out on the radio audi^nce. It has been learned through a confiding Briend that Bean is a talented violinist as well .5 singer and announcer. . . . Thirteen babies lave been named after Irma Glenn, the little ady who plays the big organ from WENR .nd the Chicago NBC studios. JULIA DAWN The Golden Voiced Organist For the Past Year at PARAMOUNT'S PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Sydney, Australia WILL BE BACK IN AMERICA IN JUNE Banjo Wizard on Air Eddie Peabody, guest master of ceremonies at the St. Louis Fox theatre, presented a special banjo program over Radio Station KWK, St, Louis, April 2, for children who are members of the Tuberculosis and Health Society's radio feature. The Happy Jack Health Club. More than 1000 children have qualified for membership in this club. Admission is gained by following certain prescribed rules for health and keeping charts showing weight, etc., for a given period of time. The radio station donates the time and the guest artists, such as Eddie Peabody who give their services without charge. STAGE $t1€>V$ Cincinnati RKO Albee Week ending May 8 Current bill is headlined by Peggy Hopkins Joyce as the first of a series of "names" booked to play this house in forthcoming weeks. Aussie and Czeh, in "A Dash of Argentine," open at a lively tempo, featuring bolero, axe and whip manipulations, which, although offering nothing particularly new or outstanding, are, nevertheless, expertly accomplished. Billy Lytell and Tom Fant, credited with having appeared in "The Spider" on Broadway, occupy second position, working in black face. Opening with classy tap dancing, they follow with a series of travesties on magic, closing with banjo, sax, clarinet and snare drum numbers. The much-married Peggy, with an unprogrammed man and woman, follow with a sketch billed as "Rings On Her Fingers." This heavily publicized performer is at once the cynosure of all feminine eyes with her elaborate wardrobe. She is withal easy on the optic nerve, being comely and of fine facial attributes. Apparently suffering from a cold, her enunciation was none too perfect during the opening performance. The sketch is timely, dealing with Wall Street, although not calling for display of unusual dramatic scenes. The act closes to considerable applause. Britt Wood, on next to closing, features jazz, classical and operatic numbers on his harmonica, the numbers being interspersed with rural chatter remindful of "Chic" Sale, while the material has done service on many previous occasions. He closes with a number of tap dances playing his own accompaniment on a guitar. Wood was the applause hit of the show. Harry White and Alice Manning, assisted by Three Bernie Brothers and Arthur Parent, have the closing spot. Miss Manning does a series of toe dances while White clowns. In fact, much of the act is given over to clowning except dancing of the Bernies, which is rhythm itself. Miss Manning subsequently comes in for some acrobatic turns in which she is hurled about by her male partner, landing in extremely difficult positions. 12 Musicians Get Notice Omaha — The 12 men in the stage band of the Publix World have received one month's notice. Rumors indicate either closing or change of policy as the reason. First Appointment Made In New Managerial System Chicago (QP) — First appointment has been made in the new system adopted by Publix for this territory, whereby managers will be responsible for both operation and advertising. Roy Kalver, former theatre manager who has been in charge for the past several years of advertising for nine local Publix theatres, has been appointed operating director of the Paramount in Detroit. Formerly, the manager was in charge of operation only, advertising being under another executive entirely. Now theatre managers will be selected for their advertising experience as well as knowledge of operation, and appointments similar to Kalver's will be made from time to time. The recent additional appointments of division managers by Fox is expected to lead other companies to extend this system. Warners Change Policy And Managers in North Salem, Ore. — Elsinor and Capitol, which a few months ago were taken over by Warners from Fox and placed under management of John Stille, have again switched. Both houses will be operated directly by Los Angeles headquarters, with Jerry Laswell named as resident manager in Salem, Marty Swartz, assistant division manager for Warners in Pacific Northwest, has appointed Harold Murphy as manager of the company's Aberdeen house, transferring Edward Fitzgerald, former manager to Los Angeles. 13 Agents Organize on Coast To Advance Business Ethics Hollywood — The Association of Motion Pictures Artists, Representatives and Managers has been organized by 13 agents to "advance high ethical standards in the conduct of the business and foster better understanding in that business." Officers are Frank Joyce, president; Ruth Collier, vice-president; Eddie Silton, secretary and Morris Small, treasurer. The board of governors has nine members. Other licensed agents have been invited to join. Seattle First-Run Goes In for Double Featuring Seattle — For the first time in many years a local first-run is presenting a "doublefeature" program -here this week. JensenVon Herberg's Liberty offers "Caught Cheating" and "Sisters," in addition to its usual program of shorts and newsreel. Usual prices of 15 cents from 9 A. M. until 7 P. M. and 30 cents thereafter still prevail. Many of the second-run and suburban houses in this territory use occasional "double-feature" bills at infrequent intervals. Hamrick Fires Opening Gun In New Seattle Price War Seattle — After several months of quiet, the first-run price war has cropped up here again. John Hamrick announces a new 25c policy in his Blue Mouse, all day, every day. Children will be charged 10c at all times. This house formerly charged 25c until 1 P. M., 35c until 6 P. M. and then 50c thereafter, with loges at 75c.