42nd Street (Warner Bros.) (1933)

Ruby Keeler—A Silhouette UBY KEELER was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the year 1909. Her family moved to New York when she was three years old. Will tell you that she began to dance al most immediately. As a matter of fact, when she was in school, in the dull routine of exercises known as ‘‘drill,’’ she excelled to such an extent that her parents took her out of public school and placed her in the Professional Children’s School in New York City. In her class in the last named school were a few other children who were destined to become better known. Among them you have heard of Lillian Roth, Marguerite Churchill, William Janney and Gene Raymond. She began her stage career at the ripe old age of thirteen in the chorus of ‘‘The Rise of Rosy O’Reilly.’’ Then she was in the choruses of such successful musical shows as ‘‘The Sidewalks of New York,’’ ‘‘Lucky,’’ and ‘‘Bye, Bye Bonny.’’ She first came to the attention of the big Broadway producers when she made her appearance in Texas Guinan’s El Fey Club show. Her big opportunity came when Ziegfeld signed her as chief tap dancer for his new musical comedy, ‘‘ Whoopee.”’ | Married to Al Jolson She might have made a big hit in ‘‘Whoopee’’ but this was in September 1928 and Old Man Fate stepped in. She met Al Jolson. Here was a real romance. Mr. Jolson is Jewish. Miss Keeler is Irish and a Catholic. So they were married by a Justice ot the Peace. In spite of her marriage the girl was not finished with the stage. Again the call tame from Ziegfeld, and she was starred in ‘‘Show Girl.’’? She is modest enough to say that she did not exactly run away with the show —in spite of the fact that she got unusually good notices. Newspaper reports say that she spent the next three years turning down screen offers. But Ruby says, ‘‘Nothing of the Kind.’’ However, Joseph Schenck wanted her for the leading feminine role in Al Jolson’s forthcoming picture, and went so far daat nf har Than gha oowmantas Ease. = 4. La oA “aS vl Wako @ cope Ua 40Le” | thought it over and decided it wasn * the best thing for her to begin her picture career in her husband’s photoplay. So she begged off. Next night she met an executive from Warner Bros. at the ‘‘fights’’ in the Hollywood Bowl. He had seen the test and offered her a contract for the leading feminine role in the big Warner picture, ‘‘42nd Street.’’ So Ruby Keeler made her screen debut. She is rather a surprising young person. Unusually shy and modest for one who has been behind the footlights since the age of thirteen. She gets a great kick out of meeting a star or celebrity, and she collects auto GINGER ROGERS Ginger Rogers, titian-haired beauty who has an important role in the First National release “42nd Street,” was born in Independence, Missouri. Her stage career started as a result of her winning a Charleston contest in Texas which won her a part in a musical comedy “Top Speed” in New York. Since her arrival in Hollywood she has appeared in several large productions notably “You Said a Mouthful” with Joe E. Brown, “The Tenderfoot,” “Young Man of Manhattan,” “The Sap from Syracuse,” “Honor Among Lovers,” and “42nd Street” which is considered her greatest effort to date. graphed photographs when she has the courage to ask for one. Although she made a big success dancing in a night club she has not been inside of one since. They have no glamour for her. She dresses modestly, wearing decidedly youthful clothes and nothing extravagantly bizarre or flashy. Likes the New York shops but declares she has found a few good ones in Hollywood. She has no diet or beauty secrets, just says she gets all the sleep she -can and uses soap and water to no end. For exercise she practices dance steps. Also goes horseback riding. Loves Fishing | Her favorite outdoor sport is fishing. Goes fishing after the big ones at Catalina all of the time with Al. Plays golf with Al, too and is a whiz at it. Loves to watch prize fights, six day bicycle races and ice hockey. Also with Al. She likes to play ping pong but doesn’t care much about bridge. Likes to play ‘‘find the Murder’’ and rummy. Has no special pet economies, deelaring she doesn’t think she is in the least big extravagant. Says she doesn’t have to be, as Al is forever giving her nice presents. Doesn’t read a great deal but has a mania for a good detective story or an adventure story. Likes books EG Nag a ae oatting, 7 S. Fees Is in fa__ sticity with her husband, although she has had little home life for any great length of time. Is always on the move with Al, Likes California because she has almost had a permanent home there. Ruby Keeler may be described as a typical Irish beauty with brown hair and blue eyes. She is five feet four inches tall and weighs 105 pounds. She is under contract to Warner Bros.-First National Pictures and her pictures to date include ‘‘Gelddiggers of 1933’’ and ‘*42nd Street,’’ which<1snow: ab: the <<. ccca5 cscosevcshecssce Theatre with a great all star cast headed by Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels. UNA MERKEL Una Merkel who has one of the important feminine roles in the Warner Bros. production “42nd Street” is a native of Covington, Kentucky. After finishing school in Philadelphia, she enrolled in a dramatic school in New York and received her first stage experience in “Two by Two”.A little later she was given the lead opposite Wallace Ford in “Pigs” followed by a number of successes in other stage plays, notably “Coquette.” Her first screen role was in “Abraham Lineoln” which won her a long term contract. Some of her recent appearances were in “They Call It Sin,” “Man Wanted,” and “Fame.” NED SPARKS Born in Ontario, Canada, Ned Sparks, a prominent member of the east for “42nd Street,” a Warner Bros. production co-featuring Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels, received his first stage training as a tenor soloist. His professional ecareer started in Dawson City, Alaska in the gold camp days. While appearing in “Little Miss Brown” on Broadway, he attracted much attention as a droll comedian which won him roles with Madge Kennedy, Page Eighteen Aliee Brady and other outstanding stars. His picture career started with Constance Talmadge in New York and later in Hollywood he was cast in a number of big productions. Dropping from sight for a while he | returned to the screen in 1929 in “Strange Cargo.” He had important parts in “Blessed Event,” “Big City Blues,” “The Miracle Man,” “Secret Call,” “Kept Husbands” and others including the current release “42nd Street.” BIOGRAPHIES IN BRIEF —————— WARNER BAXTER Warner Baxter, who has the male lead opposite Bebe Daniels in the Warner Bros. production ‘'42nd Street,’’ was born in Columbus, Ohio, and educated in the schools of that city. Before settling down to a stage career he was a salesman for farm implements and later manager of an insurance office in Philadelphia and for a while tried his hand at the garage business. After a number of years in stock in Dallas and Los Angeles, he went to New York to play the feature role in ‘‘Lombardi, Ltd.,’’ returning months later to the Morosco in Los Angeles. His first screen role of prominence was with Cut 15e¢ Mat 5c Ethel Clayton in ‘‘Her Own Money.’’ Since then he has had a long list of successes including ‘‘Six Hours to Live,’’ ‘‘Doctor’s Wives,’’ ‘‘In Old Arizona,’’ ‘‘The Squaw Man,’’ ‘‘Daddy Long Legs’’ and others in addition to his current film ‘‘42nd Street.’’ RUBY KEELER Ruby Keeler, in private life Mrs. Al Jolson, is making her first screen appearance in “42nd Street” the Warner Bros. produc tion co-featuring Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels. Although it is her first screen role, she has a Cut No. 33 most imporCut 15c Mat 5c tant part in the picture and is particularly outstanding in some of the dance numbers with which “42nd Street” abounds. She began her stage career at the age of thirteen in the chorus of a Broadway production quickly rising to stardom. She appeared in “The Sidewalks of New York,” “Lucky” and “Bye Bye Bonny,” but her greatest triumphs were scored in “Whoopee” and “Show ‘Girl’ the Ziegfeld productions. Her long stage experience stands her in good stead in her screen role in “42nd Street.” GEORGE BRENT George Brent, featured player at the Warner Bros. Studio who will next be seen in an important role in “42nd Street”. with Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels, was born in Dublin, Ireland and educated in the unversity there. His first stage ex perience was with stock companies of which he has at one time or another owned six. His first sereen roles were with Barbara Stanwyck in “So Big” and with Ruth Chatterton to whom he is now married, in “The Rich Are Always With Us.” Other pictures in which he has had prominent roles are “The Crash,” “They Call It Sin,” “The Purchase Price,” “Week-end Marriage” and “Miss Pinkerton.” His work in “42nd Street” the current First National release is one of his best performances. Cut No. 34 Cut 15e Mat 5c ee BEBE DANIELS Bebe Daniels, co-featured with Warner Baxter in the Warner Bros. production “42nd Street,” was born in Dallas, Texas where her parents where playing on a local stage. She made her first public appearance when only ten weeks old. At the age of four, she was touring the country in “Richard III” with her mother. After several years in stock in Los Angeles where she attended school, she became leading lady opposite Harold Lloyd in a number of Lonesome Luke comedies. One of her earliest successes was in ‘‘Male and Female.’’ Out No. 31 Some of her more recent triumphs were Cut 15e Mat 5c scored in ‘‘Silver Dollar,’’ ‘‘The Honor of the Family,’’ ‘‘The Maltese Faleon,’’ ‘‘Rio Rita,’’ ‘‘Dixiana,’’ ‘‘What a Night,’’ ete. in addition to ‘‘42nd Street’’ the current release. DICK POWELL Dick Powell, born in Mt. View, Arkansas, won a screen contract with Warner Bros.-First National through his musical talents, having been lifted from a Master of Ceremonies position in a Pittsburgh Theatre to an important part in “Blessed Event.” Later he appeared with Will Rogers in “Too Busy To Work.” As a result of his work in these pictures, he was given an important role in the current Warner Bros. superproduction “42nd Street.” Starting as a soloist with an orchestra in Kentucky, he signed up in a similar capacity with a theatre orchestra there and attracted such attention that he eventually became Master of Ceremonies at this theatre, later moving to a larger house in Pittsburgh. GUY KIBBEE Guy Kibbee, prominently cast in the Warner Bros. production “49nd Street” was born in El Paso, Texas, and received his first stage training when sixteen years old jumping from property man to a juvenile role in a stock company playing there. After a number of years in stock and in numerous Broadway successes the last of which was “The Torch Song” he was signed to a contract with Warner Bros.-First National to appear with William Powell in “Man of the World,” his first screen effort. Since then he has appeared in a long list of Warner-First National pictures including “Scarlet Dawn,” “Central Park,” “Crooner,” “The Dark Horse,” “Taxi,” “So Big,” ete. in addition to his latest role in “42nd Street.” ALLEN JENKINS Allen Jenkins, who appears prominently in the cast of “42nd Street,” a Warner Bros. production, was born in New York and has known nothing but theatre life since boyhood. After three years in chorus work in New York he attended a dramatic school and branched out as a character actor. He appeared in many New York successes including “Blessed Event,” “What Price Glory,” “Rain,” “Five Star Final,” ete. Since being signed to a long term contract by Warner Bros.-First National he has been seen in “Ladies They Talk About,” “Hard to Handle,’ “Lawyer Man,” “Employees Entrance” and “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang” in addition to the current hit, “42nd Street.”