Broadway Hostess (Warner Bros.) (1935)

PUBLICITY Wini Shaw Transformed Into Gingham Home Girl Torch Singer Has Delightful Cottage Scene as Star of “Broadway Hostess” Just imagine, if you can, the ‘‘Lady In Red’”’ transformed into a ‘‘Gingham Girl.’’ That is what has happened to Winifred Shaw, First National’s singer of torch songs, in a new production number which Bobby Connolly, song-and-dance director, made for ‘‘Broadway Hostess,’’ now showing at the............ Theatre. The presentation of Miss Shaw, quite generally the slithering, satin singer, as a simple cottage girl in a house dress, is a bit of dramatic antithesis conceived by Connolly to illustrate a song. The song is a tender and homey love ballad, “Who But You?”, written by Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. “Who but you,’ the lyrical question inquires, “could make me desire to sit by the fire?” The song is a boy-and-girl melodie interchange between Phil Regan and Miss Shaw. Phil plays the part of a pianist and arranger, very much in love with Wini. The latter, in contrast to the homey idea, is a smart and sophisticated night-club hostess whose specialty is torrid torch ballads. Presentation of the song sequences, in itself, is distinctive and unique. Wini, as the “Broadway Hostess,” sings to Regan who, seated at a piano lights a cigarette with a lighter. The camera moves up to the lighter flame, a “dream sequence” ensues, the cigarette-lighter flame becomes a fireplace brand, and the scene dissolves into a country cottage. The cottage, in design and furnishings, is a “dream house” with fireplaced living room and an ideal kitchen, whose kettle seems singing a song of domesticity. Even the yard, with its stepping stones, rock-work wall and garden gate blends into the bucolic symphony of Home. A huge, placid-eyed ‘Collie dog, lying on the hearth at Wini’s feet, gives the final touch. And, as for Wini, gone are the nightclub appurtenances. Her lips are lip-stickless. She smokes no holdered cigarette. The sinuous silk of her night-life gown has been replaced by gingham as ingenuous and frilly as the ruffled muslin curtains at the windows. “Broadway Hostess,” new musical starring Miss Shaw and Lyle Talbot in the leading roles, with Genevieve Tobin, Allen Jenkins and Phil Regan in top parts, is rich with songs and musical contrasts. “Playboy of Paree,”’ another Connolly production number, is as smart and continental as “Who But You?” is suburban. Frank McDonald directed the picture from the screen play by George Bricker. Famous Song Team Writes Five Catchy Airs For Film Winifred Shaw and Phil Regan Sing Solos and Duets in “‘Broadway Hostess” By HARRY MacPHERSON Written especially for the show by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon and quite definitely tailored to suit the seductive throaty contralto of Winifred Shaw and the ballad tenor voice of Phil Regan, there are five melodious songs in ‘‘Broadway Hostess,’’ the First National production which comes. to ‘thi@eas tse csntanediin ce a « Thus this new film-play, a comedy drama with music, with Miss Shaw in the title role, is really REEL PROBLEM—Allen Jenkins usually fights a ring battle in the movies. Now he turns equestrian, much to his own perplexity, in First National’s galloping comedy with music “Broadway Hostess,” starring Wini Shaw, which opens at the ae SA ae TReatre on Yaw , Mat No. 103—10c EY GRE co lang 000th << 0 ‘ rich in potential hit numbers. In addition to the songs, as composed by Wrubel and Dixon, the famous team which wrote Miss Shaw’s sensational hit, “The Lady in Red” for “In Caliente,” there will be a complete background or atmosphere music composed for the picture by M. K. Jerome, a veteran of Tin Pan Alley with a notable list of “million-copy” hits to his credit. The Wrubel-Dixon songs include “He Was Her Man,” a song of the torch-ballad type; “Weary,” another torch number with melody and lyries carrying a hint of sadness; “Playboy of Paree,” a descriptive song similar to “Viva La France”; “Who But You?’, a girl-boy rhythm fox-trot; and “Let It Be Me.” The first three named are sung by Miss Shaw alone. She sings “Fe Was Her Man” and “Weary” in the opening cafe scene. Toward the picture’s climax, on the stage, she sings “Playboy of Paree.” Phil Regan sings “Let It Be Me.” He and Miss Shaw, in a boy-and-girl duet, present ‘Who But You?”, Special song-and-dance ensembles and chorus numbers have been staged and directed by Bobby Connolly. “Broadway Hostess” is an intriguing drama of night life on Broadway. Frank McDonald directed. Winifred Shaw Meets Old Boss In Film Winifred Shaw, in the role of a torch-singer, is given a job by Harry Seymour, a club propr etor in the First National musical, “Broadway Hostess,” which comes to. she. Ge B= theater On. .F:...2 “This seems like old times,” smiled the star as Seymour appeared for the filming of the scene. “P]] say it does!” said Harry. Miss Shaw explained, that Harry, as station director for WSMB in New Orleans, four years ago, was master of ceremonies at the Club Forest. There, as her boss, he introduced Miss Shaw who, relatively unknown before, became a sensational hit as a torch singer. Turquoise Gown Sets Off Star’s Beauty To set off the dark beauty of Winifred Shaw, Designer OrryKelly chose turquoise blue for an evening ensemble worn by the singing-actress in her First National picture, “Broadway Hostess,” now showing at the........ theatre. The gown, modelled along Grecian lines, is of sheer crepe, with both the bodice, caught into a drawstring neckline, and the long skirt, entirely accordion pleated. A flat hipline is achieved, however, by the use of matching turquoise satin, in a fitted yoke holding bodice and skirt together. With this gown, the actress wears an evening coat of turquoise blue -taffeta made in the finger-tip length swagger style, of taffeta quilted in a scallop design. Chorus Girls Afraid of Toy Balloons The temptation to puncture a toy balloon has often been. deseribed as an almost irresistible human impulse. Yet, despite the fact that some 5000 inflated toy balloons were used for a number in the First National musical, “Broadway Hostess,” now showing at The. . secre. Theatre, not one was broken. The amazing thing about it, according to Bobby Connolly, director of the dance, is that there are 50 or more chorus girls in the number; and chorus girls are constantly “clowning.” “Sometimes it’s pretty hard to handle a crowd of girls like this,” said Connolly. “But I told them they were filled with gas that might asphyxiate them.” Regan Wants to Live Down ‘Singing Cop’ Phil Regan, who has the leading masculine singing role with Winifred Shaw in the First National musical, “Broadway Hostess,” which comes to the....... theatre. oNs-minsen. ss. , believes he is slowly but surely living down what has become rather tiresome to him—the reference to his having been a “singing cop.” “It was quite all right when I Phil Regan in “Broadway Hostess” at the Strand. Mat No. 101— 10c first got on a top radio program and a national hookup,” said Phil. “It was swell publicity, but I would just as soon act away from it now that I am in films. “T’m not the least ashamed of having risen from the _ police ranks. But I’ll be glad when the ‘cop’ business is actually forgotten.” What a Break for Regan! With Wini Shaw, who introduced “The Lady in Red” in “In Caliente,” as his film sweetheart, there’s a reason for the satisfied smile on the lips of Phil Regan, noted radio and screen singing star. They are coming to the____.-.. Pte pk le Theatre in Miss Shaw’s first starring picture, “Broadway Hostess” on _~-----------» Mat No. 204—20c Chorus Beauties Dance In Huge Champagne Glasses Novel and Spectacular Dance Number is Created for Scene in “Broadway Hostess” Champagne has always been associated with some of the gala and glittering elements of life. It is the high-hat bever age of the almost countless i ntoxicants and its bubbling effervescence and color of pale honey have made it the motif of many a song. Now this tingling aristocrat of sparkling wines has become the liquid theme of a sophisticated screen spectacle produced Four Famous Prize Ring Men In Film Four individuals whose prowess im the ring has earned them consistent picture roles as_hardboiled “muggs,” take part with Allen Jenkins in the new First National musical, “Broadway Hostess,” which comes to the enema re theatrenvon.Aysecere: fae The quartette consists of Charley Massera, well-known heavyweight fighter now nearing the top in current ring events; Al Rosen and Joe Herrick, former notables of the fight game; and Constantine Romanoff, wrestler, who was once one of the best performers in the business. Author Presents Star with Manuscript Winifred Shaw, First National singing star, after finishing the film, “Broadway Hostess,” which comes “toethe........ theatre on ee received a unique souvenir gift from George Bricker, author of the production. It was a book, beautifully bound in leather, engraved with Miss Shaw’s name, and containing a perfect copy on linen paper of the manuscript of the play. Phil Regan Suggests New Hobby for Star Winifred Shaw, playing the title role in the new First National musical, “Broadway Hostess,” now showing at the....... theatre, has started a collection of sheet music. “Everybody should have a hobby, I believe,” said the singing star, “and yet collecting stamps or coins do not interest me. But old published popular songs are practical. Phil Regan suggested the hobby. by Bobby Connolly, First National director, for the ultra-smart Parisian num song-and-dance ber in the new musical “Broadway Hostess,” which comes to GHOw. . Set... eat themere conten... a. It was, he insisted, French enough to fit the bright lyrics and modern melody of the song, “Playboy of Paree,” as written by Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. “Besides,” smiled Connolly, to clinch the argument, “champagne is now perfectly legal.” The various sets in which the is presented are, to begin with, intoxicating in their beauty. The Parisian bar glimmers with curious neon lights and shimmers with silver decorations worked out in the form of huge bunches of grapes. To top it, as the final bit of bubbling champagne glass was built on a sound stage and within that glass dances a chorus of sixteen girls. Winifred Shaw sings the song whose several production choruses run through the picture sequences. Gordon Elliott, First National featured player, takes the part of the “Playboy of PaMany show girls, resplendent in dia sparkling song number beauty, a monster ree.” dancing girls and monds and extreme evening gowns, lend added sophistication. “Broadway Hostess,” a comedy with music, features Winifred Shaw, Genevieve Tobin, Lyle Talbot, Phil Regan and Allen Jenkins in the major dramatic roles. Miss Shaw and Regan ecarry the torch of the various musi eal numbers. Frank McDonald directed. Page Thirteen