Footlight Parade (Warner Bros.) (1933)

er Kictio mzation “Footlight Parade” Adapted from Warner Bros. scintillating musical picture, “Footlight Parade,” starring James Cagney, Joan Biondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler and 10 other stars nud coming to thes.) 66. Guise ae. Theatre CHAPTER I Vaudeville on its Last Legs Fictiomzation by CARLISLE JONES AUDEVILLE was on its last legs, according to “*Variety.”’ Silent pictures were doomed. Musical comedies would be packed away in camphor. Chester Kent, nimble witted producer of stage extravaganzas, didn’t believe it. He told Thompson, his assistant, as much on their way to the Frazer and Gould offices where they both worked. “It doesn’t mean a thing,” de clarea Kent with a gesture that was meant to dismiss all of Thompson’s worries, “Frazer and Gould are put ting on ‘Never Say No’ and I’m signing to do the numbers.” “Do I sign too?” demanded Thompson. “Sure,” agreed Kent good humoredly, “unless they’ve run out of ink.” Frazer and Gould had not run out of ink, it developed, but they had completely run out of enthusiasm. “When’s ‘Never Say No’ go im rekearsal?” asked Kent after he and Thompson had been greeted with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm by their employers. break the bad news to my wife. Breadline! I hear you ealling me!” But breaking the bad news to Mrs. Kent was not to be as easy as it sounded. Kent found the apartment he called home in great disorder and his pretty but slovenly wife in a bad humor. He tried to tell her, as gently as possible, that. he had been fired. “You better get yourself another job,” she said sharply. “Don’t you understand, honey,” he explained, “they’re not doing—any— more—musical—shows!” But Cynthia didn’t choose to understand. “T don’t care whose fault it is,” she screamed. “It’s time you earned “Reno and back,” he repeated, “What an idea for a number!” (Scene from the Warner Bros. hit, “Footlight Parade” with James Cagney). “It doesn’t,” said Gould, the talkative one of the partners. ‘You can’t give the public what they don’t want,” he added gloomily. “What show are we gonna do?” demanded Kent, suddenly anxious. “No show,” explained Gould bluntly looking at the kindly Frazer for moral support, “if we’re in our right mind. People ain’t paying for shows no more. Talking pictures, that’s what they want.” “So,” chided Thompson, nudging Kent, “it doesn’t mean a thing?” “What you gonna do?” asked Kent. “Flesh is a dead issue,” declared Gould. ‘“We’re in the picture business—exhibitors.” “We just bought four houses,” ex plained Frazer. “They deliver the show in tin eans,” added Gould. “We got nothing to worry about.” “Musicals are out, huh?” said Kent thoughtfully. “Come around the corner,” said Frazer, taking Kent by the arm. “T’ll show you why.” “So you’re in the picture business,” Kent sniffed. “What is that, Whistler’s mother?” and he pointed to the featured dancer just then finishing her gyrations on the stage. “There’s competition,” explained Gould smoothly. “We’re bucking a house down the street—so we give ’em a little prologue. “That prologue wouldn’t fit anvthing,” growled Kent, “but an ash can.” “Just the same.” confided Gould. “it eost more than the picture.” “Why ean’t I stage some of these prologues for you?” queried Kent. “No more prologues,” declared Frazer, firmly. “The oriental flesh is too expensive. After this we’re giving the customers talking piectures—nothin’ else.” “Well,” sighed Kent, “I’ve got to some money. I’m used to good clothes and everything that goes with it. I’m fed up with you And have been for a long time.” “Are you on the level?’’ demanded Kent “And how!” Shpulled a legal paper from her purse and shoved it toward Chester. “Sign that,” she said, “and I'll be tickled to death to get a divorce.” Kent signed the paper and he signed a check for the amount of his bank balance. “Just about enough to get me to Reno and back.” deelared Cynthia. Chester was thinking out loud. ‘Reno—Reno and back.” he repeated. “What an idea for a number. Reno and back.” “Don’t let it give you a head ache,” mocked Cynthia. “You gave me that.” Snapped Chester as he slammed his way out. Kent stopped in the first drug store he passed to buy aspirin for that headache. The clerk handed him the little package. “Eighteen cents,” he said. “How do you do it,” asked Kent. “The store next door charges a quarter?” “He’s on his own,” said the clerk. “We’ve got a hundred stores. We buy in big lots. When you're buying for one store you get soaked.” “And when you’ve got a hundred vou can practically name your own price?” Kent suggested. ONAL “That’s marvelous.” Kent’s eves flashed. “The chain store idea solves everything. Thanks a million times.” He was running out of the store before the last words. “Hey,” yelled the clerk. “You forgot your aspirin.” “Take it yourself,” Chester called hack from the doorway. “My headache’s gone!” (To be continued) “Footlight Parade” Adapted from Warner Bros. scintillating musical picture, “Footlight Parade,” starring James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler and 10 other stars and coming to the .... ....... ear, eae SEB Theatre CHAPTER II An Idea A Week! Fictiomzation by CARLISLE JONES HESTER KENT stormed into the private offices of Frazer and Gould, from which he had been discharged only a few hours before, with the enthusiasm of a man inspired. ‘*I just bought some aspirin!’’ he announced to the aston ished producers. ‘* Drunk again,’ ‘* Listen to this,’ drug store you charge twenty-five cents for aspirin. But when you buy it for a hundred stores you get it cheaper—” “That’s great, Chester old boy,” soothed Gould. “Marvelous idea.” “We'll use it,’ growled Frazer, ‘if we ever open a drug store.” “Don’t you get the connection,” shouted Kent. “When you put on a prologue for one picture it’s too expensive. But when the same prologue plays twenty—fifty—a hundred houses, it doesn’t cost a cent more. Get it?” Slowly Gould and Frazer saw the light. “Si, he’s right,” declared Frazer. “No question about it,” agreed Gould. So the inspiration Chester Kent got from a box of aspirin which he didn’t take, set him up in business again as the producer of Gould and Frazer prologues. Before long he had been made a partner in the firm. with a third interest—and little sal. ary, and “Chester Kent Prologues’ were known and imitated by show men everywhere. Too closely imitated to. please Chester, who couldn't. understand why his best ideas were often used by Gladstone, his principal competi tor, before he could introduce them to the public himself. Nan, his efficient and attractive secretary suspected the truth Thompson, Kent's assistant, regis tered too much interest in his chief’s new ideas, while they were in the discussion stage, to suit Nan. But Thompson, playing both ends against the middle, knew that if his duplic ity were ever discovered, he had a job waiting for him at Gladstone’s Fired with enthusiasm for his new work, Chester worked night and dav to build prologues for picture houses. A new idea a week.. A new idea a week! A new idea! Sometimes he thought he would lose his mind searching for a new idea each week. ? ’ suggested Gould. shouted Chester. ‘‘When you’ve got one “Gould signed thirty more theatres.” “The Iceland unit’s in trouble. Juvenile married the leading lady.” These and a thousand other problems confronted Chester every minute of the day. Nan found him one morning fast asleep at his desk, a black cat asleep in his arms. She wakened him. “Cats!” he shouted with his first waking breath. Nan shoved a glass of bromo seltzer at him. “First drink that,” she ordered. “You promised to go home early.” “1 started home,” began Chester. “Three a.m. Right after the dress rehearsal. Then—socko. An idea. Cats! Saw a bunch of cats in the street.” “Did you ever watch cats walk,” he demanded suddenly. “It’s a regular dance rhythm.” “So you came right back here,” said Nan. “You bet 1 did. Got the whole thing mapped out. Twelve boys and twelve girls. Tom cats and pussy cats—” “If you don’t let up,” nodded Nan wisely, “you'll be tapped on the shoulder by an undertaker cat.” Then she added. “You better shave now. And here’s a clean shirt. I'll order breakfast.” Chester looked the appreciation he did not express. “Two units came in yesterday,” Nan explained. “Finished their tour. And say. You’re slowing up —we didn’t send out a unit this week.” “We'll give ’em two next week,” Kent explained nervously. “If 1 can stay out of the nerve factory until then. I put a peach in rehearsal yesterday. Prosperity idea. Ring for Thompson, will you?” Nan rang. “Skulking Thompson,” she snapped. “What have you got against him?” “J just bought some aspirin.” Chester announced to the astonished producers. (Scene from the new Warner Bros.’ hit, “Footlight Parade,” with Guy Kibbee, Jimmy Cagney, and Arthur Hohl). Nan, who loved him, feared that he might too. She helped as best she could as Chester raced madly through his daily schedule. “The. ‘Gay Nineties’ unit calling from Kansas City. The Park number runs too long.” “The Bridesmaid unit is short six mirrors.” “The theatre burned down in Savannah, costumes and scenery gone.” “T just don’t like him, that’s all,” said Nan. “Sometimes,” complained Chester, “I get the feeling you don’t like anybody.” Nan gave her boss a look which spoke volumes. But Chester was too busy to see it. “Tf you only knew,” she sighed, as Bea Thorne, Thompson’s mousey assistant, opened the door. (To be continued) Page Seven ae ae