Gold Diggers of 1933 (Warner Bros.) (1933)

Adapted from Warner Bros.’ super musical production of the same name, coming to the............ Theatre.............. with a cast of 12 stars headed by Warren William, Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell. Fictionization by CARLISLE JONES CHAPTER I Show Business Is Like That HE show business is like that. Dress rehearsal of Barney Hopkins’ new musical show found the girls dancing their feet off and singing their lungs out in a way that seemed to presage nothing but success and profits for everybody con cerned. FICTIONIZATION only members of a growing army of | three girls who felt that either the the theatrically unemployed. News| dairy company or the music firm And then, right in the middle of the big number, which Barney had named, aptly enough, ‘‘ We’re In the Money,’’ the sheriff pushed in the stage door and attached the scenery. He didn’t even wait for the number to finish but started sliding the spee tacular set, a piece at a time, toward the waiting trucks. Barney stormed and threatened and the new girls stood around asking foolish questions, but the experienced chorines knew that the show had folded and that all hope of reward for them for the weeks of hard work they had put in had disappeared with the sheriff. “What does it mean?” demanded little Polly Parker, who had kept on dancing the routine of the number long after most of the chorus had succumbed to the excitement. “It means they stop the show, dumbbell,” explained Fay Fortune, | 4th Flop in Two Months | Carol King, who was to have been featured, started wearily for her dressing room. “This is the fourth show in two months I’ve been in and out of,” she said hoarsely and there was more than a suspicion of tears in her voice. “They close before they open,” added Trixie Lorraine, who considered herself the “best comedienne on Broadway” and who was not alone in that opinion. So Polly and Carol and Trixie, who lived together, found they were err ec etter ens si rensacahiencantemergeetanrnorssn aaa of the show world and of the girls who had been associated with them in Barney’s ill-starred venture, reached them from various sources and it was all discouraging. The Great White Way had gone dark— permanently it seemed, In one way or another they managed to get along. Carol was never from which they had rented their piano, had caught up with them. | Good News | But Fay’s news made up for all that. She announced it dramatically. “Barney is putting on a new “So Trixie, Fay, Carol and Polly Found They Were Not “In the Money” After All (Aline McMahon, Ginger Rogers, Joan Blondell and Ruby Keeler “Cold Diggers of 1933.’’) getic. Trixie proved resourceful. Pol-| show!” ly was in love. Trixie, older and more adept, managed the household with a ecalloused conscience. When Carol objected somewhat weakly, because Trixie helped herself to a bottle of milk from a neighbor’s door, Trixie had the answer already framed. “That’s all right,” she explained grimly. “The dairy company stole it from a cow.” Then early one morning, Fay Fortune arrived with news. She wore a disguise to save embarrassment should she meet the lanlady to whom she owed rent, and her first knock “Barney ?”’ “Barney Hopkins. Rehearsals start in two weeks.” “Barney,” said Carol wisely, “must have dug up a new angel.” They matched to see which girl would call on Barney and find out. “We can’t all go,” explained Trixie, the manager, “There’s hardly enough decent clothing left to wrap around one of us.” Carol won and half an hour later She left with must of the good clothes and all of the prayers of the three girls she left behind. Even Fay waited for Carol’s report, little indig of her finery, too. “Watch yourself in the clinches,” she advised as Carol went out. “Remember, that’s my dress.” Impatiently they waited. Suddenly from an apartment across the court, they heard the music of a piano, excellently played and then a man’s voice singing the hauntingly beautiful chorus of the “Shadow Waltz.” Polly’s face lighted happily. “It’s Brad,” she explained. “He’s a song writer,” declared Trixie, as though pronouncing judgment. “You’ve only known him two weeks. What do you know about him?” But to Polly, watching Brad Roberts at the piano across the way and joining with him as he repeated the chorus, those two weeks seemed long enough. “IT knew everything I wanted td = know the minute I met him,” she said softly, and Trixie, watching her, knew instinctively that nothing she could ever say would make any difference to Polly. For Polly had youth and had found love, and neither the show business nor life itself could offer more. The telephone startled Polly out of her romantic trance. “It’s Carol,” she called to Trixie, “Tt’s Carol. It’s true! It’s really true. Barney’s putting on the show!” At the other end of the phone Carol was trying vainly to make herself heard over Polly’s excitement. ‘’m bringing Barney up to the apartment,” she shouted. “We’ll be there in ten minutes. Phone the other girls! Phone everybody. Tell them to get ready. He hasn’t cast yet.” Polly relayed all this information to Trixie who stood in the middle of the room in a panic of unpreparedness. “You phone,” she said suddenly, regaining her voice, “I’ve got to dig up the old sex appeal. And the way I feel Pll probably have to use a steam shovel.” not too gently. not “In the Money” after all, but! brought qualms of conscience to the (To Be Continued) j nant because she had been stripped | —— Adapted from Warner Bros.’ super musical production of the same name, coming to the............ Theatre Se 3 with a cast of 12 stars headed by Warren William, Ruby Keeler and Joan Blondell. Fictionization by CARLISLE JONES CHAPTER II The Big Parade of Tears OLLY Parker lost no time in telling the world that Barney Hopkins was to do a new show. Hope springs eternal in the human breast and the show girl is no exception to this rule. Barney’s former fiasco, which had left Polly and Carol and Trixie, her room mates, dependent upon their wits for support, was forgotten in the buzz of excitement which the news caused. Out of factories and offices, off of men’s laps and away from an announcement, gathered and started for the apartment to which Carol had hurried Barney on first receipt of the good news. But Carol, who had_ ecorralled Barney; Fay, who had first heard the rumor of his intentions, and Polly and Trixie who received him almost with open arms at the door, were obviously in “on the ground floor” of the new venture. Barney, dour as ever, promised them as much. In fact he promised them almost too much, He was unusually enthusiastic. “Tl use all you girls I used be fore,” he said, generously. “Carol here will be featured. Trixie as comic.” Then he noticed Polly, apparently for the first time. “T remember you,” he grunted. Page Sia unwelcome attentions. The girls who were waiting for just such “Do you?” beamed Polly. | Out of the Chorus | “You were in the chorus. You’re coming out. of the chorus— some day.” It was almost too good to be true. “What’s the show about?” asked Trixie, finally. “The show is about the depression,” began Barney, importantly. “My idea is—” From across the court came the intriguing strains of a haunting melody, a tune none of them had ever heard before, but which none of them could ever entirely forget again. “Who’s that playing?” demanded | of mareh effect,” he asked Brad, “a Barney suddenly. “A palooka—a song writer,’ snapped Trixie. “Shut the window and let’s get on with this.” “Tt’s Brad Roberts,’ explained Polly. “He composes music.” “That tune’s got a great feel to it,” said Barney thoughtfully. “Tell that fellow to come over.” sort of march rhythm to it?” “Yes,” Brad himself was excited now, “yes I have. I call it, ‘Remember My Forgotten Man’.” And he proceeded to play and hum the number. Even the impatient Trixie recognized the potential show value in that song. “Pll Use All You Girls I Used Before. Carol will be featured’ (Aline McMahon, Ned Sparks, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell and Ginger Rogers in a scene from “Gold Diggers of 1933.’’) | Brad Invited Over | With Brad Roberts added to the circle, which had grown steadily with the addition of a dozen other hopefuls arriving on the trail of possible jobs, Barney went briefly over his plans again. Brad played the song that had first interested Barney. “Swell. I like it. Got anything else?” The gloomy Barney almost glowed with pleasure. Brad played on another number. “No,” growled the producer. “It’s dull.” Trixie tried to lead the conversation back to the show business. “What is this?” she demanded, “A piano lesson? Or are we going to hear about the show?” Barney scowled her into silence. “You haven’t something with a sort | “T haven’t any words for it yet,” Brad explained as he played. “I just got the idea for it last night, watching the men on that bread line on Times Square—in the rain—standing—waiting—” Barney was walking the floor by now, his extinct cigar rising and falling with the music, his hands pounding together in nervous enthusiasm. “Stop—go on—wait—” he demanded almost in one breath. “That’s just what this show’s about. The depression! Men marching. Marching in the rain. Marching, marching. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs: Marching. Marching. — A gorgeous woman singing this number—tearing your heart out —the big parade—the big parade of tears—” Suddenly he stopped Brad. “That’s it,’ he shouted. “That’s it! Work on it. Work on it. I want your stuff, son. It’s good. I definitely want it.” eee eI ynr ren np emermeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneeeneeeeeee eee eee “You can have it,” Brad counter ed, “on one condition.” “Yeah?” Barney was suspicious. “Tf Miss Parker, Polly, has a principal part in the show. She’s — helped me a lot—and she’s really great!” | You’ve Got Class | “You telling me?” snapped Barney. “I’m tellin’ you. And I’ll tell you something else. You’ve got a swell voice and — personality too. Yow’re different. You’ve got class. I want you to sing in this show.” Brad shook his head. “No. Not me. It’s impossible.” “You and Polly would be a knockout for the mush interest,” Barney explained and even Polly seemed anxious for Brad to accept the offer. But Brad was stubborn. It was Trixie who finally brought matters to a elimax. . “Let me get on for a minute,” she demanded. “Isn’t there any comedy in this show?” “Plenty,” agreed Barney, explaining in detail. “Be the best thing you ever did, Trixie,” he concluded. It seemed almost too good to be true. Work for everybody. A chance for Brad’s music to be used in a show. A chance for Polly to get out of the chorus. Pay days for people who had lived on their wits until there were holes in their elbows. “When do rehearsals begin, Bar ney?” demanded Carol, her face flushed with excitement. But that question seemed to deflate all of Barney’s enthusiasm. “Rehearsals?” he repeated reluctantly. “Why — they begin as soon as I get the money.” “Get the money?” screamed Trixie. That’s the way it always is,” groaned Barney “I got the show. I got the music. I got the theatre. I got the cast. Everybody raring to go. Then it’s the old, old story. No money!’’ (To Be Continued.) 4, ee