Hollywood Hotel (Warner Bros.) (1937)

ALL ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Busby Berkeley was born to the stage and grew up in it. Birthplace —Los Angeles, November 29, 1895, where his father was directing the Tim Frawley Stock Company, and his mother was acting in it. Berkeley went to a military academy in New York, entered an advertising agency on graduation, then was drawn into the World War. He became an entertainment officer. Returning to New York, he replaced Henry Hull as the lead in ‘‘The Man Who Came Back.’’ Next played the comedy lead in “Irene” -for three years. From there he launched into stock company direction. Reached Broadway as director of dance Mat 125—15e ensembles in musical comedies, including “Connecticut Yankee,” Earl Carroll’s “Vanities” and many more. In 1930 he came to Hollywood to direct dances and ensembles in Eddie Cantor’s “Whoopee.” He was signed by Warner Bros. to stage dance ensembles for “42nd Street.” His success was instantaneous. His finale in “Varsity Show,” rated him tops and he was given full direction assignment over “Hollywood Hotel” now at the Strand. RN RAR APPR PR PRP PAP Mat 204—30c DOUBLING IN BEAUTY—Perc Westmore, make-up expert, is pretty 6eé proud of his art”” in making Rosemary Lane look like her sister Lola whose photograph he’s holding. You actually see him do the job in “Hollywood Hotel,” now playing at the Strand Theatre. TABLE CARICATURIST A caricature of Hugh Herbert drawn on a tablecloth by Ted Healy, and executed while the two comedians of “Hollywood Hotel’ were lunching at the Warner studio recently, hangs in the Museum of the City of Los Angeles: Earl Tyson, curator of the museum, lunching in the commissary at the same time, was given the tablecloth by the restaurant manager. REAL GEMS IN MOVIE The famed movie columnist, Louella Parsons, wore $300,000 in gems for her appearance before the camera in Warner Bros.’ “Hollywood Hotel,” and while doing so was under the constant although unobtrusive protection of an armed guard. The list of jewels included a star ruby bracelet valued at $75,000; sapphire ring, $75,000; ruby ring, $30,000; ruby clasp, $10,000; cabuchon sapphire clip, $10,000. “HOLLYWOOD HOTEL” CELEBRITIES Starting in the upper left and going clockwise—Rosemary Lane, Dick Powell, Hugh Herbert, Lola Lane, Ted Healy, Glenda Farrell, Johnnie Davis, Frances Langford, Benny Goodman, Alan Mowbray, Edgar Kennedy, and last but not least Louella I BR Eee A ee OF A MUSICAL Millions of people all over America listen to Louella Parsons’ “Hollywood Hotel” air program every week. This has been going on for three years. ... It was a “natural” that a picture by the same title would be “box office.” . . . But “Hollywood Hotel” was only an imaginary hostelry, and for the screen it would have to be materialized. Robert Haas was assigned as art director and given carte blanche with an oversize budget. ... What he designed was a hotel complete in every detail from salt cellar to lobby dome. ... At the same time, Jerry Wald, Maurice Leo and Richard Macauley were building a story to fit into it. The furniture is all hand-made according to special designs in the Warner crafts shops. ... Even the menus and wine cards on the tables in the Orchid Room are engraved on deckel-edged art paper and the covers hand-painted and_handlettered in orchid colors. Something like 22,000 square feet of black glass laid in squares went into the dance floor of the Orchid Room. . . . Green velvet carpeting on dining daises and the main floor outside of the dancing space totalled 900 yards. Director Busby Berkeley, a hound for realism, bought out the entire orchid stock of the five leading florists of Hollywood. Prominent figure among leading players is Louella Parsons, originator of the “Hollywood Hotel” air program—Dick Powell and Rosemary Lane carry romantic interest. ——_—--»*rrrrxrrvxwrrrrr——ami"rrer eran nnn mwm mae Parsons, hostess to the celebrities. Mat 404—60c