Sonny Boy (Warner Bros.) (1929)

DAVEY LEE in““SONNY BOY” 9 Warner Bros. Latest Vitaphone Talking Picture | STORIES FOR CURRENT USE “SONNY BOY” BREVITIES Helpful Betty Betty Bronson portrays a helping sister in Warner Bros. production “Sonny Boy,” starring Little Davey Lee, in which she succeeds in thwarting a contemplated divorce and finally falls in love with the divorce lawyer. “Sonny Boy” a Vitaphone talking picture, is at the Theatre this week. Tommy Dugan in Cast Tom Dugan is seen in another of his inimitable comedy characterizations in support of Davey Lee in “Sonny Boy,” the Warner Bros. production, at the Theatre this week. The excellent supporting east includes Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmsted, John T. Murray and others. Sonny Boy’s Grand-dad Edmund Breese, who made _ his stage debut as the son in “My Awful Dad” many years ago, is seen in the role of a grandfather in “Sonny Boy,” Warner Bros. first starring vehicle for little Davey Leé, who shared honors with Al Jolson in “The Singing Fool.” “Sonny Boy” is the Vitaphone picture at the Theatre this week. STRONG SUPPORT FOR NEW CHILD STAR IN “SONNY BOY” Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmsted, John T. Murray, Edmund Breese, Lucy Beaumont and Tommy Dugan compose the excellent supporting cast of Warner Bros. first stellar production for its new child star, Davey Lee in “Sonny Boy,” now at the Theatre on “Sonny Boy” is a rollicking com: edy-drama. A married couple’s quarrel starts it. The husband gets a court order giving him possession of the child, and retains a noted divorce lawyer who had once been a suitor of his wife. She sends to the country for her sister to abduct the child to keep the husband from taking it to Europe. Stranded in town with the boy, the sister finds that the lawyer is going to be out of town for a couple of weeks and thinking that his apartment would be the last place in the world that would be searched gains entry by posing as his wife. The lawyer’s parents arrive from a long trip-to the Philippines the same night. The lawyer arrives later, having postponed his trip and after finding out the situation proceeds to take full advantage of it. Archie L. Mayo directed “Sonny Boy,” A Vitaphone Talking Picture. DAVEY LEE “Blessings on thee, Little man, Barefoot boy With cheek of tan— From my heart I wish thee joy I was once A barefoot boy.” —WHITTIER See and hear Davey Lee in “Sonny Boy” at. the Theatre. t Eee So SN SS Scene fron Sonny Production No. boy starring Davey _ A SSS SS Sen eee Peace enone one eee oe etatetenatates ses Se Lee -A Warner Bros. Production ” 5—Cut or Mat ACTOR LOOKED LIKE GOOD LAND SALESMAN, GOT YEAR’S CONTRACT While little Davey Lee, star of “Sonny Boy” now at the Theatre, Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmsted and John T. Murray were appearing in some location scenes for the production at the Southern Pacific station in Los Angeles, a red-headed TOM DUGAN LONG IN VAUDEVILLE Tom Dugan, who has made a big hit in motion pictures since the invention and perfection of Vitaphone, started his stage career as a member of the New. York Newsboys’ Quartette, which he organized and used it vaudeville for seven years. Tom Dugan is cast as the detective in support of Warner Bros. child star, Davey Lee, in “Sonny Boy,’ Vitaphone attrac(tion at. the. -. ot. Theatre. The actor was born in Dublin, Treland, but came to this country at an early age, settling in Philawhere he _ received his He gained some acting delphia education. experience of a sort with a medicing show before he came to New York and attracted attention by his singing. He made the acquaintance of a number of newsboys and they used to sing together. This gave him the idea of organizing the New York Newsboys’ Quartette for the vaudeville stage. After in vaudeville seven years youth with a grip rushed up to Archie L. Mayo, the director, and grabbed his hand. “Hello, Mr. Mayo. How are you? Do you remember me?” “You've played in one of my pictures,” hazarded Archie. “Right,” said the brick-top. “You gave me a ‘bit’ in: “The. College; Widow” with Dolores Costello. I certainly want to thank you for that break. I got a year’s contract on the strength of it. So long— eatching a train.” “What’s the lucky company?” queried Archie. “Consolidated Stucco” the red headed youth called back as the train pulled out of the station. “The president saw the picture and thought I looked like a good sand and gravel salesman.” ——————————————————— cnn with the one act, Dugan went into comedy in “Silks and Satins”. He has been cast in Earl Jarroll’s “Vanities” and a number of Shubert musical shows. He is the author of many vaudeville sketches. (His first. appearance in Hollywood was at the Music Box Revue with Carter de Haven. musical His picture debut took place in 1926 in Warner Bros. production, “What Every Girl Should Know.” A few of the pictures in which he has since appeared are “Dressed to Kill,” “Sharpshooters,” “The Small Bachelor,” “Lights of New York” and “The Barker.” He gives trout fishing as his '!hobby, but is also a great reader. | For FILM LUMINARIES SUPPORT NEW BABY STAR OF THE SCREEN A east of unusual excellence gathered from both stage and screen is seen and heard in “Sonny Boy,” Warner Bros. first production starring little Davey Lee, which is the Vitaphone attraction at the Theatre. Headed by Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmsted, and John T. Murray, the players in this Davey Lee picture adapted by Graham Baker, also include |LUCY BEAUMONT IN “SONNY BOY” Lucy Beaumont, the English actress appearing this week at the Sears Theatre in support of Warner Bros. new child star, Davey Lee, in’ “Sonny Boy,” igs. ‘one of the noted screen mothers of the day, having appeared in more mother roles than perhaps any other actress in films. She was born in Clifton, Bristol, Eng., a direct descendant of the Dukes of Beaufort. She is a cousin of Sir George Beaufort and of Sir Rigley Armitage. After completing her education at the Girls College in Bath, and Clifton High School, Miss Beaumont went upon the stage, her first role being Dick in “Two Little Vagabonds,” afterwards touring the provinces and appearing in the Gaiety Theatre, London. many years she .made a specialty of boy impersonations. In following her histrionie career she has traveled much. For two years she appeared in India and the Far East as a member of the company of Maurice Bandman. With Matheson Lang she toured South Africa and other British colonies. On the New York stage she has been seen in “The Monkey’s Paw,” “The Return,” “John Ferguson” and other plays. She began acting in films in 1923. One of her first sereen plays was “What Every Girl Knows” for Fox; another was “Ashes of Vengeance” for First National, but she has since acted in pictures made by practically every motion picture company. JED PROUTY ONCE A BOOKING AGENT Jed Prouty, who appears at the 5 rapes Theatre this week in support of Warner Bros, new child star, Davey Lee, in “Sonny Boy,” was at one time a vaudeville booking agent in New York. He had offices adjacent to those of Jesse L. Lasky and of Arthur Hopkins, the theatrical producer, who at that time were both vaudeville booking agents. Mr. Prouty was born in Boston and educated in Cambridge. He spent a number of seasons in vaudeville and then went on the legitimate stage, appearing for fifteen years in the productions of Klaw & Erlanger among them “The Pink Lady,” “The Only Girl,” “Girlies” and “Seeing Things.” Not satisfied with his successes on the stage, Mr. Prouty became ai theatre manager, directing a house for E. F. Albee, the vaudeville magnate. It was nearly a dozen years ago that he turned to screen acting, appearing in productions of the old Biograph Company. He prefers comedy roles and has had his biggest successes in them. Some of ‘the pictures in which he has appeared are “Sadie Love,” “Room and Board,” “Kick In,” “Girl of the Golden West,” “The Great Adventure” and “The Conquest of Canaan.” “Sonny Boy,’ a Vitaphone Talking Picture, now at the Theatre. Tom Dugan, Edmund Breese, Lucy Beaumont, and Jed Prouty. Horton, a wide favorite on both the stage or the films, recer’*made his Vitaphone talking picture-debut in the short comedy playlet “Miss Information,” while he also enacted a leading role in “The Terror,” Warners’ second all-talking produetion. The youngest screen star, Davey Lee, who walked into the arms of Al Jolson at Warner Bros. Studio and was cast for the role of “Sonny Boy” in “The Singing Fool,” now appears in his third picture. His second was “Frozen River.” The action of “Sonny Boy” revolves around him. Betty Bronson essays one of the leading feminine roles, while Gertrude Olmsted. plays the other feminine lead. Miss Olmsted appeared on the stage in such plays as “The Red Lamp,” “Father and the Boy” and others, while her recent screen stories include “Monte Carlo,” “Sporting Goods” and others. So EDMUND BREESE IN “SONNY BOY” Edmund Breese, who is appearing in support of Warner Bros. child Star, Davey Lee, in “Sonny Boy” at the Theatre, was long a noted actor on the speaking stage before turning to the sereen. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., and received his education in the New York public and in private schools. His stage debut was made forty years ago in Hureka Springs, Ark., as the son in “My Awful Dad.” For many years he played in New York productions, on the road and in various stock companies. For four years he appeared under James O’Neil’s direction. Among the plays in which he has acted are “Strongheart,’ “The Lion and the Mouse,” “So This is London,” “Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife,” “A Man’s Home,” “The Love Leash,’ ag Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice,” and many others. His picture career has not been a long one as he was not enticed away from the speaking stage until recent years. Among the motion pictures in which he has been cast are “Womanland,” “Paradise For Two,” “Back to Liberty” and for Warner Bros. in Vitaphone and silent versions, “Conquest,” “On Trial” and “The Hottentot.” oo ____,_—. “SONNY BOY’; ~ Oh would I were : A boy again, When life seemed Formed of sunny years, And all the heart Then know of pain Was wept away In transient tears! —Mark Lemon Davey Lee, starring in Warner Bros. latest Vitaphone Talking Picture, “Sonny Boy,” at the Theatre now. ———— ——_—————S