The House on 56th Street (Warner Bros.) (1933)

KAY FRANCIS Kay Francis was born in Oklahoma City, but when four years old her mother, Katherine Clinton, an actress, placed her in a private school at Ossining, New York. Later she entered Cathedral School in Garden City. She studied secretarial work and became social secretary to Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt. She also filled the same posts for Mrs. Minturn Pinchot and Mrs. Dwight W. Morrow. After a tour of Europe, she decided to go on the stage, first appearing in a modern version of “Hamlet.” She later appeared on Broadway in “Venus,” “Crime” and “Elmer the Great,” among other productions. Her first picture work was in “Gentlemen of the Press.” Her success was instantaneous and she was given a picture contract. A year ago she joined Warner Bros.-First National pictures and has appeared recently in “The Keyhole,” “One Way Passage,” “Jewel Robbery,” “Cynara,” “Trouble in Paradise,” “Man Wanted,” “Street of Women,” “Mary Stevens, M.D.” and Woman.” GENE RAYMOND _Gene Raymond was christened Raymond Guion, but because no two people pronounced it alike, he adopted the former. He was born in New York City in 1908 and began his stage career at the age of five, at which time he appeared in several stock productions. Making his first real debut in the theatre in 1924, he made meteoric rise to popularity as a juvenile. Following a very successful career on Broadway during which he appeared in countless successes including “Cradle Snatchers,” “The Potters,” “Mirrors” and “Jonesy,” he came to Hollywood to enter sereen work. Among the motion pictures in which he played important roles are “Ex-Lady,” “Brief Moment,” “Ann Carver’s Profession,” “If I Had A Million” and “Zoo in Budapest.” JOHN HALLIDAY John Halliday was born in Brooklyn, New York, his parents being non-professional. He was educated at Blair Lodge, Edinburgh, Scotland and at Cambridge, England, where he studied mining engineering. He had always been interested in theatricals, however, and finally drifted into stage work. His best known stage productions are “The Whip,” “When We Were 21” and “The Circle.” His screen career began in 1930 under contract with Warner Bros. His more recent pictures include “Men Called Back,” “Fifty Million Frenchmen,” “Bird of Paradise,” “Age of Consent” and “Week-Ends Only.” HENRY O’NEILL O’Neill was born in Orange,, N. J., and educated there. After graduating from Seton Hall College, he decided to try his luck on the stage, having appeared in various amateur and college productions since 12 years of age. After many discouragements he landed a minor role with a Newark, N. J., stock company and one engagement led to another until he felt he was ready to try Broadway. His first role there was with the John Ferguson Theatre Guild. Needless to say he clicked with Broadway’s theatre-goers and for many years has been one of the most popular actors in the East. Numbered among his many stage hits are “I Loved You Wednesday,” “The Last Mile,” “Trick For Trick” and “Conquest.” He was brought to Hollywood by Warner Bros. and has appeared in “The World Changes,” “The Kennel Murder Case” and “I Loved A Woman.” Henry “T Loved A MARGARET LINDSAY Margaret Lindsay was born in Dubuque, Iowa, her real name being Margaret Kies. She was educated in the National Park Seminary in Washington, D. C. and in the National Academy of Dramatic Art. She began with small parts on the stage and worked up to leading roles, playing also in stock and repertoire. Her biggest stage hit was in “Death Takes a Holiday.” Recently she entered pictures and made a striking success in her role in “Cavalcade.” Other pictures in which she has appeared include “The World Changes,” “Private Detective 62,” “Baby Face,” “Captured!,” “Voltaire,” ‘‘Al11 American,” “Okay America,” “Once In a Lifetime,’ “The Fourth Horseman” and “West of Singapore.” SHEILA TERRY Sheila Terry was born in Waroad, Minn. and educated for the stage at the Toronto branch of the Royal Academy of London. She played in stock in many Canadian cities, then went to New York where she appeared in several plays, one of the most successful of which was “The Little Racketeer.” Her first picture for Warner Bros. was “Week End Marriage.” Among her recent pictures are “Mary Stevens, M. D.,” “She Had To Say Yes,” “Girl Missing” and “Ladies They Talk About.” RICARDO CORTEZ Ricardo Cortez was born in Vienna but moved to New York with his parents when three years of age. He received his early education there and then entered a brokerage office as a messenger boy. He was always interested in the theatre and spent all his spare pennies for seats in the peanut gallery. His first chance to play before the footlights came when he got a job as a super in a theatrical spectacle. Then he was given work as fly boy in a Forty-First street theatre. An advertisement for extras at a Fort Lee studio caught his eye. He applied and got a job. Cortez quickly advanced from extra to bit parts and finally to leading roles. He was Garbo’s leading man in her first feature, “The Torrent.” When the talkies came in he was even in more demand than in the silent pictures, having an excellent speaking voice. His more recent pictures include “Big Executive,” “Torch Singer,” “Broadway Bad” and “The Giant Swing.” FRANK McHUGH Frank McHugh has been on the stage since his early youth. Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, of theatrical parents, Frank’s earliest thoughts were of the theatre. Following years as a trouper in many stock companies throughout the United States and Canada, he was induced by his friend, Frank Fay, to accept a role with the latter in “Bright Lights.” He speedily drew the attentions of screen audiences and after having given outstanding performances in many pictures, he was signed under a long term contract by the Warner BrothersFirst National Studios. His latest pictures include “Elmer The Great,” “Parachute,” “Grand Slam,” “Blessed Event,” “The Crowd Roars,” “One Way Passage,” “The Dark Horse,” “The Mystery of the Wax Museum,” “Life Begins,” “Ex-Lady,” “Lilly Turner” and “Footlight Parade.” Ricardo Cortez Landed Success After 3 Tries Ricardo Cortez, who has an important role opposite Kay Francis in “The House on 56th Street,” which comes to the Theatre on three distinct tries before he got on the main line to success in the show world. The first time he was a “super” (Broadway equivalent for “extra”) in musical shows. The second he was given an unusually high position in the theatre—the boy in the fly gallery at the top of the stage. The third time he enlisted among the ranks of motion picture extras at a Fort Lee, N. J. studio. He stuck to motion pictures until his unusually ability was noticed and he achieved real stardom. Cortez First Leading Man For Garbo In U.S. Ricardo Cortez, who has a leading role with Kay Francis in the Warner Bros. production, “The House on 56th Street,” which comes to the Theatre on .... Re Sas castes » came into moving pictures as “a second Valentino.” But it isn’t healthy to mention that to him today. On the other hand, he was. Garbo’s first leading man in American pictures. He played opposite her in “The Torrent,” which Monta Bell directed—and that’s one thing you can mention to him anytime. Gene Raymond Collector of Historic War Swords Gene Raymond, who has the role of Monty Van Tyle, aristocratic young New Yorker opposite Kay Francis in ‘<The House on 56th Street,’’ now at the Theatre, is an ardent collector of swords. He has a number of historic swords worn by American army officers in the different wars of the United States, from Revolutionary days to the World War. In nearly every case, the swords are inscribed with the name, the rank of its former owner and often the occasion upon which it was presented to him. The actor’s ambition is some day to have a home in which one room will be devoted to fine specimens of the sword-maker’s craft. i pT Colorful Scenes of Gay Paris In Francis Hit Colorful scenes of Parisian life will be seen-in Kay Francis’ latest starring picture for Warner Bros., ‘‘ The House on 56th Street,’’? which opens at the Theatre on Vivid and accurate shots were made of famous cafes and night clubs of the Montmarte district and of the Moulin Rouge, famed for many decades for its picturesque and somewhat risque dances. These ‘“ean-can’’? dances were revived for the screen by Robert Florey, a French director who directed the Kay Francis drama, Margaret Lindsay Also An Accomplished Dancer Margaret Lindsay, who has an important role in Kay Francis’ latest starring vehicle for Warner Bros., “The House on 56th Street,” which opens at the ........ ee THOStreOR « saisciseccstigtinveay: » 18 an acplished dancer as well as an actress. She devotes an hour each day to her dance routines. She contends there is nothing like dancing to keep one graceful and supple and to improve one’s walk and carriage. Miss Lindsay studied dancing as well as dramatic art during her post-college days and has found the former a valuable supplement to her acting. Delmonicos and Sherrys Rebuilt on Movie Sets Delmonico’s and Sherry’s, the famous old New York cafes where the playboys of Broadway dined with their chorus girl friends in the early part of this century, play an important part in Kay Francis’ latest starring picture for Warner Bros., “The House on 56th Street,” which COMEOS TOMER «Fei acteress Theatre (1) eR Sea Raves one tee The two restaurants, now only a memory, were reconstructed on the sets at Warner Bros. from old prints of the places. The cafes figure only in the opening scenes of the picture, however, as the story jumps the World War and comes down to modern times. Kay Francis Shows How To Age Gracefully Kay Francis, Warner Bros. star in her unusual role in “The House on 56th Street,” is required to age gracefully in order to show her as a beautiful young showgirl in the early stages of the picture and as Mat No. 42 a worldly-wise matron in the later sequences. The effect sought was procured by using the above illustrated distinctive type of headdress, which shows both profiles and a full view of the glamorous star. Price 20c NOTE TO EXHIBITOR: Have your leading beautician describe this style for special publicity story to run on women’s page in your local paper. Page Nine