The Singing Kid (Warner Bros.) (1936)

PUBLICITY Dramatized biographies, stressing highlights in the lives of the stars, as well as interesting personal notes of their hobbies and accomplishments, arranged so that editors may use them with a minimum of editing. The half column cuts may be used with or It is now Leningrad, but it was St. Petersburg, capital of Russia when Asa Yoelson was born there May 26, 1886 :— He didn’t become Al : Jolson until he formed a vaudeville team with his brother follow ing a_ series Mat No. 113—10c o¢ boyhood ‘¢run-aways,’’ once to become a mascot for a Spanish American war regiment — He smokes cigarettes and chews gum, but does not drink — He is constantly writing songs, and gives his royalties to charity — His personal fortune is said to exceed $4,000,000 — His favorite diversion is golf, with his wife, Ruby Keeler, as his constant companion — His greatest ambition is to make a hole in one and win a_ four horse parlay at the races which he frequently attends — Is a devotee of all out-door sports — He was the star of the first talking picture ‘‘The Jazz Singer’’ with which Warner Bros. revolutionized the motion picture industry — Would like to see that picture made into an American grand opera with himself in his old role — Likes fishing — Also likes gefuelte fish, corned beef and cabbage and steak — Wears old shoes as an economy but is a ‘‘push over?’ for charities — Hates cold weather and refuses to be alone — Does not play bridge, poker or pinochle but enjoys hearts — Has many moods — Is interested in polities and is the mayor of Encino where he has his home and raises oranges’ and walnuts — Has dark brown hair, and brown eyes, is 5 feet 914 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds — Is now starring in the finest picture of his career ‘The Singing Kid’’ which opens at the ...........--.560 Theatre i) a er preter rer JENKINS He was born in New York City and has been on the stage since : he was a boy — He started as a chorus boy — One of the other chorus lads in the same show was James Cagney.— After three years in the Mat No. 118—10c ae Pe matic school and graduated as a character actor — He played in many important Broadway stage productions before going to Hollywood where he rapidly became one of the screen’s outstanding comedians — Now with Al Jolson in ‘*The Singing Kid’’ at the Sa SS Theatre. without the star silhouettes. — Peles EVERETT HORTON He’s very tall and very thin — His face is long and he can twist it into many expressions — His voice is eharactertistic 2 of himself — He can sing and dance, when he wants £0). Datohe doesn’t often want to—He’s — on-67o 1 tre busiest actors Mat No. 114—10c on the sereen — Lives in Encino, the town that boasts of having Al Jolson as its mayor — He raises rare shrubs and trees, and is a serious hortieulturist — His chief hobby is collecting antiques, on which he has expended a fortune — He attended Columbia University and went on the stage as a chorus boy in a Gilbert and Sullivan opera when he was 20 — In his next 13 years he became one of the best known comedians on the stage — Seven years ago made his film debut — Returned to the stage in 1928 and for two years produced his own shows — Now is appearing with Al Jolson in ‘‘The Singing Kad! at. the s-. 5... Theatre. ILHOUETTE ss es . gi +g DODD This serene lady of the screen, vamp, other woman, homewrecker, this naughty girl of the triangle, is one of the few happily married people in Hollywood — Her husband is not a professional—She believes in home and fireside and chureh and family — Born in New York City of wealthy parents — Has traveled extensively — Entered pictures via the chorus of a Goldwyn picture starring Eddie Cantor — Has won popularity as a female menace — But she teaches Sunday school — Hates exercise — Her only expenditure of energy, aside from her work, is bowling — Is a perfect thirty-four — Has most perfect camera face in pictures, according to Hal Mohr, ace cameraman — Collects old coins — Is one of the best women chessplayers in the country — Belongs to a chess club of which only two other women are members — Is an expert bridge player — Sleeps twelve hours a night when working — Otherwise sleeps fourteen — Never moves quickly — Never uses cold cream or powders on her face — Washes her face with mineral oil — Wants to play sympathetic parts but probably never will, due to her prowess as a screen husband Mat No. 120—10ce stealer —Is known as a ‘‘swell guy’’ by the crew — Has a great sense of humor — Likes to cook —Will appear with Al Jolson in ‘¢The Singing Kid’’ at the ............ Sie WhontresONnncn teres She’s only six years old but is an established screen and radio star — Outside of this, she is a normal, happy little girl, who plays with her dolls, and her dogs, and likes to play hide and seek—She is bright in school and has a remarkable Mat No. 119—10¢ memory — She was born in Capetown, South Africa, November 23, 1929 — An uncle, Harry Jacobson, pianist for the Savoy Hotel band in London, brought the child to England at the instance of Frances Day, noted British stage and screen star — She made her first professional appearance a few days after her arrival at a charity concert — She was seen by a British motion picture producer and signed up for‘a role with Archie Pitt in ‘<Barnacle Bill’? — Irving Asher, production chief of Warner Bros.’ English studios gave her a screen test and when he came to America showed the test to Warner Bros. executives — Sybil was engaged by cable and is now in Hollywood under the care of her sister, Anita, who is 20, and her uncle, Harry Jacobson — Her parents have remained in Capetown — Her favorite actress is Shirley Temple — She has a prominent role with Al Jolson in ‘‘The Singing Kid’’ which opens at the ..........: TNGAte ON 2c: aoe ame ; BEVERLY ROBERTS Beverly Roberts is a potential screen star who believes in luck — She was broke, roofless and shun? yin Paris, so she sang songs in a dancehall for ‘‘doughnuts and coffee’? — Which led to an engagement for a" ‘<Sur los Toits Mat No. 115—10ce de Paris’? in New York — Which brought her to the attention of a Warner Bros. talent scout and led to a contract that has made her leading lady for Al Jolson in the most pretentious musical ever made by that famous star — She was born in New York, where her father was ‘a chemical manufacturer — Now the entire family lives in California — She has ash blonde hair and brown eyes, is five feet four inches tall and weighs 115 pounds -—— Her great grandfather was Dr. Edward Jenner, discoverer of small-pox vaccine—Likes to sculpt —— Swims, fences, plays badminton and bicycle polo — Would like to learn to pilot a plane — Is an accomplished musician and plays the piano very well — Will come to thes eee ee Theatre on ‘¢The Singing Kid.’’ Al Jolson Always Tries To Aid Talented Players Star Watches For Promising Youngsters While Filming ‘The Singing Kid” ‘‘He’s a good scout!”’ That phrase, in the show Ke business, usually means one of two things. It may mean that the person referred to is a bighearted, whole-souled chap. More technically, it might mean that he’s a first-class discoverer of new talent. Al Jolson, it is pointed out by those who know him best, has long occupied both classes. For many years, working from an unselfish standpoint, he has sought out new talent wherever it might be found, and has given almost countless young aspirants their coveted chance to become amusement artists if they are capable. And in doing this — with no thought of personal gain — he has earned, of course, a general reputation in the show fraternity as a “grand guy.” Martin Freid, Jolson’s personal musical director, arranger, and accompanist and general allaround “musical Man-Friday” to the First National star of “The Singing Kid,” which comes to 1: eae ae Theatre. on-...:..:...-. points out that not a few of Al’s “finds” have gained widespread success. Bud De Sylva, famous lyric author, librettist and screen produeer, is an outstanding example of the brilliant success gained by a Jolson protege, Freid points out. Al Goodman, celebrated “name band” conductor, is another one. Patsy Kelly, Wanda Lyon and Edith Day are some of the girls who were literally discovered by the talent-wise maestro of mammy songs. Freid, who has been with Jolson as his personal musical representative for six years, intimated that he, himself, owes much to Al. But Jolson, though affirming the story of the help he gave others, insists that Freid was a “big success’ before he, Jolson, ever engaged him. “But it is true about Bud De Sylva and the others,” said Al. “The kid—he was just a kid then—had a song that sounded o.k. to me. Maybe you'll remeimber it, a novelty titled “ ‘N’Everything.” He’d written both the words and the tune. The words were clever; the melody needed Pe Pe i a ee only a bit of fixing. I liked Bud’s looks; I could see he was an extremely talented young fellow. I offered to collaborate with him. “Well, the rest is history — mostly song-hit history. We turned out such successes as ‘I’ll Say She Does,’ ‘Avalon,’ ‘April Showers’ and ‘California Here I come.’ I set De Sylva in with Harms, the music publisher, and Bud got a chance to write the lyrics for ‘When Day is Done.’ There IS a song... just one of the best songs ever written—that’s all.” Patsy Kelly, according to Martin Freid, was given her first real chance when Jolson spotted her in his “Wonder Bar” show on Broadway. Wanda Lyon, Salt Lake girl who was appearing in a Pantages circuit girls’ band, was spotted by Al while on tour and given a stellar part in “Robinson Crusoe, Jr.” Wanda is now a well-known legitimate actress and has had many successful leading roles. Edith Day, an English success, was once a Jolson protege on the American stage. In Al Jolson’s present starring vehicle, the filmusical, “The Singing Kid,” many extras and bit players were sustained by the hope that they may be noticed by Jolson, according to Freid. “The Singing Kid” combines rollicking comedy with heart throbbing drama and spectacular musical numbers. Besides Jolson the east includes Sybil Jason, Beverly Roberts, Edward Everett Horton, Lyle Talbot, Allen Jenkins, Claire Dodd and Wini Shaw. The Yacht Club Boys and Cab Calloway and his band also are featured. The numbers’ were staged by Bobby Connolly, with musie and lyrics by E. Y. Harburg and Harold Allen, orchestral arrangements being by Ray Heindorf. William Keighley directed. He’s The Swingin’est Man Al Jolson and the hottest dusky dancing chorus ever imported from Harlem to Hollywood, put on the kind of a show every Harlem club manager dreams about in ‘‘ The Singing Kid,’’ the new First National musicomedy coming to thé... Theatre rOte sae : Cab Calloway and his band are featured. 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