Wonder Bar (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Busby Creates Beauty Wearing Old Clothes Busby Berkeley, creator and director of the musical interludes in ‘‘Wonder Bar,’’ the First National picture which comes to the .................. Theatre TY -ccasptextacbaacatnte , With Kay Francis, A] Jolson and Dick Powell heading an all star cast, always works in old clothes. During working hours, his favorite costume is a pair of soiled white trousers, a white sweat shirt and tennis shoes, Despite the fact that he is very meticulous concerning the attire of his chorus girls and men he does not practice this advice himself. He believes that he can work better when he doesn’t have to think of his clothes. BUSBY BERKELEY A Personality Portrait LTHOUGH he was practically born on the stage, Busby Berkeley was kept from theatrical work by his parents until General Pershing brought it about. Busby, creator and director of those stupendous and intricate ensemble numbers which have characterized the successful Warner Bros.-First National musicals of the past year, revealed this interesting piece of biographical information to a group of friends who were discussing the famous General on the set of ‘‘Wonder Bar,’’ the allstar extravaganza, now showing at the ...........0ce. Theatre. Berkeley was born William Berkeley Enos on the 29th of November, 1895, in Los Angeles. His father, the late Wilson Enos, was associated for many years as director with most of the stage producers on Broadway, David Belasco and the Frohmans included. He directed numerous stage hits until his death, shortly after the beginning of the century. Berkeley’s mother was Gertrude Berkeley, known as one of the most famous of screen mother portrayers up until the start of the War. She was with Nazimova for more than fourteen years on the stage and screen. At the time of Busby’s birth, his father was engaged in directing Tim Frawley’s stock company in Los Angeles. The stars of the troupe were Amy Busby, the company leading, Blanches Bates and other players of renown. As a result of the friendship that existed between Miss Busby and the parents of the child, the boy was given her surname for his own. The day after America’s declaration of war, Busby enlisted in the army, being assigned to the 312th Field Artillery, 79th Division. Sent to the Saumur Artillery School in France, he was, upon graduation, commissioned a lieutenant by General Pershing. After a service of a year and a half at the front, Berkeley became Pershing’s entertainment officer with headquarters at Chaumont after the signing of the Armistice. He was later sent by the General to assume charge of entertainment for the Third Army of Occupation in Germany. After serving in this capacity in Coblenz, Germany, Berkeley was entertainment officer of the St. Aignon Embarkation Camp in France. With this background of theatrical work, Busby decided to enter the theatre world upon his army discharge and return to New York. His first stage job was the lead in ‘The Man Who Came Back,’’ in which role he replaced Henry Hull. He then played the leading comedy part in ‘‘Irene’’ for over three years, following which he staged road shows of the play for two years. Berkeley returned to California in 1930 on his first visit since having left as a child of three months. He was brought west to handle the ensembles in Eddie Cantor’s ‘‘Whoopee’’ and _ his work speedily won the approval of audiences. ‘CWonder Bar,’’ he frankly admits, is the best effort of his career. The production is crowded with stellar names—Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez, Dolores Del Rio, Dick Powell, Al Jolson, Hal LeRoy, Hugh Herbert, Louise Fazenda and Fifi d’Orsay. Possibly Berkeley’s extraordinary efforts in the filming of ‘“Wonder Bar’’ were means to an end. With an all-star cast such as the picture possesses under the direction of Lloyd Bacon, Berkeley probably realized that in order to compete with such talent he had to extend himself beyond the high standards he has created in the past. Berkeley doesn’t mind the competition—now he’s pointing to the ensembles he has created and directed in ‘‘Wonder Bar’? and smiling as he sees wonderment in the eyes of Hollywood which can’t quite figure out the sources of his inexhaustible supply of ideas. Commandments For Dancing Girls Given By Berkeley There was wailing and gnashing of teeth in Hollywood during the production of ‘‘Wonder Bar,’’ First National’s gigantic musical drama which comes to the .............. Theatre On... , for with one fell swoop, Busby Berkeley, dance director, went a long way toward disrupting the movie ¢colony’s night life. He promulgated Ten Beauty Commandments for the 300 beautiful chorus girls who appear in his spectacular ensembles. The rules which caused consternation are nine and ten, which specify that girls must get eight hours sleep a night—starting before midnight —and have no late dates while working. Since they were obliged to report at the studio at seven a.m., it can be readily seen that little time was left for nocturnal romance. ‘‘Dancing is strenuous work, fully as strenuous as playing football,’’ Berkeley said. ‘‘Strict observance of these rules resulted in better dancing, while preserving the girls’ beauty and freshness.’’ Here are Berkeley’s ‘‘Ten Commandments’’: 1. Girls must eat three square meals a day—with a steak or chops once each day. Drink one quart of milk and at least one large glass of orange juice each day. 3. Take a cold shower every morning. Take a daily sunbath. 5. Exercise in the open air daily—tennis, golf, or swimming — and walk twenty blocks. 6. Use a minimum of makeup, except for screen work —and no mascara. 7. Keep hair the same color. Wear no high heeled shoes. 9. Get at least eight hours sleep a night, starting before midnight. 10. No late dates. ‘<Wonder Bar’’ is based on the internationally famous musical drama which Al Jolson starred in on the American stage. An all star cast plays with Jolson in the screen production by Earl Baldwin, including Kay Francis, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell and Hal LeRoy. Lloyd Bacon directed the picture from the screen play by Ear) Baldwin. Music and lyrics are by Harry Warren and Al Dubin. to Stars In Strand Hit Dolores Del Rio and Al Jolson who are numbered in the all star cast of “Wonder Bar,” the First National musical coming to the Strand. Mat No, 6—20e Berkeley Chooses Chorus Queens By Unerring Instinct The Busby Berkeley ensemble beauties in ‘*42nd Street’? — “‘Gold Diggers of 1933’? and ‘<Footlight Parade’’ have long been accepted by Hollywood as the most beautiful girls in all of cinemaland. When Berkeley had made hig final selection of the three hundred beauties he employed in the spectacular ensembles of ‘‘Wonder Bar,’’ the First National musical drama now showing at the ............ Theatre, it was discovered that he had assembled a group of girls thought to be even more beautiful than in the preceding pictures. How he selects them—what he recognizes as beauty—how he sees it so quickly, has long puzzled the film world. The usual Berkeley ‘Cinterview’’ consists of 1500 girls or more lined in even rows on one of the studio stages. In ‘‘Wonder Bar’’ he had six groups of 1500 before he made his final selection. The girls are instructed to walk in single file across the vast floor, toward Berkeley, and in quick, precise manner he picks those he wants, discarding the others. He does this under very commonplace circumstances which ordinarily would confuse one regarding the beauty, or lack of it, in a girl. The applicants are usually attired in practice shorts, bathing suits having fallen more or less in the background as means of displaying feminine charms. In most instances the girls are without make-up. Many are wearing sports pajamas. Legs aren’t boldly exposed. But Berkeley, with almost mathematical accuracy, manages to select the most beautiful girls of the group. He rarely misses. Asked to account for his ability to select beauty under such conditions, Barkeley was at a loss to explain his system. ‘«Frankly,’’ he said, ‘‘I don’t know. If a girl has charm, personality and poise, the lack of make-up doesn’t matter. If she has stage presence, assurance, beauty of form, it can’t be concealed in baggy pajamas. ‘CWonder Bar’’ is a mammoth musical drama in which these 300 girls appear in numbers created and directed by Berkeley. There is an all star cast which includes Kay Francis, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell, Al Jolson, Hal LeRoy, Guy Kibbee, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert, Louise Fazenda and Fifi d’Orsay. And Well Ride All Over God’s Heaven They went up to heaven on a mule, but they’re coming back by trolley. One of the scenes from the “Goin’ to Heaven on a Mule’? number, in “Wonder Bar,” the First National musical sensation coming to the Strand on Wednesday. Mat No. 30—30ce Page Fifteen