Variety (May 1932)

62 rARIETY Tuesday, May 31, 1932 CHICAGO Variety's Chicago Office WOODS TH^ATRiE BUILDiNG—CENTRAL 0644-4401 CONGRESS This shdwlne apot, sponsoi-ed by. the Morris office, stands alone now that the Kedzle is out and the RKO bookers and agents are climbing the Congress mezz every Wednesday eve. Only^rawback here is the ab- sence of full-stage acts, 'what with tbe stage crew being eliminated. Still, plenty kcts In 'one' may be viewed at this house each week good for either, vaude or picture houses.. Motive of the Congress showings are essentially for vtiude anyway. Originally V aimed for Fanchon & Marco and?.with that organization . stlU covering the shows, it n6w looks like a break locally as well. Meanwhile the B&K house is profit* ing by the venture, with the chancer good for the previews extending into the. summer. Congress is a big house, over. 3,000 seats, which handi- caps some talking acts, but gener- ally It's a break for the acta in be-r Jng properly set off and in~ front of a sizable audience ; Last week's bill of five acts had Jack Burnett, put in. as m. c. only, doubling in a spot of his own when one of the acts fell out. That was Master Gilbert, kid who's been seen around quite a lotV Burnett's Job of doubling, was a little too much for him. He had all he could do to get by grficefully with his introductions but' didn't have' much luck When trying to sing and give imitations. Gifford a,nd Pearl, mixed comedj team, seen around these preview nights several times, did nicely In the second spot with a receptive audience. Doubtful for the smaller houses, especially family spots, with some questionable material here and a couple of healthy 'hells* for no valid reason. Nora Sullivan, all by hers,elf, tried vainly to get her songs over with the aid of the pit orches- tra. Piano beside her would help a lot. As is. Miss Sullivan looks too uncomfortable up there alone, and her voice Is not so prepossessing. Sid . Lewiis, who has probably played every type of house in his day. Is still lingering In those mem- ories: At least his material sounds that way. Lewis Is not a fellow toi take chances of his dubious gags laying there,, so he carries along a plant with a loud voice who starts the guffawing off until it becomes Infectious. Quite an Idea man this Lewis. Three Gingershaps, another one of the now regular weekly col- ored dancing acts here, showed some flashy stepping. Boys start with harmonizing, perhaps trying for a Mills Bros. effect, which they shouldn't even attempt. Rainy weather affected biz. Span. ed salary at the State-Congress Is $750. Worked at the Academy on guarantee and percentage. MICHE (Continued ti'om page 26) ceedingly funny, especially In her scenes with Dranem, both forming a very happy comedy teani. Some comedy also by Magdalaine Berubet, acting a terrific bore. Opposition to the girl Is done by Edith Mera In the guise of a foreign countess. She l9 given a foreign t^ccent. She looks far handsomer than in any preced- ing picture. The painter Is sa,tls- factorlly done by Robert Burnler. Production is an obvious result of the current necessity for Paramount to produce b.o. . pictures at a minl- miim price. As such; it is an out- standing success. The using of sport reels has been cleverly doiie, and the gags cpme more frgra sit- uations than mere wor4 play, giving them real screen Impact. I^Icture deserves mention Iii local produc- tion. as belonging to a new era of French production, which, together with dubbed foreign, spectacular product, will make up the film fare here for the next few months.. Maxi. up best In the cast- of supporting players, all the men being pretty goshawful^ Rene Gulssart, who directed, seems to be catching on to his work at last He's still a bit afraid to move up on his actors. or allow them to roam, but there are flasheis of really intelligent marshalling; here and there, . For Aiherlcans picture . means nothing, being inferior to the aver- age Hollywood flilm. To French cus- tomers, It'll 'Just about get by. Kauf, TEXAS GUN FIGHTER Quadruple production' and Tlltany release. Starring Ken Maynard. Story by Ben - Co- hen. ' Directed by Phil Jtosen. . Cast In-: eludes Sheila Manners, Lloyd Ingraham, Harry Woods, Bob Fleming, Edgar-licwls and Jim Mason. . At. X.oew'B New York theatre one day. May 24, as half <rf a double , bill. Running time, 60 minutes. Earl Ross will late this week open a dramatic stock company un- der canvas at Fort Wayne, "Ind. Ross hasformerly Had several Chi- cago stock troupes. Stratford, a southside Warner house, will next week go to two changes a week after having been a full-week spot. Move is made following the closing of the RKO Englewood across the street, which will make available the RKO Radio, Pa the and Universal product. B. & K. Southtown, down the street; will, no doubt, also snipe some of this extra material. Louis Laemmile reopened his loop Casino after a one-week shutdown Peaches Browning opens week at the State-Congress this bur league spot, after having done i two-week stretch at the other bur ley, the westslde Academy. Report- STANDARD FIVI DOLURMOMSfl WEEKLY »l75g CHICiM»5^ HOTEL! KNICKERBOCKER ■ AOJOININC PAimilVE 6LPe(0PPOSITe n» ORAKE] SPECIAL BATES 1.-0 'XUE PUOITESSIOM IH HOTEL tiVIMG RKO STATE LAKE CHICAGO "WESTWARD PASSAGE" with Ann Harding, Julia Compton, {rvlng Plchet Not up to some of the recent Maynards, but probably will click with the regular customers, particu- larly as Ma;ynard's horse Is given almost as many chances as he gets. Off to a promising start, but sags and does not pick up. until near the close. Hurt by poor dialog aind not So good sound, but generally w^ll photographed and kept out of doors for most of the footage. That helps. Maynard breaks with a gang of desperados because of a quarrel over the Split. He wants an In- ; lured member pf the gang to share, even though he was unable to take part in the last raid. They shoot it out and he getts away. Saves a girl and the stage from attack, gets the ; ob as sheriff, is. spotted, by the gang xnd made to open the sa:fe In the express ofllce. He escapes from the gang by diving into the river, with his hands bound. Turns up to shOot It out again, with his horse leading the posse to the scene of combat and rescue. _ Maynard gels good support from Shiela Manners, Lloyd Ingraham a'nd the horse. Others usual. LA FEMME EN HOMME ('The Woman Dressed as a Man') (FRENCH MADE) Paris, May !§. A Tobia production. Distributed by Tobls,' France: From a Ugo and Falena comedy. Plrected by Augustb Genlna. Registered Tobls. ' Kunnlng time, 03 mlns. Qaumont Palace, Paris, May 20, Claude.... > Carmen BonI M. Oray Armand Bernard The Duke of Breesy .Andre Dubosc Prlncesse Marie..........IFrancolse Rosay This Is one. more of the recent productions where the star . talks with a foreign accent, because, de- spite the balance of . the. cast being French, it has, . been found, con- yenleht to use a foreign "star. ,. Real star of the film Is not Car- men Bohi, though she has the title role; but Andre Dubosc^ In the role of an old duke, very similar to the part he currently plays on the stage in Crolssefs '11 Etait Une Fols.' He Is the best French iactor for these parts, and gflves a performance which is among b)3 best. The story of. the old nobleman who finds himself possessed of a granddaughter when he thought h& had been taking in a grandson, is merely convincing enough to permit the story, to unfold. Ciarmen BonI In the double role would be satis- factory, to French audiences if she had no ai;cent. Armiand Bernard as the duke's secretary gets laitghs as usual. Technique okay. Maxi, ExploUdtion . (Continued from pake 17) shallow pan 18 inches wide, fed by the pump.' It overhangs, so that the overflow fallis directly into the lower tank. It is masked In with a rock- ery formed by soaking Very heavy wrapping paper in glue water and moulding it over a wooden friame- work while It Is wet. After it dries It, is given a coat of thin varnish and then painted rock color. A couple of water lilies in the tank, which has about three inches of soil in the bottom,'Is supplemented by potted ferns around the base. People stop to look at the display and then go inside to keep cool. LA CHANCE ('Luck') (FRENCH MADE) Paramount JolnvlUe production and re: ioaae. Stars Marie Bell. Direction Rene Gulssart; scenario, adaptation and super- vision Yvea Mlrande. At the 0th Aye. Playbouse, N.. .Y.,. on grind , riin, beginning May 2T. Running time 71 mlns, Tanin i Maria Bell Gaston .■ Marcel Andre Mme. Mougeot Francolse Rosay Cur.ral ......Pierre de Gulngand Victor. , .Fernand Fabre Just a French picture. Tves Ml- rande generally shows more ingenu- ity in his concoctions than here, but maybe- It's a matter of being over- worked in the Jolnvllle studios. Al- most every other picture from thiat studio that lands in New York seems to be labeled by him. . It's one of those lessons On-, the wickedness of gambling. Marie Bell is the lady who Just can't leave the baccarat tables alone. And the nines manage to land for her opposition most of the time. So she goes coni pletely broke, has . her furniture, Jewels and clothes seized and almost loses her honor. But Gaston, the middle-aged doctdr who. loves her and believes in her, shows up in time to forgive her for the finale, everything being okay by then. Marie Bell, from the Comedle Francaise, shows up much better than in previous films of heirs seen in New York. She's a fln6 actress and has been needing, it seems, only a cameraman and dli'ector who un- derstand their business.. Now if spmeone will And here a worthy script she'll do something really worthwhile. Francoise Roday, shows Another loe Water Giag Free Ice water gags are always, good in summer, but some are bet- ter than others because they fit in more patly. Last year one theatvc made a host of new; friends with an idea of supplying free ice water to the "Fourth of July parader^. The manager realized that '. it was a rather long line of march, dis- banding at a point where, there were no drug or confectionery stores. When the hot and thirsty men reachied the end of the line, they were greeted by the sight of a truck with four barrels of, ice .water and a supply of ftln cups. A large sign announced it as the theatre's, treat but gave credit to the ice'company for participation. The gag made more friends for the house than any other stunt worked all summer and It cost less than $2. Where state or local laws require Individual drinking cups the latter may run Into money, but even then it may be worth while. Probably the paper cups can be at least part ly promoted. HOLLYWOOD and Los Angeles 'VarMyV Office, 6282 Hollywood Blvd., at Vin* St. (Taft Bldg.) Phono Hollywood 6141 William B. McCurdy and his stock troupe sailed for Honolulu to open June 6 for 10 weeks at H. R. See- man's Liberty theatre. Company in- cludes Gladys George, Ben tirway, Eddie Waller (who also directs), Kenneth Garnet, ' Ralph - Remlejr, Boothe Howard, Blllie Van Every; Francisco Rotoll, Walter ..Sherwln, Doris Brownlae, Collins Macriie and T. P. Blackmaa. Another foreclosure threat against Standard Sound studio made last week by the E. K. Wood Lumber C^. with a |4,176 suit In Superior court and one for $351 in municipal court. Plaza theatre, San Diego,' Is minus its new marquee lights, and Paciflc National Theatres,' Inc., Is being sued In Los Angels, for $7,970 oh th«( lights for skipping payments; Suit by Npale Rainbow Light Corp_ which also attached the theatr* firm's br.nl; account. . Gore Brothers, Inc., and C. ,1^ Langley, Ltd., have,applied for an injiinctlon to prevent foreclosure Sale. on the Club Lido, $600,000 beach club property at Santa Moni^ ca. Gores and Langley are $16,384. or eight months payments, behind oh a $200,000 note given the Paclflo States Savings .& Loan Co., in No> vember, 1930. Thiey claim the loan company agreed to wait on the pay- ments until spring and summer business got underway if the Gore interests would ■ keep up Interest payments. never chilly' means more than the Jack Frost line and a, thermometer showing the inside temperature Is a good bet. Eor' fan cooled houses It is better not. to brag but to create the idea of ooolness by a light dress for both house and lobby. Frosty, looking signs are bet- ter than the famllliar red and yelr low coihblnation, and green or blue lights are more Inviting than printed words. The big Idea is to mak6 the pros- pect think he will be cool. More than half of the perspiration is in- duced .by the. thought .rather than the actual temperature. Play to the idea. M. liM.MM.M.CR. \iV 9 T I.T V T I O N ^ IMTBBNATIONALI siloes for the S^age and S^^^^^ Aprons Help If you are located in a section much given to picnics, social, po lltlcal or otherwise. It will pay to lay in a stock of bib apro.is of cheap but stout stock which can be printed or stenciled for your theatre. . These are to be given the men who look after the refreshments, both solid and liquid. Generally these are volunteer helpers who wlli not think to bring their own. and who will appreciate the courtesy. It, sometimes pays to supply aprons to hired help at refreshment stands, but that is something for the individual manager to work out for himself, since much depends upon local conditions, but it prac tically always pays at amateur events. " Playground Hooks If there' Is a vacation playground near your theatre^ make, every ef- fort .to hook in to its .activities. Promote marble contests; game competitions or anything else that will match the playground super- visor's ideas. If they t^ach folk dancing, and many playgrounds do, arrdnge for a sta.ge exhibition for the best pupils toward the close of the sea- son, but hang up the idea now to give the children enthusiasm.. If there is a ball nine to play In com- petition with otiier nioes,. help to finance the tmiforms and equip- ment through ticket sales. If they have manual training offer a prize for. the best pushmpblle and per- haps send your carpenter oyer to give the builders' hints. See the supervisor early. Make your plans far ahead, and reniem- ber that if you make a hit with the children, you catch the mothers, too. Coats Off . In. one of the small and hardup towns a manager offered to supply the street cleaning force of six men with free uniforms with the proviso that he be permitted to back sign the coats. City fathers gave per- mission and he bought the six coats. Two days later.'a hot wave came along, and a tour, of inspection de- veloped the fact that every last one of the cleaners had discarded his coat, which wag neatly folded over the handlebars of his diist cart. Manager has not quite decided whether to write down the invest- ment to total loss or insist upon stenciling the seats of their pants. Pays Commission Manager. Is trying the stunt of selling* four tickets for the reg- ular admission and tossing in a fifth. Idea Is that the hustlers, get four friends to attend the show and get the extra ticket for rustling the business. Doesn't, figure that he will have to hand out niany free tickets, though he would be glad to, biit counts on some advertising from those who try to form, lip a party and fall. Argues that there will be a lot.of talk about the idea that will put over the theatre without bring- ing the bulk business. Tickets are on special strips of five each and good only when presented collec- tively. Summer Signs Some years ago there was always to be seen around every theatre be- tween Decoration Day and the end of September a sign rending. '15 degrees cooler insid^.' Genorally it was not, and most persons knew it, but it was a part of the early ritual. Nowadays such signs as 'cool as a cave,' 'the home of Jack Krost' and similar g^gs are jUst ai.M bad in that they do not make buslncH.s unless backed by facts. For con- ditioned houses 'always cool hut For 'Street o£ Women' To help Wdrnei-'s 'Street of Women,' and one of the best gags will be to work for a co-op page with stores dealing only with women's ware and situated in the shopping district. Most towns have a 'ladles' half mile' or spm.e similar nomenclature which can be hooked to the fact that this is the Street of Women. With some real bargains to offer, the stores should be coaxed to build up with banners and pennants to make a gala showing, giving' stress to the tltlo. as wi'U as the store offerings. . If the Btores do not usually cm- ploy niuc'h nf!W.<<pai)or space and cannot be persuaded to, it is some- tlixiCH possible to land with a co- op broadside, which can be turned out for the cost of printing, Th* stores will share the printing bill if the thejatre gives the distribution* Watch ttte Mats Philadelphia 'Exhibitor' has dug up a new one in its warning to readers to watch the mats supplied by the companies. It se^ms that an exhibitor in that territory or- dered a mat and failed to notice that the appeal was directed to the men and women of St. Louis. . Ap- parently,the copy was intended to be suggestive and to be routed out of the cast, but it went in th© house program as was, and lots ot people wondered. It is a good plan to read every line of every mat. Not often so bad a break will, occur, but often the text will not be such as appeal to local readers. During Repairs Repair garage on one of the malti highways, but outside the metro* politan district carries a sigh about 24-sheet size lettered: 'Have your repairs made here and visit the Gem theatre while, you are \yaiting. Today— —.' There is a space for the current title, which is kept up to date. Sign was erected by the garage, but the theatre changes the strips with each change of- bill. It is working so well that the garage and ''the theatre are talk- ing over similar isigns - along the road to catch them on the way in. Peopl* Qomment on the advantage of being able to watch a picture while they are waiting, and some regulars save up their repairs when possible. LETTERS IHien Sendlnir for Hall to . ' VARIETY Addresa MaU Cleric POSTCARDS, ADVCRTISINO Ot CIRCULAR LETTERS Vl'ILL MOT DB ADVERTISED LETTERS ADVERTISED IN ONE ISStE ONLY CatUn Margie Doyle Joan Fltzke Chriallne H Gilbert R B Glrard Harry Goddinan Sum llanley Bud Lcone A Marx Leo May Gypsy ... Montgoine;^y Goadte Neuman IjOU Randall Dorothy Ryan Jimmy Savoy Paul Serzan H SliafCer Harry R Sharp. George Torrence J i E Warston Roao CHICAGO OFFICE Cameron Pop .Bernard Billy Fisher & -White FItzpatrlcU Charles Hamilton Alice . Han ley Bud Pattisoh Eva Reed 'Minor' Shapiro Abe DOROTHEA ANTEL t16 W, 72(1 St. New York City The Sunshine Shoppe New AsRortinrDt - ot GREETING CARDS For Ail Occasions free CatiloguM Tiie Leadlni ani LirgMt ACCORDION FACTORY In INa United 8tiM The ool; Pactoi/ iM ■DDket any «et oi l^eai made ta bind. Gueirrihi &Co. 277-279 Ctlambu) AM. San Franeljee, Cal. BOOKLET ON HOW » TO MAKE UP • V J STEiNC MAKE UPO •"^."T-"' nn ftALf A CENTURY