Variety (December 1925)

V/ednesday, December 30, 1925 VARIETY 13 1 JiOLLYWHOD CONFERENCES (WASTING TIME AND MONEY IN PICTURE MAKING) Los Angeles, Dec. 24. If they did noi have Californin Coiifereiicfs ihey %vould not have successful Caliiornla made pictures. AVere tlie pruducers lo Include In Che cost of production of pictures the lime consumed In conferenceF the nei cosl of a picture wojld aver- age IS to :0 per cent more than li duca, calculailng the time spent In conference. Most of the time s. ent in conftTcnces Is charged up to gen- eral overhead with the result that this brunt not borne by any par- ticular production. Conferences are necessary In •very line of business but in the mo- tion picture producing business they •eem to be made of a habit than a ne'^essity. Conferences have grown to be s Chronic habit at the studios where they grow more and more on the people every day. They are held to dscuss the most trivial things. Six «r seven people'pass Judgment. Script Clerks It is nothing unusual to see hall <lozen or more studio executives, nve or six subordinates, directors, scen- ario writers and production man- agers and even lesser employees participate in a series of confer- ences over what color gown u wo- man shall wear: or whether or not li Is proper for the leading man to walk Into a room attired In after- noon frock without carrying a cane •r a pair of chamois gloves. Detail Is a very Important part ol a picture. If one does not bcllcvt It all they might do is spend a few minutes on a set where a picture U being made. There they will find a young man or woman who sits clone to the director with a volumi- nous book on their lap. These people •re known as script clerks. A per~ ■on not knowing what their duties are might figure all ttut la neces- sary to fill a position of this sort Is to be able to read the sequences of scenes as they have been writ- ten out In continuity form. They are mistaken. These people need tr.'ilnlng and plenty of It. *> hey must be observant and ready to catch any mistake that might be made in carrying out the minutest detail In the story. They must see that a person when first coming to work for a scene is properly attired. That the script is followed reU^loi^s- ly In this respect and that the people wear the clothes, adornments, have their coirfeur in a certain form, car- ry their pocket handkerchiefs at a certain angle or their fan in a cer- tain way. These notes are made In a script book and also made men- tally as It mlsht be iwo or three diiys later before pome sequence I." made which will call for the same Brink cup nnd wardrobe. The leadinf? man. woman or some player might walk onto the set They might have a dl.reront col- ored shin on ncclitie on than they hod when the original S'.-ene was taUf'n. the woman mlpht liave o llRhter or dar!:er shade of stoclclngs; her hnlr might be arranirod a bli dlTerontly. which the average per- son might not notice. Xnbody Is responsible but the script writer for the appearance of these people. If not rlriht a conference la Im- midlately hdd In which the script ■writer, the director, assistant drec- tor and the wardrobe mistress par- ticipate. The actor mlsrht Insist that that was the costume worn, etc. I'rohably 16 or 23 minutes might bf consumtd until the script clerk proves on black and white Just how the scene was done. The script clerk cannot forget, for If they did when the rushes of the pictures are run later in the day for the studio executives and the director the dif- ference is quickly noticed from the preceding scenes. Then another conference as to who is responsible. As a rule It'a the script clerk who Is coafcronre.-l out of a Job. Over Color of Co'.vn Hcccntly at one of the large stud- ios In Culver City o di.cctor taking a picture came to his supervising director and said that he thought a certain woman should wear a yel- low gown, while the head of the wardrobe department thoiiRht that blank would l)e better. The Huper- vlsing director agreed wlih the di- rector The latter rpturnid to the head of the wardrobe dei»:irtmont and told him so. The man In the wardrobe dcp.irtmcnl stood hi.'< ground. He nnd the director re- turned to the supervlsInT director and started to confer. The ward- robe m.Tn gave his reasons wliy blmk sho'ild be worn: the director who had directed the woman In (Continued on page 198) DOOSTING OPPOSITION Duffy, on Coast, Urging Patrons to Attended Other Shows San Francisco. Dec. 28. A fine spirit of co-operatton hi noted by visitors to the Alcazar the- atre. Henry Duffy. In the leading role, steps out of character at tht- end of the first act of 'The Song and Dance Man" to boost competing legit attractions by urging the pa- trons to look the oi>po8itlon over. Not one of the ot:icr houses, bene- fited by Duffy's generosity are recip- rocating for Duffy's shows from the stage. The red-headed actor-managei states he Is doing It to help the town and to encourage patronge for road shows. Premium for Business Some of the current flops and semi-flops. In an effort to get bu.xineas. have resorted to the old trick of giving Uie agencies 60c. flat for every ticket they sell. This gives the agency a better break than the usual system. The way the show owners figure Is that If the agency can't sell the seats, they either go in cut rates or remain un- sold. So far It hasn't worked much of an Improvement as people who use the agencies for tickets specify the particu- lar show they want to 2 SHOWS OUT Broadway will lose at least two attractions at the end of the week, while one or more shows are off the little theatre list outside the TimeM Square district. "Oh. Oh. Nurse.** produced Inde- pendently at the Cosmopol tan. will ciose Saturday, the end of Its fourth week. It never figured lo 'lave a chance. The first week was under SIO.OOO, and the second under ST.OOO. •Laff That OfT* will leave the 396) Street for the subway time, li was also Independently produced and sponsored In New York by Earl Carroll. "Laff That Off will have played a total of nine weeks. It averaged less than S6.000 weekly. In addition "Wlae-Crackers" stopped last Saturday at the Fifth Avenue, a llttie theatre first called the 66. which Is Us avenue address. Trying CLEAI^ PLAYS By J. C. NUGENT *B'WAY SCANDALS* Cabaret Agent's Musical Will Play Havana and Mexico City Dot New Play French System The French system of production which eliminates try-out presenta- tions is expected to spread In New York. In Paris a new play Is gen- erally first put on In one of Ihe small hideaway theatres and If deemed merltable Is moved Into a regular theatre. This season more than ever new productions were exhibited In the neighborhood houses making up the subway circuit, prior to Broadway presentation. The critics passed up the nearby openings, kept busy enough revlewlns the Broadway arrivals. Two houses recently opened are figured lo specialize on new at- tractions: the Windsor In the Bronx and the Central park, a small house, said to be fully equipped. The Windsor was (leslgned as a regular subway circuit house, pre- senting attractions on tour. The proximity of Bronx opera house win probably force the Windsor to assume the new show policy. Brooklyn's downtown theatre dis- trict will have a new legitimate theatre next season. While Werba's and the Majestic will principally receive louring attractions, the new house will b« designed tor try- outs. Harry Walker, cabaret agent. Is taking a flier In legit and lining up a musical show, 'Broadway Scan- dals" for an eight weeks' tour of Havana and Mexico City. Accord- ing lo Walker the show has been 3uaranteed eight weeks, the theatres posting transportation both ways with the American consul at each city and also a bond covering eight weeks salary for the company. The piece calls for J** prlnlclpals and a chorus of 24. Will H. Smith win stage. The nailing date has been set for Jan. 10. Lowenthal Marrying? Chicago. Dee 28. Fred Lowenthal. law partner of Harry P. Munns. attorneys for nu- merous theatrical Interests, has gone to Ean Francisco. While pre.iumably on business among his associates here Is a sus'>i ion Lowenth.il ^vill be Joined on the coast b\- a certain person and the two will become one. going on n trip around the world with the home-coming In April. Lowenthal some years ago was a famous football player at the Uni- versity of Pllnols and center on the All-American team during his senior year. Rcnie Riano*s Eye Attack Day of G. V. F/ Opening Christmas Day lost Its charm for Renle Ulano on Thursday J Dec. 24) when she was stricken with p.oral- ysls of the left eye. Nevertheless. Ml«s Itlano opened with the new "Greenwich Village Follies." at Chanln'a. that n ght. despite the arrilctlon nnd medical advice. It Is believed that nervous ex- haustion, brought on by endiess re- hearsing prior to the New York premiere. Is responsible for the present plight of the comedienne. The condition la not necessarily pfrmane>ni. with every chance of a complete recovery for Miss Itlano. FANGHON SIGNS E. WADDELL Los Angeles. Dec. 28. Fanchon (Fanchon and Marco), who has returned from New York, has booked Ruth W.iddell (Zleg- feld "Follies") for a tour of the West Coast theatres early In the spring. Fanchon has resumed her motion picture studio activities and In now ensaged staging dances and tab- ! aux for Norma Talmndge mak- ing "Klkl" and a production for Metro-Goldwyn-.VIayer In which Norma Shearer Is starred. Norworth's Coast Stock Los Angeles. Doc. 28. Comlii'g In on rubber shoes Jack .Nnrworrh handed the folks of Glendale a surprise when he oi-ened up the Playhouse In that town on Christmas night as a stock ihe- a t re. The first was "The Best People" Norworih Is going to be a dramatic and musical comedy Impresario and ntll only work in his shows from lime to time. Those In the cast are Ruth King. George Sherwood. Boyd Irwin. Fan- chon Everhardt. Ruth Mill. Jean Fielding. Alex Knowther. Walter Simpson. William WItaon Ferdinand Mulner Is staging the plays. CRAVEN REVIVINO "BRODMS" Frank Criivcn i!^ returning to the sta^e after several months of sb- sence In a revival of ",\pw I?rooms " The show has been routed for a tour of the middle west, playinir lCrlan«er bookings. It oficns at the Nixon, P.ttsburgh. .Ian. 4. Craven Is attempting to tine up the same cast that appeared In thf original production at the Fulton. .\pw York. Thus far he has signed niythe Daly and Robert McWade. GILPIN'S "JAZZ VENUS" "The Jazm Venus," a comedy by Charles Ollpln. negro actor, la an- nounced as the second offering of the Theatre League, Inc.. of which Joe Ityron Totten Is managing di- rectory The initial effort of the league. "So That's That." authored by Tot- ten. was withdrawn after two per- formances at the Cherry I^ne. Greenwich Vilinge. 'The Good Hope." sponsored by Katherlne Klrkwood. Jumped over from the Triangle theatre to fill. PLAYING YORKE AND ADAMS A. H Woods' London presenta- tion of "Give and Take" will fea- ture Yorke and Ad.ims. Thouch the comedians are favorites on the other sldp. they have been laying off here for the [•asi year The play was written by the late Aaron Hnffman and starred Louis .Mann and Georne Sydney. Mann Is now on tour with the show again. When, one presumes the first savage who analylred a paternal tender- ness, said to himself thickly, as he noticed a savage woman hold an ' Infant. "That must b* my bal-y. because that Is the only woman who : has been up In the n oiintalns here this year." the first notion of com- ; munlty responsibility dawned. So. doubtless, he pii: her In a cave and built a stone wall around It, and when the next sa«'age tried to c'Imb over, following the piquant law of natural selection, h" Boake<1 him on the dome with a stone club. Thus commenced marriage and property. It was hard going for the o'.d men of the tribes, no one can dispute, persuading the young bucks and wenches that there must be some system to the aelectlve thing. But as community life advanced from camps i» villages, and then lo towns and cities, the need of some regulation t>e- came api>arent. Then as now. no doubt, "free and untrammelled souls" demanded soul mates and acorn. J convention and rules. But then as now they wcrs equally free ai>out dumping the results of their freedom upon the mor* conventional for support. There was s lot of sentiment about It: there still is. But It boiIe4 '■', down lo the fact that those who caused kids should supoort them. Usually, an economic reason underlies the finest sentiment. In life. In fiction. In art, a lot of "Wild Spirits" are always decrying : hampering rules, but the same wild spirits are equally free about allow- \ Ins tame spirits to stand the results of breaking them. Simple Facts \ Certain convenllo.is are necessary to civilised lifs. Bnoad and liberal j as we may wish to ce. let us not put It upon sentimental, nor religious i nor other emotional grounds. Just on the obvious fact that those who ; dance must pay the rtddler. i It Is a leaching for the Intelligent only. And the world for countless centurlea was not suif'clenily Intelligent to l>e told simple facta. They cou'.d not l>e taught that passion Itself was not wrong, necessarily, tut that Its results, without regulation, would make of the world a mad* house. That vague threat give small pause to the budding boy and girl, ancient or modern, so It was necessary to exaggerate, to threaten, to ] "paint dire punlshmenu In he:i and great rewards In heaven." lo simp y point out that organized existence requires some sacrifice from each, for : the greatest good of the greatest number, sounded pretty good at the mass meetings of the blithering barbarians, but between two of them alon* under a palm tree at midnight with the moon Winking. It was a laugh. The hell and heaven thrCat became stronger. It cryi'tallsed Into dread concreteness. Into sounder nnd ponderous doctrines. It varied with ths community and climate. Flnal'y II Impressed Itself upon centuries of life amongst submerged peoples, to whom, even amongst Its teachers, the letter of the law became more Important than the spirit. Things became wrong because custom and leaching had made them wrong. Th« origin of the reason became lost. You couldn't do anything you wanted to do. Not doing anything you wanted to do was being good. Action snd reaction are opposite and equal. Repression beyond rea« son brought aLx>ut unreasoning and extreme revolts. To be followed bf unreasoning rt forms The wild court life of the Stuarts gave us Purl* tanism and the New England conscience. That. In turn, gave us ths wild unrestraUit and laxity, which In turn, brought about the present prohibition extreme, to cut down to Idate. Bvenluatly the pendu'um may strike the centre of sanity. But the most llbefal sanity mu^t realize that there must t>e som« \ order. Some regulation of those sacred ties of life from which life springs, some respect for properly, marriage, and the foundations of civilized society. The extremes of oppression and depression which was and Is the lif* of the old world, where the lot of the common man is hopeless and long enduring, is reflected in Its drama. So much so that academic Judges of drams long ago concluded that plays which did not 'r( fleet the horrors of this revolt against fanatical repression, could not truly represent life. ■ -^ , Drsms Drams was always Ihe expression of revolt. Good drama must there* fore be the expression of wild license, of llcenllousness. of rapine and murder and hell and ail. They have not yet realized that American life Is old enough to have a dramatic literature of Its own. and still young enough to be heafthy and wholesome and free from the darksome results of centuries of iron clad convention. And that those results are perversion, degeneracy, dirt, slime and depruvliy. goes without saying. America started without too many traditions. It started with a free hand. It started from now The gloom of outworn civilizalions had not warited It and redlsposed of Its Judgments. it started more liberally, more happily, ii gave birth to a more liberal, more happy national life. That life ia expressed In its native dramatic literature. But whl'e it is old enough to have a dramatic literature, and while that literature iruthrully expresses Us life. It Is not old enough to have Judges of Its own literature. The Judgment still comes from the umpires of the old wo-ld and of thai sycophantic American clement who are moulded by them. And It Is the fashion that they should pro- nounce plays which reflect the clean, decent and normal life of the young continent, as "nice little t>lays. good enough as Juvenile enter- lalnmenL but wholly missing the essential elements of life." Americans, ar. they advance from the sod Into companionship with the Intelllgentta of the older countries, have always sulTered from that fear of the ungrounded man who throws up his hands before he knows whether or not the other fellow has a gun. From time to time they have weak- ened. They have become afraid of theh- native virtues, and to make good with the things they thought were high hrow. they have become simply maudlin and unclean, missing the gloomy strength of the old world and the beauty ami youth ol the new. Hut plays are neither old-fashioned nor modem. Neither is acting. It Is slmp'y either good or bad. Being vile does noi make a play. Being chemically clean does not make a play. It must reveal life. But American plays may reveal a cleaner life because American life Is cleaner. Plays do not Inspire a t-ountry. they reflect it. Ours Is s more hopeful, un- sullied, youthful and Ideal loving country. Just as youth is more hopeful. Ideal loving and unsiiliiod than old age. There Is hope for our native plays, and for our native stage. Ever and anon It will receive ^ set t.ack as some opportunist destroys all the advancement we have made In the public heart by launching some dramatic foreign Inspired debauch of Nymphomaniacs and degeneraes and prosiliuiion to 'n-r harvest of a few heavy weeks from the morbid mlnde<l who flock to anything which panders to their Inherent uegeneracy under the name of real "art" but the reaction will come, and will, eventually, be perinunerit. "COME TO GLORY" PREPARES "Conie to Gkiry" wll; reach the stage the latter part of this month via Jules lliirtlg A cast Is elng a.'sembled and the piece Is due fo: rehearsal next week. Among those already mgned are I..otils CennlBon. Jessie iUilph and John Daly Murphy. * RUSSELL MACK HAS COMEDY ItuMHell Mack has acquired "Good Time Cbarlej," a new comedy by Caesar Dunn which he will produce the latter p.nrt of .lanuary. also ap« pearliig In the title role. Arevle C'lniphell. stage director ,"(,• Ncirrtinn rtfl-Ged'Ifs. has been !oaiit;d"ti, bUgc the piece.