Variety (Sep 1928)

STAGE CENTS BIG BUSINESS IN SHOW BIZ His Lordship May Or Go Into Lord Norlhesk, who arrived on his third trip to America oh the satne boat with Peggy Joyce, would not be averse to accepting a picture offer. But this fact and a series of guffaws were about all Variety gl«aned from a conversation, with his lordship in his,a.partment at the "Warwick Hotel. Northesk could be called "The Man Who Laughs." When Variety phoned and ' asked to see Lord Northesk he grew so j^ysterical over the wire that the Variety sob sister said, "I'll be right up, and I hope 1 haven't heard it before." But there wasn't any obvious Joke. Lord Northesk is very nice. He wore a sheiklsh dressing gown, but • seemed a bit shy. The Variety gal wanted to give royalty a break and apologized for asking a lot of ques- tions, but his lordy did not mind lieing questioned. But he seemed to find it difficult to think up any answers. "I suppose I should a.sk you about the sky line?" said sister. "Ha, ha," replied Lord Northesk. "Dp you like America?'-' "Oh, yes. Ha, ha." '.'Are you going to be here long, Mr. Northesk?" "Three or four months. Ha, ha, ha." "Now, this is importinent, Mr. Northesk; but are you going to marry Peggy Joyce?" "Oh, yes. Ha, ha. Indeed, yes. Ha, ha." "Your former wife, Jessica Brown, was also a charming blonde," A''a- ^ riety's sobber reminisced. "Ha, ha," quoth Lord Northesk. It appears as if Lord Northesk is going to marry Peggy any time she wishes, after he has hi^^^ Twice before Northesk has been to America, once around Hollywood and now, although he has not had any picture offers, he may not turn down an offer. However, he is here for pleasure and is not crav- ing work, his lordship ,says. He may make it oh his exclusive laugh that can neither be imitated or duplicated. Cleveland Using Talkers, Radio to Teach Youngsters Cleveland, Sept. 11. Talkers and radio will shortly make reading 'n writing 'n 'rith- metlc a game instead of a dry task for local kids. Talking pictures are to be intro- duced in local public schools this coming year to aid teachers in ' geograpliy, art, iind possibly his- f^tory and -speech en unci a tioh.= Rudio^ { will be used tn broadcast arithmetic j tests to tlie cloment.iry grades i tlirouplumt the city. Motion pioturi's are commonly u.<;ed in many .';cIiools, but this, it is believed, is tlio fir.vt lime talkers and radio will bo used togpihor for ; I'dnoati.iiial puri.o.s(.>.< in any city. PADLOCKS TO KEEP DRUNKS OUT, NOT COPS ■ The speaks become more popular and more sumptuous as the nite clubs ebb. Recent padlock notoriety didn't help, and the speakeasy pro- prietors are frank- in siding with the. patrons, stating that two bits for a seidel of. needled beer is enough, as is 60 cents for straight drinks " and 75 cents for mixed drinks. .. This attitude is winning more and moi'e patrons to the anterooms. They are also cashing in on the little restaurant play, although still dispensing free luncheons at all hours to the Imbibers. . Remarking on the open-door policy so prevalent of late, the atti- tude Is that since you can't keep the cops out, the lock-and-latcli is only used at night to keep the drunks out. Self-respecting speaks, those who would keep their. following, don't want drink hustlers around. "The specie with twO) bits for a seidel of beer who eases into bar gatherings and bums drinks Is quickly told to ajnscray, as are those who cannot hold their likker. More Seats Than Pop; 500 Over iit Westwood Packsac, new 2,500-soater at Westwood, N. J., opened this week with vaudfilm, five acts on each end booked by Fally Markus. The new house provides additional opposition to an already overseated community which has two other theRtfs ag^-ftinr' a h a:d a itio na i 3,300, 500 over the population of the town. The . Westwood plays vaudfilm also on the week ends while the Lyceum plays straight pictures. Radio Voices for Talkers Testing voices through the radio microphone before giving players jobs in talkers wa.s introduced this week by Pathe in the first of Its Topics of the Day to be dialogod. After selecting oi^jht of the 50 people he interviewed, Don Hancock, departmental editor, took.th<'m down to Wt:AF, let them talk into the mike and listened in from a loud speaker In the reception room. Wa.shlnglon, Soi)t. 11. Dlalo.:; Of a talkln? picture was bvoadcast here In-^t Thursday over WftC. Wltc. engineers tapped the booth of the Mf-iropolitan where a traik-r had Conmi^, NaErol announi-ing th.> coming of '"Lights oC New York." WEST, ElECTBIC Reported Electrical Company at Present Controlling Theatre Wiring for Sound Pictures Prefers to Buy Warners Through Fat Contract Held by Brothers for Sight and Sound Pic- tures — Warner - Stanley Deal Denied Despite Strong Signs it's On NOT UNEXPECTED Western Electric is reported having submitted an offer to pur- chase the entire picture business of the Warner Brothers. Whatever negotiations have been started with Harry Warner are said to have been held up through the reluctance of Jack Warner, the pro- ducing head of the firm, to listen to any terms. Harry, from the report, considered the proffer on the under- standing his brothers would have to consent. The consideration for all of the (Continued on page 6) Texan Chambers of Commerce Are Heaven^Sent to Local Exhibitors RADIO'S a FOR POUnCAL BROADCASTS While both parties wiU spend close to $1,000,000 for radio ex- ploitation of tlieir., presidential can- didates, it ' will mean only that Radio is getting back what it had already expended to broadcast gratis the conventions and both Smith and Hoover's accoptanre speeches. Both the National .Broadcasting Go. and the Columbia Broadcasting System disbursed many thousands (Continued on page 56) Stage Hands vs. Actors A side light cm wut^e in- ci-easo.s for stage handt; and tin- claim that they are makinf? more mon<'y than actor.*, con- cerns the crew with "Tho Hi-r. Till' bade .st.i^'c nii'H drr-w i'2()() each per \v<'i-k for llo.' lin.'il two w*»*'Us iti r'?hi'iu>.'i!-?. They .reni.'iin<'d on lhf> J-j'i throughout on" niu'ht '>n<l unMI 11 the n<^xt nicrnintr. EDDIE CLARK'S OWN SANDWICHING ON B'WAY Edward Clark, aiithor. star and producer of "Relations," now in Its fourth week at the Masque The- atre, tired of carrying the torch be- cause of the poor bijsiness pulling power of his attraction and late last week started carrying a banner himself advertising his show around Times Square. The double faced sign carried by Clark appealed for support for his play on the strength of its cleanli- ness and stated that the author, producer and star was not too proud to turn to banner ballyhooing in order to gain public attention for his brain child. Friday night prior, to curtain time at the Masque, (jlark and his banner made a personal appearance at the Public Service cut rate ticket agency and with the aid of the Leblang emporium succeeded in drawing a near capacity audience to the show, with plenty of paper also evident In the house. In a ten minute speech following the performance Clark told his audience that his show had run for nine weeks in Los Angeles before he brought it to New York; that he was convinced his show was the logical successor to the long run record hei(? by "Abie's Irish Rose" and that he has had about a dozen shows produced in New York in the last fifteen years and wlis fighting to keep his show going by word of mouth advertising, not having the money to pay for display; space in the dallie.^-. He expects to continue carrying his banner all this week. Clark authored "De Luxe Annie," •'Honey Clirl," "Cinder.s," "Little Mis.s Charity," "You're in Love" and several other comedies and musicals ofr other-yoai's, ^ ■■ . . - - $6 and $7.50 Cover for Zieggy's Frolic on Roof Top oouvorl cl»arg<*s will obtain when I'Morenz Ziegfchl opens his New Amsterdam Roof this fall to revive the Ziegfdd Mldnite Frolic. A week ^day toll of $6 a chair and ?T.')0 on week-ends will be the scale. Eddie Cantor, Helen Morgan, Ether Shutta (Mrs. Oeorge Olsen) .ind Olsi'n and ' hi.-< music will be the fcatuf's. all doublinir from Zi»'giiy iiroiluctlon.'-. Tank tovyn indie exhibs, bemoan- ing the high price Liound era should from now ori pipe down and do a Uttle handshaking with their local Chamber of Commerce. According to "Warners, Chambers in several tiny Texas towns already ha,ve come to the aid of their local theatre, men by working the civic pride gag to the point of collecting enough dough to install the full equipment without even touching the exhlb's interest margin. Thei town of Temple, 16,000 souls,. first threw out the life saver by yls- itlng Its Arcadia theatre and per- sonally selling enough ticket books, at' $2.50 per, to raise 111,250. Teniple's chamber's Ire was aroused by Waco, in the same Tex- as and the first there to get a talker, pulling . the trade some 40- odd miles away. Following, the tip from Temple's live Chamber, the public spirited in Paris, Tyler, Harrington and Ran- ger all got the dope and have rlncc financed their own theatre men with kale for talker equipment. '' Dent Theatres,' Inc., Texas Saen- gor-attached chain. Is the first to cash in on the Chamberig In the towns. Where their 20 houses are located. » I / No Babe Ruth Demand Iin\)f' Rijth has not received a singh? b-iil)st.uitiai thi'!iti-!f;il off'-r. A lack 01 intfic-^l .'^irn'e lln-.I'.irn suddenly hiUfd hi-- li'iiJH' run .str->.';ik i.-- the. H;ibe h 1.1 lif.Uen y mi I.s .-.tiiit'-ks | •It eitlpT- y l'l l"-, ill ■Mrici 1'J::1. Jolson's 3rd Marriage? It is inside reported that Al Jol- son may essay a third marriage during his current vLsit in New' York, Before leaving the city with his bride, name undisclo.ied and also unknown if professional, .Tol.son will witness the premiere of his Warner Brothers talker, "Singing Fool," at the Winter Garden Sept. 19. After that if there Is another Mrs. Jolson tlie couple rnay go to London where Al will again see a premiere of his "Ja.zz Singer" with song at the Pic- cadilly theatre, . « If carrying out his Intent to wed. Jolson will try to escape the tabs in the process. : Inside Broadway gossip h;i3 It that the ex-Tenth :avenue girl who herself has made a name along Mazda Lane, Ruby Keoler, will be the next Mrs. Ai Jolson, marrying the rnilUonairc comedian who.^e per- sonal fortune Is placed beyond the $3,000,000 mark. Miss Keeier, still in her 'teens, i.** regarded as one .of the greatest lap dancers. Wlien at tlie Silver Slii)per and Frivolity clubs slie at- tracted production attention, beini< f.itrned by Charles Dillingham. BROOKS THE NAME YOU GO BY WHEM YOU GO TO BUY 1 COSTUMES Ot ■ pieliu , Mj|1^7 nV/AY. NV TELSSeO PENN.I I > • *>.^<? COSTUMES TO RtNT - '