STAGE PRICE lO CENTS RADIO MUSIC SCREEN Only Theatrical Newspaper on the Pacific Coast Published Every Saturday at 6253 Hollywood Boulevard, VII I - Entered as Second Glass Matter, April, 29, 1927, at Post- 1931 No. 7 Y xViiX office. Bos Angeles, Calif., under Act of March 3, 1879 Saturday, February 21, Hollywood, Calif. LEGIT ROAD CIRCUIT OF 35 WEEKS PLANNED May Move Good B.O. Studios To This Year New York Spurs Plan Trend at the motion picture stu- A circuit of 35 weeks for legiti- mate shows is being planned by dios is east and within five years all eastern stage producers, who are production activity will be picture currently forming an alliance with centered around New York, accord- a banking group to effect the en- ing' to grapevine around -town this terprise, according to word reach- week. here through banking sources ms week, The story, was founded on a i The, producers and money-men ported meeting. o£ movie bankers, feel that the opportune moment which was said to have laid down has arrived to re-establish legit in a dictum that they intended to bring its former sphere of popularity, it the movie industry imdyr their daily is stated, but they also feel that supervision, and that they didn’t in- present methods of competition will tend to. come to Hollywood to do it. be a major hindrance to the plan. dissatisfaction in banking- Wide For this reason, it is declared, situ- circles over the present movie the plan includes establishment .of the ation is a known fact. When central offices which will direct the York local producers went to . New entire legit business, more or less their money for. the this year to get , after the system now employed by- coming programs, they are known pictures through the Association of in many instances to have received Motion Picture Producers and Di- the coldest reception in history. rectors and the Academy of Mo- They expected an easy time, due to tion Picture Arts and Sciences. the amount of money, lying idle in Good Reaction eastern banks. But. easy it was not. The plan first was conceived One prominent producer was au- when highly favorable reaction was thentically reported to have cooled given several high-class shows sent his heels in the anteroom a long out on the road this year. Prior then to have been met to that the old talking picture shib- time, and . with the incisive question as to why boleth still bore weight to the ef- the amount of money he asked fect that the legit stage was all should be forthcoming .when waste washed up in the sticks and in and inefficiency, particularly in the other metropolitan centers than matter of payrolls, honeycombed New York. s s as George the picture business. But such h o w ... New Bridge White’s “Flying High.” two com- panies of “Berkeley Square,” a Several of the bankers were -said couple of grand opera companies, t to have pointed . to the . Pararn oun one sponsored by Ben Atwell and Long Island studios as the acme the other by Samuel Instill, and of efficiency for the other studios to other class shows proved the theory- shoot at, and to have ascribed this wrong. The. really good shows this close supervision from the to the year have found a highly lucrative bankers possible, when the produc- road, playing to their capacity box- tion plant in a York spot. is New offices in the main cities and tak- to the side A bridge over Jersey ing excellent toll in the small spots to at 145th St. and River- is open as well. For instance, it is not un- side Drive soon, and the- bankers are usual for a good play to take away said to have their eyes on New Jer- $9000 or so for a three nights’ sey as the proper, locale for the pro- stand in a small town—and that's posed studio colony back there. not bad. The main claim by Los Angeles Check On Publicity for being the homespot of the mov- DICKSON MORGAN The money results of these tours ies is the California sunshine, but set the legit producers to reasoning, this urging by those producers who Soon To Produce At and their conclusions were suffi- want to remain in the west was ciently encouraging to send them given scant. heed. -With the talkies, HOLLYWOOD PLAYHOUSE to the bankers with a plan which so much stuff is necessarily shot in- the latter adopted as not only feas- side ‘ by. artificial lighting that the ible but also good. The result was sunshine, loss would be practically SEASON ihe plan to form a regular roqte PROLOGUE TRIMMED HUDDLE ON DEAL GOOD starting with 35 negligible, it was answered. for N. Y. shows, were let out of the Twelve men Continuing reports that Harold weeks and probably later building- About Homes “Cimarron” prologue ensemble at Richard Wilbur, head of the Wil- B. Franklin and Howard Hughes up to 40 or more. Another reason urged against the recently. About 38 the Orpheum bur Players’ Stock Company of One main provision of the plan gradual exodus eastward was re- remain in the cast. are going to take over the Los An- Honolulu, reports a successful sea- is to eliminate cut-throat in pub- ported to have been the fact that geles Theatre seem to be on the to licity. The biggest harm which so many of the movie players own up-and-up. At any rate, take it for son on the island. According big week the legit has suffered has been the their own homes in Beverly Hills. note of the answer when he re- what it may portend, Franklin was cable he had a notably practiced, it seen in close huddle with -with “It’s a Wise Child,” the cur- publicizing as was But this reason was said to have plied : recently a Barbara Brown and stated. been given ever more cursory treat- “Lose their homes? Heck, all H. L. Gumbiner, present owner of rent offering. 7? t r In q r d A 1 1 p n ft 11 P rl (Continued on Page 2) ment. One banker sounded the key- they'll lose is a mortgage.” the L. A. — — . Page Two INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN Saturday, February 21, 1931 CIVIC GROUPS RESCUE FAILING B. O. Movie Producers May Buy Legit OF CIRCUIT Theatres As T esting-Out Spots HUE OF B HI 1 COMES has been Who ik the mysterious young gi- Elizabeth Forrester enclosed prop cast for a part in Pathe’s new Con- (Continued from Page 1.) golo always in the SAN DIEGO, Feb. 19. — An dressing room on the stage set of a stance Bennett starring picture. A poor show comes to town and eleventh hour rescue of their only big foreign star, and who—much to exploits itself as the greatest show the dismay of her many directors— William Janney has been selected legit entertainment was staged . re- ever to hit the road. It draws ’em, always seems to have the last word? On the heels of reports received for a leading role in “Parents cently iby San Diego women’s clubs perhaps, and the reaction is that if * * * here that legit producers of New Wanted,” a Pathe farce directed by and civic organizations when the Harry Sweet. Besides Janney, the that is the greatest show ever to What leading star once a west- York are planning a road show Savoy Players announced that they cast includes Edward M c Wade, the balance is certainty ern hero and a pash for feather route of 35 weeks under centralized intended city hit the road, Marion Shockley, Harold Goodwin, to leave the .southern roles is not kidding when he calls not worth seeing. Also, it is stated, direction, it was learned that a A1 Austin. The Savoy Players carved out a for his double to wade a six-inch Ethel Wales and overlaps to an extent group of big movie producers also career nice following the publicity stream of water, but needs no one goodly and a has been signed which is extremely deliterious. A to double for him in a speakeasy? have designs on the nation’s major Peggy Howard in San Diego, and seemed perma- lead in the play without sex angles will none- * * * legit houses. by Roach for the femme nently set. But the hard times theless give the impression that it next Charlie Chase comedy. came along, and the Savoy The- was the actor who tossed a An idea born when the talkies is the real warm material. The Who atre, together with other amuse- sandwich at the femme gin wrestler first came in whereby the movie audience goes for it, and then when Seiler has signed with ment spots, felt its effect at the box whiff of the lady William to towm, and who got one magnates would test out their ma- office. fell so a real sex play comes Radio Pictures to direct “loo Indeed business . off and told her if her friends Wouldn’t their previous disappointment keeps terial in legit theatres owned by Many Cooks,” starring Bert Wheel- tremendously that the b. m. started the ap- tell her he would? What was in the dusting off the red ink battle. them at home. And same due, it is Lee opposite. sandwich? them has been revived, er, with Dorothy plies to mystery thrillers, poignant , The troupe got as far as sending * * * understood, to reports regarding drama, etc.