Altoona Tribune from Altoona, Pennsylvania • Page 10

TRIBUNE. ALTOONA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1936 CURRENT ATTRACTIONS AT LOCAL THEATRES Broadway" Star in Capitol Film "Captain Blood" at the State Stars Over Coming to BHE- CM LOOK ACT AND TALK. THE AGES OF 10 AO JnA 60 1 IF 7- voawvav 'r liiiiiilil mi'miii Mfril mill mi Rorn IN OLD KY. 'I HAS.wi Some wlse screen writer turned to the amateur hour for a bright idea recently and the result is a great hit "Millions In the Air" which opens tomorrow at the Capitol. Featured are Wendy Barrle anti John Howard.

Jane Frohman and James Melton take the top parts In "Stars Over the new and exciting screen musical coming to the Olympic Theatre Saturday, A swell cast makes the show complete. Radio Amateur Hour Theme Is Capitol Laugh Feature Pirates also had (heir lighter moods, according to the Cosmopolitan production "Captain Blood" showing Saturday at the State Theatre. Here we have Basil Rathbone, famous screen and stage star who personifies one of the Spanish Main's bloodiest cut-throats, making love to one of the beautiful "pirate ladies" with which the film abounds Slave Whipping Becomes An Art in Screen Work Warner Bros. Musical Hit At Olympic Reported 'as introducing a new-idea in screen musicomedies as well as two new film stars, Warner latest musical, "Stars Over Broadway," is scheduled as the feature attraction at the Olympic theatre on Saturday. Besides being the film debut of the popular radio stars, James Melton and Jane Froman, the picture has an all star cast which includes Pat O'Brien, Jean Muir, Frank McHugh and Frank Fay.

The story, by Mildred Cram, re-ceals the private lives and loves, the struggles and tribulations of successful radio stars. There is a. most unusual mixture of musical which vary from classical- selections taken from the compositions of Verdi, Schubert and- Von Flotow, to new compositions of Harry Warren and Al Dubin, famous song writers. The songs are mostly sung by James Melton and Miss Froman, although Miss Muir does sing one, the first time she has ever sung for the screen. There is a spectacular specialty number in the picture, created and directed by Bobby Connolly, the famous musical comedy producer, called "At Your Service, Madame." Jane Muir and James Melton sing me lyrics.

Pat O'Brien has the role of a theatrical agent who is about to say good bye. to the world because he is unable to find any clients, when he hears a porter in his hotel sing. Recognizing, an unusually gifted voice, he puts the youth under contract. James Melton, the radio star who makes his bow to the screen in -this is the porter. Miss Froman, also a radio star making her debut in pictures, plays opposite Melton.

The ingenue role is played bv Miss Muir, who plays the part of an ambitious amateur, who ha3 a golden voice, but who is discouraged from going on the radio by O'Brien, who is in love with her. Ethel Merman Was Formerly Stenographer When Ethel Merman hears people, especially stenographers, talk about being "chained to a desk." she at once becomes sympathetic. Because, Ethel knows the feel of a typewriter and the strain of taking dictation. It was only a few years ago that Miss Merman was in such "chains." She, however, refused to let them encumber her and prove a handicap all her life. That's why, today, Miss Merman is prominently cast in Bing Crosby's new Paramount feature, "Anything Goes," with Charlie Ruggles.

Miss Merman didn't close up her desk on the spur of the moment, one night, and shout defiantly to the rest of the office help: "I'm through. I'm going to find a real career for myself." Quite to the contrary, she waited until she haj developed a talent and had had opportunities to test her ability In night club work which did not interfere with her office hours. "I went after the breaks," Miss Merman explained recently. "I knew I could sing and I was determined to do something with my voice. And there are plenty of stenographers just like Ethel Merman in offices today.

All they need ia a chance; but it's a mistake to wait for opportunity to come along and knock at their doors. They ought to be right on the doorstep to grab it." Pert Kelton, who will have an important role in Patsy Kelly's first starring feature-length production for Hal Roach, has arrived in New York for a short vacation. She will return to Hollywood early in January, when the picture, as yet untitled, will enter production. The cast includes Harold Huber, Guinn Williams and members of Our Gang. The Roach studio also reports that "The Frisky Kid," a new Charley Chase comedy, is now in production.

"Rose of the was premiered the New York Para mount theatre Tuesday evening, January 7, for the benefit of the musicians emergency fund. Mrs. Vincent Astor, Mrs. Ogden Mills, Mrs. R.

Fulton Cutting, Mrs. Robert G. McKay, Mrs. John T. Pratt, Mr3.

John M. Schiff, Mrs. John Jacob Astor and many other social leaders are acting as patronesses of the affair. NOW PLAYING IN mGNlFICENT OBSESSION" Success! ROBERT TAYLOR On the screen but little more than a year, unusual success as an actor has already coimi to Robert Taylor, who is sen at the. Strand theatre as co-star with Irene Dunne in Universal John M.

Stahl pro-duction "Magnificent Obsession." Taylor was born In Beatrice, Nebraska, on August 6, 1911. attending the local public schools and Doane College, graduating from Pomona College In California in 1933. His work In college plays resulted in a motion picture contract, and he made his screen debut In "Merry Andrew." Other screen plays In which Taylor has 'appeared In roles of rapidly increasing importance are "There's Always Tomorrow," "West Point of the Air," "Time Square Lady," "Murd' in the Fleet" and "Broadway Melody of 1936." TWICE A COLONEL! Bing- Crosby has received word that he has been added to the staff of Governor James V. Allred of Texas because of his assistance in the forthcoming Centennial celebration. Crosby has been a Kentucky Colonel on the staff of Governor Ruby LaFoon for some time.

ENGLISH ACTOR BACK Henry Wilcoxon has returned to Hollywood from London where he was starred by Klement Pictures, in a picture opposite Anna ten. The actor's next Paramount picture will be announced short ly. the Olympic Hey, Altoona! Pat O'Brien has rsie dramatic opportunity of his successful film career In "Stars Over Broadway," the new Warner Bros, musicomedy which also marks the film debuts of the radio stars, James Melton and Jane Froman. It opens at the Olympic theatre tomorrow. Pat O'Brien In Olympic Song Fete "Stars Over Broadway," Warner Bros.

new musical comedy drama, which starts tomorrow at the Olympic theatre for the first time locally, takes the audience behind the scenes of broadcasting stations and night clubs in' one of the most entertaining and tuneful pictures to come to the screen in many a long day. One of the most amusing spectacles in the film is an amateur radio hour conducted by Frank Fay in which will be heard every sort of "unheard-of" musical instrument and almost every kind of voice. Pat O'Brien in his characterization of a Broadway theatrical agent down on his luck, who accidentally picks a man with a great voice and rises to fame with its possessor, gives his finest performance. Much of the humor is supplied by Frank McHugh as the pal of Pat O'Brien, who is quite over- zealous in plugging songs for the firm that in lesser parts include William Ricciardi, Marie E. E.

Clive and Eddie Conrad. When musical pictures first attained popularity several years ago, Irene Dunne received a film contract because of her glorious soprano voice, but by the time she reached Hollywood singing pictures had temporarily gone out of vogue and she began her film career as a straight dramatic actress. Miss Dunne will be seen at the Strand theatre today in Universal John M. Stahl production, "Magnificent Obsession," in which she is co-starred with Robert Taylor. The Captain's cabin is richly hand-carved, but simply furnished.

A table, a few chairs, a chest and a single On the wall, a few aims, a telescope and navigating instruments, cross staff and astrolabe. This cabin is part of the Bun deck in time of action. With gun ports to starboard and larboard. All the furniture is protable. Nothing built in, because when fighting starts everything must be thrown through the stern windows.

Wounds from flying splinters were more common than from musket and cannon balls. On each deck is a full complement of cannon. On the frigate, "Arabella," used by "Captain Blood" as his pirate ship, there are 40 guns. "Captain Blood" is Rafael Sa-batini's smashing tale of the sea rovers of the seventeenth century. There is an all star cast which includes Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Lionel Atwill.

Basil Rathbone, Ross Alexander, Guy Kibbee, Robert Barrat and hundreds of others. Screen Songs Are Tried Out By Jean Muir Jean Murl wants to become an established movie singer. She revealed this while singing in a church choir for a special scene in "Stars Over Broadway," the War ner Bros' production to show at the Olympic theatre. "I've been taking singing lessons for nearly a year now," said the blonde "movie star, "and I think I'm about ready to try a featured singing role." Miss Muir, whose talents so far have been devoted to straight dra matic work on the New, York stage and screen, makes her debut as a singer in "Stars Over Broadway," singing one hymn. "I used to sing in a little church in Englewood, New Jersey, where I attended the Dwight School," admitted Jean.

"I wasn't a soloist, but I did sing loud enough to make' myself heard." In the picture Miss Muir plays the role of an ambitious young singer who meets Pat O'Brien and James Melton while waiting to appear on an amateur radio hour. In order to convince Pat he should manage her, she gets him to hear her singing in a church choir. Featured in the film with her are Pat James Melton, a New York radio star, Frank McHugh, Frank Fay and Jane Froman, another radio star from New York. The picture is a stirring comedy drama directed by William Keighley from the screen play by Jerry Wald and Julius J. Epstein, based on the story by Mildred Cram.

NEW FILM OFFICIAL John Golden, well-known Broadway theatrical producer, has been elected a director of Paramount Pictures, Inc. Betty Furness' chance in motion pictures came when a film executive saw her photograph in the Bennett School graduation manual, and a successful screen test brought her a contract. Miss Furness will be seen at the Strand theatre today in "Magnificent Universal's John M. Stahl production co-starring Irene Dunne and Robert Hal Roach, son of the producer, ha? returned to Culver Military Academy after the Christmas holidays. A man stood manacled to a T-shaped post in a clearing on a sugar-cane plantation on the island of Jamaica.

Close by him was a brutish-looking overseer with a 10 foot bull-whip. A little way off, perched upon a tall horse, was the plantation owner. "Lash said this beast. The whip writhed out to its full length. There was a rifle-like "crack" and then the plaited leather wrapped itself three times about the body of ihe poor wretch who was being punished.

"Again!" shouteed the overseer. "Cut O. boys," said Director Michael Curtiz, and the whipping scene for the Cosmopolitan production of "Captain Blood," which, released by First National, comes to the State Theatre on Saturday, was at an end. "Hey, Ross, how's about a glass of beer?" said the brute who had been doing the whipping, to his victim, Ross Alexander. "Joe, you got a customer," said the whipped slave to Joe Cody, who had been manipulating the instrument of torture.

"And I gotta hand it you, kid you haven't lost any of your old stuff!" Arm in arm, they went off the set, headed for the foaming amber beverage, with Cody remarking: "Oh, that was easy, I keep in pretty good practice all the time. That wasn't nearly as tough as snapping a cigarette out of a guy's mouth, or plucking a handkerchief from his breast pocket, with the old bullwhip." Blood-curdling as the scene appeared, Ross Alexander hadn't been hurt in the least. Most of the whipping that is done in pictures is done by this Joseph W. Cody, an Oklahoma-born young man wiio has handled whips of various sorts and lengths since childhood. He can knock the ashes off a cigar held in a man's mouth, yank a revolver from his hand, or trip a runner with the coils of his long weapon, at a distance of ten or twelve feet.

It was Cody who taught Douglas Fairbanks to use a whip though Doug didn't attain Joe's proficiency in the famous "Don pictur years ago. Nearly all the arrow-shooting done in pictures Is done by Joe or his brother "Iron Eyes" Cody. "Iron Eyes" also has almost a monopoly on movie knife-throwing. Charles Butterworth was induced to become an actor when, as a reporter for the New York Times, he registered a distinct hit in a comedy role at a Press Club show, and was immediately offered a part in "Americana." Butterworth will be seen at the Strand theatre today in "Magnificent Obsession," a Universal production. ULWS GOLF AND PiNO Das A RICH ME1ZO-SOPRANO VOK2E.

AND HAS APPEARED W5 lS. WITH THE. METROPOLITAN OPERA iO, "Magnificent Obsession" at Strand Today Enough time and labor to bui'd a skyscraper, enough money to construct a zeppelin, enough peo ple, working on two continents, to populate a good-sized town, went into the making of Universale giant production, "Magnificent Ob session" which, it is predicted, will be 193o's leading contender for nomination as the best picture of the year. The picture opens today at the Strand. Two years, one million dollars, six thousand actors, writers, tech nicians, research experts, doctors lawyers, clergymen, extras and other skilled workers collaborated in creating this gigantic work Which features Irene Dunne, Rob ert Taylor.

Betty Furness and Charle3 Butterworth. Director John M. Stahl has just completed editing the film and it is now being made ready for local showing. Almost, a million feet of film were shot by Director Stahl during the sixteen weeks in wliich he had the cast of fifty principals and thousands of extras before ihc. cameras.

Of that titenic footage, 467,000 feet, or more 'nan 17,000 feet in excels of any picture made in the last five yeara, were used for the "frames" or pictures of the action. An equal number of film feet earned the sound track Laid end to end these reels wouli stretch 352 miles, a distance equal to that rom New YorV. to Roches ter. To watch them on the screen would take an observer four full 24-hour days witr the machine running constr, Stahl spent Tiine weeks of herculean work be- lore he was able to complete delicate selective and matching job of ivttir.g th? film down to playing cf 10.000 feet, one- fiftieth of its original extent. The first stage of making "Ma nificent Obsession'' began with the publication of the Lloyd C.

Doug las novel. The author conceived the story In 1920 but nearly eight years elapse! before he succeeded in putting his thoughts in writing. Two publishers rejected his novel before a third published it. Only 2.000 copies were sold the first year, ana althoueh 13 months in tervened before this novel entered the best-seller class. Then slowly and surely, as its story began to be appreciated, it forged into this se lect company and remained there for three years, a phenomenal, un matched literary record.

It is now fci its forty-fifth edition and has sold close to three hundred thousand copies, with its popularity ever increasing. Universal purchased the story in 1934 after it had made certain that John M. Stahl would be available to direct it, for only to Stahl could this great task be entrusted. His profound experience in production of pictures of great emotional conflict such as his "Back Street'', "Only Yesterday," and "Imitation cf Life" fitted him ideally as the one man capable of bringing out the sensitive values of this magnificent story. VETERANS IX CAST Chester Conkl'n, Hank Mann, Philio McCullough, Franklyn Far-um and Lawrence Wheat have been added to the cast of Paramount's Other veterans in the cast of this Dicture include Reginald Denny, Rod LaRoque.

Conwav Tcarle. Bryant Washburn. Jack Mulhall and Ian Kith. Gail Patrick has the feminine lead in the studio mystery melodrama which Robert Florey directs. Metro-Goicrwyn-Mayer, now engaged ia doing "Romeo and Juliet" with Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard and John Barrymore, announces a forthcoming screen presentation of "As You Like It" with all-star cast.

Ethel Burden has been assigned the task or 1ng a screen continuity of Shakes peare comedy, which nv. go in- production esarly In the new I A human pyramid, an impersonator of Popeye, a singer with a girl tap dancer for accompanist, and an embryo Greek Ilou- dinl are among the contestants seeking glory and gold in the story about a radio amateur-hour broadcast which Paramount has made into one of the seasons most entertaining screen attrac tions "Millions in the Air." The picture, coming on Satur day to the Capitol theatre, is the first full-length feature to be de voted to the amateur-hour theme and all the drama of this vastly popular new entertainment med ium is brought into the film story. "Millions in the Air" is concerned mainly with the, romance of a young ice-cream salesman and the daughter of the radio program's sponsor. Wendy JDar-rie and John Howard, the' two principals, are among the contestants on the "Kello" hour. Miss Barrie, who goes on the program under an assumed name, seeks to establish herself as a singer because she is bored by the society life she leads.

Howard, who plays a saxophone, wants to win th-i first prize of $500 so that he may buy a better "stand" for his icecream truck. The parade of amateur performers to the microphone reveals not ffnly the inner woi'Klngs of Cue amateur-hour broadcasts, but serves to indicate the emotional range that is packed into an hour's variety show. Willie Howard, long prominent as a Broadway comedian, takos the part of an Italian vegetable peddler. Hehas been seeking for twenty years for someone to appreciate his rendition of "Rigo-letto," and in the person of Catherine Doucet, a middle-aged dowager who also labors under the impression that she can sing, he finds a kindred spirit. The two of them make a stab at convincing their studio audience and furnish much of the exhilarar.ingr comedy in the picture.

Harry Semels is the Greek Hou-dinl bearing the prepossessing name of Nikolas Popadopolis, who undertakes to unfetter himself aft er being soundly roped and chained, while Benny Baker, the comedian with the boyish countenance, serves as his manager and ballyhoo man. Eleanore Whitney, sensational dancing discovery described by her tutor, Bill Robinson, 'as "the fastest dancer in the world," 1jo takes part in the amateur competition. She tap-dances the accompaniment to Robert Cuu mines' singing and their act is one of the best in the show. Halliwell Hobbes, who plays the part of an English butler, provides further merriment by singing "Crazy Peoples" in a fro-nounced British accent, while Charles Haine3 contributes a song, "Crooner's Lullaby," destined to achieve wide Dave Chasen, famous on Bread-way as Joe Cook's stooge, brings his remarkable one-man orchestra to the microphone during broadcast. And lone Reed, of New York, does her first "professional" whistling as an "amateur." Theft of Typewriter.

Lands Youth in Jail TAMPA, Jan. 9. A youth listed by police as Edward Glasser, 21, of Reading, received a three-year prison sentence taday for the theft of a' typewriter. Officers said Glasser once led an orchestra in Reading under the name of Bud Edwards. The prisoner told the court, he was under a two-year suspended sentence in Reading for theft but denied he is wanted by authorities at Bethlehem; Pa.

The police asserted a telegram from Bethlehem offered to pay the cost of the prisoner's return. BEEKEEPERS TO ELECT Members of the Blair County Beekeepers' association will meet in the community room of city hall tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock to elect officers for 1936. A -varied program has been arranged. Production of honey and marketing problems will be TT TT 111111 "ttl C111U1UV3 111111. U111C13 111 Frank McHugh furnishes ki i employs him.

Others mc tumcuj as an aosenc mind ed and over zealous song plugging irlend of Pat Brien. Others in the cast include William Ricciardi, Marie Wilson, Frank Fay, E. E. Clive and Eddie Conrad. William Keighley directed the picture.

In addition to bein.j a baritone singer, Robert Taylor is an accomplished pianist and cellist. For two years he played the latter instrument in an orchestra broadcasting over KMMJ, a Nebraska radio station. Taylor appears at the Strand theatre today as co-star with Irene Dunne in Univer-sal's John M. Stahl production, "Magnificent Obsession." "Rose of the Rancho" Seven Special Ships Are Built for Captain Blood" 1 -) 1 my Shipbuilding in industry's most highly specialized job. The construction of a single vessel often shapes the shipbuilder's entire career.

Yet the audacity of motion picture technicians is undaunted by a hurry call for seven ships! They had to build them at the First National studios in two months, for use in "Captain Blood," the Cosmopolitan production which comes to the State theatre on Saturday. Of seven, two are as complete as any ship that sails the seas. The construction is lighter. They breast no storms except man-made hurricanes. Yet, to the eye, not the slightest detail is missing.

They are of regulation size, length, height and beam. Their decks are sturdy enough to support the hordes' of weather-beaten pirates who use them for a battleground. In the forecastle of the bow, are built the crew's living quarters. Below this, the In the stern, the living quarters of the commander, navigator and officers. The role of "Jim Kearney" In Paramount's new musclal romance.

"Rose of the Rancho," which comes to the Capitol Theatre soos. Is we suited to the handsome singing actor, John Boles, who is co-starred with Gladys Swavthout. the noted opera star. Boles, in the picture, essays the part of a government agent, sent to Southern California to break np a band of land-grabbing desperadoes Who are preying on the Spanish Dons. During the World War Boles served as a secret agent with the American army.

Getting chucked under the chin does not seem to appeal to Olivia de Havilland, even when Errol Flynn is the chucker. Henry Stephenson, at the left doesnt like It either. Bat it all happens when tha slave becomes the master In "Captain Blood," the Cosmopolltaa reduction coming to the State Theatre on Saturday..