This week’s mystery movie was the 1931 Columbia picture Ten Cents a Dance, with Barbara Stanwyck, Ricardo Cortez, Monroe Owsley, Sally Blane, Blanche Friderici, Martha Sleeper, David Newell, Victor Potel and Sidney Bracey.
Based on the popular song by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers.
Music by Abe Lyman and His Band.
Story and continuity by Jo Swerling.
Continuity by Dorothy Howell.
Photographed by Ernie Hallor and Gil Warrenton.
Edited by Arthur Huffsmith.
Musical direction by Bakaleinikoff.
Produced by Harry Cohn.
A Lionel Barrymore production.
More information on Ten Cents a Dance is available in the AFI catalog.
Ten Cents a Dance is available from Critics’ Choice Videos.
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Last week’s movie was one of more than a thousand to feature Bess Flowers, so I decided to go through her credits to see if I had anything where I could make her a mystery star. Unfortunately, she’s in a group scene and the print isn’t sharp enough for a screen capture. But that’s how I picked Ten Cents a Dance.
I’m going to guess that Mordaunt Hall did not approve of this movie – allowing some positive points because it’s based on a Rodgers and Hart Song.
Nope. He does not approve of such goings-on (March 7, 1931):
Ten Cents a Dance goes no more deeply into the story of the girls who dance for a living than does the popular song from which the new film at the Strand derives its name. It toys insincerely with the surface of the problem. Barbara Stanwyck, who has revealed an aptitude for intelligent adult roles, is as out of place in the Palais de Dance as all the other lovely women of Hollywood who line the rail of this dance hall waiting for customers. And surely it would be a distinct shock to find a millionaire or a college graduate of the types played here by Ricardo Cortez and Monroe Owsley among the clerks and sophomore to be found nightly in the various ten-cents-a-dance emporiums about town.
Sounds like Mordaunt Hall was very familiar with dime-a-dance places. Hmmmm.
For Monday, we have a dressy mystery fellow.
Update: This is Jack Byron.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman. And incredibly enough, she does not approve of such goings-on!
Update: This is Blanche Friderici.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious fellow. He, too, does not approve of such goings-on!
Update: This is Monroe Owsley with Phyllis Crane as Back of the Head Woman.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman), Anne Papineau (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Bob Hansen (Tuesday’s mystery woman) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have two mystery women.
Update: This is Peggy Doner, left, and Sally Blane.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, all mystery guests and Wednesday’s Back of the Head Woman), Incredible Inman (Wednesday’s mystery fellow), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery chap), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery man) and Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery chap).
For Friday, we have this mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Ricardo Cortez.
And our mysterious leading lady.
Update: This is Barbara Stanwyck.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery woman No. 2), Incredible Inman (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery woman), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery woman No. 2), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery women), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery women) and Sylvia E. (mystery movie, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests, peering into the future to see Friday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Julius Tannen?
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Good guess, but alas I’m afraid not.
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Warner Baxter?
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Warner will not be joining us this week….
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Alan Napier?
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Good guess! Another mustachioed actor. But alas….
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Tuesday: Blanche Friderici in TEN CENTS A DANCE (1931)
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Blanche Friderici
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Blanche Friderici for Tuesday?
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I guess I’ll start with Almira Sessions.
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Is that Blanche Frederici (sp?) on Tuesday? Can’t tell you what movie though.
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Blanche Friderici in TEN CENTS A DANCE.
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It took me forever to come up with yesterday’s woman’s name. TEN CENTS A DANCE. Jack Byron Monday, Blanche Friderici yesterday, Monroe Owsley and Phyllis Crane today.
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Monroe Owsley today, with a necktie that isn’t going ANYWHERE — it’s buttoned down and collar pinned in place.
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Monroe Owsley
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The always despicable Monroe Owsley.
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Monroe Owsley in “Ten Cents a Dance”
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Monroe Owsley, ‘Ten Cents a Dance’?
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Peggy Doner and Sally Blane.
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It comes to me slowly, as most things do — Monday’s mystery woman is Blanche Frederici and the movie is “Ten Cents a Dance.”
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Sally Blane.
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Phyllis Crane and Sally Blane
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Phyllis Crane and Sally Blane.
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Not much time this week.
I still don’t recognize anyone, but I’m gonna have a go based on my guess about the subject matter.
It seems to be about taxi dancers and I’ve found two ‘maybe’ titles with folks whose names I know, but who have not appeared in the images so far
Taxi Dancer 1927
Ten Cents a Dance 1931
Leaning towards the latter, because 1927 seems to be too early for this film.
Will look up both.
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Ten Cents a Dance 1931
“She was a dancehall hostess – but the band never played ‘Home Sweet Home’ for her!
Barbara Stanwyck and Ricardo Cortez!
Directed by Lionel Barrymore and Edward Buzzell
My stabs at who’s who:
Monday – not sure, maybe Pat Harmon
Tuesday – Blanche Friderici (found another photo of her wearing this dress, and she’s named)
Wednesday – Monroe Owsley? If yes, BOTHW is Stanwyck I guess
Thursday – not sure, but maybe Sally Blane is the woman who is facing forward. The woman screen left, maybe Phyllis Crane
Friday will bring full shots of Ms Stanwyck and Mr Cortez
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Ricardo Cortez; Barbara Stanwyck. Was that a well-groomed Inez Palange on Thursday?
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And finally Ricardo Cortez and Barbara Stanwyck.
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So it must be Martha Sleeper Thursday.
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Ricardo Cortez and Barbara Stanwyck.
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Ten Cents a Dance with Ricardo Cortez and Barbara Stanwyck.
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I had Peggy Doner right earlier in the week, you just didn’t credit me for it.
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