Inside facts of stage and screen (Jan 11 1930)

TWO INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 1930 W. B. SHOOTING STARTS SOON INDE OUTLOOK FOR COMING YEAR DARKEST IN HISTORY TIP-TOP CLASS OF T WIN RF “OH, SUSANNA” OPENING IS FEATURE OF LEGIT WEE The consensus of opinion in” motion picture circles is that the independents are through. It is believed that with the advent of the new season there will be no longer such a thing as an indepen- dent producer nor for that matter, a state right exchange of any genuine* importance. The change of conditions and the development of the chain the- atre has been the cause of this and not sound, as some seem to think. The fact that the inde pro- ducer cannot dispose of his prod- uct to advantage is a deterrent that has shunted off prospective picture-makers. Of those made last year, perhaps none of them will bring returns enough to war- rant the investment as well as the responsibility. No Guarantee It is practically impossible to get an advance from a distributor today. They will not even assure return of 75 per cent of the nega- tive cost on delivery of negative. No bank will finance an inde no matter how well is his reputation as a producer. Tiffany and Columbia are now national institutions of their own who make and distribute their own product. The larger distributors FOX OUTLAY FOR Twenty million dollars will be spent by the Fox Film corpora- tion in motion picture production during the coming season. This statement was given to the press by Winfield Sheehan, general manager, who set forth in ^detail, the elaborate plans for the making of super pictures with the greatest of stars, directors and writers. There is no doubt but that the statement was made public pri- marily for the purpose of offsetting the unfavorable publicity which followed upon the announcement of the appointment of a board of directors to administer the per- sonal affairs of William Fox. Fox is known to have been badly damaged financially in the recent stock market collapse. It is said that his personal fortune has been almost entirely wiped away, but it is known also that his personal affairs in no way affected those of the vast corporate interests which bears his name. The bursting into print on the part of one of the members of the new board concerning one of the serieg of Fox stock issues, had the effect of crashing the values of the security on the Exchange. The Fox Corporation as a going concern has never been in healthier shape both in its production and theatrical branches which the vast expansion program recently com- pleted in the acquiring of theatres together with the $20,000,000 project indicates. This latter pro- gram refers to the work contem- plated for the season of August, 1930, to July, 1931. “BLUES” STARTS “High Society Blues,” directed by David Butler, has gone into production at Fox with Janet Gay- nor and Charles Farrell co-fea- tured. Louise Fazenda and Lucien Littlefield have supporting roles. Exhibs Want Comedy Films, Poll States In response to a questionnaire sent to many exhibitors by Joe Rock, president of the Premier Pictures Corporation, to ascertain the most popular form of screen entertainment, more than 80 per cent of the answers in reply to the query: What form of enter- tainment do your patrons prefer, straight drama, melodrama, com- edy or society comedy? favored humorous photoplays. As a result of this survey, Premier will confine its entire pro- duction program to fun films both in short subjects and features. such as Paramount, Fox, War- ners, et al, are not encouraging the indes by offering them an out- let for their wares as heretofore. If made on “spec” they will be bought in at a ridiculous figure which may or may not allow the producer his money back. How Frozen Out It is monopolized control and the mergers that have frozen the little fellow. There are about 32,000 theatres in this country. Perhaps 5000 of them are wired for sound. That leaves the vast majority yet silent. Sound has only come to be predominant in the larger cities. The sticks are still silent. Have they gone out of business? Assuredly not for ac- cording to reports they state busi- ness is very good among them. Where are they getting their product? Every picture made by the old line companies are being made in the silent as well as the sound versions. The idea that there is a scramble for foreign trade sound pictures is a bugaboo. They are sending their silents abroad as always. It could be imagined that the independents would be invited to make silent pictures for the 18,000 theatres that are still using them, but these theatres are all more or less parts of chains or controlled by the larger theatres who buy their product for them. Then too, they want to take advantage of the publicity and advertising that the big metropolitan theatres carry in newspapers that blanket the back country and pictures that have not the ballyhooing of the first run have no chance. More Raw Film Used The manufacturers of raw film report that more film is being used now than ever in the history of the industry. Not only the raw stock negative but more ac- tual prints of each picture are being made and distributed which in footage amounts to greater quantities than when the studios were all going in full blast. This shows the trend of the game, the narrowing down of the entire industry into the hands of a few and these few give promise of becoming still less. Some think that it will be stimu- lating to the business to have only the large studios turning out product on their approved method, that it will eliminate the cheaper grade of picture that has always been the supply of the smaller theatres for the rougPand-ready clientele while others believe that by cutting out the smaller fellow, competition is throttled and of a consequence, the incentive for new blood to enter the industry is also throttled. Future Questionable Its reaction upon writers and actors is also problematical. The market for material will be limited to the few writers who manage to get “in” while the actor will be absolutely at the mercy of the pro- ducer for whom he can either work, if able to secure a job, or remain idle and forgotten if the studios so whim. Nobody knows what the imme- diate future will hold forth. It is said that before the end of the month, all of the studios will be running full blast yet there' are very few workers who state that they have signed any contracts of importance. The independent stu- dios are at a complete standstill. This is the first time in its his- tory that tht independent, always a thorn in the side of the major companies, has been seemingly completely crushed. Former Centers Dead Along Sunset boulevard at Gow- er, what previously was “Poverty Row” is now Poverty Row indeed. Horsley’s studio, the California, Stern Bros., Chadwick, Balshof- fer’s, Christie’s and others Ihat formerly kept the neighborhood a beehive of activity is now about the deadest spot in Hollywood. The Columbia studios is the only one that is showing any present activity. Out at Universal City where the independents were wont to revel, there is at present no outside production. There is no one who is daring enough just now to predict any- thing but the direst future for the indes—whose only hope is that the government will step in and do something that will split up the mergers and let them past the bat- tlements somehow. STANDARD FOR 1 Warner Brothers, the only studio' which took the usual holiday shut- down at the end of 1929 and the beginning of 1930, will be going again within a couple of weeks, with production probably _ up to four pictures by the middle of February. The first picture due for actual filming is “Viennese Nights,” which Alan Crosland will direct with an elaborate cast of names. This Os- car Strauss operetta will be re- leased under a different title. An- other picture is due to follow “Viennese Nights” into production shortly after it starts, with only the two probably going by the end of the month. It is understood the shutdown interim has brought about an elab- orate program for Warner Broth- ers, with orders down the line that the high standard of product hit by this studio toward the end of 1929 is to be maintained in all pictures. Whereas Warner Broth- ers in the silent days never spe- cialized in perfect product and carried this over into the early, days of the talkies, in the last months of the year they started turning out pictures which were as perfect as directors, casts and technicians could make them. Numbered in this class release stuff was “Disraeli,” directed by Alfred E. Green; “The Green Goddess,” by the same director, and both starring George Arliss; “Evidence,” directed by John Adolfi with Pauline Frederick starred; the colossal “Show of Shows,” directed by A.dolfi also; “General Crack,” directed by Alan Crosland; “Gold Diggers of Broadway,” directed by Roy Del Ruth, and others of the same high grade. Maintainance of this high stand- ard is understood to be foremost on the 1930 Warner Brothers’ order list, with the aim of having it rated among the top-notchers for entertainment and spectacle value throughout the season. Gilbert R. Rebe has been ap- pointed assistant manager of the Mark Hansen chain of theatres in Hollywood taking the position left vacant by the resignation of Mike Newman, now in San Diego. Rebe came here from San Fran- cisco where he has been identified with the exploitation and publicity of various theatrical enterprises. He was formerly the manager of the Alexandria Theatre in the northern city, was assistant man- ager of the M-G-M headquarters and more recently with the Man- darin Cafe as entertainer manager. His work here as assistant to Mark Hansen will include the di- rection of exploitation and pub- licity for the various Hansen theatres. F. and M. Pull a Nifty Air Tie-Up A nifty publicity tie-up was affected between Fanchon and Mar- co with the Western Air Express that_ will attract considerable at- tention to both parties from both press and public. When the new Fokker air liner takes off from New York on Jan. 23, there will be representatives of the Fox West Coast theatres and many Fanchon and Marco enter- tainers on board. It will be the first time that in-person entertain- ment has been given on board a plane. The plain has been equipped with a small piano and room pro- vided for the entertainers to do their stuff. It will take off from New York and stop at Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, San Diego and Los Angeles. With only six legitimate shows, running, it took a New Year’s" Eve and a holiday to bring the figures up to what would ordinar- ily be but an average week. First week of the big musical show, “Oh Susanna,” at the Mayan was the highlight of the legit ses- sion, with the coming to town of Mae West in “Diamond Lil” for a second matter of importance. “Oh, Susanna,” an excellent offer- ing with a wealth of catchy tunes, MISS ASTOR TO BO PART 1 SPITE OF FOX AIR TRAGEDY Mary Astor will do a part for which she was signed at Para- mount despite the tragedy which claimed the life of her husband, Kenneth Hawks, last week. With all arrangements completed for the picture, Miss Astor followed the best traditions of the profession by refusing to let her deep per- sonal grief interfere with the rule that the show must go on. Her part is that of the feminine lead opposite George Bancroft in “Ladies Love Brutes.” It is due to start this week. Hawks was directing “Such Men Are Dangerous,” a Fox picture, when he met his death through the crash of two airplanes filming a third airplane over the ocean near Point Vicente. About a week’s work was still to be done on the picture, and Alexander Korda will complete it. The stunt which cost the life of Hawks and nine other film and air men was a parachute jump, one of the most important sequences in the film. The story, which is by Elinor Glyn, is founded on the disap- pearance of a Belgian industrial king out over the ocean a couple of years ago. The jump is the turning point. Those who died in the disaster were Hawks; Max Gold, assistant director; George Eastman, camera- man. Conrad Well, cameraman; Ben Frankel, assistant cameraman; Otto Jordon, assistant cameraman; Hallock Rouse, pilot; Capt. Ross Cooke, pilot; Tom Harris, prop- erty man, and Henry Johannes, property man. In the third plane, which was not in the crash, were Lieut. Col. Roscoe Turner, pilot; Jacob Trieb- wasser, parachute jumper, and Fred Osborne and Bert White from the Fox studios. The tragedy cast a deep spell of gloom over the Hollywood pic- ture colony, and it was the main topic of conversation for a week. Kenneth Hawks, who was an ex- tremely popular director, Max Gold, equally well liked assistant director, and several of the others were among the most widely known and liked people in the, in- dustry. DOING “JACK STRAW” “Jack Straw” opens on Thurs- day of this week at the Pasadena Community Playhouse with Sam- uel S. Hinds, Pasadena lawyer and clubman, in the title role. The cast includes Sharley Simpson, Margaret Tupper, Charles Levi- son, Al Willard, Norval Mitchell, Esther Hammond, Joy Hallard, Sherwood Walgamott and Dr. Harry V. Warren. The play will run until January 25 to be fol- lowed then by the American pre- miere of “The Armored Train,” a modern Russian classic. IN “SIN FLOOD” Cast for “Sin Flood,” Frank Lloyd’s next First National pic- ture, includes Douglas Fairbanks jr., Robert Edeson, William Cour- tenay, Anders Randolf, William Orlamond, Ivan Simpson and Louis King. TO DIRECT WHITE Ray Enright is to direct Alice White’s next First National pic- ture, “Sweet Mama.” Earl Bald- win is adapting the story, which was written especially for Miss White. got away to a splendid start, capa- city and near capacity being the order of the day at the Mayan. “Diamond Lil” at the Biltmore attracted $13,500 last week while “That Ferguson Family” playing its last Week at the President got a mere $5400. Even allowing for the holidays, the disparity is sig- nificant. “The Cat and the Canary” is now current. The Majestic with “Among the Married” in its fifth week drew $7450, but “Dear Me,” an old- timer at the Hollywood Playhouse, garnered $5700 and is to give way to “It Pays to Advertise,” another antiquity, next Sunday. The Vine St. with “Rear Car” took in $7000 and the El Capitan with “The Boomerang” box- officed $6300. All other houses are dark. Next week, “Chauve Souris” is booked for a short engagement at the Ma- son and the Stratford-Upon-Avon players come to the Belasco in Shakespearean rep. POLICTlAlE AT MARCAL DRAWS BIZ The change of policy that has been inaugurated at the Marcal Theatre in Hollywood, that of playing second run features for a full week, met with the hearty approval of the clientele. The first picture shown was the all-color Warner Brothers’ “Gold Diggers of Broadway.” This picture in eight days grossed $4000, which is a banner week at this house. The house is one of the Mark Hansen enterprises which also in- cludes the Marquis in West Hol- lywood. The house has been through a series of changes in policy during the past two years, ranging from vaudeville to sound and presenting independent as well as major product, meeting with varying degrees of success. Next week they will show Billee Dove in “The Painted Angel.” The present policy seems to have been the one that was wanted, for there is now a line outside of the house every night, something new in the vicinity. The Marquis is following its policy of three changes a week which has proved very successful. On Saturday nights at this house, five acts of RKO vaudeville are given. This is the RKO tryout house in L. A. The character of the pictures shown at the Mar- quis are second run major fea- tures. START FOX PICTURE “The Girl Who Wasn’t Wanted” has gone into production at Fox. A. F. Erickson is the director and George O’Brien the featured player, with Helen Chandler and Antonio Moreno in supporting roles. FIRE AT F. B. A small blaze broke out in the Film Board of Trade Building Saturday after all the offices had closed for the day. Damage was mly to the stairway that leads to the roof. Eddie Cantor Comedy Rating Hit by Column As far as Hollywood is con- cerned, Eddie Cantor has given his reputation as a comic a severe jolt by the sick wheezes that are published daily in the “Examiner” here. “Not a giggle in a carload,” is the verdict Eddie’s stuff is get- ting around the studios, and Will Rogers in the Times and Ted Cook in the Examiner remain the prime favorites for daily laughs in picture land. Stuff has been pretty sick, and some people have expressed amazement when told that the col- umn is meant to be funny.