Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

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34b Motion Picture News October 11, 19 3 0 The Bath Tub Yodels Ottawa — Somebody does sing in the bath tub, after all. This was shown when Desire Charlesky, French tenor, came to Ottawa for a command performance before Governor-General and Viscountess Willingdon. A newspaperman found M. Charlesky in the bath tub of the royal suite at the Chateau Laurier Hotel singing to beat the band. And it wasn't "Singing in the Rain." Publix Launches New Stage Units In Pacific N. W. Seattle — Something new in Publix stage presentations is being ushered into the Pacific Northwest territory in conjunction with National Prosperity Week, according to Robert Blair, Northwest division manager of the Paramount Publix circuit. Effective this week, patrons of the local Paramount theatre are seeing stage units including performers from the eastern and middle western shows, backed up by a line of at least 16 girls who will travel with the units from Los Angeles. This schedule will replace the booking of acts for fourweek engagements only at Pacific Coast Publix houses, backed by a line that formerly remained at the same theatre indefinitely. According to Blair's announcement, Publix acts will jump from Milwaukee to Los Angeles, except the lines, which will return East. In Los Angeles the acts will pick up a new line which will travel up the Coast for five weeks intact. When they end their engagements in this city, the acts will proceed to Denver for a week's showing. The line will then leave for Los Angeles to begin the Coast circuit again, while the headliners will proceed on to the Publix southern route, to be joined by a third line group from New Orleans. Personal appearances of such stars as Jeanette MacDonald, Mitzi Green, Lillian Roth, etc., are scheduled for all Pacific Coast cities. Signs Kalmer and Ruby Hollywood — Bert Kalniar and Harry Ruby, show-writing teams, have signed a long-term contract with First National. Their first picture under this agreement will be produced during the coming winter. In the meantime Ruby is coming to New York by boat via the Panama Canal. Kalniar will remain in Hollywood temporarily. Huston in Balzac Yarn Hollywood — First National has assigned "Honor of the Family" to Walter Huston. The play, adapted from a story by Balzac, is now in preparation. "U" Takes Over Asher Co. Boston — Harry Asher, president of the American Feature Film Co., has resigned that office. The affairs of the company have been taken over by the Universal Pictures. Branson Named Pathe Assistant Sales Manager Quick promotion followed transfer of W. E. Branson to the home office sales force and the former St. Louis branch manager has been appointed assistant to General Sales Manager E. J. O'Leary of Pathe. O'Leary transferred Branson to New York but two weeks ago. Branson 'started in the film business as a Pathe salesman at Des Moines, in 1929, becoming manager of the branch, and in January of this year head of the St. Louis exchange. O'Leary 's executive staff is now as follows : John F. McAloon, assistant general sales manager ; W. E. Branson, assistant to general sales manager ; E. L. McEvoy, eastern division sales manager ; W. E. Callaway, southern division sales manager ; H. S. Lorch, midwestern division sales manager, and J. H. Maclntyre, western division sales manger. W. E. Branson Esther Ralston Returns After Vaudeville Tour Hollywood — Esther Ralston will return to pictures after a long vaudeville tour as leading lady for Lawrence Tibbetts in "The Southerner," which Harry Pollard will direct. William K. Howard was to direct, but Fox recalled him to plan for another talker on that lot. Others in the cast include H. B. Warner, Hedda Hopper, Beryl Mercer, Louis John Bartels and Stepin Fetchit. The story is by Wells Root and Bess Beredvth. Three Versions Simultaneously Hollywood — "The Boudoir Diplomat," recently completed by Malcolm St. Clair with a cast including Betty Compson, Ian Keith. Mary Duncan, Jeannette Loff. Lawrence Grant, Lionel Belmore and Andre de Beranger, will be filmed simultaneously in French, German and Spanish. Tay Directs Gloria Hollywood — Tay Garnett has been slated to direct Gloria Swanson in "Rockabye," which is being adapted by Elliott Clawson. At present Garnett and Patsy Ruth Miller, his wife, are enjoying a visit in Mexico City. Gillis with Consolidated Boston — Joe Roth, who has been manager of Consolidated Films Exchange since it was established some two years ago. has it -iyned and is succeeded by Walter Gillis. Plan Frisco Fox Exchange San Francisco — John Nolan, home office representative, and Branch Manager Fred Yoigt have under consideration several sites for a new Fox exchange here. A Neu? Garbo Marlene Dietrich, German importation, comes through in "Morocco," her first American picture, as a new Garbo, according to a Motion Picture News reviewing scout who caught the picture at a California preview this week. His appraisal of Miss Dietrich and the production appears on page 54. this issue. England Seeking Film Supremacy Via Huge Merger" London — Great Britain is developing its major effort to wrest film supremacy trom the United States, with a $7,500,000 combine being formed to merge ten companies for manufacture of raw stock, film production, distribution and exhibition. It will be known as the Empire Building. Manufacturing and Cinema Corp., Ltd. Main offices will be at the Ellstree studios. Facilities for simultaneous production of six pictures are to be provided. The new company is planning a theatre building campaign throughout Great Britain. Work on the company's first picture is to start next month. Grant Succeeds Sills Hollywood — Lawrence Grant has been named by the nominating committee of the actors' branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to serve for three years representing the branch on the board of directors, the governing body of the Academy, in place of the late Milton Sills, whose untimely death created a vacancy in the annual nominations. More Dorsay Appearances Fifi Dorsay, Fox star, who has just completed an engagement at the Roxy, will make a personal appearance at the Fox Audubon, 165th Street and Broadway, beginning Friday. Her engagement there will last for four days after which she will appear at the Academy of Music for three days. Better Films Committee Starts Formation of Association for Better Photoplays has been completed to "cultivate" members to a better appreciation of pictures. Zone headquarters are planned for New York, Chicago, Birmingham and Los Angeles. Courses in picture instruction will be given, it is stated. Fox Buys "U" Shorts Fox-Midwesco has closed with Universal for the entire current short subject line-up for its 101 theatres. A similar deal was also closed with the Dickinson circuit of 30 theatres. Ohio Exhibitor-ess Passes Upper Sandusky. ().— Mrs. W. S. Bristol. who owned the Ohio theatre, died recently after a lingering illness.