Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

68 Motion Picture News October 25, 1930 Stop Us If Were Wrong TIFFANY'S "Extravagance" has been booked for 12 Publix first runs. ... No wonder Sales Manager Oscar Hanson is smiling. . . . It's the first release under the new production policy. . . . Robert Lord has returned to Hollywood and the Warner lot, after rejecting an offer to supervise a picture in New York. * * * Wallace Smith, RKO writer, is a capable artist and painter. . . . Tiffany's Chimps made a hit at the convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, where "The Little Big House" was shown. * * * Sophie Tucker recently entertained royalty at the Winter Garden, London, reports Paula Gould. . . . M. A. Lightman, M. P. T. O. A. head, is the latest circuit operator to get on the Universal bandwagon, booking the new season features and shorts. . . . Harold PfafF, Tiffany district manager for Canada, got a real kick out of his visit to New York. * * * Now Rex Lease, who socked Vivian Duncan and was socked by Vivian's brother, has been socked by Cupid. . . . Betty Pierce has broken off her engagement to him, even though she thinks he's "charming." . . . Maybe she isn't foresighted. . . . Paramount sound newsreels of the Santo Domingo hurricane will be shown at meetings throughout the country to assist in collecting funds for the sufferers. * * * Joe Schenck has been azvarded a permit to drill for oil in Venice, Calif. . . . It is tinderstood that ten per cent of the proceeds zuill be devoted to charity. . . . The Spaniards are now getting an eyeful of screen kisses. . . . During the Rivera dictatorship the censors liad to clip them short. . . . Things are so tough around tozvn, says Walter Winchell, that autograph hunters are asking only for initials. * * * Lieut. -Commander Wead has signed with M-G-M as a writer. . . . He's the chap who served as a Navy air pilot, flying several thousand miles without a mishap, and broke his back in a fall down three stairs. . . . Lyonel R. V. Margolies, Fox art director, came to New York to ankle up to the altar with Lola C. Mandelbaum. . . . They will fly back to Hollywood. * * * The United Artists economy wave continues. They've sent bulletins to all newspaper editors asking them to file the U. A. stills in the morgues, instead of the waste baskets. . . . When Harry Green, Mitzi Green's father, inquired what advance plug was being used to herald the coming of little Mitzi to the Paramount in person, he was told that a "trailer" called "The Santa Fe Trail" was being run all week. A Real Start If "Today" is a sample of what Majestic Pictures will turn out this season, this new independent company, headed by Harry Sherman and Jack Trop, is going to make a real dent in the market. The picture has action and punch and is good entertainment, albeit a little daring in spots. This one stands up well with a lot of pictures being made by the old line companies and is geared for first runs. HYNES Will See It Through L. A. Young, Tiffany president, who has spiked reports that he intends to pull out of the film business, and declares that his company is just beginning to hit its stride. The company's chief difficulty in the past has been tack of good product, but this obstacle has been hurdled, Young says. DAVE ( Universal ) Bader remembers the gang with salt water taffy from Atlantic City. . . . And Pat Garyn, hard working sales chief of National Screen Service, just won't stay home, even though suffering from pneumonia. * * * Gloria Swanson's marquis hubby is directing the French version of Radio's "The Queen's Husband." . . . Lee Marcus showed he can pick titles when he rechristcned "Sheep's Clothing," the neiv tag being "The Sin Ship." * * * Charley Pincus, Paramount Publix district manager at Omaha, got over-enthusiastic in welcoming Stanley Smith to the World Theatre. . . . He was pinched and received a suspended sentence of $50 fine for painting welcome signs on the sidewalks. * * * Joe E. Brown, with Herb Crooker in tow, told enough funny stories to Len Hall the other day to keep all three of them laughing. . . . D'ja ever see that green suit Joe zvcarsf . . . It lit up the entire North restaurant of the Astor the other day. * * * Charlie Einfeld did a neat job this week in tying in the premiere of "Kismet" with the New York American Christmas fund and landed loads of headlines. . . . We always thought Hearst was tied up with M-G-M, not First National. * * * Frank O'Hara, nee picture critic of the New York Telegram, has turned p. a. You'll find him behind a desk at First National. . . . And Glen Allvine still makes the five-something-orother for his modernistic house at Long Beach. * * * The reason they're so noisy at Universal these days is because Oscar Cooper is on juryduty. . . . The Eberhardts— Harriet and Walter— are overhauling trunks and luggage by way of preparation for their overseas trip. It's to be Italy first, then Paris and finally London. All their friends have turned green-eyed. AL ST. JOHN is reported in a jam for $1,400 in arrears on alimony. . . . Maureen O'Sullivan's reward for her work in "The Princess and the Plumber" is the role opposite Will Rogers in "A Connecticut Yankee." . . . Wesley Ruggles is still shooting "Cimarron" at RKO, having rounded out his third month on the production. * * * Five thousand berries a month is the alimony Mrs. Sylvia Brown seeks from Lew Brown, member of De Sylva, Brown & Henderson. . . . Who said the song writing business was tough ? ... Elsie Janis suffered a dislocated shoulder in giznng a zvrestling lesson to Ramon Novarro. * * * Uncle Carl Laemmle has returned to the Coast, after enthusiastically noting the progress his company is making. ... In the party were Mr. and Mrs. M. Fleckles, Dave Bader and Jack Ross. . . . The Chester Morrises are celebrating the arrival of a baby daughter. . . . Jeanie McPherson, long associated with Cecil B. DeMille productions, is returning to the Paramount lot. . . . Ruth Chatterton authored a play which is being presented in London. * * * On the visitors' list : E. S. Gregg, European manager; J. C. Latham, Continental technical representative, and A. McLean, Australia operating manager. All part of the "Erpi" family. . . . Making American artichoke — conscious has nothing on the Pathe gang in Kansas City, where "Nolan Month" has been officially launched. . . . Purpose : Play dates — as many as the sales force can land. * * * Willie Collier, pere, is demonstrating to all scoffers that it's possible to do several things at the same cr nearly the same time. . . . He collaborated ztnth Dudley Nichols on "The Seas Beneath," and appeared in "Up the River" and also stage directed that opus. * * * Checkerboard plays: Eddie Lamb has been transferred from Portland to Seattle by RKO. W. B. Kelley moves into the Portland spot. . . . Lois Moran will discover a lot of new buildings when she arrives in New York from Hollywood today. It's her first visit in four years. * * * Among the passengers deposited in Brooklyn's wilds on Wednesday were Johannes Riemann, German actor, who is on his way to Universal City, fortified by a contract. . . . Also Donald Ogden Stewart, who dabbles in talkers when he isn't knocking off a novel or two. (Continued on page 76) The Lone Hand George Jessel tells the story of "Joseph and His Brethren" playing a town in upper New York State. After the second act, a customer approached the manager and said he wanted his money back. "What's wrong," queried the manager. "Is your seat bad? Any posts in front of you? Can't you hear?" Said the customer: "No, everything is fine. I'm even enjoying the show, but you see I'm up in the balcony and I'm afraid to sit up there all alone."