Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

i mber 15, 1930 M o t i o ii r i c 1 ii r e X i 27 Stop Us If Were Wrong MARKETS or no markets, the bridge hounds at the Motion Picture Club wilt hold a tournament on Nov. 20. You can even play pinochle, if you like, although in some of the best club circles that game is considered passe. Harold Gabrileve, former assistant manager at the Rivoli, New York, was feted by his associates at a farezvell dinner with Phillip Engel, new assistant manager of the house, acting as master of ceremonies. . . . Gabrileve has been transferred to the Publix-C omerford Capitol at Scranton. . . . Bob Shapiro, treasurer of the Rivoli, now has the same post at the Paramount, Brooklyn. With the first runs showing "Madam Satan," "Soldier's Plaything" and "Du Barry, Woman of Passion," the kiddies of Portland, Ore., are having a tough time this week. . . . Who said the producers are going after the children patronage? . . . William Bakewell, according to his p. a., has a double, named Percy. . . . Bill learned about him when a girl encountered him on the street, called him by that name and started to bawl him out for his fickleness. The latest divorce news from the Coast concerns Duncan Renaldo, actor in "Trader Horn." and Mrs. Suzette Renaldo. . . . The latter alleges that her husband, upon his return from the Dark Continent, influenced her to file suit. . . . Now she wants $500,000 from Edivina Booth, the feminine lead, and the latter has filed an answer denying that she had tried to steal Duncan's affections. . . . Lois Moran is to appear in the stage play, "This Is New York," opening in Providence Nov. 24. Amos, Andy's pal, told a friend recently that he speaks African with an American accent. . . . There's a dark secret in Jack Oakie's life that has just reached the public prints. ... He used to sing in a Methodist church choir. . . . The Roxy has installed a "Message Bureau" for "women who wish to communicate with friends or to make or break an appointment," in the words of Martha Wilchinski. . . . Don't talk; write. Believe it or not, but Harold P. Ironfield, assistant manager for Fox at Omaha, would luive Roger Ferri believe that there is a stickup gang in his territory which checks runs of "Common Clay" figuring a good take after the picture's showings. . . . Ann Harding's next role is in "East Lynne" on the Fox lot. . . . Her last was in First Nationals "The Girl of the Golden West." . . . Thought she zvas a Pat he star * * * Darryl Zanuck and William Wellman displayed their marksmanship prowess while marooned in the wilderness of northern Alberta, coming out with their limit of big game. . . . Ray Enright and John Adolfi were other members of the party. * * * Before leaving Omaha to become midwestern division sales manager for Pathe. "Bob" Ballantyne put the Omaha office on top on the Knute Rockne football shorts. . . . Richard Dix now is a member of the Kaw Indian tribe, albeit honorary, the star having been given the works by the redskins who participated in the making of his "Cimarron," the big noise of the Radio lot. Mickey's Morals Motion picture producers have had a tough time with censors ever since there have been motion pictures, but you wouldn't thintt that Mickey Mouse had his censor troubles, too, would you? But he has, and serious ones, at that. Mickey Mouse has no Will Hays morality clause in his contract, but Walt Disney, his creator, makes him lead a model life for ail that. He never drinks whisky, for example, nor smokes cigarettes, and Disney sees to it that he does nothing which would insult national dignity any where on the globe. Recent censorship rulings reveal how highly moral Mickey Mouse's life must be. One cartoon was banned in Ohio, for example, because a sedate cow, one of Mickey's playmates, was portrayed reading a copy of Elinor Glyn's "Three Weeks." A German censor banned one cartoon because an army of cats wore German helmets, and this was deemed offensive to national dignity. Canada censors banned the one with the cow in it, because the udder was portrayed. A frolicking fish who playfully slapped a mermaid upon the thigh with his fin caused another banishment in Canada. All of which shows that Mickey Mouse must be very careful of the company he keeps. — N. Y. Eve. World. JOHN (FOX) DILLON certainly is going up the ladder. . . . The former New York salesman, who became a manager when assigned to the Washington branch, now is handling the Frisco office, due to the illness of Fred Voigt. . . . When the latter recovers, Sales Manager Jimmy Grainger has an equally important assignment for him, another reason for that fine loyalty you find in Jimmy's sales gang. * * * Warners claims the banner on front of the Winter Garden is the largest ever made. . . . It's 155 feet long and 35 feet wide. FAST-STEPPING is the title we have used several times previously to describe the Tiffany mob. . . . Race horses would have been a better monicker judging by the never-such shindig the company threw to welcome Al Blofson to management of the New York branch. Al is in a spot, he knozvs it and the fact zvas emphasized at the party, for following Phil Myers is no cinch for anyone. . . . The hit of the show was President L. A. Young, who showed he was a regular from the zvord go. . . . "Last zi'eek," he said, "they sold us out; this week, we're in hock, and so it goes, but Tiffany's not zvorrying and is going ahead steadily." . . . What's more, he assured the gang, Tiffany is going to continue at an even faster clip. * * * Maybe this fellow M. A. (M.P.T.O.A.) Lightman didn't prove that he's a showman. He wisecracked all over the place and paid real tribute to Oscar Hanson. . . . "Any bird that can get me to address a Tiffany meeting, and then horn in as a speaker at our convention, is a salesman." . . . Grant L. Cooke, vice-president, offered but a few words. Hanson finally got a word in edgewise and left no doubt about the splendid esprit de corps of the company. . . . That happy family spirit sure is something in the day of firing and false economy. What a thrill in the speedy jaunt to Yonkers under police escort to get a load of "She Got What She Wanted." . . . And what a sensation on the homeward journey when a big truck disputed the right of way. . . . Recollections of some hard deals they had made flashed before the eyes of many a film veteran. And then the final grand slam, which was a master stroke. ... It began to look as though Al Selig and Joe Rivkin had staged such a swell affair they were going to have a jam breaking it up. Welcomed to New Post C^Sls L. A. Young, president of Tiffany, wetcomes Al Blofson to his post as New York manager at the never such welcoming dinner. Left to right, Oscar R. Hanson, general sates manager ; Young, Blofson and Grant L. Cooke, vice-president. *\S^