Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

THEY HEAD METRO CONVENTION AL lAOHTIVIAN Assistant to the President W. F. UODGERS General Sales Manajfer LOUS H. MAYER Vioe-Pres. in eharge of Production FREI> ttllMRY Short Subje<*ts Gen. Mkt. HOWARD DIETZ SI SEADLER Dir. of Advertisinff Maiiag-er of and Publicity Advertising T. J. CONNORS Eastern Sales Manager E. M. SAUNDERS Western Sales Manager Metro Meet Ends; Seven Get Ready With Metro’s annual sales convention occupying the center of the Hollywood stage this week, other companies are continuing their preparations to welcome delegates to their respective sales confabs, as seven other conferences are scheduled to be held here between now and July. Grand National, set to get underway with its sales meeting in Hollywood beginning May 16, is the next to go, followed by Universal on May 17 and 20th Century-Fox May 31. The latter company’s convention will be a five-day affair, according to plans disclosed this week by Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the 20th Century-Fox board of directors, who came in from Florida this week to make detailed plans for the meeting. Between 400 and 500 representatives of the company are expected to attend. Paramount Convenes June 10 With plans for Paramount’s sales meeting here okayed by Bob Gillham, publicity and advertising chief, during conferences here with Adolph Zukor and William LeBaron, Gillham has returned to New York to handle details from the home office. The convention begins June 10. Gaumont British, RKO Radio and Republic have also scheduled their meetings to take place in Hollywood. FRANK GAY AND CREW ON LOCATION FOR GN Frank Gay left this week for Flagstaff, Ariz., with a production crew and Rex, Sheik and Thunder, equine actors, for two weeks shooting on the Foxborough ranch on “King of the Sierras,” a Condor production. Director Arthur Rosson, Sam Diege, supervisor, and Tom Galligan, cameraman, accompanied Gay, who is an associate producer for Grand National. The company will return May 18 for ten days’ local shooting with the human cast, including Frank Campeau, Wally Albright, Morgan Brown and Edward Peil. James Stewart 111 James Stewart, in a Hollywood hospital with a neck ailment, has been forced out of the cast of “Vivacious Lady” at RKO Radio, where he was to play opposite Ginger Rogers. Production, which halted temporarily last week due to Stewart’s illness, will be resumed this week, although no one has signed to replace Stewart, who took the part on a loan-out arrangement from Metro. Third Equity Candidate New York — A third party, headed by E. J. Blunkall, actor, has entered the lists of the coming election of officers of Actors’ Equity Ass’n opposing the regular ticket led by Frank Gillmore, now president, and an independent group which is seeking to persuade Walter Hampden to run. UA Board Meets Shifted to Coast Production pressure on the United Artists lot here has caused a switch in plans for the company’s board and member meeting. Originally scheduled to be held in New York, the confab will be moved out to the coast. May Meet May 18 Change was brought about chiefly because Samuel Goldwyn, with three films shooting, did not want to take time out for the eastern trip, and Charles Chaplin, working on a story for early production, also held out for a Hollywood meeting. Members will convene around May 18, or as soon thereafter as Alexander Korda, who left England this week for the United States, arrives in the film city. Other members attending will be Mary Pickford, due in this week from a European trip; Chaplin, Goldwyn, Douglas Fairbanks, Dr. A. H. Giannini, president of the corporation, George Schaefer, David O. Selznick and Captain Dennis O’Brien. Matters to be discussed at the meeting have not been disclosed. Selznick, William A. Wellman, Ben Hecht, Barbara Keon, production secretary, L. F. Alstock, assistant treasurer, and Russell J. Birdwell, publicity and advertising director, left for New York this week with Jock Whitney for business conferences, but will return in time for the UA meeting. SOUTH SEA NATIVES WANT MORE MONEY Even South Sea natives are feeling the effects of Hollywood’s current labor war. Movie producers in the tropical islands have discovered that native bit players have upped their wage demands from a few inexpensive trinkets to five dollars in cold cash every day — plus meals. That is what Mrs. Wallace Reid, Monogram producer, discovered when she landed in Samoa to film exteriors for “Paradise Isle.” What is more, there will be no more native film appearances without the proper attire. Nudes are out. BLYSTONE TO DIRECT MARTINI Nino Martini’s RKO Radio picture, “Music for Madame,” will be directed by John Blystone. Jesse L. Lasky will produce. Robert North Goes From RKO to Para. Lot Robert North chalked up a perfect batting average when he checked off the Paramount lot this week. He terminated a six-months’ contract agreement as an associate producer without a productioii assignment and minus any sereen eredits during that time. North moved over from RKO Radio to the Paramount post. His future plans are unannounced. BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1937. 43