Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Eleanore Whitney left late last week to begin a personal appearance tour. She will visit Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City and other spots, and will return to Hollywood about May 15. ★ William Frawley is laying plans to return to his home town, Burlington, Iowa, to dedicate a new theatre there. A Burlington committee extended him the invitation. * Mary Garden is on her way to Europe for a three-month trip. She will make tests of five American proteges while in Paris. * When a delegation of Metro executives came in for the sales convention this week W. S. Van Dyke, Metro director, joined the party, hopping the train at New York. ★ Tex Ritter’s personal appearance tour throughout the country begins June 25 with his first dates in and around Chicago. Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania follow. He will return to the coast in August for film work. ★ Robert Gillham, director of advertising and publicity for Paramount, has returned to New York after studio confabs. ★ Bernarr Macfadden, New York publisher, was a recent luncheon guest of May Robson at M-G-M. ★ Lionel Barrymore recently celebrated three anniversaries — his 59th birthday, 5Ath year as an actor, and his 21th year in pictures — on the set of "Saratoga,” his current Metro film. An impromptu party was arranged, and Louis B. Mayer presented him with an engraved watch. * Following the completion of his semiannual trip to New York, A. B. Lamb, commercial manager of Erpi, has returned to his offices here. H. G. Knox, executive vice-president of the firm, was to arrive this week from New York, for a month’s stay. ★ A studio call has forced Henry Wilcoxon to sail for Hollywood without viewing the coronation. He is on his way here aboard the Queen Mary with his wife. ★ Guy Kibbee was due in this week from a fishing trip to Oregon. ★ Scott Dunlap is in Chicago for the Monogram sales convention there May 1 and 8. ★ Gloria Stuart is on her way to Honolulu for a vacation of several weeks. She is accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Frederick Finch, and Mrs. Robert Chanoch of Chicago. * Celebrating the completion of his first series of radio transcriptions. Buck Jones was host at a party aboard his yacht at Wilmington last week. The broadcasting staff, cast, sound engineers, prop men and crew were among the guests. ★ Fred Kohlmar, member of Samuel Goldwyn’s executive staff, is on his way to New York on a talent hunt. He’ll be gone for a month. ★ Martin Mooney is spending two weeks at Big Bear working over a new book. Joseph Schenck is in from the east to lay plans for the 20th Century-Fox sales convention, opening here May 30. He made the trip on his yacht. ★ Henry Wilcoxon was due in this week after a hurried trip from London to go into a picture assignment. His wife accompanied him. * Scott R. Dunlap is on his way to Chicago to attend Monogram’s sales convention, opening there next week. * Douglas Fairbanks has planed to New York on business. He will return about May 15. * "Kidnaped,” the Robert Louis Stevenson novel, has been purchased for produetion by 20th Century-Fox. •k Universal has purchased “Let’s Be Candid,’’ an original story based on the candid camera fad, by Laurence Pohle and Thomas Ahearn. * William Boyd was ill at home this week, postponing production on the current Hopalong Cassidy western in which he is starred. •k Joe Cunningham is recovering from an influenza attack. ★ A fishing trip into Mexico is being planned by Madge Evans. * After delaying her Honolulu voyage twice, Dolly Tree, Metro costumer, has set the sailing date as May 7. STORY BUYS “Pools of the Legion,” an original novel by J. D. Xewson, has been acquired by George Hiiiinian as a starring vehicle for George O’Brien. “Flash.” an original by George Clarke and Guy Troster, has been purchased by Columbia. Warner has purchased “A Prayer for My Sons,” noved by Hugh Walpole, for screen picturization with Kay Francis and Billy and Bobby Mauch in leading roles. The New York stage play, “Yes, My Darling Daughter,” has been purchased by Warner. Olivia de Havilland is tentatively set for a leading role. “Mr. Nlckelby Sits Down,” an original by Alfred Prowitt, has been purchased by 20th Century-Fox, 20TH-FOX FIVE-YEAR PACT TO ANNABELLA Annabella, French actress who made her first screen appearance in “Wings of the Morning,” released in the United States by 20th Century-Fox, has been signed to an exclusive five-year contract by that company. She will make two pictures a year in Hollywood and one in England for New World, Ltd., for release through 20th Century-Fox. Her first Hollywood picture has not been set as yet. PARAMOUNT RENEWS MARTHA RATE'S PACT Paramount has renewed Martha Raye’s contract for a new long term. The comedienne, who has been with the company for less than a year, is now working in her sixth picture, “Mountain Music,” in which she is co-starred with Bob Burns. Upon completion of the film she will go on a 12-week personal appearance tour of the Middle West and East. FANCHON’S PRODUCER CONTRACT RENEWED Fanchon, Paramount’s woman producer, has been given a contract renewal with the company. Her next production assignment will be “On With the Dance” tentatively starring George Raft, with screenplay by Joseph Moncure March. Her first effort, “Turn Off the Moon,” was previewed last week. Carrillo Cast Leo Carrillo draws one of the top character roles in “The Barrier,” which Harry Sherman puts into work June 15 for release through Paramount. James Ellison also gets into the picturization of the Rex Beach novel, and Robert Barrat, Beulah Bondi, and Charles Bickford have been cast. Edward Ludwig will direct. Sheehan Signs Herczeg Geza Herczeg checked off the Warner lot last week to sign a personal contract with Winfield H. Sheehan. The writer had completed story and screenplay on “The Life of Emile Zola” and “The Great Lie” on the Burbank lot. Head Spancs Bill Gypsy Rose Lee and Martha Raye head the entertainment bill for the next Spancs meeting, scheduled for early next week at the Hollywood Country Club. Doug Churchill and John Miles are handling arrangements. BOXOFFICE :: May 8, 1937. 45