Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Larry Crabbe will participate in the Junior Chamber of Commerce’s national aquatic show to be held in the Olympic pool, Exposition Park, June 5 and 6. He will compete in several match race events. ★ Metro’s story editor, Edwin Knopf, has reached Copenhagen, Denmark, in his search for screen material. •k Hollywood is bracing itself for the musical battle to take place May 23 at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, when Jimmy Dorsey, Victor Young, Georgie Stoll, Harry Owens, Ted Fio-Rito and Glenn Gray will swing their respective bands through a “Jam Session.” The event is being sponsored by Bing Crosby as a benefit for Joe Sullivan, his favorite accompanist, who is seriously ill in the east. Martha Raye, Dorothy Lamour, Ella Logan, Johnny Mercer and Crosby will give vocal aid. ★ Paul Palmentola, Grand National art director, and Leona Julian, Los Angeles nonprofessional, have been married for two weeks, they disclosed, with the ceremony taking place in the Hollywood Chapel. The couple will honeymoon in Mexico when Palmentola’s current film assignment is completed. k Bruce Cabot arrived in Hollywood late last week to begin work on a film assignment. ★ Hugo Butler, Metro writer, and Jean Rouverol, actress, were married late last week at a private church wedding. k A1 Hall plans a two-month vacation in London and Paris when he has completed his current directorial chore for Paramount. * B. P. Schulberg is home from the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, where he underwent a minor operation. k Among the visitors at Paramount this week was Rudolf Priml, noted composer, who dropped in to see Andre Kostelanetz, conductor and arranger, working on the lot. Friml was a guest of Boris Morros, head of the studio music department. * Edward E. Muhl, head of Universal’s legal department, eloped to Yuma to wed Laidyne Hughes, secretary to Bill Peirce at that studio, last week. k The Masquers Club’s sixth seidel night, which was held last week, found Victor Moore as seidel master. Frank McHugh, Charlie Chase, Frank Morgan and Alan Mowbray were among the guest entertainers. k George Balanchine, ballet master, has arrived in Hollywood to start work on an assignment for Samuel Goldwyn. Grand National Producer Zion Myers, whose latest picture is the Stuart Erwin starring vehicle, “Small Town Boy,” which Grand National will release this spring. Myers’ next picture will be “Honolulu Honeymoon.” William LeBaron returned to his Paramount desk early this week after a northern trip. k Maurice Conn is journeying to New York for franchise and distribution plans. k Sonja Henie’s father, Wilhelm Henie, died this week after a week’s illness, with death attributed to a blood clot on the lung. He is survived by his daughter and widow, Mrs. Selma Henie. Harry M. Warner arrived in Hollywood this week to attend producer -labor conferences in regard to the current strike in the studios, and to visit his daughter, Doris LeRoy, recovering in the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital after an appendix operation. k Following several months vacation with her mother in Sweden, Anna Q. Nilsson was expected to return to Hollywood late this week. * Benny Baker enjoyed a belated birthday party this week when his wife planned a small celebration. Guest included Eddie Rubin, Nick Lukats and Ralph Malone. k Beulah Bondi left for Chicago, Denver and New York this week on a vacation jaunt. ★ Peter Arno, illustrator and cartoonist, pulled into Hollywood this week to report for a film assignment. Grady Sutton has returned from a vacation at his home, St. Petersburg, Fla., and starts work on a film assignment shortly. k Ensenada, Mex., has been the scene of late spring vacations for many film folk — among them Mr. and Mrs. Frank Borzage, the Lew Borzages, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Erwin, the Dan Dankers, Joan Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Cedric Gibbons, Mr. and Mrs. Edivard G. Robinson and others. ★ Herman Selgrath, Metro’s prop department foreman, is vacationing for two weeks in northern California, while Leon Raab, arranger in the music department, is spending a week in Yosemite. * Mrs. Charles Grapewin underwent a major operation this week at the Hollywood Hospital. k Seventy members of the Chicago Association of Commerce were guests of Louis B. Mayer at Metro this week, with Byron C. Hanna, president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, assisting in introducing the visitors at a luncheon in the studio commissary. * Ralph Wheelwright, assistant to Howard Strickling in Metro’s publicity department, leaves this week on a four-week vacation. He will motor to New York. * Jonkeer Dr. H. M. Van Haersma, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Queen of the Netherlands, was guested by Louis B. Mayer in the Metro vice-president’s executive bungalow this week. The envoy was accompanied by his wife and daughter, and joined a party including Mrs. Roberta Lawson, president of the general federation of women’s clubs, and Dr. Rufus von KleinSmid, president of the University of Southern California. k Ray McCarey has wound up his directorial chore and will vacation at Del Monte. k His hand injured during the filming of a fight scene, Brian Donlevy has been laid up in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital for a few days, as an infection set in. His condition is not serious, according to Dr. C. L. Gaulden, attending physician. ★ Prior to the departure of Robert J. Engler, Erpi recording engineer, for England, he was tendered a farewell luncheon this week by his associates, at the Hollywood Athletic Club. He will assume the duties of recording engineer for the company in London, joining William Back, Western Electric executive, there. k Andre Kostelanetz left for New York early this week after completing a picture assignment. BOXOFnCE :: May 15, 1937. 45