Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1941)

Hollywood — — Pe rsonnelities Percenteers BILL DOZIER has resigned as head of the Berg-Allenberg agency’s literary department, effective February 1. He will be replaced by Cornwell Jackson, chief of the agency's radio department. Story Buys Barnstormers Paramount PRESTON FOSTER will attend President Roosevelt’s Birthday Ball in Washington, D. C„ January 30. Blurbers Free Lance DANIEL VLLMAN appointed office manager of Terry* DeLapp’s publicity-exploitation organization. Metro HOWARD STRICKLING, studio publicity head, has returned from Baltimore, accompanied by Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. Striekling went east with the actor, who underwent a medical checkup at Johns Hopkins Hospital. HOWARD HERTY has resigned from the studio publicity staff to open his own exploitation offices. ERNEST VAN PELT, exploiteer from Salt Lake territory, has returned to his headquarters after a week of conferences at the studio. Paramount JOHN DEL VALLE of the publicity staff will accompany Susanna Foster on her forthcoming personal appearance tour ahead of her new starring picture, “The Hard-Boiled Canary.” RKO Radio PERRY LIEBER, studio publicity director, is vacationing for a week in San Francisco. BLLISTON A. VINSON, his aide, is sitting in for Lieber during the latter’s absence. Universal \ INTENT MAHONEY joins publicity staff as a unit man. He is a former newspaperman. Warner Bros. MARTY WEISER, exploiteer, returns from an eight-week, 3,000-mile junket through the territory. He takes the road again in two weeks to handle out-of-town campaigns on "Flight From Destiny” and "High Sierra.’.’ Briefies Metro JOHN NESBITT rolls "More Trifles of importance” as his newest Passing Parade short, with Basi Wrangell directing from a script by Sam Chain. Next Pete Smith Speciaty short will be "Memory Rhymes,” to be filmed from a script being prepared by E. Maurice Adler. Walter Lantz Production has started on “Salt Water Daffy,” a patriotic cartoon short, for Universal release. Clefters Metro FRANZ WAXMAN to score "Dr. Jekvll and Mr. Hyde.” DAVID SNELL scoring “Roosty.” Republic EDDIE CHERKOSE doing music and lyrics for “Prairie Pioneers.” Loanouts Globe LARKY CEBALLOS borrowed from Universal to stage dance sequences for “Pot O’ Gold.” Metro INGRII) BERGMAN borrowed from David O. Selznick for the feminine starring role opposite Spencer Tracy in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” It will lie her last loanout, since Selznick plans to star her in one of the two productions he will make for United Artists release. Warner Bros. JANE DARWELL borrowed from 20th CenturyFox for the top character role in “Thirty Days Hath September.” Meggers Columbia .1. THEODORE REED, on loan from Paramount, is preparing to pilot "Her First Beau,” costarring Jane Withers and Jackie Cooper, Howard Hughes HOWARD HUGHES has resumed direction on "The Outlaw” after spending a week recuperating from injuries received in an automobile accident. In his absence the directorial reins were handled by Soripter Jules Furthman and Cameraman Gregg Toland. Metro GEORGE SIDNEY piloting "Animal Psychology," a John Nesbitt Passing Parade short. HAROLD S. BUCQUET piloting "Roosty,” cofeaturing Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold. Film is based on a play by Martin Berkeley. Paramount GREGORY RATOFF signs term ticket as a producer-director. His first will be "Tonight Is Ours,” starring Loretta Young. JOSEPH SISTROM named associate producer on "The Night of January Hi,” based on the play by Ayn Rand. Options Howard Hughes MIMI AGUGLIA draws featured role in "The Outlaw.” She is a veteran stage player. Metro C. AUBREY SMITH signed for a comedy character role in “Free and Easy.” DOROTHY BABB, 14-year-old dancer, signs term contract. CHILL WILLS, comedian, held for another term. Paramount BRIAN DONLEVY signs new two-picture acting deal. PHILIP TERRY, featured player, draws new term pact. Republic JACK MULHALL given a topline in “Captain Marvel,” a serial. JERRY COLONNA given a topline in "Sis Hopkins." next Judy Canova starrer. RKO Radio JACK BRIGGS, stage player, draws term ticket. ROBERT FRANCIS SMITH signs acting contract. He is from the New York stage. Harry Sherman DERWIN ABRAHAMS given term contract as a director. He has just completed his first piloting assignment, “Border Vigilantes,” for Paramount release, after many years as a prop man, assistant director and in other capacities. 20th Century-Fox LAMAR TROTTI, writer, held for another term. He is scripting "Rise and Shine” for Producer Lou Edelman. MILTON BERLE given contract extension. He will appear in two pictures during the coming season. ROBERT CORNELL, little theatre player, draws term ticket. LEON SHAMROY, cameraman, held for another term. MARY JOYCE WALSH joins roster of stock players. Universal EVELYN ANKERS, British actress, given term contract. CHARLES LAUGHTON signed for the topline in "Almost an Angel,” to be directed by Henry Koster and rolling' in March. Norman Krasna is scripting the Ladislaus Fodor original. Joe Pasternak is the producer. BRUCE CABOT signs long-term acting ticket. Warner Bros. I>E WOLF HOPPER JR., featured player, given new contract. RALPH BELLAMY signed for a topline in "Affectionately Yours.” Columbia “One Way Street,” by Morton Thompson and Melvyn Wald. The Irving Briskin unit will produce. Metro “Mrs. Miniver,” by Jan Struther. Studio optioned the book some time ago and has assigned James Hilton and Arthur Wimperis to adapt it to the screen for Producer Sidney Franklin. Paramount “Joan of Arkansas,” by David Garth. The hillbilly story will be produced by Sol C. Siegel from a script by Boyce DeGaw. 20th Century-Fox “Manhattan Holiday,” by Polan Banks. Scripters Columbia KAREN DE WOLF to “Blondie Goes to the Dogs.” ROBERT ANDREWS to “Betty Co-Ed.” Ozzie Nelson and his orchestra, Harriet Hilliard and Ruby Keeler will have the toplines in the Irving Briskin production. Metro SIH KILLER, HAL FIMBERG and RAY GOLDEN to “Step This Way,” next Marx Bros, comedy, to be produced by Louis K. Sidney. Paramount CHARLES BRACKETT and BILLY WILDER to “Hold Back the Dawn,” from the Ketti Frings novel. GEORGE BECK to “Paramount Parade.” Sol C. Siegel will produce. ROBERT LIVELY to “College Mystery” for Producer Sol C. Siegel. BOYCE I)E GAW has been handed a writing ticket, joining the Sol C. Siegel production unit. Republic ISABEL DAWN to an untitled original. She has completed “Citadel of Crime.” OLIVE COOPER to “The Great Train Robbery.” Robert North will produce. RKO Radio IAN MCCLELLAN HUNTER to "Followed by Indians,” slated as a Leon Errol starrer. DAN TOTHEROH to “The Devil and Daniel Webster.” 20th Century-Fox SOL and BEN BARZMAN to "The Boy, the Girl and the Dog,” for Producer Lou Ostrow. JACK ANDREWS teamed with THOMAS LENNON on “We Go Fast,” from the Doug Welch original. ROBERT ELLIS and HELEN LOGAN polishing “Stand Up and Cheer” for Producer Milton Sperling. „ JOHN TAINTOR FOOTE to “The Black Swan” for Producer Lou Edelman. Universal CHARLES MARION to “Tenth Avenue Lochinvar,” from his own original. It will star Billy Halop with Ken Goldsmith producing. GEORGE WAGGNER to “Flying Cadets,” from his own original. VICKI BAUM to “Unfinished Business.” Gregory LaCava will produce and direct the Irene Dunne starrer. Warner Bros. JERRY WALD and RICHARD MACAULAY to “Danger Zone,” a George Raft starrer, from their own original. ROBERT ROSSEN to “Carnival in Rio,” musical comedy with a South American background, to feature George Raft, Dennis Morgan and Brenda Marshall. William Keighley will direct. MILTON KRIMS doing added scenes for “The Sea Wolf.” Technically Frank Lloyd MILTON KRASNER lensing “The Lady From Cheyenne.” Universal will release. Metro CLYDE I)E VINNA is lensing “Roosty,” with BILL RYAN named assistant director. STANLEY ROGERS set as unit art director on “Get a Horse.” SERGIO ORTO signed to stage a dance arrangement for “Ziegfeld Girl.” 30 BOXOFFICE :: January 11, 1941