We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
RKO Execulive Setup May Get Revamping
That changes in RKO Radio’s studio executive setup may be impending is seen as a possibility, although neither confirmed nor denied by those authorized to voice opinions, as the result of a statement issued by George J. Schaefer, president of the company, declaring he has assumed full charge of all studio activity and will remain in Hollywood indefinitely. Schaefer’s statement read:
“My stay on the coast is for an indefinite period. While here I will take complete charge of the studio. J. J. Nolan will continue to act as my assistant.”
This declaration came on the eve of the launching of product and sales parleys in which Ned E. Depinet, vice-president in charge of distribution; Schaefer, Nolan and Harry E. Edington, executive producer, were to participate. It closely followed an earlier statement by Schaefer denying emphatically rumors which had been circulating to the effect Depinet would be placed in charge of the studio.
On Wednesday the company officially announced that J. R. McDonough, a vicepresident, would assume the executive duties formerly held by Lee Marcus. Marcus will serve as associate producer under McDonough who will continue to handle, as in the past, the company’s relations with independent producers. It was also announced that Dan Winkler, who joined the company a year ago, would continue in charge of studio commitments.
Lauds Financial Condition
Schaefer is expressing optimism as to prospects for the coming year, having asserted upon his arrival that, despite chaos abroad and the loss of foreign markets, the company which he heads has weathered one of the severest crises in the industry’s history, without borrowing from the banks, and is not indebted to its parent company for current production. This is true, Schaefer pointed out, despite reduction in foreign currencies and serious restrictions on the flow of foreign funds. The RKO Radio president stated that two new releases, “Kitty Foyle” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” are among the biggest money-makers in the company’s history.
Following their attendance at Universal’s recent annual sales meeting in Chicago, Cliff Work, in charge of studio operations; Dan Kelly, chief of the talent-scouting division; and Milton H. Feld, executive producer, are back at the studio. John Joseph, advertising-publicity director, was expected to return later in the week, having spent a month away from his desk. During that time he accompanied Deanna Durbin to the President’s Birthday Ball in Washington and to the Miami premiere of “Back Street,” then went to Chicago for the sales session and on to New York for homeoffice conferences.
Terminating conferences on future production and budgets, A. Montague, Columbia’s general sales manager, and Leo Jaffe, assistant to the treasurer, have returned to New York. Remaining here a few days
March Start Scheduled For " Strange Victory"
For United Artists, Sol Lesser has pegged a March starting date on “Strange Victory,” from a story by Rose Franklen and William Brown Meloney. A UA release has also been set for “The Eagle Squadron,” which Argosy Corp. will launch in March in an affiliated deal with Walter Wanger. Wanger himself is preparing “Sundown” for an early getaway. '
Other independents with UA releases planning early production starts include Edward Small, who recently announced a $5,000,000 program of five pictures; Richard A. Rowland, preparing “The Battle of Britain;” Hal Roach, soon to roll “Niagara Falls” and David O. Selznick, readying “Jane Eyre.”
Freeman Will Again Lead Producers
Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president in charge of Paramount’s studio operations, has been re-elected president of the Producers Association. He was unanimously selected for a second term at a meeting of the board of directors on the occasion of the seventeenth anniversary of the organization.
Also re-elected for a second term~were:
E. J. Mannix, M-G-M, first vice-president; Cliff Work, Universal, second vicepresident; and Fred W. Beetson, executive vice-president.
Attending the session, in addition to the elected officers, were Will H. Hays, Harry Cohn, J. R. McDonough, William Goetz, Walter Wanger, H. M. Warner, Maurice Benjamin, George Cohen, George Wasson, Alfred Wright, Jack Karp, Homer Mitchell, Herbert Freston and Mendel Silberberg.
Following election of officers association members voted to resume negotiations February 20 with the Screen Actors Guild on that organization’s demands that extra players be reclassified and given wage increases. Approval was also given for a wage increase requested by Studio Scenic Artists. Hays, here from New York on one of his periodic visits, spoke briefly on the foreign and domestic situation.
Produce "Pioneers"
Monogram will produce “The Pioneers,” from the James Fenimore Cooper novel, as a special feature starring Tex Ritter. It rolls late in February with Edward Finney producing from a script by Charles Anderson.
longer to wind up their huddles are Jack Cohn, vice-president, and A. Schneider, company treasurer.
Also going east, after a week at the Culver City studio, was Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew’s, Inc. He huddled with Louis B. Mayer, E. J. Mannix and other local executives on new productions planned for spring and early summer.
Trem Carr, member of the Monogram
Link Herbert Yates With PRC Setup
Possibility that Herbert J. Yates, through his Consolidated Film Industries, may indirectly enter into the Producers Releasing Corp. setup insofar as its financial destinies are concerned, is indicated in disclosures by PRC spokesmen that the company may switch its laboratory contract away from Pathe to Consolidated or another processing firm. Officials assert, however, that to date there has been no decision on the matter, although admitting that one deal with Consolidated has already been set whereby the laboratory work on “Federal Fugitives,” forthcoming film to be produced by John T. Coyle, will be done by the Yates company.
Meantime “Laddie’s Loyalty,” script by Martin Mooney, has been added to Jed Buell’s schedule for PRC. Built around the truelife story of the Airedale who died when his master left his home in Kansas to join the draft army, it will roll March 4 with William Beaudine directing. Buell will follow this with “Emergency Landing,” also written by Mooney.
Now in production on location in Tucson, Ariz., is “Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona,” newest in the “Range Busters” western series being produced by George W. Weeks for Monogram release. Feminine lead has been handed to Sheila Darcy.
For RKO Radio release, William Hawks’ United Productions has rolled “My Life With Caroline.” Lewis Milestone is directing Ronald Colman and Anna Lee in the leads. Following its completion, the Hawks unit moves to 20th Century-Fox to prepare “The Red Pony” from a John Steinbeck story.
With camera work pegged to begin in April, Orson Welles has dispatched Cinematographer Gregg Toland to Mexico to pick up background footage and scout locations for Welles’ next film for RKO Radio.
Talk Plans lor Second "Gambol of the Stars"
Plans for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio Artists’ second annual “Gambol of the Stars,” to be held March 17 at the Ambassador Cocoanut Grove, were discussed at a press luncheon at which Edward Arnold, George Murphy, Bette Davis, Lucile Gleason, Porter Hall and Robert Montgomery were hosts. They are committee chairmen for the affair. Representatives of the trade, metropolitan and syndicate press attended.
board of directors, has followed President W. Ray Johnston to New York, where they are conferring with other company executives on plans for future product. Johnston will remain away from his local headquarters for several weeks, as he plans to stop off at various key centers en route back to Hollywood for conferences with district managers, franchise holders and other exchange officials.
30
BOXOFFICE :: February 22, 1941