Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1938)

Million-Dollar Exhibit Planned in Culver City A non-profit motion picture exhibition and museum will shortly be erected in Culver City, at a cost of $1,000,000, according to an announcement by the Exposition and Museum Corp., headed by Col. William H. Evans. The museum building will include statues and exhibits of costumes worn by famous stars. Committees Report To Research Council The Academy Research Council met Wednesday night to hear reports by John Hilliard, chairman of the theatre standardization committee; Thomas Moulton, chairman of the set equipment noise committee; E. H. Hanson, chairman of the sound recording committee, and Wesley C. Miller, chairman of the sound track standardization committee. William Koenig, chairman of the council, presided. Attending were John Aalberg, RKO Radio; Bernard Brown, Universal; Farciot Edouart, Paramount; E. H. Hansen, 20th Century -Fox; John Livadary, Columbia; Thomas Moulton, United Artists; Douglas Shearer, Metro, and Gordon S. Mitchell, council manager. Seattle Contest Winner Gets Western Film Role Winner of a three-way beauty-personality-voice contest in which Producer Harry Sherman was one of the sponsors, Claudia Bonnie Smith of Seattle checked in last week to be given a role in Sherman’s forthcoming “Silver Trail Patrol,” a “Hopalong Cassidy” western for Paramount release. Wins 6c in Libel Suit The superior court Friday awarded James Cruze six cents damages in his $250,000 libel action against the McFadden Publications. Academy Revises Setup A complete divorcement of the Academy ol Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Irom industry politics is called for in the special reorganization committee report just made public. Revision of the by-laws of the academy and the establishment of a cultural and educational clearing house for the industry are further recommendations of the report. The academy will sponsor educational radio program scholarships for promising young production talent. A new slate of officers and board of governors is to be elected within a few days to advance the program. They Talk "Shop" Between scenes of “Carefree,” Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, co-starred in the RKO film, seem quite that way as pretty Ginger talks things over with Pandro Berman, production chief, and Astaire engages in a round of friendly patter with Director Mark Sandrich (lower left) and Irving Berlin, song composer. Actress Wins $8,500 in Suit Involving Health A verdict for the plaintiff and $8,500 in damages has been awarded Irene Bennett, screen actress, by the jury which heard the testimony in her superior court suit against Dr. H. J. Stratheam, Paramount studio physician. Miss Bennett had charged that Dr. Strathearn failed to diagnose her illness correctly while she was a stock actress at Paramount, permitting her to continue camera work at the expense of her health. Of late she has been in a rest home suffering from tuberculosis. Dr. Stratheam defended himself by declaring he had diagnosed her illness as tuberculosis and advised her to take “proper care of herself.” The plaintiff had asked $50,000 in damages. Leonard Fields to Principal Leonard Fields has been signed by Principal Productions as an associate producer-writer. Industry Has Welcome For Harvard Emissary Film industry leaders have signified their intention of cooperating to the fullest with Robert D. Field, fine arts professor at Harvard University, en route here to amass material for a series of lectures to be delivered at the university by him next fall as a step in Harvard’s recognition of motion pictures as a fine art. Field adheres to the theory that motion pictures should be on an equal footing with painting and architecture as one of the arts. Endorsement of his and Harvard’s addition to the school curriculum were forthcoming from Adolph Zukor, Louis B. Mayer, Vierling M. Kersey, superintendent of schools, and other civic and industry figures. Simone May Lose Pact At 20th-Fox Studios Probability that Simone Simon, diminutive French starlet, will not be retained by 20th Century-Fox when her present contract comes up for option in September, was admitted by studio officials here despite their lack of official confirmation from Darryl Zanuck, production chieftain, now vacationing in England. Miss Simon’s last starring film for the studio was “Josette,” now in general release. She has been under contract to 20th Century-Fox for about two and a half years. Assign Ricardo Cortez " Very Practical Joke " As his first full-fledged directorial chore under the actor-writer-director contract signed some time ago, Ricardo Cortez has been handed the reins on “A Very Practical Joke,” a Howard J. Green production at 20th Century-Fox. Film will be third in the “Roving Reporters” series featuring Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler. Jerry Cady is scripting from a Ben Ames Williams original. Delay W anger Script A scheduled writing chore at M-G-M, “The Doctor Laughs at Life,” will prevent Gene Towne and Graham Baker from scripting “Trade Winds,” the Tay Garnett story, for Producer Walter Wanger. The writing duo had been previously announced as going on that script but are on loanout to Metro from Wanger. — Sign Basketballer Paramount has signed Julie Bescos, of the University of Southern California coaching staff, and a former football and basketball star, as technical advisor on basketball sequences in “Campus Confessions,” featuring Betty Grable, Hank Luisetti, the Stanford hoop star, and Eleanore Whitney. 40 BOXOFFICE :: July 16, 1938