Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1938)

Production Personnel Shakeups No Bar to Rising Production Index Hollywood — Shakeups in personnel, from top-ranking executives down to minor departmental employes, were recorded during the week. The general trend of studio employment, however, continued upward with the rising production index, reflecting itself particularly in the increase in work calls for extras, bit players, carpenters, technicians and other laborers. M-G-M and 20th Century-Fox drew heaviest upon Central Casting’s supply of extra players, with the former scheduled to increase its demands throughout the month. Explaining that research on the seven pictures tentatively lined up on its 193839 schedule has been completed, and with the last film on its current quota in the cutting rooms, Selznick International served notice that it will discontinue its research department within two weeks. The reading department, for the same reason, will be out from eight to three. In the executive bracket, Howard Estabrook's resignation as an executive aide and writer in the Samuel Goldwyn organization was the week’s highlight. Estabrook joined Goldwyn approximately eight months ago, moving over from Paramount, and had been working on the script of “The Last Frontier,” a projected Gary Cooper starr er. He has announced no future plans. Rudolph Ising and Hugh Harman moved onto the M-G-M lot over the weekend, getting down to work under the sevenyear contracts as cartoon producers to which they were signed last week. Each will make nine short animated cartoons in Technicolor for the studio. At the same plant the acting roster was reduced by one when Comedienne Una Merkel, her contract ended, left the lot. Paramount announced the signing of Sam Engel as an associate producer in the Harold Hurley unit. He reports October 17 and has been assigned to find a starring vehicle for Anna May Wong. Engel left a similar post with 20th Century-Fox two months ago. The Marathon St. lot bid adieu, however, to Scenarist Eve Greene when the writer, who had been with the studio for three years, was unable to satisfactorily adjust salary differences. Twentieth Century-Fox failed to exercise its option on two contract players, Michael Whalen and June Lang. Whalen leaves upon completion of his role in “Samson and the Ladies.” Having severed his connection as David L. Loew’s publicity director with the latter’s decision to halt production activities. Lincoln Quarberg has joined the staff of John Joseph’s publicity department at Universal. Other transfers found George Bilson, who produced “Freshman Year” for Universal, signing at Columbia. LOS ANGELES (Continued from page 78-B) cident which kept him abed for several weeks, A. E. Jackson, RCA equipment salesman, is back on the job . . . Harry Zeidell, who has been managing the Madrid Theatre on South Vermont for the Harry Vinnicoff circuit, has been transferred to the managerial spot at Vinnicoff’s Strand Theatre. Guy Gunderson, United Artists salesman, very mysteriously postponed the party he was to hold at his Santa Anita canyon cabin on Saturday and announced to his 100 prospective guests that the annual “bust” was to take place this weekend instead. The larder boasted three freshly -killed deer, he said. Bill Riter, head of the local Grand National exchange, is back after attending his company’s Chicago convention. Booking: E. A. Stein, of the Wickenburg Theatre, Wickenburg, Ariz.; Mrs. Foster Jackson, of the Elsinore, Elsinore. Robert H. Poole, secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners, spent Thursday and Friday in Bakersfield assisting local exhibitors in promoting the “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” campaign in that area. STORY BUYS — Columbia “Parents on Trial,” by John Boylan, based on a series of dramatic radio programs. “Repaid,” by Harvey Thew and Manny Seff. William Perlberg will produce. — RKO Radio “The G-Dog,” by Guy K. Austin and Earl Johnson. Bert Gilroy will produce from a script being prepared by Morton Grant. — Republic “I’ll Take the High Road,” by Robert Andrew. Andrew has been signed to script. — United Artists ‘‘My Son, My Son!” by Howard Spring, to Edward Small for a reported $50,000 purchase price. Small will get the film into production next summer for release through UA in the fall. — Universal ‘‘Half American,” by Ralph Block and Frederick Koliner, as a Danielle Darrieux starrer. Joe Pasternak will produce with the authors assigned to script. Sells Television Rights Hollywood — The Don Lee-Mutual Broadcasting chain, which for several years has devoted considerable study and research to the improvement and development of television, announces it has sold patent rights to a number of television methods and appliances to RCA, maintaining the right to continue using the equipment. Bert Fitzgibbon Rites San Francisco — Bert Fitzgibbon, 63-yearold onetime vaudeville headliner, was buried here last week following fatal injuries incurred in an automobile crash in Palo Alto. Now the Linda Watts, Cal. — The Watts Theatre here, owned by Jack Berman, has been renamed the Linda. -HOTEL BRtVGDRT • FREE OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL • LUXURIOUS CATHEDRAL LOBBY • DINING ROOM • SIDEWALK CAFE • COCKTAIL ROOM • NEAR BUSINESS CENTERS YET SECLUDED AND QUIET • FREE PARKING ALL OUTSIDE ROOMS.H Each With Private Bath... SINGLE BUNGALOW SUITES SET IN TROPICAL GARDENS From 535 PER WEEK for TWO, AMERICAN PLAN From 525 PER WEEK lor TWO, EUROPEAN PLAN •• ^-HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA 78-D BOXOFFICE :: October 15, 1938