Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1939)

ei inema tki Mr. and Mrs. Sol Wurtzel have trained out for an extended vacation. Wurtzel is observing his 25th anniversary as a film executive . . . Samuel C. Diege, independent producer who has been associated with Fine Arts, died of a heart attack. * Scenarist Alice Duer Miller, fresh from a New York holiday, has checked in at RKO Radio to begin a writing assignment for Producer Herbert Wilcox . . . When the first in his new series of starring films, “Meet Dr. Christian,” makes its debut in Minneapolis October 23, Jean Hersholt will be on hand to attend a meeting of some 10,000 citizens of that metropolis. ★ Twenty-five years as a Universal studio employe, the last few of them as studio production manager, netted Martin Murphy, among other things, a new de luxe automobile, a letter of congratulation from President Nate Blumberg and a surprise buffet supper. Cliff Work donated the car and studio executives and employes honored Murphy at the festive board. * Friends of Producer Edgar Selwyn of Metro helped hint celebrate a brithday anniversary at his Beverly Hills home . . . Park Frame, Warner location scout, is pandering the bayfront districts for a likely atmosphere for the first “Tugboat Annie” feature . . . More than 500 Paramount studio club members and their guests indulged in rug-cutting at their annual fall dance at the Beverly Hills Hotel. * Scenarist Myles Connolly, recuperating from an appendectomy, is vacationing for Lewin & Loew Form Firm; UA to Release Revising his original plans for re-entering independent production, as announced last spring, David L. Loew has formed a partnership with Albert Lewin, former Paramount producer, under the corporate name of David L. Loew-Albert Lewin Productions, to manufacture an unannounced quantity of films for United Artists release during the current season. Incorporation papers, filed in Sacramento, list Loew, Lewin and Henry Ginsberg, general manager of Selznick International, as directors. Attorney Harry Sokolov, who is representing the new company, declared that Ginsberg does not contemplate resigning his S-I position. The company will make its headquarters for the present on the S-I lot in Culver City. Lewin at present is in the east but will return within two weeks, at which time the company’s initial vehicle will be announced. At the time of the UA convention here last spring, the announcement was made that Loew would produce from four to eight top-budget features for distribution thi'ough that corporation. However, since a month in New York . . . The Rogue River country in Oregon has beckoned Pandro Berman, RKO Radio production chief, for a week’s holiday . . . Binnie Barnes will be guest of honor when the first fall meeting of the National Council of Jewish Juniors is held October 22. * James Ryan, casting director for 20th Century-Fox, left for New York on a three-week holiday. He was accompanied by Mrs. Ryan . . . Humphrey Bogart is planning a Lake Tahoe vacation when he completes his current Warner assignment . . . James A. FitzPatrick, Metro shorts producer, has gone east to pick up material in Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Louisiana for his Traveltalks series. * The Masquers Club will stage a testimonial dinner, October 25, honoring Darryl Zanuck for his recent cooperation with the Motion Picture Relief Fund in staging the “Hollywood Cavalcade” premiere for the Fund’s benefit . . . Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck left for New York. * John Payne has left for a vacation at Sun Valley and in New York . . . Harry M. Warner has accepted an invitation to become a member of the committee of awards of The American Hebrew, which annually gives a medal to the man or woman who has contributed most toward a better understanding between Christians and Jews in America. * Charles Coburn has returned to Hollywood and film work after spending the summer in charge of the annual Mohawk Drama Festival in New York. that time he has been inactive until the affiliation with Lewin was announced. Another UA producer, Richard Rowland, has acquired shooting space at General Service studio, where he has had office space since incorporating his production unit. His first picture, “Three Cheers for Miss Bishop,” goes before the cameras January 4 with Barbara Stanwyck in the title role. Having recently previewed “The Great Commandment,” for which no release has been announced. Cathedral Pictures’ executive producer. Jack Coyle, left for Kansas City to confer with Rev. James K. Friedrich, associate in the company, concerning plans for its second production. Seeking top names for the film version of “Angela Is 22,” the Sinclair Lewis play. Jack Skirball has returned to the coast from New York. In association with John Wildberg, Broadway stage impresario, Skirball will produce the picture as one of a series for Columbia release. Filming starts in December at the Eastern Service studios in New York. Fine Arts attaches expected Franklyn Warner, president of the company, to return from New York during the week, at which time it was anticipated a definite announcement as to whether FA will continue its association with Grand National would be made. Neither company is now Schenck East After Huddle With Mayer Making one of his periodic studio visits, Nicholas M. Schenck of Loew’s Inc., spent a few days at the M-G-M studios in Culver City conferring with Louis B. Mayer, production chief, and other plant executies on production and distribution matters, then returning to his New York headquarters. The moguls discussed release plans for “Northwest Passage,” filmization of the Kenneth Roberts novel, and huddled generally on the production procedure which has been adopted since the outbreak of war abroad. A detailed picture of the foreign situation was revealed to Harry M. Warner and Hal Wallis, of the Warner studio, by Sam Sax, former head of the company’s Teddington, England, studio. With the abandonment of all production there. Sax was ordered to report to the Burbank studio, where an executive post will be created for him. Herman Wobber, sales chief of 20th Century-Fox, was expected in at the Westwood studio to huddle with Darryl Zanuck, Joseph H. Schenck and William Goetz concerning the production lineup for the balance of the 1939-40 season, Schenck having returned from his Mexican survey to participate in the parleys. With the current season’s program well ahead of schedule, particularly in the Sol M. Wurtzel unit, Wobber and the studio executives will look over several story properties now on hand for possible inclusion in the 1940-41 schedule. Wurtzel will not sit in on the conferences, having left for New York on a combined business-pleasure trip, during which he will confer with distribution executives on sales and release plans for his current production quota. Irving Berlin has gone to New York, winding up his parleys with Zanuck concerning production plans for his next 20th Century-Fox picture, “Say It With Music.” He will return in April to place the film before the cameras. To be honored guest at the world premiere of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” Producer-Director Frank Capra headed for Washington, D. C., for a ten-day stay. Sponsored by the National Press Club, the showing was to be attended by President and Mrs. Roosevelt as well as members of the cabinet and Senate. From present indications President George Schaefer will remain at the RKO Radio studio for another week or two, completing his work of effecting general salary reductions and conferring with the heads of the several independent production units releasing through his company. active in production, GN’s president, E. W. Hammons not yet having consummateci his efforts to secure financing, while FA has been marking time awaiting developments on the GN front. Warner’s unit holds a three-picture releasing contract with RKO Radio and has delivered one, “Isle of Destiny,” filmed in Cosmocolor. 28 BOXOFnCE : : October 21, 1939