Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1929)

46 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD November 2, 1929 Insurance Denied Players Under New Mortality Rating Members of Acting Profession Noiv Being Classed as Worst of Bad Risks — They Work and Play Too Hard (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, October 29. — Screen, stage and vaudeville actors and actresses are fast becoming a class of 100 per cent undesirables in the eyes of the many life, casualty and accident insurance companies in this country. Five of the big line insurance companies, two located here and three in New York, are putting "thumbs down" on all applicants for policies of any kind from both the masculine and feminine contingents of actors and actresses in all branches of the show business. This vast army of players is classified by the insurance companies as the "triple X" crowd, or in other words, as absolutely bad risks. This frame of mind on the part of insurance companies in this country has already reached into foreign insurance organizations. rJ,HROUGH the far-reaching investiga an age ten years more than the age of the News Notes tion carried on by the entire coterie of insurance companies, a decision has been reached that classifies the players as those who "do not fit in with the mortality table." In insurance parlance, the mortality table is technically called the "American Experience Table," which scientifically determines the value of insurance risks of all classes of workers. Hard work for screen and stage players usually means that they play equally as hard, thus cutting down their resistance to disease. All Automatically Included This condition, while existing among many of the screen players, does not cover the whole field of players. Many are very good "risks," but the insurance companies cannot draw any line of distinction, so they have decided to turn down all applicants in the show business. Directors, writers, executives and others connected with the show business, but not as players, are on the "okay" list. An actor who becomes a director, writer or executive, immediately is taken out of the n. g. list and classed among the "up-and-up" risks. Thus, if a director, who was formally an actor, applies for insurance and is accepted by the insurance company, and later becomes an actor again, his policy is valid. Lost on "Bad" Policies Statistics compiled by the various insurance companies show that last year 14 deaths among screen players were risks that should not have been passed by the companies. These 14 were heavily insured and caused the companies losses they could have saved had they enforced the present strict inspection of players. This stand has been taken by several insurance companies since June of this year and is fast spreading among all the insurance companies. At present, an actor or actress can obtain insurance at a very high rate with some of the companies which are not so particular about the risks, feeling that they can reap the benefit of the existing condition by charging a rate based on "Trader Horn" Party Has Exciting Thrills (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 29. — The "Trader Horn" unit is having exciting adventures traveling through the African jungles, according to reports to the M G M office. When the party made ready for camping it was found that several lions were prowling about. Director Van Dyke cleared the site by firing a shotgun. He killed a seven-foot specimen. applicant. Machine Tells Rating The "actuary" machine employed only by insurance companies, is a device that determines the mortality percentage of all kinds of workers. One man operates this machine, doing the work that formerly needed an army of auditors. These machines cost the companies $7,800 each and have figured largely in determining the fate of the actor and actress, as to the exact status of his or her mortality rating. At present there are several applicants among the film colony that are being held up by the rigid investigation carried on by the insurance companies. Many of these applicants, it is believed, will find their applications for the large insurance they want turned down. Once a company turns down an applicant, the report goes out to every insurance company in the world, and it becomes almost impossible to obtain insurance after a refusal. Principal Pictures Sued By West Coast Theatres For Recovery of $60,000 (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 29. — West Coast Theatres will appear in superior court today in a suit against Principal Pictures Corporation for the recovery of $60,000 alleged to be owed on two promissory notes. The defendant corporation claims that it and Sol Lesser and Irving Lesser, also defendants, borrowed $236 from the plaintiff and gave six notes paying 6 per cent interest in return. They claim this money was paid. The amount in controversy consists of two notes which the defendants assert were given as a bonus but it is added that they realize now that these notes are invalid because such a bonus would make the rate of interest above the legal 12 per cent. Wallace Beery in Hospital After Trip in His Airplane (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 29.— Wallace Beery is in the hospital and is said to be suffering from neuralgia in the back of his head. He and Alan Roscoe had just returned from Wichita, Kan., in Beery's plane. It was reported that Beery was forced to give up control of the plane when he collapsed at the stick. David Russell Secretly Weds ST. LOUIS. — David E. Russell, manager of the St. Louis Municipal Opera Association and formerly manager of the old Columbia and Strand theatres, and Miss Marian Garvey, 28 years old, a member of the chorus in the opera, were married secretly October 24 by Probate Judge Sam Hodgdon at Clayton, Mo. HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 29. RALPH B. STAUB has completed the ninth of the series of one reel Screen Snapshots. They are released by Columbia. Appearing in this issue are the Gleasons, Ken Maynard, George K. Arthur, Gwen Lee and Alan Hale with his family. LARRY DARMOUR has returned from New York. During his stay there he conferred with R K O officials regarding future productions. Going East by plane Darmour ran into a storm. He returned by train. JAMES PARROTT directed Laurel and Hardy in the comedy sequences of "Rogues Song" for M G M. Lawrence Tibbett has the featured role. The film is completed and the comedians have returned to the Roach studios to prepare for their next picture. MAX SCHECK, dance director, is staging and directing "And How" for Warner Brothers. Ann Greenway has the leading role. It is a Vitaphone Variety in technicolor. KAY FRANCIS has been signed for an important role in William Powell's next starring picture, "The Color of Money." Nick Stuart has been borrowed from Fox to appear in the film. Jean Arthur and Joan Standing complete the cast. Production will begin shortly. FRANK REICHER is directing the dialog for the German version of "A Ship Comes In" for Pathe. He also wrote the dialog. Rudolph Schildkraut is featured. Leo Birinski is directing. JACQUELINE LOGAN has been signed on a long term contract by George Weeks of Sono-Art. Her first picture has not been announced but production will start soon. Miss Logan recently finished an important role in "General Crack" for Warner Brothers. Ben Garetson Signed by Talking Picture Epics (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 29.— Talking Picture Epics, Inc., distributors of Martin Johnson's "Simba," have announced the appointment of Ben Garetson as director of advertising and publicity. Garetson was formerly commercial manager of the Hearst Radio stations KYW and KFKX. Sono-Art Productions Sign Jacqueline Logan (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 29.— Jacqueline Logan has signed a contract with Sono-Art which calls for her services as a feature player. Miss Logan's first Sono-Art picture will be announced shortly. Her last picture was with John Barrymore in "General Crack." Art Acord Jailed; Theft And Battery Is Charged (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 29— Art Acord is in jail here this week following battery, theft and liquor charges against him and two women. The actor denied the theft and liquor charges. Mrs. Grace Acord and Marian Morrell are the two women. The case was set for trial November 8. Fox Signs Robert Ames (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Oct. 29.— Robert Ames, who played in Fox's "Nix on Dames," has been signed to a long term contract.