Exhibitors Herald World (Jan-Mar 1930)

March I, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 37 Pathe Cameras Start Grinding On Short Features on Coast Jones and Lesser Plan 16 Westerns — O'Brien in First of 11 Outdoors — Another "Lone Wolf" at Columbia — Darmour Busy— Universal Maps 1930-1931 Films (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 25. — Pathe's newly organized comedy department at Culver City began operations this week. "Hearts and Hoofs," a two reeler, and "Pick 'em Young" are filming. The department will operate as an independent unit under the direction of John C. Flinn. Sol Lesser and Buck Jones will film 16 department at Fox. Buddy Erickson will westerns under a two-year contract. "The Man from Hell's River" by James Oliver Curwood will begin April 1. They will be produced at Tec-Art. George O'Brien will star in "The Last of the Duanes" as the first film under a $3,000,000 budget voted for the Outdoor Romance direct. ''Lone Wolf" Harry Cohn has had a great deal of success with the "Lone Wolf" stories and believes that "The Lone Wolf Returns" will prove highly successful at the box office. J. G. Hawks is writing dialog, continuity and treatment. Production in East Confined Practically To Two Companies By DOUGLAS FOX NEW YORK, Feb. 25.— With Pathe comedy making definitely switched to the Coast and production at Fort Lee desultory to say the least, activity at the Eastern studios is practically confined to the Vitaphone plant in Flatbush and the Paramount studio in Astoria. Murray Roth and Edmund Joseph each produced a pair of Vitaphone Varieties last week. Roth directed Codec and Orth in a farce called "Taking Ways," and Oscar Grogan, Peggy and Polly Page in a dance novelty, "Footnotes." Edmund Joseph turned out "A Russian Rhapsody" with Kuznetzof¥ and Nicolina, and "The No Account" with Russell Hardie, of "The Criminal Code," Josephine Hutchson of the Civic Repertory, and William Foran. Paramount has just about washed up on "Young Man of Manhattan" and is half way through "Dangerous Nan McGrew." Production on "Queen High" is scheduled to begin in two weeks although to date Ginger Rogers is the only player to be assigned a part. The Chevalier picture, "Too Much Luck" is next on the program and will be followed by "The Sap from Syracuse." 17 Cameras Turned on Cat When He Visits Metro Lot (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 25.— Calvin Coolidge and Mrs. Coolidge had lunch with Joseph Schenck Wednesday and then went to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to pay their respects to Louis B. Mayer. M G M set 17 cameras up with sound equipment to shoot the ex-president. Andrews Weary of Eating Regularly, Quits U Job (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 25.— Dell Andrews got tired of his $1,000 paycheck last week and quit his job as chief cutter at Universal. He has been there four months. He gained 25 pounds since he went to work. Velez Succeeds LaPlante (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 25.— Lupe Velez was chosen for the role given up by Laura LaPlante in "The Storm." Laura LaPlante walked off the Universal location set Thursday and refused to finish the picture. Carl Laemmle, Jr., immediately signed Velez on five-year contract and sent her to work today. Planning a Comeback? (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 25.— Mary Miles Minter is in Santa Barbara trying to reduce. She is visiting the renowned Dr. W. D. Sansum's sanitarium where many stars have gone to take off the fat. Di-a-log HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 25.— There's an agency here that sells telephone numbers of stars for varying amounts. Addresses go for a nickel. The numbers are confidential and are difficult for fans and tourists to obtain. The chief consumer who deals with the agency is the lightning rod salesman or the real estate agent. AAA John Gilbert's number took a drop last week. It had been selling for 40 cents and went down to IS. Lawrence Tibbett's soared from ten to IS. Rin-Tin-Tin doesn't bring a cent. AAA TihbetVs singing teacher two weeks ago ran an ad in the newspapers claiming to be FELIX HUGHES WHO TAVGHT TIBBETT. The singing maestro since has tripled his enrollment and has quadrupled his weekly income. He is turning them away, AAA Newsreel men framed a gag for Mary Pickford when she arrived from Europe. They told her to turn to Doug and ask: "Did you stop the milk before we left home, Dear?" The cameras started recording and Pickford took it big; then turned to Doug. But he got stage fright, stammered and turned red. He couldn't ad lib so the cameras stopped while the boys told him what to say. Laura LaPlante walked out last week. She left Willie Wyler on a limb on location with '*The Storm" company. The 8tar pleaded a bum throat and an incompatible director. Herbert Brenon's new contract was signed with R K O before the front office screened "Sergeant Grischa." Brenon is very happy about the deal. AAA Tom Buckingham, handsomest scenario writer, is usually mistaken for a screen star. AAA I'm on a reducing diet and Ike St. John hopes it'll cut down his lunch expense. It won't though. I'm skipping dinner instead of lunch because I dine on my own time. DOUG HODGES John Ford Director John Ford has started filming on "Born Reckless" at Fox. The cast consists of Edmund Lowe, Catherine Dale Owen, Eddie Gribbon, Marguerite Churchill, Lee Tracy, Ben Bard, Paul Page, Frank Albertson and William Harrigan. Ball with Swanson Russell Ball, Hollywood's high salaried portrait artist, is making publicity and picture stills for "What a Widow." Gloria Swanson hired him for the film which is now in rehearsals at Pathe. Alan Dwan is directing. U's New Films Executives from New York are outlining the coming year's program for Universal. Stars and directors are placed and story material being selected. Dunn with Darmour Josephine Dunn has the lead in one of three comedies now filming at Darmour's. "Second Honeymoon" is the title and Phil Rosen is directing. "Mickey's Luck" and "Land of the Sky Blue Daughters" are the other two. Ruth Roland A cast is now being assembled for Ruth Roland's first talking film at Sono-Art. "Reno" by Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., is the story. Charlie King has been loaned to Warner Brothers for the lead in "See Naples and Die." Irene Delroy is opposite. It is the first time that King has been lent. Belle Bennett will be in John Adolfi's next for Warner's. She replaces Pauline Frederick. Nils Asther's Publix Circuit tour will start in Chicago March 7 instead of February 22 as planned. Al Santell is directing "Arizona Kid" in a deserted mining town of Rockville, Utah. The film company forms a population of 215. Words comes that a mayor has been elected and a chief of police and other officials are already functioning. Fox rebuilt the town. Lila Lee has completed "The Kick Back" for Fox. Al Werker directed.