Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

16 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD May 24, 1930 ( Continued from page 13) title of only one is announced at this time. This is “Remote Control,” based on the Broadway comedy melodrama of the same name. Norma Shearer will be seen in at least two productions next season, but these stories have not vet been definitely selected. Miss Shearer has been one of the most successful actresses to make the transition from silent to talking pictures, such dialog films as “The Last of Airs. Cheyney” and “The Divorcee” proving the most popular vehicles of her screen career. ▲ Joan Crawford’s first starring film of the new season will be “Great Day,” based on Vincent Youman’s stage production of the same name, a story of Louisiana, with musical score by Youmans. “Her Fortune” a story by James Montgomery, Miss Crawford’s second announced vehicle, deals with a telephone operator who wins a small fortune on a lottery ticket and goes to Florida. Two other vehicles for Miss Crawford will be announced later. Lawrence Tibbett's second starring film for next year has not been determined, but “New Moon” will be his first picture. This is an adaptation of the popular stage musical of the same name and will be directed by Jack Conway, using the original musical score by Sigmund Romberg. Tibbett came from the Metropolitan Opera stage to appear in “The Rogue Song,” and the noted baritone is now under long-term contract to the film company. The first of four Cosmopolitan productions for the coming year will be Grace Moore’s “Jenny Lind.” This is an original screen story suggested by the glamorous career of the “Swedish Nightingale,” and will provide Miss Moore with the role she was most eager to do when she first discussed the possibility of temporarily giving up her stage engagements to devote her time to screen work. There will be three other Cosmopolitan productions. A Other talking pictures announced by MetroGoldwvn-Mayer for the coming season include the following properties : “Madame Satan,” an adventurous romance with a musical background directed by Cecil B. De Mille and featuring Kay Johnson and Reginald Denny ; “Razzle-Dazzle,” a co-starring comedy for Marie Dressier and Polly Moran, who are now provoking considerable laughter among theatre audiences by their new release, “Caught Short,” which has elevated the team to stardom ; “Billy the Kid,” a colorful picturization of the career of the famous Western boy bandit, directed by King Vidor, with John Alack Brown in the title role; A “Trader Horn,” directed by W. S. VanDyke from the Trader’s book, with outdoor sequences made in Africa by a company which spent six months abroad; “The World’s Illusion,” Jacob Wassermann’s international literary success of the same name ; “Dixie,” a story of the old South; “War Nurse,” based on a true story of a woman’s side of the World War; “Ballyhoo,” Beth Brown’s best-selling novel, with a background of circus adventure; “Dance, Fools, Dance,” an adaptation of Martin Flavin’s stage play, “Cross Roads” ; “The Great Meadow,” Elizabeth Madox Roberts’ popular story of the days of Daniel Boone and the Kentucky pioneers ; “Doing That Thing,” a musical comedy with lyrics and music by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields, who provided the score for “Blackbirds” ; “Tampico,” a transcription of Joseph Hergesheimer’s story of the Mexican oil fields; A “The March of Time,” a revue presenting such old-time favorites as Weber and Fields, DeWolf Hopper, Trixie Friganza, Marie Dressier, and Josephine Sabel, with a host of younger stars and novelty skits ; “The Crisis,” Winston Churchill’s famous novel of Civil War days; “The Passion Flower,” Kathleen Norris’ best-seller ; A “Monsieur Le Fox,” a story of the Northwest Mounted by Willard Mack, directed by Hal Roach ; “The Dark Star,” Lorna Moon’s story of mother love, with Marie Dressier in the central role ; “These Three French Girls,” a comedy of Parisian adventure. Jimmy Hanlon is carrying on a little bit differently than he' did at the Convention last year. A year ago he had just been married and every time a meeting ended he made a bee-line for the long-distance telephone and put in a call for the missus. Times evidently hez changed, for these days when it’s all over, Atlanta Jimmy merely saunters out of the room. A "The most popular exchange manager I've ever known ’ is what one of the Buffalo lads said of Ted O'Shea. Which isn’t a s.nall sized compliment by a long shot. A Em Booth spent all of Sunday and some of Monday showing off brother Harry , of Cleveland, to the folks. “The tie that binds ’ must be a pretty strong one in this instance. The Cincinnati manager’s pride while putting on the act — wasn t difficult to spot. It looked strange to see Trunk Hensler sitting under a Kansas City banner. Similarly, linking the name of Shumow to an exchange other than Milwaukee didn’t sound right. . . . Nevertheless, we didn t allow ourselves for long to forget that Frank is now managing the Kansas City office — and that Harry Shumow is the new manager at Omaha. A Billy Scully’s laugh is almost as good as the one owned by a famous competitive star. If Bill ever goes astray as a branch manager the “talkies” may offer him a new opportunity; providing, of course, he retains his youthful vigor. A Harry Worden’s stories get better from one year to another. If you’re in the mood for a new one — and a good one to boot — nail Boston Harry and put it up to him. A This is as good a time as any to break the news to the world. They finally got John Allen. The Cincinnati “ Legionnaire ” was married only a few weeks ago. A Now we know why they call him “Whitey” Wagner. That thatch of the Indianapolis lad lit up the entire Convention hall. A One look at Clat Clatworthy of Minneapolis and we thought he was an old Keystone Comedy heavy. A squint at his badge and we were wised up to the truth. A Ralph Pi clow, Albany’s fast moving manager, is all hopped up over his present stav in Chicago — and the Convention isn’t the reason. Ralph’s young son attends school in the Windy City, and once he gets close to his young man it’s a pretty tough proposition to tear him away All in all. what with sitting in on a great get-together, saying hello to his M G M buddies, and looking Junior over, again, these days are mighty pleasant ones for the Albany leader. Jake Milstcin looked as if he had dropped a couple of pounds somewhere — and when questioned — admitted that a cold had laid him flat on his back all the way in from Los Angeles. ... In contrast was Irving Carlin. The complexion of the Los Angeles “mitt-me-kid” had the appearance of being able to do justice to a baby food ad. A Bob Lynch stole the thunder of the men who posed for the photographer during the stop-off at Albany. Bob handed the crowd a laugh when he strode into the picture decked out in a motorman’s lid he had dug up somewhere along the route. A Rudy Berger and his Washington gang raced into the Grand Central Station half starved and scared stiff that they’d have to ride half the way to Chicago without getting something to eat. The diner aboard the train took a load off their minds and put it into their stomachs. After that the boys were in a swell frame of mind for the Convention. A It is reported by those who sat up until 2 a. m. Sunday that Sam Burger has lost much of his prestige as a player of poker. A The quietest corner on the convention special was the one where Schiller, Dietz, Connors and Seadler played a game called bridge. We hear ’twas a real corner — for Dietz. “I predict at your convention next year,” said Mr. Schiller, “that the short feature will play just as important a part as the feature.” A Alan Cummings, Eddie Aaron and Bill Marsh organized a pool down at the Jai-Alai games and walked off fifteen bucks and twenty cents to the good. They expressed the hope that all the other fellows who watched the fancy handball games were just as fortunate. A That smile of Jimmy Hommel’s is a credit to the organization. When the Denver manager beams it simply warms a fellow up. A Hal Roach says the newest Laurel-Hardy comedy, “Haywire,” is the best these rib-ticklers have made. A A beaut — that Convention room — isn’t it? A great race — the Scotch — no? A world-beater this fellow Bill Ferguson — yes? Just call him Fergy. A Said Mr. ScMller: “I don’t think I could interest myself in distribution. It’s too tough.” A Henry Nathanson. Regal chief, shot the eighteen hole Tom Thumb golf course iust across the way from the hotel — in fifty-three. Henry claims it broke all existing records. “Cy” Bridges copped the honors for being the lankiest man in the house. The boy from New Orleans had it over the rest of the men with inches to spare. A The Pittsburgh crew had a great time with Sam hub ell. R. B. G. (add a couple of your own while you’re at it) Houghton grabbed himself a couple of postcards that were being handed out gratis and then by dint of high powered salesmanship sold them to Sam for a dime. After that they tried to rook their Pittsburgh pal for everything except the Wrigley Building. A Clarence Severson, Ed Mix, Ernie Gibson and Maurice Saffle, the Mormon lads from Salt Lake City, got a great kick out of sizing up their M G M brethren from other parts of the country. A The boys from Chicago town are crying their hearts out that their better halves have to be so close by during Convention time. Truly a tough, tough break. A Now that Jack Shumow, sole surviving Shumow at Milwaukee, is no longer subject to the influence of brother Harry, he seems to have become somewhat conservative in his selection of shirts. My how that boy used to pick them — back in the old days. A John Willingham finally got the opportunity to let loose that famous Memphis yahoo of his when his name was reached on the Legion of Honor roll. His classic yodel made everyone look up. A That wardrobe of Tom Connors’ might well stack up against that of a prima donna. Tom sat in on a bridge game sporting a pair of gayly shaded knickers and Colonel Ed Schiller, who happened to be his partner, suggested that Tom’s purpose was to be better able to follow through on his finesses. A Sunday night the boys attended Howard Dietz* “Little Show” at the Woods. “I like your Fred Quimbys,” remarked one of “The Little Show” boys to a chorus gal. The young lady flushed up (even chorines do — at times) and flashed out a (“what do you mean”?). “Simply that your Shorts intrigue me” was the calm response. A Eddie Aaron has his heart set upon finding out just what happens to all those good cigars which should be there after the box makes the rounds. A Clyde Cheek and Burt Bishop from away down Charlotte, North Carolina, saw New York for the first time on the way in to Chicago. Thev spent the few hours’ leave before train time looking at the tall buildings and when it was all over they complained of, as they put it, “a case of sunburned tonsils.”