Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 15, 1930 EXHIBITORS HERALD-WORLD 45 Called Dull Week at RK O Studio if Less Than 2,000 Are Busy Radio Pictures' Lot Has Lumber Mill, Power Stations and "Bank" Employs 100 (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— Talking pictures have increased employment conditions and are proving an important factor in the general prosperity of Los Angeles workers. In the silent picture days, when the Radio Pictures' studio was known as F B O, it was a busy week when 500 people were working. Now, it is considered a dull week when less than 2,000 people find employment, not including stars and featured players. The studio operates its own power stations, plaster and remodeling works, lumber mill, fire and police departments. It is a city within a city, operated on a scale that makes traffic officers necessary. Property Department Like Store The property department of the studio is the counterpart of a four-story, metropolitan department store, as completely stocked as those in any large city. The electrical, paint and plumbing shops on the lot, employing hundreds of men, never suffer a lapse of business. From three to five units are making pictures continuously. The textile industry is well represented, the wardrobe department employing from 65 to 200 tailors, dressmakers and seamstresses. A battery of fifty sewing machines hum all day. 100 Persons Work in "Bank" The cashier's department is the studio's "bank," manned by approximately 100 employes, a staff quite as large as that of a banking institution of any large city. If the studio's business heads, executives, directors and technical men were situated in one building, their offices would require at least a six-story structure, and the door plates would correspond to those of any metropolitan edifice with signs such as "Attorney At Law," "Designer," "Physician," "Surgeon," "Investigator," and other listings identified with the business and professional world. Roach Adding Sequences To Laurel-Hardy Film (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— In an effort to make "Their First Mistake," originally titled "The Rap," starring Laurel and Hardy, louder and funnier, Hal Roach is adding sequences to it before it is finally released for the entertainment of the millions of Laurel and Hardv fans. Neil Hamilton Signed For Lead in Cruze Film (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— Neil Hamilton has been signed by James Cruze Productions, Inc., to play the lead in "The Command Performance," a Cruze product, with Una Merkel. The picture will be directed by Walter Lang. Voight to New York (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— H u b e r t Voight left Tuesday morning by plane for an unplanned trip to New York. Fourth for Joe Brown (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLWOOD, Nov. 13.— Joe E. Brown announced today another (the fourth) arrival. It is a baby daughter. Begin Shooting "Stolen Heaven" At Paramount Eastern Studio George Abbott Directing Nancy Carroll — Many Players in Vitaphone Varieties Considered for Feature Roles — Six More Shorts Coming from Norworths (Special to the Herald-World) NEW YORK, Nov. 13. — After a period of inactivity at the Paramount Eastern studio in Astoria, production has started under way again. Rehearsals for "Stolen Heaven," the Nancy Carroll starring picture, have begun this week, with actual shooting scheduled for today. George Abbott is directing Miss Carroll in the film, which has Phillips Holmes, newly arrived from Hollywood, in the leading male role opposite the star, with whom he played in "The Devil's Holiday." According to an announcement by Jesse L. Lasky, vice president in charge of production for Paramount, Maurice Chevalier and Ernst Lubitsch are to be reunited at the New York studio. The new production, the name and nature of which has not as yet been announced, will go into production about the first of next year. Lubitsch is already in New York, where he has taken over the position of supervising director of the Eastern studios. Chevalier, now in Paris, will reach New York shortly before the Christmas holidays, and immediately set to work on his new role. The French star also is scheduled to make another production in the East following the new one. Carolyn Putnam Returns Carolyn Putnam, fashion creator at Paramount's Astoria plant, has returned to the city following a business trip to Paris. She will choose and design the gowns worn by Miss Carroll in the forthcoming "Stolen Heaven," and then will devote her attention to Claudette Colbert's wardrobe for her next picture, tentatively titled, "Strictly Business." Warner Brothers executives are keeping a close watch on activities at the Brooklyn studio where the Vitaphone Varieties short subjects are produced. Many players, it is said, now appearing in the shorts, are being considered from time to time for feature picture roles. A Finishing School Evelyn Knapp is noted as an example of a star who made her debut before the camera on the short subject set. Others mentioned in the same way are Joe E. Brown, Robert Emmett Keane, Joan Blondell, Noel Madison, Lotti Loder and Don Cook. The Brooklyn studio is in a sense the finishing school for future screen lights. Winnie Lightner received her first training there, and then went on to featured parts in full length productions. Her work in several shorts over a year ago, led executives to give her a contract. The "Naggers" series, in which Mr. and Mrs. Jack Norworth are starred, have proved Urges Actors to Aid Civic Theatre Movement (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13. — Bela Lugosi, lead of "Dracula" for Universal and for years active in civic theatre movements, has written many noted players here urging them to cooperate in the civic theatre movement in Hollywood, believing that this avenue of endeavor may uncover new talent. Lugosi has no official connection with the repertory theatre here, but he is helping out because he realizes what those who are connected with it are up against when it comes to support. so successful among comedies at the studio, that Sam Sax, production manager, and Murray Roth, director in chief, have taken up their option on the two comedy players for six more of these domestic shorts. Fifth of First Series Done They have just completed the fifth of the first series of six one reelers, under the direction of Alf Goulding, entitled "The Naggers Go Rooting." An Austin baby car is used in one of the sequences showing the difficulties of parking at a big football game Charles Lawrence, Broadway comedian who appeared in H. I. Phillips' Vitaphone Varieties number, "The Substitute," has made a new one-reel comedy, entitled "One Way Out" under the direction of Arthur Hurley Lawrence is co-featured with Thelma White in the "Vanities" Others in the cast are Bernard Randall, Jean Gabriel, Frank Kingsley and Gil Squarey. A. D. Otvos wrote the script. Warners Moving Studio To Burbank; Will Open New Quarters on Dec. 1 (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— Warner Brothers is moving to Burbank. By the time the studio opens December 1, all offices, equipment and properties will have been removed from their Sunset boulevard location. What will be done with the old site is not known, but it is reliably reported that real estate values will necessitate a sale. Stage Surprise Wedding (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13— Stealing a march on all but their closest friends, Jimmy Fidler, publicist, and Dorothy Lee, who has been playing with Wheeler and Woolsey in their Radio Pictures releases, fled to San Bernardino last Friday and were married. Dorothy had to be back in Hollywood yesterday to begin work on another Wheeler and Woolsey story for Radio Pictures. Use My Yacht? Sure (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— Leo Meehan's friendship for Al Rogell went to a test the other day — and friendship triumphed. Both are directors. Al asked Leo to use his yacht, "Sandy," for the Tiffany picture "Aloha." Meehan gave him an unqualified "yes." Una Merkel for Cruze Film (Special to the Herald-World) HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 13.— Una Merkel has been signed by Samuel Zierler, president and production executive, to play the leading feminine role in "The Command Performance,'' the James Cruze produtcion now in preparation.