The Film Daily (1937)

DAILY Monday, June 7, 1937 A "JUttU" fW Hdtywood "£rts By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD JUNE 12 is a significant and important date in the promising career of William Lundigan, young Universal actor who came to films after his voice over a Syracuse, N. Y., radio station led to his discovery by a Hollywood director. On this date he won his first tennis championship. Also, on a June 12, he got his first job as a radio announcer. If everything goes on schedule, this June 12 will mark completion of his first leading role as an actor, in the newspaper story, "That's My Story" — and — incidentally, it will also be his birthday. T T T Casting assignments: B. P. Shulberg — Vivienne Osborne, "Everybody's Doing It" . . . Universal — Frank Lackteen, Wheeler Oakman, Max Hoffman, Jr., Adrian Morris, Mickey Rentschler, Pat Gleason, Monte Montague, "Radio Patrol"; RKO — Whitney Bourne, "Flight from Glory"; Lucille Ball, Margaret Early, Andrea Leeds, "Stage Door"; Monogram — Maxine Doyle, "Riders of the Dawn." T T T Anthony Qulnn, who plays a featured role in Paramount's "Last Train from Madrid," directed by James P. Hogan, has just completed the portrait in oils of Stanley WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • Introducing Interesting Personalities: No. 88 • • • WILLIAM (Bill) KEIGHLEY, now under contract to Warner Bros., played 37 roles in his first engagement with the Ben Greet Shakespearean players. Later hit the dramatic "big time" in "Inside the Lines," "Just Suppose," "Crowded Hour," "Romeo and Juliet" with Ethel Barrymore, "Richard III" with John Barrymore. First directorial job was putting on plays as part of a Chautauqua program. At one time, had 15 shows going at once. Did "Easy to Love," "Dr. Monica" and a few others for Warner Bros, and then proved he was a fast "learner" by smashing through with "GMen." Hasn't missed since. His experience staging big plays for Charles Hopkins and Belasco & Curran were fine groundwork. Considered especially fine with players who need guidance. Studious, hard-working. Keen sense of humor. Lives very quietly on his 80-acre valley ranch. Fields, which he started between "takes" on the set. T T T Bud Barsky, Grand National producer, has signed Raymond Schrock to write the screenplay for "Wallaby Jim of the South Seas," which will star George Houston. T T T Howard J. Green has been signed by Samuel Goldwyn to do the screen treatment for "The Goldwyn Follies." He will work with Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, songwriting team who are writing the book for the musical numbers. T T T Because last winter's frosts raised havoc with his tropical fruit orchard, W. P. Lipscomb, prominent scenarist now writing the screenplay for Paramount's "Beau Geste," is converting his Encino ranch into a polo pony breeding farm. Eight Argentine-bred horses have been imported by the playwright as a starter. T T ▼ Walter Wanger has chosen "Carelessly" as the final title of the next Joan Bennett starring vehicle previously known as "Summer Lightning." T T ▼ Our Passing Show: Gregory Ratoff, Jack Oakie, Ned Washington, Lyle Talbot, Lou Pollack, Doris Robbins and Ben Pollack dancing to the music of Phil Harris and his band at the Cocoanut Grove. ▼ T T A hurried trip to New York to see the current Broadway offerings is the plan of Director Irving Cummings immediately following the preview of his recently completed Walter Wanger production, "Vogues of 1938." ▼ ▼ ▼ A. Edward Sutherland has been named as director of Mae West's next starring picture, tentatively titled "Frivolous Sal". Les Peterson of the M-G-M publicity plans a two-months' vacation. He will visit New York and points in Canada before returning to Hollywood. ▼ ▼ ▼ Jerry Cooper, radio favorite, is b«ing "tested" by M-G-M. Two New Industry Firms Receive State Charters Albany — Two new industry companies have been incorporated here. They are: Theater of Tomorrow, Inc., New York City; to conduct theatrical business. J. Daniel Dougherty, Kermit F. Kip, Irene Manzella, incorporators. Codel Theaters, Inc., Brooklyn, to exhibit motion pictures. Louis Goydel, Lillian Goydel, Max Cohen, Hilda Rifkin, Julius L. Pines, David Wolfson, incorporators. "The Monks" In Production "The Monks," a film of monastic life throughout the world, has been placed in production by World Pictures Corp. This film which is scheduled for August release will be directed by George Kraska and supervised by Father Michael J. Ahearn, S. J., of Western College. Conn. Allied To Meet New Haven — Allied Theaters of Connecticut will hold a regular luncheon meeting tomorrow at the Hotel Garde, with Joseph F. Reed presiding. A report of the Milwaukee convention will be given by Abe Fishman. THE WEEK IN REVIEW Deaf Ear for Allied — "Optional Reciprocity" Northwest MPTO Meets Spokane, Wash. — Spring meeting of MPTO of the Northwest will be held today. DOMESTIC (Continued from Page 1) recent Milwaukee convention. Coincidentally, Allied reiterated that it will seek elimination of circuit houses which, in its opinion, are oppressive competitors to indie theaters in small situations, and will also press advocacy of MPTOA disbanding and joining of affiliated houses to its own organization. * * * At mid-week Allied was reported aiming to concentrate its legislative efforts on Congress during 1938, particularly in behalf of the NeelyPettengill bill prohibiting block booking, and the Hobbs resolution ordering an investigation of the film industry. This course appeared logical as only eight states plan regular sessions of their legislatures in 1938, thus curtailing Allied's state drive. * * * Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey on Thursday okayed Roxy Theater reorganization plan under which 20th Century-Fox will acquire the mammoth playhouse at Seventh Ave. and 50th St., while on Tuesday, in Hollywood, it was announced at 20th Century-Fox annual sales convention that company will release next season a total of some 66 features. A program of 100 shorts, .most of them via Educational, will also be distributed during 1937-38. . . . Paramount hit the news headlines with word of its having appointed Andre Olsen as Central European manager of the company . . . and from Paramount's home office, as the week waned, issued word that at organization's sales conclave, getting under way next Thursday at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, 50 to 60 features will be announced for new line-up. . . . That Stuart Doyle, head of Greater Union Theaters, a major Australian circuit, has sold his entire holdings in that company and plans to enter film production in London was made known. . . . Republic stated at sales organization meeting in Hollywood that 30 features, 24 westerns and 4 serials will comprise its 1937-38 schedule. FOREIGN (Continued from Page 1) proximately $40,000 a production and thus avoid the necessity of making quota pictures in Britain. Quota on average American outfit requires it to handle 10 English films per year. John Maxwell, C. M. Woolf, Isidore Ostrer and other top producers made the proposal. The Gaelic League is considering Levinson Gets "Penitentes" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— "The Lash of the Penitentes" was foreclosed and sold by Cinema Inc. to satisfy liens. Mike J. Levinson, pioneer Philadelphia exchangeman and exhibitor, has acquired world rights to the picture in Spanish and English versions. He will roadshow it in key cities and sell state rights to Independent Exchanges. forming a company to produce films in Ireland, said a Dublin dispatch. The Irish Catholic is also sponsoring a move for a native Irish film industry with a capital of $500,000, part of which has already been subscribed. RKO Radio's Panama Exchange has set up a distributing organization for direct releases in Ecuador, with Guayaquil as the main office and Quito the sub-office. Franklin Romero C, formerly of the Panama office, and Cesar Valle S., have been appointed heads of these respective offices. •■*■■• Shanghai cabled word that ce^_ sorship of "The New Earth," Japanese production, at Chinese instigation has brought a protest Jrom Jap theater execs. Chinese complaints were based on contention that certain scenes in the pix were i Japanese-German propaganda. UMM