The Film Daily (1935)

18 AYLESWORTH SCOUTS RKO MERGER RUMORS (Continued from Page 1) worth said it did his heart good to come to this year's convention and be able to say that the 1934 convention promises had come true even in more rosy hues than promised— and he glanced at Jock Whitney with a smile as he brought in the color simile. Continuing on color, Aylesworth said he was proud that RKO had been able to sponsor the first perfected Technicolor release. He said he considered Merian C. Cooper, now producing "Last Days of Pompeii' and "She" for RKO, as a leading authority in the use of color, and looks for great things when Cooper assumes his Pioneer Pictures production reins. Aylesworth also said that the time *vas ripe for another Frank Buck picture, which is on the way. He said tribute to Mayor Edward J. Kelly of Chicago as the showmen's friend. Following his talk, Aylesworth returned by plane to New York. Ned E. Depinet, vice-president of RKO Distributing Corp., also lauded Mayor Kelly as one of the greatest friends of show business in the history of this city. The Mayor in his talk said motion pictures are the sound-board of the entire U. S. He received tremendous applause. Depinet told of the 42 stars and features players who are to appear in the new lineup of RKO pictures. Among these are Katharine Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers Lily Pons, Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Richard Dix, James Barton, Ann Harding, Irene Dunne, Willim Powell, Gene Raymond, Charles Boyer, Barbara Stanwyck, Anne Shirley, Lionel Barrymore, Margot Grahame, Buddy Rogers, James Gleason, Helen Mack, and others. John Hay Whitney, president of Pioneer Pictures, and Rouben Mamoulian, director of "Becky Sharp", produced by Pioneer, arrived yesterday and met the Chicago pre-s for a breakfast chat on color pictures. Guests included Carol Frink of the "Herald-Examiner", Clark Rodenbach of the Daily "News", Doris Arden of the "Times". Rob Reel of the Evening "American", Levy Welcomes Newcomers Chicago — Commending the fine sales activities of his organization during the past year, Jules Levy, vice-president and general sales manager of RKO Distributing, yesterday welcomed the various newcomers of the sales staff to the opening meeting of the 1935-36 sales convention. He welcomed from the dais the following salesmen who h^ve joined the organization during the ye-r; Cleve Adams, Pittsburgh; H. W. Boehme. Seattle; L. S. Gruenberg. Minneapolis P Harrison, Jacksonville; H W Landstrom. Salt Lake City; H. B. Lovelace, Salt Lake City; J. Meyers, Winnipeg; and C. R Westbrook. Pittsburgh. WF THE 'JZ0»i DAILY Tuesday, June 18,1935 » » RKO Convention Chatter « « f^HICAGO — A three-in-one threat is S. Barret McCormick, director of advertising and publicity for RKO Radio. Barret was a long time exhibitor, a some time producer and a present time publicity and advertising executive. Rutgers Neilson has been in there swinging with the Underwood using the touch and scoop systems. It's the second recent personal appearance for Barret McCormick. Just a few weeks ago Barret was guest "star" at the Circle, Indianapolis. It was the first RKO convention for Howard S. Benedict, the studio's director of publicity. It will be "Eastward Ho" for J. R. McDonough, B. B. Kahane and Howard S. Benedict following the last day's session. These studio executives will hold conferences in New York before returning to the coast. Irving Berlin, who wrote the songs for RKO Radio's forthcoming "Top Hat", becomes a confirmed motion picture addict as he attends his first film sales convention. Now Irving can write a number on how to sell them! Harry Gittleson with his snapshot man, Joe Heppner of Metropolitan, is going great in posing ideas for the "Flash." Harry had Augie Schubart picking daisies in a lobby vase. Phil Reisman, trying hard to be a good host to his foreign delegation, took them up to see their first baseball game . . . the Yankees and the White Sox hardly got into action before down came the rain . . . and *he boys got drenched and didn't express any too much fondness for baseball. Rouben Mamoulian, director of Pioneer's "Becky Sharp," the little nine-reel gal in true-color, came in on the Century, dropped into the convention hall, enlightened the boys on color, late-breakfasted with the press and wended westward for bigger and better pictures in color. The conventionites are hoping that Lily Pons due to drop in between trains on Wednesday will not be out of breath from the dash from La Salle street station to the Drake. They would like to hear Lily sing. Chicago's dance orchestras are going strong on "Roberta" tunes. The RKOkays at the Royalle Frolics joined lustily in the beauty who sang that Irene Dunne hit, "Lovely to Look At." Don Hancock of Van Beuren's staff took the air route to the Windy City and promises not to use an Iron Horse any more. The gang kinda missed big, jovial Frank Buck this convention but advance reports on what Frank has in his new picture had a cheering effect. Jack Connolly went right into action as he stepped off the Century and had a Pathe News man panoram the foreign delegation taking their first Chicago steps. The welcoming quartette, Gittleson, Schubart, Poller and Neilson went in for linament after gladhanding the 275 delegates. Of all the RKO foreign delegates, Reginald Armour alone will hold the record of having circled the globe during his convention trip. He came from India to New York by way of the Suez Canal, Italy and London, and will return by way of the Pacific Coast. There was talent galore in the sales delegates from the studio, only five strong, but how strong! They are: J. R. McDonough, B. B. Ka William R. Weaver of Quigley Publications, Hazel Green of "Film Daily," Nat Green of The "Billboard" and others. Whitney left on the afternoon train for New York, while Mamoulian caught the Chief for Hollywood. Mamoulian, speaking at the convention, said color would not bring about as revolutionary changes as sound. He declared color is of secondary value and the play is still the thing. Com-tland Smith, president of Pathe News, addressed the convention on achievements and scoops by the Pathe reel, which celebrates its ?5th anniversary this year. Jack Connolly, general manager of Pathe News, told of the coming season's plans for the News, as well as of Pathe Topics, successor to Pathe Review. There will be seven Pathe Topics releases through RKO next season, Connolly said. Today's key addresses will be made by J. R. McDonough, president of RKO Radio Pictures, who will tell the latest news from the studio, and Ned E. Depinet, who will announce the new season's lineup of features and shorts. John R. Martin will discuss "March of Time." Don Hancock, Van Beuren production supervisor, will discuss the shorts to be made by that unit. Program also includes addresses by Robert F. Sisk, S. Barret McCormick, Howard S. Benedict, Lou Gaurlreau, Leon J. Bamberger and Harry Gittleson. Jules Levy will preside. NO GOVT PROBE ON J OTHER THAN ASCOT Despite reports to the contrary, the only investigation being currently handled by the Department of Justice is the action against the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers, it was stated at headquarters yesterday. In this case, it was said, number of exhibitors are contacting the department with complaints against Ascap. It is considered likely that the Dept. of Justice will examine the Code Authority's record of industry grievances which are now being assembled at the code offices in the RKO building, preliminray to putting them in storage. Nearly all records from local board offices had been received yesterday. hane, Bob Sisk, Howard S. Benedict and Irving Berlin. Branch Manager Roy E. Churchill, Indianapolis, is one boy who likes to talk and does a good job of it. "Pudgy" Brentlinger, Indianapolis, calls a poor deal a — (naughtynaughty name). "Harvard, class of '13" — that's a rating for Frank Ross, Boston, lifelong resident of Ipswich, Mass., famous clamtown. Carl DeVizia, state of Maine salesman for Boston territory, smokes between smokes ■ — a pipe, then a cigar, and vice versa. Probably the veteran of veterans for the branches is Ross Cropper, dean of Boston office for Pathe and then RKO for years and years. Ross Cropper and his beantown brigade were observed looking over 'he Cape Cod Room at the Drake. Oscar Hanson, Omaha's author ty on cattle (he owns five head) is eported to have been inquiring about the location of the stockyards. Elmer (Dutch Boy) Huhnks of Omaha has been on the road so much since his marriage last December 'hat he has seen his bride only a few times. Introductions are in order. Lou Miller missed his before breakfast round of golf. Lou likes to play early when he can be out with the birdies. Sunday's rainy downpour dampened the RKO golfers plenty. Especially those hole-in-hundred men Eddie McEvoy and Harry Michaelson. "Top Hat" RKO Lead-Off Chicago — "Top Hat," new Fred As-| taire-Ginger Rogers musical, with words" and music by Irving Berlin, will be the first of RKO's 1935-36 releases, it was stated by Jules Levy, sales manager, on his arrival for the convention. Labor Day week is set as the release date.