The Film Daily (1938)

Tuesday, October 4, 1938 IDE DAILY A "mil" from Hollywood "UU i* By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD To Pen Americanized Lyrics A .^N" RONELL, noted composer ^_md lyricist, who wrote the lyrics for "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,' "Bahy's Birthday Party," "Willow Weep for Me" and many other compositions, has been engaged by Universal Studios to write the Americanized lyrics for the two classical numbers which Deanna Durbin sings in "That Certain Age." The numbers are "Arietta No. 3" from Gounod's opera, "Romeo and Juliet," and Leo Delibes', "Les Filles de Cadix," which will be published with the Americanized lyrics by G. Schirmer & Sons, Inc., New York City. T T T Peggy Moran With Autry Peggy Moran is playing the feminine lead opposite Gene Autry in "Rodeo Busters" which is being directed by George Sherman, for Republic. ▼ T ▼ Peggy Ryan To Entertain Peggy Ryan, 14-year-old dancing star, who appeared in "Top Of the Town," will be the chief attraction WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • Introducing Interesting Personalities: No. 197 • • • LJERMAN SCHLOM. Republic producer. Is a native of Cleveland, 0., and attended schools in that city. Made his first appearance in Hollywood when he joined the Universal leasing department. Became assistant director to Tod Browning, Monta Bell, John Stahl and others. Rejoined leasing department and took charge of it. In 1934, joined Monogram as production manager and worked on 27 pictures for that company. Later he joined Republic as production manager, and in 1936 became associate producer at Republic. Has made seven pictures for Republic. at the entertainment to be given by the San Diego Tail-Waggers club Nov. 12. T T T From Weber to Webb Dave Weber, the comedian, has had his name changed to Danny Webb, and is playing the comedy lead in a series of 12 comedy shorts at Columbia. ▼ T T Rogell to Crime Club Al Rogell has been signed by Izwing Starr of Crime Club Productions of Universal to direct "The Dead Don't Care," Jonathan La timer's original story with screenplay by Edmund L. Hartmann. It goes into production about Oct. 10. Preston Foster and Frank Jenks have already been assigned the chief male leading roles. ▼ T T Metro Adds to Casts Cast additions at the Metro studios are Reginald Owen for "Sweethearts"; Granville Bates for "Young Dr. Kildare"; Melville Cooper for "Dramatic School"; and Gene and Kathleen Lockhart to play Mr. and Mrs. Bob Cratchit in "A Christmas Carol." * T » Monkey Plays with Ruggles "Schlemiel," Charlie Ruggles' pet monkey, will be seen with the star for the first time on the screen in "Adam's Evening," which is now being filmed at the Universal studios. Ruggles has the monkey insured for $2000. T T ▼ Hornblow Signs Mexican Arthur Hornblow, Jr., now vacationing in the interior of Mexico, has wired his office that he had signed Senora Alvarez, the native singing favorite, for "Drums Over Havana," one of his forthcoming Paramount productions. Republic Closes Pix Deal With W.-B.'s Coast Houses Republic has closed a deal with Warner Bros. West Coast houses for the company's complete program of features, westerns and serials. Deal calls for the playing of the product in the circuit's houses in San Bernadino, Santa Barbara, San Pedro, Fresno, Huntington Park and Beverly Hills, all in California; and in Salem, Aberdeen and Hoquian, in Oregon. James R. Grainger, Grover C. Parsons and Francis Bateman represented Republic in the negotiations, and Lou Halper and Port Major represented Warner Bros. It was also announced that Republic had closed a deal with the Frisina Circuit of 20 houses in the St. Louis territory. F. D. Richey Rites Held Detroit — Floyd D. Richey, 49, manager of the Ambassador Theater for the Sam Brown Circuit, died suddenly in Detroit Osteopathic Hospital. He is survived by two sisters and a brother. Burial took place yesterday in Bay City, following services in Detroit. Tele's Big Problem Montreal — Television's biggest problem, from the technical standpoint, is the task of bringing telecast images up to suitable size, according to Dr. Frank Baldwin Jewitt, director of research in charge of Bell Telephone labs. John Browne Setting Dates For First M-B Productions Release dates for the first two pictures made by Equity Pictures, Inc., for Malcolm Browne distribution will be set this week in Hollywood conferences between Benny Zeidman, production chief, and John E. Browne, president of Malcolm Browne. "Prison Train" and "The Masked Phantom" have been completed and a third picture, "The Great Diamond Scandal" is now in production. Browne left for the Coast last week-end. In addition to production conferences he is expected to complete negotiations for distribution franchises on the West Coast. A system of 13 exchanges already has been established, with other deals pending. Berlin Hears Germany to Ask U. S. Trade Pact Berlin (By Cable) — Germany will press for a trade treaty with the U. S. at an early date, it is authoritatively reported here. Films, it is understood, will be included in the scope of the Nazi proposals, if and when made. Cagney Pact Runs 2 Years West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Burbank — James Cagney's current contract will keep him with Warners for two more years, despite reports that his present deal only covers his next production, "Oklahoma Kid," which starts shooting on Thursday. After "Oklahoma Kid," Cagney will star in "Each Dawn I Die," based upon the Jerome Odium best-seller. Herb. Ochs Under Knife Cleveland — Hex-bert Ochs, Vitagraph branch manager, was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital and operated on for removal of a stone in the kidney. Garyn Gets T-M Rights Pat Garyn, formerly general manager of National Screen Service Corp., has purchased a 10-year franchise for Trailer-Made product for Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Garyn is opening offices in Dallas at 302% So. Harwood St. and is starting local service in operation within the next two weeks. Scott In 6 for Spectrum Fred Scott will make six musical westerns for Spectrum Pictures, it is announced by Fred Bellin, supervisor of distribution for Spectrum. First will be "Code of the Fearless." Joe Hennegan Dead Cincinnati — Joe Hennegan, former motion picture operator in Cincinnati, and a character actor, died at his home here. Pioneer Exhib. Passes Manchester, N. H. — Ned W. Flanders, 71, who opened the first motion picture theater in this city, is dead. National Screen Issuing New Movie Quiz Trailers National Screen Service is releasing a new special trailer which can be attached to all pre-vues of Movie Quiz pictures. The combination announces on the same frame the day or days the picture is to be shown, a replica of the Movie Quiz seal, the fact that the picture is of the Quiz group and the industry slogan, "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment." The trailer has been designed to save time on the average program. Rosenbaum Heads GB's Branch In Cleveland Cleveland — George Rosenbaum has been named local GB branch manager relieving "Reg" Wilson of the duties he took over temporarily. Rosenbaum was formerly GB branch manager in Buffalo, where he was succeeded by Leo Murphy, recent Warner Brothers salesman. The Missus9 Threat Lincoln, Neb. — Because Bob Livingston, owner and manager of the Capitol here, spends so much time at the theater his wife has threatened to have the lobby floored in glass when he died and have him "buried" there so he could watch the business go by. Livingston balked because he was afraid business might be bad and he'd turn over in his grave.