The Film Daily (1929)

THE ■Stk DAILY Tuesday, July 9, 1929 NATIONALIZATION PLAN OF COLUMBIA COMPLETED {.Continued, from Page 1) branches without interruption. "Our entrance into the field as a national organization brings to a successful conclusion the ambitious plans which we started only a few years ago, when we acquired our first exchange, Cohn declared. "Every weak link in the chain of distribution has been eliminated. Responsible offices have been established in all the important key cities of the country. "The past year has also seen Columbia assemble a formidable executive machine that represents one of the most closely knit and efficient sales organizations in the industry, and counts in its ranks some of the most outstanding names in the distribution field. The line-up includes Joe Goldberg, general sales manager; Cecil E. Maberry, midwest district sales manager; Richard V. Anderson, southern district sales manager and L. E. Tillman, newly appointed west coast district sales manager. Among the recent additions are Sam Galanty, Washington manager; Robert J. Ingram, Charlotte manager and J. J. Rogers, Memphis manager. Columbia Close-Ups WHAT was flatteringly called music played by an alleged band awoke the Columbia convention tourists when their special hauled into Omaha. The band had been hired by the delegation composed of Charles Gregory, L. C. Durham, Ben Marcus, Minneapolis Branch Manager; Barney Rosenthal, St. Louis Manager; and Ralph Peckham, Des Moines Manager. * * # Gregory solemnly assured the boys that the cost of the band was only $15 and a bottle of liquid that looked like water but wasn't. At that the band was vastly overpaid. The money would have been sufficient, even though the four members of the musical aggregation had driven 110 miles, from Creighton, Neb., for the occasion. * * * A cloudburst during the night flooded the Nebraska plains, but the band looked — and played even wetter. Barney Rosenthal burst into tears when he heard one tune. "I can't help crying whenever I hear 'Swanee River' " he sobbed. Inquiry revealed that the band was playing "How Dry I Am." * * # Ben Marcus, determined to show these big city slickers from the East that they couldn't teach him anything about clothes, burst upon the party wearing a poisonous purple suit and a vicious red tie. It ruined the effect of W einshenker' s trick plus-fours completely. * * # Some of the boys commenced to scan the horizon anxiously, puzzled because the Rockies didn't commence to loom up in the vicinity of Omaha. "Are you sure we haven't missed those mountains somehow?" inquired Louisville Lee Goldberg. * * * Louis (New York) Weinberg continues to retain his dining car championship. The extra stops made by the convention special have been solely due to the necessity of restocking the larger. Lou can't get his fill vf looking at the fields of wheat and the cattle in the pastures. "Thank God this country can't ever run short of food," says he. * * * Playing bridge and kibitzing were the principal forms of recreation Ralph (Des Moines) Peckham, after watching a few games returned from the field murmuring, "Well, they're good film salesmen, anyhow !" Jack Bellman, New York, was introduced to a gentleman known as Mickey Finn. When not otherwise occupied, Jack is looking for the Columbiana who did the introducing. * * * Jack Cohn is the happiest member of the Columbia party. Ten years ago, in company with his brother, Harry Cohn, and Joe Brandt he started what was the nucleus of the present Columbia organization. Today sees the full fruition of the dreams which inspired this trio during all these years. Not even being routed out of his sleep by the Nebraska musicians could dampen his good humour. Hollywood Happenings F. N. and Warner Stars for "Show of Shows" Warners intend to line up every star in both the First National and Warner studios for parts in "Show of Shows" which will be made under the personal direction of J. L. Warner, assisted by Darryl Zanuck. Already assigned definite roles in the cast are: John Barrymore, George Arliss, Beatrice Lillie, Irene Bordoni, Jack Buchanan, Winnie Lightner and Frank Fay who will act as master of ceremonies. Revnes Resigns as Pathe Special Dialogue Advisor Maurice Revnes, who joined Pathe several months ago to act in a special advisory capacity on dialogue, has resigned. Stanley Smith Assigned Stanley Smith, a former leading man of the Broadway stage, has been signed by Paramount to play opposite Nancy Carroll in "Sweetie," the musical film based upon a story by George Marion, Jr. The cast now includes, in addition to Miss Carroll and Smith, Helen Kane, Jack Oakie, Frank Ross, Joseph Depew and William Austin. Frank Tuttle will direct. Cummings for "Cameo Kirby" Irving Cummings, who directed "Behind That Curtain," has been chosen to direct "Cameo Kirby" from the play by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson. It is a story of the early days of the gamblers on the Mississippi steamboats. Universal Signs Maxwell Anderson Maxwell Anderson, co-author of "What Price Glory?" has been signed by Universal to adopt "All Quiet on the Western Front" and prepare the screen dialogue. Josephine Dunn in "Big Time" Josephine Dunn has been assigned to the role of "Gloria" in "Big Time," the taking and singing picture of vaudeville life being made by Fox. Joe Goldberg, newly appointed general sales manager, is the hardest working member of the convention tourists. Joe has been wrapped up in polishing off the final details of the convention. It is his first in a capacity as chief sales executive and he means to make it a humdinger. • • • If Maurice White is observed going in a sock-less condition, it isn't because he is collegiate. Instead, it's because his baggage went astray. However, the co-operative spirit being strong in the Columbia contingent, Peebles of Dallas shared his toothbrush with him. • • • Jack Sharkey, having bought a lunch for a not-so-young Nebraska miss, was later observed trying to squeeze it out of her with a left wrm Pittsburgh strangle hold, out on the observation platform. • * * Alex Moss, Columbia veteran, is holding the fort at the New York office, while the sales gang is at Hollywood. A Little from a Lots yy By RALPH WILK JAMES GRUEN is busy at RKO, where he is writing the adaptation, continuity and dialogue for "Night Parade," from the play, "Ringside." He also wrote the adaptation, dialogue and continuity for "The Girl in the Glass Cage" and "Hard to Get," at First National. Charley Einfeld, First National's publicity and advertising director, is very enthusiastic about the Coast, but will have to return to the East in a few weeks. * * * Our Passing Show: Henry King, Howard Hughes, Joe Engel, Carl Harbaugh, Kenneth McKenna at "Cherchez La Fenvme," starring Blanche Sweet; J. Boyce Smith introducing the "She Goes to War" company at the Breakfast Club. * * * Max Ree is designing the sets and costumes for "Rio Rita," at RKO. He also designed the sets and costumes for "Street Angel" and other RKO productions. Preparing Jessel Film Work will begin shortly on "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" the talking and singing picture which will star George Jessel for Fox. W. K. Howard has been appointed director of the story which was prepared by Le Roy Clemons, John B. Hymer and Dana Burnet. Pathe Signs German Writer Leo Birinski, German writer, has been signed by Pathe to write original stories and dialogue. Birinski wrote "Variety," "The Tragedy of Love," starring Emil Jannings and "Three Wax Works," starring Jannings and Conrad Veidt, and other films. Florence Arliss in "Disraeli" Mrs. George Arliss will play opposite her husband in his next Vitaphone vehicle for Warners, "Disraeli." Mrs. Arliss is professionally known as Florence Arliss. Alfred E. Green will direct. Others in the cast include: Joan Bennett, David Torrence, David Tearle anad Ivan Simpson. Cast in Bow Film Jean Arthur has been cast in "The Saturday Night Kid," starring Clara Bow, soon to go into production at the Paramount studios in Hollywood under the direction of Richard Wallace. TRANSTONE SCREEN FOR ALL WIRED LOEW HOUSES Transtone, sound picture screen manufactured by the Raven Screen Corp., New York, will be installed in all wired houses of the Loew circuit, according to Albert L. Raven. Order for the screens came after exhaustive tests by Lester B. Isaac, supervisor of projection. Decision to install Transtone screens, means that a number of screens, recently installed will be replaced. Transtone is made of weatherized fabric and is washable and pliable. Its primary feature, states Raven, is to insure uniform distribution of light to every seat in the theater. The screen brings out both highlights and shadows in detail, without glare or fadeout, Raven asserts. Film Division Created to Aid U. S. Films Abroad (Continued from Page 1) eign markets, attention will be devoted to phases of the domestic industry and industrial and educational pictures. The Motion Picture Division is an outgrowth of the Motion Picture Section, authorized by Congress in 1926. The elevation to the rank of division places motion pictures in the same category as steel and foodstuffs in the eyes of the government. Keen Chicago Battle Continues at Fast Clip (Continued from Page 1) spots. B. & K. has been bringing heavy artillery to play at the Uptown, to buck the names and big stage shows being put on at the Granada. Now, B. & K. has pulled presentations at the Norshore, Harding and Tower, stressing the claim that the stage belongs to the screen and citing the advantages of talkers over stage shows. Marks Bros., have countered with the reminder that the; firm brought the talkers to Chicago first, and has continued them combined with elaborate stage shows. iHow strong they are going in for the human element is indicated by a recent week when Marks Bros., brought almost the entire George White's Scandals to the Granada, some people declaring that with the stage and band, it far outdid the show presented downtown at a legit house at $4.40 top. "Jimmy" Ashcraft Heads Sono-Art Press Dept. James Ashcraft, assistant to Albert Grey in the former Paramount roadshow department, has been named advertising and publicity director for Sono-Art Prod., George W. Weeks, vice president and general manager, stated before leaving New York yesterday for Hollywood, where the Second Eddie Dowling feature is to be made.