The Film Daily (1929)

THE 32 ■<£&! DAILY Monday, July 15, 192 LLOYD KNECHTEL Effects in Photography Radio Pictures RKO STUDIOS LEO TOVER Cinematographer "STREET GIRL" "THE VERY IDEA" RKO A Little from RKO "Lots" By RALPH W ILK (Continued from Page 31) As a youngster, Rod La Rocque, christened "Roderique," organized the "Newsboys' Quartet." Every night they sang in hotel lobbies in Chicago. Rod was at that falsetto voice stage and his yodeling brought many half dollars into the community cap. His first screen experience was with the old Essanay company. He played "heavies" in several pictures, which had Bryant Washburn as the hero. * * * We first met Bert Glennon when he came to New York as a cameraman for Paramount. During the war, he joined the aviation corps and became a pilot. He introduced the Gosport system of instruction for student aviators and spent most of his time training students for overseas service. He has more than 1,500 hours in the air credited to him and was discharged as a captain. * * * Bert has directed "The Perfect Crime," "Syncopation" and "Gang War." * * * Hugh Trevor came dangerously near beiyig a Harvard man. But he left Cambridge before he began to say "cahr." Boston's Back Bay, however, improved his tennis game for one thing. He is rated as one of the best non-tournament players on the Coast. * * * It was an insurance policy that started Hugh on a screen career. He sold a policy to Richard Dix and the star asked him to play a "bit" in one of his pictures. Now, Hugh is a contract player with Radio Pictures. He's the sort of person who would rather die in a Turkish bath than ride in a parade with his name on a car in gilt letters. He won't have a chair placarded for him on the set. * * * Betty Compson is one of the best amateur palm readers this side of Persia. She is also owner of one of the smartest women's shops in Hollywood. * * * We first met Lynn Shores several years ago at the old Selznick studio in Fort Lee, N. J. He was then an assistant director. From Fort Lee Lynn journeyed to 121th St. and 2nd Ave., New York, the home of the Cosmopolitan studio, where he met William LeBaron. When LeBaron journeyed to the Paramount Long Island studio, Lynn was still an assistant director, but LeBaron placed him in the scenario department. LeBaron journeyed to Hollywood and Lynn did likewise. Now, Lynn is one of LeBaron 's directors at RKO. * * * Jane Murfin was a playwright before starting picture work. In collaboration witli Jane Cowl she wrote "Lilac Time," "Daybreak," "Information, Please" and "Smilin' Through." "Lilac Time" and "Smilin' Through' were made into pictures which anl counted among the most popula of recent years. She knows mucll about Ann Arbor, the home of th<l University of Michigan, because shtl attended the State Normal Training School at Ypsilanti, which brings many callers from the Wolverim school. * * * For 12 years, John Brownell, nou a scenarist, was a well known actor on the New York stage. It was while appearing .with John Barrymore in "The Fortune Hunter" that he met George Loane Tucker. This friendship later led to Brownell's entry into pictures. He also toured for two years in concert ivork, offering a program of classical songs and a recitation of "Enoch Arden" to an accompaniment of Strauss music. * * * Brownell wrote "The Nut Farm," a comedy, now playing in Chicago. He is the owner of the "Atala," a 43-foot auxiliary yawl, in which he takes numerous cruises in Atlantic and adjacent waters. * * * Pearl Eaton, of the numerous and talented Eatons, is a Southern beauty with Northern pep. She was born in Norfolk, Va., but doesn't say "suh!" Several years as a chorus girl on Broadway eradicated the accent, but not the charm. She began work as a stenographer, but found tapping with her toes more profitable than typing with her fingers. * * * Back in his college days, Henry M. Hobart tore up many lines as a star halfback for Dartmouth. Now many of Los Angeles' best tennis players know him as a worthy opponent. * * * Richard Rosson knows music as well as the camera and the megaphone. He was a violinist before entering pictures. He was an assistant director for several years and directed his first picture at the Paramount Long Island studio. He has directed at Fox and FBO. After an illness of several months he resumed directorial work at RKO, making "The Very Idea." * * * Oscar Levant is one of the most prolific song writers now on the Coast. He wrote "Dream Memory," "Broken Up Tune" and "Lovable Sweet" for "Street Girl," which has attracted much attention at previews. In addition to his song writing, he also appeared in "Burlesque." * * * Lloyd Knechtel, who is in charge of RKO's special photographic effects department, was with First National and Hal Roach for several years. (Co-ntinued on Page 33)