The Film Daily (1937)

THE m Tuesday, July 13, 1937 -<&n DAILV U "JUUW fro** Hollywood "£ots i* By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD (CONVINCED that horse-racing will be used as the basis of the talkie industry's next "cycle," Richard Dix, whose expert story judgment has netted him fat profits during his years as a screen star, has purchased the picture rights to 15 "oat burner" stories from the pen of the late Bruce Hedges. Dix personally negotiated the deal with the author's widow, Beth Hedges, now residing in San Francisco. Dix, now under contract to George Hirliman to star in "Custer's Last Stand," for RKO-Radio release, will probably do one of the Hedges tales immediately upon completing his Hirliman deal. "The Boss Didn't Say Good-Morning" the Carey Wilson miniature is to be directed by Jacques Tourneur. T T T Arthur Hanko, M-G-M reading department, has been appointed editorin-charge of foreign material under Kate Corbaley, story editor. Hanko will handle material which Edwin Knopf contracted for during his recent European buying trip. T T T Don Cameron of the M-G-M reading department has been assigned WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • lntrodticing Interesting 'Personalities: No. 102 • • • 1TDWARD KAUFMAN. RKO Radio producer and a former newspaperman, is ™ picture pioneer, having started with American Film Co. in 1915. Newspaper affiliations: Philadelphia Times, New York Press, Baltimore News, Washington Times. Screen affiliations: Universal, writer and supervisor; Paramount, writer; Warner Brothers-First National, writer; RKO Radio, writer and now associate producer. Has been exceptionally successful with sophisticated comedies of mystery and romantic brand, pictures of this type he has produced for RKO including "Star of Midnight." "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford," "Walking on Air," "Smartest Girl in Town," "Life of Party." Stands 5, 3. Eyes, gray. %**&[. J* to organize a reading department at the M-G-M London studio. M-G-M writers building will be ready for occupancy July 19. Will house 40 writers in addition to the Carl Laemmle, Jr., producing unit. "Madame X" starts July 15 with Gladys George, Warren William and John Beal. J. K. McGuinness will produce and Sam Wood will direct. More than 500 extras are being used by Director Sidney Lanfield in the final scenes for "Lovely To Look At," Sonja Henie's new starring vehicle for 20th Century-Fox. After weeks on a sound stage converted into an ice rink, Lanfield now has his troupe at Sherwood Forest. Ben Pivar, formerly associate producer with Condor Pictures, has joined Grand National as head of his own production unit, his first producing assignment being GN's second Stuart Erwin picture, "Face the Facts," which will go before the cameras about Aug. 1. Richard English is currently working on the screenplay for the Pivar production. Buck Jones has purchased film rights to "Sudden Bill Dorn," novel by Jackson Gregory, for his next starring feature for Universal release. Ray Taylor, who directed several Jones productions two years ago, has been signed to direct the picture, which gets under way about Aug. 1. Frances Guihan is writing the screen play. Milton Bren has been signed to a five-year contract as producer at the Hal Roach studios. Kohner Quits M-G-M, Will Make Three "A's" for Col West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Paul Kohner has resigned as associate producer at Metro and will produce at least three "A" pictures yearly for Columbia. M-G-M Gets Air Force for 5th English Feature West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Fifth picture to be made in England by Metro will be "Shadow of the Wing" with the Royal Air Force cooperating. RFC Suing Goldstein Springfield, Mass. — Suit for $15,000 to secure an alleged unpaid balance of $6,026.04 and interest of $1,443.71 from March 2, 1933 on a note was filed in Superior Court by the RFC against Samuel Goldstein, head of Western Massachusetts, Theaters, Inc. § Mix Back in Westerns? East Liverpool, O. — Tom Mix, western film star, head of his own motorized circus for the past several years said here that he will return to California at the close of this season's circus tour and expects to make a series of "horse operas" for 20th Century-Fox. Hoffman Will Start Two Condor Films Next Week Judgment Fee Return Order In Bowles Suit West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — M. H. Hoffman, having assumed the active supervision of all future Condor production under the company's reorganization plan which went into effect with the announcement of Edwin N. Clark's election to the Executive Chairmanship, succeeding George A. Hirliman, resigned, expects to start the shooting of two new season features and a musical short the early part of next week. Two additional features, still due on last season's schedule, will go before the cameras the following week when the scripting approval and casting details are settled. "Murder In Swingtime" and "A Frozen Affair", the first two Condor short musicals on the new season program have been delivered to RKO and the first of the new Corum Sports, "Water Polo", awaits only a few added shots which Corum will shoot at the big water-polo events which are scheduled for the metropolitan district Julv 15 and July 22. Thompson Rites Tomorrow West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Funeral services will be held tomorrow for Keene Thompson, veteran Paramount scenarist, who died of pneumonia. "Elysia" Gets a Tenth Newark, N. J. — "Elysia," is being held for a tenth week at the Little. Detroit — An order for return of the judgment fee was signed and filed by Circuit Judge Clyde Webster in the suit of Charles Bowles, former Mayor of Detroit, against Detroit Neighborhood Theaters. Suit is an aftermath of the action of Sam Brown's Neighborhood theaters organization against MidStates theaters, now Cooperative theaters of Michigan, in Federal Court, being the first challenge of cooperative exhibitor booking organizations. Bowles, attorney for Brown in the first action, was to receive $1,500 as settlement of his claim for attorney fees in this case, according to judgment given in Febuary by Judge Guy A. Miller in Circuit Court. WMT Vacationists Springfield, Mass. — William Powell, publicity director of Western Massachusetts Theaters, Inc., heads the list of vacationers. Others following the next week are, Francis Faille, manager of the Palace, Pittsfield; Edward Dowling, manager of the Capitol, Pittsfield; Al Page, assistant manager, Broadway, Springfield; Dave Perkins, manager Calvin, Northampton; Walter Howe, manager, Strand, Holyoke. B & K Staff on 5-Day Week Chicago — Balaban and Katz have instituted a five day week for July and August for the Chicago headquarters staff. Three More Industry Cos. Chartered by N, Y. State Albany — New film industry companies to be chartered by New York State are: Jewel Amusement Corp., New York City; to operate motion picture theaters. Louis Weiss, Jonas Greenhouse, Morris W. Goldstein, incorporators. Greene & Friede, Inc., New York City; to operate motion picture theaters. Lillian Schorr, Franklyn Walsh, Harold A. Horowitz, incorporators. Triboro Playhouse, Inc., New York City; to operate motion picture theaters. Sidney Goren, Luise Goren, Nathan Goodman, incorporators. United Theaters Add One New Orleans — United Theaters will open the newest addition to its subsequent run neighborhood circuit here tomorrow when it starts the Metairie, rechristened the Metry. Theater, which has been a hard operating proposition, was taken over from a corporation headed by Alex Dumeste, Jefferson Parish (county) lawyer, who has been retained as manager. De Valera As Producer Dublin— President De Valera has gone into feature-film production with "This Irish Question," a story of trouble on the Ulster frontier. Stars will be Julie Suedo, supported by Kenneth Warrington and Billy O'Day.