The Film Daily (1937)

DASLY Saturday, July 24, 1937 A "mU" faun Uotfywood "JU&ft By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD "TSJEEDING a rest after having ^ completed his long directorial stint on M-G-M's pretentious "Broadway Melody of 1938," for which he was borrowed from 20th Century-Fox, Roy Del Ruth has relinquished the filming reins on the same company's next big musical, "Rosalie." Del Ruth had accepted the second berth with the understanding that he was to take a vacation before the start of actual production. However, when it was discovered it would be necessary to put it before the cameras immediately in order to release Nelson Eddy, who co-stars with Eleanor Powell, for an early fall concert tour, the director insisted on being relieved of the assignment. Del Ruth reports to 20th CenturyFox Sept. 1, for another big musical. T T T Major studios have named J. L_. Warner, Darryl Zanuck and E. J. Mannix as a committee to consider Screen Directors' Guild. T » • This morning Irving Cummings takes charge of "Merry-Go-Round of 1938" for Producer B. G. (Buddy) De Sylva on the Universal City lot. De Sylva and Edward Buzzell, who WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • 0US ^■^ an has one Introducing Interesting. Personalities: No. 110 • • MEINS. Director. Born in Frankfort, Germany. Educated in St. Louis d Los Angeles, specializing in oil painting and astronomy. Married, son, Gordon. A cartoonist on Hearst papers, he began screen career with Fox in 1919 as scenarist and gag man. Became assistant director, then director, for Mack Sennett. Made short comedies for Stern Brothers; handled the "Newlyweds and Their Baby" series, "Keeping Up with the Joneses" series; "Buster Brown" comedies; Arthur Lake pictures. Under contract to Hal Roach, directed 350 "Our Gang" two-reelers. Recently directed the musical feature, "Nobody's Baby" for Hal Roach, with Patsy Kelly and Lyda Roberti. Also, "Kelly the Second," starring Patsy Kelly. Recently completed Republic's "Hit Parade," musical starring Frances Langford and Phil Regan. Stands, 5, 4V2. Hair, light. Eyes, blue. had handled the megaphone for 10 days, did not see eye to eye on certain phases of the production and De Sylva called in Cummings. At the same time De Sylva announced that he would produce one of the forthcoming Deanna Durbin pictures, a story by Pamela Harris entitled "The Baby of the Family," which has just been purchased by Universal. M-G-M announces signing of a new extended-term contract with Rosalind Russell. A meeting was called the other night at the home of Bud Lesser, son of Sol Lesser, to start plans for "Fathers and Sons" day which will take place probably sometime next month. Son's executive com mittee consists of Dick Landau, Bud Lesser, Dave Weisbarg, Maury Grossman, Gerald Brandt, Burton Lewis and Arthur Lewis, who is chairman. Casting assignments: Grand National— Mamo Clark, "Wallaby Jim of the Islands"; Eleanor Fisher, "Something to Sing About"; Kenneth Harlan, "Renfrew of the Royal Mounted"; Tex Ritter, "Rollin' Plains"; Columbia — Alexander D'Arcy, Kathryn Curry, "The Awful Truth"; Ed Peil, Sr., Richard Curtis, Jerry Mandy, Billy Lally, "Counsel for Crime." Binnie Barnes, replaces Veree Teasdale in Goldwyn's "The Adventures of Marco Polo." Miss Teasdale withdrew from the cast be4 cause of illness. Our Passing Show: J. P. Normanly, Oscar Serlin, Marsha Hunt, Murray Feil, Lawrence Riley, Howard Emmett Rogers, Thyra Sampter Winslow, Bud Schulberg, Marcella Banet, Murray Feil, Dore Schary, Edward Ludwig, Maurice Hanline, Oliver Hinsdell, Danny Winkler, Val Lewton at the opening of "Brother Rat." Kansas City, Milwaukee Exchange Pacts Are Sef Major company exchange heads have worked out agreements covering exchange employe unions in Kansas City and Milwaukee, it was said yesterday by Frank Phelps of Warner Bros. Further consideration of exchange union pacts will be continued next week with IATSE officials. "Courageous" Stays a Third Detroit — "Captains Courageous" held over for a third week by George W. Trendle, president of United Detroit Theaters, who moved the picture yesterday from the United Artists to the Madison Theater for a continued first run. Paul Starts Building Detroit — Construction has been started on the new 500 seat Yale Theater at Yale, Mich., to be built by Howard Paul to replace his present Princess Theater. "Gang Busters" to M-G-M West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — "The Gang Busters," Phillip Lord's radio serial dramatizing from actual case histories the careers of America's "public enemies," has been bought for the screen by M-G-M. Allied Discusses Playdate Strike Moves at Chi. Meet (Continued from Page 1) fusal to negotiate for next year's product, test suit on action in withholding certain pictures on last year's program and advocating picketing of Paramount exchanges and theaters playing its pictures. After the conference, Pete Wood stated that many district protest meetings will be held prior to Aug. 1 in connection with the campaign. Eleven states were represented at the meeting. Delegates include: Al Steffes, Minneapolis; George Aarons and Lewen Pizor, both of Philadelphia; Lee Newbury, New Jersey, N. A. Rosenberg, Pittsburgh; Pete Wood, Columbus; Arthur Howard, Boston; Ray Tesch, Milwaukee and Ludwig Sussman, Chicago. V C Tourney Tuesday Detroit — Variety Club will hold second golf tournament of the season next Tuesday at Birmingham County Club. Event is in charge of Tom Ealand, owner of the Ferndale, Mich., Theater, assisted by Mannie Gottlied, Carl Buermele, and Moe Dudelson. Republic to Brandt Harry Brandt will take over the Republic Theater, former burlesque house, from Joe Weinstock and operate it as a film house. New Boston Union Wants Wage Boosts of 5-20 P.C. Boston — The wage scale and contract of the newly organized ushers, doormen, cashiers, cleaners, vertical union has been submitted to local exhibitors. If accepted, scale will increase salaries from 5 to 20 per cent. Chief ushers will receive $40, Assistant Chief Ushers $36.50, and ushers $28.50 under the proposed contract. Cashiers will receive $25 while night cleaners will receive a wage of $36. These wages will be in class "A" houses while the class "B" houses will be somewhat lower in graduated scale. The contracts were submitted to the M. & P.; Loew's; RKO; and other circuit heads in greater Boston this week by James O'Brien, general counsel for the new union. Negotiations will probably take place the last of this month or the first of July. RCA Declares Dividend RCA board of directors yesterday declared a quarterly dividend of 87^2 cents a share on the company's $3.50 first preferred stock covering the period from July 1 to Sept. 30, 1937, and payable Oct. 1 to stock of record Sept. 8, David Sarnoff, president, announced. Newark Product Situation Up at Justice Dept. Meet (Continved from Page 1) excepting 20th Century-Fox and Universal, attending. The Government's angle, as expressed at the meeting, was that of possible monopoly in violation of the anti-trust laws. Suggestion was made that attorneys present might be able to iron out the situation based on complaint of the Mosque theater, Newark, that it is unable to obtain sufficient film. The Frankoes-Robinson interests, which operate the house, produced a survey purporting to show the amount of pictures tied up by the Warner houses. Attendance at the conference included RKO trustees and Arthur Greenblatt of GB, who was accompanied by his attorney, Jack Lon don of Fitelson & Mayers. Wanda Perry to Wed West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Wanda Perry, film actress, and Dr. Irving Browne, socialite dentist, will wed in the Fall. Rho Pi Phi's Sweetheart West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAI& Hollywood — Jean Rogers, pretty versal starlet, has been selected as^ official sweetheart of Rho Pi Phi, international fraternity whose membership is composed of students and graduates of leading pharmaceutical colleges in the U. S. and Canada. I i v