The Film Daily (1930)

THE Thursday, July 10, 1930 ■SBtk DAILV HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS mm Coast Wire Service Hobart Henley has returned to Universal, where he formerly was a leading man and director. Carl Laemmle, Jr., has signed him to direct one of the 20 'U' specials for the new season. A gigantic tent city has been built by RKO in the San Fernando Valley for the personnel working in the production of "Half Shot at Sunrise," wartime comedy of Paris and front line trenches, featuring Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. There are about 50 tents on the location and entire unit includes several thousand actors, technicians, etc. Nat Ross has been signed by Educational to direct the first comedy in the new Vanity series at the Metropolitan Studios. It is titled "The Freshman's Goat," based on an original story by Dick Smith, Walter DeLeon and Neal Burns. George (Slim) Summerville has been given a long-term Universal contract by Carl Laemmle, Jr. Complete cast of "The Gorilla," being made by First National from the famous stage thriller, includes Joe Frisco, Harry Gribbon, Walter Pidgeon, Lila Lee, Purnell Pratt, Edwin Maxwell, Roscoe Kairns, Will Philbrick. Bryan Foy is the director. Along The Rialto Upon expiration of his Universal contract on July 21, Glenn Tryon will do free-lancing while he awaits the outcome of negotiations for his services on another term agreement now being carried on between his representative and a big producer. Mary Philbin has returned to Hollywood after a long motor trip through California. She expects to resume her screen work immediately. Casting of "Steel Highway" has been finished by Warner Bros., with the lineup including Grant Withers, Regis Toomey, Mary Astor, James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Robert Elliott and John Wallace. Production will begin as soon as a director is assigned. Eddie Buzzell, popular stage comedian, makes his Hollywood debut in "Bedtime Stories for Grownups," two-reel Columbia short, under the directing of Joe Rock. Robert Edeson is among the latest additions to "A Gay Caballero," Warner production, with Victor Varconi and Fay Wray in the leads. Alan Crosland is directing. Richard Barker, former film salesman, who was discovered by Carl Laemmle, Jr., and given the leading role in Universal's new version of "The Leather Pushers," has changed his name to Richard Blair for screen purposes. T with Phil M. Daly HE CIRCUS has one big edge on the picture biz — it can stay away from territory where business is loudzee and hit into spots where the natives have dough to spend James J. Brady, publicity chief for the Ringling Circus, tells how John Ringling keeps posted he knows bankers and manufacturers everywhere, who give him inside dope on local industrial conditions he gets the latest agricultural reports from Washington insect blights, floods, strikes anything that might crab the take at the ticket booth is personally investigated and analyzed by John Ringling and when he finally maps out the schedule, the big show moves into territory where times are good and money is in free circulation we may live to see the day when the big film producers will feature travelling tent units to cop the gravy in the good spots. >■ * * * "P. WYNNE-JONES has had several complaints that those Ufa souvenir lighters won't work so he asks us to tell the owners to try putting a li'l gas in 'em Theater opposish has developed from a new source the Hudson River Day Line advertises: "20 per cent cooler Outside, and a movie that's always worth seeing" Bert Reisman, Pathe salesman at Los Angeles, drove from H'llywood to New York in eight days, covering 4,300 miles via Minneapolis * * * * T7XHIBS are looking forward to Pinehurst as an ideal city for the annual M.P.T.O.A. convention to be held there this fall with all the splendid fairways in that section, it will probably wind up as a golf tournament Madison Hotel on the Atlantic City boardwalk is rapidly becoming the Mecca for week-ending film men. * * * * JyTORRIS SANDERS, handling plans for the Fox A. C. outing to be held July 19 at Indian Point, has arranged a great program many sports events for gents and ladies with oodles of prizes will help to make the day interesting Bozeman Bulger, sports writer, sez that exhibs aren't the only ones complaining about the summer torridity Boze relates that when the Giants traveled in the Mississippi Valley they were able to take corn right off the stalks and get it soft, medium or hard boiled, and that the June bugs buzzed about the corn silks wearing linen dusters to keep their wings from getting singed. * * * * ""NJICK" CAVALIER, the ace cameraman for Pathe Audio Review, is reputed to be able to balance himself on his vertebrae and get a worm's-eye view, or hang by his eyebrows and get an eagle's-eye perspective and for the common ordinary Audio shots, Nick just hangs on the spoken words. Charles Reed Jones' book, "Torch Murder," published by E. P. Dutton, appears as the Prize Clue Mystery selection for July Tabloid Scenario: The honeymoon couple return to their new home they are eating breakfast very romantic scene, as they gaze at each other with mist-filled eyes they are eating grape-fruit * * * * J. H. GOLDBERG, general sales manager of Columbia, tells the boys: "It's up to you gentlemen to see that the product is sold" and if you don't, you chumps, J. H. G. will have to apologize for calling you gentlemen Baroness Oerzy, Hungarian opera singer, will warble at the Sono Art dinner preceding the showing of "Once a Gentleman" at the Roerich Museum this eve that should make a fine accompaniment to the goulash guzzling * * * * W^HEN WALTER WANGER appears today as guest of honor at the AM PA luncheon in the Blue Ribbon Restaurant, he will be introduced by A. M. Botsford, another Publix exec and former prexy of the AMPA Roxy blew out (metaphorically) 48 candles yestiddy, it being his birthday, celebrating his 17th year in film houses along the main highway * * * * T^yHEN Mister Printer Misses: "As a new writer in Hollywood, he is making his MURK." — Los Angeles paper. (Must be a gloomy writer.) N-E-W-S OF T-H-E D-A-Y Milwaukee — Federated Theatrical Accounting Service has opened offices in the Carpenter Bldg. for the purpose of checking pictures for producers. Harry Ross, formerly local branch manager for Paramount, is president of the company and Milton Gore is general manager. Denver — Ross Bluck, for four years office manager and booker in Salt Lake City for RKO, is now assistant manager of their Denver office, succeeding J. W. West, who goes to the Columbia local office. Lubbock, Tex. — Lindsey Theaters, Inc., has approved plans for the $250,000 house seating 1,500 to be erected here. Work is to start in August. Monroe, Ga. — Bob Novell has opened his new house here. It is equipped with Western Electric sound apparatus. Brainerd, Minn. — George D. Irwin has been transferred from the Paramount here to the management of the Sherman in St. Cloud. Scotia, Neb. — Sunday shows won a victory at the recent election here. Milwaukee — Continental Reproducer Co. has been incorporated here to deal in motion picture and stage apparatus. Signers of the articles are H. A. Wolfgram, B. Louthain and D. J. Fandre. Canton, Tex. — The new Royal has opened and will operate four nights a week. Philadelphia — Moe Goodman has succeeded Jack Frear at the Forum. Frear was recently shunted to the Circle. Ames, la. — The new Ames has closed till Sept. 15. The Capitol remains open through the summer, while the Twin Star will give shows on Saturdays and Sundays. MANY HAPPY RETURNS Best wishes and congratulations are extended by THE FILM DAILY to the following members of the industry, who are celebrating their birthdays: July 10 Vera Lewis Dorothy Farnum Leopold Friedman