The Film Daily (1931)

THE Wednesday, March 18, 1931 nawwaw ■cStl DAILY TREM CARR LEASES STUDIO FOR MONOGRAM ACTIVITY West Coast Bureau, THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Lease on the National Recording Studios on Sunset Blvd. I has been acquired by Trem Carr, 'vice-president tor production of Monjogram Pictures Corp., and the plant has been renamed Monogram Pictures Studios. Soundproofing of the 1 third stage and building of sound projection rooms, cutting rooms and re-recording rooms are no.w in progress. Completion of the work is exipected by April 15, when production is to start on the Monogram program of 28 features. Stars, directors, land writers are now being signed. Bromberg Representing Monogram in Southeast Arthur C. Bromberg, member ot the board of directors of Monogram Pictures Corp., will act as southeastern district manager of the new independent company, covering the Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Birmingham and New Orleans offices. W. Ray Johnston, president of the company, »pent the last week in the south with Bromberg. Day-and-Date for Play and Film '1 Like Your Nerve," the Roland I'ertwee vehicle for Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., now being screened and which is to be produced on the legitimate stage in the fall, may be presented on Broadwav simultaneously on stage and screen, according to talk at First National. Pertwee is writing a second original which may be similarly handled. "Finger" To Open Erie House Erie, Pa. — Warner's $1,000,000 house here will be opened April 10 with the Richard Barthelmess picture, 'The Finger Points." Miami Theater Firm Chartered Miami, Fla. — Grand Theater, Inc., has been chartered with a capital of 50 shares, par value $100 each. A. B. Bernstein, E. M. Brostow and H. D. Williams are the incorporators. "Cracked Nuts" Release April 18 Release date on RKO's "Cracked Nuts" has been changed from April 1 to April 18. High-Pressure Stuff Getting a leading man for Dolores Costello in "The Passionate Sonata" has been no cinch. Selection finally focused on Warren William, Broadway leading man, who greatly resembles John Barrymore and who is understood to have been the tatter's own choice to play opposite his wife. With production positively set to start on Monday, high-pressure negotiation had to be employed by Warner Bros, to get William released from "The Vinegar Tree," in which he is now playing, and he leaves by plane in time to reach the coast Sunday. A LITTLE from "LOTS ►// By RALPH WILK HOLLYWOOD ALBERT KELLEY has been signed by M. Stanley Bergerman .o direct the Knute Rockne football eels for Universal. Kelley leaves April 15 for South Bend. * * * David Manners will have the lead;j male role in Columbia's "The i.racle Woman," starring Barbara itanwyek, * * * Edgar Allen Woolf and Malcolm Stuart Boylan have signed new conracts with M-G-M. * * * Monte Collins will appear with Jimmy Finlayson, Edgar Kennedy and Jay Belasco in "One of Those Things," RKO Pathe comedy under the direction of Harry Sweet. * * * Charlotte Greenwood and Adolphe Menjou, in addition to Robert Montgomery, are understood to be slated for stardom by M-G-M. * * * Jeanette MacDojxald is on her way back from New York to start work in "Good Gracious, Annabelle" for Fox. * * * George Archainbaud is apportioning his time so he can work on two stories for_ RKO. In the jnorning he sits in with Beulah Marie D;x who is working on "Helga" for Betty Compson, and in the afternoon he confers with Wallace Smith, who is writing the screen version and dialogue for "The Dove," an original by James Whittaker. * * * Kinjg Vidor will direct "Street Scene" for Samuel Goldwyn. * * * Claude Gillingwater and Effie Ellsler have been added to Fox's "Daddy Long Legs." * * * James Gleason avill be director general of entertainment, and Eddie Cantor master of ceremonies, at the first annual Writers-Wampas Roast on April 18. Former Wampas baby stars will serve as hostesses. * * * Johnny Hines will act as toastmaster at the seventh annual breakfast of the Catholic M. P. Guild. * * * F. Hugh Herbert has been signed by M-G-M and is writing "By Candle Light." * * ♦ Joan Standing has been given a role in "Cure for the Blues," Fox picture starring Will Rogers. * * * Clive Brook, on his way here from New York, will start work immediately on his arrival in "The Lawyer's Secret," Paramount picture. * * * Sam Hardy and George Andrew Beranger have been assigned by Fox to "Good Gracious Annabelle. Coast graduates of the New York "World" held a "wake" for the "dead" paper last week. Among the former 'World" men now members of the film colony are Winfield R. Sheehan, Joseph Johnson, Robert Benchley, William Slavens McNutt, Harvey Thew, Eugene Walters, Joseph Jackson, Ralph Block, J. K. McGuinness, Norman Krasna, A. Jacoby, W. S. Gill, Oliver H. P. Garrett, Sam Hoffenstein, Sam Spewack, Basil Woon, Quinn Martin, Edward Dean Sullivan, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Tom Lewis, Julian Johnson, Dudley Nichols, E. Lloyd Sheldon, Edwin Justus Mayer, Tom L. Geraghty, Edmund H. Hanson, Jack Francis, Wells Root, Louis A. Sarecky. Fox has only four more pictures to make on its 1930-31 program. * * ♦ Charley Chase, having finished his 1930-31 schedule of Hal Roach comedies for M-G-M, has left with Mrs. Chase for a trip to Cuba. * * » Here and There: Pat Casey, James J. Corbett, Moss Hart, Marian Spitzer, Edgar MacGregor at the preview of the N. V. A. pictures; Martin Flavin, "Scoop" Conlon, Harvey Gates, Kathryn White, Pat Cullinan at a preview of "Front Page." * * * Claude Allister essays an important role in the RKO Pathe comedy, "Rough House Rhythm," directed by Harry Sweet. * * * Edward J. Montagne, whose contract as an associate editor, has been renewed by Paramount, began his film career in 1914 at Vitagraph. He served as a Vitagraph editor for five years and was scenario editor with Selznick Productions for four years. He has been with Paramount for the past two years. « * * Our Passing Show: Al Rockett, Harry Wurtzel and S. George Ullman chatting at Fox; Hal Wallis, Joe E. Brown and Henry Duffy con f erring at First National; Arthur Sheekman busy at Paramount. * * * Mark Sandrich, Radio director, has been assigned to direct the First Chic Sale comedy for RKO and will also handle the noiseless megaphone on the new Ned Sparks starring comedy. Harvey Thew has completed his 21st talking picture script. This year he has written the screen play and dialogue for "The Genius," starring John Barrymore, and "The Passionate Sonata," which will star Dolores Costello. He also wrote the script for "The Public Enemy." 56 SHORTS SCHEDULED BY RKO FOR NEXT SEASON In addition to the 36 features planned by RKO for 1931-32, word has been received from Charles Rosenzweig, who is now on the coast, that 30 two-reelers and 26 novelty short subjects are also planned for production. The 36 features will not contain any "specials," according to the present plans. A. & P. Tea Company Working on Movie Plans (.Continued from Page 1) two or three months, according to A. G. Peart of the Paris & Peart advertising organization, which is handling the matter. Number of shorts and amount to be expended have not been determined, Peart says, nor has anything been done about running local newspaper ads in connection with the showing of the pictures. It is understood, however, that the A. & P. has elaborate movie plans in view, but official information is being withheld at this time because of numerous details still to be worked out. .Reviving "Jazz Singer" As Passover Week Card (Continued from Page 1) time, so the smart show brains in the Warner outfit figured that "The Jazz Singer" would exert enough extra drawing power among Passover Week crowds to offset the Holy Week holdouts. Showing of the Jolson picture in New York will take place at the Warner, where it had its original presentation on Oct. 5, 1927. Talkers for K. C. Orpheum Kansas City — Rumors persist that the Orpheum here is to be reopened soon with sound pictures. The Oberfelder-Ketcham Players lost money, then the Players, Inc., locally-backed stock, took it over and finally gave up a few months ago. Jill Esmond Signed by RKO Jill Esmond, English legit actress now appearing on Broadway in Noel Coward's "Private Lives," has been signed by RKO on a five-year contract. She is to leave for Hollywood in May. Billboard Tax Introduced in N. M. Sante Fe, N. M. — A bill providing annual taxation of five cents a square foot on billboards has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Proceeds would go to a fund to buy textbooks for public school children. 4 Directors With Clara West Coast Bur. THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Four ex-directors, Donald Crisp, Paul Hurst, Wade Boteler and Donald Mackenzie are playing in support of Clara Bow in Paramount's "Kick In."