The Film Daily (1931)

20 -. Xfr* DAILY Sunday, April 12, 1931 Feature Production Values Planned for RKO Shorts New Program Calls for Greater Attention to Small Product Radio Pictures is definitely committed to a polity of producing short subjects to be ranked in producing values and casting talent with big feature productions for the season 1931-32. Nation-wide tours of investigation by Charles Rosenzweig, vice-president in charge of distribution, and divisional contacts by Jerry Safron, general .-ales manager of the East, and Cleve Adams, general sales manager of the West, have convinced Radio officials by first-hand contact with exchange managers and exhibitors that the short subject has assumed a position of genuinely major importance on the talking screen. These have led to tri-cornered conferences in Hollywood between Joseph I. Schnitzer, president, William l.e Baron, vice-president in charge of production, and Charles Rosenzweig, on ways and means of bringing Radio's short subjects production to the forefront. Short subjects, hitherto regarded as a minor element in production circles, will henceforth get the benefit ut major producing talent at Radio Pictures studios. The large list of contract players at Radio Pictures will be liberally drawn upon and made available for these "featurettes." The Radio Pictures art staff under the direction of Max Ree will supervise production values. And the staff of writers will include authors who have contributed to the big features for the coming year. This represents a distinct departure in Radio Picture production circles. According to present plans there will be 30 two-reelers and 26 singlereelers released for the 1931-32 season. Of these, 24 two-reelers will Um, va: MOWWNG a/ 1130 AM 'it «£&»• ' •'" 'if«i>s *?&f ■;&» THE MOANS ARECOMHK? ..IMMSCC* Musicals and Flashes In response to public demand, Vitaphone will continue to make a reasonable number of musical subjects and flash numbers. It is even likely, from present audience response, that there may be an increase in this type of short. Some of the leading personalities of the vaudeville and musical stage are used in these numbers, among them being Jack Hazzard, Cy Landry, Dolly Gilbert, George Jessel, Walter O'Keefe, Albertina Rasch Girls, Muriel Abbot Dancers, Henry Santry, Douglas Stanbury, Lupino Lane, Janet Reade, Neely Edwards, Collette Sisters, Billy Wayne, Frank and Milton Britton and others. Vitaphone will release the Bobby Jones "How I Play Golf" series, and Ted Husing "Sportslants." Earl Sande recently made a two-reeler, "The Handy Guy," and Primo Carnera will soon make a subject. Tiffany will release a series of one reel football shorts named "Pigskin Problems." The series will be pro duced by Alfred T. Mannon and Howard Jones, football coach of the University of Southern California. RKO Pathe is now releasing the Johnny Farrell Golf series of shorts. Also releasing Knute Rockne football shorts made last year, and the regular Grantland Rice "Sportlights." Universal will release a series of 26 to be known as the "Christy Walsh All-America Sports Series." Babe Ruth, Charlie Paddock and others will appear. Educational may release a series of wrestling shorts with Gus Sonnenberg, to be produced by Brown and Nagel. M-G-M planning a series. Bill Tilden to star in one. //ore the Roxy, New York, advertised its presentation of VmversoPs serial, "The Indians Are Coming." be produced by Louis Brock and will include six "Chic" Sales, six Roscoe Ate-, six Ned Sparks, and six "Headliners." Larry Darmour will concentrate on six two-reel Mickey McGuire comedies, adapted from Fontaine Fox's cartoons. Mickey will continue to be -upported by the child stars who have been identified with his past successes, among them being Tomboy Taylor, Katinka, Hambone Johnson, Stink} Davis, and others, according to present plans. The complete program for production of the 26 one-reelers has, as yet, not been announced, but it is definitely stated that the "Toby the Pups" and "Humanettes" will be continued. Charles Mintz is producer of "Toby" and Frank Newman of the "Humanettes." Among those who will be aligned with the Brock production forces are \ Mark Sandrich, director: Scott Darling, director and writer; Charles Saxon, humorist and cartoonist, to write one of the "Headliners"; and Ned Sparks, who will both write and star in the Ned Sparks series. Sparks' first short subject, "Fish Sometimes Swim,'' is already in final process of editing. Scott Darling, Mauri Grashin, and Mark Sandrich have done the adaptation and dialogue. Max Ree, Radio Pictures' art director, created and supervised sets, art, and costumes. In the cast supporting Ned Sparks are Addie McPha'l, Roberta Gale, Charles Dow Clark. George MacFarlane. Bud Jamieson, Hairy Holman and Bob M cKenzie. The "Chic Sales" will bring to the screen one of the most eminent of stage artists. "Chic" Sale, in the famous rural character created bv him. Sale, who is himself a famous humorist, will personally help to write the scenarios. The first of the "Headliners" is already completed. It stars Ford Sterling and Lucien Littlefield, under the title of "Trouble from Abroad." The first of the three "Humanettes" is in production. The story is an original by Al Boasberg and Charles Saxon, with a cast including Charles Judels, Gus Arnheim and his orchestra, and the Three Rhythm Boys. Ates. who has attained almost stellar dimensions through his unique artistry in "Cimarron" and other talking picture successes, has just completed his first short, tentativelv called "Caught with a Short Straw."" GRANT RICE SPORTLIGHT VERITABLE "WHO'S WHO" A veritable screen version of "Who's Who" is the way many exhibitors are beginning to regard the Grantland Rice Sportlight, which annually is introducing scores of internationally-famous celebs to theater audiences. During the current season the list of stars represents the elite of the social register of Sportdom. The golf fans enjoyed hearing and seeing Bobby Jones, Johnny Farreii, Tommy Armour and Glenna Collett. Air-minded folks were entertained bv Ruth Elder and Captain Frank Hawks. Violators of the traffic laws were thrilled by Sir Malcolm Campbell. Tennis players had the opportunity of checking their game with Bill Tilden, Vincent Richards, Suzanne Lenglen, Helen Wills Moody and Carl Kozeluh. Johnny Weismuller and Stubby Kruger did a lot of fancy swimming and diving, and Gar Wood demonstrated how fast a motor boat driven by a master hand can really go. Willie Hoppe, the billiard champion, showed what could be done with the cue ball, and Mort Lindsey, the bowling champion, knocked down a bunch of pins just to make the average bowler envious. Pavo Nurmi, the world's distance champion, and George Spitz, world's champion high jumper, were among the track stars. Irving Cobb, world-famous humorist, and incidentally a fisherman of renown, proved fish will bite on the right bait. Baseball was represented by several heroes, including John McGraw. Mickey Cochrane, George Earnshaw and Dazzy Vance. For lack of space we must omit the formidable list of football favorites who are numbered among the friends of Grantland Rice. * lloyd a. trench * i 5 ( i t Louis Brock Prods., Radio Pictures