The Film Daily (1936)

THE ■cBZH DAILV Friday, July 31, 1936 A "JUtiU" ko*» Hollywood "Ms // By RALPH WILK "C MANUEL COHEN is going to *-* have a swell studio layout when the General Service plant, which he has leased, has been modernized. Cohen, who is to produce for Paramount release, plans to spend some $250,000 in improving the studios. A new sound stage will be built and two other stages will be modernized. A $50,000 carpenter shop, a still photo s'tudio and a hospital also will be erected. T V ▼ Richard Cromwell, who has temporarily deserted Hollywood for the east, will make his stage debut next week in "So Proudly We Hail," by Joseph Viertel, at the Red Barn Theater, Locust Valley, L. I., operated by D. A. Doran. Louise Beavers has been signed by Principal Productions for a featured role in "Toinette's Philip," first of three features in which Bobby Breen will be starred by Sol Lesser for RKO-Radio Pictures. Gene Fowler, writer on the staff of 20th Century-Fox, has signed a renewal of his studio contract for one year. He is now en route to his summer home on Fire Island, and will return to Hollywood November 1. Para. Branch Changes Chicago — Following changes in the Paramount ranks — all of them in Eddie Fontaine's district: Otto Bolle, who resigned as branch manager in Detroit to accept a post in 20th Century-Fox's foreign department, will be replaced by Johnnie Howard, who has been branch manager for Paramount in Indianapolis. Howard will be replaced by Barney Barnard, who has been with the Chicago Paramount exchange for the last 12 years. Harry Hamburg, who has been a city salesman in Chicago for many years, will be the new Chicago sales manager. Harold Wirthwein, country salesman, has been moved into the city, and Ben Elrod has been promoted from circuit booker to salesman. Farewell parties have been given for Bolle, Howard and Barnard. A testimonial dinner was held for Bolle in Detroit on Monday night. A party was given by the Variety Club Friday night, in Indianapolis, for Howard. A party was given to Barnard by the Chicago Paramounteers in the Knickerbocker hotel Monday. He was presented with a traveling bag and desk set. Troy Brown, world heavyweight dancing champion, who weighs in at 310 pounds, has been assigned a role in "Can This Be Dixie?" the Jane Withers musical now in production at 20th Century-Fox. T W T Scott Darling and Charles Belden are at work on the screen play for "Charlie Chan At the Opera," Warner Oland's next stellar assignment in that detective film series being produced by 20th Century-Fox. v v v Universal has assigned Michael Loring, popular young contract baritone singer, to the cast of "Yellowstone." T ▼ T J. Carrol Naish has been signed for "We Who Are About to Die," the David Lamson original story for RKO Studios. Naish, a young man in real life, recently played a 90year-old character in "Ramona." T ▼ ▼ Grady Sut'ton is at work in a comedy role in the Paramount picture "Valiant is 'the Word for Carrie." Sutton swings over to the Paramount lot from RKO-Pathe studios, where he completed the comedy lead ip Sol Lesser's "King of the Royal Mounted," starring Robert Kent. ▼ T T "The Years Are So Long," based on the novel by Josephine Lawrence, will be the first picture which Leo McCarey will produce and direct for Paramount under his new three-year contact which calls for the production of two films annually. T T r Jean Chatburn and Frank Orsatti, the agent, are now Mr. and Mrs. Mary Brian returns to the Columbia lot for a leading role in "Poker Face," from the story by Carl Clausen. T T ▼ With addition of Lionel Barrymore, Henry Daniell and Elizabeth Allan, the cast of "Camille" has been completed. The picture starts at the M-G-M studio this week with Greta Garbo in the feminine lead and Robert Taylor opposite her. Other outstanding names in the cast include Lenore Ulric, Rex O'Malley, Laura Hope Crews, May Robson, Russell Hardie, Barry Norton, Robert Warwick, King Baggot and John Bryan, grandson of William Jennings Bryan. ▼ T T "Where's Elmer?" has been selected as final title for the M-G-M picture formerly known as "Chain Lightning." Edwin L. Marin is directing this film, with Lucien Hubbard and Michael Fessier co-producers. Heading the cast are Stuart Erwin, Betty Furness, E. E. Clive, Edward Brophy, Edmund Gwenn and Robert Armstrong. T ▼ T Sally Martin, the five-year-old remembered for her work with Virginia "Pigtails" Weidler in "Timothy's Quest," has been signed by Paramount to play a featured role in "Girl of the Jungle," in which Dorothy La Mour of radio fame will make her screen debut in the title role. Also in the cast are Ray Milland, Akim Tamiroff, Sir Guy Standing, Wendy Barrie, Mala and Lynne Overman. ▼ T T Maynard Homes has been assigned a role in Mae West's next Short Shots from Eastern Studios By CHARLES AUCOATE EDUCATIONAL Pictures production staff completed work yesterday on a two-reel comedy short featuring Tim and Irene and titled "The Wacky Family". William Watson directed, with Warren Murray assisting and Chris Beute doing the casting. • Having completed shots of Ken Murray and his orchestra behind the scenes at the Riviera, Carl Timmon returned yesterday from Saratoga, where he supervised the shooting of the opening of the races at the famous Spa. The short will be released in Paramount's "Highlight" series. • "Mad Money", the first of the Court of Human Relations series recently produced at the Biograph studio for Columbia release, is now in the cutting room. Featured in the cast, which was directed by Ben K. Blake, are William Harrigan, Regine Wallace and Robert T. Haines, supported by a cast of 50. Harold Godsoe assisted on the direction. Sets are now being erected at the General Service studio in Astoria for Jefferson Machamer's first "Gags and Gals" picture for Educational. Al Christie will start shooting next week. One hundred of Broadway's most beautiful girls have made tests in the search for the best girl to represent the artist's prize model in this comedy. • Earl Carroll spent yesterday at the General Service studio making a test of Nora Anderson for a leading part in his first production which is scheduled to go into work soon at the Twentieth Century-Fox lot on the coast. picture, to be produced by Emanuel Cohen under Henry Hathaway's direction, for release by Paramount. Homes joins a cast which includes Randolph Scott, Warren William, Isabel Jewell and Alice Brady. The film is scheduled to go into production Wednesday. "Over the Wall," new story of life in and out of prison by Warden Lewis E. Lawes of Sing Sing, will go into production a't a very early date at the First National studios. Lloyd Bacon has been definitely assigned to direct the picture. Harry Sauber and Ben Markson have completed the screen play. The chief masculine role will probably be played by Ross Alexander. "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat," latest of the Perry Mason detective thrillers written by Erie Stanley Gardner, has been completed at First National. For the first time the character of Perry Mason, hitherto portrayed on the screen by Warren William and William Po-' well, is interpreted by Ricardo Cortez. Big Demand for Pre Dates On "Mary of Scotland" Following yesterday's world premiere of "Mary of Scotland" at Radio City Music Hall, which was one of the biggest, summer openings at the house, pre-release bookings were being made at an unprecedented rate, according to Jules Levy, vice-presidenth and general sales manager of RKO Radio. Among theaters signed up for early runs are: Golden Gate, San Francisco; Criterion, Bar Harbor, Me.; Orpheum, Denver; Palace, Rochester; Keith, Boston; Keith, Washington; Keith, Lowell; Orpheum, Minneapolis; Palace, Chicago; Orpheum, New Orleans; Palace, Columbus; Hippodrome, Cleveland; Iowa, Cedar Rapids; Pantages and Hillstreet, Los Angeles and others. Levy said that at the present rate he expects more than 100 theaters will be playing pre-release special engagements. Gen'! Theaters Equipment Files in New York State Albany — General Theaters Equipment Corp., chartered in Delaware, has filed a certificate of statement and designation with the Secretary of State here to enable the firm to do business in New York State. Earl G. Hines is president of the company, which was recently reorganized.