Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Jul 1930)

14 April 26, 1930 Larry Darmour Has Greater Plans Than Ever Motion Picture Engineers To Organize In Chicago ' Beaudine Directs Another Feature For First National Seta Is Given New Assignment At RKO Has Just Returned From Joseph A. Dubray Calls New York With Meeting That Is New Lineup Well Attended A large portion of the $2,000,000 budget required to make Radio's comedies for the coming year will be spent by the Darmour Productions in Hollywood. With the return of Larry Darmour, head of the company, from New York, where he consulted with Radio officials recently, announcement has been made of the increased plans for his studio in the making of short subjects. Not only is the individual Darmour comedy to cost more in the future, but according to Radio's plans the Darmour studios are to make a larger amount of comedies for this distributing concern than ever before. Continuation of the series of Mickey (Himself) McGuire comedies is inevitable, for these little playlets based on the cartoons of Fontaine Fox have proven themselves among the most popular of the present-day juvenile comedies. Al Herman remains the director of the "Toonerville Kids," with E. V. Durling in charge of stories and Johnny Grey supplying the dialogue. Of the new series planned one will include the addition of two celebrated comedians who are to star in Darmour-Radio comedies. Lewis R. Foster has been assigned to direct these contemplated modern travesties. Featured players will be used in the third series, and announcement will shortly go forward on the players engaged for both of these series. In the meantime plans are being made to start all three units going by May 1. 1 1 1 AFFILIATES B.P. (correct) Fineman, who for some time past has been a production official in the New York studios of Paramount, is to cast his lot with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. News of his appointment as an associate producer at the Culver City studios was made public yesterday. His work at the M-G-M plant will be in line with that he accomplished in New York, it is announced. He is to take active charge of his new duties at once. 111 IS SIGNED Reginald Sharland was signed for one of the featured roles in "Inside the Lines" which Roy Pomeroy will direct for Radio Pictures. Sharland will play a light comedy role as the British officer. Twenty-six members of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, who are located in Chicago, were called together by Mr. Joseph A. Dubray of the Bell & Howell Company for a dinner at the Palmer House in Chicago Wednesday evening, April 16. This meeting was held for the purpose of discussing the formation of a midwest section of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers with headquarters in Chicago. The petition requesting a local charter received a unanimous signature from all of the S. M. P. E. members present. Mr. Joseph A. Dubray was elected temporary chairman and Mr. J. Elliott Jenkins of Jenkins & Adair, Inc., was elected temporary secretary. The petition after receiving the additional signatures of eight other members who could not be present will be sent to the mother chapter for consideration during the S. M. P. E. convention which is to be held at Washington, D. C. May 5th to 8th. Several of Chicago's foremost business men engaged in the manufacture of motion pictures and motion picture equipment were also present at the meeting. They were very enthusiastic at the prospects of a local section and have all made out application for membership. A list of those present follows: George W. Baker (A), Chicago Heights, 111. (Projectionist with Publix Organization.) Charles Bass (A), Chicago. (Bass Camera Co.) Robert P. Burns (A), Chicago, 111. Eugene J. Cour (M), Chicago. (Pathe Sound News.) Burton W. Depue (A), Chicago. (Burton Holmes Lectures, Inc.) Oscar B. Depue (M), Chicago. (Burton Holmes Lectures, Inc.) H. A. DeVry (M), Chicago. (QRS DeVry Corp.) Michael Ellison (A), Chicago. (Peko, Inc.) Roger W. Fenimore (M), Chicago. (Chicago Film Laboratory, Inc.) Paul C. Foote (A), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) J. Elliott Jenkins (M), Chicago. (Jenkins & Adair, Inc.) (Temporary Secretary.) Mervin W. LaRue (A), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) Leroy P. Langford (M), Chicago. (National Theatre Supply Co.) Joseph A. Dubray, Chicago. (Bell Lucien Littlefield and Louise Fazenda Are Said to be Already Signed Despite the fact that his year's contract with First National Studios expired last March, William Beaudine has been retained to direct a second production following the termination of this agreement, for that concern. Having recently completed Billie Dove's stellar vehicle, "The Devil's Playground," he is now engaged collaborating with Julien Josephsen on the preparation of a new story as yet untitled which he will direct, and which will in all probability feature Louise Fazenda and Lucien Littlefield in principal roles. Beaudine's status with First National now is that of a freelance director. & Howell Co.) (Temporary Chairman.) Stanley & Lukes, Chicago. (Projectionist and Sound Supervisor, Granada Theatre.) R. Fawn Mitchell (A), Chicago, 111. (Bell & Howell Co.) Earle S. Pearsall, Jr. (M), Chicago. (Atlas Educational Film Co.) Chas. E. Phillimore (A), Chicago. (Peko, Inc.) A. Shapiro (M), Chicago. (Universal Stamping & Mfg. Co.) John A. Shimek (A), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) O. F. Spahr (M), Chicago. B. E. Stechbart (M), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) Carrington H. Stone (A), Chicago. (Jenkins & Adair, Inc.) Morton L. Vance (A), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) J. G. Zuber (A), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) Those who were unable to attend, but who expressed interest in the formation of the new section of the S. M. P. E., are: Daniel F. Tattenham (A), Chicago. (Kalocolor Pictures, Inc.) J. E. McAuley (M), Chicago. Bertel J. Kleerup (A), Chicago. E. A. Bertram (A), Chicago. (Film Lab. Inc.) J. H. McNabb (M), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) A. S. Howell (M), Chicago. C. A. Ziebarth (M), Chicago. (Bell & Howell Co.) Oscar U. Zerk (M), Chicago. (A) Associate member. (M) Member. Untitled Feature to Star Robt. Armstrong and Louis Wolheim What is conisdered the directorial plum of the season — the filming of Radio Pictures' first wide-film outdoor adventure romance — has been awarded to George B. Seitz. Announcement of his assignment as director of James A. Creelman's original railroad story, as yet untitled, was made today by William LeBaron, vice-president in charge of R-K-O production. Seitz will take a company of Radio Pictures' players, cameramen and sound experts to the northwestern part of the United States, where exterior scenes will be filmed along the right-of-way of a transcontinental railroad. The cast will be headed by Robert Armstrong and Louis Wolheim. Myles Connolly is associate producer. Seitz came into national prominence when he directed Richard Dix in "The Vanishing American." He joined Radio Pictures as director of "Midnight Mystery," adapted from the stage play, "Hawk Island." 111 "BEWARE OF WOMEN" Gertrude Astor, captivating blonde and foil for many comedy stars, has been signed for the leading feminine role in "Beware of Women," the comedy short starring George Sidney and Charlie Murray, being produced by Nat Ross Productions for Universal. In "Beware of Women" the celebrated purveyors of dialects, Messrs. Sidney and Murray, have an opportunity to develop some highly amusing love scenes with the glamorous Miss Astor. Nat Ross, producer, is the director, and Hampton Del Ruth, well-known screen writer, has supplied the dialogue and continuity for this comedy. 111 HAS CHARGE Lee Zahler, composer and musical director for many leading sound productions, has been engaged by Nat Ross, producer of the George SidneyCharlie Murray comedy shorts that are to be released by Universal. He will have charge of all music, arranging scores and the compositions used in the series. Zahler's long experience with film music, dating back to the days of the silent film, makes him well equipped to handle this phase of production at Universal City. He has created musical scores and songs for Darmour Productions, Tiffany, Universal and others.