Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Jul 1930)

20 May 11, 1930 J. Charles Davis, 2nd, Sues Fox Films Leftwich. to Stage Shows on West Coast Claims Title of 'The Arizona Kid' Belongs to Him Injunction proceedings to restrain the Fox Film Corporation, its subsidiaries and exhibitors from releasing or showing "The Arizona Kid," starring Warner Baxter, under that title, have been instituted in the Superior Court of Los Angeles by J. Charles Davis II, of the J. Charles Davis Productions, 9147 Venice boulevard, through his attorney, Walter C. Durst of the H. W. Hellman Building. Davis has produced and is now re' leasing throughout the world a motion picture of the same title starring Art Acord. Papers were served on the Fox organization Thursday. Davis charges, in his complaint, the Fox organization with unfair competition and failure to respect its own promise not to use the title. Davis asserts that he produced "The Arizona Kid," starring Acord, in the latter part of 1929, and that in March of this year Fox officials asked him for permission to use the title. He refused and he contends the Fox officials notified him the title would not be used. Davis then asserts that in April of this year he learned that the Fox organization had decided to release the picture as "The Arizona Kid," irrespective of the fact that he now has a picture on the market under that title. When he protested he asserts the Fox officials stated they would not make any change. Davis asserts the action of the Fox organization establishes a serious precedent, that of failing to recognize the prior rights of another producing company and opening the way for usurping titles. i 1 i GRIBBON MAKES HIT Harry Gribbon has been overwhelmed with congratulations for his work in the Masquers' Revels when he revived a former act when he was a vaudeville headliner, Jed Prouty, filled by May Emory (Mrs. Gribbon). This is the first time Gribbon has been seen in some time in his specialties, and the first that Prouty has "done an Eltinge." The latter also scored and made a very stunning "femme." Gribbon's first comedy for Pathe, "Swell People," was successfully previewed last week. TROUPERS CLUB The Troupers' Club Is Due for Another Inning By CORA SHANNON Next Sunday, May 18, at the Troupers' Green Room, Hollywood, their festive board is already being spread by the hospitable hands of Mrs. Al Hart, they find themselves well pleased therein. The dinner will be followed by an enticing program, "The Rittiker's" carrying the lead, under the marvelous direction of Henry Roquemore. It is predicted that this portrayal will rank first in all previous ones at the Troupers' Green Room, especially citing a wonderful production, with hats off to Fern Emmett, "The Trail of Thespus," given for the St. Patrick's Day celebration, recently, those present who are responsible for the production of talkies will not have lost an opportunity, nor will they have failed by their presence to give joy to the troupers one and all, for like "The Colonel's Lady, and Rosie O' Grady— ." Frank Cooley, the real dispenser of courtesies, has the honor of being the president. The president of the most exclusive club on earth. What more could be said than that? This is a free country and we all voted for Frank Cooley. It is not hard to understand why this particular club is entitled to that broad endowment, since the Troupers' Club in Hollywood is the only club on earth whose members are known — 90 per cent strong, to 90 per cent of all the people on earth. Broadway to Hollywood, and back around all the rest of the world from Hollywood to Broadway. Its members are known individually, loved individually, and spoken of intimately in friendly ways, and collectively as the most widely loved people the world has ever known. Their character portrayals, their stage achievement, their personalities, abilities, weaknesses, loved, forgiven, honored. Most enjoyed people in the world today. Why not — what is it they do for a living? Try to make others happy, isn't it? That's their job. Marvelous thing for those less gifted, perhaps. Therefore, I repeat, naturally the Troupers' Club has to be the most exclusive club known. At this time perhaps the busiest, we would judge, the demand is such — the exclusion also adds to the demand, just now the talkies — last month of all the applications for membership only four applicants were found eligible. The requirements for membership — exacts of each applicant the submission of documentary evidence showing feature work on the speaking stage for a given number of years. Picture work, talkies, silent drama, adds, enhances, but picture work — no matter how great, will not alone fulfill the requirements, nor satisfy the object and vision of this club. There are no exceptions to "ADAM AND FALLEN MAN" Was the subject of the LessonSermon Sunday in all branches of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientists, in Boston, Mass. One of the Scripture selections included Paul's statements to the Romans: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. . . . But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Another citation contained Paul's words to the Corinthians, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." A passage from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, stated, "The great truth in the Science of being, that the real man was, is, and ever shall be perfect, is incontrovertible; for if man is the image, reflection, of God, he is neither inverted nor subverted, but upright and Godlike." these rules — hence. It is not easy Of necessity, Hollywood was the natural birth place of this demand. The club was two years old at the advent of the talkies. Max Factor — that man of vision — early recognized the direction in which this club was heading. He presented the Troupers' Club with a starter of five hundred dollars ($500) to begin a building fund. Lately Lawrence Holmes, also a member, volunteered five acres of land and presented the deed for same — all clear, ready to break ground for country club — on a most beautiful site. Mr. Holmes and Mr. Adams, new members, entertained the entire club on that site last summer, a regular housewarming without the house, they most generously provided everything else to be wished for. Then the discussion pro and con just where and when to start breaking dirt. The Troupers have from the beginning added, bit by bit, to their bank account until it reached in the "Tnd' " and then some. And now we are on our way. It might be a lack of courtesy to mention in the only actual picture newspaper known — meaning the Hollywood Filmograph — (no paper could ever have done more for anybody than Harry Burns, otherwise the Filmograph), so trading on his generosity I'd like to say that also the Hollywood News is the first outside paper who so graciously added their recognition at a time when it meant most. As Hollywood was the birthplace of all pictures .later the talkies, until the picture industry holds third place "Hi There" Will Be the First to Open in San Francisco New York has always enjoyed the distinction of being the theatrical center of the United States. Now that monopoly is to be disturbed, according to Alexander Leftwich, famous stage director and producer. Mr. and Mrs. Leftwich, who acts as his assistant, are in Los Angeles and San Francisco, planning to direct a series of stage plays. These will later be sent to New York. Their first effort will be in "Hi There," opening in San Francisco shortly. It comes to Los Angeles before seeing Broadway. The chorus and most of the cast were assembled in Hollywood recently, with Lon Murray and Odette Myrtill, known for her work in "White Lilacs" and other Shubert productions, heading the list of artists assembled by Leftwich. Paul Bissinger, of San Francisco, is producing the show, the first of a series. Such productions as "Strike Up the Band," "Connecticut Yankee," "Big Boy," "The Little Show," "Hold Everything," are to the credit of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Leftwich. 1 i 1 Monty Directs Word has just reached us from London that Monty Banks has directed "Not So Quiet On the Western Front" for British International Pictures, Ltd. They have a new screen comedian, Leslie Fuller, who is supported by Wilfred Temple, Stella Browne, Gladys Cruikshank, Gerard Lyley, Dimitri Vetter, Syd Courteney, Frank Melroyd, Mona Goya, Olivette, Aileen Despard, Ena Riess, Marjorie Lotinga and the Margate Ped'lers. The story is credited to Lola Harvey and Syd Courteney while the songs and lyrics are by Reginald Morgan, Jimmy Kennedy, William Helmore, Val Valentine, Eric Coates and Gordon McConnell. From the illustrations at hand, it looks like a take-off on the famous novel, "All Quiet on the Western Front." in the financial rating in the business world today, the birth of this club was automatically a necessity of the industry. Not that we are less thankful to that great industry — the best paid employes, not excepting the President of the United States among some of them. But the thing that we all owe most to was the vision in the beginning to see what such a club would mean of the dear Monte Collins who went West not so long ago and was a good trouper to his last day.