Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1932)

HOLLYWOOD FILMOGRAPH k Guaranty Frolics to be Staged Thursday to Help Investors Phil Friedman Leaves Universal Casting Post Producers and Finance Magnates Prepare Shakeup and Salary Cut DR. HARRY FINKLE WILL FINALLY CAIN SUPPORT FOR HIS WORTHY CAUSE The 'Guaranty Frolic' will feature the Top Notch stars of the Screen, Stage and Radio at the Philharmonic Auditorium May 5th. Hollywood Churches, Clubs, Motion Picture studios, The Breakfast Club and other organizations are lending their hearty support to assure the sucess of Hollywood's own show. Dancing girls from Fanchon & Marco Ideas together with their all star acts including some fifty Meglin Kiddies will be one of the stellar attractions of the bill. Citizens will have their first opportunity to witness the L. A. Police Dept. Championship Pistol team in a hair-raising exhibition of skilled markmanship with Traffic Officer Dirck as the Human Target. The team will be captained by Asst. Chief James Davis, one of America's crack shots. The Pulmotor Unit of the Los Angeles Fire Dept. will stage an act demonstrating first aid and resuscitation. In all, the program will number some thirty headline acts with a Grand Finale presenting the "BREADLINE PERSONALITY PAGEANT" with 'Forty Screen Debutantes in Thirty-nine Frocks', in competition for silver trophies and loving cups awarded by film celebrities. The evening proceeding the performance hugh studio lights will play on a Twilight Parade of these personality candidates, each in her own latest model sport roadster will leave the Ambassador Hotel at Wilshire Bowl at 6:45 Wednesday evening, headed by the Los Angeles Fire Department Band, and the official cars of the Mayor, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Sheriff and foreign consuls. Pauline Parker, formerly with the Civic Opera of St. Louis and the Goodman Theatre of Chicago is directing the activities of the Personality Presentation and Joseph A. Eliason has been appointed Stage Manager of the FROLIC. The above show is be given under the auspices of the Guaranty Depositors Restoration Organizaiton, comprising some eight thousand former depositors of the defunt Beesemeyer Building & Loan Association with Dr. Harry Finkel as President. The regular monthly mass meeting of the above association will be held at the Fairfax High School Auditorium on the evening of May 3rd. to make final arrangements for the Parade and Frolic. "RIDERS OF DEATH VALLEY" A. UNIVERSAL PICTURE By ARTHUR FORDE Perhaps the Tom Mix fans would prefer to see a little more action in his pictures, as we heard a couple of his admirers,. (small boys), voice their opinion iih the lobby of the Fairfax TTheatrk,— Oh Gee! He did'nt do nothing. However, this is only a guess, and "Riders of Death Valley" is a darned good yarn, as written by Jack Cunningham, who certainly knows his drama. This latest story of the hardships of Death Valley is dramatically told, and Tom Mix surprised us with his acting ability. Al Rogell, directed masterfully and gave us a beautiful production in company of an excellent cast. These people splendidly reciprocated to his direction, and had among its players, such well known names as Fred Kohler, Lois Wilson, Mae Busch, Forrest Stanley, Willard Robertson, Frank Hagney, the wonder horse "Tony" and cute little Edith Fellowes. However, its grand entertainment, but we missed some of the thrills of the old Tom Mix pictures. Needless to say, Dan Clarke photographed the production, and some of his shots of Death Valley were superb. Don't think that Tom Mix is not as great a favorite as ever, as the kids as well as the grown ups, registered their approval in as noisy a manner as ever. "ESCAPADE" A CHESTERFIELD PICTURE There has been much talk recently regarding the difference between an Independent and a so-called Major picture but we fail to see the point, except that in many instances, the Independent producer comes out on the right side of the ledger, as far as this reviewer can see. "Escapade" is such an interesting story and so well constructed, that it holds your interest from the start to the finish. The yarn concerns a husband who as too busy to give the right attention to his beautiful wife, — a young brother of the husband who is the black sheep of the family, and his companion jail bird, who furnishes the plot. AND such a cast — Jameson Thomas, could not be bettered as "The Busy Husband" and Anthony Bushell as "The Young Brother" is perfect. Sally Blane, is getting loveljer than ever and her acting ability in this one, could not be questioned. Thomas Jackson, is another who should be especially commended and Walter Long, as "The Menace", is as villianous as ever. AFTER YEARS OF FINE SERVICE — HELPED TO RAISE BIG U STANDARD One of the surprises of the past week was Phil Friedman's handing in his resignation at Universal City to Carl Laemmle Jr., after being the main stay of the companies casting offices for years, in fact, it was the untiring work of Mr. Friedman that has helped to raise the big U pictures to the high standard that they have attained, and which has made them one of the major studios along with the best of 'em. Mr. Friedman resigned, because he was dissatisfied with his present salary, which lias never been on a par with what similar casting directors were earning in so important a post, we doubt if Fred Datig who is considered the pioneer and peer of all casting directors has had any more important deals to handle in Paramount pictures than has Casting Director Friedman, but, Universal has seen fit to hold down the pay check of it's casting director to the point of where, he figured the time demanded of him to do justice to his work, was greater than what the company were paying him, so he asked to be relieved of his duties, and Dave Werner who has been buying stories for Universal for years has been appointed casting director. Carmelita Geraghty, was seen briefly as "A Moll" of the crooks, but showed up to great advantage. Am leaving to the last the information that Richard Thorpe directed this clever story, but we have seen several pictures recently of his work and they always show "distinction ". When you see "Escapade" advertised at your favorite theatre be sure and see it, as we guarantee "real entertainment" with this latest George Bachellor production. "SKY BRIDE" A PARAMOUNT PICTURE Richard Arlen, goes over big in his latest offering, which is of the air, but luckily not of the war. This one concerns those intrepid men who earn a precarious living by stunt flying, at County Fairs and Carnivals. Thrills, laughs and drama, are all combined, and the screen play by Joseph Manciewicz, Agnes Brand Leahy and Grover Jones is excellenthly constructed, with a new angle in flying pictures. Jack Oak'ie, as "A Promotor", has a part which exactly suits his abilities and Virginia Bruce, supplies the necessary feminine touch, with her pulchritude and acting ability. , Louie Closser Hale, is seen in another sympathetic role, which she knows so well to do. Tom Douglas, Harold Goodwin, Robert Coogan, Charles Satrrett, Randolph Scott, Hooper Acherly, Sid Saylor, Frank Rice, VOTE FOR WILLIAM C. BONELLI FOR MAYOR HOlly 9257 $1.00 Day Up RE-TAN HOTEL HENRY POPPEN, Proprietor MODERN ROOMS Catering io the Profeslion 1732 Wbitely Avenue $5.50 Week Up BIG STICK ALREADY HAS STARTED TO FALL ON MANY HEADS The whole thing is pungently stated in the remark of an old time movie extra, overheard on the Boulevard the other day, "The extras haven't any ambition any more. The time was, eight or ten years ago, when a new person came to Hollywood he was imbued with ambition, feeling that there was a chance to compete and get ahead. But that spirit is no more. We realize that there is no use to strive, because nobody will gjve us an honest chance. We merely go forward, from day to day, eking out a livehood for the sake of easy money, or because habit has enslaved us to Hollywood. If we thought we had a chance against petty politics, favoritism and gross stupidity, we would do our very best for this business." That remark cajn be underscored with dittos for everybody who has tried to contribute some talent to Hollywood. It is true not only of extras, but of writers and the many aspirants in other branches of the industry. Hollywood has merely scratched the surface of its vast resources of talent. So if the business wallows in depression, and sinks it will be the fault of those who control it today. The crucial year is ahead. Take heed and do something. Producers! The big stick will sooin be in the air around these parts and producers, stars, and directors, who are in the big money today, will be given a taste of what they have given others in the past and they will taste, the power of this weapon, which will knock 'em down to their real size and earning power, and they will have to take this or leave the industry, we have this from very good authority. A certain producer who just arrived here from the East turned on his co-workers as if they were a lot of strangers, and told them just as much as we have just stated would happen, and in many instances, the men have refused to take a cut and walked off of the lots, and there are many more who will do likewise. Harry Stafford and Jack Baston essay their several roles successfully. Paramount selected Stephen Roberts to direct this one, and he shows what brains can do, in the right direction. DaVid Abel and Charles Marshall showed us some lovely photography and the production was well up to the hight standard of Paramount pictures. $1.00— "WE GROW HAIR"— $1.00 National Scalp Specialists 1780 Highland Ave. HO. 9923 DOWNTOWN KNOfflCt -51 ADCAD& 9LDG. MU.5000.