Hollywood Filmograph (Jan-Dec 1933)

OCT. 21, 1933 SPORTS Triplett Again in Lead For Pacific Coast Championship With Win in 100-Lap Race Lady Luck, or a negligent mechanic, certainly gummed up the works for Rex Mays last Wednesday night, in the 1 00-lap main event which closed the night races at the Legion Ascot Speedway. Rex took the lead in the first turn and how that boy drove. By the 20th lap, he was a quarter of a lap ahead of his nearest contender and he kept widening his lead until just eight laps before the finish he ran out of gas. What a break! When he re-entered the race, he was back in fifth position and almost one-half a lap behind — then Rex really DROVE nosing out Herb Balmer and Chet Gardner on the last turn, thereby annexing third position. BUT it availed him not because Ernie Triplett stepped into the lead when Mays stopped for gas, and annexed sufficient points to again take the lead for the Pacific Coast Championship. Mel Keneally, who has been one of our most consistant drivers on the track and who somehow or other never seems to be able to capture first position, took the flag for second position and what an ovation the crowd gave him. Good driving Mel — now let's have a first — just for luck. Chet Gardner, who has just returned from the East, seemed to have some difficulty driving under the arcs for he never changed positions — other than moving up when Al Gordon and Kelly Petillo were forced out of the race with motor trouble. The next race at the Legion Ascot Speedway is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, October 29th at 2:30 P.M. We will be there— will you? Well, we'll be seeinya. Senator Marconi and His Wife, Marchesa Maria Cristina, Come to Hollywood It doesn't make any difference what other famous cities do for World celebrities, you can always depend that Hollywood will be the high spot of their visit to America. To this end Radio Studios Friday noon choose their studio as a fitting place to welcome Senator Gugliemo Marconi, the man who made radio practical and brought World events to the homes of the common people. The greatest gathering of famous celebrities of the screen. Executives, Directors, Writers and Players, than has probably ever been seen before , attended a luncheon on one of the huge stages, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. While Senator Marconi was not called upon to make the usual speech, the celebrities were only too eager to greet this celebrated personage. To give you an idea of those present, we noticed Joseph Schenck, Jesse Lasky, Sam Goldwyn, Charles Rogers, Mary Pickford, Al Kaufman, John Barrymore, Warren Williams, Warner Baxter, Frank Borzage, Wm. Ashe, King Vidor, Frank Capra, Jackie Cooper, Wheeler and Woolsey, Natalie Moorehead, William Howard, Al Green, Myles Connoley, Victor McLaglen, Russ Colombo, Georgie Raft, Richard Dix, Marian Segall, Nelson Eddy, Ruth Etting, Mona Maris, Pandro Berman, Cliff Reed, Hal Wallis, Irving Berlin, Louis B. Mayer, Louis Lewyn, May Robson, Irving Thalberg, Alison Skipworth, Sally O'Neil, Mae Clark, Clarence Brown, Betty Furness, Max Loewenthal and prominent writers of the dailies and fan magazines. B. B. Kahane, president of RKO Pictures, made a speech of welcome from Hollywood to Senator Marconi and showed some remarkable scenes from their latest musical production, "Flying Down to Rio." Hal Roberts Orchestra Opens at Rainbow Gardens Hal Roberts again proves himself a master music director judging from the ovation he received at the Rainbow Gardens last Thursday night. This is Mr. Roberts' first attempt leading a dance orchestra, and he seems as well adapted to this type of music as he was with his more classical bands. That cute little trick, Martha Tilton, and Charles Blair, who has a voice that appeals to men as well as women had the crowd enthusiastic for the manner in which they put over their songs. The waltz contest winners were Mr. Dave White and Miss Weston. They were awarded some very beautiful twenty-four inch trophies. Russ Cantor happy to be back at Frank Sebastian's Cotton Club Culver City MELROSE CARPENTER AND PAINT SHOP £ftStt5£3r and "!~TUSSSS • OR-8386; WH-3304 HOLLYWOOD ACTORS AND WRITERS' GUILD HOLDS GREAT MASS MEETING (Continued from page 1 ) cover up their own deficiencies in management of the industry and their stock gambling, as well as their practice of voting themselves huge bonuses and outrageous salaries. The first speaker, John Howard Lawson, president of the Screen Writers'Guild, described his recent trip to Washington. "I found a complete misunderstanding," he said. "What has come out of Washington is a producers' code. It is not a fair document. If the writer, actor or director cannot do business with his agent without interference from producers, they might as well have no agent. This attack upon creative workers means a fifty per cent cut in all salaries. Now we have a new attack upon the bread and butter of the men and women here tonight. The actual way to fight this will be dealt with by other speakers. Had we been organized this thing never could have happened. We must have responsible organization. We will be fair with them (the producers) if they are fair with us." Mrs. Lucille Gleason followed Lawson, speaking briefly. "All we are and all we have," she said, "we owe to the writers, and I offer the services of myself, my husband and my son." Russell Gleason, who with William Bakewell, has been actively working for the Guild, signing many new members. Oliver A. P. Garrett: "We took a fifty per cent cut — and the company declared a dividend. The entire spirit of the code is not to raise salaries. There never has been a suggestion on the part of the Screen Writers' Guild that they intended to strike. We'll never settle questions under a code, but by fair arbitration." Morgan Wallace: "There's a new deal. We need a permanent organization. This is a democratic organization. This is an organization for everybody. The stars and feature players insisted that all be represented. There are places left on the Advisory Board for the bit player and the extra. This can be made the greatest actors' organization the world has ever known." President Cantor: (speaking solemnly) "This is something new: something new: The supporting cats has been stealing pictures for years . . . Now I want you to hear a man who is a member. He can help you . . . Mr. Fredric March. President Cantor's humorous comments almost "broke" March. The audience was kept in a constant laugh by the adroit witticisms of the great comedian. Cantor's stage art sparkles in the presence of an audience and his snappy cracks as he proceeds with the meeting really constitute a good show. Frederic March: "All I know is that the code is being prepared in Washington . . . We are not out looking for trouble: but we do need to be prepared. We are one hundred per cent for labor . . . When an actor is through — God knows he's through." Mr. March referred to values and rewards for work in several fields. "Mr. Harry Warner, if he could sign Mr. Roosevelt tomorrow for eight times his salary, would do so." This to support the argument that an actor is worth what he draws at the box-office. "Believe me, we need organization. Marion Davies has joined. A band of thirty or forty directors are to form a Screen Directors' Guild. If we actors, writers and directors had organized four months ago and we had sent representatives to Washington, there would be no meeting here tonight." Ralph Block, Screen Writers' Guild: Mr. Block made a lengthy speech in which he condemned articles 4 and 5 as now being inserted in the code. Among other things he said: "Those who are trying to arrange this code are trying to evade the law. We can't allow these two organizations to compromise. I cannot believe that the Government will sacrifice the creative talent of the United States to avoid offending Hollywood producers. I can't believe they (Washington) can have a misconception of what goes on in Hollywood. I believe the producers have gone to extremes to make the people believe that Hollywood is a place which must be 'handled'." This in re the statement that producer strategy is encouraging the general belief that Hollywood picture people are beyond the pale, morally. Block scored Hollywood's detractors and defended the general decency of film workers. He directly accused producers of doing the opposite. President Cantor: "I'm thinking seriously, I'm wondering if the producers in Washington are not creating a smokescreen to cover their own actions. The only weapon you have to fight those fellows who will not arbitrate, is NOT TO WORK. While we are not merging, we have a great regard for the writers. We want to appoint a committee, to work with a committee of writers. And I want the directors to form a committee, so that we can fight. James Cagney, Boris Karlof, Frank Morgan and Noel Madison are appointed to the actors' committee." Writers: Francis Marion, Ernest Pascal, Horace Jackson, Francis E. Faragoh. Directors' committee will be named later. The writers' and directors' committees will be named and will meet with the actors' committee, and a general line of action will be worked out. Thus we find all the creative ends of the production of pictures solidly lined up to fight to the death the motion picture code as allegedly framed by the producers FOR producers. Elliott Nugent directs RKO-Radio's "Girl Meets Boy," Frances Dee and Joel McCrea have the leads. Norman Taurog will direct "We're Not Dressing," Bing Crosby's picture. Burns and Allen, Ethel Merman and W. C. Fields have spots.