Hollywood Filmograph (Jun-Aug 1929)

28 July 13, 1929 OLD WORLD JOTTINGS ENGLAND.— "Today's Cinema" reports that British International Pictures, Limited, show profits of 194,651 pounds for the year ending March 31, 1929, and have declared an interim dividend of 7l/2 per cent, making 15 per cent for the year. Capital will be increased by 500,000 pounds, with 290,000 pounds to go immediately to reserve. B. I. P. owns two-thirds ordinary capital of Associated British Cinemas, which controls 78 houses, and has an impressive list of productions with dialogue and sound for the coming year. %£& KG* t£& AUSTRALIA— The biggest merger ever effected in the entertainment world of Australia is announced from Sydney, where negotiations between two former rival iombines, Union Theatres and Hoyt Theatres, which control practically the entire cinema field in Australia, are being concluded. Some 3,500,000 pounds capital and 112 theatres are involved in the proposed merger, which means a tantamount monopoly which tends to threaten American rentings seriously. t£& 1£& t0& GERMANY. — A decision against Western Electric has been handed down in the action entered by Electrical Research Products against Tobis to test the validity of certain sound-film patents. According to a report issued by the Tobias company, and printed in an English trade journal, "Today's Cinema," Berlin Court No. 1 have now given judgment rejecting the claims of the American interests "in their entirety." Value of the subject under dispute was estimated by the court as one million marks. t2& %ofc t&fc JAPAN. — According to Matsupiro Shirai, president of the Shochiku Kinema, Limited, the largest chain of theatres in Japan, his company has installed seven principal theatres in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nagoya with Powers Cinephone sound equipment of the "Dual" model using both film and disc methods of reproduction. t^W t^W (£?• ENGLAND. — "Film Weekly" of London carries a report from their Hollywood correspondent protesting against Equity's barring of John Loder from the stage production of "Serena Blandish" in Los Angeles. Action, it is reported, is an echo of war of reprisals which began with the English Ministry of Labor barring an American actor, Alden Gay, from the London stage. They ruled that foreign players may be permitted to perform when fitted by "peculiar and special talent which makes them unreplacable by a native." Difference is of long standing, and Equity has since barred many English actors from stage here. "Film Weekly" hints that with success of Equity in Hollywood fight, English actors will be barred from screen. VOICE TRAINING STAGE— TALKING PICTURES — RADIO ROSE ZANG Studios: 138 West 58th Street, NEW YORK GALEA STUDIO 1247 North Orange Drive Phone HOlly €683 25 Casting Photos $10.00 SIZE 8x10—4 POSES TAKEN, 2 POSES FINISHED AUTO LOANS CONTRACTS REFINANC1 By BRACE FINANCE CO. 2608 South Figueroa Street, Opposite Auto Club LOS ANGELES Felix Young presents "TOP 'O THE HILL," a new play by Charles A. Kenyon co-starring HELEN MENKEN and WILLIAM BOYD. World Premiere at the MAYAN THEATRE, MONDAY EVE, JULY 8. Prices for opening night ONLY, entire main floor, $5.00. No advance in prices for balcony. Seats on sale at box office. FLICKER Jlashes by Vic Enyart Anthony Bushell, the talented English leading man who has attracted such attention on the New York stage since coming to this country in 1927 to play with Jeanne Eagles in "Her Cardboard Lover," is making his talking bow in "Disraeli," which Warner Brothers are filming with George Arliss in the title role. !*?• (£• (5* Much activity is reported at the Universal studios, under the supervision of Carl Laemmle, Jr. Several additional companies have started filming and according to announcement, Joseph Schildkraut will commence work on his newest starring vehicle, "The Mississippi Gambler," within the next few days. i^w ^W ^% Paramount officials are said to be keenly anticipating results of the combination of Mel Brown, director, and Richard Dix, star. The former is shortly to start handling Dix in his last production for the Paramount organization, which will be based on "The Boomerang" as an all-talking picture. 1,5* t?* *2& George Fawcett, whose pen keeps him busy between pictures, is off to the desert ranch which he visits so often and for about a week his address will be Victorville. Here he will combine rest and labor on some articles that he is writing. ^* t^W %c& Robert Montgomery, New York stage juvenile who made his talkie debut in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's big college life dialogue feature, will play opposite Joan Crawford in her first talking picture, "Jungle," which Jack Conway is to direct. ■^V s^V %£*t Production of "One Rainy Night," starring Laura La Plante, began at Universal City this week. The film, which will be all-talking, is being directed by Emmett Flynn. 1 1 1 A nationally famous radio voice, that of Buster Dees, will be heard in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer talking and musical pictures fo rsome time to come, that studio recently having signed him to a contract. Buster is only 19, but has been singing in vaudeville and on the radio since the early days of broadcast. He will soon be cast in his first picture. 111 Jean Hersholt has returned from San Francisco where he appeared at the opening of the new Fox Theatre as a guest of the Fox organization. With the announced postponement of the filming of "The Genius" by Paramount studios, Hersholt, it is reliably reported, is considering a tempting offer to make a stage tour. t^w ^* ^* Michael Curtis, who is directing "Under the Texas Moon" for Warner Brothers, has taken his entire cast to Palm Springs on location. icfc %0& i2* Louise Claire has been engaged by Burton King for an important role in the first of his series of light talking pictures he is directing at the Tec Art studios for release by Chesterfield Pictures. ^* %5* t^* Frances Beranger, daughter of Clara Beranger, well known scenarist, has chosen a profession of her own. Miss Beranger is making her stage debut in "The Big Pond" at the President Theatre. ^W I0& t£& William J. Craft, who directed "Companionate Troubles" with Reginald Denny, declared by the Universal star to be his best picture, is now completing "No, No, Napoleon," Denny's last production under the Universal banner. JH JM J* Edward Everett Horton left this week for New York where he will vacation on Lake George for a fortnight. He will then go down to the big city for the early autumn theatre openings. Horton has just finished "The Aviator" for Warners. He is due to make another for them in a couple of months. t^W t^W ^w Leora Spellman, heroine of the highly successful "Kongo," has been signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to play the part of "Jane," the married sister in "Kempy," which E. Huson Hepper is directing. ^V t^W t^W BUZZING AROUND: Charley Chaplin is again seen at Henry's frequently, this time with his hair dyed . . . Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford working together on the set at the United Artists studio . . . Lupez Velez on the same lot playing with Doug's big St. Bernard dog . . . Paul Whiteman giving his friends good luck rings at Universal . . . Virginia Pearson reciting at the Musketeer's Sunday night show . . . Roscoe Arbuckle watching the crowds on the Boulevard from his Lincoln sedan . . . Reginald Barker entertaining Doris Kempter, leading lady of "The Front Page" at the Sea Breeze Beach Club . . . Francis X. Bushman making a fiery speech at the Equity meeting . . . Katherine Dale Owen entertaining the press at Margaret Etringer's studio . . . Sidney Olcott and Harry Burns having luncheon at the Montemarte . . . The Columbia sales organization seeing Hollywood from a "RubberneckBus" . . . Ken Maynard selling his "Travelair," they may talk Ken into selling his plane, but try and talk hint out of his horse "Tarzan." r Jean Darling to Leave "Our Gang" Jean Darling, the petite child comedienne who has been leading lady for the Hal Roach "Our Gang" comedies for the past two and one-half years, will leave that organization on July 27 to free-lance. She is one of the best-known child actresses throughout the film world,, and her position is unique.