The Hollywood Reporter (Jan-Jun 1933)

March n. 1933 M l^iP©iTilt Page Three ■ Al lOII^ I]\ HEATED MEETING TAIL TO APPHOVE THE CUT Huston and Grant The Watch Dogs' More than 200 actors and actresses, part of them Academy members, met at the Writers Club last night and selected Walter Huston and Laurence Grant as their representatives on the "watch dog" committee which is to keep tabs on the operation of the fifty per cent cut plan — if it goes into operation. The meeting did not approve the cut. An advisory committee of five was selected to work with Messrs Huston and Grant. The five are Robert Emmett O'Connor, Lewis Stone, Charles Bickford. Wallace Beery and Alan Dinehart. Reginald Barlow presided, with Conrad Nagel. Sam Hardy and Laurence Grant at the desk with him. The meeting, called for the purpose of approving or disapproving the resolution of the Academy Board at the meeting Tuesday, was a long time getting around to that subject, and grew extremely heated. There were many who wanted to get facts, but these seemed not to be forthcoming. One man, John Miljan. finally walked out of the meeting in disgust, after announcing that he resigned from the Academy. Even steam roller tactics didn't work, Bob O'Connor blocking the wheels most of the time. There was considerable objection to Huston being appointed as the committee member, mainly because he was not present, but Lewis Stone. Fredric March and Richard Barthelmess all declined the |ob. so Huston was finally approved. The meeting seemed bitterly opposed to the cut idea, although several admitted that they had accepted it. Some enthusiasm was aroused by Ivan Simpson, who declared that the 50 per cent plan was unfair and advocated a sliding scale of cuts so the little fellow wouldn't be hit so heavily._ -c Tieetin-; finally approved the resolution adopted by the Academy Board before it went into session with the Producers Association Tuesday night. The later resolution, in which the Board recommended that the fifty per cent cut be accepted, was not read. Among the players present, in addition to those already mentioned, were Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Clive Brook, Ernest Torrence. Anna May Wong. Jean Hersholt, Sam Hardy. Robert McWade. Chester Morris. Kenneth Thomson. Jack Oakie, Robert McWade and many more. Good News At Para. Paramount advised all employees yesterday that salary checks unpaid Wednesday, due to inability to transfer funds here from the East, have been made out and will be distributed just as soon as the bank holiday ends The memorandum declared funds were available for the payroll, and would be here as soon as the banks reopen. Sorry, Mr. Lloyd This paper, last Thursday morning, quoted Frank Lloyd as saying: "They stuck two guns in our tthe Academy Board of Directors) bellies and stampeded us into writing Our recommendation for the cut." Mr Lloyd denies having made this statement and, in fairness to him, we are glad to make a retraction. The printing of the alleged statement was not made through the presence of this reporter at the meeting, but came from people who were there and who evidently misquoted Mr. Lloyd. Banks Won't Ask Interest From Fox New York. — One feature of the new arrangement made with Sidney R. Kent for the future management of the affairs of the Fox Film Corporation is understood to be an agreement on the part of the banks that they will withhold their demands for interest on bonds and other securities if funds to pay these are not available In other words. Kent is being given an absolutely free rein to run the company as he sees fit and to pay the interest whenever he can The next interest payment falls on April 1. Murphy On *lce Box' Ralph Murphy will direct "The Baby In The Ice Box" for Charles R. Rogers at Paramount. Picture will be the eighth and final one of the series Rogers makes for this season for Paramount release, A new title will be selected for release. N.Y. Office Cuts Stir Pandemonium New York— Drastic cuts made in many offices here of major companies, coming on the heels of one cut after another during the past 18 months, have spread pandemonium among the employees, with the result that many have quit rather than take cuts that make it impossible for them to get along. An employees' committee, it is understood, has been formed and has applied to the U. S. Attorney General's office for a ruling, claiming collusion among the producers and distributors in conspiring simultaneously to reduce salaries in both East and West and alleging violation of the Interstate Commerce laws. Selznick Sets 'Names* For 'Dinner At Eight* David 0. Selznick is planning a long list of box office names for the first picture for MCM. "Dinner At Eight." which George Cukor will direct. The cast will have names such as Marie Dressier, Jean Harlow. Wallace Beery. John and Lionel Barrymore. Franchot Tone, Grant Mitchell, Phoebe Foster. Anna Duncan and either Billie Burke or Alice Brady Rankin In Stage Play Arthur Rankin has been signed for the lead in the stage comedy, "Too Young To Know." due March 19 at Hollywood Playhouse Edwin Maxwell is directing, Estabrook On 'Harbor* Howard Estabrook is doing the screen play for "Harbor." which is set for early production at MCM. Independents Seek Means To Keep Going The Independent Producers Association has appointed a committee to work out details of a plan that will keep production going in spite of the present crisis. The committee consists of Nat Levine. Phil Coldstone, Larry Darmour. Lester Scott and Sig Neufeld. Sam Wolf, attorney for the organization, stated last night that the committee would first have a meeting with officials of the lATSE and other studio labor locals to seek their advice, assistance and cooperation through the emergency period. The independent producers do not wish to aggravate the present unemployment crisis through a complete cessation of production, and they must look to their employees for cooperation until business returns and frozen assets can be released. The independents did not agree on any specific percentage of salary cuts for employees. The latter will be asked to lend assistance to their employers through a general resolution now being prepared by Attorney Wolf. Eliscu and Steiner On Songs For Radio Pix Edward Eliscu and Max Sterner have been assigned to write some songs for the Joel McCreaDorothy )ordan picture, "Little Clown Lost,' "which Alfred Green will direct and Kenneth McCowan will supervise for Radio, Morris For 'Hock Shop' B. P. Schulberg is negotiating with Chester Morris for a featured role in "Hock Shop." which will star Edward Arnold for Paramount. Elliott Nugent will direct. Tobin To Columbia Harry Cohn is reported to have set Genevieve Tobin for the top spot in "Cocktail Hour, "which Victor Schertzinger will direct for Columbia Naish At Warners ). Carrol Naish has been signed for "Fellow Prisoners," at Warners. jimmy Durante stole the show at the Motion Picture Club Inaugural Ball with some impromptu foolery that took him ten minutes to think up. about ten minutes to play and caused him at least twenty minues of worry afterwards as to whether it had really gone over in the manner to which he IS accustomed, jimmy gives nothing but the best or he's covered with confusion. . . . The party was plenty fun with everyone showing up as invited. Billie Dove looked sooo beautiful; Jacqueline Logan and a party of eight; Howard Dietz, Ernst Lubitsch, Arthur Schwartz and Kay Carrington; Belle and Artie Stebbins having a gay time; Margaret and Bernie Fineman had Durante at their table and the table was mobbed. . . . The Finemans entertained next day at tea and these old eyes popped in amazement when they saw three cups of tea, straight tea imbibed. Horace Liveright |ust outa a sick bed and preparing to produce a show, held deep converse with jose Iturbi, darling of the concert stage, , . Lloyd Nolan, latest stage sensation who had to travel all the way from California stages to Broadway in order to get movie offers, talked over old times in stock with Margaret. . . . jack Kirkland, Irene Purcell, Mary (bowling champi Baker and Melville Baker, Douglas Montgomery among the tea takers. . . . Bernie Fineman is no fool, he's been in the country for a coupla days looking over the farm situation with a view to settling down just in case — . . . . Monroe Owsley around town. , , . Wonder what ever became of Ann Dvorak? . . . Peggy Wood had a grand party given in her honor Sunday night at which Tallulah Bankhead pulled a honey. Someone accidentally managed to step on the train of her gown, so Tallulah turned around and said. "Pardon me. for being so much the queen." • And didja ever hear \what Noel Coward said in regard to the astonishing success of an American actress in London? Well, it was to the effect that anyone with a complete set of teeth would be a hit on the London stage. . . . Lou Brown says that if "Strike Me Pink" runs for three years he'll be out twenty-six dollars. Which amount most likely represents a bet he made to the effect that it wouldn't run that long. . . And what fun Brown has with doctors! He went to one recently who pointed a most unsteady finger at him and said that the pace New Yorkers lived would kill anyone. And then the doctor collapsed from the effort of talking. . . . And only a few months ago another doctor told Brown he had nothing to worry about that he. Brown, would probably live two years after the medico had passed out of the picture. And two weeks later the doctor suddenly died! .... This banking situation has the town in a daze, but still laughing. They say we'll soon be on the barter system — if you won't barter me. I won't barter you.