Inside facts of stage and screen (January 24, 1931)

EDITED BY JACK JOSEPHS VqI XI IT Entered as Second Cla,ss Matter, April 29, 1927, at Post- w X m. a. a M. office, .Dos Angeles, Calif., under Act of March 3, 1879 Saturday, January 24, 1931 Published Every Saturday at 809 Warner Bros. Down- town Building, 401 West Seventh St., Dos Angeles, Calif. No. 3 LEGIT HITTING TOWARD HIGHEST PEAK IN YEAR COLOR WAR ON PATENTS WAITS GUN A business war-lo-thc- death was just around the corner for the color film com- panies this week, waiting the gun of one big order from one of several eastern commer- cial concerns. 'Harriscolor was reported to be planning a plunge into the mazes of the law for the pur- pose of putting the other com- panies out of the field. The Har- riscolor people were reported to claim, and with apparent correct- ness, that they had the basic pat- ent on color, production. Armed with this, according to the story, they planned a series of federal suits to restrain Technicolor, How- ard Hughes’ Multicolor and the other color companies from further production except with permission of Harriscolor and on a royalty paying basis. The patents to which the Harriscolor people were said to look for their suit were taken out in 1923. Big Orders The reason for the , sudden at- tack by the Harriscolor people, il it materializes, is stated to be a prospective flood of orders for color picture-making from a group of big national advertisers, such as General Motors. The story said that G. M. has representatives out here at the present time who are prepared to place a $1,000,000 con- tract, with some one of the com- panies. According to' the report, G. M. and other of the big national ad- vertisers have suddenly realized a decided financial . advantage to themselves in the use of such films. TJieir plan, it is. said, is to shoot a senes of color pictures of their product, taikify: it and use it as a salesman ill small towns. Thus the G. M. people would shoot pictures of all their models, have a good talker give a synchronized lecture on'the various points about the cars and put all this in the bn for use in projection rooms which the small town dealers would build. They feel that the force of this expert and deliberate sales- manship would more than pay for itself in the increased number ot cars sold. Had Reasons The Harris outfit, when reputed- ly asked why they did not go into federal courts at some previous time to restrain other color com- panies from the alleged violation of their basic patent, are said to have replied that they had two reasons for refraining. These w f ere, (Continued on Page 2) GLEN BUCEY Chinese Cafe, Hollywood FILMING “IDEAS” Fanchon and Marco have started putting, their “Ideas” in color films, as announced by Inside Facts sev- eral months ago. They are using the Harriscolor process, all the “Ideas” being done in color. They are for release in small town houses which cannot afford presen- tations. The “Marble Idea” was the first to be shot. T. M. A. ELECTS SMITH Edward A. Smith was elected president of the Theatre Managers’ Association at a meeting held Fri- day. Other elections for the en- suing year were Robert C. Frost, vice-president: John J. Kelly, sec- retary and treasurer; board of di- rectors: Cliff Work, RKO; Max Shagrun, W. B.; Bruce Fowler, W. C.; Ed Smith, Publix-Para- tnount; R. C. Frost, W. C. SCRIPT SALES GAIN Fox West Coast theatres script sales for 1930 showed a gain of more than 50 per cent over the preceding 12-month period. Thea- tres of the circuit took in $380,- 352.50 via. the script route during the year, as compared with $238,- 520.75 in 1929. ACTIVITY ON BIG RISE IN LEGIT FIELD Mrs. Leslie Carter is plan- ning to produce “The Shang- hai Gesture” locally, it is un- derstood. No word as to data, of production or when casting will start was forthcoming. After going- through the, worst slump in its history. Los -Angeles legit activity this meek appeared to be at its highest peak for more that: a year. While only three houses were currently light, a half dozen more producers were in some stage of preparation for early presentations. Two of the houses now running, the Fll Cap in Hollywood, playing "Elmer the Great," with joe if. Brown, and the Hollywood Music Box with “Porgy” were doing nicely at the box office —which was one reason for the sudden uplift in activity. The third show, Har- ry Green’s “The Ambulance- Chaser,’' at the Vine Street in Hol- lywood, got away to a nice start at its opening Wednesday. Pincus Here Ralph Pincus was in town ready- ing for a production which was understood to be set for opening at the Columbia, San Francises, with a later Los Angeles date to follow, probably at the Biltmgre. Belasco was currently casting for “Topaze,” which, it is understood, will follow “Berkeley Square" into the Belasco. Mary Duncan is the star. The Repertory group had .“jus- tice” on the slate to follow “Por- gy” into the Music Box, with. Noel Madison to. be starred. After which current plans were for a presenta- tion of “The Merchant of Venice.” Louis O. Maeloon and Lillian Albertson were reported to be planning a show for the El Capi- tan, with casting due to start next week. While title of the show was not learned, it was reported to be “Girl Crazy.” Morgan Preparing Dickson Morgan also was in the early stages of preparation for a show to be produced locally. - “Once in a Lifetime,” the New York comedy success burlesquing life in Hollywood, opened at Santa Barbara last night, with its local premiere set for January 27.. Sid Grauman is the entrepreneur of this show, which is creating ■ con- siderable advance flurries of ex- pectation' around the movie colony. Experts on the legit situation see something brighter in the present (Continued on Page 2.)