Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

38 .1/ o I i on I' i c lure News September 27 , 1930 Before the "Mike" In N. Y. Studios WITH great eclat and one final chorus of "Murray for Captain Spaulding," led by the tenor pipes of Director Norman Taurog, final scenes for "Manhattan Mary," starring Ed Wynn, were completed at the Paramount New York studios. * * * I -'rank Cavclt, assistant director at Paramount, is back after a two-weeks' vacation spent iii Ohio, where he grouse-hunted, grousehunted and grouse-hunted some more. He must have been grouse-hunting. * * * Charles Starrett, after completing an important role in "The Best People," under Fred Newmeyer's direction, was immediately cast opposite Mary Brian in "The Royal Family," now being made at the Paramount Long Island plant under the co-direction of Cyril Gardner and George Cukor. Starrett, during his college career, was a member of the Dartmouth varsity team during the reign of Swede Oberlander. Charlie Serlaho and Bill Kelly, assistant cameramen, and Fred Spencer, assistant director, are growing soup-strainers to compete with the one adorning the upper Up of Fred rie March. * * * A telegram from his wife saying that she was coming to New York sure did make Assistant i lirector Dick Blaydon the happiest man on the "Manhattan Mary" set. * * * After completing the direction of "Top Notes," an original musical farce, Walton Butterfield left via air for California. When he came back last week he told us of the thrilling experience of being forced down twice by storms. Tlurnx, but we'll take our thrills via the old movie serials. * * * Ray Cozine has completed a comedy of the "Smith & Dale" series entitled "The Real Estators." Florence Lake appeare din this one as the secretary. Dan Healy, the song and hoof man of Broadr way, is the star of a Vitaphone, "The Unfair Sex," recently made out thar in Flatbush, under the direction of Roy Mack. Dolly Gilbert, a brunette beauty, whom Murray Roth discovered in a Broadway musical show, plays opposite FIcaly. * * * Signed to make another variety for Warners, Ruth Etting, Ziegfeld star, crossed the Brooklyn Bridge and appeared before the "mike" in a new script written by Stanley Rauh and directed by Roy Mack, who also directed her previous short "Roseland," now playing at the Winter Garden. Jay Velie, vaudeville headliner, played opposite Miss Etting. * * * The "high" lights in the life of the flagpole sitter are exposed in the latest Vitaphone, "Sitting Pretty," just completed at the eastern Vitaj i Iii \toi y is by A. D. Otvos, dire id thi COSi nil hides Hurry Short, Joe Phillips, Ruth Donnelly and Cesar Ron * * * Allen Jenkins, wl cer Traci in "The Last Mile," played the starring role in a leciallj written for him by Burnet ti aight and Narrow ." ted by Arthur Hurley. Ml rUDIO SLEUTH. Army to Produce Films; Officers Sent to Studios San Antonio, Tex. — The United States Army is going into the motion picture game. Even talkers will be made. Of course, they will not be for exhibition purposes, but will be used in the instruction of reserve officers. Lieut. Col. W. E. Prosser of the eighth corps area signal corps here outlined the plan. An agreement has been reached with the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences and the Association of Motion Picture Producers and Distributors, whereby two signal corps officers will be sent to Hollywood Oct. 15, where they will take a nine months' course of instruction in the production of talking motion pictures. Later, four more officers will take the same course. After completion these officers will act as instructors for the signal corps. It is planned to establish a complete army studio with all equipment necessary for making talking pictures. While in Hollywood, the armv officers will be instructed in studio equipment, film laboratory methods, production and technique of production. Book Universal Solid In Pacific Northwest Seattle — Solid booking of the complete Universal product for the coming season in the Pacific Northwest territory was announced here this week. Under contracts just closed, all Universal feature productions will be shown by Radio-Keith-Orpreum theatres in this city, Portland, Tacoma and Spokane. Short subjects, newsreel, etc., will be used in John Hamrick's Music Box and Blue Mouse theatres here, in Tacoma and Portland. It will be the first time that Universal has had solid first-run outlets in this territory since it ceased operating its own first-run downtown theatres in Seattle and Portland several seasons ago. Pacy Reopens House Baltimore — The McHenry, South Baltimore residential house operated by Walter Pacy, was reopened recently, after having been enlarged from a design by Oliver B. Wright, original designer of the playhouse. The part of the house with the stage was moved out on property purchased, increasing the seating capacity by 350 seats and making the house measurements 65 by 154 feet. Acoustic Celotex has been used as a wall covering, the screen measures 19x26 feet, and two new exits have been built on the sides. The Italian Rennaisance motif has been followed out in the design. Back to Films Cleveland — The Moreland, Shaker Heights, which has been offering stock for the past four weeks under the management ol I reorge Fox, is scheduled to open the end of thi week with pictures. The house i^ owned by Paul Gusdanovic and George Palda. High and Low On Music Row ROBBINS MUSIC CORP. has started to work on several songs from the M-G-M production, "Love in the Rough," which were written by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh and mark these writers' initial efforts for the screen. The songs are "Go Home and Tell Your Mother," "I'm Doin' That Thing," "I'm Learnin' a Lot from You" and "One More Waltz." According to Martin Broones, head of the M-G-M Coast music department. "Go Home and Tell Your Mother" is one of the best musical comedy songs of the past decade. * * * With music business as a whole gradually coming back from one of the worst slumps in music history, DeSylva, Brozvn & Henderson are looking forzvard to a busy season due to the publication of a new fall catalogue consisting of the entire score from "Just Imagine," forthcoming Fox production, written by DeSylva, Brown & Henderson, and two pop songs, "Don't Tell Her," by D. B. & H., and "Still I Love Her," a modern ballad written by Clarence Gaskill. # * * Did you know that Monty Siegel, writer of "Clang, Clang, Clang." won the beauty contest held last week at Montauk Point Manor by members of the A. S. C. A. P.? .11 Dubin and Joe Burke, the two most prolific songsters of 1930 all talkers, have arranged a new schedule zvith Warners whereby they will do their themc-songing in New York until December. Al and Joe were responsible for "Tip-Toe Thru the Tulips," "Painting the Clouds zvith Sunshine" and "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes," the latter still one of the country's best money makers. * * * Red Star has an outstanding array of tunes in its new catalogue, several of which are "potential hits," according to Pat Flaherty, general manager. The songs are "Where Can You Be?" sung by Arthur Lake in "Cheer Up and Smile," "What's the Use of Living without Love," from the Fox picture, "Man Trouble," "A Slave to Love," from "Good Intentions," "I'll Find My Way to Wherever You Are," featured by Rudy Vallee ( Walter Winchell's friend), and "You Can Only Wear One Pair of Pants at a Time," this choice philosophical selection being featured in Rube Goldberg's "Soup to Nuts." * * * // Marty Bloom of Gene Austin, Inc., will give it a real plug on the air, "For Szcccthearts Only," written by Harry Cantor, Ed Hurley and Sammy I. enter, can be made. We heard the Victor disc made by Gene Austin and feel that the song is "there." * * * Harry Bloom has just published a song called "Wnnd'ring," written by Al Sherman and AI Lewis, which looks like another "S'posin." A novelty, "Two of a Kind," also on the llarry Bloom roster, written by Tom Ford, Earl rence and Jack Mason, boasts of a catchy melod) with a new twist in the lyrics that should bode well lor this tune. * * * Roiiick has just released a new song, "Maybe It's /.crv." written by Sid Mitchell. Archie i, <>n!er oud George //'. Meyer, theme of the Warner picture of Hie same name, featuring Joan Bennett, James Hall and members of the All-American football team. PINCUS.