Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 12, 1924 Wurtzel Starts New Story Choice Group Hollywood, Jan. 11. — Sol Wurtzel started something new in studio organization today when he began what he calls the story committee at the Fox Western Avenue studio. The committee consists of some 30 people employed in the writing and publicity departments. It was organ ized for the purpose of submittinj story ideas and to suggest for pro duction, stories, plays and novels with the exception of those that are current hits on Broadway and best sellers. The organization is also open to any studio employe. Any person submitting a title will, if used, receive $25. Any one submitting a sugges tion for a story or play that is pur chased is to receive $250. Hollywood On Parade By BILL SWIGART Paramount Acquires Frisco St. Francis San Francisco, Jan. 11.— Paramount is apparently not worried by the local competitive situations. It has just leased the St. Francis, 1,440 seats, from Louis R. Lurie for 99 years at an estimated total rental of $7,400,000 Under the terms of the lease, it is understood, Lurie agrees to start a new 5,000 seat house on the site within two years. Rumors are current that a number of small houses will close as a result of the terrific price competition in evidence here at present. "Success" Ruben's Next Hollywood, Jan. 11. — J. Walter Ruben is overseeing completion of the script and plans to start work on "Success" with Colleen Moore shortly for Radio. His last picture was "Man of Two Worlds," which opened at the Music Hall, New York, today. "Man of Two Worlds" was caught in Hollywood and wired for publication in Motion Picture Daily on Dec. 27. The review said, in part: ". . . Francis Lederer has potentialities, fire, distinguished ability and appeal for women. 'Man of Two Worlds' may well serve as a promise of nectar and ambrosia to come from Lederer later." Col. Signs Ann Sothern Hollywood, Jan. 11. — As a result of her work in "Let's Fall in Love," Ann Sothern has been signed to a new long term contract at Columbia. For the Library Readers of Motion Picture Daily who may have on hand copies of this publication for the following dates are requested by E. H. Anderson, director of the New York Public Library, to forward them to complete the library's files: May 1, 1933. May 11, 1933. June 21, 1933. Copies of these issues are no longer on file at Motion Picture Daily. Hollywood, Jan. 11. — Hollywood is beginning to kid itself through the medium of the screen according to the recent flare of gags pulled in various pictures satiring the eternal sunshine and virtual paradise, which has been its sacred tradition to extol. One of the recent Cagney pictures showed a situation wherein he picked California as a place to live in because of its all-year sunshine, beautiful flowers and wide open spaces, only to find upon his arrival, a downpour of rain, which is about the most miserable place one can find when it rains in California. A similar incident was portrayed in a Lou Brook two reel comedy and latest of all is in the picture "Advice to the Lovelorn". Here we get a radio announcer presenting Joe Gilch, president of a Chamber of Commerce who extols California to the skies, comparing it to the North where they have snow and sleet, to the South where they have typhoons and floods, to the Middle West where they have hurricanes. . . . "But none of this, my dear listeners in, can be tolerated in good old Cal-IForn-ia." Just as he completed this sentence an earthquake topples over the studio and the picture flashes to a demolished town. If these incidents are to be a translation of the native's impression of California, particularly in Hollywood, it is an indication that its people have grown up. No longer can one offend a native if you say the climate is temperamental, when heretofore if one ever talked adverse to the climatic conditions or environs, it courted a, breach of friendship or insulted the native whose tradition forced him to believe nothing could be wrong with California. Kidding incidents similar to the ones mentioned might have an influence in moulding the minds of these dyed-in-the-wool natives and manifest at the same time that California can take it as well as dish it. • One reason for Jesse Lasky's trip to New York was to search for auburn-haired beauties for his forthcoming production of "Redheads.'' Overproduction of blondes in Hollywood showing a ratio of 10 for every one brick top makes this move necessary. • Andy Clyde approached a riding master at one of the academies and requested a long horse. When asked how long, he said, "Long enough for nine people" . . . George Raft's trainer and bodyguard, known as "The Killer" is in the dog house for serving tea in the actor's dressing room. He even made the toast with Carole Lombard showing him how. • Ralph (Death Valley) Farnum has added Patricia Ellis to his long list of satisfied clients. The young woman has just had her contract with Warners renewed. . . . Minerva UreCal, noted for her radio characterization of Mrs. Pasquale, has never played an Italian role on the screen. Quite to the contrary she speaks her lines mostly with a broad 'A' just having finished a part as an English maid in "Old Hannibal" at M-G-M. Leonie Knoedler to < Make Indian Films Cincy Club Entertains Cincinnati, Jan. 11.— The first post-holiday affair of the recently organized Variety Club was a sports luncheon at the Netherland Plaza. Guest speakers included : Larry McPhail, general manager ; Larry Benton and Eppa Rixey, pitchers, Cincinnati Reds ; Leo Durocher, shortstop, St. Louis Cardinals ; Johnny Hodapp, International League, Rochester ; and Bob Newhall, sports commentator of WLW, local broadcasting station. Judge Edward T. Dixon, new appointee of the State Liquor Control Board, delivered a short address. Denver Holds "Scandals" Denver, Jan. 11. — "Roman Scandals" cops the honor of being the first film to be held a second week at the Denver. The gross for the week was close to $18,000, three times an average week, and better than anything in the past three years. Started slowly the opening day, but built rapidly, with Sunday being better than Saturday. This is unusual in Denver. Short Subject Week Set Paramount will stage a "National Short Subject Week" for the sevenday period beginning Feb. 11, according to Neil Agnew, sales manager. 'Nellie" Opens Tonight Washington, Jan. 11. — The world premiere of Warners' "Hi, Nellie" will take place at the Earle here tomorrow night. Add 4 to "Moulin" Trip Eddie Quillan, Sterling Halloway, Hoot Gibson and Jack Mulhall have been added to the list of Hollywood players who will make the coast-tocoast tour in the "Moulin Rouge"SoconyVacuum tieup made by United Artists. Those who had previously agreed to make the trip were: Leo Carrillo, James and Airs. Gleason, Russell Gleason, Raymond Hatton, Creighton Hale, Anna Q. Nillson, Mary Carlisle, Johnnie Mack Brown, Mary Brian, Ben Turpin, Sally O'Neill, Sally Blane, Arline Judge, Patsy Ruth Miller and Nancy Welford. The trip will start Feb. 1 with Philadelphia the first stop. Milwaukee Board Elects Milwaukee, Jan. 11. — Charles Trampe, Mid-West Film Co., has been reelected president of the Film Board of Trade for his sixth term. Other officers named include A. N. Schmitz, RKO, vice-president; Sam Shurman, M-G-M, secretary-treasurer, and L. George Ross, Columbia, sergeant-at-arms. Statewide Hearing Off Milwaukee, Jan. 11. — A hearing for Statewide Theatres creditors scheduled for today was postponed to Jan. 18 to await the results of the Fox Wisconsin and Wisconsin Amusement hearings before Judge Geiger next Saturday. Leonie Knoedler, daughter of the head of the internationally known Knoedler Art Galleries, has organized Leonie Knoedler M. P. Prod., Inc., to produce features dealing with American Indian life. The first, to be titled "Pueblo," is scheduled to go into production during March at Santa Fe, N. M., and negotiations with recognized Hollywood directorial and technical talent are under way to handle production, according to Fitelson & Mayer, attorneys for Miss Knoedler. A script is being prepared by Harry Behn from a Phillip Steven son story, "The American." Mis Knoedler will require every one as sociated with production of the story to reside in New Mexico for a period of "atmospheric absorption" prior to starting work on "Pueblo," said Y. William Fitelson. Duals in 15 of 22 Columbus Theatres Columbus, Jan. 11. — A survey of the 22 independent neighborhood houses shows 15 double featuring on Saturday, two on Sunday and one on Tuesday with admissions from 10 to 2U cents, tax included. The Sunday program at the Knick-: erbocker, downtown independent, con-: sisted of a feature, newsreel, comedy, cartoon and novelty short, plus four acts of vaudeville, with top admission of 17 cents, including tax. Hold Penix for Murder Fort Worth, Jan. 11. — Murder charges have been filed here against Earl Penix, Fort Worth theatre owner, for the alleged shooting of Ted Adams, 35-year-old radio crooner, during an altercation involving Penix's estranged wife. Penix had been charged with assault with intent to kill and released on $5,000 bond, but after the death of Adams the charge was changed to murder. Set Beery -Cooper Story Hollywood, Jan. 11. — A script is, now being readied for another Wal i lace Beery-Jackie Cooper co-starring vehicle, titled "Cabby." The screen play is now being prepared by Lou Breslau, who recently signed a term ticket with the studio. I Cantor Serious Seriously, Eddie Cantor wants to do something new and different as his next vehicle. He wants to act seriously and has been discussing the matter with Samuel Goldwyn in New York. The comedian is considering a number of stories, he says, and will get together with Goldwyn on a definite selection next week. Cantor, who leaves April 1 for the Coast, says "Roman Scandals" is doing a tremendous business throughout the country. He was serious about it.