Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1934)

MOTION PICTURE DAI LY Hollywood On Parade ===== By BILL SWIGART ========= "Number" Portland Leader at $3,800 Portland, March 15. — '"I've Got Your Number" made the best showing here last week, but failed to stir much excitement on a $3,800 gross at the Music Box. This was $800 over normal. "Nana" pulled a par $5,000 at the United Artists, but the other three first runs were below normal. First run totals were $21,200. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week ending March 8 : "THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN" (M-G-M) "BOMBAY MAIL." (Univ.) BROADWAY— (1,912). 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,900. (Average, $6,000.) "I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER" (Warners) MUSIC BOX— (2,000), 25c-35c, 40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $3,000.) "BITTER SWEET" (British) "THRONE OF THE GODS" (1st Div.) PANTAGES — (1,700), 15c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,900. (Average, $2,000.) "DEVIL TIGER" (Fox) "SEARCH FOR BEAUTY" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (3,008), 2Sc-35c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $4,600. (Average, $5,000.) "NANA" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average. $5,000.) Stage Shows Return To Frisco Orpheum San Francisco, March 15. — Charles Caballero, manager of the F. & M. Orpheum, resumed stage shows today with the Four Mills Brothers as initial attraction. After a two-week booking, the Mills freres will be followed by Ted Lewis, also dated for a fortnight. Other name acts to appear include Ben Bernie, Earl Carroll's "Vanities," "The Student Prince," Kate Smith, Duke Ellington and 01sen & Johnson. Code Eagles Out Soon Kansas City, March 15. — In the next few days, the new "code eagle" organization will be perfected to begin distribution of the insignia which will take the place of the familiar blue eagle, according to word from Charles F. Horner of Kansas City, who has been called to Washington as special assistant administrator to direct the "code eagle" campaign. Thousands of the new NRA insignia are being printed for distribution to the code authorities in the different trade groups. In design they are similar to the "blue eagle." Fox Re-Signs Two Hollywood, March 15. — As a result of his work in "Stand Up and Cheer," Warner Baxter will be given star billing exclusively and will not be farmed out, Winfield Sheehan decided yesterday upon signing him to a new long-term contract. Spencer Tracy was also signed to a long termer on the same terms. Long Termer for Raft Hollywood, March 15. — Before his departure for New York today George Raft was signed by Paramount to a long termer with bigger pay and fatter roles. Two New Fox Ad Men C. J. Rossiter has replaced F. C. Bernard as ad sales manager of the Fox exchange in San Francisco. W. C. Hallwachs has succeeded N. E. Kassell in the Chicago branch. Hollywood, March 15. — Activity on the cooperative technical program of the research council of the Academy is now in motion after the first meeting of the reorganized council, presided over by Samuel J. Briskin, chairman. Resumption of the nine projects which were interrupted some time ago was authorized and each subcommittee will meet soon to resume individual projects. A finance committee consisting of Briskin, Carl Dreher and Nathan Levinson was appointed to work out details of financing of which the producers sometime ago offered to pay their share. Gordon S. Mitchell was appointed manager of the technical bureau of the Academy, through which all activities of the technicians' branch, the research council and its subcommittees are coordinated. Members of the council and studios which each represented are : Sam Briskin and George Said, Columbia : E. H. Hanson, Fox : Douglas Shearer, M-G-M.: Farciot Edouart, Paramount : Carl Dreher, Radio : Thomas Moulton, 20th Mentury : C. Roy Hunt, Universal and Nathan Levinson, Warner-First National. • Now that Earl Carroll brought his own beauties here from New York for his Paramount picture, the beauty specialist plans to return with the same girls, plus 20 to be selected in Hollywood. He said he will select 20 blondes and use them for his next production of the Vanities in New York. This may be considered reciprocity by local girls who resented the producer importing girls when so many better looking and more capable chorines could be had in Hollywood for the asking. • Faced with the problem of using an Automat for the background of a sequence in "The Loudspeaker," Monogram had the choice of sending the troupe to Chicago or building an exact replica of an eight-unit restaurant here. The studio decided the latter would be the cheaper. Bruce Johnson, formerly foreign representative for First National, is now functioning as branch manager of the San Francisco exchange of Independent Film Distributors, Inc. • The commission of aviation engineers sent to the United States by the Russian government to study American commercial aviation turned attention to the make-believe by being guests of M-G-M in company with Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt. The group of Russian visitors included B. J. Kuznetzov, A. E. Sterlin, H. A. Sobolov, B. F. Matrosov and S. Shumovski. • Notes For The Book . . . Another local college boy makes good in Hollywood. His name is Jeffrey Taylor and he was discovered by Ben Piazza who lost no time in signing him to a term contract with M-G-M. . . . Although actual production on "David Copperfield" will not be started for the next three months, Dave Selznick has signed Elizabeth Allan as the first of a cast of 68 principals. . . . Charles Boyer, who recently married Pat Patterson after a three week romance, will soon make his American debut as an actor in Jesse Lasky's forthcoming production, "The Private Life of Casanova." Which brings to mind that, while all these historic private lives are heine exposed, why not pick on some of the stars? . . . Imagine what box-office "The Private Life of Garbo" would be. . . . Not satisfied with being a successful scenario writer, fiction scribe and author of the "Ella Cinders" syndicated comic strip, Bill Conselman has turned lyricist with an assignment from Fox to write the words for two song numbers for Peggy Wood in "Merry Andrew." . . . Jimmy Cagney donated his services long enough to act as an auctioneer for a San Francisco Woman's club and succeeded in raising §3,000 in the sale of autographed manuscripts and etchings donated to the club by the best writers and artists from Carmel, Monterey and points north. . . . • For the third time Frances Marion has been nominated for the annual Academy awards for the best original. This year she is running against Charles MacArthur and Robert Lord for the outstanding story through her work on "The Prizefighter and the Lady." She won the Academy statuette in 1929-30 for writing "The Big House" and in 1931-32 for writing "The Champ." Karl Strauss also comes up for another statuette this year for his photography in "Sign of the Cross." He won this coveted honor 1927-28 for his photography in conjunction with Charles Rosher in filming "Sunrise." • Again Garbo and M-G-M have their daggers out. This time it is her insistence upon having Rouben Mamoulian direct her next picture when the powers-that-be insist upon Victor Fleming. • More Notes of Interest If Not Surprising! . . . Sally Rand studied to be a missionary at Christian College, Columbia, Mo. . . . Anita Louise is coming back in a prominent part in "The Most Precious Thing in Life" for Columbia. Her last appearance was in "Always Civilized" directed by Edwin Carewe Madge Evans back home from a tonsil operation and receiving orchids from Tom Gallery. . . . More than three studios have voiced their interest in filming the life biography of John McGraw, which proves how fast the oicture brains are in waiting until a hero dies before becoming interested in his life work. . . . The best and most popular way of Hollywood studios taking in visiting New York columnists is to either buy an idea for a story or give them an acting job. It matters not whether they use the story or acting as long as the scribes get the checkeroo, it seems. . . . Ken Maynard has given up his fast motorcycle for a four wheeled motor after he had skidded and nearly lost a leg. . . . Carole Lombard's metal dress nearly cost her life when it contacted with a live electric switch on the set for "Twentieth Century" at Columbia. Fast work of electricians rescued her. . . . Fox is combining the best parts of "Easy to Love" and Bernie Lead Omaha Omaha, March 15. — A house rec ord toppled at the Orpheum and othet first runs found the going toughei than ever. Ben Bernie and his lad paid this town a visit last week. Gros was $17,250, nearly $1,000 over Callo way's business last season. Pictur on the bill was "Easy to Love," bu it didn't matter what filled in betweei_ stage shows. Duals everywhere else, includin; the Paramount, where the new pol icy's first week got a fair $6,750. Th bill included "The Cat and thj Fiddle" and "The Poor Rich." The Brandeis slipped to $3,750 wit"Hips, Hips, Hooray" and "The Bi. Shakedown." "Devil Tiger" an "From Headquarters" at the Worl got about $4,250. Total first run business was $32 000. Average is $25,750. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 6: "HIPS, HIPS, HOORAY" (Ratfo) "THE BIG SHAKEDOWN" (F. N.) BRANDEIS— (1,100), 25c-35c, 7 day Gross: $3,750. (Average, $5,000). Week Ending March 8: "THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE" (M-G-M) "THE POOR RICH" (Univ.) PARAMOUNT— (2,900), 25c-35c-40c, days. Gross: $6,750. (Average, $7,500 "EASY TO LOVE" (Warners) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 25c-35c-50c, 7 day Stage: Ben Bernie's band. Gross: $17,25 j (Average, $8,230.) Week Ending March 9: "DEVIL TIGER" (Fox) "FROM HEADQUARTERS" (Warners WORLD— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gros $4,250. (Average, $5,000.) K. C. Employment Up Kansas City, March 15. — An opt mistic note is an increase of 10.2 payrolls here in January as compan with January, 1933, as shown in ; tabulation of reports by 87 firms : the Chamber of Commerce industri committee. The largest increase w in the automobile and steel industric January figures showed a drop frc last December, however. First quarter business reports, d in 30 days, are expected to indies' a substantial increase over the sail period in 1933. Para.' s Musical "WinkL Hollywood, March 15. — Paramoi has declared a priority over Radio the right to the title "Rip Van W kle" and will make a screen musi with W. C. Fields and Lyda Robe heading the cast. three "Judge Priest" stories for W: Rogers and Irvtn Cobb is all the mc richer for selling three yarns inst( of one. . . . Lionel Barrymore celebrating his 25th anniversary the screen, having made his fi flicker at the old Biograph. Sii then he has been alternating betw< stage and screen, devoting the p eight years exclusively to the latl . . . Clicking a candid camera at slightest provocation is becoming popular that the lense pushers getting into the hair of those in limelight. Even the autograph se ers are wise to the practice and, wl they can't get a signature, they si stars on the spot, often times cat ing them at a disadvantage with t usual belligerent and disapproving pression at being accosted for an ai graph.