Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1934)

Friday, May II, 1934 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 13 "Tarzan" Omaha's One Draw, $7,000 (.Continued from page 8) pet Blows" and "Registered Nurse," brought $6,000. The World, with "Looking for Trouble" and "Midnight," was under par at $4,000. Total first run business was $20,500. Average is $21,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending May 2: "TARZAN AND HIS MATE" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2,900), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $6,750) Week Ending Mag 3: "THE TRUMPET BLOWS" (Para.) "REGISTERED NURSE" (Warners) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 2Sc-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,500) "THE LOST PATROL" (Radio) "JOURNAL OF CRIME" (F.N.) BRANDEIS— (1,500), 25c-35c, 6 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,750) "LOOKING FOR TROUBLE" (U.A.) "MIDNIGHT" (Univ.) WORLD — (2,200) , 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,500) Casino Closes May 17 Two different policies have failed to click so the Casino will close May 17. For the first two weeks the house was on a vaudeville policy which was dropped for pictures and five acts of vaudeville. The house will darken after five weeks of operation. AFA Gathers in Phila. Philadelphia, May 10. — The first of a series of meetings for the purpose of establishing branches in all key cities was held by the American Federation of Actors tonight at Musicians' Union Hall here. Lawrence on Way Here "Laudy" Lawrence, general European manager for M-G-M, is enroute from Paris for conferences with Arthur Loew. Sam Eckman, in charge of Great Britain, is here conferring with Loew. Gordon in Reliance Job Hollywood, May 10. — Leon Gordon, playwright remembered for his "White Cargo," has been named associate producer of Reliance Pictures. His first assignment will be Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo," which United Artists will release. M-G-M "Oddities" Again M-G-M will have a series of 13 "Oddities" next season. They will probably be made in Technicolor. Harmon-Ising will make from six to 12 Technicolor cartoons for next season's program, the first to be a two-reeler. To Show French Films John S. Tapernoux will show "Madame Bovary" and "De Wilson a Roosevelt" on the Champlain tomorrow night. Can Attach Pay for Fees Hollywood, May 10. — The State labor board has given agents the right to file attachments against clients' salaries for delinquent commissions. M-G-M Signs Miss Laye M-G-M has signed Evelyn Laye, British musical comedy star, who will come to America about Sept. 1. Hollywood On Parade By BILL SWIGART Hollywood, May 10. — Mitchell and Durant have worked together since they were boys of 14 and 12. Neither has ever had another partner. . . . Albertina Rasch has an unerring faculty of being able to tell whether a girl can dance by watching her walk across a room. Has only missed on three during her long career. . . . Wera Engels, now acting in American pictures, was born in Germany, educated in China, makes official home in Paris and is a British subject. • Vince Barnett said he signed a new 30-year contract with 10 minute options. . . . Now that George Brent is unmerged from Lady Chatterton, he finds himself at liberty to fly, play handball, badminton, etc. . . . Lou Greenspan, torch-bearer for Universal, takes credit for discovering the name of the tune Nero played while Rome burned. It was "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes." . . . They say Paul Lukas started out to become a publisher and apparently quit when his father asked him to become a book salesman. Imagine how many books Paul could sell today if he started pushing door bells ! • Joel McCrea is one of the few actors who needs no make-up for the camera, except when he plays society roles, then only a small dash of powder is required. . . . Louis Friedlander, for many years a roustabout around the Universal lot, has estab lished himself as a full-fledged director through direction of "Vanishing Shadow," a serial. His next assignment will be "Tailspin Tommy," another serial centered around aviation of which Louie himself is an authority. . . . Not to be outdone by his contemporaries, Chester Morris will soon be in New York to fulfill some personal appearance dates before returning to Universal. • Robert Z. Leonard gets "The Green Hat" for M-G-M, starring Constance Bennett. Picture was originally slated for Gloria Swanson's comeback until she was loaned to Sam Goldwyn for the feminine lead opposite Gary Cooper in "Barbary Coast." Now she's out of that, too. . . . Mary Boland is planning her 29th trip across the Atlantic. . . . Adolphe Menjou nominates Sam Hardy as Hollywood's worst dressed man. . . . Mae West continues to be the most sought after sponsor of this, that and the other thing. In one day's mail she received requests to sponsor a new brand of cigar, playing cards, with her picture on the back, and a new kind of fountain drink. One more job of buttling and Leo Carroll goes on a one-man strike. No sooner had he delivered this ultimatum to M-G-M, the studio assigned him the part of a medico in "The Green Hat." , Publix Unit Renamed Dover, May 10. — Publix Virginia, Inc., changed its name in the Delaware State Department here to Lynchburg-Perry Theatres, Inc., New York City. The Corporation Trust Co. was the incorporating company. The new Lynchburg-Perry Theatres Co. controls the Paramount, Academy and Isis at Lynchburg, Va., which have been operated by Hunter Perry since last September under an agreement with the trustee in bankruptcy for Publix Enterprises which made Perry a managing partner of Paramount for the former Publix Virginia circuit. Cobb May Do a Feature Hollywood, May 10. — Plans are under way at Hal Roach Studios for Irvin Cobb to do a feature providing the series of eight shorts for which he was signed last week are successful. Cobb will pen his own story, if the deal goes through. The first of the two-reeler series goes into production this week, under the title of "Fisherman's Luck." James Parrott is directing. Fox Holds Stock Group Hollywood, May 10. — Following their first chance to display their talent before executives in a group of four plays presented at the studio. Fox is planning to retain 34 stock players under contract. Rosita Moreno Signed Hollywood, May 10. — Fox has signed Rosita Moreno for four Spanish pictures for the new season program. Radio Seeks Revue Idea Hollywood, May 10. — Radio executives are on the lookout for an original idea for their "RKO-NBC Review," which was announced for their program several weeks ago. Staff writers have been mulling the idea over for some time with no definite results. Story ideas will be welcomed from employes or free lance writers. Jungle Troupe at Para Hollywood, May 10. — M-G-M's "Jungle Red Man" unit, consisting of George Seitz, Harold H. Noice and Joe Cook, have arrived at Para at the mouth of the Amazon. Here they will assemble equipment for the 1,000-mile trek up the river to Manaos, thence to Yarawate, 700 miles inland. Miriam Hopkins Better Hollywood, May 10. — Miriam Hopkins, fully recovered from a broken ankle, returns to Paramount this week after a three-week absence that has delayed production on "She Loves Me Not." E. I. Sponable on Coast Hollywood, May 10. — E. I. Sponable, chief sound engineer for Fox in New York, is here. He will stay one week to confer with studio executives and inspect equipment. Dorothy Reid Returns Hollywood, May 10.— Dorothy Reid, absent from independent production for the past two years, has resumed with Monogram and will appear in Vera Brown's story, "The Red Hea.d." Grosses Tumble in Providence Houses (Continued from page 8) "AS THE EARTH TURNS" (Warners) MAJESTIC— (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $7,000) "ROMANCE IN TRINIDAD" (Fox) FAY'S — (1,600), 15c-40c, "Harlemania," revue, on stage. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $7,000) "WHERE SINNERS MEET" (Radio) "I'LL TELL THE WORLD" (Univ.) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $7,000) "SORRELL AND SON" (U. A.) LOEWS STATE — (3,800), 15c-40c, 7 days. Hal Jerome heading stage bill. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $12,000) "THE CRIME DOCTOR" (Radio) "SOCIAL REGISTER" (Radio) RKO VICTORY— (1,600), 10c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) Allow Cornwell Claims St. Louis, x\lay 10. — Claims totalling $410,748 have been allowed against the estate of Frederick L. Cornwell, real estate operator, attorney and former exhibitor, who died in February, 1933. Claimants were bondholders on the 15-story hotel and theatre property he constructed in Moline, 111. Gordon Hoeye Dead Denver, May 10.— Gordon Hoeye, 46, for four years auditor for RKO exchange, is dead. Death was caused by pneumonia. Hoeye resigned from the company two years ago. He had just returned from a trip around the world and was visiting in Denver while planning a trip to Mexico. His home was in Los Angeles. Todd, Kelly Winding Up Hollywood, May 10.— Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly will make two comedies in a row for Hal Roach, which winds up their contract with the studio. The first, "I'll Be Suin' You," went into work Monday. As yet there has been no talk of a new ticket for the comediennes. Miss Barnes Misses Boat Binnie Barnes, under contract to Universal to appear in "There's Always Tomorrow," missed a boat in Southampton on -Wednesday, according to word received at the "U" home office, but will sail on the Aquitania tomorrow. Carroll Coming East Hollywood, May 10.— Earl Carroll, accompanied by Bill Pine, Cecil Carle and Tom Rooney, leaves Sunday night on a three-day airplane trip in connection with Paramount' s "Murder at the Vanities." They will visit 10 key cities. The trip will end in Boston. Sloman Rejoins "U" Hollywood, May 10.— Edward Sloman resumes his career as a director after an absence of more than a year with Universal where he will direct "There's Always Tomorrow," his own original. Vitaphone Open Monday . Vitaphone Studio, dark for several weeks, will resume production Monday, with Ruth Etting scheduled to go to work in a two-reeler. Maris, Campillo East Hollywood, May 10.— Paramount is sending Mona Maris and Anita Campillo to Astoria for Ben Hecht's "Crime Without Passion."