Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, April 6, I9| Magnalite Dropped By National Screen The Magnalite sign division of National Screen Service was recently disbanded with the termination of the license agreement with the Magnalite Corp., it was said yesterday by Toby Gruen, vice-president of National Screen. The Magnalite division was under direct charge of Sam Dembow, Jr., who resigned as general manager of National Screen late last week to join Fanchon & Marco as a vicepresident and director. It was set up more than a year ago. Gruen said that Dembow's duties will be divided among the other executives. Edward Sullivan Dies Hollywood, April 5. — Edward Dean Sullivan, 49, newspaper writer, author and film scenarist, was found dead of natural causes in his apartment here last night. James Carew, 62, Passes London, April 5. — James Carew, 62, veteran actor and the third husband of the late Dame Ellen Terry, died at his home here yesterday. He had been on the stage for forty years. He appeared on the screen for Pathe in 1915 and later in the talking films, and appeared on the radio for the British Broadcasting Co. Henshaw and Wife Found Dead Los Angeles, April 5. — Roger Henshaw, 42, film writer and former director, and his wife, Dale Henshaw, an actress, were found dead in a closed automobile at their North Hollywood home yesterday. RIDING YOUR WAY FOR BIGGER AND BETTER PROFITS ALL-NEGRO MUSICAL WESTERN "TWO-GUN MAN from HARLEM'* KEY RUNS already set in Los Angeles, New Orleans, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Mobile, Texarkana, Muskogee, Birmingham, Atlanta, Shreveport, and Beaumont. Write or Wire for Your Date Now SACK AMUSEMENT ENTERPRISES National Distributors 610 Soledad Street 109 Walton Street San Antonio, Texas Atlanta, Georgia Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, April 5.— Coach Tom Lieb and the Loyola University hockey team have been signed to appear in the Pete Smith specialty, "Ice Hockey," to be directed by Charles Vandeveer. . . . Hal Wallis has assigned Lou Edelman to produce "Wings Over the Navy," to begin shooting in June. George Brent and Ronald Reagan will have important roles, and Lloyd Bacon will direct. Larry Darmour has signed Marcia Ralston for the feminine lead in the current Jack Holt vehicle, "Crime Takes a Holiday," replacing Ann Sheridan, who is recuperating from a tonsil operation. . . . Barbara Stanwyck will be starred in "Always Goodbye," 20th Century-Fox. . . . Humphrey Bogart, John Litel and Russell Simpson will have important roles in Warners' "Valley of the Giants." . . . Joan Bennett, not Ginger Rogers, will star in RKO's "Mother Carey's Chickens." Rowland V. Lee. not Dorothy Arzner, will direct. Sol Lesser has taken Rupert Hughes' "Celluloid" off the shelf for possible summer production, and has planned a 90-day shooting schedule. . . . Ben Judell has announced titles of three more pictures — "Stepmother," "I Want a Divorce," and "Temptations of Youth." Movita and John Carroll will be be co-starred by Monogram in "Isle of Terror." . . . Bing Crosby will direct the turf sequences in "Sing You Sinners," Paramount. . . . RKO has ourchased "Menial Star." original by Charles Hoffman, as a vehicle for Lucille Ball. . . . Warners has purchased "He Sang Yankee Doodle," Carl Click story, for short subject material. + Casting — Elizabeth Risdon, Bob by Jordan and Maurice Murphy in "In Every Woman's Life," Warners. . . . Roger Converse in "Yellow Jack," M-G-M. . . . Herbert Mundin in "Lord Jeff," M-G-M. . . . Fay Holden in "Hold That Kiss," M-G-M. Nina Koshetz, opera singer, has been cast in a dramatic role in "Algiers," Wanger. . . . Helen Broderick has been borrowed from RKO by Universal for "The Rage of Paris." . . . Rita Johnson has been loaned by M-G-M to Universal for "Letter of Introduction." . . . Vladimir Sokoloff and Duncan Renaldo in "Spawn of the North," Paramount. . . . James Burke and Virginia Weidler in "Men With Wings," Paramount. . . . Dickie Moore in "My Bill," Warners. . . Elaine Arden, Greek dialectician, in "Scandal House," Progressive. + Contracts — Gloria Blondell has been signed by Columbia. . . . RKO has given a term contract to Ray Whitley, cowboy singer, actor and band leader. + Title Changes — Warners have changed the title of "My Country First" to "Haym Solomon," "Young Man, Go West," to "Colorado," and "Sister Act" to "Because of a Man." . . . "The Phantom Ranger" is the new title for "Ridin' Gent," Tim McCoy vehicle for Monogram + Directors — Karl Brown will direct Monogram's "Private Nurse." . . . Switching assignments, William McGann will guide Warners' "The Singing Cop" and John Farrow. "My Bill." . . . Sam Newfield has been signed by Jed Buell to direct "Paradise Valley," Fred Scott vehicle for Stan Laurel Pictures, Inc., which Spectrum will release. Bank Night Banned Near Philadelphia Philadelphia, April 5. — In Montgomery county, adjacent to Philadelphia, exhibitors have been ordered to cease Bank Nights by District Attorney Smillie. Police chiefs were ordered to see that theatres stopped "this illegal operation or be arrested." Smillie acted on the recommendation of the Grand Jury, which termed Bank Night "illegal and dishonest." Jurors alleged that "children of tender years are being lured into theatres with the hope of winning money on games of chance." As far as could be learned today no other games, many of which are played by churches, came under the ban. Herman Whitman Dead Philadelphia, April. 5. — Herman Whitman, 37, manager of the Earle for the past three years, died suddenly last night at the Sylvania Hotel. He collapsed nearly two weeks ago and had been in bed since. The funeral will be held tomorrow from 45-15 Ft. Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn. Before coming here Whitman had managed the Palace, New York, and Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and had been at the Radio City Music Hall. Conn. MPTO Opposes Neely Bill Passage New Haven, April 5. — Resolutions opposing the Neely Bill were passed unanimously yesterday by the M.P. T.O. of Connecticut. The resolution says the opposition is due to the members' belief that "as active motion picture theatre operators we are convinced that it will not accomplish any of the benefits its proponents assert in its behalf." Copies were sent to Connecticut Congressmen. Lesser to Deliver 3 Breens for RKO (Continued from imqe 1) ping recently of a 20th Century-Fox releasing deal for action pictures of which, incidentally, Lesser has not yet been officially notified, the producer plans no more B pictures. Lesser has one Smith Ballew western, "Lord of the Panamint," and "Tarzan Speaks," both of which will be delivered to 20th Century-Fox under his current arrangement. Pick Shirley's Next Hollywood, April 5. — "Lucky Penny" will be the title of Shirley Temple's next for 20th Century-Fox. TRUE STORIES FROM ALTEC FIL L. DERENE, manager of the Terrace Theatre, New York City Refunds Saved by Inspector's Quick Arriva NEW YORK CITY— "Something wei wrong with the sound at the beginning i the last feature," said L. Derene, manag of the Terrace Theatre, of the Han Brandt Circuit, recently. "I put in an erne gency call for the Altec service man 10:14 P.M., and in exactly thirteen mimes Inspector Olan W. Hancock was ; the lobby. "The sound had gone entirely dead, at the patrons had begun demanding pass" and refunds. "Seeing Hancock, I announced to tl audience, 'The sound engineer is her everything will be all right in a moment He found trouble in the main amplifie and cleared it instantly. Then Hancock ii formed our usher, 'The show will be read to start as soon as the audience is seated "Due to Altec's prompt action, the pii ture hit the screen at 10:30, exactly 1| minutes after I first called, we saved froi 250 to 300 refunds." There is a world of difference between wh, the Altec Service Agreement specifically agr to perform— and what other service agreemen agree to perform. The Altec Service Inspectt in your vicinity will gladly present a detaile Analysis of what the Altec agreement meat in SPECIFIC PROTECTION to your equipmet .ALTEC ALTEC SERVICE CORPORATION 250 West 57th Street, New York City Gentlemen: Without obligation to myself, would like to have an Altec Inspector show a how an Altec agreement can give my theatc greater protection. NAME THEATRE ADDRESS CITY : . . THAT YOUR THEATRE MAY NEVER BE DARK