Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

October IS, 1930 M o t i o n Picture .V e rr J 19 OUTLOOK demonstrated on the coast. A female player, propelled into fame almost overnight, found herself in musical talkers because the studio felt it was the thing to do. She made one, then another and finally walked off the lot, declaring her talents were not being exercised to the full. Or words to that effect. A Case in Point The studio did nothing about it. Ditto. the player. In the meantime, several choice roles originally designated for the recalcitrant trouper were assigned elsewhere. Elsewhere Ruth Chatterton, from the New York stage, jumped to the fore over night. Joan Bennett, a newcomer, did some fast traveling toward the top of the heap. Helen Twelvetrees, Constance Bennett and Ann Harding, among others, began to make sizeable dents. All this and more was observed by the player who perhaps made her decision too rashly. So back to the studio she went. There she cooled her heels until the studio chief felt it was strategically the time to see her. From that point on, the wrinkles began to be ironed out. There's no secret about all this. The player is Janet Gaynor ; the studio, Fox ; and the executive who bided his time, Winnie Sheehan. Sharpshooting in Stocks One of the big names of picture business has been gambling plenty in stocks. So much so his manipulations are apt to draw the attention of the Department of Justice. President Hoover is giving his attention to efforts to stop short selling, particularly when the shorts use questionable means to accomplish their ends. Beating down the price of stock through what may prove to be crooked methods faces some obstacles, and if the government goes in for investigation of this sort of thing, some very interesting details will be divulged. According to the dope, this film name is resorting to tactics which may warrant criminal prosecution, if the theories of insiders is borne out. Viciously attacking the financial standing of any firm calls for a criminal reckoning, and this operator may be haled before the courts if investigation of his activities bears out current suspicions. Should the government step in, the results may prove embarrassing, for a general probe of the stock market might be undertaken. In the case of the big name operator in question, such a probe would divulge a maze of questionable and, some say, fraudulent contracts and stock transactions which would shake the business to its oft-shaken foundations. In the Balance! Frank Whitbeck, showman extraordinaire and big cog in the Fox West Coast theatres wheel, may or may not return to his love of long-standing. Frank is now on vacation. He may stay that way insofar as the circuit is concerned and, if he does, it appears from this tower that the decision will be his own of his own making. Whitbeck is understood to have resented for some time interference in his publicity campaigns by the Fox studio. Felt they weren't in tune with his job and all that sort of thing. However, now that Oscar Oldknow has insisted that Fox West Coast operate on its own without studio dictation, wires from Hollywood indicate Whitbeck may decide to stay after all. Stock Tremors THE boomerang of last November is ricocheting all over Wall Street almost a year after the stock ticker first went crazy. On the inside is the dramatic yarn of three brokerage houses, each important and far flung in its ramifications, which a handful of days ago faced suspension by the board of governors of the New York Stock Exchange because current assets were not sufficient to meet current obligations. One of these was a specialist in motion picture stocks. If powerful allies hadn't been drafted into the situation on the one-two-three, this selfsame specialist would have fallen on sorry days and might easily have carried into the mire of speculation and frenzied rumor the film companies whose issues figured so largely in its business trading. The financial aid, however, was forthcoming and what looked like a near-disaster averted by the narrowest of margins. But perspiration flowed freely and skipping hearts beat rapidly that after N[" ATIOXAL Broadcasting Co. ana Pepsodent aren't taking any chances that some other firm will cash in on the millions they have spent to popularize Amos 'n Andy. As a result, tie-ups of any kind, except with these two firms on RKO's "Check and Double !_"heck," are definitely out Radio Pictures had arranged a national hookup with the Underwood typewriter firm, but the legal department of NBC has issued a "no likee" edict and the tie-up has been, or will be, called off. L'se of stills on the picture is to be confined to lobbies, store windows, programs, magazines, etc., but in no case may they be employed with outside firms. Even special sections tied in with the 4,000 line ad to be used have been ruled out, for RKO is paying for the double truck space used. Amos 'n' Andy are to appear simultaneously on screens of 300 theatres of the nation October 24. They will be on the RKO radio hour at 10 :30 that night. This means that RKO is taking no chances with the two blackface stars. It is figured that by breaking the picture in 300 houses on the same night the move will prevent the picture from being handicapped by any adverse comments by critical cranks, who may pick on the picture on general principles. RKO feels it has got two big bets and intends to hit while they're hot, and to strike all over the country at the same time. Amos 'n' Andy on the radio every night have a national audience. It is figured that on the night of the twentyfourth, with the two comedians directing listeners-in to view the picture, it should prove outstanding as a box office bet. Time, as usual, will write the next chapter. Have a Piece of Throat Plans for one of the most sweeping drives, aimed at losing houses and high overhead, have now reached the point where officials of P'ublix are ready to fire the opening gun. The move includes: Wholesale closing of theatres, long in the red and impossible to place on a profitable basis : switching the policy of many first run deluxe houses from full week to split week programs; and last, but not the least by any means according to Publix employees in on the "dope," a salary cut which will start at the very top and include all in the organization with the exception of low-salaried employees. The cut will take in practically every high-priced man and, from present indications, will mean exit for dozens of them who refuse to be consoled by promises for the future as an excuse for reduced income in the present. Well, What? What was the gist of the reply received by Frank Wilstach of the Hays' office to his complaint to RKO that the advertising used in Chicago dailies in connection with "On Your Back" at the Palace was a direct and glaring violation of the Hays' code of ethics? THE INSIDERS