Motion Picture News (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 22, 1930 Motion Picture News 37 Stop Us If Were Wrong WARREN (United Artists) Nolan tips us off that Jean Harlow is just 19. . . . The blonde star of "Hell's Angels" has returned to the Coast, where she is to appear with Wallace Beery in "The Secret Six," which George Hill will direct for M-G-M. ... Joe Merrick-, Tiffany's district manager in the Middle West, ambled to the Main Stem for confabs with Oscar Hanson. * * * Leatrice Joy is going back into vaudeville Nov. 22 in a skit she authored. She'll open at the RKO in Patterson. . . . "Bill" Ornstein, veteran trade paper man, comes to bat with the gag that it's all yes on the western front. . . . He's to be a daddy in a coupla months. * * * And maybe Jack Tillman, western district manager, isn't 1,000 per cent sold on Columbia's output. ... A real air circus was put over for "The Dawn Patrol" at Seattle. . . . Phil (Universal) Reisman is living on trains these days. . . . Oscar Oldknow and Harry Arthur intend to alternate on operating the Fox eastern and western divisions. . . . Empeenews tipped off at the time of Harold B. Franklin's resignation that Arthur was slated for big things. * * * Add fun in the studios. . . . The M-G-M P. A. sends us this: Marjorie Rambeau, famous stage star, appearing with Greta Garbo in "Inspiration" at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, is an ardent practical joker. She took a raw oyster, slipped it into the hand of John Miljan during a scene, and chortled inwardly when he had to go through the scene holding the clammy bivalve and still trying to look nonchalant and hide it from the camera. . . . Nize baby ! * * * Another deserved promotion places Dave Miller, Universal Buffalo manager, in charge of the district embracing Buffalo, Cleveland and Cincinnati, with headquarters at Buffalo. . . . Phil Reisman, general sales chief, has his organization set and is out for a swing around the various branches between here and the Coast. . . . That Universal outfit certainly is moving at a fast clip. » * * Frances White is termed "the petite blonde moving picture star" in a Hearst story about her being named a co-respondent in a divorce action. . . . How did she win that title? * * * Colleen Moore is taking a rest at a Battle Creek, Mich., sanitarium. . . . Lila Lee and Renee Adoree are regaining health at a mountain resort in Arisona. . . . Although it's been playing pictures a coupla years, the New York Winter Garden still is listed in the phone book as the Winter Garden Music Hall. Tactful Chicago — Madeline Woods, divisional publicity director for Great States Theatres, has sounded a warning against use in any advertising of the lines, "No children admitted'* or "Children barred by censors." Instead, Miss Woods points out, a box should be used in ads reading: "This picture will neither be understood nor appreciated by children, and therefore is not recommended for their entertainment." Sees Action Trend Kansas City — Less talking and more real acting constitutes the trend in talking pictures, Adolph Zukor told newspaper reporters here. Zukor made a brief stop on his way from New York to the coast. Pictures will be made more on the order of the old silent films and dialogue will be used only as a means of keeping out subtitles, Zukor said. There will be just enough talking to save the space subtitles would take, he believes. A similar belief was expressed by Sidney R. Kent at the Philadelphia convention. W I DIES is the term being used by National Carbon Co. to describe wide-screen fillums. . . . Ralph Morrow, veteran southern exec, is in Noo Yawk. . . . Boy, oh boy, what a surprise picture Warners has in "The Doorway to Hell." . . . Slipped into the Nrew York Strand without any fuss, and it's been standing 'em up ever since. . . . Paramount says it juggled schedules to make "Feet First," "Laughter," "The Right to Love," "Derelict," "Morocco" and "Tom Sawyer" all available during November. * * * Mel Sickafoose, head of the art department of the World in Omaha, won three ribbons at the Pacific International Horse Show. . . That is, his horses did. . . . Greta Garbo has moved from Beverly Hills to Brentwood, states the press. . . . Well, maybe that IS news. . . . Trem Carr, producer of the Bob Steele westerns for Tiffany, is in New York for conferences with Grant L. Cook, vice-president. * * * Pathe is issuing 14x17 facsimile oil paintings of Ann Harding, Constance Bennett, Helen Twelvetrees, Bill Boyd, Eddie Quillan and Robert Armstrong as a new accessory. . . . Clara Bow has split with her secretary, Daisy Devoe, and Daisy threatens to tell. . . , Irving Hanower, recently promoted to the managership of the Tiffany Washington branch, has booked the product 100 per cent with the Sidney Lust Circuit. OROING is the new word coined by Roger O Ferri in the Dynamo, Fox house organ. . . . Roger is doing a mighty fine job of sales promotion via his dynamic sheet. . . . James R. (Jimmy) Grainger has set a new mark for his go-getting sales organization to shoot at. . . . He has ordered them to double the amount of business done in September and October. . . . Speaking of the Graingers. Edmund, who is an associate producer on "Land Rush," has collaborated with A. S. Kline on a story. * * * Hats off to Helen Chandler Although suffering from chronic appendicitis, she appeared daily for seven weeks before the camera during the shooting of Universal's "Dracula." . . . Three hours after its finish she was being operated on. . . . "Baddy" Rogers has returned from a European trip with his mother. . . . He admitted that he had not found his ideal girl abroad. . . . Stop crowding! * * * Fifi Dorsay received a great reception when she stepped off her train at Boston, but she didn't kiss a cop. . . . The force probably had read about the one she's busted in Philadelphia, and remained out of reach of the French temptress. . . . Two PitzPatrick Traveltalks are playing Broadway this week, the houses being the Capitol and the George M. Cohan. . . . From the Coast comes the hot news that Will Rogers will be seen as a cowboy in "The Heir tn the Hoorah." * * * Universal is going to star Lewis Ayres, who was launched on his career to fame by "AH Quiet." . . . Stardom in less than a year is a record. . . . Harry Reichenback is going to exploit "See America Thirst" for Universal. . . . And will he make the yokels thirsty ! . . . George Fitzmaurice is to direct Norma Shearer in "Strangers May Kiss." * * * When you're handing out bouquets, don't forget Lola Lane and her fine work in "The Costello Case," Sono Art's mystery picture. . . . Incidentally, it starts out silent and what a wallop that opening gives you. "The future of Philadelphia staggers the imagination," said the Hon. James M. Beck, representative from Pennsylvania addressing the Town Meeting held the other night at "Philly" under auspices of the Poor Richard Club. . . . A queer coincidence that his declaration should come less than a week after a few hundred exhibitors staggered out of the Quaker City after closing an M. P. T. O. A. confab at the Benjamin Franklin. Springs and Weights On the Western Front — Publicity is publicity these days. Someone at Radio has taken the time to figure out that Lowell Sherman is supported by two and a half tons of actors in "The Queen's Husband." And that doesn't include the 2,000 extras, but only the 25 featured and bit players. Incidentally, the title has just been officiallv changed from "The Queen's Husband" to "The Royal Bed."