Variety (Nov 1931)

yARIETY P ■ C T ES Tuesday, .November 3, 1931 Giannini Favors Continental Fmancing Of Films; Coast Welcome Elaborate Hollywood, Nov. 2. Dr. A. H. Giannini,, welcomed back with a formal .stag dinner at the Hotel Ambassador Oct 28, with the elite of the Industry joining in the festivities, doubly stressed' his continued flnancing of pictures. First, before the dinner, he denied, to a 'Variety* reporter that the Giannini banking Interests were off flnancing the picture industry, and not In so many words but ^along the, same affirmative lines, he reiterated that In the course of the banquet. Hosts were. Harold B. Franklin, Samuel Goldwyn, Louis B.. Mayer,: Charles Hi Rogers,. Winfleld R. Sheehan, Joseph M. Schenck, J. I. Schnitzel B.' P. Schulberg, irv.Ing -Thalberg and Jack L. Warner, with Franklin, Mayer, Rogers, Schenck and Schnltzer wiring theli: regrets through absence east or en tour. Warner's Hoke Will Rogers oa one of the speak- ers ba.d a tough, time following Jack Warner, who almost stole the show with a hokum speech, partially read- ing it from MSS., stating he was 'advised by tlie guy whp wrote my. speech that President Hoover does the same, so I suppose it's all right.' Rogers was hone the less caustic, and perhaps a bit too literal In spots, in his rlbblhg, . After first gently, chiding 'that lousey Warner*' for stealing his stuff, .Rogers observed that: 'I always thought producers could be funny if they'd only be natural.' , . , . . Rogers continued:. 'This dinner holds a personal note for every one of us here; in-fact Doc, holds my personal npte also... .Since the seat- ing was done according to what they owe Dr. Giannini, Sam Gold- wyn is naturally 'oh his right... And' while we're giving dinners, Qod love Mickey Mouse' and Clark Gable for what they're doing for the Industry also. Let's get up a dinnei' for Mickey Mouse therefore. ...When Wall St came In, the dlence went but* (Wild applause.) 'Other Speakers brre .Monette of the Bank of America gave one of . those C. of C. speeches. L. A. Young, publisher of the 'Examiner,' also aired a wel- come. Fred Niblo was; toastmaster. Sam Goldwyn, becaiuse of the hour, had to forego his speech,, with the elaborate entertainment program also sloughed and restricted to the Ambassador's entertainers and a couple of musical numbers. Besides the hosts, attendance numbered some 200 of the represen- tative industry leaders, execs, players, et al. ' MITZI GREEN AT $2,500 AS STAGE VAUDE AQ Ml'tzi Green has been booked at $2,500 per by RKO for 10 weeks, opening Dec. 18 In. St Louis, usual popular opening spot for film people contracted while on the Coast, M. S. Bentham arranged the book- ing in New York direct with RKO. 12 Retake Days More than half the original shoot- ing time consumed on Tallulah Bankhead's 'The- Cheat' (Par) is be- ing used for retakes. Makeovers are adding 12 days to the production lime, the original camera work tak- ing around 23 days at the X,ong Is- land studios. BerthoUl Viertel Is megglng. Happiness Boy ■ ' ' -y . ... Hollywood, Nov. 2,. , Qiilckle company, producing a four-day horse opera, with everything, including the ac- tors, on the cuff,'was stopped by the producer at noon on'the fourth iay'., ■ . 'Now, folks,' lie beamed, 'If we can 'only borrow lunch . money for the troupe we caji have this picture In the can by five o'clock. GOLDEN WEDDING OF SID KENT'S PARENTS San Francisco, Nov. 2, 'When the father and mother of sid. Kent celebrate .-their- golden wedding in this city on Nov. 18, the Kent clan, entire, will foregather for the ifiriBt time under the one" roof. The eight sons and daughters with their children have visited the- great-grandparents at .various times but the golden wedding day will see all of the generations .here. ; Sid Kent will come on from New, 'irdrk, and return directly from here; making ho other stop on the, way out or back. It is said.. Roxy Back with Rave For Russian Makeup JAen S. L. Rothafel returned froni his European trip last Thursday (29) and says the tecHhlcal men who ac- companied him have brought back, many angles In sound-proofing which will be incorporated Ip the theatres In Radio City.' Roxy also says the Russians have American actors topped in tt)e art of makeup; He Intends . .bringing over Soviet cosmetic experts for his etas« performers. (iOLDINA WITH FAB Hollywood, .Kov. 2 Miriam Goldlna, former star of the Hablmah Theatre, Moscow, Is playing her first picture part in Paramount's 'Ladies of the Big House.' Coming here to retire, her only previous professional appearance was several months ago. In 'The Dybbuk* with the Pasadena Com- munity Players.- Vola Vale Back Hollywood, Nov. 2. After a decade In retirement, Vola Vale is back In pictures again in a small part' in Paramount's Tomor- row and Tomorrow.' Actress w&a leading lady for Bill Haft Charlie Ray and others when Mary PIckford still wore curls. Mary-Doug in N. Y. Double missions brought Mary PIckford and Douglas Fairbanks east Couple arrived, Sunday (1). Fairbanks will attend to the opening of his t;:avel picture here. Film Is still unbooked. Miss PIck- ford is here to look for a script for her next picture. POLLOCK ON COAST Hollywood, Nov. 2. Adolph Pollock, head of Hollywood and Peerless Independent distribut- ing companies, arrived here 'Satur- day for production ,conference with Al Herman and Al Mahnon, both re- leasing through his outlets. : Pollock wants to Increase his re- leases for next season. mSIL. (tETS PAPEB Hollywood, Nov. 2. Columbia has contracted R. Wil- liam >?ell, director, for a year. His first picture on the new paper will be 'The Feathered Serpent,' Edgar ■tt'allace story. Neil has been at Columbia week to week for six months. WILL MAHONEY In Eai-l Carroll "Vanities." Hannen Swaffer In .the Xondon. "Daily Her- ald" said: ."Will. Mahoney Is the most modest artist on the music- hall stage. His . song, his steps and the Mahoneyphoiie won the enthuslr asm of a cold, bard house." Direction' RALPH G. FARNUM Wails Ji^ain for Par Quiet Payoff San Bernardino, .Nov. 2. A oollectlon of old phonographs suddenly made their appearance In the Mexican quarter here when Paramount > was filming outdoor scenes for 'Sktppy* early this year. It took |6 to get each of the owners to shut, oft the phonograph. Now Par Is In the same' quarter for scenes in- 'Sookjr' .and a sur- prising number of Mexican' homes had been furnished overnight with player pianos, one roll for each. It took $10 per to stop the boxes so- the company 'could have quiet. ' One man started a tuzi saw g6ing in'his backyard and wanted $50 to lay off. Somebody discovered the man didn't have a'license to run one, so the assistant director made htm quit playing, r ' Some of the shanty town inhabi- tants were looking for riveting ma^ chines when Par finished the loca- tion stuff. . . CHEVALIER AT $15,000, % FOR S. F. AUTO SHOW ' lios Angeles; Nov. 2. Maurice Cheyaller plays a week at the' San Fnlnclsco auto-show again this year,:starting Jan: 10 at a $15,- 000 guarantee plus' 50% of anything abovd $30,000 gross. . Chevalier received a straight. $20,- 000 last year.' BuzzeU Won't Tie Self To Col. fdr Features Hollywood,' Nov. 2. Deal between Coluqibla and Ed- die Buzzell for the latter to direct a. feature Is ..held up by Buzzcll's desire for a ohe-picture contract, while the studio wants him to sign an optional paper. BuzzeU feels that as' long as he Is out to malte.features his try-out agreement should be for one picture only. It is easy to entertain egotists —just sit and listen.' UB. AMD URS. JACK NORWOBTB 130 West 4Uh Street New Vorli BENITA HUME FOE BASIO Hollywood, Nov. 2. Word received liere from London says.that Benila Hume, English ac- tress, left yesterday from London, starting for Hollywood. Miss Hume ha^ a .contract with Radio Pictures. Metro Adds Writers PhlUp Stuart and Aimee Stuart, a.? a team, have been placed under ."v short term writing contract by Metro In New York. Another east- ern writer being added to the sce- nario ranks is Rudolph Bach. In both cases assignments, are yet to be determined. Women's L.A. Press Party Hollywood, Nov. 2. Women's Screen Press Club Is staging Its annual shindig tomorrow (3) at the Montmartre for dinner with an international tone to Its guests of honor. Will feature for- eign talent as Its g. of h„ including Negri, del Rio, Lebedeff, Lugosl, et al. Attendance otherwise will be 100% hen, with no escorts. NEWSBOY GOES FILM. Oklahoma City, Nov. 2. Bobby Walton, eight - year - old newsboy, learned to twirl a laclat, then won a roping contest, ' Now Bobby is on his way to Hollywood to appear In pictures. His'father signed a contract with a producer of Juvenile comedies. 3 Directum Teams Reph^^ F(#d At Fox-Drawiiig but Half His Salary TOO MUCH PERSONALITY? Or Just What In This Polly Moran- Oreta Garbo Jam 7 Jimmy . Savo will replace Polly Moran -at Lioew's Metropolitan, Brooklyn, week Nov. 7. Polly is out because the Greta Garbo 'Susan Lenox' (Metro) picture Is booked for the Met that week. Loew 'fig- ures it would be a. clash of "plcthfe personalities. CHEYALIER-MACDONALD TOP MULTI FILM TEAM .. Hollywood, Nov. 2. Running second only to Maurice Chevalier, Paramount how con- siders Jeanette Macdona.ld the best bet'for foreign version, films.' As a combine they are looked upon as the biggest International bet In the business.. < Par bases this deduction not only on the pulling power-of talker, ver- sions made with this pair but also on the business done by the synced versions and-superimposed editions In the various languages. ' Among examples pointed to Is business done with 'Iiove Parade.' In China this picture is on its fifth, run, which will return'more than the. second run. Chevalier and Miss Macdonald Wlil be bracketed In two more to be done! this year, 'One. Hoiir With ToU' and a remake of 'The Orand Duchess And the Walter.' French versions will be made of both ^nd synced editions for all other major languages. There may also be a third feature made by. this pair. Harry Jolson Hints That F; & Bl Framed Him . Los Angeles, Nov. 2. Harry Jolson, who was not op- tioned as star of Fanchon & Marco's 'Modern Minstrels' idea, compldlned to F&M. locally by wire that •Variety's' expose of Dave Seed's telegraphic prank seemed, to. lend substantiations to It all. That mayr be Seed's Insulting wire was 'In- spired' by F&M, etc. Jolson complained' that besides the Ignominy of not bein^r renewed optionally, F&M seemingly cooper- ated in giving ''Variety' full details about Seed's allegedly Insulting telegranis to Jolson as heretofore reported In detail. Thus far no word from Seed de- spite Doc Howe's threats against the former halt of Seed and Austin that 'he would file complaint with the "VMPA for allegedly using the Fanchon &- Marco name In a spuri- ous telegram. Tyler Mason replaced Jolson In Minneapolis In the 'Merry Minstrels' F&M- Idea. MAILT ASTOB IN 'SQUAOBOF . Hollywood, Nov. 2. Mary Astor has been selected by Radio to play opposite Richard DIx in 'The Lost Squadron.' Miss Astor Is under contract to this studio. SAILINGS Dec. 4 (Hongkong to Singapore) Joe and Fanny Fisher (Yasu Kunii Maru). Nov. 11 (London to New York), Ellssa Land! and mother (Maure- tania or Bremen). Nov. B (Paris to New York) Charles Gordon, Mrs. Joe Zelll, Peggy Joyce (He de France). Nov. 1 (Los Angeles to Honolulu) Joe and Fanny Fisher, Helen Wills Moody, and husband (Pres. CooUdge). Oct. 30 (Capetown to London),' Jos.' HIslop, Carl Tlllius,. Elsie Judge,. Elsie Keene, J. Williams, "j. Conyngham, 'Miss Physical Culture,' W. -Cartrell, Ivy Helder (Kenllworth Castle). Oct. 30 (New York to London), Basil Dean (Europa). . Oct. 23 (Rotterdam to New York) Bepple de Vrles (Statendam). * Oct. 23 (Capetown to .London) Barry Twins, Lloyd Brothpro ^Arun- del Castle). Hollywood, Nov. 2^ In conjunction with the dropplhg of.' John Ford,. director drawliig $3,000 weekly, from the contract Hat, Fox has appointed three new direct- ing teams who will collectively i^. celve less than half of Ford's salary. The directorial . palirs, all elevated fromi pth^r positions, are Bert Se- belli former production manager,, and J. M. Kerrigan, actor; Marcel 'Varnel, writer, and - R.. L. Hougib, assistant director; Harold Schustlr, film editor, and Samuel GodfrJy, writer, 1 First assignments are Sebcll aad Kerrigan on Tom Gills' novel, 'The Gay. Bandit,' to feature' . George O'Brien; Varnel and Hough will io 'First Cabin,' a Louis J. Vanfce story, and Schuster and Godfrey ate listed to handle Mildred Cram's 'Scotch Valley.' What they do wljh these pictures will determine if tl^e sextet retain their directorial postjs. Move by Fox apparently marks a one-way ruling tfr other hlgh-prlc^d . directors on the company's payroll to accommodate the economy pro- gram, now In effect. What is probably a record number of years' service as a director at one studio has been ended by Johh Fordi' The ^'rector. Is leaving Fox after having been there steadily for. 14 years. Ford's last for Fox was"The Brat,' after which he was loaned to United Artists'for 'Arrowsmlth.' He . had' been slated to do 'Young America* {IS his next for Fox, but termina- tion of: the contract' didn't permit this. New director has not been as- signed. Financial reasons given for Ford'd - leaving Fox, Thanksgiviiig Eve May Be Most Faypred for Unemployment Benefit Following a meeting of l.GOO man- agers at the Hotel Astor, New York, to consider procedure for benefit sho-ws the week of Nov. 18-25 for the Hays'.unemployment relief fund, chain operators and Independents are to determine on what day and in what shape their shows will be given. In advance of that decision, the majority of managers favor Thanks- giving eve, Wednesday night (24) at midnight, a time that has been determined oh In other parts of the country, notably Los Angeles With the big do^'luxers the ext^ show Is a problem. Where some managers may turn over an extra early morning show to the bene/lt, while others will put on midnight shows that are not a part of the regular policy, with the deluxers It will probably mean the setting aside of one of the regular midnight p^,r formances. Loew is getting its stage hands and musicians'to donate theli' ser- vices for the extra shows, with tHe same probably to apply generally following the I.oew move in- that direction. ' •' Cooper's Neat Walkout Leaves No Par Protest Hollywood, Nov. 2. Gary Cooper's ivalUout on the lead role in 'Miracle Man' was so neatW done that U didn't cause a ritt wIlW Paramount, which was anxious to use the actor In the Tom MclghJin character. Fredrlc March was con- sidered as replacement but ■ not picked. While Par was cogitating with Cooper's doctor over the . actor's health. Cooper look a boat for Hu- rope. Studio Is now loking for a new lead for the talker remake. ...j Par wanted Cooper to do tlic pl<jT, ture before taking his vacation ai^' the actor was supposed to return. Hollywood after fihlshlng'. 'H's Woman' ('Sal of Singapore') at ihs New York studio. The medico said it'was .okay for Cooper's health to postpone the vacash. But doo)"?'". shipped for Europe and will he av.-;iy two. months. John Wray was borrowed fi'<»" Warners for a part, suiii>-""''"" Ir.ving Ple.hcl, who rocs Into .".m.il story.