Variety (March 1932)

VARIETY PICTURES Tuesday, Marcli I, 1932 6&K Has Stock Idea Its Waverii^ Nabes as L A Orpheum Secures lysbtrata'^^f^ Chicago, Feb. 29. Possibility of Publlx-Balabah & Katz installing, dramiatio stock In several t^eatrefi looms as the result of propositions iNTought to the plo ture Arm by dramatic agencies and producers hiere. B.&K. is anxious to try new ideas in at least a half dozen bigger neighborhood houses which y have buckled badly the past few months: Lllcc^ly for the dramatic stock ex- periments are such houses as the Maryland, southslde; Govent. Gar' . dens, northside, and the B^mont, northwest B.&K. has been set to close'a number of theatres here but has'Withheld the final notice^ Since 'Girl Crazy/ musical tab, crashed through the successful coin in tab Tersion, B.&K. has kept its eye sharpened for. any stagia angles which look feasible. What Is most appealing to the circuit is the fkct that there aro no dramatic stocira alive in town at present, ih a burg that has annually supported four and five of the resident drama compahles. Plan. beini; considered would es| tabllsh a B.&K, rotating stock Idea among three or four of. the houses BO that each week, or half weekj a niew troupe and show could be de- livered to each neighborhood in- stead of having one permanent cast •t each theatre. McGuire, Beery, Jr., Free Work in Odd Money Deal HoUyWoofl, Feb. 29, TTnlversars contracts with Mickey McGuIre and Noah Beery, Jr. make provision for certain work without pay. McGulre, signed for $600 for two and a half weeks, must woiic in retakes,. trick shots or trailers free Of charge. Young Beery is set for Ave weeks at $150 each in. a serial, with proviso that if a sixth week is necessary it will be sans paycheck Any production time beyond six weeks, however, will be at a $100 riate. On account, of the Fontaine Fox- Columbla-Darmour litigation the McGuIro kid signs the name Mickey Brown 'professionally known as Mickiey McGuire.' Reisniaii-WBMsqf^ libs Angeles^ Feb. 29. , fLyslstrata,' legit snow, twice raided by the police when at the Carthay Circle, goes Into the RKO Orpheum Friday (4) In tabloid form. Cast Will be the same play- ers, including Nance O'Neill. House pays a guarantee of $6,000 with a split for the show over $16.- 000. pizoh Morgan, who was cor producer with George Robertson of the Carthay production, will, not be programed as producer at the Qrr pheum. , Trial and exoneration of the Xysistrata' cast, which . was ^'feloughed at the darthay Circle, also bad botii Warner's Downtown and the RKO Orpheum anxious for Tilzzie' In condensed form to play witii fllmlB. With the click of TiUfiky. Day,' colored musical in tab form, at the Paniages theatre, Alexander Pan- tages is dickering with Gregory Ratoff to bring 'Girl Crazy* in its tab form as it played for B.&K. in Chicago. Metn^s48 Phil Relsnian, reported made an offer by RKO for supervision; of film buying, may tie up with War- ner Bros. Instead. Deal with. WB: is Indef, but in the meantime, he is not accepting the RKO proposal, it is said, Up to y^terday (Monday), Hiram S.. ' Brown had not filled the film buying spot in RKO, left vacant, with Jules Levy" appointed general sales manager of Radio Pictures. With Reisman out as a likelihood, it's between Emlle Stern and John O'Connor.: Allvihe Leaves Fox Glenn AUvIne, with the title of director of publicity and advertis- ing, severed bis connection with Fox on Saturday (27). His con- tract would have expired April 20. No. official edict as to whether anyone will succeed to the . title. test on 'Explorers' Following a test booking by RKO at the'Vlctory, Providence, circuit may take 'JBxplorers of the World' (Eiaspln) for general coverage. It goeis into the Cameo, New York, for RKO Thursday (4). 1st Rons on Broadway (Subject to Chanae) ' Week March 4 Paramount —r 'Strangers In Love' (Par). Roxy — 'Aftier Tomorrow' (Fox). . Capitol — 'Arsene Luplii'' (MiBtro) (2nd week). RIvoli — 'Sky Devils' (UA) '(8).; ■•■ Strand — •Heart of New York) (WB) (2). Mayfaiiv^'ImirSatlent MafdenV (U). - Winter Garden 'Alias the Doctor' (FN) (2). Rialto — 'Shanghai Express' (Par) (3rd week). , Week March 11 Paramount' 'T,he Wiser. Sex' (Par): Roxy 'Beast of the City* (Metro)! Ctfpitol -ri ■*P.a.si3 io n a t e Plumber' (MetrO)v Rivoli — 'Sky Devils' (UA) (2nd week). - Mayfair — "Lost Squadron' (Radio). Winter Garden —^.'Alias the Doctor* (FN) (2hd week). -Rialto T— 'Shanghai Express' (Par) (4th week). : V $2 PicturM - 'Hell Divers^ (Metro) (As- tor) (11th week). 'Man Who Played God' (WB) (Warners) (4th .w?ek)7 ■ ■.Foreign Fifms . 'Das Lied' Ist Aus' (Super- film) (German) (Europa) (6th week). 'Ein Walzer vom Strauss' (Splendid) (German) (Little Carnegie) (4th week). A minimum of 48 pictures is in prospect for Metro for the 1932-'33 season. Program setup Is scheduled for Immediate consideration on the Coast. Nick Schenck, Felix Feist and Howard Dletz left Friday (26) to Join J. Robert Rubin, already in Hollywood, for the purpose of prod- uct conferences with Louis . B. Mayer, Irving Thalberg and others. While M-G .may be a llttln late on delivery this season, full lineup of 48 will go out In accordance with contracts. Wm Draft Mayer as Pres. Over His Objections Hollyw'ood, Feb. 29. At an adjourned meeting of Pic- ture Producers' Association toi\ight (Monday) the electioii of president is sclieduled, with Louis B. Mayer reported to have stated he will not accept a renomination. Mayer has been the association's president for past year. No other candidate Is.mentioned, though Jack L. Warner, first v. p., is the logical choice. Will Hays, who is out here, is said to be strong- ly in favor of! Mayer accepting the office for another term. Chances are that Mayer wHl be drafted regardless tonight by unam- imous vote as president, despite his personal objections. At the election tonight the only change In the current sietup expect- ed Is the replacement of Joseph i. Schnltzer, present second y!-p. and now out of Radio. Other officers due for re-election are Mayer as president; J.ack Warner, first v.-p., and FVed Bcetson, executive v.-p. Horris Gonyaleacing . Sam E. Morris, WB gen. mgr., is convalescing from a minor opera- tion he underwent in the'Syden- ham hospital. New York, last week. Op was performed after Morris had been at the home office only a few days, having returned from a visit of several months in Europe. GOLDWYN'S LIMITED 4; SCHENCK, UA PUNS Sam Goldwyn Is.set on only four pictures and may do no more than this number for the coming season. They are two Eddie Cantors, "Bally- hoo* and 'Kid from Spain,' and two Ronald Colmans, "Brothers Kara- mazoy' and 'Cynaria.' A singleton with Ina Claire. and another as a buildup for Melyyn Douglas, whom (Joldwyn wants, to erect as star material. haVe been talked about but are only distant postsibllities. In the Joseph M< Schenck cami> only two pictures for the '32-'33 season are determined on; the talker remake of 'Ilain' and an Al Jolson original. For United Artists releaso ex- pected are one each from Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Plokford. Lat- ter will come east before starting work on /Happy Ending,' original by Frances Marion. EDWARD H. GRIFFITH In directing "Lady With a Past," now current at the Mayfair The- atre, New York, Edward H. Griffith Is credited with making what pre- view notices hall as Constance Bennett's most successful picture. Griffith, a former newspaper man of Chicago and Clevelandi started his motion picture career in the dual capacity of actor and writer for the Edison Company. Entering the directorial ranks later, he qylckly forged to the front rank, while he made scores of silent pictures, his greatest ruccess has been with such audible films as the widely acclalmed"Holi- -flay" and "Rebound." He Is now preparing to direct Miss Bennett's next picture^ "Free Lady," based upon the novel by Cecil Strange. . Chino-Japo Film Uji Oriental fiiss has wiped the cob webs oie Paramount's 'Come On, Marines.' Originally written by James K. McGlnness and Thomas Boyd for 'William A. Wellman to di- rect, it got bogged and eventually shelved. New adaptation will write Chi- nese s.quabble into plot. , Martin Flavin is busy at it. Chester Mor ris: and Richard Arlen in prosjpect. Jack Crawford Staya Jack Crawford stays on another spell as musical ringmaster fet Warners' HolIyw;ood. Four-week cancellation clause . works either way. .■ Bristly rswritten extracts from ^Variety's" Hollywood Bulletin, prlntedi each Friday in Hollywood, and placed as a wrappor upon the reaulan weekly "Variety." ^■ ' Tha Bulletin deas not circulate othar than on the Pacific Slope. . News from the Dailies in Los Angeles will be found in that customary departhient. . PaKs Studio Adv. Man John Hertz* adveit.lslng represen tatlve, W. 'K. Cochrane, has office spado in the Paramount admlnls tration building. He's laying out exploitation c&mpaierns on next year's Paramount product. He's been Uniyersal's advertising coun sel since the. early days, and also has an office there. Paramount de- nies any signlflctoce. , . .' Adrianne Allen Coming Adrianne Allen will come out for Paramount when finishing on Broad way in 'Cynara,' She's the wife of director Raymond Massay^ whom Universal imported from the legit. Morehoiise's Piece Warners' director team, Janies Flood and Elliott Nugent, will han die 'New York Town.' They Just finished 'The Mouthpiece.' Ward Morehouse, legit columnist, au thored 'Town.' ' Baron's Banjo , Baron Mandelstam goes to Paris for quota picture negotiations on behalf of Paramount. His dog, Ba^njo, win cross the Atlantic for the 14th time. Lloyd Corrigan -^111 romp to Eu rope while Paramount allows him three'months oft. 'Merton of the Talkies' Sam Mlntz and Arthur Kober are the last of many writing teams to tackle 'Merton of the Talkies, Stuart Irwin will be; starred by Par. Learning Luis Trenkcr, Austrian director, arrived for Universal possessed of first rudiments of show business English. He could say 'tremendous' and 'aw, nuts.' He's learned enough since then to play additional scenes in the Crerman-made 'Mountains' in Flames.' Paging Ben Lyon Ben Lyon, vaude-tourlng the east, may be lured back for Universai's 'Radio Patrol,' which Eddie Cahn will direct. Mae Clarke and Russell Hopton are set. Roach Studio Dark One or two months of darkness looms for Hal Roach studio. Sea- son's schedule will be completed by April 1, it is thought. J. B. Scott and William Phillips are forming a photographic bureau to cater to press agents' needs. in-and-Out Piehet Irving Pichel went back into his role in Radio's 'State's Attorney,' replacing Harry Bannister. Michel, original choice, stepped out when he was slated fOr a time to direct en- tire^ production. Now he's only doubling as dialog supervisor. Rin-Tin-Tin's Cost Lee Duncan thinks 9600 a week offered by Fanchon & Marco for Rln-Tln-Tin isn't enough. Offer was net, all expenses Including fresh liver daily. . - Black->HarrtB East Zlzz Black and Mort Harris, who have .been radio partners, hopped to Philadelphia to earn a few berries at the Mastbaum as Tn.c. and stager. ' Metro Takes Steele _ Joe Steele, former p.a. for Richard Barthelmess, made Metro's writing staff on the strength of his three- reel states righter, 'Gaunt* Shannon's 2nd Buildup Peggy Shannon starts her termer at Fox in 'Society Girl' with James Dunn. Destined for a build-up. Miss Shannon was for a time con- sidered by Paramount as successor to Clara Bow. Laurel-Hardy Features , Laurel and Hardy cqnipleted their last two-reeler last week in 'County Hospital.' Team's future is three features a year for Hal Roach, story for the first to be picked this week. Hoot's Japanese Hoot Gibson will speak Japanese, via dubbing, in one version Allied Is preparing of 'The Spirit of the West.' Others In German, FrencK and Spanish. Ekhib Has Try Ned Schukler, former Brooklyii and New Jersey exhib, is ih produc- tlon now as associate with Allied (M. H, Hoffman), Tracy in 'Under Cover' . 'Under Cover,' play bought by Fox, will be adapted and dialoged by ByrOn Morgan. : Spencer Tracy gets a lead. Cornell-LeGallienne Katharine Cornell will be tested for 'Barretts of Wlmpole Street' by . United Artists when she comeis here in spring with, the ..plaLy*. Lewis Milestone is teistlng Eva LeGallienne for UA in the east. Fox's Story Head Doris Malloy, writer, has been made head: of the Fox scenario de- partizient, supplanting Stanley Gar- voy and Doris Green. Garvey be- comes assistant. :Byron Morgan iand Al Cohn added to staff. Rothacker East Watters n Rothacker left Friday night, (26) for New York on busi-. ness.. He may go. to Europe. No studio jobs in mind. Mexico Too Hot Bullfight stuff; Tom Kilpatrlck brought back to Metro from Mexico is too hot for domestic use. Will be made into a four-reeler with in- timate life shots also collected, and distributed In foreign spots. Ooane With U Warren Doane, out as Roach g.m., win make 26 two-reelers for Uni-^ versal. Charlie Chase may figure as comic. Sherman Directs 'Red' Is My Face Red?' columnist story, will be directed for Radio by Lowell Sherman. Robert Armstrong! • already cast. . . i Dropped last week. Marcel de Sano is ba.ck at Metro. During past yeair he .directed one French version. Harry Garson, who went to China five months ago to make a series of novelty shorts In Multicolor, is back with tblB series in b|ack and white. Al Erickson and his orchestra at the R-K-O theatre have their no- tice for March 18. Given by Sam Frieed of the New York music de- partment, here to organize a new band. Arline Judge's Flu Radio's 'Girl Crazy' remake unit waited half a day for Arline Judges then learned she was flat with flu. Resuniptlon with shooting around: her. • ■ Morehouse for W^B. Ward Morehouse arrived Sunday (28) to do an adaptation ot his play 'New York Town' for Warners. His column in the New York 'Sun* temporarily becomes 'Hollywood After Dark' instead of 'N. Y. After Dark;' Kate Campbell Hurt Broken leg was suffered by Kate Campbell (Mrs. Walter Percivial) in. an auto accident last week-end. Harrison Green, agent, uninjured In same crash. Robinson in 'Dollar' 'Silver Dollar,', novel by David Karsner, and based on life of 'Silver Dollar* Taber, miner,, has been bought by Warners for Edward O. Robinson. B'way Burlesque Burlesque under the name of niu- slcal tabs may go into the Majestlo theatre on Broadway^ Dalton brothers are negotiating with Sam Green, Majestic rep. L. A; lb N. Baron Mandelstam. Wattei-son Rothacker. W, C. Michel. Glen. Griswold. Arthur S. Lyons; . Richard Bbleslavsky. Naclo HerJ> Brown. Leon Brlttoh. N. y. to L. A. Tay Gamett. Peter Frouchen. Ward Morehouse. Carlo Boouf. Charles R. Rogers.. Nicholas M. Schenck. Howard Dletz. Felix F. Feist. Raymond Masscy Martin Brown Gregory Ratoff.