Variety (Aug 1932)

VARIETY P I C T U R E S Tuesdajr, August 16; 1932 Sound License k Stone Around . Fibns' Neck, Says WB; Oaims W£ Service Charges 'Declaring that every 10th year the American electrics will demand a new deal on souiid, and will collect all over again "on whatever scale of costs'the jr desite, Warner Brotta<ers Is breaking a long silence In an ef- fort to enlist the entire industry on its side regarding Its scrap with the sound providers. Dictatorship over fllmdom by the electric companies mainly rests in the form of the license now used, especially by Western 'Electric, de- clares WB. Warners holds that only the breaking of this llcetise through a court ruling will free ihe picture business of what It describes as the greatest . yoke Imposed, by the talkers. " :. WB's Contentions . •To explain their neutrality ih the fliat patentless fight since sound, Warneirs, through George -Quigley, soiind legal specialist for that firni^, gees oh record for the organization as( follows: . . • Warners Id not aspiring to usurp the electrics Ih' the equipment field' (Continued on pa&e 38) ; ^ LEHAIRE-CONNOLLY AS FOX ASSO. PRODUCERS WB^s Radio News Hollywood, Aiig. 15. Warner studio publicity de- partment has a thrice-weekly air program crer KFWB, Hollywood,' which Is .proving ;^ opposition to P'res^ depart- . ment's story ■ planters. Be- . cently, in breaking a yarn about production of .'The Mir- acle' In the newspapers, same copy was read during' the air. program before the papers coiild print II;.' Other production < activities are treated similarly. Hollywood,-Aug. 16. Rufiis, LeMalre and Myles Con- nolly go to Fox as kssoclat^ pro- du«,«jr9^ Each wlll|handl<s four plcr turl^s'ja jrlkr. ■ •■'•S''-'-; ^V- LeMaire recently left Warners when the studio asked him to take . a cut on the raise called for In hia contract option, ^. 'Connolly hflLS heen .iat ctolunibla eiid previously was a producer at Radio. ROACH STUDIO'S OPEN SESAME FOR NEW BLOOD Hollywood, Aug. 16. Open door policy permitting ac-. cess to studio of all agents, writers, directors and players has been esr tabllshed at Roach studio by Henry Ginsberg, production head. Ginsberg' feels studio needs infu- sion pf new blood. since taking oveir his duties at Roach,, Ginsberg has redubed pror duction cost 35%, but picture people howl over his salary cutting proc- livities. Metro Takes Ajl^^ Seriously jHiNB^ ■Hollywood, Aug^, 15; ; First competing company to get b. break on'Radlo;s NBC weekly Hlm'- plug' program will be M«tr6.'^ '-' Stuidid Will be allowed the full use of the 'Hollywood oh th€i Alif prov gram Aug. 25, for a bill'essentially This is -ih accord ^Wltli' 'Wf. ft. Ayleswdrth's Idea toi' share- the pr<^ Btkiii • with other Uconccirns. •' Eai^t week a plug was made for ColUmi- bla's 'American Mad^es^,' which picture will' play RKO houses.' .'' "" liollywood, Aug;. IB. Asbured pf new bankroll within two weeks) Ma.cK Sehnett'will cont- tinue his. Paramount contract tf twoVreelers on completion of Hypnotized,' feature for , W'orld Wide. , ■. He has 25 more comedy ishorts to make o.n contract calling for 30 be- fore J-aWi' 1933.:^- : ■ ' " . Senndtt Is negptlating with Bing Crosby for two niore films and has contradted'wlth Charles Murray for six. He • also ■ is expected tp ' re^ ehgaj^ Dpnald Novis, NBC sin'g'er, for another three. Find Another Silent With DietiTW*, ttife 2d A distributing- firm has: dug up another old Marlene Dietrich silent, 'I Kiss Tour Hand,'Madame,' and'Is readying It for general distribution Picture has been synced in New York and will go out within a month. It's the! isecond. German Dietrich silent' to' be revived. Other was 'Three Loves.' INDEX •••••«) Bills Burlesque Chatter , Editorial Exploitation Film. House Reviews Film Reviews............ Foreign Film News v.... • Fpreign Show News..... Inside—Legit • Inside—^Pictures ......... Inside—"Vaude Legitimate . Letter List. Literati ^^usic • • • •'• ••• •'• • • New Acts. ', .. News from the DaUlci^;, Nlte Clubs . , •31 .■27 34 35 17 • 29 15 11 38 36 35 36 36-39 46 . 40 .44-45 . 28 . 32 . 45 Obituary ..'.....; .V.. . ... 47" Outdoors . 47 Out of Town Reviews;... 39 Pictures 2-22 Radio .41-44 Seniiett's New Bankroll; Continaes Par Contract WILL MAHONEY The Sah; Francisco '!Examiner" said: .','1 don't know a . man alive who can 'make a stage, fall 'quite as funny as Will Mahoney can make it. He puts ah audleiice through such an ordeal of laughter that they become rlb-wcary.' Be . sure you see Mr. Mahoney at the Fox Theatre,: he'll make you forget- the depression,." , Directjon.; RALPH G. FARNUM 1560 Broadway PAR MAY HOST CRITICS YEARLY NEW ANIMAL PRICES j'ons From $50 to $5(10, Pythons at . $400 on Outright Buys Hollywood, Aug. 15. Proprietors of southern California wild animal farms are again quot- ing fancy prices to the studios. Success of 'Bring 'Em Back Alive' is back of the desire of the keepers of the beasts to cash in on the cycle. Heretofore price lists took in per day or per week rentals. But ac cording to new- schedules lions can be had outright for from $50 to $500, depending, on age and ferocity; tigers from $200 to $400, pythons at $400, black panthers, $200; a mon:- goose and cobra fights with, the bat- tle in the bag for the former, $50:; zebras, $75, and pumas, $50,„ I Radio Chatter.. Radio Reports... Sports Talking Shorts.. 'l'lme&. Square.., 'Vaudeville 43 42 .33 15 33 .23-27 "Vktide House Reviews... .28-30 Par, Radio Contenders ; !F6r Ship News Story -Hollywood, Aug. 15. Both Paramount and Radio are dickering, for Max Miller's, book, ' Cover the Waterfront,' which re lates a series of Ihcid'ents In the life of Miller, San Diego 'Sun* ship reporter^ Neither studio wants the title or the entire book; but plans tp make pictures of separate episodes. Paramount is seriously consider- ing perpetuating its capacity as host to selected fllni reviewers of the cotintty. Exeicutlves favor In- creasing the number of all-expen- ses-paid, early-season preview par- ties to one each, yeaf, with an. in- crease in the numher- of invitations yearly. The party Just ended only cost Paramount slightly pver $5,000, or little more, it is pointed out, than piece of exploitation on a single feature. . The figure- Is official. It covers dill details, including the railroad fafea of sotiie 60 re'\^lewer8 representing dailies'' ln° 16 cities throughout the U.S., and Publlx of- ficials who came In with them. ' Next year,' If th© plans new be- ing fprmulated Bxn ratified by the Piarampunt' directorate, there^ will be. at lekst 100'. reviewers repre- sented li the party. ' In addition to the good will Para- mount- feels that these get-togeth-. ers provide reviewers with a trade slant .they seldom wOiild: get other- wise. ,-' Showing their key pictures In ad- vance of the season Is also felt by Paramount to impress upon review- ers not only what their public is to see, but what the company^ has to offer. • The visiting filta critics weren't kept as busy as all that by Para- mount, the boys and girls having the final of the twp days *fpr your own atnusement.' Visiting screen cbmmentatprs' were pleased' with Paramount's policy not to monop- olIziB their'time 100%. Par's ■Insistence that all submit a ta,b .for taxi fares, tips, etc., • also Impressed, especially . those whose papers had sent them to New< .Tork at. Par's invitation. with a s.pe,cial expense Account in . addition to the film company's Pkaying practically everything. , Kenton Stays at Par Hollywood.l^ug 15, At Paramount to directN«i6_pic- ture, Erie C. Kenton stays on un- der a neyr contract. Likely he will handle the next Victor. . McLaglen - Edmund Lowe pictpre, 'Crime of a. Century,' "due to trio's success with 'Guilty as Hell.' ■ Hobart with LeBaron Hollywood, Aug, 15. Henry Hobart, former producer at Radio, engaged by Paramount as executive tide to William Le Baron Hobart has. worked exclusively under Le' Efiron tor the past eight years. Snake Couldn't Take It , Los Angeles, Aug. 16. ; . Python at the Horn wild ani- mal studio, after being used for several hours In the-sun by S.. S. Mlllarde fo^r an Ipdle picture, succumbed to sun- stroke when about to be phptp- graphed In a struggle with, pne • pf zoo's attfiches. . Stunt was; tP be a ballyhoo for I'CphgP- rllW Battle was sp arranged that the .zoo Attendant was able to free himself frpm the 22 feet of wriggling "serpent with no great difflculty, SniEike was valuedj at $1,000, but Horn had prevloiasly col- lected $3Q0 from Mlllarde cut- ing down the loss PAR EDITORIAL BOARD CUT TO 4 MEMBERS Hollywood, Aug. 15.. . Revamped Paramount editorial board, cut from 11 to four, has,been given wider scope in selection and recominehdation -of stories. A. Ml.'Botsford continues as chair-, man and Jeff Lazarus reinaihs . as the only Vet meml>er. Additions are Hope Losing and Robert Yost. Richard DIggs staiylng on as sec- retary, but without a vPice In the new setup. ^Bpard formerly fluctu- ated from seven to 11. Irving Lande, recently brought from New .-York, and Jesse Goldburg, are.both off the board land, the Par- amount-payroll. Hollywood, Aug. IB. George Searcy will : be reunited with Charles Mack for the Mpran and Mack series of six twp-^reelers tp be made by Educational. . Searcy was the 'George MoranV who split with Mack after Paramount's 'Two Black. Crows.' Series will be made In sets of twps with a laypfC pf six weeks be- tween pairs. Initlalers, <'As the Crows Fly' and 'Twp Black : Crcw.s in Africa,.' go intp prpdi4ctlpn. :pn completion of Mack . Sennett's feature -'lEIypnp- tlzed,' In which Mack has heaJthy part. Searcy this week.- jplns . his ex-partner for small chores In the picture. SAILINGS Aug. 20 (London to New York), Sam Morris (Leviathan). Aug. 20 (New York to Naples) William Conselman (Saturni4). Aug. 13 (New York to Genoa), Frank Parker (Augustus). Aug. 12 (New York to Londdn), Jimmy Campbell, Harry Woods, Betty Balfour (Bremen). Aug 12 (New York to London) Edna Ferber, Dick and Edith Bar stow (Bremen). Aug. 10 (New York to London), Lynn Fontanne, Alfred Lunt (Aquitanla). Film New Acts Following picture players who are making personal stage appearances are reviewed in this issue, under New Acts, on page ^8. James Kirkwood Arthur and Florence Lake / Searcy Back with MacV For "Black Crows' Sborts 200,000 Ft. News Fihn Unreeled oh Olympics Los Angeles, Aug; 16. Newsreel coverage of the Olympic ga.me,s, ending Sunday Cl4), figured around 60,000 feet for each of the four newsreel companies. Negatives were developed, and printed here' dally^ with prints rushed east night- ly by air, express..,.. .f Daily changes were provided, local exhlbs, in many instances ieveht^ iqf that day^belng shown at early eve- ning shoves. VON STROHEIIili'S MUSICAL Directing 'Her'Highness' for. Fox— , . Score by. L< A* Attorney Hollywood, Aug. 15. Fox will film a musical, 'Her High- ness,' from r: story by Brio Von Strohelm, who also will direct It, after , his current 'Walking :DoY?h Broadwa.y.' . ■ Lyrics are being 'Written. by:,L. Wolfe ioilbert and musip by- I. B. Kprhbloom, locals attorney. ... Fox, "which Is gbing heavier than any of the -studios currently on mu- sicals, will also ■ put songs Into 'Rackety Rax' and 'Hiat Check Girl.' Fox Sees Helene Madison As a Femme Weissmuller Hollywood, Aug. 15. Fox is trylng to, get Helene Madi- son, Olympic swim champ, tP .sign an acting «ontrac.ti • . .. Studio sees in the swimmer a possible feipme Jphnnle Weiss muller. Another femme Olympic athlete to go professional will probably'b6 Babe Didrlckson, of . Dallas, the 'one girl track team.' Both- girls, will be under manage ment of George Schepps, Dallas business man. -Foster Jacoby, Miss DJdriclcson's trainer, is also in on the deal. OWN RODEO Hollywood, Aug. 15. Tom Mix, at a party he gave fo|| 300 press men . attending th| Olympic gamei, annpuhced that next February, pn cPmpletion of hlq Universal contract, he tvill tdtup Europe, Africa and . -India undeii Wllllaim Morris management. Ml^ will take his rodeo of 12. people^. do his own specialty and add npv^ elty acts fPr a two-hour show* Plans to wind up In London and, ijj returning in time, will , play thd Chicagp Wprld'fl Fair. NpVelty afct^ will be obtained abroad. : Mix's party was the niost pteV tentioiis given the Olympic newB< papermeh with' Mix doing his entlr0 a,ct In single ring before guests. Hays Office Poll On iJkes-Dislikes i; Now a Marathbq The poll Inaugiiratied by the Stky^ ofRce, to determine the picture llkeQ and dlslIHes of the public, has takeig on the prpportlohs of an endurance CPntest. The end hpw Is np more lii sight than it. was wheii the race fon opihion and editorial space startecl last spring. "Virtual miles ot clippings trotH newspapers of all sizes and descrip*i tions rest in a. special Hayslaif morgue. When Roy Knorr, overseer of the poll, is going to start ballot counts Ing, only Knorr knows. Meantim^^ yards of newsjprlnt are being added tp that "alrea.dy tucked aSvay. ' '■ Public picture tastes, howieVef, are so varied, according to the, printed matter that the Job of de^ ferminlng the. winners would 'h^ tough fpr a. 10-letter man. < So far it wPuld seem that cPliege deaiis ' go fbr western; eminent writers like cartoons, while that pilb^ ilc coinjirlsing the popular, aiidiencfli just can't get. enough' serlouis stuff. Clothes Main Assets of V '; Mackenzies and Mand^ ' t Los;. Angelas, Aug. 16. Petitions in bankruptcy have been filed In U. B. District court by three screen and legit people. Six film people named amohg^ creditors ,of . John Donald MacKen<i zle, assistant .director, and Elinorei Jackson. Mackenzie, actress, . :bi0 wife, in their Joint bankruptcy; petition. Estate of Robert Ames, is listed for $200; Reginald Denny,. $60;: Walter Percival, $62"; Charles Cole- man, $36.; Robert Presnell ,$100, and Grayze Hampton, $600. Total liabilities are $4,376; aiS'^ sets wearing apparel and Macken^ 7.1e!s war Insurance, . Jerry Mandy, actor also petl^ tloned for bankruptcy, listing $8,- 660 debts, mostly to hospitals and doctors i and wardrobe as 8Ol0 asset. Chapliii's Ex-P, A. and ; • Cameraman Film Scenid Hollywood, Aug. 16. . .Carlyle Roblnsbn, former.p. .a. tot Charles Chaplin,, and Rollle Tothe> roh, comedian's . ex-cameran, havd Just completed o 16,000 mile tour ,p£ California for a two-reel- sceiilpt titled 'Land of Gold,' - / • Financing th<emselves, the eX- Chapllnltes will film other states irt similar manner if Initlaler goedi over. Probable that Sol Lesser will halndle release on the first. Puzzle Demand Hollywood, Aug. 15. Metro received a communlcatioii from W. S. Van Dyke, who is direct- Ing "Eskimo" in Alaska, requestins they send him severarhuridred cross word puzzles. Want something to do' during thS long nights. ( IffEW 'JUBIIO' BEWJUTE < Hpllywood, Aug. 16. 'Jubilo,' next Will Rogers' picturd at Fox, due for production Aug. 29, Is getting a new rev^rlte. Assigned tb writlng^ task ard Philip Klein and Barry Connors.-