Variety (Mar 1934)

Writers' Guild Prepares for Batde With Producers and Insurgent Group Hollywood, March 6. Bzecutive board of the. Screen ' Writekrs Guild has stated that or- ganlssatlon Is 'prepared for yror. with the iproducers, though. not> forcing lAatters iat this tim^. Declaration "came Ini aii offlclct'l statement th^ hoard,, following revelation that a group of irnpor tant; antl-iadlcal Guilders are - mobilizlhg a revolt ^gainst the "current leaders. on war plreparedness, statement said: •The policy of the Giiild board has been, frankly and honestly, to «quip the Guild with a powerful • weapon for possible future unified action. That weapon w* now haye In the form of the Guild code, no tably Articles 3 and 12. But to be prepared for war. If it is forced .: upon US by the producers, is en- ' tirely different from declaring war;' 'Tl^e board .polntis to the fact that since. Seiitember laist,. Article 3, per mlttiiig the board to prbliibit mem- bers from working With rionrmem bers, has been a part of the Guild code and: has hot been put in opera tion by the board, nor has the' board any intention in the immediate fu ture of making It effective. Thiat one fact alone should be sufficient an- swer to .those people who, because of the genuine force of the Guild's code, have become fearful, that the board Interids to bring this Instru- ment into play under any conditions other, than an extreme emergency.' ChalUnae A challenge to the insurgent ele- ment is contained in a statement that 60% of Guild membership may recall existing board, If dissatisfied, but aiinounbes body will; conclude its services April 16. As to the 'rebels' the statement says the executive .board has known the identity of these members for some time and claims that in their midst is a •handful* who have beep trying to destroy tho Guild, so as to leave the writers In Hollywood •no other organization, for their pro tectlon except the outworii Acad emy.' ^.Tliough the Guild officials WoUld not name the so-called •rebels* their statement says they are members, who have failed to appear at Guild meetings, at which the policies have been determined. , Statement then says the radical-. Ism charge made against board jhembers and Its policies could best be answered by their record as a board. Rebels' Snuh Conservative members of the Screen Writers' Guild, following their latest undercover meeting, are set to snub the Guild's contract which would assess a fine up to $10, 000 for any member who dares re sign. Scribbler's claim is that no court of law would uphold the contract signed by the members and that the $10,000 fine Is nothing more than a laugh to them. .Another conservative meeting Is set for next week with rebels pre^ dieting their group will have dou bied by that time. Want ^Em Young Hollywood, March 6, Newest alibi for postponing a picture goes to Metros Studio's anlioaal picture, •Mallbu.' has been In produc- tion so long tliat the young ani> mals in the picture ha.ye grown up. Hence, Metro Says, it Is necessary to postpone until spring wlien new four-footers wiU be bom.' Claodelte CoObot May Do Hadio Commefcial MegoUaltofis are on for Claudettej Colbeii. to «i(KM vnde? the Roek- Weil-O'KMto baniiar for radlow Tom Rockwell, y/rho ia talking things orer with her on the Coast, I has. * ISVweek network eommercial | foir her to step inlto Immediately. iRotliafel Sails for London to Discuss Theatre Proposition; Accepts Doherty Florida Deal Use. Real Extras, NotRedOnes^ Says Eqpnty R^ Lios Angeles;. March 6. Charles Miller, local Equity rep; is backing a plan to recognize play- ers Who haVe deypted their lives, to stage and screen , in the coming re- alignment registeried extras^ Cdaim Is madie that many "capable workers, now. forced to seek help from if. P; Relief Fund and Actors' Fund, could earn, a reasonable liv- ing from support roles. While some extras are opposed to the' plan, on the contehtlon they are likely to suffer from coming. Slash of Central's bulky registration, leave alone further competlsh. from higher bracket actors, contention of Miller Is that exlTra; code prpvl sions are to protect extras,, sup porting and bit pla-yers alike. E P. CLUB REVISION mNSFARisMN^Y. In Hiding WaahlQgton, March 5. Without waiting for salary slash ing Proerresslve colleagues to make put their /program. Senator Gore. Oklabioma, last week disclosed an Intention of attempting to° put Into the pending .revenue bill provisions which will diacpurage i^yment of fat bpnuses and other compensa tlpn. Senate undoubtedly will debate the high salary problem. In detail when tlie new tax bill comes from the Finance Cpinmlttee, and It is Xiohdon^ Feb. 24. American fiein mags have been frantically cabling and writing their representatives here to secure Interviews, etc., with Elizabeth Bergner, but tp no avail. She resolutely refuses, to see any newspaiwirmeh, or woihen, and cannot .be persuaded ^ to taUc for publication.' She Is never seen publicly. Coast Agents Meet kbor Conmi. Reps in Prelim Sldniiish More 'Don Q' Holly wood, March B. Alexander Koi-da is slated to start . :..production on Douglas Fairbanks' first picture abroad, 'Further Ad- ventures of D6ri Q' soon, according to cable from Fairbanks to Robert Fairbanks here^ Korda will make Interiors first at BIstree, and then take the company to Italy and Spain for locations. 'Fairbanks has advised his offices here that h3 will return to Holly- wood upon completion of the pic- ture, going back to London later In ithe year to make the second feature under his deal with London Films. s i;iteb;s icLEyEB' A reorganization, program-.for the Motion Picture Club, Inciudihg. re- duetlon' df 'dues, lUstalJlaitlon 'of, a bar, weekly radio broadclistlng. anid a profit-sharing plan;,with tfaie land- lord to cover rent,'also - envlsageii rigid rules of qualification for mem- bership. Reorganization steps were, discussed In a. , general • way at a luncheon at the club. (Thursday ,iD before a representative gathering of Industry executives. Will H. Hays and Liouls '^Izer spoke. The presidency' will gp to some- one high In the industry and may be S, il. Kent. Ijee Ochs, Indie exhib. has been president several , years, since Al Llchtman walked out and interest in the club dwindled^ Originally at $125 yearly, plus $260 initiation, the dues now will be: $76 without any. Initiation fee. Meinbership. only to persons In the Industry, who must pass a stiffer test for admittance. Rent was formerly $12,000 a year on the premises occupied by the club in the . Bond building. It will now come out of surplus, after other overhead has b6en taken care of. Deal with the landlord of the build- ing calls for $12,000 a year out of surplus after overhead. Then $6,000 annually goes toward the club's bonds and if there Is any surplus left it goes to the landlord uP to $12,000. ■' . A bar will be installed and a cocktail hour' provided, with women permitted in the club after 3 p. m. Restaurant will "be continued as well.. Arrangements are going forward for a broadcast once a week. Ah Indie radio chain, has offered $10,000 a year for the .program rights. . Hollywood, March 6. Considerable opposition exipected victually certain that the Progres-I to develop beiween pfflclals of the slye bloc will launch efforts to boost California State Labor Commission surtaxes oh large incomes to con-1 and attorneys for motion picture fiscatory leviels, wWl© Ule-House, if agents. The agei^ts, by Invltatipn, given an oppprtunlty, may 'go for wHi cbhfer with' Deputy Thomas such liBglslatldn. Barker and Attorney Charles F. Gore proposal woikld place a levy liowy, Pf the labor board, on legal of "80% on aU Incomes over $76,000 phases of proposed new. rules and and prohibit aiiy deductions from regulations 'goverfilhg agent-artist this portion .of .Indlvldiial's earn- contracts. Confab Is'listed for this ingsi Amendment specifies.^that sal- Thursday (8) preliminary to a gen- arles, bonuses, rewards, and other I eral conferience oiC the, agents. jBompenatlon. 'by whatever .. name I Huddle Is to thresh out current known' shall he subject to this' tax. abuses In contractual relations, Divisional. Administrator Sol. Ro- complained of both by agents anld sehblatt said the NRA report :on I talent, and to arrive at Some stand- fllni scOarles prbbai>ly won't ifeach ard pact form by which player reps Gen. Hugh Johnson until the latter In future'WlH be licensed under the part «f the month. Raiding report state employment agency statute/ also will be delayed. Reason given Attorney Harry B. Sokolov, rep- Is pressure of other t!>uslness along resenting a .'number-.of agents, has with need of employers for more «leclared himself rekdy to combat time t© dig out the fbcts cali^ fbr the contention of the Labor Com- Lphdon, March B.' Through Douglas Fairbanks, Sr« a business 'combination has sum* monied L. Rothafel here.: He sailed from New t^ork Friday ($). Rothafel-has been ofCered- a propo- sition that wUl make him the pivot of the theatre end of a newly-;, formed International producing, dis- tributing and tiieatre organization which Will headquarter In London, but also claims to haye directly controlled affiliations In America. Constructien of a new theatre here, on the order of the oldRoxyor the Music Hall, Is among the first of the items in the plan, according to accounts. If agreed uPon this con- struction is to. be supervised by Rothafel,. who also will operate the house. unnamed Broadwi^y .deluxe house In NeW York Is figured in the combine's exhibition, scheme and an America distributing. outfit is sup- posely Involved In the combine's, releasing plans. Rothafel Is coming, over to dis- cuss terms and is due this Friday (9^. Identity of local bankers, con- cerned In the deal has not been re- Veaied. Besides Fairbanks, another Amer- ican interested Is Jack Harris, of the construction firm of Hegeman & Harris. In'Rosy's question forms; Lee Tracy HiBs Trio Mer from EDghnd's BIP Frank Joyce (Joyce-Selzhick agency), from London luus sent Lee Tracy, in Hollywood; an otter to do a minimum -ot three pictures for B.LP. Tracy, who finished Til Tell the Wprld' at Universal Friday (2), fig- ures hell leave for Europe April 1 if negotiiatlons are settled. Hollywood, March 5. William Seiter has been assigned to direct , the screen version of the Aldeh Nash comedy, 'And Let Who Will Be Clever.' It's Seiter's last megging obligation under' his old .contract with Radio. Screen play Is being written by Ray Harris and Glen Allvine will produof>. THOMPSON SIBECTiRG Hollywood, March 5. Harlan Thompson, .promoted to. a directing Job at Paramount, will have as his first assignment B. P. Schulberg's 'Kiss and. Make Up,' with Cary Grant in top spot. Thompson has been on and off the Paramount writing staff for. six years, and is now vitorlcing on the screen play of the picture, which formerly carried title of 'Cosmetics.' Gene=^^-Negrulesco^-wlll=.act^s^ssoj- ciate director with Thompson. ASTAIBE DUE JUNE 15 Hollywood, March 6. Fred Astaire returns to the Radio lot June 15 for his next picture. Player hops here from Jjohdon. Company has Astaire for two pic- tures a year for 1954-nr, Jack Bemv (or fib . Jack Benny may within the purr rent week dose with Eidward Small for a motlpn picture. Deal, If agreed upon, will give Small an option on the comic's service for a second feature. Angle yet to be settled is whether the filming will be done In New fork or on. the Coast. Metro sevr eral months ago approached Benny on a feature proposition but the dfscusslohs didn't get beyond th6 price offering stage. mission'that all .agent-actor con- trpyerfes must >^ first .be submitted to the boaird to - have subsequent legal standing In ' court. - Sokolov mainta<lns that decisions in t^^ese cases .rests on -judicial function which the present State employment agency act has unconstitutionally, sought to delegate to the iJabPr Commission. The attorney cites a decision -by Superior. Judge Lester W. Roth In the case of Joyce 4^ Selznlck agency against Paul Lukais for commissions to sustain the con- tention he will lay before Barker and Lowy. In tliat case, Sokolov asserts the court ruled on a de murrer, tha.t agency controversies need not be submitted tp the cem- mlsslon before being heard in court Another tender spot in the agency j contract situation Is the dispute on [ whether or not the agents are eu' titled to commissions on engage ments uot directly or traceably se- cured. On this point the agents' attorneys are prepared to argue strenuously for retention of the commission clause in whatever new pact may be adopted Helen Kane Goes East For <Bet^ Boop' Suit HoiisrWood, March 6. Helen Kane sailed from Sah Pedro Saturday ($) for New Tork to be on lumd when her 1250,000 suit against Max Fleischer comes tip In foiir weeks. In addition to the quarter .of a. million damages sought from Fleischer and Para- mount Productions for the alleged pilfering of the 'Betty Boop' char- 'acterization. Miss Kane Is also de- manding an accounting of the prof- its from the Paramount cartoon re- leases. Miss Kane is making the trip via the Canal alone. MIX, HOSSES SOUTH Hollywood, Match 6. Tom Mix left here with 30 horses and a number of film cowboys for the Dallas winter quarters of the new Tom' Mix-Sam Dill clrcun. Mix win be away from the film (cap- ital a year. His circus season opens Apdl lu at Hot Springs, Ark HAYSIAN BALLY Coast Prepares Routine fpr MPTOA Meet Hollywood, March 6. Hays group producers are taking no chances that wlien the, MPTOA outfit convenes here April 10 the visitors might be slighted as far^ as 'entertainment is concerned. Deci- sion has been made that the' en tbrtalnmeiit be a cbmbb aiff^r with all pilants participating and the pro- granoi handled, by Joe Breen and his staff in the HayS office. F'lans are to have visitors go to different studios each da^' en masse, meet the stars, and--get a bite. Ses sions will, last a week, with biz mat ters handled at the Hotel Ambassa- dor. Memphis, March 6. Ed Kuykehdall will not accept re-election as president of Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Amer ica when th6 organization holds its national^convention^in-Los-Angeles April 10-12. ZmHEB'S XONQ TREE Ilernard Zimm.er, p'rench play W r igh t,-'arrived^ in New York last Wednesday (28> and left immedi ately for the Fox lo,t on the Goa-st. He will write a story which Krlc CJiarrr>II will direct. ' . S. L. Rothafel sailed for London Friday (2). His sudden departurCi— according to. information, was .occa- sioned by a theatre proposition from London, with United Artists reported as Interested. Before Rothafel sailed he came to an. understanding with Henry L. Doherty, Cities Se^v^c® i^«*d and Florida land operator. Rothafel win become assdclated. with Do-, herty in his Florida operations, pre- sumably for..the season doWn there next year. On Friday the bondholders of the Roxy theatre, which house is pres- ently in receivership, are also known to have held a, discussion with Rothafel. relative tp his regain- ing operating control of tliat thea^ tre. No deal was Set, but Indica- tions, are that the path was open for iilm to again assume guidance of that spot. United Artists or Loew's, or both, are said to be Interested In any plan In which Rothafel would re- turn to the Roxy theatre. Upon his return from abroad this month Rothafel will start on a per- sonal tippearance tour with his Gand for Paramount, $60,000 FOREaOSURE SUIT VS. HOOT GIBSON Hollywood, March 5. Foreclosure on a $60,^0 mortgage on the Hoot Gibson Ranchb, located 30 miles north of here, near Saugus, Is sought In an . action filed here in Superior court by the Bank of Amefiea. Aetldn is"dlfected fikftlhst R. A. Baker and wife, original hold- ers pf a promissory note for the 60 grand executed by Gibson, the screen actor, both, as a corporation and Individually. First' National Bank of Beverly Hills, and others. Complaint alleges tha.t Hppt Gib- son, Inc., with Gib|9on -as president, executed two notes on March. 24, 1932, In the siims of $20,000 iand $60,000,' covered by a mortgage on the film actor's ranch property. Both notes, personally guaranteed, by Gibson, were transferred to the Bank of America, with the $20,000 indebtedness having been paid in full, but no payment made against the $60,000 paper. Jimmy Star's Sprint Hollywood, March C. Jimmy Starr, local picture col- =umnl8t;--has-=turned--actory-T.mak|nB= his screen debut in a ohe^reeler, •Hollywood on Parade,:'produced for Paramount by Louis Lewyn. He interviews Charlotte Henry, who appeared in 'Alice in Wonderland/ Starr has also supposedly been given syndication by~Hear8t for his film column, replacing that ot Gwynne in the N. Y. Mirror Start* ing today (Monday),