Variety (May 1934)

Tuesday, May 29, 1934 PICTOREf varisty WASH. CENSOR RUMBLES Pic i^ents Told To Stay Out of Other Biz Lines Hollywood. May 28. What promises to develop Into a fight prevent picture agents from Invading the business management, Income tax, Insurance, real estate, finance and other spe-: clalized fleldis, Is foreseen. ixy move sponsored by-a group of HplIywoo4 insurance men. The underwriters met Friday (25) and Inroads of the artists', reps in' the Insurance and investment se- curities field came in for spirited dlscussioil with decision reached to convene on June 4 for the purpose of organizing, for mutual protection. Only a half dozen of the numer- ous Hollywood arid Beverly Hill agents handling .talent are confining th^lr labors to straight biz manage- ment, etc., for clients. Several have taken on real estate, Insuranc^ and investment selling licenses, while others are extending their outside activities to insurance. Prepftredness Chic&go, May 28^ Everybody thought Georgie. Sidney, son of L. K. and nephew of the performer, ^ had- bis .fishing tackle; with him wiien he ' passed through the burg with a long fotir-foot bundled After much pleading they got hltn to reveal the contents. Was six \Qng salamls from the East Side, Georgie claim- ing that it's Inipossible to get genuine. p^t.Ia,ini but the west coast. Co|is Okay Witb E. G. Now; May Do'Racket' For Hecht-HacArthor Lehar's Shini for MG To Be Hade in Vi»iimi Hollywood, May 28. Franz Lehar, composer of 'Merry Widow,' 30 years ago, and many other operettas, will maice a short for Metro. Irving.Tlialberg has arranged for the filming, to be done in Vienna. Improving on Keni Hollywood, 'May 28. Fr|inz Waxman, German com- poser, arrived here Saturday |(26) to write.tunes for .'Music in the Air', at Pox. Otto Hs^rbach-Jerbnie Kern :wrote the original. Picture will be. produced by Eric Eommer and due to go into produc- tion the second week in July. . WODEHOUSE BACK TO PIX? Has Offers From Par and Hecht- M&Arthur Paris, May 21. P. G. Wodehouse may return to writing for films, he said today on returning to Paris from a spell of ecribling in Cannes. 'Paramount cabled me yesterday about writing ri scenario/ said , the British hunfiorist, 'and I have an- other olter from Ben Hecht and Charlie MacArthur, who want me to - collaborate on a play for the Marx brothers.' Wodehouse'.leaves for LeTouquet Tuesday (22) to ciiin witiv Guy Bol- ton on a play for Vinton Freedley, which will go Into rehearsial on Broadway, September 1, he says. Also writing a new novel, which he says is best he's ever done. Mary McCormic's Filiii Chatter, 1 for Korda? Paris, May 21. Mary McCormic is angling for a film job, it was revealed as she •sailed for New York. She let It be known that she was dickering with _^A^l_eJc Jv^orda^jn .^I^^ _make a film oif Charpentier's" 'tb'uisei'^one of her big opera roles. Miss McCormic, who has been singing at the Opera Comique, and who gave a recital last week at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, says she'll be back here In Paris for more film talk in September. She's going over to fill some New York engagements, she says, and will not ga to California to pre.ss suit asyalnst Serge Mdvani. her ex. Hplly\vobd, May 28, Jf Edward G. Rbbinsori goes to New York for the stellar spot in the eontemplated Ben Hecht- Charles Ma&Artliur production of 'The Racket' on his one-pipture leave from Warners, he will iin-? dbubtedly play the part of the poliie captain, not that of tiie..killer crpokv Robinson has expressed hlni^elf as wariting to help glorify the Ameri- can .cop on the screen, and 'The Racket'' would' provide such a, ve- hicle, provided' it were revamped to shift some of- the stress bet'ween the cop and the crook charalcters. , Gene Fbwler acconipanied How- ard Hawks, director; to New. York by pliane for,conference with Hecht iand" MacArthur, presumably to work gin .the play adalptatlon. Robinson, under, contract to War- ners, but how on layoff period, is being offered for one picture by .Lester Cowan, functioning as agent and co-producer. Robinson left for N. Y. Saturday (26) with his wife on a scrljpt Hunt. MCI Unties AEce Brady Hollywood, May 28. Alice Brady is through at Metro, where she .htm been under contract for the . past year. Studio failed to pick up their option, when it came due last week. Likely that Miss Brady may join the Paramount brigade, of stock players. CHARLIE RAY BACK S^ilent Star Spotted in Par's 'Ladies Should Listen' Hollywood, May 28. ' Charles Ray is back on big time, going to work today (Monday) in Paramount's 'Ladles Should Lis- ten.' Ray has been away from the screen since a contract with Metro about five years ago. Three other former silent .stars are currently in Paramount pictures in Jack Mulhall and George Walsh iii 'It AInt' No Sin,' and Rutii Clif- ford in 'Ladies First.' Virginia Pine's Relapse Hollywood, May 28. Virginia Pine, whp was dis- charged from local hospital, where she had been interned for observa- tion until Sunday inornlng (27), Was rushed from her home Sunday night back to the institution in a serious condition. WB SIGNS DOBOTHY SAKE Dorothy Dare, legit Ingenue, goes to the Coast in August tor Warner Bros. She's currently In 'The Only Girl,' musical revival at the 44th St., New York. Before sending Miss Dare to Hol- lywood, Warners will use her In two 'Bhorts-at--th.e^-Flatbush='studipr=Den== nis DuFor (Bentham office) set the deal. Formal Protests Irotn Con- greiBsmen to Industry So- lon*—Objections to Dodg- ing the Issue NEW IMPETUS ROXT GANG SHORT S. L. Rothafel (Roxy) and his Gang will make a musical two- reeler for Warnets at the Flatbush studio the first week In July, Short .reel was set -by Charlie Morrison, who h.indled Rpthafel's stage bookings. Washington; May 28. iCbngress will adjourn, without acting on film' censoriahip protiosals —but the laext session will see a highly determined drive which is hieing given better than an even chance to reach Its objective. Most seriou^ aispect of Congres- sional situation is that, while liiost of the proponents of film xegrulation are the perpetual reform type or have an axe to grind, many mem- bers of . much higher calibre are climbing on the clean-up band wagon under 'pressure from "back, home. That was the outlook here today as solons and representatives drove ahead in hope of. adjourning within the next fortnlg;ht If session were to. last another six weeks, it is probable , that^ in view bX rapidly crystallizing public sentiment Pat- maii bill would be revived. Nationwide .movement for en-, forced Hollywood house cleaning received' unexpected Impetus. Itist week when Representative William P. Cohnery, • of Massachusetts,, for- mer hoofer, lambasted indecent pic- tures and threatened to start gun- ning for oRenders. Declaring his views have been misrepresented since he appeared at hearings to oppose the Patman bill, Connery wrote Adolph Zukor, Sid-' ney R. Kernt, Nicholas M. Schenck, and Harry Warner that he wanj^ plenty of action in a hurry, or else. Letter drew tepid response from Paramount and Warners, Cohnery office said Saturday (26). Replies were described as. perfunctory acknowledgments which glossed over situation and blamed objec- tionable features on sllp>s In pro- duction. Reaction obviously -was not particularly pleasing to Con- nery who had nlade a hit wlth'^n- dustry leaders by his stand on the Patman regulation idea. Can't Stem the Tide? Friends of industry here are con- vinced that next session will And Congress so aroused that it may be impossible to stop drastic regula- tory legislation if present viewpoint of producers Is not changed. Claim smugness on part of Hays New York office cannot continue to curb demands for action. Mall of mem- bers is filled with resolutions of protest agafhst pic 'morals and re- quests for action, outgrowth of mili- tant Catholic Church drive and general revitalized movement. .Industry advisers are suggesting that tactics be'changed iand instead of placing responsibility 'on ..public and exhibitors, producers mftke some ..move to satisfy prbte$ts by real action. Leaders should quit reciting figures which are intended to disprove contentions of reform element and produce some visible results, they believe. Film regulation idea hi(s received momentum from exchange between Darrow Board and NRA, block booking particularly coming to the front because this issue is most comprehensible to persons not ac- quainted with Industry problems and technic. Madffe Bellamy, Silent ~ l^a^nPI^^ BacEiif Hollywood, May 28. Madge Bellamy, a long-timer on the Pox contract list during the silent days, is back on the lot again for supporting parts. Miss Bellamy's last picture was 'White Zombie,' an early talker made by Halperin Bros. She has been playing vaude In the east lately. HG Plans World Exploit Tour Via A Tu£F Job Hollywood, May 28. Samuel Ctoldwyn has begun his final personal selection of the 60 jglrls, all screen novices, who Wlil .comprise the dance and decorative ensenibles the. Eddie Cantor picture. Threa score femmes ate to be picked from 20d tested as possibilities from over 1,000 -lamped by Robert itfclntyre,. casting director. Wallace Smith Goes To Hex. Jungles for Pic on Orig. Aztecs Holly-yirbod, May 28 Wallace Smith, '.film ..sceniarist, leaves here tomorrow for the jun gies of Mexico,' 300 miles southwest of Mexico City; to make 'a picture backed by Mexicans capital ' and okayed by the jgoverhment.' Snilth will base his yarn around the activities Of a Jungle tribe, said to be descendants'of ■ the original Aztecs. He'll 'write,' pirodiice and direct. Bolton .Mallory goes 'with him. Appredatioii Hollywood, May 28. Al Rosen, agent, who has had a number of clients whom be. took from nothing to stardom, '«ralk out on him, is so appreciative that Harry Green has been loyal, and Is sticking that he is giving, actor and his wife a trlp_ to Honolulu 'with all expenses paid. .Green sails Wednesday (30) on the Monterey, and will, be gone for three weeks, returning then to do picture at Fox. CANTOR'S 40% Orph, Pri , one Week^—'Subbing For Goy. in Boy Scout Address Hollywood; May 28. Eddie Cantor grabs himself 40% of the,^rpss at the Qrpheum, San Francisco,' the week- of June "1. Expectations are that his share 'will be around $10,000 for- the stanza. Deal was made for him' by Rufus LeMaire with Marco. Before playing Frisco, Cantor, on account of illneiss of Governor James Rolpii, Jr., will plnch^lt for the -latter at state convention \ot Boy Scouts, at Sacr.anient6. On May 31. Governor requested Cantor to tiilk' on citizenship to the young- sters. San Francisco, May 28. ^For Cantoris local Fanchoh <& Marco date at the Orpheum for one week, theatre again Is revamp- ing its admission scale, this time to 25 and 40c. Jolsons Sailing East Hollywood, May 28. Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler leave here June 1 for New York via, the Canal. The Joldons will summer at their new Scarsdale (N. YJ) home. He returns here the end of September to ready for his next Warner pic- ture, starting Oct. 15. Gatzert Serials at U Hollywood, May 28. Myron Gatzert, recently general manager for Ken Maynard produc- tions, is the new chief of the Uni- versal .serial departmpnt. Henry MaoRae, who has handled tiic clilThangei'.i for .several .years, remains in the .stiulio to. wrtrk with Cial/.ert. Hollywood, May 28. Metro Is trying to make a: deal to purchase the square rigger, Alaskan Star, which ran from Saii Francisco to Alaska during the '9$ gold rush, to make' It a floating museum, representing Hollywood on a tour of the world. Boat was. re- cently rebuilt by tbe studio for use in ..the-making of 'Treasure Island.' Boat, as it Is np'w constructed, has a Diesel engine and test through soundings have shown that with its ishallbw" draught it can go up the Mississippi as far as Cairo, 111. * Plan studio Has in mind Is to carry on it exhibits of cbstumes and props used In the important Metro pictures of the paet few years, also to hiave paintings and souvenir, photographs of . the stars on boiEird, with the latter to be distributed to the visitors. It w^Ill carry a crew of around 20 as well ad a couple of. press agents'and; have them 'woric in conjunction with exploita- tion .men. of the exchanges .in the territory .visited. Figured that the ship^ will go- laround the Horn and up through the iSouthern . American .;cbuhtries^ around the Atlantic seaboard, then through the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans, then up the inland water- ,ways> with a possibility it may als» go through the St.^ Lawrence inta the great lakes area. .. Besides the exhibits the Is to have its own broadcasting iap- pilahoes with the idea being ad-, vanced it can etherize once or twice a. .week possibly on 9, national ^hook- up and nightly in the areiur .It is visiting,. Figured that the tour the square rigger 'will - make will take about two years. RADIO OUTBIDS METRO, leS.OOaFOR'ROBERTA' Hollywood, May 28. Radio has outbid Metro for the screen, rights tb -'Roberta,' the Max (Gordon operetta. Sale liHce |66,- 000. M'G bid up to $SO,000 several months ago. Radio has nobody In minja for the cadt at prei^ent but Metro wanted it. for Marion Davles. PowelTs RKO QuaFtet Hollywood, May 28. Radio has contracted Williiam Po-well for four pictures. Powell irlll star in two tills year, and' two next yearl TOO MUCH RADIO Joe "Cook's /Fun oh the Air' tb Be Switched to Another'Settino Hollywood, May 28. Because of the recent preponder- ance of radio station films. Fox has decided to cha.nge 'Fun oii the Alt' to another type of yaim and th'en give it a new title, * Arthur Ripley, 'who has beeit working. on the 'Caravan' set as . dialog director,' joins Frank Scully today (Monday) in collaboration on the'new treatment. Joe Cook, to be featured in the film, is due here from New York next week. Metro did the same stunt with. 'Excess Baggage.' Original vaude- ville background was switched tb radio, but later the whole thing was dropped. Rodgrers-Hart Oii6 More ^^^FVn'-ParrTlieii ra-^Show Richard Rodgers and Loi'enz Hart have one more picture chore for Paramount, Booth Tarlclngtpn'a 'Magnolia,' and then they will con- centrate on a loglt muslcar for the fall. Tliey go. lKirk to Hollywood in a month or so, and are specifically Ilmltf'fl to liTJt six month.t on the Coast.