Variety (Sep 1935)

VARIETY P I C ¥ E § Wednesday, September 4« 1935 VISUAL EDUCATION IN N. O SCHOOLS ABOUT SET: SEEN AS TEXTBOOK SAVER Films in Schools Would Cut Dovm Costs of Books —First Test Installation—Budget O.K.'d by Next Jan. With the purchase of tlie first talking picture equipment last weelv, New "^ork City's visual education test prograni is starting to take Bhape. In;tial buy was 1,000-watt Job, large.' on the market in the 16-milllmei..r field. This is to be tested in advance of the • actual BChoolroom rurvey to ascertain its efficiency and to learn If it is es- sential for average classroom study. These tests may prove that smaller talking picture machines are more suitable. ' The actual classroom survey 'n the metropolitan schools may not get under way until early in 1936, according to recent developments which revealed that the funds for car Ing on the tests may not be available until ne;:t January. By that time educational authorltiep undoubtedly will have schedules prepared and all details Ironed out so that the test course may be of- fered those starting new studies the first of the year. Plan is to com- pare work of students having pic- ture courses with other classes of equal grade using text books only in e^me studies. City's hoard of education has its own visual education bureau with a complete system of routing silent educational films similar to that employed by i.iajor distributing CQmpanles. Visual education divi- sion is ..eaded by Rita Hochheimer, with Wendoll M. Thomas, assistant dii'ector of lectures. In this ca- pacity, ..homas duplicates the duties of booker of a large film exchange. This bureau books the required cducationc. subjects Into all publip schools in N. Y, city equipped to show films. Thomas assigns the pictures to each' sciiool on" specific dates.'thls transaction being not un- like 'actual booking of a major fea- ture. The films are shipped to va- rious schools so that they can be used concurrently with . iext book matter. With such a set-up already in- Bta.lled, sc'iool p.uthorlties feel that the switchover to talking films, when actually placed in use throughout tl^e school system, will be a simpler matter. While eventually New York's talking picture project may result 1 quicker turnover of students, making it possible to reduce the number o. houri required for grade schools and high schools, at present most edu tlonal o clals view vis- ual education via talking pictures as a means of cutting down the outlay now requl-ed for textbooks. TAKE IT AWAY Rachel Crothers Sends Her % 'Sp.'endor,' To Barrier Pic. Hollywood, Sept. 3. After 10 days of pre-dlrectlng re- hearsals on the Samuel Goldwyn production of her play, 'Splendor, Rachel Crothers turns over troupe headed by Miriam Hopkins and Joel WcCrea to 2'liott Nugent to start the picture today (Tuesday). This is the film which Miss Crothers wrote for Goldwyn on an experimental percentage basis, deal calling for a share of the profits but no preliminary writing salary Author rehearsed the production straight through in sequences like a stage play. W.B. Overtakes Sked, 12 Finished, 9 on Work Bench Hollywood, Sept. 3. With nine pictures In production this week and 12 in the cans or cut- ting room, Warners is considerably ahead of schedule for the season's product. Two new ones getting the gun by midweek are 'Country Boy' and 'Prairie Schooners.' Holding over on production are 'Capt. Blood,' and ■ij'risco Kid,' "I Pound Stella Parish,' 'Broadway Hostess,' 'Stars Over Broadway,' 'Hard Luck Dame' and 'Enemy of Man.' Being edited or held for release are 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'Shipmates 'Forever,' 'Goose and the Gander,' 'Little Big Shot,' 'The Pay- oft,' 'Dr. Socrates,' '1 Live for Love,' 'Personal Maid's Secret,' 'Moonlight on the Prairie,' 'Murder of Dr. Har- rlgan,' 'Special Agent' and 'Case of the Lucky Legs.' Construction of stages, being rushed In two work shifts, adds to peak of activity at the Burbank stu- dio. First of the new stages got its initiation last week with the Kay Francis picture, 'Stella Parish,' be- ing directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Wanger Seals Santley Hollywood, Sept. 3. Joseph Santley moves up' Into major directorial ranlts under five year contract signed with Walter Wanger. May make 'Her Master's Voice' as his first on the General Service lot. Wanger' was Impressed by Sant- ley's direction of 'Harmony Lane' for Mascot-Republic. MERRin CRAWFORD'S 16MI». nLM ALLIANCE Merritt Crawford, who started two film trade papers and has worked on most of the others. Is out to do something for the 16 mm. film enthusiasts. He has founded the Film Alliance, Inc. which Is to drag the smallies Into a place in the sun. Just at.present the non- profit organization Is largely Craw- ford and a handful of friends, but he claims to be in ^ouch with num- erous groups, scattered over the country, and plans to draw them Into an organized effort to secure recognition for pint-size pictures. His idea, according to the pros- pectus, is to make these amateur, groups the nuclei of local organiza- tions which will work together both for the production of amateur reels and for the showing of professional and semi-professional. Including eventual showing of the past mas- terpieces on the constricted cellu- loid. He will also offer 'closed mem- bership' showings of films not com- mercially released. In other words he will give the amateur groups a chance to travel their product for outside admiration. Net profits from isuch showings are to go to fi- nance more production. Contention ' is that through this means the Alliance will act as a training school for future profes- sional players and technicians. Promoters seems to be ;■. bit hazy, as yet, about the exact procedure, but have taken a mldtown office and insist that they have enough assur- ances of support. Several ."iomewhat similar schemes have been tried in the past half- dozen years, the only one of which to endure is the Amateur Cinema League, which does not concern it- self with film bookings other than to bring amateur groups Into con- tact with each other. 4tlr 'Obsession Delay, John Stahl Benched 2d Time Hollywood, Sept. 3. John M. Stahl was forced to sus- pend 'Magnificent Obsession' for the fourth time at Universal last week because of severe cold which .sent th'; director home. Other delays were due to yankin^■; of Stalil's wisdom tooth, accounting for a d.iy lost; Illness of Betty Furness, necessitating two d.-iy siesta, and requirement of Robert Taylor at Metro lor retal;cs, one day. Cruze's 'Gold' Chore Hollywood, Sept. 3. James Cruzo is definitely set by Universal to direct '.Sutter's Gold, which will lie an outdoor special Howard Hawks oviTinally tagged for the picture switche.s over to direct another at same studio. Gene Fowler and Walter "W'oods are doing the screen play. 'Custer Serial' Breaks Out First as a Feature Hollywood, Sept. 3. Louis Weiss, producer of the serial, 'Custer's Last Stand,' will re leo.so the chapter play via the -state right market with a six-reel first episode. Remaining chapter."? of the 15 In stallments will go out in around three reels each. Academy Slate Ready Hollywood, Sept. 3. Nominations have been made for branch executive committees and board of directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, preliminary to annual election of the organization. Members will vote by mall on the nominees until polls close on Sept. 25. Board will meet shortly after the latter date for selection of of- ficers for the coming year. RIO GREETS LUPE Now Denver Theatres Are Giving Away a House and Lot, B.O. Bally Mob Waits Hours in Damp and Dark On Her Arrival Bio de Janeire, Aug. 23. Lupe Velez spent a hectic night here last week when she passed through-on her way to Buenos Aires to fill a five week contract with Jaymt Yankelvich, night-club and radio station owner. She will bo on the air over Radio Belgrano In Buenos Aires. Though it was midnight and cold and damp, police had difficulty in controlling the crowas which waited four hours on the docks to catch a glimpse of the Mexican star. She received frenzied cheers. Yankelvich, who arrived from Buenos Aires to accompany Miss Velez the rest of the way to Argen- tina, went aboard the boat to take her to the headquarters of the Bra- zilian Press Association, where she spoke on a hook-up with the Bel- grano outlet. Afterwards she visited the Casino Atlantico, where she is due to ap- pear for ten days after her engage- ment in Puenos Aires. SEVEN PIX GET GUN AT RADIO Hollywood, Sept. 3. Radio will start seven pictures during September. First to get go- ing will be 'Follow the Fleet,' the next Astaire-Rogers musical with Mark Sandrlch directing. Irving Berlin is writing the score and Pandro S. Berman produces. Fol- lowing this, 'It Happened in Holly- wood,' 'Seven Keys to Baldpate,' 'Husk,' and 'Two O'clock Courage' get started. Before the month ends, 'Mother Lode' with Richard Dlx, and the remake of Harry Leon Wilson's 'Bunker Bean' will get under way. TAY GARNETT ON OWN, TO PRODUCE THREE PK WANGEK'S McCOY Hollywood, Sept. 3. Horace .McCoy has slg)ied a ."jIx- month con.'ract with Walter Wanger to write dialog. Recently .luthorcd 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?' novel.. Denver, Sept. 3. .Santa Claus has moved to Den- ver, and Is making theatres his headquarters, distributing his gifts from tlieatres. Tl:e latpst irlft in the Santa Clnvis i)ag is n. two-story, eight-room hou'je and lot, completely furnished and with credit for a complete stock of gi'occries for a year, landscaped and insured, with other inducements not yet announced. Total cost of the grand prize will be more than CICOOO. T'lip Hu/fm.Tn string of clsht thr.t- tre.s Is using this come-on starting this week, in cooperation with the .Denver Renl Estate Kxclianije and 16' bu.siness firms. Huffmnn will conduct the drawinrr-i, and will make a 3,G00-foot trailer, in which the (irms will each get a plug. Cost to Huffman is evidently kept at a min- imum. Huffman had been giving away Ford car.s, so far having given away 70 Fords.' Other exhlbs have s;\\-cn away Plymouth cars. In the Huffman group are four first run houses. Theatres giving autos get around lottery laws by passing out tickets in front of theatres and giving them away in drug stores and auto agen- cies and by announcing the winning number In front of theatres. Bank night Is In the clear by means of tree registration and outside an- nouilcemcnt.- All but nine theatres In the city are using giveaways. All these houses excepting the Orplicum, first run, are in the 25c. or less class. Four of them are grinds. Hollywood, Sept. 3. Starting oft with a production schedule of three pictures' to be made abroad, Tay Garnett has formed his own company. Hangs out his shingle on the RKO-Pathe lot. After finishing 'Professional Sol- dier' for 20th-Fox, which should be around mid-November, Garnett takes a skeleton crew to China for his first opera, 'Singapore Bound.' British capital is said to be behind this one. He will also make 'Man Laughs Back' from the book of his authorship. Garnett has two more to go at 20th-Fox and one at Columbia be- fore he starts on his own. Garnett has been signed by 20th Century-Fox to direct 'Profes- sional Soldier,' which will feature Victor McLaglen and Freddie Bar- tholomew. Director selected the story after being handed three yarns by Dai-ryl Zanuck to con- sider for the one picture deal. Shirley's Radio Comm'l Hollywood, S'-pt. 3. New regime at 20th Ceiil iiry-Fox has relented In Its stand against outside exploitation of Shirley Tem- ple and will okay network broadcast If a deal Is consummated with Ral- ston Cereal. Studio feels clean kid program not out of place for its No. 1 star. Lloyd Wright handling deal for Moppet. Script Crawford's Next Hollywood, Sept. 3. 'The Sport of Queens,' original by Robert Hopkins, is being pre- pared by Bernard H'yman for early production at Metro. Anita Loos- is scripting. ,)oan Crawford will be starred. REG DENNY BANKRUPT Los Angeles, Sept. 3. Listing hl.s assets at $C3,0l4 and debts ut $33,534, Reginald Denny filed a voluntary pt'tUIon in bank- ruptcy In federal court here. • Among liabilities was judgment obtained by Mrs. Irene Denny for $33,750. CANADA SCRAPS ITS PIC PROD. PROJECT Toronto, Sept. 3. With Premier Hepburn admitting that the Motion Picture Bureau of the Ontario government had ex- pended more than $1,760,000 in cap- ital and administrative expense and have 'nothing to show for this to- day but a lot of useless films,' stu- dios at Trenton have been closed, staff to be absorbed Into other gov* ernment departments, the Premier, announces. Studios have beei>. turned over to the civic authorities to be used for a municipal gymna- sium or some similar recreational object. Equipment goes into stor- age with 'the useless films.' Studios, in the past, had also been rented to other than govern- ment film-producers, last fiicker to be made there being 'Carry On, Ser- geant," a Canadian wan story, writ- ten and directed by Bruce Bairns- father and starring Jimmy Savo and Hugh Buckler, Flickers backed by Canuck capital hit a snag when the reform element maintained that Canadian soldiers never 'seduced French maidens behind the lines. 'Sergeant' is also somewhere on the shelf. No space, however, for the trenches and barbed wire entangle- ments used for the battle sequences. The trenches will remain as is, pos- sibly confounding future historians. Arthur Lyons' 250G Suit Vs. Zeppo Marx, Asks Rights Defined Los Angeles, Sept. 3. Asking $250,000 against Zeppo Marx and Zeppo Marx, Inc., Arthur Lyons has filed suit in Federal court here to deter Ine whether an agent's contract is a scrap of paper or whether agent has property right in a contract similar to chattel prop- erty right. Complaint charges Marx -with fraud, deceit and. misrepresentation and with inducing Fred MacMurray to breach his contract with Lyons on Sept. 16, 1934. Complaint also says Lyons took MacMurray from $G0 a week Job with the California Col- legians orchestra to position with Paramount Pictures on a contract •'.ilch will bring him $234,000 In five years. Contract was made Feb. 23, 1934. Suit for $220,000 by Lyons had been dismissed in Superior Court because contract Issue has never been decided In state courts. Same question, however, has already been decided by U. S. Supreme Court. Larger damages also can be asked in Federal court. GREY'S 1ST ORIGINAL FOR PIX IN 8 YEARS Hollywood, Sept. 3. Zane Grey has delivered to Par-, amount 'Drift Fence,' hl.s first to. studio under a two-year contract lor his entire literary output. Although having made numerous remakes of old Grey pictures, this is the first new one for Par in eight years. Studio is sending out 'Wan Wasteland' for general release wit out preview to make up for si months' lapse without a wester subject. E. G. Robinsons Abroad Hollywood, Sept, 3. Edward G. Robinson leave.s to- ward end of this week for New York en route to Europe. Will re-i main around Manhattan for about two weeks before sailing. Is between pic.-: at Warners. Taking trip with wife and two- year-old son. METRO'S OPERA BUY Paris, Sept. 3. Motrn has practically clcspd hf-i- !"oi- the rights to 'Tales of Hoffman.' 'iy Offenbach. Studio wa'n'is to produce the opor.a as a film, but is purcha.sing In order to use some of the arias.