Variety (Oct 1936)

Wednesday, October 14, 1936 PICTURES VARIETY 3 StokcwskiCCall Me Slokj) to Do Wagner Pic for M-G; Union's Stynui Philadelphia, Oct 13. ■ Leopold Stokowski will definitely star in a film based on the life of Richard Wagner, the symph maestro .now admits. He had denied the 'story when it appeared in Variety last summer. Film will be made by Metro, with Stokowski. in the role of the great German composer; Did not specify date it will go into pro- duction, who will Author script nor direct. Stokowski was in town for [opening of his first picture, 'Big Broadcast of 1937,' in which he gets 'big featured billing locally. ■ Conductor also observed he pre- iers his. nickname spelled Stoki, gather than Stoky. Thinks it 'looks ■better' that way. Always the recip- ient of whispered nicknames here, ..'the conductor is being facetiously Teferred to as the 'Glamour Boy of $he Podium' since his flicker debut. '• Stokowski was skedded to make a personal appearance at the Stanley f"riday (9) in connection with the opening of 'The Big Broadcast of J937' (Par) in which Stoky. and his ;<>rk have a spot. Stanley-Warner fieople were all het up over the dea, with the publicity and ex- ploitation departments going - over- board. The dailies responded with plenty of copy. All the ads in the ^Friday morning papers, mentioned Jhe flesh appearance of Mr. Stokow- pkl Everything was swell. • ■ Then, after the first edition of the Evening papers, telephones started Ringing. 'Cancel that story about {Stokowski and the Stanley,' was the order. Stoky didn't make his per- gonal. • The answer was the Musicians' Protective Association which right now is at odds with Warners here. In fact, they're in very much of a deadlock. First the Fox, recently taken over by Warners, dropped Its Ork; last week, the Earle did the same. Fight was. mainly over the employment of musicians in nabe theatres but fact remains that the two factions are at loggerheads with the Warners reported as keeping the Earle on a straight film policy jiintil the musicians give in. At any rate, Stokowski is a mem- ber in good standing^ Hence the cancellation of the Stanley appear- ance. • A. A. Tomei, president of the Mu- sicians' Protective (Local 77) de- clared afterwards that no official ban was made by the union itself. • He added, however, that he himself • had written Stokowski recently advising him that the appearance would be contrary to union regula- tions. ; Stoky has made no statement as yet. His famous Philadelphia Or- chestra has opened its season under the baton of Eugene Ormandy. Sto- kowski will conduct several con- certs later. , The Stanley where the personal appearance was to have taken place has no orchestra and has not had one in six or seven years. WB TO SIMONE A MALE LEAD FOR 'DESERT SONG' , > Hollywood, Oct. 13. WarViers ; having been kicked around by John Boles on 'Red Shad- ows' (remake of 'The Desert Song') a te planning to Simone-Simon a male star out of nowhere to top bill- ing between screen test and preview W his first pic. Company is keeping hiVTie ih its dungeon, denying it's Dick Foran, singing cowboy, or any Other singer already on the lot. Claim is • suppressed sheik works at •Warners in capacity other than actor, but in tests came out as a super- Boles. _This comparison to first sheik- sjnger of talkers gets clearer when Its known that Boles was asked to Jake a test for the remake, but nixed. **■ Studio execs are burning over "»e brush-off ever since. Mayo's Billing Doubts Hollywood, Oct. 13. Archie Mayo, as release of •Black Legion' heared, was thinking of a no-screen credit from Warners, not wanting the finger on him with so many of the Michigan assassins still at large. But last week's 99-year rap for Dayton Dean* the le- gion's triggerman, changed all that. Mayo's now demanding full frame on credit sheet and spe- cial press interviews. N. Y. PICKETING TO COST 200-250G Current campaign to compel New York film houses to employ pit men is expected to cost the New York Musicians Local 802 between $200,- 000 and $250,000; Bill so far has gone over the $50,000 mark and the union is prepared for a long drawn- out struggle. Almost'50 theatres are now being picketed in the New York area, with the expense money coming directly out of the union's - relief fund. Wherewithal for this fund is coming from the working musicians. Mem bers playing hotel jobs pay 3% of their salaries; the tax on theatre as signments is 4%'; sustaining ' pro- grams originating from a hotel or cafe bring $3 per man per broadcast, while a commercial radio date also carries a tithe for the relief fund. Raft Back at Par; Gets Coin and Another Pic Hollywood, Oct 13. Paramount and George Raft have hoisted the white flag. ; Raft will re- tun to studio and will receive $24,- 000 pay for time he was out after refusing spot in 'You and Me,' which Norman Krasna was preparing to direct and produce. Arrangement was made while Wil- liam LeBaron and. actor were in New York attending world series. Another yarn is being whipped into shape for Raft. Chi Fire on Film Hollywood, Oct. 13. Twentieth-Fox will produce 'The Chicago Fire,' based on E. P. Roe's 'Barriers Burned Away.' Richard Collins is screenplayirig. PIC PLAYERS MAY Screen Actors' Guild Relays Its Sympathies to the A. F. A. and the A. F. M. —Extending Campaign to Bring Back Flesh DENY 'POLITICS' The possibility now looms that the Screen Actors' Guild may join with the American Federation of Actors (vaudeville performers) in the drive of the Musicians' Union, Local 802, for restoration of living talent to the- atres, a move that is likely to be- come national in scope. The Phila- delphia local is scheduling a mass meeting for Friday night (16) in in- augurating a drive in that city and many other locals are contemplating action to fall, in line. The Screen Actors' Guild has so far not indicated whether it will ac- tively support the campaign of the musicians in behalf of flesh for the- atres, Jior in what manner, but is morally, behind the drive. Kenneth Thompson of the SAG sent the fol- lowing telegram to Local 802 Mon- day af ternon: 'The board * of directors of the Screen Actors' Guild instructs me to communicate to you its great interest and wholehearted accord with your campaign to return orchestras and stage entertainment to motion pic- ture houses.. The board sends its best wishes for overwhelming suc- cess.' Legislative Talk, But— In addition to the support the 802 drive has received, including signed statements by some leading legisla- tors, the New York local has been approached by several politicians who vision the opportunity for legis lative measures that would aid the drive. In Cuba, Brazil and th» Ar- gentine there are laws which require the presence of musicians in theatres above a certain seating capacity. While such legislation may not be possible here, politically-minded in- dividuals are trying to figure out some kind of action, it is understood. A possibility, it is learned, is a state-organized subsidy for the cre- ation of independent vaudeville or other show units with bands which would tour within the provinces of any state attempting that means of providing living entertainment. In addition to plans in Philadel- phia to emulate the campaign of 802 in New York, the Kingston, N. Y.. local is starting a petition which will urge local theatre owners to restore shows and bands to that town. If no action is taken on the petition, the Kingston local plans picketing the same as in New York. To date 21 locals have written to 862 for . i outline of the campaign as carried on in Greater New York. In. view (Continued on page 18) Eastern Film Execs Have Mapped A Program to Curb Studio Agents The Hays office in the east is back on the current furor anent the agents. Recently this group met and decided on a program to correct any existing agency 'evils.' To many the agency situation will not stand correction until the com- panies, of and by themselves, pro- hibit company executives from di- rect or indirectly being interested in such agencies. That goes for all de- partments, including theatres. Some 10 or 12 points are part of the Haysites' agents program. It is no secret in the trade that some of agents stand so close to some studio executives that they are all but officially on the companies' pay- rolls. Megger Signs as Actor Hollywood, Oct. 13. Miles Mander, English director, has been signed to an actor's term contract at 20th-Fox by Darryl Zan- uck. Ticket came as result of his work in 'Lloyd's of London.' Screen Playwrights Balking On Academy's Arbiter Dictate Winged Stand-in Hollywood, Oct. 13. Sonja Henie, famed ice skater, working in 'One In a Million' at 20th-Fox, has a male stand- in. Bert Clark, L. A. skimmer, has the job. No gal could be found fast enough to do the Henie routine for setup pur- poses. . S. F. MGRS. HAVE OWN IDEAS ON San Francisco, Oct. 13. Despite general studio instruction against tampering with the official billing on pictures, there are two ex- amples here this week of theatre managements using their own judg- ment to suit local situations. Simone Simon, officially featured in 'Ladies in Love' (20th), is getting first position in the ads, marquee and lobby displays at the Warfield, With Loretta Young, Janet Gaynor and Constance Bennett, the official stars of the picture, trailing in the billing. Fox, playing "Hearts Divided' (WB) is billing Clark Gable ahead of Marion Davies. It's the first known time that Miss Davies has ever run No. 2 in the bally for one of her own pictures in this town. Goldwyn Ties Gershwins For Tollies of '37' Job Hollywood, Oct. 13. George and Ira Gershwin have been signed by Samuel Goldwyn to write the music, lyrics and book for the 'Goldwyn Follies of 1937.' Contract' goes into effect Jan. 2 after pair completes work on the forthcoming Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers picture .at RKO. Hollywood, Oct. 13. Newly formed Screen Playwrights, offshoot of the Screen Writers" Guild, has taken a definite stand against the arbitration clause of the writer-producer code of practice adopted a year ago by the Academy' of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences whereby all disputes would be me- diated through the Acad machinery. Body demands separate arbitration. Modification of tjie existing work- ing agreement in so vital spot is said to create a situation which may. re- sult in an impulse when the pro- posals, after some revisions, are pre- sented to the producers. While details of the new code will' be withheld until revisions are made, Grover Jones, president of the Playwrights, admitted that the code definitely will not accept the Acad arbitration machinery as set up in the present writer-producer pact formulated by the Acad in 1035: This may prevent the producers* acceptance of the code as the pres-' ent standard contract for screen- actors requires all mediation to pass 1 through the Academy,-and it is this* proviso that the Screen Actors' Guild seeks to eliminate. Should the producers discard the present writer-producer pact and permit the Playwrights to set up their arbitra- tion machinery, then the actors will likely be in a more advantageous* position to demand the same rights* Among those attending meeting were Grover Jones, Waldemar Young, James K. McGuinness,' Manuel Seff, J. Ainsworth Morgan, Frank Butler, William Anthony Mc- Guire, Paul Schofield, Bess Mere- dyth, Albert Shelby Levino. Eddie Welch, Marion Orth, James Edward Grant, Patterson McNutt, Ray Har- ris, Harvey Thew, Robert Yost, Ger- ald Geraghty, Howard Emmett Rogers and Tom Reed. B0JANGLES WEST NOV. 1 . Bill Robinson stays at the Cotton Club, N. Y., until Nov. 1 and ihen. goes Co'astward for 20th-Ce.ntury. Ring's Bangtails Beckon Hollywood, Oct. 13. Bing Crosby and his family are back on the Coast from their Hono- lulu vacash. Crosby's next Para- mount picture, 'Waikiki Wedding.' is being rolished by Frank Butler, Don Hartman and Duke Atterbury. Ed : ward Sutherland will direct. Crosby docked at San Francisco and visited his racing stable at Tan- foran bsforc returning to Los An- geles. Crosby is reading 'Irish Eyes,' a life of Cha"ncey Olcott, and a sort of Crosby c'f the last generation. Pic- ture would feature songs like 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,* 'My Wild Irish Rose' and 'Mother Machree." , Par is considering the story for its schedule, but if it 'goes on Emanue! Cohen'6 Crosby goes in on a - 50-33 financing deal with proportionate st.arc of the profits. Tr/icTe Mark JteBlHlered t-<HJNI)KJ> BY S!MB Sfl.VBHMAN I'liMlxlird Weekly l>y VAUIICTY, In*-. 3ld Silverman, I'rettlilenr. 154 Went 4fiih SI reel, New York Clfy SUBSCRIPTION Annuitr.;... .$« Foreign *7 Sin(;l» Coplea -. IS Onf» Vol. 124 No. 5 INDEX Jr. G.-S. for Pix Hollywood. Oct. 13. J Ed Gallagher, Jr. and A! Shean, ! Jr., sons of the vaude duo, Gallagher ! and Shean, have arrived here for 1 picture work. Ann Harding 111 London, Oct. .4. i • ■ ' Throat trouble is keeping Ann I ■ Harding off the Denham stages. Pro- j I ductiOn on her picture 'Love from a Stranger' for Max Schach is held ,up till she recovers. *Miss Harding waited three mdnths after her ar-! rival before getting to work and' now is held up within a week of "I starting. Whitney Bourne, signed by B.I.P. for 'Sensation,' is also an invalid, and is in - Switzerland for a shOr't' rest cure, but not expected to hold Up production. Advance Production Chart . 21 EKls '." 55 Euvlccque 70 Chapter .fl"-C9 Co-r.c'ert «.... 05 Exploitation 23 13 and 50 Years Ago 54 Fil.n Itavlcv/s 15 H7US3 Reviews .55-57 Inri'.'c—Leuit 53 Inside—Music • 50 InsirSe—Pictures 0 Inside—Radio ...; 45 Inside—Vaude 54 International Film Nov/s. .10-10 International Show News. 03 Legitime:te 50-02 Literati 01 .Mu-is Nov/Acts , 57 News from the Dailies..., Oli Nite Clubs ' 52 Obituary V 73 Outioovs 71 Pictures 2-30 Radio 3J-4u Radio—Reports 31 Ra'lio—Showmanship .-,.. '47 Times Square 07 Sports «7 U.nlts 57 Vaudeville ..... 52-54 i