Variety (May 1938)

VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, May 4, 1938 Gaumont-Britisb To Take Over Grand Nationa] Exchanges; May Produce in U. $. Here We Are Again, DrJ A deal is.well under wny, which may be closed beifore June 1, under which Gaumont-British 'would ac- quire the' entire exchange system of Grand National'and, as part of the plan, arrange to act as sales-releasmg agency for picturies that would ' be turned out by producers arid artists on the GN roster. In addition to regular features, these would include a series of western with Tex Ritter. Progress ir. reported <in the' take- over of GN although lor some weeks E. W. Hafnmons, president of Edu- cational, and Nai Levine, Coast pro- ducer, have beeii discussing plans to take control of GN. The Hammons- I^y'lne' negotiations are now looked upon as cold, following the turn cf events which brought GB into the Grand iNatlohal picture. GN Is in process of reorganization under 77B of the bankruptcy act , but, , after considerable lull, is now getting re- leases rolling again; With GB reported to haVe suf- ficient flhancing arrangements ready to carry through oh acquisition of the GN distribution system, this in turn providing GB with its own .ex- changes for-the. first time,, the deal is in the hands of lawyers for both Fides. Arthur Lee; v.p. pf GB, no.w attending regional sales nneetings of' the company; ^ending in Denver Friday (6), goes on to the Coast from there^ for weekend discussions on the GN matter. He will fly back to New York, reaching latter under plans Tue^ay (10), GB, which is selling 24 pictures for the coming (1938-39). season/might, have another. 24 carrying the GN trade-mark to merchandise if the present deal goes through. The 24 GB is now announcing will all be made in England and unlikely that GB itself would enter production on the Coast, although it would sell a number yet to be decidiad that'd be turned out under GN facilities at the old Educational studio, under lease by. GN from. Hammons. WHO IS WHICH? Ia>s Angieles, May 3. Deal whereby Nat I.evine and Earl W. Hammons would .take over Grand National has gon6 cold. Under the negotiations, if consummated, Levine would have produced company's, fea- tures and Hammons the short prod- uct at the Educational. studios, but this could not be worked out follow- ing Levine's return from the east last week. Under the proposed setup, Gau- mqnth-British was.to.have been in- terested with Hammons and Levine to the extent of'financing all Grand National exchanges in this country. G-B product currently is being re- leased in the United States through 20th-Fox, agreement expiring at the close of the 1937-38 season. While on Coast recently ( Arthur l-ee, v.p. 0^' G-B, and its titular American head, made a survey of the GN setup. Back of G-B's mo.ve -would be the establishment of a production unit in Hollywood, to make a series of nominally priced features. Understood hisre that GN trustees are opposed to any plan whereby company's exchanges would be sold' outright. Trustees feel that com- pany's sole chance for continuing is through its distribution outlet, rid new production dealS: are conti ing to be negotiated for release, Edward Alperson, Grand National president, is in. Chicago for confer- ences .with Ben Henry of As!k>ciated British Film Distributors,, the or- ganization handling GN product in Great Britai . Henry came to America to line up additional films for the new season. Radio Singers in Short Five radio singers make their fll debuts in a short Paramount starts making Thursday (4) at Astoria. L. I. Five are. Jean Ellington, Benay ■Veniila, Hollace Shaw, Nan Wynn and Betty Hutton. ■Vincent Lopez' orch will back- ground two-ireeler,' which will be lagged 'Queens of the Air.' Will be released Jiily 1. Attorney Sues Actor, tVho Says He's An Afcnt Hollywood, biffererice' between an at rney and .an agent is. the main point in- volved in the. case of Roger Mar- chetti vs. Paul Cavanaugh, current: in superior court. Marchetti recently sued Cava- naugh, actor, claiming $5,595 due for legal services. Cavanaugh's -unique defense is that Marchetti represented himself as a duly qualified agent and is therefore entitled to-only 10% ot the actor's earnings over a specified period, This is. believed to be the first time . i local court history that an attorney, has actied as a screen play- er's agent and VMn tried to collect for legal' services. U.S.ProfectH For Kid Actors Proposed BiD.C. Federal protection for kid actors yias proposed last week as another repercussion of the headline-produc- ing. Jackie Cobgan case. Following the lead of. California state. leg'slators. Representative Ray- mond Cannon, Wisconsin Democrat, offered a bill designed 'to prot t and conserve the earnings of child actors and actresses in the movies.' He's the same lawmaker who wanted a couple of years back to ban ship- ment of films In which persons with unwholesome characters appear. ' Bill embodies much the same philosophy as had been adopted by California judges, but would make both distributors and- - exhi iters- guilty If prbducisrs did not takie the necessary steps to safeguard mop- pets' compensation. Would be unlawful to ship or show any picture in which a kid per- former participated unless, a Fed- eral guardian has been named to ex- ercise .'complete control arid man- agement' oyer the yuongster's- estate until he beocmes of age. Violations Would| be feloni , pun-- ishable'by maximuni fine of ,$10,000 and sentence of • two.-years. Every showing of any picture \yh'ere there was an offense would be a separate crime. Shrinkage Hollywood, May 3. Jacki Coogan will at least have the satisfaction of learning how his film fortune, earned as a moppet, dwindled ■: from » hypothetical ?4,000,000 to an actual $")35,932, Superi Judge Wilson, hearing Copgan's suit against ^r.'.'.and Mrs. Arthur Bernstein, his stepfather and mother, granted the young aclor permission to inspect the bpoks^ of Jackie Coognn Productioiiis.Mnc. John. E. Biby, temporary receiver, wus ordered to make available all records relating to the income and expenses of the- corporation, incUid-. ir.g those of-the late John H. Coogan, ihe boy's, falhcr. By JACK OSTERMAN Well, we had a bad cold and so to bed; after all, if Cantor could miss a broadcast we could miss a column. We recovered, just in time to. see our daughter have her tonsllS:. re- moved,; so take it easy Grace Moore, between the two of us Doc Ruskin had a busy . week. We hit the street just in time'to see Broadway turned into St Charles street during Mardi Gras week in New. Orleans. We re- fer, of course, to the Motorcade pre- view parade of thie World's Fair last Saturday, Looked pretty good to us, and we hope the Fair is held' over; If it isn't a hit they can call it the Whalen Wall, Jack Demp- sey was reprinted' four times in the.paradei In fact It was beginning' to look like Dempsey's Fair for a minute until six .W^sfern Union floats broke up the routine with one Postal .Telegraph for a choser; There was one representing blossom time, proving the Shuberts were hot to be left out. Even the Fuller brush man drove by with no door to knock on, and there were enough Mack'trucks on hand to move three 'Eternal ROads!' Babe Ruth and Uncle Don drove majestically by as the people by this time were nearly falling out of Bob Christenberry's Astor :;otel. What' price window sills? A good time'was had by all, as that new saying goes. Our Mother's birthday is; toihor- row, and 'we are trying to borrow Jcssel's phone to call her up. Cori-: grats Katie. Coiine to think of it those radio calls of. Georgie's'.cer- tainly cut down on his expenses, and - speaking of money ' Wiliiie, Howard told us yiesterday, 'It took 35 years for gamblers to get all my- money; wasn't I -istubborn?' thenfkto While Thlnkinr Suggested theme' song for -Jackie Coogan, 'Mother, Can 'You Spare a Dime?'...The Repsressa Telegram, organ -of Folsom pen - (no pun in- tended),, and a very. Interesting-rag, too, sends tis the paper weekly Which this week includes, 'Hitler will die on a Jewish holiday. If it doesn't' happen to be one, they'll make it one." We got a load of "Test Pilot' at the Capitol., .so many flights we got aic sick. Liked.the part where.Gable ga-ve awiay 10 grand.. .say with his salary he can do it! Funny, but We always thought a- test pilot was the. guy that gave the dame the test then piloted her to the director's' office. ...Nick Kenny'is latest song, is 'Ca- thedral in the Pines,* and Jack Rob- bins'suggests his next one,/Syna- gogue in thiB Sycamores!'. .'.Prpfes- sional Music Men's benefit was big hit Sunday;. everyone in. town showed up except tho? who had a previous date to open at Bitly Rose's Casa Mariana, wiiich brought vaude back, to the street in-a big ,way...' hojpe.it lastis..:'incidentally we saw a man peering put of. a manhole right in front of the Palace,-;, was he looking for it?...Buddy Rogei-s, at the State, has a cute number dedi- cated to the Quins, 'I Was Lucky to Be Born on the Same -Day as You'..; Dr; kautman, Taft hotel, chiropodist who treats Vallee's tootsies before every broadcast so his voice is in shape, i.. Sponsoring Arthur Warren's new band at the Liriopln hptcl... Well, we've been up long enough. ., maybe too-long.; .We haven't read the column yet...gotta leaive you now; we have date to play some poker with Lew Brice.. .penny ante! ARRIVALS ■ Steve Dudas, William Butler Lorenzo Alvari, Henry Jerspn, James Shields, Dorothy Fpx, Belle Dtdjah, Lyri.Logan, Mr. and Mrs! David A, Hearst Nat Wolf, Capt. Norman E. Franklin, Henriette Pascar, William Hain £x-Frodncer Hollywood,-May 3. Columbia has dropped Nat Pcrrin from its- production staff after mak- ing one picture, 'Start Cheering,' He was formerly- on the studio «ritin staff. Other News of Pix Interesl Page 28 Pnramount's radi Page 28 Winehell's pinch-hitter, Page 28 Seek early Cro.sby renewal , ..Page 28 R.-idi reviews of 'Popeye" the Sailor,' Pcnner Jack Brcgman resigns from Metro-Fcist. 45 Larry,, rosby a music pu age 45 Starr an ,. ...Page 45 Washington Again Hears Rumbfings Of an Anti-Trust Probe Against Pix Washington, May 3. Launching of the long-threatened anti-trust proceeding agai t the film industry was re'garded.as possible in pbiitlcal quartiers this week now. that President Roosevelt has 'sent his. monopoly message to Congress. Re- quest for $200,000 deficlencjr appror priatlon for the Justice Department was seen, as • portent that the pic- ture business! may soon face' a major charge .of conspiracy to violate the Shcfrman act and be haled before a Dietrich, Jos. Von Sternberg Kiss V Make Up With Joseph von Sternberg as production chief, Marlene Dietrich will -form her own film producing company in. England. Actress sailed for London April 27- arid will re- turn here again before sictual British operation to work for . th-Fox and Columbia in si couple of ictures. Flnahcing is entirely Iss. Die-, trlbh's, according t<> actress.- Ap- parently her differences with von Sternberg have been patched up- and pair will resume as a team,: Will probably get going in London early riext winter. Studios and distrlbii- j tipn tieup are hot set yet Jury for restricting competition, Tjie President merely asked lor this sum so the anti-trust division will be better equipped to enforce the pres- ent laws, which he said are iri many re,spect5. outmoded and inadequate. , The prospects of fllni trust-busling action were entirely speeul«tive, however. There has been no re- liable indication so far whether the department is determined. to crack down on major distributors and laffii- iated exhibitors, although repeated rumblings-have been heard.- Tightening of the anti-trust la^ys and other statutes related to monop- olies and competition will be de- ferred until next yisar, but the Presi- dent's; message to Congress Frid.ny (29) indicated he wants more strict controKs. He suggested It would be desirable .to scrutinize closer all mergers,, consolidations, and acquisi- tions, besides maintaining a more in- tensive check on interlocking direc- torates and applying financial con- trols to protect independents and ciirb concentration of power. Revision of the. anti-triist laws should simplify enforcement by fpri-" ing persons'charged with v)oIatio-,8 to prove-their actions are not un.ow- fuj. giving the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission hroader powers to InVestigsie con-- ditions which have a bad appearjnce, President said; Amendment of the patent laws, so they cannot used to suppress inventions and crcale -n- dustrial n^bnopolies, was .rpfoin- mended, ith patent pools be n viewed I iciously. SAILINGS June 24 (New York .to London) Louis H. Chalif Co. (New Amster- dam). . May 23 (London to N^w York) Wiere Birds. (Bremen), May 21. (New York to Buenos Aires) Ezip Pinza (Southern Cross). May 18 (New-York , to Londori") Barry O'Brien, Lew Gensler (Nor- mandie). May 12 ( r. and Mrs. plain). May 11 (London to New York) Claudette Colbert (Normandle)v ay 7 (New York to Rio de Ja- nlero) .Hal Sands, Barron Lee Orch., Phil Reisman (Western World). May 6 (New . York to Paris).-Mr. and Mrs. John ByramCVeendam). May 4 (New York to Londori) Florence- Vandamm,. Mr, and Mrs. Edgar Kennedy- (Washington). May- 4 (New Yerk to Lpndon)' Chester Ei-skin, Robert Goldstein, Al- fred Lunt Lynn Fbntanne, Madeleine Carroll, Alexander Korda, Sheila Barrett, Tilly Loisch, Bert 'Wheeler, Serge Kpussevitsky, Tommy Farr, Joe Gould, Irving Ashec, Leon Leoni- doff. Derrick De Marne'y, 'Holland and Hart 'Val Gielgud, Margaret Webster, Eric Maschwitz, Nathan Milstein, Colette D'ArviUe, Ray Noble Orch., Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Gingrich, Arde Bulova (Normandic). May 2 (New York to London) r. and Mrs. Lauritz Melchior, Vittorio and D'usolina Gianni ' (Europa). Request of President Roo.^evelt for funds for a comprehensive study of the monopoly problem by the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and other Gov- ernment agencies was not ■ regarded ais particularly threatening to the film business by leaders in the ' dustry. 'Various picture compani and the Motion Picture Producer.<i ft Distributors association have bad their books and -files thoroughly mulled over during the last 12-15 months, attitude of both being that their records were open to duly con- stituted authorities; Even those in the trade who resent Governmental meddli felt that some geod might be accomplis^hed by such a probe it. current anti-trust procedure might be clarified. Their altitude was that then at least many of the picture companies would have a more definite understanding-as to how they stood i matters When i)l- leged anti-trust angles'arise. Hollywood, May 3. Federal probers, checking the books of major film distributing companies for possible anti-trust law violations,- moved last week from 20th-Fox to Gpluriiti . Investigation, now ' its sixth month, is being supervised by Albert Law arid Harold Collins, special as- sistants to the U. S. attorney-general. L. A. to N. Y. David Blankenhom. Harry Brand, R. H, Burnsi Madeleine Carroll. Ed Churchill. Sherill Cohen. Jerry Cobper, Jack Copelarid. Philip Dunne. Norman Field, A. W. Hobler. Miriam Hbpki .Arllne Judge. Edgar Kennedy. Leaster Linsk. Ernst Lubitsch. Leo McCarey, Chester Morris. ■William S, Paley, Robert Ro.s.son. Jimmy Savo. Myron Selznick, Harry Tugend, Virginia Vcrriil. N. Y. to L. A. Al Adams. Harold Clurrrian. Mrd. Jack Cohn. Zac Fr'crdmun, ■Mpnrne Grecnthal, Jimmy Rilz; Waller J, Vineeril. Would Quash Monund Oklahoma City, May 3. Plans of defendants to quash the A. B. Momand $6,000,000 anti-trust suit continue with briefs filed by Warnier Bros., Paramount and 'Vila- phone Corp. . (WB). Briefs of . all three defendants state that, 'the de- fendant, appearing especially and (or the purpose of this ipotiou Oiily moves the court to quash and set aside the pretended summons issued herein and the pretended service tliereof for the reason that the same was not issued, served, and reliirncd in nriy manner authorized by Ijinv. Affidavits and other evidence .w ill be offered in support of this motion.' Indications are the defen.^e, through attoVriey D. I. Johnson, v. ill seek, dismissal pf the suit f>n grpunds of its similarity to a former ¥4,000,000 action filed by the com- plainant against part of the present iiamed defendants several years ago imd SvHich was decided in favor of the defense at. the Denver couri of appeals. The present suit is based on data ;in material-riot available at lime of the forrrier suit as pointed'out in the complainant charge.s, arid indica- tions are that no matter wh.it ili oulcome-otThe present court ;:c1i(>n. the ca.se will be renewied am\ cairitd on-until satisfaction is gained. Si.ice the' defense contends present chai'jies. are .substantially the same, no «u fi- nite knowledge will be availablt ufi- lil completion of the hearing, ttnla: lively, set for June 7.