Variety (May 1938)

Wednesday, May 4, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 1 Jessels Salzburg-in-HoDywood Idea/with Reinhardt at the Hehn Pittsburgh, May 3. Turned down cold by the fllin pro- ducers .in his eRorts. to promote a Max Reinhardt Salzburg Festival for Hollywood, George Jessel, who first made the proposal, said here last week that he would try to interest either Henry Ford or Walter P. Chrysler in the idea. He has an ap- pointment with Ford late this month and expects to contact Chrysler in Hew York in a couple of weeki.' Bitter at the filnn moguls, whom he claims welshed on their promises ot financial aid, Jessel said he would make no further efforts along the Salzburg-in-HoUywood plan. Orig- inally Jessel broached the matter to Harry Chandler, publisher of the Los ' Angeles Times, and was met with enthusiastic' reception. Chandler promising him if the studios would go along, he would see that civic groups in Southern California would also help. According to Jessel, foundation for such an . enterprise would be a . Max Reinhardt School of Drama, so he contacted producers Individually on the. idea Of taking out their subscrip- tions in scholarships for stock play- ers. Each, he said, pledged sums ranging from $5,0pci to $10,000, but at the final showdown said they •weren't interested. Only Hal Roaclt ■was still willing to come through on ins subscription. Head of one of biggest Coast plants told Jessel in a letter that he didn't feel called upon to assist Reinhardt inasmuch as the famous director was paid $300,000 by ■Warners not so long ago in settle- ment for his contract. Jessel, how- ever, says that everything Reinhardt has was confiscated by the Nazis in Austri , including his huge property, and that iReinhardt sent much of his money abroad a - short time ago in an effort to save his realty holdings. Jessel was unsparing in, his de- niinciation . of the studio chiefs, claiming they were passing up a golden opportunity to make Holly- wood the cultural center, of the country in fact as well as fancy. At present, Reinhardt is on the Coasf awaiting word about Jessel's con- ferences with Ford and Chrysler. Final turh-down by studios came only a few days ago, at which tiine Reinhardt and his. Los Angeles at- torney, Roland Button, were prepar- ing for their first Salzburg Festival- In-HoUywood late, this summer. Versailles Idea Paris, April 25. Bruno alter plans to produce his 'Salzburg' festival again this year. But it will not be staged in Austria, While concerting in Monte Carlo, Walter stated that Toscanini has al- ready agreed to join him no matter where he stages the show. Toscanini was one of the first artists to renege on the Salzburg concerts. Since that time many artists have made known their anti-Nazi feelings - and their reluctance to pcrfor in what used to be Austria. Walter held On to his two positions as director at Salzburg and the Vien- na Opera until the last moment to 6how his appreciation to Schuschnigg tor his brave stand and as a personai protest ajainst the Nazi regime, Wal- ter said that as yet he. has made no decision as to where h^ will hold the festival but has been considering France, England and Holland, Moment artists starting asserting themselves politically France started making plans to try to grab the fes- tival. Versailles, whose musical tra- dition dates back to the days when French kings were entertained by Cluck, Rameau and Mozart, has al- ready made its bid to house the con.- ccrts. Several musical concerts hold at the chateau last summer met with success. Appeal which the chatea\i has for tourists is an added feature Which should help to exploit the festival. If present ideas materialize, the festivals will be hold wcelcly through- out the months of July and August It would be difficult to obtain the chateau lore often than once a week. It ■ hoped, however, that as many P. A.*mg a P. A. Hollywood,- ay 3. Studio publicity chief, feeling his job slipping, pulled a new angle in job-seeking by having an- agent make inquiries for a spot. Agent is carrying a five-foot library of press matter to show prospective' employers. H'WOOD SERIES IDEA LOOKS SERIOUS 'Itbllywood, May 3. First picture of the Modern Girls series at 20tli-Fox will be 'Meet the Girls,' starting June 6 -with Claire Trevor and June Lang teamed in the top spots.' Series will revolve around tlie doings of two big-town girls. Studio will make four a year vvith the same leads', but the rest of the'cast revolvihs. First of the 'Warners series of Nancy Drew stories to feature ;Bo- nita Granville is being screen- played by Robertson White. Titled 'Nancy Drew Gets the Passport,' it is slated to start June 13 with John Farrow directing. El Brendel and J. Farrell Mac- Donald will be co-starred in a series of six comedies for Progressive .dur- ing the 1938-39 season. Progressive is following the series idea, current at several studios. W. H, Moran, former chief of the U. S. Secret Service, will collaborate on scripts and serve as technical ad- viser on Warners series to be built around the \yorkings of Uncle Sam's treasury , agents, Ronald Reagan will be featured. Sherlock's $1,312 Award Against A. C. Bhunentha] Several gumshoes are awaiting arrival of A. C. Blumenthal from the Coast to . serve him with papers on a $1,312 judgment held by Ben- jamin S. Kerih', Plaintiff is himself a detective and seeks dough for key- hoHng Peggy Fears for Blumenthal. City Court of New 'York granted Kerin verdict in suit on Jan. 17 last. Since that time plaintiff's Sherlock' ing has been without result in ef- fort to collect for himself. IVork was done in Chicago before pair were separated. as 20 days of music will be presented during the summer. Salzburg, April 23. To meet the Bruno .Walter threat of a competing 'Salzburg festival' somewliere outside the Nazi realm, officials of the real- 'Salzburg in Salz- burg' festival are mapping a program to keep up the tradition of tlic fa- mous music shindig. Instead of Arturo ToscanI i and Bruno Walter, the 'Salzburg in, Salz- burg' will have Wilhelm Furtwaeng- ler as ace conductor. Program has been altered to substitute Goethe's 'Efimont' instead of Gounod's 'Faust.' There will also be. a nc\v production of 'Everyman,' directed by Heinz Hilpert, of the Berlin Deutsche Thc:- atre. According to the announce- ment, it will not be a 'Reinhardt imitation.' Similarly, it is slated, the Furtv/aengler-dirccted 'i i.stcrsinger' and Beethoven Ninth Symphony will not bo a "Toscanini substitute.' With the Nazi dominance in Au- stria, sign-painters in Salzburg are having a field-day. As an instance of the Aryanification nC all names, Reinhardt Square has been changed to the Hofslallsasse,. Hollywood Taking Its Shorts Prod. More Seriously Than Ever Before Federal Artists Bureau, First Talent Agency to Spot FTP People In Pictures— Studios Welcome the Idea NO COMMISH Los Angeles, May 3. ith some 1,500 names oh its Fed- eral Theatre Project rolls. Uncle Sam has opened the Government first talent agency busi here. Agency, a non-percenter, is called Federal- A.rtists Bureau, and is operated in conjunction with the Projects' publicity department. It became a reality ' after Peter O'Crptty, head of the blurbihg de- partment, and George Gerwing, Southern California director of ETPP, waded through a maze of red tape to place names of featured players on placards an. iUboards announcing shows playing currently under FTP banner. Bureau is armed with phQtos and thimibnail sketches of each of their players ready -to .b« passed out to those seeking new faces in pictures or on the radio. Included, in the vast files are many names that were headliners of old vaudeville days. Then there is the younger generation' seeking recogni- tion, many already sue ssful in their quest of contracts oh icture lots and radio studios. Hollywood agencies and picture people have opened their arms to the move. There will be no attempt to cut in bh commissions by FTP heads. Each deal they set calls for all coin going directly to the talent; unless an outside agent has signed them beforehand. Main objective of the Project Is to get performers off the relief rolls onto payrolls. ^ Aadilion Board Bureau has established an audi- tion board composed of Edwin Arn- old, Lucille Gleason and Boris Kar- loff. Each Friday they hold audi- tions at the Project offices looking over future possibilitfes for the en- tertainment world. Aside from this, the bureau has a casting director, listing all names alphabetically to get away from favoritism. As an example of the way the move has been accepted in Holly- wood studios have offered scripts for future shows. In several cases many big names in pictures have offered to do special: performances for the Project,' with relief members filling the remainder of the cast. '. Graduates of the Project Include Gloria Pickson. signed by Warners for her work iii 'The Devil Passes,' Hugh Sothern, who played Andrew Jackson in 'The Buccaneer,' Char- lotte Field, who has been given a screen test by Paramount, On same lot. Working under contract is Grant Richards, with Pat Gleason and An- thony Ward now on Republic's ,pay- roll. All were picked for Iheii- work during FTP stage plays,. O'Crotty and .Gerwing aim to pi-ove there is no dearth of material in FTP ranks. Lombard's 1st Dramatic In 2 Years; for Selznick Hollywood, May 3. Selznick-Intcrnational is casting Carole Lombard in the first dramatic role for the actress in two years as lead in Rose Frankcn's story. 'Made for Each Other,' Jo Swerling is writing the screenplay , from a yarn originally titled 'Of Great, Riches.' Miss I/ombaid has a deal with Selznick for one picture yearly, _ Jungmeyer, Jr„ Moves Up Hollywood, May 3. Jack Jungmeyer, Ji-,, has been uppcd to assistant to Edward Kaul- rnnii, producer at 'Olh-Fo.-i, For two :ye.ir:> he had bnen. an as- sistant on Raymond Crifdlli'j pro- duction staff. Helping Out . Hollywood, May 3. New itiglewood boss track gets, heavy publicity pilay in; Warners' 'Little Miss, Thorough- bred,' Characters in the play proclaim. they are iiying west- ward for the Inglewood open- ing; Ironically, the scenes sup- posed to represent Inglewood were filmed at the rival boss park, Santa Anita. The Warners are heavily In- terested in the Hollywood track at Inglewood, MAE WEST INTO PALLADIUM, LONDON London, May 3. Deal for Mas West to go Into the Palladium theatre here practically set Would open May 30 for two weeks, doubling the fii-st week at the Fihsbury and second week at the Stratford Empire. In a unit Miss West will tour the key cities after closing here. Deal for her to go into a local nitery is also Still hanging fire. Fosters Agency handling here, in association with William Morris in America. ae West, on a personals tpur and currently in Boston for RKO, is planning- a' more extensive barn- storming tour, probably with her own show, in the fall. Meantime, althoiigh production plans are sorilewhat indefinite, she is expecting to make a picture. Colum- bia has talked to her regarding a deal. Lone Pine, CaSif., Woos Mastangers with lOG Permanent Western Set Hollywood, May 3. Merchants of Lone Pine, Calif., plan to stimulate local business by spending $10,000 on a -permanent western street for the. use ol film companies. Town's trade nd pride were dam- aged recently when Harry Sherman had to move his Hopalong Cassidy troupe to Kernville, which lias a per- manent location set. Par-W. C. Fields 8-Balled On Yarn; Film Shelv^ Hollywood, May 3. Paramount has indefinitely post- poned 'Mr. Bumpus Goes to "Town,' nee 'Behind the Eight Ball,' after tif- fing with W.'C. Fields over the story oh ' which the comedian worked. Other factors are also sijd to cqnr tribute to the studio's action in shelving the yarn intended as a star- rer for Fields. Di.sciissions abruptly ended when Fields refused to accept the studio treatnieht. STILL STEERING N. BY N.W. Hollywood, May 3. After scripting 'Spawn of the North' on a loanoiit to Par for A! Lewin, for whom ho worked at Metro, Jules Furthman is back at M-G, and is now .adding scenes to 'Northwest Pilssagc.' Zoe Akins reported at Paramoiirtl tor a dialog job on 'Zaza,' scriplcd by Furthman, Lewin will a!.>o pio-- duce this picture, Ccoi: C-'ul;*)'' directing. Hollywood, May 3. Revolutionizing of shorts' making marks the filmi ihdiistry's greatest forward step in the last two years. Single and dual spoolers, so long considered by the picture, moguls as a niecessary evil to the distributibn- of featiires, and more or less hap- hazardly handled as a by-product, have suddenly become an important part of the celluloid btisincss. Introduction of low-cost manu- facturing methods into their pro- duction has elevated the quality ot briefles while hauling down costs to a point where they can be sold on a profitable basis even in these tryin times of dualcrs and b.o. recession. No longer are the midgels, with the exception of, some of the ani- mated cartoons, purchased from in- die outfits. Ihst'ead, the majors hava set up modernized and efficient de- partments, rolling their own. Out in the vati in providing a new deal for the, smaliies .are Metro and Warhers, with 20th-Fox set to fol- low suit RKO, while participating on a less elaborate scale, is well up front of the parade. Paramoiint, also, Js poised for a new spurt dur- ing the coming season. Slapstick, main ingredient ot shorts In that era \yhen Mack Sen- nett, Hal Roach and the Christie boys were kingpins in the one and two'-reel field, has gone the way ot last, year's millinery. Shorts, other than the cartoons; novivadays must be informative as well as entertaining. Plain novelty no longer siiffcies. Those Responslblit Jack Chertok, Metro short subjects chief, and Gordon Hbllingshead, oc- cupying a . similar post at Warners, are entitled to bows for tlie im- portant roles they have , played in the revised set-up. Bert Gilroy, handling the briefie end for, RKO, also is contributing to the clevalioa of this variety of fare. Big thin are expected of Truman 'TaUey. 20th-Fox hewsrecl boss, whose duties were recently expanded ti> encompass all dwarfie production as. a result of the corporation's failura to renew with Educational, While cartoons arc aimed to in- terest all classes of patrons, the other kind are.directed at customcr:i ranging up from 16 years of age. While Sennett dropped activity' following the 1920 debacle, with the Christies hanging on for a longer comeback try. Roach is the final member ot the old guard to toss the sponge into the ring. Three months ago he dropped Laurel-Hardy Iwo- reelers, and now, after one moie film, he will ship Our Gang, for 17 years one of his production main- .<:tays, over to the Metro lot, cutting him.<;elt entirely loose from biicfle trade in favor of feature comedies. Big studios, able to bring in slioi-t.i under mass production, are not only ^'arnerlng heavier returns on their investments, but are further bene- fiting by using the departments as training groutids for novice players, writers and directors. While actual filming on a one- rocler requires Only four day.s, with eight for a two-reeler. some pictures require a year of actual work, in- cludngi research, writing and other preparations. Pete Smith's Ro-r mance of Radiiim' (Metro) which used up . only nine minutes on the .screen, required 13 months of toil. Since assuming connmand at Metro, Jack- Chertok has. shipped on to full-length productions S'l ncv/ players; including George Murphy and 'Virginia Gray, now beiri? '(roomed for stellar billing, ive directors have been moved, up, wilit Another, Leslie Fenton, soon to malte the leap, Chertok's writing stuff is constantly iexporting its members to the .studio's senior department. Hollingshead's department at ur- Jicrs in accornplishihg almost si ilac results in the matter of actor-wriler- director development. Les Good- wins, one of RKCs shorts dircclovs, only a week aso was promoted to features, drawing 'Cheating Ihs. Stars' as his initial assignment.