Variety (Jun 1938)

VARIETY PIGTimCS Wednesday, June 1, 1938 SLOW SELiNG SEASON IN MIDWEST CERTAIN UNDER PRESENT CONDITIONS Exchanges Waiting for B. O. Upbeat to Send Out Their Salesmen—Looks Like the Best Year for Insurgent Exhib Body on Its Stalli Platform Chfcago, ay 31. Film exchanae leaders in the mid west are looking ahead for Avhal they label the toughest selling sea' son in many years. In past years the exchanges were readying to start Eelling by June 15, but indications are that the line of exhi itor re- sistance won't be broken, untir late August or September this year. This is due to the general state of theatre business, and a low box- office al^vays gives an exhibitor's arm temporary paralysis. Allied, indie exhibitor association, is mak- ing a special drive among its mem- ber's this year, to stall signaturing any product contracts as long as ppssiblei 'This has always been one of the primary aims of the Allied organization, and it looks as if Al- lied is going to miake its' best im- pression along those lines this year, with the exhibitors apparently agreeing with Allied in holding oft any pictuire deals at this time. Exchanges which in the past wer,e anxious to get . contracts and com- mitments in as quickly as possible; have veered over to the other side thiis y^r, and for the same r son. They feel .'that the current monHi would be a psychologically bad .time in which to attemjpt to secure, any real coin on picture deals ,from' the exhibitors, and for that reason,, are not too anxious to press exhi itors into' picture deals at « time when they would Insist on what would be ruinously Ipvv prices for the. dis- tributors. Exchanges expect a 'gen- eral biz pick-up' during the next 10 weeks, and therefore are hold- ing back their lesmen until later in the season. Most of the present contacts be- ing made by exchanges are in the smaller, towns in the otitlying sec- tions, lining up those theatres which generally pay mi .imum guarantees, against a percentage. On tliese per- centage'dates both the exhibitors, and exchanges feel fully protected, the theatres seeing little chance for loss- es should biz continue at its low ebb and with the exchanges figuring big- ger returns if they come along with some sock b:o. leases. roduct Shortage Philadelphia, May 31. With one of the most serious prod- uct shortages in years in full sway here and nabe biz very much off, indie ops are taking advice of their leaders and laying off buying while they await developments. Exchanges; meanwhile, are extending every poS' sible olive branch iii the way of ad' jiistments In order to keep customers satisfied Biid prospects for next sea' son. Except for 20th-Fox, major ex- changes 'have not yet actively begun to sell. Fox, Offering practically the same terms as last' year, is dbcl^eting 'em up at about the usual speed.. EDDY-MASSEY TEAMED FOR METRO'S'CARNIVAt' Hollywood: May 31. Nelson Eddy and Ilona assey Metro's newest singing ieam, will be co-starred in 'Love Carnival,' first of Sobert Z. Leonard's pictures under his new producer-director pact. Melville Baker and Hans Kraly h; ve adapted the picture from! the Ferenc Molnar drama, 'A Pestor.' It Will go into production in Iwb weeks. Time Out for Waddies Hollywood, May 31 Harry Sherman, producer of Hop- along Gassldy horse operas, will abandon the open prairies for his next ppecial, 'Three Angels,' written by J. D. Trop, Sherman production exec. Slated for. fall production, the prc; ture will have a Hollywood back grpuhd and no cowboys. L B. MAYER TRYING TO GET OVER TO LONDON Executive Golf HosU Hollywood, May 31. Louis B. Mayer may swing over to London, this summer, if operations per Understood here that the Itfetro chieftain would go over to take a look into his company's. Lon- don side, staying several weeks. His intentions in this respect are not definite ait the moment,, but chanbes look okay for Mayer cross- ing over. N.W. ALLIED IN NEW STRIKE VS.%PIX inneapolis. May 31. Twi ity independent exhibitors^ niembers of Northwest Allied States, have started another 'strike' against percentage pictures. . A. Steffes, president of the organization, in a communication to thei trade, declares emphatically "there are going to be no percentage pictures purchased by Minneapolis and St. Paul independ- ent theatre owners.' Stefles inisists 'this is the lowdown,' and, avers 'every contpany's product was bought flat the past year with the exception of four pictures from MGM, and even that is going to be changed this year, whether Metro likes it- or not.' In explanation of the 'one excep- tion,' Steffe^ says .exhibitors , were led to believe Metro had a national poli- cy, 'which belief ,later was learned not to be true.' The latest blast against percentage pictures has followed announcements by United Artists that the UA sales policy will be liercentages entirely, and that Warner Bros, would de- mand percentages for a large part of its 1938-39 releases. Buying of !Show Wiiite' and 'Birth of a Baby' by Twin^ City independent exhi itors is considered by StefCes as iiKlividual deals' and outside the pale. The Twin City independent exhibitors' 'strike' against 'Show ■White' apparently has collapsed. The Disney classic now has been bought by practically every important Twin City independent situation on the 'objectionable' terms laid down by RKO—40% to the split figures and 60% thereafter. series of golf parties, hosted en- tirely by individuals in the industry, are planned for the summer follow- ing the ihaugural of such a party a i week ago by Dave Berastiein, Loew's exec. Bernstein threw his shindig at the Quaker Ridge in Westchester. Major Albert Warner will host the second of the series contemplated. 9 FILMS ROLL WHILE ZANUCK VACATIONS Expect Stamp Driye To Yield $100,000 For Pictnre Relief Hollywood, May 31. World-wide traffic ' cancelled posLagc. stamps for the benefit of the needy In the fllm. industry is the plan of the stamp committee of the Motion Picture Relief Fund. Major studios have agreed to turn oyer the hundreds of thousands of envelopes that pour, in from all parts of .the world every year. Stars have volunteered to contribute all letters sent direct to them. Committee hopes eventually to raise $l6o,o6o a yeai: on the sale of the stamps. Joan Crawford, Jean Hersholt. Adolphe enjou, Sherman Loew, Karl Striiss, Jack Cooper and Her- rick Herrick compri ' the com- mit Hollywood, May 31. There will'be no letup in produc- tion at 20th-Fox while Darryl Zanuck is dallying in Europe for the next two months, his first vacation in three years. Before he left last Friday (27), Zanuck had completed production on the entire 1937-38 schedule,. and had a good start on the new .pro- gram. During his absence, produc- tion will be hustled along by Wil- liam Goetz, his executive a.ssistant, and Hafy Joe Brown and Sol M.' Wurtzel, executive producers.' Nine :features of the new sked are ready for lenses, includinig 'Suez,' with Tyrone PoVyer and Lorett<ii Young, and 'Ellis Island,' with Don Ameche, Gladys George and Arlecn Whelan, now rolling. June starting dates call for 'Straight, Place,and Show,' with the RiU Bros.; 'Five of a Kind.! , ith the Dionne Quints; 'Down to Earth,' with Jane Withers; 'Meet the Girls,' with June Lang and Lyha Bari; 'Wintei: Garden,' with Peter Lorre; 'Safely in Numbers' a Jones Family serial, and 'Splinter Fleet," featur- ing Nahcy Kelly of th^ Broadway stage. TOO MANY O'BBIENS Pat Sues Pat, Fldlcr, Parsons 250G—Blocked Him, He Sei for Los Angeles, May'31. Who is which among the Pat O'Briens of the film industry is the subject of a $250,000 conspiracy suit filed last week in superior court by one of the Pat O'Briens. Pat the plaintiff, a veteran .freelance film player, is suing Pat the Warner Bros, star, l,ouella 6. Parsons, Jimmy Fidler, 19, John and Jane Does and three unriamed corporations. He claims they haye connived to prer vent him from getting work in pic- tures. Plaintiff, born In Detroit and christened Patrick O'Brien, has been a film actor since 192i3; The Warners' Pat, he alleges, was christened William Patrick O'Brien in Milwaukee and came to Holly- wood from the New York stage after the advent of sound, For these and other reasons, he declares, he is en^ titled to employment and billing as Pat O'Brien. Darryl Zanuck, who got in from the Coast -Monday (30), sails for Europe today (Wed.). While pri- marily a vacation, he will survey the foreign sit tion as well as^ look over material, talent and stories. Joe Schenck, who was sailing with Zanuck, is, remaining , in New York for a time, but may join Zanuck later on the Other side. •In the Mr. and Mrs. Zanuck party from Hollywood are the Arthur Stebbinse.s, Jay Paley, H.. N. Swan- son and William Dover. With them are Sam Silver, Zanuck's valet-bar- ber, Mrs. Zanuck's maid and their three children's French tutor.' Stcb- bins, Paley and Swanson remain in Nevy York after Zanuck's sail today (1). Dover is headed for a vacation in Bermuda. Zanuck will be; a Commander of the Legion Of Honor when he returns from his forthcoming visit to France. Production chief .\yill be decorated with the Commander's Cross When he reaches Paris. Fowler Speeding Tome To Thimp Oot 'EarF Hollywood, May 31. Gene Fowler is doing some tall galloping to finish. his cow novel, "Powder River,' in time to get back to his screen writing job on the Selz- nick lot by June 27. On leave from the studio. Fowler is on a ranch near Cheyenne, Wyo., thumping out a tale of cattle warfare in frontier days, while production of The Earl of Chicago,' starring Ed- ward G, Robin-on, awaits his return; Halliday's Hawaiian Guester; Hula Home Honolulu, May '31, John Halliday, who has come to Hawaii to arrange for the building of a homie here, is starred by the Uniyersity of Hawaii Theatre (juild in "Tovarich,' the play In which he appeared 10 months on Broadway. Production opened Decoration Day foi four nights: Halliday'S' appear- ancc' wilh the University players is a courtesy to his friend, Arthur E. Wyman, director of the (juild. Halliday returns to Hollywood almost immediately after the 'Tuva rich' run. His new home here is on Kancohe Bay,- Island of Oahu, about 20 miles from Honolulu. J. Barrymore's 'Zaza* Hollywood, >iay 31. John Barrymore ill portray a theatrical manager in Paramount's forthcomi 'Zaza,' Albert Lewin producti with George Cukor di- recting. Currently BarrymOre Is in fame studio's 'Spa>yn of tho North,' Richard Hageman, Metropolitan Opera director, will write score for 'Spawn of the North:' H'woodP.A.sUsiDgSaineOMDm^es With New Coating of Come-on Tinsel Hollywood, May 31. . Publicity has gone high hat, so- phisticated, chromium-plated and cellophaned, but under the surface a public relations counsel is still a press agent. It's a loiig way from Bridgeport to Hollywood, but P. T. Barnum's ideas go marchinj; on, un- changed except for a new suit now and then to keep in step with the prevailing fashions. In his swank Hollywood, suite the head flack will tell you all about uplifting the world's artistic percep- tion but iri the lower right-hand drawer of his desk he has all the old stunts reiady for instant use. At a moment's notice he can dig up an.actress robbed of $75,000 worth of jewels, a moppet threatened by kidnappers or a tenor with his voice insured for $1,000,000, come Tues- day. Publicity directors turn pale at the word 'stunt.' There is nothing like that in their vocabulary. Their watchword is 'honesty,' the gOod old- fashioned kind your father used \o read about in McGufley's: Fourth Reader. They would never dream of deceiving the dear old public with fanciful yarns. Here are a few high-minded campaigns used in ele- vating the public taste in recent pictures: Wiring the Egyptian ambassador an offer to rent the Pyramids as his- torical-background. Having a femme i isscd publicly 784 times in an osculatory contest. Staging a world premiere in a hick town where a native became so ex- cited that he pulled his gun on the villain in the picture. Turning an exotic femme into an alfalfa farmer, with plow, overalls and permanent wave. . Making a rough-and-tumble fight- er out of a too-handsome, male star. Transforming a frail singing mop- pet into a husky, he-man. Picking the 10 best ' male and female filni players. Sending the most beautiful girl in the show to Paris Or I^ondon or Vladivostok or whatever city hap- pens to be mentioned in the title. Planting arrows On front lawns to make the inhabitants bow-and-arrow drama conscious^ Bringing the oldest inhabitant of Chicago, or Yonkers or Gjhkosh to the world premiere. Suing a magazine for comparing femme player's mouth with a chim- panzee's. Creati porters. These are merely a few familiar samples;- A gander at the daily papers will reveal plenty more of the same old stunts the press agents pulled when grandfather went buggy- riding behind the old gray mare, and slick strangers were selling the new Brooklyn Bridge. They arc still selling the bridge. mg re- COHEN'S RING CROSBY, GARY COOPER PIX Emanuel, Cohen has a denl on 16 produce another Bing Crosby fil He also has'Gary Cooper for a, pic- ture and the moppet, Kitty- Claiicy, who made her film'debut under the- C>ohen banner. No company deals' have been discussed or are in ihe Arc *t this time, and Cohen, who h,is just returned from abroad will speiid just returned from abroad, may go abroad soon again. He's been in Europe for four months, on vacation. The only incident to mar an other- wise peaceful journey for Cohen and his wife occurred in Germany at a little border town, along the Danish frontier, Stransburg. Cohen was en route frOm Stockhol to Switzer- land and merely passing through Germany, withOut plianning- to -stop over. However, at Stransburg, around 4:30 in the morning, the ti ain on -which Cohen was ridi v/ns halted for examination of pa.^sports; and the producer, clad only pajamas; was detained under guar for lack of visas. When passing through from Switzerland to Stockholm, he w.ns unmolested*, but this ti , upon his return trip, Cohen was frisked and piit under military arrest. He ex- plained that the reason for his. not having visas wias due to the fact that when applying for same from the German embassy, in Paris, the embassy informed him that visas were not necessary, . since he and Mrs. Cohen were not going to stop over in Germany, but were merely passing through. The explanation did not satisfy the German border officials who de- manded .12 marks, the fee for the visa.s, which Cohen promptly offered to pay. However, the Nazi officials demanded payment in German marks, which Cohen didn't have, and they would not accept any other currency. Cohen was separated from his wife and detained for 45 minutes until the German condiictor of the train bucked up sufficient courage to pay the .12 marks for Cohen. He re- ceived, in return, a $5 tip plus the 12 marks. ■Film, business In Austria and France is not good, particularly in Austria, since the Nazi coup, accord- ing to observations by Cohen. NO mLUSIVE' FOR FILMS AT '39 FAIR Myriad of motion picture proposi- tions, most of them to put con- tinuous projection equipment'in for ,industrial exhibitor firms, have been submitted to the New York World s Fair in recent weeks. Fair officials want the entire field of industrial film projection^for the 1939-40 ex- position wide open. Consequently, they are being careful not to issue any exclusive picture contracts real- izing the inconvenience and p0.<vsible • extra expense it might later entail. Latest indication is that there will be twice as many free 'picture shows' at .the fair exhibits as in- stalled at the Chicago fair. Maude Adams, Tested For 1 Pic, WiD Make Another Hollywood, May 31. After nixing fllm offers for 20 years, aude Adams had finally de- cided to play in a picture. She will make her screen debut for David O. Selznick in an untitled picture slated for fall production. Pact, concluded after long negotia- tions, is the result of tests .she made for 'The Young in Heart,' Producer decided on a new jpicture, specially prepared for Miss Adams, who is also optioned for future Selznick pr luc- tions. WOULD 'EXILE' ARLISS Hollywood, ay 31. George Arliss is sought by Sam Goldwyn for a role in the planned film, 'The Exiles.' Arliss would play ' role of the exiled scientist Jascha Heifetz' is already set as the exiltd violinist. .- Production starts late in the su Tiier, accoriling to present plans.