Variety (December 1925)

80 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, December 16, 1925 LITERATI Gross in Book The popularity of Milt Gross' "Gross Kxaggerations" has resulted In publication of the dialect comedy In book form. It Is slated to^ come eft the press soon. George D. Lott- Dian has also arranged with Gross for the exclusive phonograph re- cording rights to the "Gross Exag- gerutions" and will have the com- edy oraily on the disks. Spearing Now Directina James O. Spearing, picture critic Of the New York "Times" until about three years ngu, has been made a director for Universal following three years of schooling In the flcennrlo department. He is finishing up his last scenario, adapted from a Johnston McCulley novel. Its re- leasing title has not been deter- mined. Pat O'Mallcy will be the •tar. Writers and Publishers Dramatists arguing their rights with regard to motion pictures and asserting they should have an equal say, as they do an interest In the disposal of plays for dims, brings out another a.spect of the writer, apparently waived. While the play- wrights allege some producers often fool or cheat thorn In the sale for pictures, yet writers place stories with publishers, with the publishers frequently reserving the play or pic- ture riglits. William R. Hearst, from reports will accept no serial or short story for publication In his magazines or papers without reserving to himself the prior option for picture rights. This requires the author to procure a declination from Hearst before offering the story elsewhere. Romance of Balto. "Post" "The Post," Baltimore, a Scripps- Howard tabloid. Is now rated as having the town's biggest daily cir- culation—and Us city net paid cir- culation of 111, 196 has been gained In threo years. The paper was started in 19:22 with a small staff and f!old for a penny. Meantime, the "American" and "News" were acquired by Hearst and started cir- culation drives which offered any- thing from a Hat iron to an automo- biie for a subscription. The "Amtr- Ican" dropped many thousands In circulation, while the Sunpap^rs, morning, evening and Sunday, held their own. I'heir iigures are over those of the "Post," but unlike the tabloid, their circulation extends all over Mary- land, Delaware and Virginia and Is almost impregnable In the rural dis- tricts. In comparison to the "Post" fig- ures, the other papers give figures as follows: "American," city, 45,000; "American," Sunday, 101,000; "Sun," city 88,000, total dally i:i«,O0O; "Sun," Sunday, city 136,000, total, 183,000; "Kvening Sun" city 102,000, toUl, 112,000; "News." city 84,000, total 102,000. The rise of the "Post" Is a mod- ern newspaper romance. All the more remarkable in that it is a con- servative tabloid, dealing in no sen- sationalism and holding closer to the true idea of a tabloid than any Of the others in the East. First Nighters' Aster Quarters The First Nighters club has taken quarters in the Hotel Astor for its members. The club's membership is solely composed of the dramatic editors and critics of the New York atid Brooklyn dailies, together with the editorial staffs of the theatrical papers. cent eommUslon. This la especially true of screen material Some brokers aro Intimates ot certain heads of ocenarlo departments; others with likely material will offer a split with the favorites to effect a sale, rather than risk a return, on their own. Or a broker believing he can put through a atory that another la handling, will do the work on a split baala The aame ia true In fiction. There are some story brokers In such high standing It Is known they wouldn't handle anything unless It Is sale- able. Other brokers, to enter an exceptional story Into the high-pay- ing magazines, will turn It over to one of the big boya for disposal. Marianna Moore's Appointment The appointment of Marianne Moore, winner of this year's annual "Dial" prize award, as editor of that publication, does not mean that Schofleld Thayer, who formerly held the post, is out, altogether. Thayer has been given an indefinite leave of absence by James S. Watson, Jr., head of the Dial Pres.s. He Is abroad for his health and to com- plete some literary works. Miss Moore is hitherto unknown, and the new post marks her first editorial appointment of responsi- bility. Watson is reported to have been so pleased with her occasional contributions and prize-wlnning piece, that he offered her the editor- ship of the publication during Thayer's absence. It Is understood Miss Moore Is not to step out upon his return, however, when she will continue as a sort of associate edi- tor. Caricaturist'a Rep in Wrong An Tirtists' representative, one who handles the business affairs of several caricaturists now doing theatrical work for the Sunday papers, was thrown from the office of a leading daily last week. Only a few days before, several pre.s.s agents had protested against his business methods, claiming he overc;hargcd them and regularly sent bills in for more than the standard rate, $1) or $12.50 a column for the Sunday editions of certain papers. Producers pay for these caricatures in all the papers except the "Times," which pays for its own. In other cases, the dramatic ediior generally spceilles what ar- tist he wants to do the work. An artist represented by the man who was thrown out had been doing a Jot of work recently and in so far as he ij personally concerned, is in- nocent of any wrong-doing, but the unfortunate representative has re- cently come in for a groat deal of censure. As a result, ho is being boycotted right and left and the newspaper episode Is but another Incident In hi.s recent downfall. It is but an- other incident of working a good racket in too "raw" a manner. Paris Needs Newspaper Men Some smart American newspaper- men de.sirous of settlinR down in Paris may do excoedin;;ly well. There are threo dailies in Paris printed in Kn^Hsh. Two are the Paris edition of the Chicago "Trib- une" and the New York "Herald," and a third, a local English .sheet, "Paris Times." Good new.spapermen are in demand, it is reported. Furthermore, comiitions and con- cessions to press men are s>ich as to make it particularly attractive for American newspapermen. Having deposited his newest play, "Robert Burns," with William Har- ris, Jr., John Drinkwater has de- parted on his first visit to the co."st to look over the picture field. Drinkwater wants to do a number of screen stories but was told, be- fore he left, that costume stories, the kind he favors, are not In favor at present for pictures. Beat Novel Contests "Harpers" started something with its prize novel contest, and now Dodd, Mead and Co. and E. J. Clode and Co. have followed. Dodd, Mead, in conjunction with the "Pictorial Review" and First National Pic- tures, Is offering $16,500 in aggre- gate prizes for a best novel and Clode is giving a prize of $2,500 on the same terms. The originator of the Idea, "Har- per's," is ca.shing in handsomely on it. It's current prlzc-wlnner, "The l»erennial Bachelor,'' might have been an ordinary seller, but the puhlishing house's "prize novel" claims enhanced its value In the eyes of the book-buying public. It has made Anne Parrlsh, the author- ess, famous, as well as adding mightily to the revenue of both herself and her publisher. Booth Tarklngton says he will never write another play. The au- thor is frank to admit that the flop of any stage piece Is always due to the writer, and he won't be a party to it, any more. Tarklngton In retrospective looks back at his playwrlghtlng activities as a youthful escapade. In his new novel, "Women," he writes like a kindly old gentleman, wagging a gentle finger. Tarklngton evidently has enough faith In his prose to get across, else he wouldn t be writing that, either. Pearl Ksating and Daughter When Pearl Keating resigned as scenario editor of Warner Brothers to devote her full time to litera- ture, she didn't figure on her daugh- ter, Marcelllne, entering the same field of activity. But the 19-year- old girl stole a march on her mother, and her first effort, "Fame," has been published. The two are now engaged In completing new novels. Louis Bromfleld, conductor of "The New Yorker" column In the "Bookman," has left for'abroad to complete a new work, and will be succeeded by Larry Barretto. Both are novelists. Cyril Hume, whose •'Wife of the Centaur" was filmed recently by First National, has been In town trying to dlajMse of the film rights to his novel. "The Golden Dancer," uncompleted as yet. Hume sub- mitted a draft of the piece to the producers, but in each case he was told that they preferred to wait until after publication. "Wife of the Centaur" was bought In manu- script form. Ivy Lso's "Publicity" Ivy Lee, publicity man for John D. Rockefeller, and one of the best known in the business, has written a book on his craft entitled "Pub- licity." A recent work on the same subject was "Crystallizing Public Opinion," by J. Bemay. Gilbert Gabriel somehow can't keep away from literature, and Is reported at work on a new novel. The dramatic critic of the New York "Sun" has had two books published, and Is the author of in- numerable magazine articles. Jazz Between Covers What with concerts by Whitcman, Yerkes, Lopez, et al., and the win- ning around of such composers as Deems Taylor and others to write .special pieces for them, jazz Is be- ginning to be taken seriously. Now Comes a book on es.says on Ja'^z written by Alfred V. Frankenstein and entitled "Syncopating Saxo- phones." Robert O. Balou, the Chi- cago publisher. Is Issuing the work, in which Frankenstein goes meticu- lously into every phase of Jazz. YEAR 'ROUND XMA8 PRESENT A 8nl>A<-rlptlon to '^VARIETY" 8«nd It to Tour Frldods $7, U. 8. $8, FOREIGN Bruce Gould, of tho New York "Evening I'ost." has found that the New York night clubs make good copy, and will syiullcate a full page feature on that subject. Gould has tied up witli one of the large syndi- cates, which will place the stuff throughout the country. He will continue his regular newspaper work at the same time. Splitting Commission Authors who tie up with play brokers for exclualve representa- tion, may not know that two and many times three brokers often get In on a deal, all putting the 10 per- Zans Grey'a Adventure Trip Zane Grey will leave Hollywood Dec. 30 for a aix months' trip of adventure In the New Zealand waters. Grey takes these trips Just for the sport and to do game fish- ing about once every two years. On the coast he also has been doing scenarios for pictures. Belasco's "Deburau" Volume David Belaaco has published a book on his production of "Deburau." It contains a number of excellent plates Interspersed with matter anent the play. That In- cludes press comment accorded tho production. The first part of the volume Is devoted to Belasco himself in ref- erence to the manager being granted the Legion of Honor last year. A picture shows D. B. with the medal attached to his lapel, another photo picturing the scene when the honor was granted. It Is presumed that is the principal object of the pub- lication. The production of "De- burau" probably figured in the manager being made a Legionaire. The show ran for some time in New York but was never toured, the manager explaining the show was too costly to operate to be sent on the road. Critical Controversy "Morals," the most recent Actors' Theatre production, became the center of a controversy among critics Immediately upon its pro- duction. Sunday Ernest Boyd, the writer, had letters praising the play in the "World," "Times" and "Herald-Tribune," the lettera being written with • vi«w to drawing a reply, for Boyd praised the play unreservedly. George Jean Nathan Is the center of the controversy. For many years he has been mentioning "Moral," which Is the play's proper name, as one of the finest comedies of modern times. Before its production Robert Sparks, press agent of the Actors' Theatre, sent out a story saying that his organization had answered Nathan's challenge that the piece was too intelligent for any local theatre to present. Immediately after the premiere. Alex. Woollcott and the rest of the critical boys of the dallies Jumped on the play. Woollcott. however, praised Sidney Howard's adaptation, calling it a 'delicate piece of surgery." Then out came Mr. Nathan and he panned the piece aU over the lot, saying It was a terrible adaptation and asking who was this fellow Woollcott to say it was good and what did he know about it, any- way? It was the arising of Nathan's contempt for several of the dally critics of New York and especially it was another thrust at Woollcott, whom Nathan cracks at every opportunity. Woollcott went back at George Jean in last Sunday's "World" and quoted from a book recently Issued called "Mencken—the Man." In this book It Is stated by the author. Dr. Isaac Goldberg, that Mencken and Nathan once made an adapta- tion of "Moral" and tried to sell it but several things stood In the way. Woollcott grew sarcastic. Worthen ("Bud") Cornish, sport- ing editor, the Portland (Me.) "Press Herald" has blossomed out as a short story writer. Slightly under 25 Bud has been sports editor of Maine's largest dally for over a year. Snappy Headlines For some time it has been cus- tomary to put flip and smart sfngle lines over the headings of the theatrical reviews in both morning and evening papers. For Vhiet.ance, if somebody on the "World" catches a war play, the single line. "Boom- Boom" is likely to adorn the review. But tho peer of all these lines was used last week by Frank Vreeland ("Evening Telegram"), a particu- larly apt phrase over his considera- tion of "Tho Fountain." In this play tho mass beginning "Te Deum—" was sung by priests. As the play itself was rather boresome. Vreeland'a single line caption was "Te Deum and Tedium." In "The Graphic." Walter Wlnchell caption- ed his notice "O'Neill and Pray." When Fleischman backing pro- vided "The New Yorker" with Its capital some months ago, there were many doubters. As the first few is- sues were undeniably poor, some pessimists claimed it was marked for an early death. But last week, it broke forth with four pages in color, many extra pages of advertis- ing and a generally enlarged issue. Young Bernard Simon, who was a critic and dramatic reporter on tho "Telegraph" for quite a stretch, quit that paper recently and rejoined his old love, the Greenwich Village theatre group. Just now ho is working with Kenneth MacGowan. one of the theatre's directors, and will continue down in Sheridan square with a monthly visit to Times and Longacre. Frank Craven's farce, "Too Many Crooks," will go to Universal short- ly as a story for RcglnaJd Denny. Terms for "Is Zat So?" Through a news story recently In Variety to the effect that the Fox picture people had purchased the picture rights to "Is Zat So?" for $90,000, Earle Boothe, of the theat- rical producing firm of Boothe, Gloaaon & Truex, forwarded a cor- rection, mentioning the exact terms of the sale. James Gleason and Richard Tabor aro the authors of this stage suc- cess. It Is current. t the 46th Street theatre. Mr. Gleason plays tho lead- ing role as well. Customary shar- ing terms for sale of rights to stage pkvys are an equal division between producer and writer or writers. This likewise applies to royalty received for stock riglits. Fox gave a guarantej of $100,000 for tho rights, payable In advance In cash, with tho release date for the picture stated as not earlier than July 1. 1926. The guarantee is against an agreement that the show group shall receive 10 per cent of the first $800,u00 gross rentals of the picture, and 16 per cent on all re- ceipts over that amount, probably Including grossea from foreign I sales. Lsighton Blood'a Dilemma Leighton Blood signed up for the army a few n.onths ago to secure a newspaper story. The understand- ing was that his tenure as a sec- ond lieutenant was to bo one month. High oflfloials o^ all sides assured him that things were fixed. Recently Leighton was Informed he was in for a year; nothing to do for the other li months but conduct himself with all tho dignity which second lieutenants usually muster. Blood was to write a series of articles for a magazine on the sub- ject of "Tho Army Then and Now." which would compare it to the army of the war days. Blood is still stationed in Wash- ington. He's the husband of Ada Forman, the danc.r. "Old Heidelberg" Bought Direct Metro-Goldwyn has bought "Old Heldellerg," the story on which "The Student Prince" is based, carrying on its negotiations direct with tho author in Germany. The author is Wilhelm Myer-Forster. It will be on his original story that the film will be made. It is scheduled on next year's M-G program. Another Wilde Play Film One more Oscar Wilde property has been acquired by Warner Broth- ers, following their making of his "Lady Windomere's Fan" into pic- tures under the Lubltsch direction. The Brothers have now acquired "A Woman of No Importance" from the Wllde estate and in its picture form Irene Rich will be starred. Lubltsch will probably direct. $15,000,0(X) Bond Issue W. R. Hearst has negotiated a $15,000,000 bond Issue upon bis -New York "Evening Journal." Hearst some months ago placed $10,000,000 in Investment bonds with the bonds oversubscribed be- fore distribution. In the announcement for "Tho Journal," It is said the Hearst plant on William street. New York (whers Hearst lias not visited for 10 years) will be jnoved to new quarters (built out of the bond proceeds) at 11th avenue and 64th street. An- other building will be erected for "The Journal" at 8th avenue and 68th street where the paper's present business offices are located. Still another "Journal" building is to go up on South street. With the removal of "Tho Jour- nal" will go Hearst's New York "American" and other Hearst pub- lications now turned out at the Wil- liam street plant. "The Journal" Is reported as Hearst's biggest money-maker, yielding an annual profit of $3,000,- 000, It Is stated by newspaper men, who do not, however, think much of it as a N^w York dally newspaper. A contlnuou.g story has been that Hearst might merge his "American" with "The Mirror" (New York) and Issue a "Sunday American" as the "Mirror's" seventh day paper. "The American" Sunday Is up to 1,200.000 while the daily "American" Is down to 270,000 and dropping. A newly appointed managing edi- tor on "The American" was once said to have replied to Hearst, upon receiving news of his appointment: "I have seen 27 succes.sful and different administrations on the 'American,' Mr. Hearst. Why pick me for the 28 th?" A Forgetful Author "The Funny Way Out' (Doran) Just conies in under the wire of the Winston Churchill objection to the $2 book. It's Nellie Revell'.s third volume since she became an Invalid. It will be out Xmas at the retail price of $1.60. Miss Revell wrote "Right Off the Chest" while lying flat In a ca.st on a hospital cot, naming It from her mode of writing, with lead pencil on a pad on her chest. That did much to ileterniine Nellie she could do a come-back from an unwieldy spine, and she did, to later write "Fighlin' Through" in her hotel room. Having written a couple of boo':? while seeking strength. Miss RevcH wrc'.. her third, without informing her friends. It's a volume of hu- morous anecdotes heard by her when in thi honpital, told l»y visits- ing friends to die her up. If the same frlemls buy but one book o.arh to find out if Nellio used any of their Jokes, Doran will think it's a I. st seller before out for a week. During foir years In one cot In one hospital room you can see a lot of people and hear a lot of iininy things—some good. Fred M.nel.saac has ■■ gone trt Havana, where he will rem.iin unt.l (Continued on page 42) ^