Variety (Mar 1929)

'yyedo esday, March' 27, 1929 ^^^^ Want Holdout B'way Mgrs. to Produce Hits as Fdms-Fdm Cos. DistributiDg L EG f t IM A TE VARIETY ' Hard-to-get leeitlmate etnge pro- ducers wltU'suie-flre material need- ia lor dialog pictures are going to have a chance to ptov* that the prices they are demanding are sup- Borted by values. It Is understood that Paramount I and other film producers who are ' aQt anxious to give Everything to the ■ Broadway Impresarios arc ■ about to make a counter proposl- ■ iion. Managprs unwilling to sell on 5ie film comiwinles' terms will be approached to produce a talking /film Version of their properties with , film convpanles to accept for dletrl- ; butlon. ' Idea Is for film studios to be made ■ av'allablie for Broadway dignitaries 1 • *(, pi-oduce their hits themselves and f ■ pay distributor a percentage of the ' ; groM. Plan ,1s still formative, but ( 'is understood to have reached the . V - di'scnsslon table. ' Wires 3 N. Y. Houses for $6 WOO \ ■ "Rainbow Map," Sono-Ai-t film recently ptoduced on tho coast by . and. with Eddie Bowling, will go into, the Selwyn starting April 15. ■ ■ Picture was first announced for the Cohan, with "Hello Da<idy" current there moving to the Selwyn; Switch was suddenly made last week. . ■' ■ Ail three Selyifyn theatres on 42nd • ■ aU'eet will be'.'^ired at a cost of ; |61,d00. ■ The Selwyn will be the ' • first to be ready. Report Is that > the equipment to be used was ■cheduled for another theatre but Arch Selwyn secured precedence. ; The Times Square and Apollo will :• .follOT^. LAtter house is under lease to . -"(tleprge White where a new revue .to ..due this summer, but talker equipment will be installed to take / ^vantage of picture bookings as .' ihey may come, along. That also goes for the Times Square, rented 'by Jed Harris this season. Harris . nifty extend 'the rental. Salvia's $10,000 Award The all-Chinese "Ching-a-Ling," irhich flopped a couple'of seasons ago,'is the basis of a $10,000 judg- ment award by the Appellate Dlvl- Bion in favor of Sani Salvln against George M. Garsson. Latter, along ■with Arthur S. Friend and Park I«z Corp., were Involved on a note .payable to Salvln to defray cost of eostumes for the show which Arthur S. Lyons produced with Salvln's financial backing. The money was paid to Nesor Costumes, Inc., still another cor- poration in which Salvln was In- tei-ested. The lower court had originally ruled against Salvln, contending that he had not showed cause of action, but on appeal the higher court reversed and favored the for- mer nlte club Impresario. Salvin is now the ti-easurer and backer of Lyons and Lyons, Inc., the agency in which Arthur and S.am Lyons are members. Barrymore Co. Claim . ClaJms for one week's salary have been filed with Equity by the play- ers who supported Ethel Barrymore In "The Kingdom of God," recently ■withdrawn from the Barrymore. The claims are against Lee Shu- bert -Who contends that as no per- formances were given during the ^■eek in question, no salaries are diie. A closing notice was posted. Miss Barrymore was taken ill on the pre- vious Friday. The supporting cast was asked to report dally until the following Thursday when it was decided not to resume. Matter '*>ni probably be arbitrated. AKN NICHOLS IHPBO VED Los Angeles, March 26. , Ann Nichols, author and pro- ducer pt "Abie's Irish Rose," here ft month, is recovering from her recent illn'ess. _ She contemplntcs remninlng until ,„Way jyhen-i^^ Vivienne Siegel in Film Los Angele.s, March 26. Vivienne Siegel will be opposite John Bple.o In "Rainbow." Two new spoclal songs to be written by the W. B. staff, will be Bdded to the original .score. ROBT. PARIS CONViaED AS EQUITY IMPOSTOR Chicago, March 26. : Robert Paris (alias Parrish, alias Franklin), legit actor, pleaded guilty In Lansing, Mich., of accept- ing money under false pretense from Actors' /Equity and is up for sen- tence. Stranding of the Auditorium Players in Lansing brought about the discovery of Paris after Equity had been' sear6hing for him. He had played in the east under as- sumed names, always claiming to be an Equity member ■with his card either lost or stolen. When the Auditorium Players stranded Clarence Sterling of Equity sent the cast list to New York for verification. This led to exposure of Paris, who posed as Robert Frahklyn, and signed a re- ceipt for $70. Later it was found that the- real Pranklyn was in New Tork at the time. Schlessinger Now Owns % O'clock,** Road Victim Morris Schlessinger took title to the production of "Five ©'Clock Girl" upon decision of a sheriff's Jury in Newark last "week. The show closed there early in the win- ter after playing the Shubert the- atre, operated by. Schlessinger, who had advanced about $21,000 to Phiiip Goodman to bring the show In from PIttsbtirgh. At the end of the New- ark 'week $7,000 was due Schles- singer and he took Judgment. ^ The only contestant to the action to secure ownership of the produc- tion, which Includes some 300 cds- tumes and about $8,000 in electrical equipment, was th4 Display Light- ing Co. A representative of the latter appeared but without books and could show no definite sum due. "Girl" ran 67 weeks, including the Broadway engagement, but was a road victim. Town*8 Woman* Naughty "The Town's Woman" closed abruptly at the Craig Saturday. Money deposited with Equity was withdrawn. Although It is permis- sible to close Holy Week without salary liability by recalling; the sal- ary security. Elqulty rates the show was actually' closed. The management later figured on resuming next week and applied for permission from Equity's Council Tuesday. The matter of a theatre was in doubt. The Craig's backers stepped in with an objection, stating they believed portions of the play were naughty and should be re- written. If the show resumes an- other house win likely be booked. "Lover" Closing - The new Murray Phillips show, "An Emergency Lover," by Arthur K. Stearns is closing in Newark Saturday night'. The Phillips office says the show is stopping for a fort- night to permit revision. Dan Healy's Show Dan Healy Is shortly to turn pro- ducer. His'first venture will be a musical comedy. Three angels are under Healy's wing and the book has been writ- ten. Production is slated for sum- mer consumption. CIVIC JOB CLEABT'S Cleveland, March 26. Appointment of F. H. Cleary, manager of Loew's Allen, as as- sistant manager of Cleveland's Public Hall, has settled the race for a civic theatrical plum Job. A number of local theatrical man- agers had thrown their hats In the ring for the $5,600 yearly position. ILLNESS CLOSES THEATBE , Cincinnati, March 26. Ann Dftvla''attacii^ of acute~rnal■-" gestlon closed "The Marriage Bed ' Frfday, Saturday and Sunday. Play was held a second week when sho recovered. MIp.s Davis Is BUPSt star with thp Stuart Walker Company at the "Taf! .nudltorUim. Shows in Rehearsal "A MesMge from Mara" (Guy Bates Post), Wallack's. "Man's Estate'! (Theatre Guild), Blltmore. "Under the Gaa Light" (Yokel & Fay), Union Church. "Before You're Twenty-five" (Lawrence Boyd), Booth. "Jonesy" (Boothe), Ambas- sador. "The Camel Thru the Needle's Eye" (Theatre Guild), Guild. "Little Show" (Brady, Wl- man & Weatherly), Music Box. GiHmore West for Equity Prospects m Film Studios Frank GiUmore, Equity's presi- dent, leaves for the coast next week, the object being a survey of conditions from on actor's stand- point. To date Equity's activities do not Incluc^e the picture field and a plan to Institute a standard form of contract for picture work was voted down on the coast last sum- mer. At th,e time there was a furore over the threat by producers to cut salaries. With the expected increase of the number of legit actors required for the rapidly expanding talker pro- duction. Equity's coast offices are Expected fo assume greater im- portance and the use of a standard form of contract may eventuate. Millionaire Stock Actor Gets 5-Yr. Fox Contract , Los Angeles, Miarch 26. John Breeden, millionaire in his own right, and son of one of the wealthleist San Francisco families, has been put under a five-year con- tract by Pox. Breeden is a linguist, having been educated abroad and also playing in theatres In .Germany and France. He has been with the Henry Dufty Players in San Francisco and Los Angeles for the past two yeaxs. He was signed for one picture by James Ryan of Fox, and his work 80 impressev': the latter he made a five-year deal for the actor's ser- vices. Historic House Passes Cumberland, Md., March 26. Belvldere. dating back to the Civil War and one of the oldest bouses In the East, closed last week. Formerly presenting legit, all of the old stars trod lis boards. It was the first picture bouse here. . Boslness block la to go up on the site. "ALOMA" SUIT SETTLED ' A suit .against James Thatcher and J. J. Uooney, producers of "Aloma of the South Seas," pend- ing two years was ^settled out of court this week. Don 'Valentine, stiige manager of the show, who also played a part, was suing for salary as stage man- ager. O'Brien, Malevinsky and DrlscoU for the plaintiff. CLOSING IN FOBTLANB Portland, Ore., March 26. Henry Duffy will close his Duf- wln tlieatre here in two weeks. Trouble with str-ge hands is as- cribed as the cause, although it Is also reported business' has been off lately. House has been grossing between $4,000-$6,000. LEAVING CAST Bernard Randall, Sam Kane and Nat Pettleton lea.ve the cast of "My Girl Friday" this week, com- plaining that the Schneibbe-Bacon management failed to make good Its promise of » salary boost If die show ran beyond two weeks. Entire ctust accepted half salary when the play came in. ■William Grew, the author, who plays a prominent part, is also shortly retiring from the cast. SUIT OVEB FLOP An echo to the short life of "Soli- taire" at the Waldorf, New York, Is a suit for damaecn filed by Bob BaKerrwhW'placed-thc-show'lnvthat house, against Julius Meyer, the hou.so operator; Goldsmith, Gold blntt & Hanower appear for plain- tiff. A one-half weeks' salary claim aK-'t>>ist "Solitaire" has been filed with Ekiuity by the cast. Equity Pays Off Cast Despite Part Waiver Something of n nilx-up occurred in Hartford Saturday wlien Murray Phillips Btaj'ted to pay salnrles to the cast of ".The Emergency Lover'.'' The players had agreed to a par- tial ■wnlvcr of two weeks' salary guarantee with Equity. Phillips who presented the show paid each play- er $50. They contended the mini- mum was $100 or $200 for two weeks. Phillips was advised that regard- less of partial or complete waiver, salaries were payable according to contract and Equity paid off on that basis with funds on deposit there. The show which was originally tried out under the title of "Gander Sauce," is due to close In Newark this '\veek. A further complication concerns wardrobe which it Is un- derstood will be the property of the players upon closing of the sliow. Meet Lawrence Boyd Tile new L.awronce Boyd show, "Parsons for Two," was renamed "Before You're Twenty-Five" Mori- doy. You'd never guess Lawrence Is the corpulent Larry Boyd, car- nival man whose friendship with Wlnfhrop Ames has resulted in Ames temporarily, assuming charge of the rehearsals, starting this week. "Before You're 26" Is by Kenyon- Nlcholson, who gave the stage "The Barker." Cast Includes Ernest Glendennlng, Eric Bressler, Mildred McCoy, Fritz Williams and Jose- phine Hull. "MABS" IN BOCHESTEB "Message from Mars," the Guy Bates Post show, has not been in- definitely postponed as reported, but will open In Rochester, N. Y., April 4. Show will go on to To- ronto and Montreal and then open In New York April 22, for which a house has not yet been secured. Supporting Post are Lee Baker, Katherlne Standing, Beatrice Terry and George Farren. HETZGEB ASKS FBEEDOH Chicago, March 26. Arthur Metzger, company man- ager of "And So to Bed," has started suit for divorce through Attorney Phil R. Davis against Mary Metzger on charge Of cruelty. Marriage was in 1924, and separa- tion six months ago. There Is one child, and Metzger has agreed to pay $46 weekly alimony for its maintenance. COAST "ANNIE" CAST Los Angeles, March 26. Cast of "Little Orchid Annie," be- ing presented by W. Rowland and A. Leslie Pearce, at the Mayan, March -31, Includes Ruth Taylor, from pictures, Ruth Donelly, Mabel Forrest, Julia Blanc, Goldie Cowell, Claude Allister, Frederick Sullivan, Sammy Smith, John Manning, Harry Hoyt and Georgle Harris. v. A. HOLDING JOAN BENNETT Los Angeles, March 26. Option on Joan Bennett, daughter of Richard Bennett, will be taken up by United Artists upon the ar- rival of Joseph M. Schenck. Miss Bennett was recently brought on from New York to play opposite Ronald Colman in "Bulldog Drum-, mond." COLLIEB FOB COAST William Collier, Sr., Is to write dialog for Fox. ■Veteran comedian goes west almost immediately to take up his duties. Collier had been doing some work at the Paramount I.,ong Island stu- dios. SAN DIEGO'S BOAD SHOWS Los Angeles, March 26. Harry Meyers, operator of the Strand, Long Beach, Cal., is to close this week for a 10 year lekse on the Spreckles, San Diego. House will be renamed Spreckles' Orpheun} and will play road shows, splitting with Long Beach. "Hottentot" Morton's Next Los Angeles, March 36. Edward Everett Horton will re- vive "The Hottentot," to follow his production of "The Swan," closing at the Majestic April 7, after 11 weel<s Revival of "Under the Gaa Light," by Alex Yokel and Larry Fay, at the People's, Bowei'y,' postponed from April 1 to April 2. ITokPl hft.s ffigiied up an all- .Ekiuity casL. MIUER Wm SUCK TO BRITISH TRYOUT PLAN Claims Much Cheaper Over There—Re-signs With Paramount Following more or less closely along the i>roductlon lines he set down sevei-al months ago, Gilbert Miller, who returned from Lohdon last week, stated he would adhere to tlie policy of trying all ploys in England first before presenting them here. He insists tho costs of experimenting and trying out plays on this side are too high. Miller's contract with Paramount^ as executive head of the Chai'les Frohman office, Par's legit produc- tion arm, expires in June. He has entered Into a new agreement with Adolph Zukor to continue in the same capacity but for an inde- terminate period. The producer will yearly spend three months each autumn and one monili dur- ing the spring In New York, stay- ing abroad the remainder of the time. Most of Miller's productions are authored by British or Continental writers, another angle to his for- eign first trys. Guthrie McClintle will, from time to time, produce for the Frohman office, all try-outs to be done here. Sl^ce the incident of The Captive" the Frohman nanie has virtually disappeared, Miller presenting attractions under bis own title. Two to Coma First of the Miller English pro- duced shows to arrive here is "Journey's End," which opened to extravagant praise by the review- ers last week. However, there are to be two a!ddltlonal prodiictions «t the show which will be made pirer. here. "Journey's End" Is not typi- cal of Miller's plan nor Is "Berke- ley Square," current in London and which is to rbe brought to Broad- way in September. "By Candle- light," due here at the same time, is to be tried in E:ngland but Mil- ler will have the production made over here and shipped abroad. Shows which he feels are ready, when brought here, will be shown for a performance or two In a near- by break-in stand, such, as Great Neck, then opened in New York. Miller's plan does not call for en- gaging only English actors for his plays. For' those plays ■written' by American authors, actors may be taken from this side for the Ehg- ' lish trials. The manager'explained that during the 0ummer maity American players go abroad oh va- cation and the choosing of a' cast should not be such a problem. Miller declares that/'The Card-. . board Lover," done in association with A. H. Woods, cost $32,000 to produce here. It was a success but when he produced the some show in England It cost but $4,000 to pitt on and he then conceived the Idea' of trying out hls^ shows over ther»; Miller's principal' complaint anent what he says are excess produc- tion costs concern back stage labor. Guest Star Policy to Replace Elmhurst Vaude The new Queensborough theatre which was opened by Frank Wirth and George Hamid last fall In EHm- hurst, L. I., win switch from vaude- ville and pictures to stock starting Monday. Reconstruction of the two way boulevard has blocked the ap- proach to the house, affecting its regular policy. Subscriptions for the stock season, however, are claimed to have assured its success. The stock will be presented by W. A. Brady, Jr., and Dwight D, Wlman, under the guest star sys- tem. The new policy will extend for at least six weeks. The house which was recently wired ■will offer' Sim- day concerts of vaudeville and talk- ing shorts. $4,000 FOB HAJESTIC Boston, M^ch ZO. Majestic theatre Is going over to pictures, having been leased by Warners from the Shuberts for a period of one year. Understood the rental is $4,000 weekly for tho bare walla. House will be wired. Craven Wntino for Lloyd ^_Los_Angeles, March 26. """Frank Craven, T6irowIng'*Tire''creB-''""' ine of "The 19th Hole" in .San Francisco, has signed to write dia- log for Harold Lloyd's picture now In the making. i'r;iv<'n iilso will co-opi>rate in ^ duvi.-jing titles for the .silent vfrsion.