Variety (May 1929)

VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday^ M^jr 1. 1920 Phyffis Haver and Bfll Seemans Great Wedding Act Ran 8 Hrs. in N Y. NEW ACTS 8EEMAN and HAVER, "I Do," In 4 Scenes (Drama), 6 Hrs.; Everything Special, Rube QotdberB's Heme, New York No matter where or how it Btorted, and that's a story in itself, Phyllis Haver is now Mrs. Wllllariti Seeman by request, tilaa Haver anwered that urgent plea, by abruptly terminating a brilliant screen career to come out of the west and quell the anxiety in the heart of him who had not only b^eh marking but killing time for weeks,, either on long diat<ince or running fn and out of the Colony theatre.' Miss Haver was sensational In this biggest act of her life in Ivory white, while Bill Seaman did an excellent straight, though slight- ly nervous. If this couple don't get over, neither will the "Berengoria." The wedding marked the culmi- nation of a romance in which His Honor, the Mayor, acknowledges rating a bow as one of the respon- sible parties. It was staged In a tuU room, with Jimmy Walker don- ning hom-rlmmed specs- to act as' official prompter, a duty which li& held to less than four mlnut'es. Rube Goldberg, the groom's brother- in-law, gave the bride away, Mrs. Rube Qoldberg was mald'Of-honor. Mrs. Ned Marin, sister ot the groom, and Miss Beatrice Norton (both-on. from the Coast) were bridesmaids, and L. P. "Sport" Ward was next best man, remaining to catch the groom if he flopped. Setting was a picture in a bower of jonquills and candles forming an alter which the bride reached after a slow and perilous descent from a narrow flight of stairs. - Production and cast then .moved into.,another full set of a U-tab}e, following a refreshing reception in "onei',' at which Rube .Qoldberg, who draws things, appointed himself m. c. with no argument, -as it was his bouse.. Bugs Baer started the externito- raneous ;. nd brief wedding dinner specialties, followed by Jimmy Sln« nott, Fail! Block, Samuel Ooldwyn, the groom's father and - uncle; "Sport." the best man; Marty Forklns, Mrs. Molly Malone (the bride's mother), the groom, and Orantland Rice, who dove' into the Graphic for his gag, but - gave -a credit line. No bride ever made a more charming little speech than Miss Haver, and the Mayor might have led the male chorus in singing "These Wedding Bells Are Break ing Up That Old Gang of Mine,' had he not known that Bill was bringing another pal into the fold Announcing that as far as he was concerned the speeches were get- ting worse and worse, Goldberg held Jimmy back for the flnale who wowed. Life's brightest moment was bal anced by one of the darkest when a bridesmaid and a guest looked at each other and simultaneously re- alized they both had on the same gown in the same shade (Mllgrlni) Nothing but supreme mental poise and a couple of sickly grins saved this situation, Meanw^'.tle, Paul Whltoman's golf vultures, musicians once in a while, had arrived en masse by truck and red flares. The band paraded the stairs In single flle to martial strains which eventually became a serenade from an outer room. An added complement of Whltcman strings had played the wedding march. Personnel ultimately moved in toto to the "Berengarla," where Sir Arthur Rostron, the ship's captain, presided at a reception which de veloped into a three-minute verbal Joust between Sir Arthur and the Chief Magistrate of this city honors even. Plenty of action at this point—the boat not being due to sail until six a. m., the groom seeking a little attention, and the boys laying 8 to 5 Gib Cool would stick until it moved, Cool, with Paul Pra-vvley, com —T)leted-the—brldaUparty^aa.uab.ci?: Frawley and Bill Seeman learned to fly together during tlie late war, while both Cool and Ward, the best man, have spent recent Thanks- givings weeping with Bill at Frank- lin Field becaus* edch knpws the ■ words of "Far Above Cayuga's Waters" and DoWe hasn't found out how to stop Penn's overhead attack. B\ll Is the only son of the Arm of who admire youc taste .If you drink: White Rose Tea (no plug)^ - :For:hle bride, and.himself Bill has. signed for a tour Of Europe which: will keep them.away- until,"Sport": Ward gets thoise 19 additional rooms. ready on the :pent house or; "Whoopee," wired-haired monarch of all he exterlorally'Surveys atop this .ViUage . slie, cables that be'ia- lonesome. It is the. bride's first trip abroad , and the .Initial' booking of both principals oii a marriage route. Entire selected . ciast included Mr. and Mrs.- S;; W; Seeman, Jo- eph Seeman, Mr. aiid' Mrs. Rube Goldberg, Mrs. tg;6d'Mftrin," Beatrice' Norton, LeRoy P. Ward, Glib Cool, Paul Frawley, Mr; and Mrs. James Walker, Mr. and Mrs. James Sln- nott, Mr. and Mrs. Qrantlaqd Rice, Florence Rice, Mrs. Molly Malone, Mr. and Mr'Ei, 'Paul .Block,''Mr. and Mrd.' 'Norton t}6'wiiey,''.lilr; kiid Mrs; Orsbn' Munn,' Vrs'. Iskao Newihan, WllUa'm Frawley,' -Marty Forklns, Mildred Chtirchill, ' Radio Harris, LAur^nce Refd; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brown, Bradford'-' l^Tormah;' l<ou' Davis, Steven White, William Flelschmann; Wcinda LyOn, Mr and Mrs/Robert Crawfbrd, Mr; and Mrs; Paul Whlti^man, 4nd Mr. .and .Mrs; Arthur "BUgs" Baer. ' Only .thing now left. to. wa^ch is Bill's face ' ttie first time some stranger calls him "Mr. Haver.'' Daifies and Salaries Dallies may prevent ridicu- lous blunders if attempting to verify, salaries for 'actors lii pictures nowadays. A New York evening paper last week, uttered the positive statement that Walter Catlett had entered into a contract with William Fox involving 1320,000. Catlett, comedian, has a contract with Fox calling for (1,600. weekly for 10 , weeks, 'with an option for.another 10 at .the same amoupt.; If the full .20 weeks are' played Cat- lett caii not :recelve und.er that;- agreeine.i^t. over. (80,000.. JOSEPH CH^RNIAVSKY Gen. Mils; Director Universal Pictures. Hollywood "FUmograph," March 30, 1929. said: * . "The incidental music has so heightened the draniatio 'situations that we must offer to Joseph Cher- nlav'sky, 'the.' synchronizer of - the| niusl6, «t thoughtful word of praise foi^ tiie manner in which he had de- veloped the scoring. The drama , is beautifully intensified by this splen- did musical accompaniment." I,OTe :.n)elQdy 'for Universal's Show Boat," "tiovia Sings a Bong in My Heart,", written by Mr. Cher- nlavsky. , • . EOB WARWICK'S WEISS BROS FUM AT DE FOREST 2-Ree1 Short in 210 Mins. At Cost of $4,000 IjOS Angeles,' April 30, Benny Rubin holds the record for rehearsing and making a two-^reel short. He turned- out' "Cop and Son" for Universal in three and one-half hbura at a cost of less than 14,000. Three sets were used In the picture with Otto I^ederer and £,eo White playing principal parts and eight extras required for atmospheric bits. The picture is a talker. Three ca:meras were used for the recording. Sach scene was rehearsed Just before It was made and the actual - time consumed in the making was 210'minutes. Wa'iter Fabian was listed as di- rector. Rubin wrote the dialog and dir</&ted the rehearsols. L. A. to N. Y. James A. Grainger. Frank -Murray. Glen AUvlne. Joseph M, Schenck. Mary Plckford, - Douglas Fairbanks. Irving Berlin. Richard Barthelmess. ' J. Boyce-Smlth Aloysius Smith (Trader Horn) Jim Tully LllUnn GIsh W. -NV. Clarke. ' N. Y. to L. A. Perrln G. Somcrs. Ariamae McCarthy. I/fionard Hall. Walter Donaldson ' Charlie McCarthy, ■■"Dave; B;uterr"'"°~ LewoJIyn HuBhos. Par. on ^'Glorlf^(lng"-^Short Activity Brislt—Pathe Finishing "Lady" TW6- features in production at Faranioiint, one .ait Pathe, and one preparing to shoot at the De Forest studio was the activity in the New York studios last week. 'VT'elea 'Bros., at De Forest, start May . i to ^hoot an all-dIa;iog ver- sion of a Craig Kennedy detective story .' by Arthur Reeves.' Robert Warwick; former legit' and film ptar'.jnakes his debut to talkers as th^ scientific detective. Edgar Lewis will direct. Weiss flrrii will re- ceive delivery in a week or two on a sound truck enabling them to take exteriors. , ' Paramount has started on "Glori- fying!., the America^, Girl" as '"The Liady :t>ies;' finished up. "Glorify- ing" company spent a .couple of days on .location in the Grand Cen- tral Terminal. Sarah Edwards, Bull Montana and Kaye Renard are new; members ot the. cast. This stu- dio's new production will be Beth Brown's VApplause," due about June Ir Rouben MamouUan, The- atre Guild stage director, after spending seV.eral months as an ob- server on the lot, will get his bap- tism' as a film director on this one. Shorts Billy Hlllpot and Scrappy Lam- bert, radio, act, made a short for Pai-amount. Titta Rufto and Hap- piness Boys made repeat recordings for M-G, and at Warners' Flatbush studio 'Varsity Three, Frances Aldo. Blanche' Ring and Jeanne Gordon did nunibers. There was also a comedy playlet, "Sympathy," by Gdmoncl Josephs and Murray Roth. This hel4 a lengthy cast, including Rella Winn, Hobart Cavaiiagh, Harry T. Shannon, Reglna Wallace, AJan Gobde, Fred Summer, Leona Woodworth, Gwynn Gibson and Hugh Car^l. . St'.iart Stewart, brother of Rosalie Stewart, is the new casting director at the 'Warner studio. Pathe is on the finishing end of the Morton Downey picture, "My Lady." Toplitsky Saivtiikl ' Los Angeles, April 30. Joe Toplitsky leaves here Thurs- day for New Tfork, to sail 'May 9 ort the "Aquitanla." Toplitsky expects to be away for Beaman Brothers, wealthy grocers,' one month. , . , .. ,1.11. I . .. ''I -- ' , '.1 i--) ..Ml.-..\T V- JV;. BAOEB WEST FOB U Dave Bader, Universal ad sales, is leaving for the Const this Thurs- day on a special mission for Ca'rl Laemmie, lie has been assigned to work .under direction of Bob Welsh studio manager. ■ Bader has resigned as secretary of-.the--A-MPA~owing-to -the-.trana= fcr; . • "But'^Asa This unsigned editorial appearing In this week's - PUBLIX OPINION, the confldei|itlal |ieUM'',organ of PubliK Theatres, Is re- printed by permission. • , Written ostensibly for the Publix operating forces, it may well 'be< applied generally to all of tlis shew business, with profound study of it reeemmended: . '.'.:' ABILITY VS. DESIRABILITY "He's a man of ability, and we could use him to tT'oat effect —but...-? I" BUTI One of PubUi executives, discussing proposed promotion of one of the most able men in the organization, uttered the fore- going. The .promotion did. ^ot. materialize.. Moreover., the iqan was relegated to a position, lii^ BU'i' didn't protrude so much Into consciousness.' 'H1& lack of - desirability more than offset, his abiJity, . .'^v^rypne' has a BUT that holds him dowu, or offers a target 'for kipks. Sometimes unjustly, but more often than not, ever so fairly to all concerned. In any big organization where Individuality must be subordi- nated \9 system, one should be conscious and tplerant of the other fello'^'s vlewpolht. Abili'ty not only means ttuLt one-can properly do a Job—biit It also nteans largely that It can be dono to Almost 'everyone's satisfaction. Of course It's Impossible to always please everyone but you can please most folks, ''Ability*^ .has conie to include the meaning of "desirability" "too. The dehiand for ability Is seldom at the cost of desirability. There is the carping critic, destroying rather than building with' his -opinions and remarks. Probably an able man, but not a .desirable, one because he never sees the best side but . only the worstk - • .. • . ..... Then there Is the man who nullifies his able effort because tie's a: smart-Alec. He infuriates those about him to .the. point . wher«( they'd rather find another way around a problem tlian - to'do It most effectively as'he:gloatingly points out., There are also those with the 'Napoleonic complex or sho wmen - who publicly cMticise the organization; or who rail at superiors; or habitually are - belligerent with associates. -. All'Of thes<& might' be -able and experienced men who have Invested years In acquiring ability in this business—and yet many of them toss their Investment into the discard by falling to realize that the one added effort which makes ability desirable, Is all they need to find complete success, and happiness. Strutters, climbers, credit-grabbers and credit-thieves, mart- inets, egomaniacs, or .title-daflles all spell undeslrablllty, found in lance-corporal or brigadier-general. • Those who'have the privilege of observing Adolph Zukor,. Sam Katz, Jesse Lasky, Sidney Kent, Sam Dembow, or other notable, self-made and successful leaders are first struck by their titter humility and pleasant attitude. If you met any one of them as a total stranger, you would comment, upon their unconscious hiodesty and friendliness. 'Whether that way by nature, or by acquired formula of self discipline, makes no difference, so long as they are that way. If such an attitude is part of the make- up of men who have successfully reached and remain on top, it inost certainly is an attitude that could' profitably be adopted by al^ of us who are their subordinates. A safe rule of conduct, In this industry or any other, is never to permit any reason for people to say "BUT" about you. Don't'let the asset of life-long labor come to grief on that •;BUT" of liability known as undeslrablllty. Kans. on Spoken Word As Not for Censors 'Kansas City, April 30. Attorney. General W. A. Smith of Kansas has Just held that the Kan- sas Board of Censoru has no au- thority or power to pas" upon the spoken word in the talking pictures. Brill Handling Amkino Pictures in the East Amkino, American film division of the Russian 'government, has concluded a deal with David Brill, Ufa eastern franchise holder, where- by the latter will have ^territorial distribution rights out of Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Deal starts May 1. A special corporation, known as Super Features, Inc., has been formed by Brill to handle the Russian' pictures. Amkino will not. allow its name to be associated with any . other film, company. It releases about 14 pictures annually In America, handling physical dis- tribution itself from New 'York ex- cept for the three Brill distributing points. Brill . organization also handles Afnilated European (French and German) and jphn Charles Davis westerns. ' Her.sholt's Sea Trop Los Angeles, April 30. Following "The Genius," now be irig produced by Paramount, Jean Herstiolt will' star in Hehry King's .neJtt for Inspiration. . I' Production, untitled, will .be filmed 'in'the South Seas. ii.,-.r'J..?')^s^ DESMO AS CONTACT Los Angeles, April . 30. Marc61 Dcsano, engaged recently fey„j5:.„P=.. .Schulbcrg. Jto.;;,dlrect for Paramount, has beon'Vp'polntGd as- sistant to Schulberc and David Selznick, without directing.' Desano will act as contact man with directors, • Wood for Buncans Los Angeles, April'30. . Sam Wood, will direct Duncan Sis- ters in their first for Metro; r ' ■ < 'jr- New Frontage Value; VS 2 Stodio Theatres Los Angeles, April 30. Added to Universal's present stu- dio expansion and Improvement pro-< gram are plans for two modem sound theatres for the cutting and reviewing sound pictures, a com- plete modem film laboratory and a parking station with a capacity for more than 1,000 cars. Hillside prop- erty Is also being levelled to in- crease outdoor set space. Earth be- ing removed by this excavation work is being used to fill the ad- joining river beds. Recent sale of 90 acres adjoining the Universal studio site for $1,- 000,000 Is enhancing the boulevard frontage of Universal City to such an extent that Carl Laemmie is con- sidering establishing a new prop- erty line for the studio and moving all present buildings facing the boulevard back 200 feet. Studio will then sell the property, at business frontage prices. Fox at Annapolis Los Angeles, April 30. Fox Joins the list of producers who have made features at the U. S. Navul Academy. John Ford ond a company including George O'Brien. Edward Janney. Stepin Fetchlt, Sharon Lynn .and Helen Chandler are en route. -. t Pathe's "Annapolis" and M-G-M's "Flying. Fleet" were-Tjoth done thW sea.son at Annapolis. Fox plctunfe,' ~SalU tC,'l_»will havn tnllfln c quenccs. Bebe Daniels in "Rio" Los Angeles, April 30. Bebe Daniels, wno recently left Paramount, will have the lend in Radio's "Bio Rita." Decision was made by executives after hearing Miss Daniels' voice test. Mai St. Clair to direct.