Variety (Feb 1930)

10 VARIETY P I C T U R E£ Wednesday, February 5, 1930 ROXY STOCKHOLDERS HOLD QUITE A SESSION Annual mfeetingr of the Roxy "A" etoclvholders at the Hotel Manger Monday turned into quite a session ■with the -stockholders questioning S. L.: Rothafel and other speakers. Financial report promised the regu- lar dividend on "A" stock March 1. Roxy told the meeting thie Fox Bituatlon in no way, entered into the Roxy fortunes. Report showed as of Oct. 23 cash, .$1,238,921, and current liabilities of $247,410; 'i'6t?il admissions aggregated $5,131,676 and net profits after interest, deprecia- tion and taxes at the rate of $5.50 lor the "A." stock which pays $3.50. Jji reply to stockholder questions Jtoxy said Fox did not owe the Roxy Compajiy_juiythWg^_alUTOi^ he un- derstood l''ox had^ a paymeri't"~aue~ to the original owners of $500,000 in March. He explained that Fox pic- tures are booked into the house on a pei'ccntage arrangement and expressed the view that they would cost more if pro rated. All directors and officers-were re- elected. . Rejected Mss. Picture companies hav« ap- parently extended their search lor stories into a hithnrro un- touched region. Book publishlni; concerns are receiving letters irom produc- ers requesting a peep at le- jected manuscripts. $739,544,783 Spent by U. S. on '28 Amusements Pathe Realigns Its Entire Writing Staff Hollywood, Feb. 4. Pathe's new crop of writers In- clude Josephine Lovette, to do an original for Ann Harding; W. C. Tuttle, outdoor story for 'VVilliam Boyd; Russell Metcalf, original for Eddie Quillan; Maurice Coons, to adapt Ben Hecht story, "The Big Shot," and George O'Neill, New York playwright. Pathe has reorganized, its scenario department, niaking Eugene Walter scenario iand dialog editor, with Carl Harvey continuing as story editor. Tay Garnett, who directed a number of pictures, has been reassigned to the scenario staff, with Paul Sco- fleld also rehired to do the adapta- tion on "Crash," starring ■William Boyd, which Paul Stein returns from United Artists to direct. James W. Seymour was given a new flve-year contract and an op- tion for another year has been taken up oh Lynn Riggs. Change in plans will keep John Flinn here as. permanent hea.d Pathe's short department, trans- ferred from the east. ' Complete or- ganization has Bill Wolfenden in charge of story material and talent, and Ai'Gh^Heath in charge of actual production. Directorial list includes Robert DeLacey, Fred Guiol, Monte Carter and Wallace Fox. Schedule calls lor 52 shorts, mostly two reelers, with one studio stage given over in Its entirety to Flinn'o activities. Washington, Feb.4. "'Final statistics on the earnings of amusement corporations have just been completed by the Internal Rev- enue Bureau,. Grouped under the general head of "Amusements,'* the bureau has combined these phases: Theat-tes, motion -picture ptoduc^rs. and theatres, parks, bathing beach- es, golf links, race tracks, skating rinks, etc. Corporations with net income totaled 7,269 in number. Of these 3,423 operated to a gross income of $532,431,997, of which $67,543,108 was net earnings. - Income tax of $6,861,- 300 wa,s paid on this net. The other 3,123 corporationSj reporting losses on the year, did a gross of $207,- 112,788, flnishing in the red for $31,257,602. Combining the entire .7,289 aniuse- ment corporations, the total gross ran to. $739,544,783, for 1928,; which is covered In returns made during 1929, and upon -which the statistics have just been'Completed. Theatre Previews Out Hollywood, Feb. 4. Previewing in theatres is out as far a.s Wavner and First National pictures ai'e concern€sd. In Issuing the stop order, J. L. Warner claims that previews in lo- cal theatres have lost their value. Whatever previewing is done here- after will be confined to studio pro- jection rooms. Film Lecturers Hollywood, Feb. .4.. University of iSoutliern Califor- nia's course on Appreciation of the Motion Picture opens tomorrow (Wednesday) with a. lecture by Milton Sills, chairman of the com- mittee on college affair's of the Academy of M. P. Arts ahd Sciences. Lecturet's to appear each Wednes- day include William DeMille, Fred Niblo, Dr. Hugo Rlesenfeld, Sid Graumah, Karl Struss, H. G. Knox, Hobart Boswprth, William LeBaron, Jane Murfln and Max Parker. TiEilks •will be repeated in a text book. . Course Is in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. ^Armat Tur>ns Out Philadelphia, Feb. 4. Thomas Armat, of Washington, D. C, inventor of the. motion pic- ture projection machine, made his first public appearance 4n years at the private pre-opening perform- ance of the Band Box theatre here. House is a sure-seater in fiish- lonable Germantown suburb. Marion Nixon's Real Estate Minneapolis, Feb. 4. • • Marian Nixon, former Minneapoll- tan, has been awarded a $3,000 In- terest in a local apartment house which was part ofi the estate of hef mother. "^THUSbaita " wftff "-given-^-a =^one«third Interest and the remaining two- thirds were divided equally .between three daugliters, including Ma,rlan, tinder - the terms of the probate court order. MulhatI Off FN List Hollywood, Feb. 4. With the completion of "At Bay," his current picture, Jack Mulhall will be oft the First National pay- roll for the first time in seven years. ALMA'S EXPOSE STORIES Hollywood, Feb. 4. In an effort to stage a comeback in pictures. Alma Rubens is writing a sei'ies of expose articles on strug- gles with dope for the Los Angeles "Record"- (daily). Narrative is centered on the* state asylum at Patton. MAKY ASTOR'S 4 Hollywood, Feb. 4. After completing one picture foi' Radio, Mary Astor jumps to Para- mount to make four pictures within a year. New York Made Broadway' Talking Pictures Corp has completed "Clouds," Its first, at the Long Island Audio Cinema, studio. Directed by Raymond Friedgen. Cast includes Louise Carter, Betty Lee, Ralph Bellamy, Buddy Blake, and Skip Whitely. ASS'T DIRECTORS BALK AT STAGE MGR. RATING Hollywood, Feb. 4. Assistant directors who were granted a charter by the American Federation - of Labor four months ago are still holding, off. froni af- filiating with the L A. T. S. E. The International wants to group them as stage manqgers, but the boys want' separate classification and automony similar- to the Camera- men's Union. Assistant directors are rather modr est in their deinands. Their Idea of a maximum working day is 16 hours, double the average labor union's Idea, But they want a $250 weekly minimum and a 12-hour interlude between the end of one working day ahd start of another. —Boys figure - ttiere—can_- no±_ .lie_ steady eniployment for more than 60 assistant directors.' They there- for want to classlijy membership by experience and other tests. Jack Hunt of Metro Is president of the organization.- Diirs New Patents Bill Has Film Angle Washington, Feb. 4. •tvith Department" of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission still active in attempts to prove anti- trust actions against the picture industry,' Senator C., C, Dill, D., AVash., has opened up something else. ' The senator has Introduced a bill which. In its Intenl, would void patents If an antlrtrus't action were proven against any group; or indi- vidual as a part of any group as "a party to any combination (In the form of trust or otherwise), agree- ment, , understanding, license, or cross license, relating to or involv- ing the use or control of said patent." Senator Dill's principal interest, naturally, Is in radio in which flel4 he Is credited with the present gov- ernment control of the air lines. Though said to be aimed only' for the radio angle, this paper opens possibilities In every .field where patents are Involved. "Zorro" Will Talk r HollyMtood, Feb. A. Douglas Fairbanks' next wlllNie the talking version of "Mark of Zorro." Fairbanks • considers this his biggest bet of all times. . It was made as a silent 10 years ago. RADIO :fatality Hollywood, Feb. 4. • R. L. Davenport, steel worker, was almost Instantly killed when 4i crane chain broke while elevating a girder, on which Davenport waa riding. Constructing was on new scene dock at Radio studios. He died before he reached a hospitaL CLARENCE BROWN whose latest directorial achievement, "Anna Christie," with Greta Garbo starring in the title role, had its world premiiere In Los Angeles recently. Without exception, the critics hailed Brown's work as tlie best he has I done in a career that has placed him far up among the.-foremost direc- tors. He is now preparing to produce, at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, the talking film version of Edward Sheldon's famous play "Romance," Avhich will also have Garbo as star. Hoflywood Chatter Retalces now called encores. Pat Dowling in from Honolulu. Frank Fay's mother all right after a major operation. J. J, McCarthy entertaining guests for W. R. Sheehan by proxy. John Medbury of King Features lias decided to settle , here. Loh Chaney learning Spanish for foreign versions. b. "W". Griffith back on the job after an illness of several weeks. Edwin Burke, writing for Fox, is taking a month's-rest id New York. Fay Wray devotes an^hour every afterndon to deepbreath. Gus Edwards nioving into a build- ing with glass w:alls. Hariington Reynolds. returned from India. ___ First' Natipnai'has Tjoosted^Alice" White's salary another $500 weekly. Betty Corripson building a new home at Fllhtridge. Auto piark opposite the city jail protected by an iron gate at night. Nick Stuart had his surname legally changed from Prada. Marjorle, daughter vof Arthur Strauss of S. 'VV, Strauss & Co;, Is on the M-G-M scenario staff. The latest drive-in market will draw customers with a cage , of monkeys. R. Gomez Carrlllo writing about films in "La; Opinion," local Spanish daily. <- Frank Murray in town to. get players for Fox commercial pictures In New York. Florence Lalwrence, once an actress, now a—hold; your seats-^ cosmeticieniie. Whispering Jack Smitli got that way singing in bungalow courts after midnight. Universal contract player^ so busy the publicity department makes stills while the players are eating. Couple of butter and. egg men threw a birthday party for "Vic Shapiro. . Stepin Fetchit spieling Spanish, German and French with an Alabami accent in Roach talking shorts. Charles Fg,rrell showing the sights to his mother from Onset, Mass. Viola Brothers Shore returned^ to Paramount as a' writer af ter" a three months tour of Europe. Paul Whiteman has .a hew Cord with a dressing table arid bench In the tonneau. Mrs. Lou Alter can't-find enough sunshine here and will winter in Palm' Beach. Harry ' Cohh taking a rest. (Brother Jack holding the fort at ■Columbia. They won't let Leo Morrison re- sigh as the head of the Chlselers club. Thornton • iFreeland and William Counselman of UA staff back; from conferences with Ziegfeld. ' Jack Wiarner carrying a 5 x 7 cigar lighter which needs' i-eflUing only once a month. " Adolph Ramlsch, Inc., has moved i?rom the Fox West Cbast offices to a downtown building David Selznick and Julian John-- son, Paramounters/ back from Broadway. : Ted Lundgreh and Eddie Shaeffer are buddies. Ted sells 'em airplanes and Eddie . sells 'em insurance. George Cooper, picture actor, has created a hair tonic guaranteed to remove Ink spots.' Sojin Is due back "ffbm his n^itive ' Japan around March 1. He went home for four weeks of personal iappearances. Will Walling, Jr., contract player with Fox ior several years, is ijack. to hiis first love as still cameraman with F'Irst -Nationalr"'"' " ~ -y—i Jim Tully dedicates his ne^v col- 7 lection of hobo stories,'*"Shadow:s of ; Men," to- Albert Lewln and Paul ^ Bern, M'-G-M producers. \ Erie Hampton tells .about a bird ? who had the soup and fish on the ^ other night—soup on the tie and ';; fish on the vest. . i . London, and NortH-Eastern Rail- ■' way is paying for one of the most ,; handsome signboards on the boule- . vard, "Visit York," It urges. iFox studio crowd blew William i Collier to a dinner to remind him' of his 60th anniversary in show , business, Harry Green playing Hebe, comic in "Light of Western Stars" for ' Par. This may surprise the author, ' Zane Grey. Ariival in port of. the first Fi-ench { liner to touch here, the "Motor Ship, '; Oregon," was occasion for film play- ers to make men*y aboard. . Harry L/ Knapp, dramatic crltlo ■ for Philadelphia Enquirer, and a,-; Pennsylvania state censpi: to boot,;' is here with the wife. . . • j Moran and Mack picture used '79 . dogs on the lot. One of thdm had five pups, two black. Dark ones, ; named—rright. MacQuarrle dance studio has to ' move. Femmes- trying on hats iii ^ the millinery shop downstairs ,cah't concentrate because of , the tapping*, t Warner .Van Valkehbergj mu- sician, and apartment house pian- .. ager, ' has written a play calljed : "Thumbprints." Inspired by apart- ; ment walls. , Jjew heatihg system, invented on tlie Radio lot, is two gas radiators oh ^ truck with a, fan to blow the '< heat onto the . iset. Improvement \ over the old coal stoyes for extras. ^ Bert Levy, the most dignified J looking gent at the "Rogue Song" ■ premiere, l^adlo announcer calling /: for ca.rs -got;a laugh with: "Mr.; Bert Levy's motorcycle, please." - Edward W. Rowland's legs painr fully burned- by ijoillng cresollne in a nursery accident. A. Leslie Pearce > sprained an ankle .bn the set. Al- v ways partners. • .;. N. Y. to L; A. Sidney Phillips. E. B. .Hatrick. Fox Writers L,y\. to N. Y. Adam H. Shirk. Jftussell Markert and ^troupe.. TIFF'S MONKEY SHORTS Hollywood Feb. 4. Following in the footsteps of Metro's talking , dog pictures Tif- fany plans a series of shorts with monk^s. . Tests are now being made to . see If the monks can be made to syn- chronize the movements of their lips to the words'that will be later dub- bed in to tell a story. •Metro will extend its talking dog series to yei'sions in . Spanish, French, and German. FN TAKES E0HIER-M0R6AN Hollywood, Feb. -4. First National has engaged Fred Kohler and Marilyn Morgan, with options for a group of pictures. Kohler was just recently released from a long-term contract with Par- amount, while Miss Morgan "was re- leased--from-=Path6.^when-.hcfr^con- tract expired. Latter's first part will be in "At Bay." No assign- ment yet for Kphlef. . . ^ Repeating "Lone Wolf" Hollywood, Feb. 4. Columbia will make "The Lone Wolf," with Bert Lytell, for the third time. Lytell Is due here March 1 to be- gin on the dialog versioA. Hollywood, Feb. 4. Hal G, Everts, Satevepost"writer, has. been engaged by Fox to write an original western, to be directed by. Rabul Walsh. Arthur Jones, p.a, for President Hoover's southern California cam- paign, and also for Mayor Porter, of this city, during hia election fight, is also a new writer on the lot. His first picture attempt. Same studio has engaged Kerry Clarks to write silent versions of talkers. ' ■ BERGERMAN'S 2-REELERS Hollywood, Feb. 4. Stanlej^ Bei'german, assistant pro- duction manager to Carl Laemmlie, Jr., will become an associate; pro- ducer for Uhivex'sal when he starts making a, series of two reel' come- dies next week. First subject will feature Sally O'Neil and Molly C)'Day. Jed Kiley is writing the kid stories. WALLACE'S PAR FOUR Hollywood, Feb, 4. ^ _Prtor to^lj^iA'lng^f^i^^^^ a vacation, Sichard^ Wallace ^Siiy Paramount agreed on four pictures to be directed by the latter. He stiarts June 1. Levenson at Burbank Hollywood, Feb. 4. Major Nathan Levenson, who re- signed as head of ERPI heiT. is now. chief sound engineer for First National at Burbank.