April 14, 1932

MISS COSTELLO TO SUE ACTOR

Baby of Film Colony to File Cross Suit to Divorce Action of Lowell Sherman

New York, April 14
Not to be outdone by her actor husband, Helene Costello, film star, announced today that she intends to file a divorce suit of her own as soon as she gets back to Hollywood.

Her husband, Lowell Sherman, actor, already has a suit on file in Los Angeles.

Miss Costello made her announcement on her return from Europe today aboard the liner Lafayette. She was reluctant to discuss the suit for separation filed last December by her husband, but declared that she intended to lose no time in seeking freedom on her own account.

Helene is a “baby” of Hollywood’s famous Costello family, which includes her sister Dolores, now the wife of John Barrymore, and Maurice, her father, one of the best “heart-breakers” in the business in the motion picture industry’s early days and now a screen director and producer.

Helene’s first husband was John V. Regan, eastern football star, whom she married in 1927 as the outcome of a childhood romance. She divorced him in 1928 and in 1930 was married to Sherman. It was his third marriage.




COLLEEN MOORE SPURNS FILMS

Former Queen of Cinema Who Abdicated Throne in Old Home to Go on Stage

Hollywood, April 14
Colleen Moore, former film queen, is back in Hollywood – but to appear on the stage.

Miss Moore and her new husband, Albert P. Scott, New York broker, arrived here from San Francisco after engagements of her stage play there and in Oakland. She insists that she has no intention, or desire, to resume her screen career.

In addition to changing her career, Miss Moore has changed her appearance with a new style of coiffure.




HUSBAND OF BEBE DANIELS IS SUED

Los Angeles, April 14 (UP)
Frederick La Mar, 18-year-old Columbia studios clerk, has filed suit for $35,000 damages against Ben Lyon, actor and husband of Bebe Daniels. La Mar charged Lyon beat him knocking out some teeth and inflicting injuries to his neck and back. La Mar claimed Lyon beat him, after cursing him, for assertedly keeping Miss Daniels waiting outside the studio last Dec. 23 when she called there to see her husband.




ACTOR FACES SPEED CHARGE

Los Angeles, April 14 (UP)
After Johnnie Hines, motion picture comedian, failed to appear in court to answer a speeding charge, a bench warrant for his arrest was issued by Municipal Judge Paonessa, but service was ordered postponed for a week to give the actor an opportunity to appear. He was charged with speeding 45 miles an hour across an intersection.




From Luella O. Parsons:

Los Angeles, April 14
Just so he won’t be doing a repeat act with any of his stars, David Selznick is staying up nights finding stories for them that are different. “Farinstance,” there is Edna May Oliver all set down to play the part of a woman detective in “The Penguin Pool Murder.” Can’t you just see her doing a Sherlock Holmes stunt in an Oliver manner?

This “Penguin Pool Murder,” I find on investigation, is by three authors, Fulton Oursier, Lowell Brentano and Stuart Palmer. It was published three months ago and it has been a best seller since that time. Bartlett MacCormack, specialist on these mystery drammers, has been engaged to write the adaptation with J. Walter Rubin directing.
That isn’t all; the cast includes Robert Armstrong, Eric Linden and Arline Judge – and June 1 is set as the production date.




The Fairbanks’ will have houseguest soon after they both reach home. Doug met Lady Yule and her daughter in Tahiti and extended an invitation to them to visit Pickfair. Lady Yule, who owns one of the biggest and fastest yachts in the world, was cruising in the South Seas waters when the Fairbanks pictures were in the making. Mary Pickford gets here within ten days to open the house and get everything in readiness for Doug’s return.




Gary Cooper is bringing back a baby chimpanzee with him from his South African travels. If it is as fascinating as Mary and Jerry at the Hearst ranch, he will have me trying to make his acquaintance. Mary takes away all the oranges, apples and nuts handed Jerry and appropriates them for herself. Does she let him know who is boss?




Matty Kemp, who should be rewarded for his stick-to-it-iveness in the movies, is playing the son of Will Rogers in “Down to Earth.” Matty has remained in the movies even when jobs were few and far between. Arthur Pierson, a newcomer, is also on the Fox lot in Rogers’ “fillum.”

Florence Britton is checking in each day at the Paramount studios. She is emoting in “Merrily We Go to Hell.”

J. Carroll Naish, an Irishman by birth, is again playing an Italian role. He is in “Week-End Marriage,” at the Fox studios.

Tom Keane (perhaps you know him as George Duryea) has finished his first series of six westerns. He is vacationing in New York and when he returns he will be on the Radio lot for six more of these thrillers.




Norma Talmadge is leaving to-day, arriving in New York just in time to take the Europa for Paris. She will spend the Summer in Deauville and along the Riviera. Her divorce plans are being held in abeyance until she returns from Europe in late Summer. She has rented her Santa Monica beach house to Myron Selznick for six months during which time she will live abroad and in New York.




Snapshots of Hollywood:
Ruby Keeler Jolson (Mrs. Al) in a nifty brown sport suit sitting in the very front seat at the Olympic Stadium with friend husband. Colleen Moore, in a plain and black creation, with hat to match, at the stadium with Al Scott, the new husband.

B. P. Schulberg is renting a house almost next door to the Richard Barthelmess’ for the Summer.

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., an interested listener at the Brown Derby while Mike Levee unfolded his Screen Guild plans.




From Wood Soanes:

Joan Crawford will be loaned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to United Artists for the Sadie Thompson role in “Rain” to be made under the direction of Lewis Stone.

Announcement of this arrangement made under the terms of an agreement which marks the first joint producing compact of major film companies was made today by Joseph M. Schenck, president of United Artists. He will produce the picture but M-G-M will share in the profits in consideration of the services of Miss Crawford.

This is the first deal of the kind in film history and was made possible because of the desire of M-G-M executives to secure “Rain” for Miss Crawford. Schenck, however, held the rights from the silent days when the picture was used as a Gloria Swanson vehicle under the title, “Sadie Thompson.” Unwilling to release it, he made the counter proposal agreed upon finally.

Now all that remains is to receive the okeh of the Hays office which expressed itself sternly on the matter of “Rain” when the original plan of making it as a silent was broached. Judging from the arrangement already made, United Artists and M-G-M anticipate no trouble now, indicating that the movie audience has been educated to more hectic melodrama.

“Rain” was adapted from the story of W. Somerset Maugham by John Colton, who subsequently wrote “The Shanghai Gesture,” but the talking version will be made by Maxwell Anderson.

It is quite possible that while Milestone will attend to the general direction of the picture, he will occupy a supervisory capacity while the actual work will be done by Chester Erskin, a stage director of distinction. The two men accompanied by several writers and directors have just reached Hollywood from New York.

Milestone is to make at least four pictures in quick succession at United Artists. As soon as “Rain” gets into production, work will start on an Al Jolson picture to be made from an original story by Ben Hecht and probably directed by H. O’Abbadie D’Arrast. Jolson has just closed his theater season in “Wonder Bar.”




Meanwhile, other member producers of United Artists are at work. Harold Lloyd is in the middle of “Movie Crazy”; Samuel Goldwyn has started work on “The Brothers Karamazov” for Ronald Colman and “The Kid From Spain” for Eddie Cantor; Douglas Fairbanks stats back from Papeete in a week or so with “Robinson Crusoe of the South Seas” partly made; Mary Pickford is working on a story in New York with Frances Marion.

The picture is tentatively titled “Happy Ending.” In the interim, Charles Chaplin is returning from the Orient with a view to starting work on a new picture and Howard Hughes, with “Scarface” finally deleted to suit the censors, is preparing a new special.




Anna Sten, who made a hit in “Tempest” with Emil Jannings and the German version of “The Brothers Karamazov” has been placed under contract by Samuel Goldwyn. She leaves Paris tomorrow for Hollywood. Miss Sten is a Russian who speaks German and French.




M-G-M continues to garner publicity on the Garbo contract. The newest rumor is that she will delay signing long enough to make an independent picture; the last was that she was returning to Sweden for foreign pictures. As long as America pays the largest salaries, she’ll be here, don’t worry.




Richard Bennett has been removed from “The Countess of Auburn” cast at Paramount in favor of George Barbier, and goes into “Merrily We Go to Hell.”

Robert Warwick is getting considerable work at Warner Brothers. He is in the cast of “Dr. X” supporting Lionel Atwill; and he has been added to the cast of “The Dark Horse” featuring Warren William. “The Dark Horse,” incidentally, may pave the way for a number of political pictures.




LIFE BEGINS TO BE FILMED BY WARNERS

Loretta Young Slated to Play Joanna Roos’ Role

By Chester B. Bahn, April 14
Warners has purchased talkie rights to “Life Begins” (“Birth”) by Mary McDougal, former Syracuse suffrage worker. The play recently had a brief run on Broadway with Frank Wilcox and Joanna Roos in the cast.

On the screen, the play will be retitled “Woman’s Day” and will serve Loretta Young, Glenda Farrell, Aline McMahon and Clara Blandick.
Naturally it will be heavily censored when adapted.




Suddenly recalled to Hollywood, Jean Harlow has cancelled the remainder of her vaudeville tour.




ZaSu Pitts, now in “Shopworn,” has been signed by Universal for Fannie Hurst’s “Back Street,” and Charles Bickford has been given a five-year contract by Universal.




I hear that Radio will picturize “The Animal Kingdom” with Leslie Howard and Ann Harding co-starred. The former stars in the current Broadway production.




Kate Smith may be in Paramount’s radio film… Mary Brian leaves the stage for pictures shortly… Grant Withers is getting a jazz band together.




“The Devil and the Deep, a story of love and adventure woven into the background of a submarine disaster, will be a Paramount co-starring vehicle for Tallulah Bankhead and Gary Cooper.


Dickie Moore joins “Our Gang,” but with the privilege of appearing in features for other studios. He’ll be in Marlene Dietrich’s “Velvet” for Paramount.




Adolphe Menjou has returned from England to ally first with Fox and later with Universal. For the former he will play in “Precious” (alias “Fancy Free”) with Minna Gombel, Joan Marsh and Allan Dinehart.




M-G-M has picked “Eskimo” as Johnny Weissmuller’s next; W. S. Van Dyke will direct.


Dorothy Peterson has joined the cast of “Criminal Court.”




Roscoe Ates, who stutters in the Keith-bound “Young Bride,” entered the theatrical world as a ticket-taker in his home town, Hattiesburg, Mo. Ates studied music and soon became a theater orchestra leader. For years he played in vaudeville and stock. While playing in Los Angeles he was given a film contract.




Kay Francis, Strand-bound in “Man Wanted,” her first Warner Brothers picture, spends her time between pictures boating in the Pacific with her husband, Kenneth McKenna, prominent director. Kay acts as chief cook and bottle washer while McKenna navigates their 35 foot yacht. Their yachting costumes consist of bathing suits and overalls.

In “Man Wanted,” Miss Francis is supported by David Manners, Kenneth Thompson, Una Merkel, Andy Devine, Claire Dodd and a large cast. William Dieterle directed.




Old-time film cutters do not sigh for the “good old days,” according to Jimmy Smith, one of the members of his craft who has been connected with the picture industry for more than 20 years.

Smith, the cutter who was assigned to work on “This Is the Night,” recently reminisced on the set at the Paramount Hollywood studios as Lily Damita, Charles Ruggles, Roland Young, Cary Grant, and Thelma Todd rehearsed a scene in this musical romance, which comes to the Paramount tomorrow.

“It wouldn’t have been safe even to walk on the set in the so-called ‘good old days’,” said Smith. “Some actor or actress probably would have tried to tear me limb from limb for leaving him on the cutting room floor in a previous picture. The cutters were the real villains of Hollywood in the actor’s eyes.”




CLAUDETTE COLBERT STAR AT NATIONAL

What do society girls do when their family fortunes suddenly vanish?

In some instances, such bereft young women have been known to plunge into the workaday world and make commercial successes out of lives that once had been ordained mainly for squanderous activities.

“Secrets of a Secretary” has to do with the activities of such a girl – Helen Blake – played by Claudette Colbert at the National Theater to-day.

Saturday brings Buddy Roosevelt in his western thriller,”The Ridin’ Kid,” and also chapter four of “The Vanishing Legion.” Between the hours of 12:45 and 1:45 Saturday afternoon, any two children, under 12 years of age, will be admitted on one ticket.

Starting Sunday, April 17, performances will be continuous from 2 until 11 P. M. every day.

April 13, 1932

HELENE ADMITS DIVORCE PLAN

New York, April 13 (AP)
Helene Costello, screen actress, returned from Europe today on the liner Lafayette. She refused at first to discuss the report that her actor husband, Lowell Sherman, had brought suit for divorce, then said it was true and finally decided to deny it.

She admitted however that she intended to sue for divorce when she reaches California.




KELLY COMES BACK TO FILMS AFTER PRISON

Hollywood, April 13 (AP)
Paul Kelly of the movies, who was held responsible in 1927 for the death of Ray Raymond, stage actor, will arrive here Saturday to attempt a comeback in pictures, Universal Studio executives said to-day.

Kelly’s screen career was interrupted by his trial, conviction and sentence to San Quentin Prison on a manslaughter charge. Since his parole, he has been trying for a new start on the stage in New York and Carl Laemmle, Jr., of Universal, recently placed him under a movie contract.

Dorothy Mackaye, stage actress, who was Raymond’s wife at the time of his death and who also served a San Quentin sentence, become the wife of Kelly in February, 1931. She was also paroled and returned to the stage. Whether she will accompany him here is not known.

After some ill-luck with his come-back attempts, Kelly played the leading male role on Broadway in the dramatization of “Bad Girl.”

Testimony at Kelly’s trial was to the effect that Raymond died as a result of injuries received in a fist fight with Kelly. Miss Mackaye was convicted on a charge of withholding information as to the true cause of Raymond’s death.




INA CLAIRE IN BLACK BUT NO ONE’S DEAD

New York, April 13
Ina Claire is wearing black, but no one’s dead. “It makes one look thin,” the actress explained.




WIFE OF COMEDIAN FOUND IN HOSPITAL

Hollywood, April 13 (AP)
Mrs. Gladys Banks, wife of Monty Banks, film comedian, sought by authorities after her husband reported her missing since last Thursday, was found today in a hospital. She had suffered a nervous breakdown.

Mrs. Banks, 32, known professionally on screen and stage as Gladys Frazin, had been under the care of a physician for some time. Her husband told police he believed she had wandered away from home while in a nervous condition. Banks and wife returned recently from England where they had resided several years.

It was not explained how Mrs. Banks found her way into the hospital.




From Luella O. Parsons:

The wager by certain of our New York intelligentsia that “Once in a Lifetime” would never reach the screen will be lost. Carl Laemmle, Jr. plans to put George Kaufman’s and Moss Hart’s satire on the screen within two months. He isn’t going to spare the movies. He is going to put on the play as it was written and not in any expurgated edition. Russell Mack who has just been signed on a new long term contract will direct it. Mack is the lad responsible for “Spirit of Notre Dame” and other current Universal features.




I have never known Hal Roach to sign any child star who was well known until he signed Dickie Moore; he usually prefers to develop the youngsters himself. Many of them join the “Our Gang” comedies while they are babes in arms. Jackie Cooper’s first job was at the Roach studios and dozens of other children have started there, but Dickie was not signed until he became a headliner.

The Roach studio opens officially May 2 when Dickie moves in. In the meantime, he is playing in Marlene Dietrich’s picture, “Velvet.” Two other newcomers to the Roach lot are Jules White, formerly co-director with Zion Myers of the dog series, and George Marshall, director of golf shorts.




All of Charlie Chaplin’s friends know Kono. He is the indispensible Japanese valet who watches over Charlie like a doting mother and who anguished when Charlie is indifferent to friends. He has been with the comedian for years, shielding him from annoyances of all kinds and making excuses when Charlie broke appointments. Kono is now in Japan with the Chaplin entourage. He is there because his honorable father passed away a year ago and left him a comfortable inheritance. Charlie is along to see that Kono gets all the money that is due him. Those who know Kono’s devotion say that even though he is now a rich man he won’t leave Charlie for here is the bona fide case of a man who is a hero to his valet.




Here is indeed a surprise. Larry Darmour is releasing his westerns through Paramount. Time was when the big companies turned disdainful backs on any of our independents, but the independents have been doing such good things they just cannot be ignored. Johnny Mack Brown, erstwhile football hero and leading man to Joan Crawford, Marion Davies and others of our screen headliners, will be the leading light in these thrillers. The first, called “S’wanee Goes West,” will have Phil Rosen as director. I’d like to see Johnny put over these pictures with a bang.




An underground whisper that came in a roundabout way is that Grace Moore has been approached to play the lead in “Bitter Sweet” by Fox. Of all the girls under consideration she would be the best, for her voice is the best woman’s singing voice that has ever been on the screen, and she never looked lovelier in her life than she did when she sang at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer dinner given to Vice President Curtis. Another rumor that persists is that Marilyn Miller is still the hot favorite for “The Merry Widow.”


Snapshots of Hollywood:



Ernst Lubitsch, thin and more attractive than he has been at any time since he landed in this country, was dining and dancing with Estelle Taylor in the Garden Room at the Biltmore.

Hardie Albright is getting his fox terrier plucked and groomed for the dog show at Pasadena.



The two Bennetts, Constance and Joan, and their bridegrooms, the Marquis de la Falaise and Gene Markey, were getting a taste of old Mexico in Olvera Street.


From Wood Soanes:



The United Press discovered the other day that Greta Garbo’s immigration permit had been extended to 1933, indicating to them that while she may be going back to Sweden at the termination of “As You Desire Me” and her M-G-M contract, she has no intention of remaining there indefinitely.

Other news from Hollywood concerns the decision of Charlie Chaplin to return there instead of pursuing his travels around the globe. His brother Sidney will accompany him. Douglas Fairbanks and his company are also sailing from Papeere, Tahiti on April 26, for home, with a new picture made.




Frances Marion has recovered from her breakdown and started for New York where she will confer with Mary Pickford on her next picture, which is to be, so the wise men tell us, a grown up role but dealing in comedy. Miss Pickford wants to make a bid for the family trade again.




A blessed event, so the M-G-M press department lets it be known, is expected in the kennels attached to the Fairbanks-Crawford home. The lady’s name is Woggles, a Scottish terrier, and as smart as a whip. Since Woggles spends all of her time on the set with Miss Crawford, that’s something else for the studio to worry about.


Frank Borzage is accompanying Noel Coward back to London. The object of the trip is to see the stage production of Coward’s “Cavalcade,” one of the three plays purchased for the screen by Fox.




Fox also purchased the screen rights to Frank Craven’s “The First Year” for the uses of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. It has been one of the standbys of Henry Duffy and Dale Winter for many years. Lynn Starling is to do the screen version.




Dr. Paul Schwarz, German consul-general at New York, paid a visit to Governor Rolph at Sacramento last week and announced that Emil Jannings, American-born German actor, has perfected his English and will return to Hollywood shortly to make more pictures.

Wallace Beery dropped into Oakland, Calif. yesterday, landing in his fancy new Bellanca plane at the Bay Airdrome in Alameda en route from Reno to
Hollywood. He has been vacationing since “Grand Hotel” and is to be the air mail pilot in the classic now being prepared. He expects to go on south today or tomorrow.

‘MAYTIME’ AS FILMUSICAL, WARNER PLAN

Last minute Rialto news –

“Maytime,” one of the greatest of all Shubert musical successes, may be made as a filmusical by Warners.




Myrna Loy has a new M-G-M contract, but her next appearance will be for Paramount in Chevalier’s “Love Me Tonight.”

M-G-M has also given contracts to Wallace Ford and Kane Richmond, while the studio has added Robert Young and Maureen O’Sullivan to the cast of “Strange Interlude.”

Allen Jenkins and Milton Wallace, now playing in the stage production of “Blessed Event,” will quit their roles to go westward for the screen version, in which James Cagney is to be starred.




Lyda Roberti, Polish actress, returns to Hollywood to play in “On Your Mark,” and “The Crooners,” for Paramount, and “The Kid From Spain,” for United Artists.




Pola Negri claims she’ll make a second Radio picture this summer.




An English noblewoman saved a motion picture scene with a safety pin during the filming of “The Wet Parade.” Lady Kathleen Villiers, visiting from London, was a spectator on the set at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. Dorothy Jordan, about to do a scene with Neil Hamilton, tore her dress. A hurry call went out for a small safety pin. The property manager ransacked his toolbox and word was sent to the wardrobe department. Meanwhile, the titled visitor laughingly produced the necessary pin, helped Miss Jordan repair the damage, and the scene was “shot” as per schedule.




Cliff Edwards, the “Ukulele Ike” of vaudeville and musical comedy fame, plays one of the featured roles in “Young Bride.” In his part of a dance hall and pool room Romeo, Edwards is divorced from his ukulele, but his famous rolling eyes and facial contortions are very much in evidence.




What is technically known as a “gravel voice” and an irregular profile, have brought fame to Andy Devine, young player in “Man Wanted,” the Kay Francis starring picture.

Devine has high-pitched, cracking voice which is naturally funny. He discovered that it is one of his chief assets in pictures. In addition, he is big, awkward and likeable. He first came to public attention in “The Spirit of Notre Dame,” last season’s success.




PARAMOUNT INTRODUCES CARY GRANT

Actor Makes Talkie Debut in “This Is the Night”

Spotlighting Cary Grant who will be introduced to talkie fans via “This Is the Night” at the Paramount on Friday:

Born in Bristol, England – Six feet, one inch in height, 175 pounds – Has jet black wavy hair and dark brown eyes – Destined to follow in his father’s footsteps as a clothing manufacturer – Ran away from school to join theatrical troupe – Dragged back home, and again ran away – Toured England with “knockabout” comedians – American debut at New York Hippodrome – Returned to England to play in stock and study singing – Brought to United States as juvenile lead in musical comedies, playing opposite Jeanette MacDonald in her last engagement before she launched screen career with Paramount – Left Broadway at height of popularity to make tramp automobile trip to Pacific Coast – Persuaded to make screen test while visiting Hollywood – Placed under contract by Paramount.




SLIM SUMMERVILLE MOVIE HEADS BILL OF FEATURES FOR BEE JUNIOR PARTY

Yoo Hoo! Skinna-aay! C’mon over an’ see Slim. Yeah, Slim Summerville!
Where’s he gonna be, you say? Oh, at the Warner Bros. Theater. Yeah, The Bee Junior Club meeting Saturday morning at 9 o’clock. And there’s gonna be Zasu Pitts, that funny lady, with him. And she has more fun as the nurse to a baby, Cora Sue Collins, who thinks Slim is her father.

It’s the funniest thing you ever saw. Slim finds Cora in his car. Cora has run away from home. Cora’s folks notify the police, who stop Slim’s car and search for the baby. Cora insists that Slim is her father. Slim acts the part until his girl finds out that the baby has been calling Slim her Daddy. And then the fun begins.
Say, hasn’t it been hot lately? Just like Summer. Well, John Baxter, soda pop maker, has promised all of us a free drink of a new kind of soda pop when we go to the meeting. And won’t that taste good about noon time, when it gets warm.

Then there’s going to be one of the best orchestras in the country in a musical comedy, “Up to the Farm.” Detective Lloyd is in another of his thrilling adventures, entitled “The Poisoned Dart.” One thrilling adventure after another takes place as he and Diana Brooks go down to the Limehouse district of London. And Diana is expected to recover her jewel in this episode, too.

The 10 cents admission also allows members to take tap lessons from Miss Nella Belle Scott at 8:30 A. M. on the stage and to enter in the community singing with Roy Foster at the organ.