Exhibitors Herald (1927)

EXHIBITORSHERALD 43 Kinograms Shows Plane Crash In Byrd’s Paris Flight Test The crash of Commander Byrd’s airplane in which the noted aviator intended to make a flight to Paris from America is shown in detail in Kinograms No. 5284, which Educational points to as a news reel “beat.” April 30, 1927 Educational Adds To Comedy Total In Several Series iContiniied from page 31) ing to short comedies, she brings to Educational a great comedienne personality at a time when few outstanding feminine players are being starred in two-reel comedies. Larry Semon, another outstanding comedy star who is returning to Educational, appeared in a series of four special comedies for Educational in 192425. There has been an insistent demand for his return to the Educational banner ever since. Semon has been directing comedies and writing scenarios for seveal companies recently. Will Have Own Staff With his return to his former field of successful activity, this dare-devil clown brings a distinct, popular brand of comedy to Educational’s program. Semon plans to start production work at the California studio, Hollywood, in a few weeks on his new star series. He will have his own staff and company of supporting players. The ever-popular Mermaid Comedies (Jack White Productions), known wherever comedy pictures are shown, will be continued with sixteen two-reel subjects, featuring Clem Beauchamp, A1 Thompson, Phil Dunham, George Davis and others, with the usual array of beauties supporting these funsters. The first two-reel comedy to be released by Educational seven years ago was a Mermaid Comedy. Since that time a high standard of excellence has been maintained in the Mermaid series which has included many comedy hits. Arthur in Situation Farces In the six Tuxedo Comedies to be released during the new season Johnny Arthur again will be seen in the situation farces for which he is celebrated. Splendid direction, pretentious sets and fine supporting casts will be used. Such comedies as “Wedding Yells,’’ “The Humdinger’’ and “Close Shaves” are plainly indicative of what may be expected of this featured player this year. Twenty-six one-reel Cameo Comedies, two more than were produced last season, will lead the parade of pictures of this length. Such well-known players as Phil Dunham, Wallace Lupino, George Davis, Amma Styers, “Toy” Gallagher and Muriel Evans will play the principal roles. Davis, a former New York Hippodrome clown, was for years on the musical comedy and revue stage. Wallace Lupino, a brother of Lupino Lane, like his brother carries to the screen his years of experience on the socalled legitimate comedy stage. With four veteran directors as the nucleus of its directorial staff. Educational studio will have a great combination of comedy directors during the coming season. Jack White, who has been with the company since it released the first two-reel comedy, continues as director-in-chief, while Norman Taurog maintains his position of senior director. The three other “ace” directors are Charles Lament, Stephen Roberts and Mark Sandrich. In addition to his duties as directorin-chief, Jack White also supervises all Mermaid productions and the Juvenile and Cameo Comedies. E..H. Allen continues as general manager of the studios. Felix the Cat animated cartoon come EDUCATIONAL explains that Kinograms only a day earlier had been granted exclusive rights to photograph Byrd’s preparations and flight. The issue shows the preparatory measures and the successful first flight. The second flight is different. The plane taxis along the field after its descent, then the landing wheels sink into a gully. When the giant Fokker machine tilts forward and dies again will be on the Educational program. There will be one Felix the Cat Comedy released every two weeks. The “Felix the Cat” cartoons are among the best known animated comics in pictures today. In addition to the country wide publicity obtained through the use of the Felix cartoon strip in the United States and Canada by more than 50 metropolitan Sunday papers, the black cat has obtained much additional publicity through the many “Felix the Cat” toys, dolls and souvenirs now on the market. Thirteen Bruce Scenics Robert C. Bruce again will be with Educational with a new series of thirteen scenic pictures to be known as Outdoor Sketches. Pictures of the world’s greatest scenery, together with other exquisite photogaphic effects, will mark this series. Each reel is to be arranged so that at least two distinct subjects and forms of scenic views will be available in one release, one a straight scenic subject and the other a novelty of animal life. Curiosities, the Movie Side-Show, produced by Walter Futter, will be released again by Educational. An original arrangement of the ten to sixteen subjects in each reel will be offered with a central theme running throughout. Each subject will be only about 75 feet in length. Mr. Futter has collected one of the most comprehensive libraries of world historical data and oddities. He also has materially strengthened this series by obtaining the services of Beth Brown, who writes the titles and edits the pictures. Novelty in Hodge-Podges To round out its program of novelty and scenic subjects. Educational will have twelve Lyman H. Howe’s HodgePodge releases. Thriving industrial centers, unique scenic spots, strange folks from every part of the globe, together with glimpses of wonder spots of the world, form the basis of these releases. The subject matter is introduced in an original manner, clever animation and novelty effects being employed to heighten the audience interest. Kinograms, “the newsreel built like a newspaper,” again will be distributed by Educational twice each week. Kinograms is starting its tenth season with the strongest camera staff in the history of its organization. This staff has been augmented and extended both in this country and foreign lands until it now commands the world news in small space of time. With a staff of highly specialized news reel men, it is strongly entrenched, for it has men who have been devoting all their time to news reel work during the continued growth of this company as an independent organization. the whirring propellors strike the soft earth the craft tumbles over upon its back in a smashup. Next are seen the removal of the three injured fliers. Commander Byrd, Bennett, his pilot, and Noville, assistant. Two Akeley cameras were focused upon the plane when the crash occurred, and about half the entire length of the issue is devoted to the accident. United Artists Will Release Seventeen; D. W. Griffith Back (Contimicd from page 32) Kennedy. More than two-thirds completed. Douglas Fairbanks in “The Gaucho.” Director: F. Richard Jones. Based on original story of Argentine life by Elton Thomas. Production will begin in June. Scenario by Mrs. Lotta Woods. D. W. Griffith’s 1927 picture will be the first of a group which he calls “Romantic Studies of Humanity.” John Barrymore in “Cellini.” Director: Frank Lloyd. Duncan Sisters in “Topsy and Eva.” Director : Del Lord. Buster Keaton in “College.” Director: James W. Horne. Original of a youth’s athletic ambitions in college. His second for United. Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky, cofeatured for fourth time, appear in “The Magic Flame,” Samuel Goldwyn’s presentation of Henry King production. Based on Rudolf Lothar’s stage play, “King Harlequin.” Cast includes Constance Howard and Gustav von Seyffertitz. In second month. Gilda Gray in “Passionate Island.” Her first Samuel Goldwyn production ufider new five-year contract. Begins June 1. Morris Gest’s first film production, “The Darling of the Gods,” personal supervision Mr. Gest. With international cast which Gest and Schenck will select in Europe this summer. Based on stage play by David Belasco and John Luther Long. Production begins in late summer. Fred Niblo’s first for United, “Laugh, Clown, Laugh.” Based on stage play by David Belasco and Tom Cushing. Production begins in August. Niblo will direct. Herbert Brenon’s first for United, “Sorrell and Son.” Based on Warwick Deeping’s novel. Production begins June 1. Brenon will direct. Edwin Carewe’s production, “Ramona,” with Dolores del Rio starred for the first time. Second Inspiration Pictures-Edwin Carewe release through United. Based on novel by Flelen Hunt Jackson. Production begins in June. Carewe will direct. “Two Arabian Knights,” a Caddo Production with William Boyd, Mary Astor and Louis Wolheim, directed by Lewis Milestone. Personally supervised by John W. Considine, Jr. Based on Donald McGibeny’s magazine story.