The Moving picture world (January 1920-February 1920)

February 7, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 899 Covering ''The Coasf News Field By A, H. Giebler Callahan Productions, Inc., Ready to Start Filming Bessie Love Pictures THE Andrew J. Callahan Productions, Inc., the organization recentlyformed to make pictures with Bessie Love as a star, will begin work on its first production early in February. The Callahan company is formed of a group of Chicago capitalists, headed by James E. Callahan, prominent lawbook publisher and father of Andrew J. Callahan, after whom the corporation is named. . The first film to be made with Miss Love as star will be the screen adaptation of "The Midlanders," a novel written by Charles Tinney Jackson. The book is said to have been selected for the initial release because of the appeal of the chief character, and for the fact that it tells a story happily suited for delineation by Miss Love. Company Strong Financially. Andrew J. Callahan, who will be in active management of the production, says that his company is well financed and able to procure the best facilities of every kind in the way of studio surroundings, directors, casts and stories; that each production will be elaborated and finished to the last detail, and that no time or money will be spared to make the Bessie Love pictures big and compelling in every way. Joseph De Grasse and Ida May Park have been engaged as directors — not as chief and assistant — but as co-directors who will co-operate on every point in each production. Mr. Callahan says that the reason for having both a man and woman director is to instill a feminine as well as masculine viewpoint and atmosphere in the work, and that he thinks this plan will effect more pleasing and compelling results. A separate cast will be selected for each picture, and no set time for the completion of a picture will be made. Release arrangements are not yet ready to be announced. Sol Le**er Appoints Manager. E. A. Benjamin has been appointed general manager for the Los Angeles office of the All Star Feature Distributors, by Sol Lesser, head of that organization. In addition to his duties as manager of the Sol Lesser enterprises in Los Angeles, Mr. Benjamin will assume control of the feature buying end of the business, and will purchase productions of merit for the system of exchanges that Mr. Lesser is planning to establish throughout the country. Stromberg Meets Press Bunch. Thomas H. Ince introduced Hunt Stromberg, the new publicity director for the Ince corporation, to the representatives of the local press and the trade paper correspondents on the coast at a barbecue and cider party on January 21. The affair was staged at the Cider Mill, a unique restaurant and road house near the studio. Real barbecued beef formed the piece de resistance of an excellent meal, and cider, both hard and soft, was served for the liquid part of the refreshments. Sells Interest in Pasadena Theatre. W. H. Clune, who for the past ten years has had the active management of Clune's Pasadena Theatre, has sold his interest in the house to Henry C. Jensen, of Glendale and Los Angeles. Jensen recently took a long time lease on the new theatre that is being erected on North Raymond avenue, Pasadena, in which he intends to present both road shows and spectacular films. Clune's Theatre, however, will be an exclusive motion picture house, and after the change of management on February 1, it will undergo extensive alterations and improvements. New Company to Produce Comedies. A new film company has been formed in Los Angeles with the intention of producing comedies with Allen Williams as the star, under the title of Klean-Kut Komedies. The company will be known as the Smiles Comedy Company, and with the acquirement of a director, the organization will be complete. Williams was featured as "Kewpie" in a number A "Fur-River?" You Bet Not. All we can say is this is John Bowers in Pauline Frederick's Goldwyn, "Roads of Destiny." of two-reel comedies that were produced at the Horsley studios about a year ago. Boylan Joins British Firm. Malcolm S. Boylan, a member of the Universal publicity staff, has resigned from that position to accept the post of exploitation director for G. B. Samuelson, Ltd., an English firm now producing at Universal City. Boylan's duties will take him to London and New York. National to Increase Output. By the middle of February seven producing units will be at work on film productions at the National Studios in Hollywood, according to an announcement made by Capt. Harry Rubey, president of National. Three of the units will produce comedies, one features, one serials, one short dramatic subjects, and the other, with Polly Moran as star, will make slapstick comedy. Take Over Horsley Studio. Warner Brothers, producers of the Helen Holmes serials and the Al St. John comedies, have taken over the David Horsley studio on Main and Washington, where they will move their producing forces to make future pictures. The Burston studio, former home of Warner Productions, proved to be inadequate in the matter of space. Helen Holmes has begun on her second serial for Warner Brothers, under the direction of Gilbert P. Hamilton; and Al St. John is making preparations to begin shooting on his fifth comedy for the Paramount program. Art Directors Elects. Alfred Alley, of Metro, is the new president of the Motion Picture Art Directors Association ; R. E. Sibley, vicepresident ; Erdras C. Hartley, secretary; and Sidney Ullman, treasurer. Schwab in Los Angeles. D. M. Schwab, who represents the financial interests in the David Butler Film Company, arrived in town last week, and will launch the new company on its first production, which will be begun about February 15. McGafiFey with Mary Pickford. Kenneth McGaffey has resigned from the Famous Players-Lasky editorial department and has become publicity director for the Mary Pickford company, to replace Mark Larkin, who has gone over to Mayflower. A Grauman Theatre for Hollywood. Sid Grauman, now operating two motion picture houses on Broadway, and one soon to be constructed at Sixth and Hill streets, is planning to erect still an