The Moving picture world (January 1924-February 1924)

482 MOVING PICTURE WORLD February 9, 1924 A Vnirersal Release LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY HAD SPOTTED BABY PEGGY Ai a matter of fact they did, so far as the camera was concerned, hut the big idea is that this banner shows the skyline of New York with the populace clamoring to do homage to "The Darling of New York." The details show up poorly, but it's a great idea. Painting Supplements Lobby Display Banner Interesting possibilities are developed by Manager Stille, of the Liberty Theatre, Portland, Oregon, in his use of a First National painting in the banner on Barthelmess in The Fighting Blade. This is set into the painted rock work of the banner, balanced by a fabric panel with the star and title and with two real swords instead of one fighting blade. These paintings are much better portraiture than most house artists are capable of, and this ingenious utilization of the idea suggests a new line of work capable of considerable elaboration, and the use of "real" properties is still further suggestive. It's not altogether new in this latter aspect, but worthy of noting again since the idea has been so little used. The Liberty seems to be specializing in frames of late, but we wish they would find a better disposition of the stills on the floor frames. A Radio Prologue Australia has the radio bug in as marked degree as America, so C. Scantelbury, of the Majestic Theatre, Brisbane, figured out a wireless prologue for The Isle of Lost Ships and enlisted the aid of G. O. Dagnell, of the First National agency in preparing it. The house was darkened and on the stage only the spark of the instrument could be seen while through an amplifier came the voice of a man who could give dramatic value to the appeal of the S. S. Tiburon. In terse sentences he outlined the position and difficulties of the ship and appealed for the immediate aid the situation required. Then the broadcasting suddenly ceased as the main title flashed. With the audience at a strong tension, the film seemed doi.bly interesting, and the patrons went out and told the rest of the town with sui.h excellent results that the prologue was repeated when the film went to the later run houses. It made The Isle of Lost Ships one of the outstanding films of the past year in and around Brisbane. Conservative Using the personal statement style of advertisement for Within the Law, W. Griffith Mitchell, of the Majestic Theatre, Kalamazoo, Mich., did not take his space to tell that it was the greatest ever or the most costly or any of that stuff, but told that it was a striking example of Miss Talmadge's versatility, contrasting it with some of her more recent roles. It served the purpose better than the superlatives and really sold lr.c-re tickets. An Organ Recital Helped the Slump Figuring that he needed something to jazz up the week before Christmas, and realizing that he could not afford to spend much for an additional feature, H. B. Vincent, of the Beacham Theatre, Orlando, Fla., played the organ. He didn't play it himself, but he made his organist, Herman F. Siewert, the star, even over the film, which was Barthelmess in The Fighting Blade. Down there they think that Siewert can give even Guilmant pointers on the windpiano and the Christmas Eve business was almost as heavy as that for Christmas Day. The recital number opened with the march from Aida, followed by the baccarole from Tales of Hoffmann. These were played with the curtain down and the house in semidarkness, the organist picked up by a spot. Then the curtain was taken up to disclose b. silver star with a blue spot on it and off-stage a mixed quartet sang It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. This was followed by God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen, and then Silent Night sung by the soprano alone, che four voices coming in on Adeste Fideles, while from the center of the stage a "Merry Christmas" was flashed from a transparency box. It cost very little and yet it proved such an attraction that it will probably be repeated with a special Easter program. This leads to the suggestion that you can help business all through the Lenten season, If you have a clever organist, with selections from the various musical settings of the Stabat Mater You can even stage a weekly morning recital that will be worth a great deal more than the direct money to you in the standing you will gain with the better class of patrons. A First National Releast ADDING A PAINTING TO THE LOBBY BANNER This seems to be a new wrinkle from the Liberty Theatre, Portland, Oregon, where one of the First National paintings was set into the banner on Barthelmess in The Fighting Blade. These colored enlargements are better than most house artists can do.