The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

MOVING PICTURK WORLD » Theatre Shortage Forces "Scarlet Letter" Removal A report that Metro-GoldwyiiMaycr will withdraw "The Scarlet I-etter" from the Central Theatre, New York City, about Thanksgiving time, was verified \>y Nicholas M. Sehenck, vicepresident of m!-G.-M., this week, when he said: ••\Ve deei)ly regret the necessity of withdrawins' Scarlet Letter" for we are firmly convinced that Miss Gish's powerful portrayal oC Hester Prynne' niiglit continue with the greatest success for many niontlis to come, hut it is absolutely necessary that we have a house for 'The Fire Brigade.' which, in my judgment, cannot wait more than another week or two before it is given its New York i)reniicre. ■"The Big I'arade' and lien Mur' mus't go on, and in the matter of sacrificing one oC out splendid Broadway runs the decision was to withdraw 'Scarlet Letter." ,, , •"The Fire Brigade' calls for a Hroadway run. and this will be given in the Central, very shortly." A. M. P. A. Luncheon Walter lOberliardt, witli Harry Hirs'htield, Cheese Clul) president, as otiiciiil announcer, put on a pantomime at the regular weekly A M. 1'. A. luncheon at the Hofbrau, Thursday. The act was a flop. The guests of honor were the motion picture critics of the New York newspapers and Harry painfully and laboriously tried to make 'em say something. The best he coiild rin was to show the assembled V.MI'.VS tlie i)robal)le reason why tlie guests hud ([Ualilied a.s critics of the dunil) drama. Hall of tliem were l)eautirul. (-".il per ,-,.nt of the N. Y. film critics Marry pointed nut. l>el..n'4ed to tlir fair sex). .Ml w-re dumb. Hornstein Responds Kire last week damaged the l.rojection booth of the Uialto, I'assaic, N.'.T., but three hours lat.r .loe Hornstein of the National Theatre Supply <"o. had installed new equipment in response to a call lor help from Manager Harry Hecht. Loew Books Tunney .Marcus Loew has signed Cene Tunney for a tour of his eircuil at II reputed salary of $7,000 a week. The champ will start at I. news' Slate on November '.I!). Buckley Names Fox Charles Donald Fox has been named eastern editorial representative of Mary IM.kford and Douglas Fairbanks. reports Harrv 1). liuckley. their general personal represent at i vi and business manager. Signs the Duncans .loHfph M. Selieiiek l>!<HiKiK-d «lie l>llii«:m Si>.<ei-» for II xerle-s <>l' *|>eei:«l l>ietiirrM to he iiiatle iimler the MuperviMlon of .'"Im • CoiiMlillne. Jr.. for I iiMed \rtlMt>* releu'K-. "'roll*) ""<• Kvn." the ««.i»e siieecs. lie their Hr»« ei>-»tiirrillK velilele. n ork «lll •««• Mtnrtrd at the I'iekfordKnlrhuiikK jitiidlo In ll<>ll>wooil. Lewis Is Ad Chief Kiirniii lie\\ IN i.s the iie^^ ad vertir.iiiK and plililieitj iiiaiiauer of AA'iiriier Itros., siieeeeding \> att I/. I'lirker, who rONiK'iied to NPeiiil SI \eriil iiioiitli.s on (lie l*n4'ilii> Const. I.ewiK hii.s been in ehiiVKe of the coiiiI ilil.^'Vs iiewN|»ji Iters serialixntioii. He eiinie <o \\:iriier liro-.. %vlivii the eoiiiIJ.'iiiy took over \ ilagrjipli. Hi.s initial niolioii pii'dire *^ork wilK witii "Po|i" l.liliiii :it the t'a>kio*iN old \oitli IMiilfldelpliSa Ntllilio. Danish Co. Migrates One of the Danish lilm companies, DaiisU Film Industri, popularly known as ■■I'alladieni" has reieiitly removed its entire organization to Paris, France. The reason is stated to be tlie fact that several new hims will be taken in the .Southern i)arts of ICu ro|)e. A Hit in Europe p. D. C. reports that Cecil B. Ue.Mille's "The \'olga Boatman" is doing record business wherever shown in Kurope. It has broken a flock of box-ofHce records in c.friiiany and .Sweden. Prague has il foi an extended run. ^■iclllla will see it in twelve t heat res simultaneously. Rembusch May Sell Frank .1. Keiiibusch, who owns a string of fourteen theatres in Indiana, is reported to be negotiating the sale of his houses to Publix Theatres, Inc. l!embusch has been president < ( the .M. P. T. I), of Indiana fo ■ two years. UFA Retrenching? Kumors in New York tell of an alleged retrenchment by UFA in Germany. The enormous FF.\ buildim; in Potzdanier Platz. Berlin, will be converted into a restaurant to make it more remunerative. It is now used for headeiuarters. The cost of ".Met ropclis." ailds rttnioi-, is partly resi)onsible. Herbel Promoted I'niversal has named It. M. Herbel western sales direitor and will move his headiiuar^ers to the home oftiie. reiiorts Lou B. Metzger, general sales manager. L. J. .Sclilaifer. HerlicTs predecessor, now is with Universal t^hain Theatrical Knterpr'scs. Just Like Papa J.'or a birthday iirescnt from nis wife, on October 1.'), Lloyd Hughes, First National player, got a son. Mrs. Hughes foriTier1. was (iloria Hope. Neilan with "Connie" .Marshall Neilan will direct Constani-e Talniadge in her next First National vehicle. "Carlotta." He has signed the contract with Joseph M. Scheiuk. Brand with Keaton Harry Brand. .)cis.|>h .M. ScheiiclVs imblicily diicclin f-'iseven years, has been ■|n,ide manager of Buster Kealc:i I'roductions ill Hollywooil. Boost Australia .\usiralia is preparing a H.o'iOfoot propaganda film ciniiodyiilg the country's history ,iinl present attractiveness. F. P. Plans a Canadian Studio To Defeat the British Quota Production Activities May Be Extended to England — Canada Receptive (.Sfii-iitil to Moving Picture World, Ottaiva, Nov. 3.) The incorporation took place at Victoria, B. C, on October 28 of the Famous Players-Canadian Corporation of TorontQ and Vancouver, B. C, as a separate provincial company organization with a capitalization of $15,000,000 to carry on business in the Province of British Columbia. W ith this step caxne the news at Victoria that Famous Players-Lasky had entered British Columbia for the establishment of a production studio of large proportions wherein features would be made for distribution throughout the British Empire and in foreign countries. Announcement was made that the company is now branching out into an international producing Dreams Come True Once in a while it happens. Gilbert Roland, a Spaniard, 23 years old, and almost unknown as a screen actor, has been chosen as leading man for Norma Talniadge in her First .National picture, "Caiiiille." Joseph M. Sehenck has given him a five-year contract on the strength of his work in "The Blonde Saint.'' Billy Bitzer Back Billy Bitzer, the famous cameraman, is back oil Broadway after a long absence. His name will apiiear at the premiere at the Cameo on November 7 of 'Natural Vision" pictures. For three years he has been perfecting the process and he claims that it will revolutionize business. the To Fight a Trust The convention call issued by .liie Seider for the New Jersey theatre owners' convention on November IS and 1!) is: "Prevent complete trustification." The call promises that "your attendance in spite of any obstacle is warranted to bring about release from the shackles of business monopoly.". Assets $50,000 The total assets of the .Michigan M. P. T. O. are revealed to bo more than $130,000 in a statement eiiamating from the organization's ortices since the Battle Creek convention. Bombing Rife ■I'lieatre bombing has again liroken out in Detroit. Michigan, where the front section of the Van Dyke Theatre was demolished one evening last week by an exploding bomb. The damage was about $1,000. A Record New Year? The new yi-ar vill sec a record Hcillywood pioduetion, says B. P. Schulberg of Famous I'layers. W ithin thirty days he will start work on ten new pictures. .Seven are under way now. That Is only the beginning, he says. Now Free-Lancing I'liay .Marniiiiit has severed relatiipns with Famous I'layers and has become a free lance. organization and, besides the plant in Canada, production activities and facilities would be extended to lingland. The establishment of a large studio in Canada had been rumored for some time, past because of the discussion in Great Britain regarding a film quota system and because of the adoption or Icontingent plans in foreign countries. Some weeks ago there was a definite rumor that a large United States producing company proposed to establish a studio either at Ottawa, the Canadian capital, or in British Columbia on the Pacific Coast. Incidentally, the incorporation of the $15,000,000 company in British Columbia has come while the Imperial Conference is in session in London, England. One of the questions provided for the conference by the Canadian Department of Trade and Commerce is: "What is a British picture?" The purpose of this question, from the Canadian point of view, is to obtain a ruling that a British Empiremade picture Svould qualify under the quota plan in Great Britain and in the British Dominions, as well, possibly, as under the kontingent plan of foreign countries. The Canadian Government is anxious to encourage the establishment of large studios in Canada bj' United Slates or Canadian producers to meet the quota proposals. 3,878 in Germany There are 3,878 picture theatres in Germany, according to figures recently issued by a leading trade paper in that country. The total seating capacity of these theatres is said to be 1,402,462. Nearly one-half of the theatres have been opened since (he war. Pu blix-Saenge r Deal Closed llou>4«>N ill t^^elve Noiitli«-rii NiateN ^vtll lio iiriinlrtHi llirouuh the f(»riuntl«>n of l*iil»lix Siieiiu*'** 'I'lu-atrr**. Inc. Tlie^ Im IXMIRllt ill .Norlli <':ir<iliiin, Si^iilli i ':ir«»liii:i, .\ Inliniiiii. M ImhImsi|[|»i, 4M'orul:i. 'I'**\hn, l-'loriila, l<4>ii iNiiiiia, V rkaiiNHs. 'IViiiU'SK*'*' N*M\ M«»\ii*o jiiiil Uklahoiiui. K. A . HirliarilN, Jr., and Jiillnii Sa(*iiK«*r, «vh4» clitMiMl 1 lir ileal Itli Sani Kaf x. Ita« r Irft -\e« > ork for Saiitli. Tliore ill lie no roiilllet. It iH MUhl. Mltfi tlie iiianaKfeiiieiit of either the riihli \ or Sneiiuer elreiiltH.