Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1925-May 1926)

Page Six CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST “Smooth as Satin’ F.B.0. Production Capitol Theatre, New York, June 21st F. B. O. Sets Record as First Independent to Play Three Pictures At Huge Broadway House in One Month. ae enthusiastic reception tendered “Drusilla With a Million” and “Parisian Nights,” two F. B. O. Gold Bond productions at the Capitol Theatre, New York, prompted S. L. Rothaphel (“Roxy”) to book another F. B. O. production for the huge Broadway house. “Smooth As Satin,” an underworld -melodrama starring Evelyn Brent, based on the famous play “The Chatterbox” by Bayard Veiller, author of the well known stage successes, “The Thirteenth Chair” and “Within the Law,” has gone into the world’s largest playhouse on Sunday, June 21st, for a week’s run. The booking of “Smooth As Satin” by the Capitol Theatre sets a record for the Independents. This is the first time in several years that three Independent productions, coming from the same distributing company, play the Capitol Theatre in one month. The fact that “Roxy”, who is known as the world’s greatest showman has selected three F. B. O. productions for showing at the Broadway house, when product is available from the largest producers and distributors in the Industry, speaks volumes for F. B. O.’s 1925-26 line-up. “Smooth As Satin” concerns itself with a girl who has always been a thief, but who goes straight after her marriage to another notorious safe cracker, and makes her husband, newly rescued from a long prison term, tread the straight and narrow with her. “Smooth As Satin” has been directed by Ralph Ince and transposed to screen form by Fred Kennedy Myton. Miss Brent is supported by a notable group of thespians including Bruce Gordon, Fred Kelsey, Fred Esmelton, Mable Van Buren and John Gough. John Golden Stage Success “Thank You” Coming Fox Production “Thank You” one of the Seven Golden Plays Purchased by Fox For Screen Adaptation. Production is well under way at the Fox Film Corporation West Coast Studios on “Thank You,” the John Golden stage success which is being picturized under the direction of John Ford. The first week or so was spent at Crater Camp in the Sierra Madre in Southern California, where many of the exteriors of Ford’s preceding picture “Lightnin’ ” were taken. One of the best all-star casts ever assembled for a Fox picture has been selected for “Thank You.” George O’Brien, who gained his first screen eminence under Ford’s direction in “The Iron Horse,” is playing the leading male role, with dainty Jacqueline Donat Paquin Helps Civic Jubilee Celebration In True Community Spirit One of those who took an active part in the Civic Jubilee Celebration of Hull, Quebec, on June 14 to 16, commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the city was Donat Paquin, proprietor of the two local theatres, the Laurier and the Eden Theatres. Mr. Paquin has taken a personal interest in community projects for some years. He is an officer of the Rotary Club of Hull. Logan cast as the heroine. This is Miss Logan’s first picture under her recently signed long term contract with Fox. In the supporting cast are Alec J. Francis, J. Farrell MacDonald, Cyril Chadwick, James Neill, Edith Bostwick and Frankie Bailey. The play, “Thank You,” is one of the seven Golden stage successes to which Mr. Fox bought the screen rights several months ago. It is by Winchell Smith and Tom Cushing and the screen version is by Frances Marion, who was engaged to write the continuities on four of these Golden plays. Fox News Cameraman On Government Arctic Cruise George H. Valiquette, Fox News camerman at Ottawa, Ontario, is accompanying the official Canadian Government expedition to the Arctic regions as the official cameraman of the party. Every summer for some years past, Mr. Valiquette has gone to the far north with the expedition. Harry M. Berman, formerly general sales manager for F. B. O embarked on his last journey Thursday, June 18th, crossing into that country from which, ’tis said, no traveller returns. The Motion Picture Industry loses one of its finest personalities; and the “passing away” of such a character from this terrestrial globe cannot be viewed without regret. Mr. Harry Berman was possessed of all those idealistic qualities which stamps one as ultra individualistic, a dreamer and_ yet with all this poetry of imagination and inspiration, no one had a better grip on the fundamental principles of doing business and a more rational outlook on the practical requirements of life. Our sympathy is extended to Mrs. Berman, his children and the other members of the family. He achieved the great distinction in life of being sincerely mourned by his fellow-men. J. M. Franklin Gets Into Press , With Tourist Travel Values Manager J. M. Franklin, manager of the B. F. Keith’s Theatre at Ottawa, Ontario, grabbed off half a column of real news in The Ottawa Journal on June 17 when he gave an interview on the subject of the value of tourist traffic to Ottawa. He offered some sound advice and valuable suggestions, all of which did not do him any harm because his name was coupled with the name of the theatre in the interview. Mr. Franklin had just made a motor trip to Montreal and he was able to talk with authority regarding road and other conditions. The Princess Theatre, Rideau St., Ottawa, Ontario, was again threatened by fire on June 16 when flames were discovered shortly after midnight in the premises above the theatre. The fire, which was caused by defective wiring, did not damage the theatre itself and it was doing business next day as usual. Last fall, the Princess, which is owned by A. H. Coplan, was forced to close for a week, however, when a serious fire broke out in the upper floor of the building. The Fern Theatre, Bank Street, Ottawa, operated with much success by Herbert C. Benson, has blossomed forth with a new front and new paint finish as a result of extensive overhauling. The theatre was not closed for the remodelling. THEATRE FOR SALE Fully equipped, splendid location, big sacrifice, reasonable terms. Chitty-Blair Insurance Agency, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. 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