Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1924 - Feb 1925)

Page 36 Exhibitors Trade Review De Forest Phonof ilm Increases Capital ANNOUNCEMENT is made from the offices of DeForest Phonofilms, Inc., 220 West 42nd St., that authority had been granted by the State of Delaware to increase the capital stock of the corporation from 55,000 to 220,000 shares, no par value. Dr. Lee DeForest, president of DeForest Phonofilms, and the creator of the radio talking motion pictures, issued the following statement relative to the increase: "Since February of this year, DeForest Phonofilms, Inc., has been making and releasing to theatres east of the Missouri river, this new form of entertainment. Everywhere they have been shown, Phonofilms have been most enthusiastically received, and the demand for our productions has been far in excess of our shipment. "At the present time we have scores of contracts that we are unable to fill because of lack of proper facilities. The Phonofilm is now past the experimental stage and, having created a tremendous demand for our productions, it is our intention to make more elaborate ones— -full length features in fact — and to convert into Phonofilms famous Broadway successes of the dramatic, musical comedy and operatic stages. Negotiations are now pending to make one of the most famous musical revues, photographing action, music, dialogue and choruses on the same strip of film. "These big revues, for instance, can appear in only the largest cities, yet everywhere they are wanted. The cost of transporting them is prohibitive, and, when it is taken into consideration that it requires from $25,000 to $35,000 a week to operate them, it has been found that there are not more than ten cities outside New York that the producers of these revues can afford to visit. By our process we can make this form of entertainment and supply it not only to the lesser cities, but to every town and hamlet throughout the country. "We are also planning to make pictures abroad, among the elaborate scenics in which every sound will be recorded with the action. There is also a vast opportunity for these pictures in the industrial field. "In order to accomplish these big things, upon which we have been working for several months, more capital is necessary. Negotiations are under way with a group of fi nanciers for the underwriting of this issue, and consummation of the deal is expected within a few days." CENTURY TITLES ^ CHANGED "Up In the Air," the first of the new pictures Wanda Wiley is making for Century Comedies, has been changed to "Looking Down." In "Looking Down," which is the first of the series written by George Fouret, the noted French humorist, Miss Wiley is supported by Joe Moore, youngest brother of the famous Owen, Matt and Tom Moore. Jesse Robbins, the noted feature and comedy director wielding the megaphone. Another title change announced by Century this week is that of the latest Buddy Messinger comedy, "Sailing." This has been changed to "Sailing Along." In it Buddy has a new leading lady in Stella Doyle, the talented young English stage and screen actress, who recently came to this country to win new honors on the screen. Harry McCoy is also in the cast of "Sailing." No this is not a tie-up for silk hosiery but merely one of the scenes . from "Just a Good Guy" which the prolific Hal Roach made for Pathe. NEWS EDITOR INJURED M. D. Clofine, editor of the International News reel, was struck and severely injured by an automobile in New York City last week. For many hours his life hung in the balance. He now is thought to be out of danger, although he is still confined to the Knickerbocker Hospital. Clofine, who has been visiting Leo Pollock, dramatic writer for the New York American, was crossing a dimly lighted street when the accident occurred. Clofine, crossing between two automobiles, did not notice that the second car was being towed by the first. He tripped on the tow rope, and as he was falling, was struck by the towed car. No bones were broken, but he was severly cut and bruised and for a time it was thought he had suffered mortal internal injuries. Clofine is well known and popular in both newspaper and motion picture circles in New York. He was a staff man on the New York American for many years. He has handled the make-up, sub-title writing and other phases of work for the International News reel for several years. "INTO THE NET" A unique situation has arisen in Springfield, Alass., by the booking of the Patheserial "INTO THE NET," which stars Allene Ray and was written by Richard E. Enright, Commissioner of Police of New York City. For the first time in the history of Springfield, an exhibitor has booked a picture, especially a serial, to play both his houses in first and second run. The Capitol and Bijou Theatres, operated by Abe Goodside, are running "INTO THE NET." The second run house, the Bijou, has booked the feature length version of the picture, while Goodside's first run house, (the Capitol) two blocks up the street, is running the production in serial form. To date this serial has broken all records of recent date in drawing power of a chapter photoplay. Exhibitors everywhere are reporting unprecedented patronage for a serial. According to one well known trafe publication (The Variety) "INTO THE NET" wiU be one of the biggest serial "money makers" released in the past few years. * * * HAVEZ RETURNS AS "GAG MAN" Jean Havez, considered one of the foremost story writers and "gag" men in the motion picture comedy field, has returned to the fold of the Harold Lloyd Corporation to assist in the making of the new college comedy for Pathe. Mr. Havez was originally with the Lloyd organization and participated in the construction of such successes as "A Sailor Made Man," "Grandma's Boy," and "Dr. Jack." He left the bespectacled comedian to take a six months' trip to Europe and on his return joined the forces of Buster Keaton and was one of the trio which devised "The Navigator," considered Buster's best picture. In addition to Mr. Havez, Harold Lloyd's production staflf consists of Sam Taylor and Fred Newmeyer, directors; and John Grey, Tim Whelan and Ted Wilde as title writers and gagmen. ^ ^ HAGERMAN SUCCEEDS This story should read like a "Horatio Alger" and should be entitled from "Office Boy to Boss," because that is really what has happened to Arthur Q. Hagerman now in charge of publicity at the Hal Roach Studios. It was announced last week that Hagerman had succeeded Garrett Graham as publicity manager on the Hal Roach lot. This announcement will recall his story to many.