Exhibitor's Trade Review (May-Aug 1924)

July 12, 1924 Page 27 The 'Big Little SHIPMAN DRAMAS FOR SELZNICK A series of twelve Nell Shipman two-reel dramas of the Great Northwest has been acquired by Selco Pictures, Incorporated, for release through the Selznick Distributing Corporation. The first of the series, "The Trail of the North Wind," is finished and will be released on August i. The second two-reeler, "The Light on Lookout," is also completed, and will be issued on S-eptember i. The others of the series now being filmed, will be released thereafter at the rate of one a month. Nell Shipman, who has long been a prominent figure in the production of outdoor pictures, is author, star, director and producer of this new series. Using her studio-camp at Priest Lake, Idaho, as the base of operations, she is choosing a great variety of natural locations for the settings of the productions. * * * DUANE THOMPSON TO PLAY OPPOSITE HIERS Duane Thompson has been engaged as Walter Hiers' leading woman for Duane Thomp son, o f Christie Comedies, is about to celeb r a t e the Fourth of July. the first of the series of comedies which he will make for Educational Film Exchanges release. Hiers arrived in Los Angeles last week after closing his contract in New York with E. W. Hammons, president of Educational, and will start work immediately. Hiers will have Archie Mayo as director for the first of his two-reel comedies. Mayo has directed Christie Comedies, Mermaid Comedies and Lloyd Hamilton,' and is well known in the short subject field. Duane Thompson, who will play the lead with Hiers, is said to be a comer in the comedy field. The greater part of her work has been with Christie Comedies and Bobby Vernon Comedies, in which she has won a host of boosters among exhibitors and fans. ^ ^ ^ FIRST DEMPSEY SHORT PICTURE RELEASED Universal leads off its short subject releases for the current week with the first two-reeler in the Jack Dempsey, "Fight and Win" series, the much heralded series of two-reel romantic comedy dramas starring the world's champion heavy weight boxer. The first release is "Winning His Way," directed by Erie C. Kenton. Several pre-release showings of the Dempsey pictures afford ample proof that the pictures have taken the public fancy and that Dempsey 's screen following will vie with his ring following. Gerald Beaumont, popular writer of sporting fiction, is the author of the various stories. NOEL SMITH BACK WITH CENTURY Noel Smith, director of many Century comedies among which are numbered several in which By.by Peggy was starred, has returned to the Century lot after a long vacation. His first production will be "The Tomboy," starring Wanda Wiley supported by Harry McCoy. Mary Land, who played the mother part in "Sweet Dreams," will be seen as McCoy's mother in "The Tomboy." ^ ^ ^ RICE ON THE JOB Grantland Rice in his forthcoming screen "Sportlight," which bears the title of "Hobbies" and appears on the Pathe program of releases, has caught in action one of the greatest aggregations of contemporary literary lights and cartoonists ever^ presented. INTERNATIONAL NEWS SHOWS SPEED The International News Reel Corporation has received great praise of its efficient service to exhibitors with pictures of the Democratic National Convention in New York City last week. The news reel company strained every effort to shoot pictures of the opening of the convention to all parts of the country at aeroplane and express speed. Pictures taken at the opening of the convention on Tuesday were supplied to the New York Theatres that afternoon. At the same time Universal started two negatives to Chicago, one by aeroplane and one by fast express. The aero pictures reached the MidWest metropolis according to schedule. Prints were rushed out by Chicago laboratories and the pictures presented to the Chicago public on Wednesday. The convention shots, comprising 300 feet of film, were issued as a prerelease section of International News No. 53, released by all Universal exchanges. Thirty of these prints were distributed to Chicago theatres. 'Pigskin' Educational 2 Reels Lige Conley furnishes the fun in this Jack White Comedy. He gives a clear demonstration of how football should not be played. Lige is a student in a Kansas college and makes the football team. He is evidently one of the great drawbacks for his work is a great help to the opposing team. There is no sense to this picture, yet it has many amusing situations. The kickoff when a watermelon has been substituted for the ball offers a good laugh. The scenes on the football field are somewhat long and too much overdrawn. This picture is safe booking. 'Held for Hostage' Pathe 1 Re The eighth chapter of "The Fortieth Door" easily sustains the interest builded by its seven predecessors. Aimee and Jack are discovered in new perils. The ancient tomb in which they were hiding is plundered by vandal sheiks, and the girl is taken as a hostage. A situation that will bring 'em back next week is evolved as Jack lies helpless in a hospital, while the girl he loves is at the mercv of the villain.