Exhibitor's Trade Review (Jun-Aug 1923)

June 2, 1923 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW 25 Happenings in the Independent Field NAME SIX NEW WARNER FEATURES Lenore Ulric, Hope Hampton, Wes Barry and Johnny Hines to Star Los Angeles. — The first six productions of the eighteen to be produced by the Warner Brothers for the coming season were announced last week by Harry M. Warner. All will be ready for release early this Fall; three are now being produced while preparations are under way for the filming of the others. The six include "The Gold Diggers," a David Belasco production; "Cornered," the play by Zelda Sears and Dodson Mitchell; "Lucretia Lombard," the Kathleen Norris novel being produced by Harry Eapf ; "The Printer's Devil," featuring Wesley Barry; "Little Johnny Jones," featuring Johnny Hines by arrangement with C. C. Burr; and "Tiger Bose," the Belasco play starring Lenore Ulric. "Little Johnny Jones" is rapidly Hearing completion at the Warner Coast studios under the direction of Arthur. Bosson. It is an adaptation by Baymond Schrock of George M. Cohan's stage success. "The Printer's Devil" is being directed by William Beaudine, from the story and scenario written by Julien Josephson. "The Gold Diggers," in which Hope Hampton will be featured, is an adaptation by Grant Carpenter of the Belasco stage play written by Avery Hopwood. The full east has not yet been selected. Harry Beaumont, director of the current Warner release, "Main Street," has been assigned the direction of the Belasco production. TRI-STONE COMEDIES GAINING POPULARITY New York. — In an announcement in which he ascribes much of their success to the careful work in re-editing the productions and supplying an up-to-date line of posters and accessories, Oscar A. Price, President tSf Tri-Stone Pictures, Inc., reports that the New Edition Keystone Comedies being issued by that concern, have won a place among the most popular short subjects at first run houses. Asher's Merrill Theatre in Milwaukee is quoted as a typical example of the first runs which have booked the comedies. After the run of "Dough and Dynamite," a Chaplin revival, Manager Balph Wettstein, of Asher's Merrill, booked "Caught in a Cabaret," the second Chaplin in the series. In reporting to Tri-Stone on "Dough and Dynamite" Mr. Wettstein wrote: "I wish to state we had many compliments on the one we played and the audience seemed to enjoy it very much." "ADHERE TO ORIGINAL TEXT" IS FISHER SLOGAN Los Angeles. — Victor B. Fisher, supervising director of "Youth Triumphant," the initial offering of a series of Fisher productions, announces a policy of close adaptation of popular novels "We believe a close adherence to well known novels will meet with the hearty approval of both exhibitors and public," said Mr. Fisher. "We also believe that advertising to this effect in connection with 'Youth Triumphant ' and other Fisher Productions will bring additional money to the box-office for it is our opinion that the public has become considerably annoyed at picturizations of stories they cannot recognize when they see them on the screen." EIGHT BURR FEATURES FOR COMING SEASON New York. — C. C. Burr announces that he will make eight features for release the coming season. In an interview this week Mr. Burr reviewed the progress made by Mastodon Films Inc., of which he is the head and made public the above announcement. "Looking backward for the moment," said Mr. Burr, "it must be perfectly obvious to those who have given the matter any thought, that during the several months just passed the independent producer anil the independent exchanges have come into their own. Never before have the independents registered such unqualified hits. "It is a matter of record," said Mr. Burr, "that independent productions have been life savers in a great many instances lately. Go over the list of box office winners of the past few months," continued Mr. Burr, "and you will be surprised to learn the great number of successful independent productions. It is a record to be proud of and one that I am confident will be much greater when the returns are in for the season to come." BELASCO LEAVES JUNE 4 FOR WARNER STUDIO New York. — David Belasco will leave on June 4 for the Warner Brothers' Coast studios to personally supervise the making of a number of features which will be known as David Belasco productions. Mr. Belasco will be accompanied by Lenore Ulric, who will be starred by the Warners in the film version of her famous stage success, "Tieer Bose." ' b This will mark the first time in the notable career of the theatrical producer that he becomes definitely identified with the industry. COHN FINDS "SPIRIT OF READINESS" IN CHICAGO "Never before have I seen the exhibitors' spirit of readiness to co-operate with the independents so marked as it is now," said Jack Cohn, of C. B. C, in a message from Chicago. "Many of them said they registered their biggest receipts from various independent pictures and everywhere there is *, tendency to admit Sh^y «,re going to keep their eyr-s on win independents this tear and leave a goodly amount of open dates for them, even among the owners of the biggest theatres in the biggest cities. Some of them — a few — don't believe, yet, that we're to be relied on. They are ready to be swayed either way — but they ABE interested. We've got to keep up the good work," concludes Mr. Cohn in his exhortation to his fellow independents to realize their opportunity and make the most of it. POSTPONE FILMING "BARBARA WORTH" Principal to Hold Wright Novel Till Fall — Start Work on "When a Man's a Man" Los Angeles. — Filming of "The Winning of Barbara Worth" by Principal Pictures Corporation has been postponed until the Fall. Sol Lesser, president of this organization, announces that the research work and the extensive preparations and plans necessary to properly film this Harold Bell Wright novel, have made this expedient. "When a Man's a Man" has been chosen to take the place of "Barbara Worth" at this time. This is another of the Wright novels. Florence Vidor and John Bowers will play the leading roles in the screen version of the latter story. Edward Cline will direct. Work on the adaptation is being rushed at the Principal Pictures studio on the Coast, and the cast is being assembled. The company will leave shortly for Arizona, the locale in which most of the Wright stories is laid. The author has telegraphed Mr. Lesser that he is prepared to co-operate in the production. Mr. Wright will temporarily desert his Tucson ranch and take up headquarters at Prescott, Arizona. WEST COMPLETES CAST FOR "UNKNOWN PURPLE" Los Angeles. — M. H. Hoffman, head of the Truart organization, states that the cast for the screen version of ' ' The Unknown Purple" is practically complete. Boland West who wrote the original stage play will also direct the picture. The players who will be seen in "The Unknown Purple ' ' are Henry B. Walthall, Alice Lake, Ethel Gray Terry, Helen Ferguson, Brinsley Shaw, Stuart Holmes, Bichard Wayne, Frank Currier and Johnny Arthur. It is expected that work on "The Unknown Purple" will be started soon. Charles Murray-Polly Moran Re-Issue for June First New York. — H. E. Aitken, vice president and general manager Tri-Stone Pictures, Inc., announces that the fourth of the series of New Edition Keystone Comedies will be issued June 1st. "Those College Girls" is the title and Charles Murray and Polly Moran are the featured players. In some parts of the country it has been shown under the title of "His Bitter Half." New Burr Feature Previewed New York. — "Three O'clock in the Morning," the latest C. C. Burr production, was previewed by the producer last Tuesday evening at the Gotham Theatre, New York. "Three O'clock in the Morning" is an original story especially written for the screen. Hatton to Star for Sanford Los Angeles. — Sanford Productions announce the closing of negotiations for the production and release of eight five-reel westerns featuring Richard (Dick) Hatton, to be sold on the State Bights market.