Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

February 4, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 69 With the Procession in Los Angeles By Harry Hammond Beall Jack Pickford is quite busy at the United Studios, conferring with the Pickford organization, and particularly his renowned sister, about the details of Jack's next production, "The Tailor Made Man." * * * Lloyd Hamilton, of Hamilton-White Comedies, has returned from a vacation in San Francisco and is commencing his sixth picture at United Studios. * * * Los Angeles, where many of Richard Walton Tully's big stage successes were first produced, is to claim Mr. Tully for a second motion picture production, and may become the permanent home of his film activities. He has signed contracts with M. C. Levee, president of United Studios, for studio space and organization and production facilities for the picturization of another of his stage plays, probably "Omar the Tentmaker," and will begin preparations for the filming of this second picture as soon as he has completed production on "The Masquerader," starring Guy Bates Post, which is now under way at United. * * * Thomas Meighan, Paramount star, seemingly cannot escape trains. If he isn't commuting between New York and Los Angeles, he is "working on the railroad," so to speak. During the last week scenes for "The Proxy Daddy" have been made aboard a special train at one of the local stations. * * * George Melford returned from New York recently and will begin work later in the month on his production for Paramount, 'The Cat That Walked Alone," with Dorothy Dalton. * * * A two-reel children's comedy is now under production at the Hal E. Roach Studios, with Fred Newmeyer, director of ' the Harold Lloyd company, at the megaphone. The script was written by Sam Taylor of the Lloyd scenario staff, and Charles Parrott. The following youngsters will have the leading roles : "Sunshine Sammy," John Hatton, Anna May Bilson, who appeared in Lloyd's "Now or Never" ; Jackie Condon, who worked in "Penrod," and Billy Condon. * * * T. J. Crizer, film editor, has cut and assembled this past year seventy-five comedies. He is now working on Harold Lloyd's comedy temporarily titled "He \\ ho Hesitates." and a Pollard blacksmith comedy called "The Anvil Chorus." Christie's New Policy In 1922 the Christie Company will produce only two-reel comedies, devoting its attention exclusively to developing the short comedy to a high grade from a production standpoint. Christie has adopted this policy because it is believed that the day of the cheap two-reeler has passed forever. The tworeel comedies which will get into the best theatres this year and in the future will be the kind which are made as "features in themselves," with every detail of cast, stories, settings, direction, etc., carried out with a quality ranking with the five and seven-reel pictures on the bill. In offering twenty-four two-reel comedies in a twelve-month period, Christie can give the maximum in a variety of stars, a wide variance of plots and a general high average of production. * * * Emile Chautard has arrived at the R-C studios in Hollywood from New York to direct Pauline Frederick in her next R-C production, a film adaptation of William J. Locke's novel, "The Glory of Gementina." * * * Sessue Hayakawa was host at the R-C Studios recently to more than 100 officers and men of the Japanese navy when the Japanese training ship, Taisei Maru, commanded by Captain K. Asari, touched at Los Angeles harbor. The majority of the visitors were naval cadets who are enjoying a trip around the world as part of their training for commissions in the Nipponese navy. Mr. Hayakawa explained the various details of picture making and showed his guests some of the sets used in his recently finished production, "The Vermillion Pencil," adapted from Homer Leo's novel of the same name. * * * Frothingham Ships Prints Direct J. L. Frothingham, the producer, has instituted a new departure in the film business, by shipping all of his prints on his latest production, "Shattered Idols," to the various First National exchanges throughout the United States, direct from Los Angeles. Hereofore it has been the custom of producers to send their negatives back to New York, where prints were made and distributed. Mr. Frothingham states that he believes in spending his money in Los Angeles whenever possible and that no advantage is gained by sending the original negatives on to the Eastern metropolis for general distribution. * * * To golf or not to golf — that is the question facing Stuart Paton and Frank Mayo in the filming of the country club scenes for "The Way Back," Mayo's current Universal starring effort. The location experts are hunting for a club which will offer wonderfully scenic views across the links — and Paton, being Scotch, hopes that a clever course will be included. * * * "Watch your step and be careful where you lay your cigarette !" This is the greeting Herbert Rawlinson gives all guests who enter his new dressing room at Universal City. The star has just finished dealing with interior decorators and says he's afraind to turn around for fear he will mar the furniture or spoil the rug. * * * Through the cooperation of the Union Pacific railway, Universal has secured typical engines of 1870. The models were hard to locate and but for the cooperation of the railway, the company filming "In the Days of Buffalo Bill" under Edward Laemmle's direction, would have been delayed. * * * R. J. Tobin, vice-president and general manager of the R-C Studios, has returned from a flying trip to New York, where he was in conference with officials at the Home Office in regard to R-C production plans for the coming year. ROBERT ENSMINGER, now directing pictures for Vitagraph. Work Around Clock At Sennett Studio Time Lost Due to Rainfalls Causes Units to Work All Night (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24.— In an effort to catch up with the schedule on a number of productions under way, various Mack Sennett units are working nights as well as days at the studios. Heavy rains during the month of December, which caused numerous interruptions and considerable loss of time, is the reason. Work Under Bright Lights At present the cutting and editing of "When You Leave Home," 'The Blockhead" and Ben Turpin's "Bright Eyes" under the electric lights of the laboratories throughout the night. Out on the lot the fourth Billy BevanMildred June comedy for First National, Mabel Normand's "Suzanna" and Ben Turpin's "The Robin's Nest" under the powerful Klieg lights. Intermittent showers is the only interruption to the work. Many of the players and artisans sleep at the studio or in the immediate vicinity. Hang Out Wet Clothes During a recent shower the rain found its way through the building in which quantities of women's wearing apparel and costumes were kept. Between showers, when the sun is shining, ropes are stretched and the studio lots assume all the aspects of a laundry drying yard. $10,000 Loss in Fire (Special to Exhibitors Herald) EDWARDSPORT, IND., Jan. 24.— Fire recently destroyed the Jewel theatre resulting in a loss of $10,000 partly covered by insurance. Defective wiring is supposed to have been the cause. Charles Linker and Melville Mix are the owners. No plans for rebuilding have been announced.