Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

September 23, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 47 * Reginald Barker * \\7 ITH the production of "Hearts " Aflame" as an all-star special for Louis B. Mayer, a new independent producer makes his debut in the person of Reginald Barker, long recognized as one of the greatest directors in the industry. Completed in the filming last week and now in the cutting and titling stages, the picture is declared by its sponsors to pe one of the outstanding box-office triumphs of the Fall season. Reginald Barker was placed under contract by Louis B. Mayer immediately following his completion of "The Storm.'' By his arrangement with Mr. Mayer, the director heads an independent production unit, having his own company, his own staff of assistants and his own corps of technical men. Known as a master of dramatic production Mr. Barker believes he is now in a position to create bigger and more successful pictures than he has made before. Representative of his best effort, "Hearts Aflame" is said to mark an auspicious beginning for his series under the Louis B. Mayer banner. The story is based on Harold Titus' famous novel, "Timber." In the cast are: Frank Keenan, Anna Q. Nilsson, Craig Ward, Richard Headrick. Russell Simpson, Richard Tucker, Walt Whitman, Martha Mattox, Stanton Heck. Ralph Cloninger, Irene Hunt, Joan Standing, Lee Shumway, John Dill and Gordon Magee. C. C. Burr Will Produce New Series of Comedies Starring Raymond McKee C. C. Burr announces that he has signed Raymond McKee, popular legitimate actor and male lead to Shirley Mason in a number of pictures to appear as the male star of the new series of two-reelers to be known as All-Star Comedies. Production of this new series has already been started at Burr's Glendale Studio under the guidance of the same production staff that was responsible for the success of the Torchies. Just which other players will appear with Ray McKee in this new series has not as yet been divulged by Producer Burr, but reports have it that the next week or ten days will mark the announcement of the other screen luminaries C. C. Burr is negotiating with to make this series really all-star. ■ Play Successive Runs Three Christie Comedies played first runs in Minneapolis three weeks in succession. "Any Old Port" played at the State, and was followed by "Mile-a-Minute Mary" at the Blue Mouse and then by "Bucking Broadway" at the Strand. Century Announces New Fall Comedies Pictures Will be Sold in Series — Press Books on Baby Peggy Films The fall announcement of Julius and Abe Stern regarding Century comedies contains besides some novel film material, notice of a radical change in the manner of booking their product. Instead of selling the 52 comedies as the product for the entire year, they will be offered in series as follows: the Brownie series, the Lee Moran series, the Queenie series, the Johnny Fox series, the Baby Peggy series and the special feature Century productions of fairy tales starring Baby Peggy. The comedies also will be offered in blocks of twelve in a variety of choice, with the exception of the Baby Peggy pictures which are not included in this assortment. First on Nov. 6 The special feature Century productions, the first of which is "Little Red Riding Hood," will be issued November G. In due course of time "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Hansel and Gretel" will be put on the market, while scenarios are being written and scenery built for the remainder of the series. Special press books and exploitation ideas will be sent out for the first time in the history of Century comedies in order to assist the exhibitor who books this product. Prominent among the other units is Brownie the Wonder Dog. Among his fall films will be "The Radio Hound," in September: "Wedding Pumps," in October, and "Just Dog," in November. Arvid Gillstrom will be placed in charge of Brownie pictures, supervising the writing of the scenarios as well. Horse Is Starred Queenie, the educated horse, the other clever animal starred by Century, is rapidly making as many friends as Brownie. "Cured," which is published earlj in September will be followed by "True Blue," in which she is supported by Betty May the newest Century beauty, and a special cast. Lee Moran will continue his comedies of married life. His fall pictures will be "Foolish Lives," in September; "Some Family," in October; and "Too Much Mother-in-Law," in November. Johnny Fox will complete his series of bov adventures with "The Fresh Kid." in "October; and "Ginger Face," in November. Besides these units there will be a series of novelty pictures such as all dog. all animal, and all child casts. The directors will be Alf Goulding for Baby Peggy, Arvid Gillstrom for Brownie, and Lee°Moran and Al Herman for the comedies where animals are employed. Pathe Color Film Used With "Blood and Sand" Audiences at the Rialto and Rivoli, and theatres of the Stanley Company in Philadelphia, are reported to have been very efficiently prepared "atmospherically" for the opening scene of the feature "Blood and Sand"— much to the advantage of the premiere of that production. As those scenes are laid in Spain, the managements of the theatres mentioned believed that to precede "Blood and Sand" with a suitable Spanish scenic would be an excellent idea. So they applied to Pathe and were supplied with prints of a Spanish Pathecolor subject called "A Day in Spain." R Al'L H. SLOANE, scenario writer at *■ the New York studios of Fox Film Corporation, has achieved another success with his latest picture, "A Little Child Shall Lead Them." It has been placed on the Fox schedule of specials for the season of 1922-23, and opened an indefinite Broadway engagement at the Lyric theatre. New York, on September 1. "A Little Child Shall Lead Them" is only one of a number of 1922-23 specials for which Mr. Sloane either wrote the scenario or the story and scenario. Among the others are "Silver Wings" featuring Mary Carr; "My Friend the Devil," with Charles Richman; "The Town That Forgot God," directed by Harry Millarde; "If Winter Comes," from the famous A. S. M. Hutchinson novel now in production, and another being made at the Hollywood studios under the working title of ' 'Kentucky Days." Mr. Sloane, who has been associated with William Fox for almost three years, also wrote the story and scenario of "Over the Hill" and "Thunderclap," two of last year's special features. Mr. Sloane who is a graduate of New York University of the class of 1914 is one of the youngest scenario writers in the industry. His experience has carried him through four years of association with the old Edison Studios as film editor and director and as scenario writer for Pathe and Vitagranh. During the war Sloane was in the Intelligence Service of the Gas Defense and has since been with Fox Film Corporation. Among the long list of successful photoplays from the pen of the writer are: "A Manhattan Knight," "The Dead-Line." "The Scuttlers." "His Greatest Sacrifice." "A Stage Romance." "Shackles of Gold." "The Tiger's Cub," "Thief," "Know Your Man," "Beyond Price," "Any Wife" and "Without Fear." Plan Broadway Showing Of Will Nigh Production Information gained from the offices of L. Lawrence Weber & Bobby North, producers and distributors of Will Nigh's coming special "Notoriety" point to plans for an extended Broadway run on that production. The feature is nearing its final length, and a week or two will find it cut down to exhibition footage. Big Cast in Metro Film Laurette Taylor will have a notable supporting cast for the Metro screen version of "Peg O' My Heart," upon which production has been started under the direction of King Vidor. Players include Mahlon Hamilton, Russell Simpson, Lionel Belmore, Nigel Barrie, D. R. O. Hatswell, Fred Huntly. Sidna Beth Ivins, Aileen O'Malley and Ethel Grey Terry.