Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

September 30, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 75 i With the Procession in Los Angeles By Harry Hammond Beall WITH Sam W. B. Cohn as his trusty exploitation aide, T. L. Tally, veteran Los Angeles exhibitor, is once more in the harness directing the destinies of the Broadway theatre thai bears his name. The theatre was recently leased to Mischa Gutterson, former Grauman orchestra leader, who proved that as a theatre manager he was a wonderful musician. * * * Tod Browning, Universal's high powered director, is a bachelor temporarily while his wife is in Montana. * * * Lindsay McKenna, one of the few cases of real Scotch left on the coast, has resigned as publicity director for Mike Levee's United studios. * * * William Foster Elliott, well known short story writer, has been added to the motion picture and dramatic staff of the Los Angeles Times. ■* * * George Landy, who imitates Hans Christian Anderson so far as the newspapers, Richard Walton Tully and Guy Bates Post are concerned, is in Denver handling the exploitation there of '"The Masquerader," Tully's first film production. His efforts at the Kincma theatre here on the same feature brought the biggest attendance in seven months. Bill Keefe is the newest member of the Robertson-Cole press staff, but is one of the veteran publicists at that, having been the boy who made D. W. Griffith famous in the early days. * * * Roy Miller, associated with Fred Miller in the California and Miller theatres here, is out of the hospital much improved in health and anticipating a banner season at both playhouses. * * * Frank B. Davison, who staged the motion picture industry's artistic presentations with famous stars at California's Pageant of Progress and Industrial Exposition, is receiving congratulations for the capable manner in which he handled same. * * * The Mission Theatre, where such famous plays as "The Four Horsemen," "The Three Musketeers," "Orphans of the Storm" and "Foolish Wives" were first introduced to the world's screens, ushers in its 1922 fall season with a big slash in its admission prices. Harry David, managing director, has booked for his opening attraction under the new policy the ten reel William Fox special "My Friend the Devil" for a world premiere. In commenting on his move in the changing of admission prices David stated that in the main the action was a direct result of the readjustment of conditions in the producing end of the industry. Exhibitors who, before the actual retrenchment period through which the heads of the industry have just placed their studios, were forced to pay high rental prices, have just begun to feel the benefit of productions made under favorable conditions. The ultimate result is cheaper admission prices, and the Mission Theatre is setting the pace of the premiere houses throughout the country in inaugurating a cut. * * * Goldwyn studios are enjoying a brief visit from Goldwyn's Godsol. new president, F. J. Abe Warner, of the Warner Brothers organization in the East, has arrived in Los Angeles to confer with J. L. and S. L. Warner concerning next year's production schedule and also the enlargement of the Warner Brothers studio on the coast. The W arner Brothers plan to produce eighteen popular novels for which the film rights have already been bought and announcement of which will be made in the near future. * * * Richard Walton Tclly has gone to New York, taking with him the completed copy of "Omar, the Tentmaker." Upon his arrival in the eastern metropolis Mr. Tully will deliver the big production to First National and proceed to Europe for a vacation. * * * George Melford is on his way to NewYork this week. The Paramount producer will make Joseph Hergesheimer's "Java Head" in New England and at the Long Island studio and the author will collaborate with Waldemar Young on the continuitv. * * * Alfred Gkfen has gone east, where he will meet Thomas -Meighan, and together they will go to George Ade's home at Boone, Ind., there to discuss finally the forthcoming production of the humorist's new photodrama, "Back Home and Broke." Green is to direct this picture at the Long Island studio of the company and Meighan will star. The same combination made "Our Leading Citizen." Pete Smith, director of publicity and advertising for Marshall Neilan Productions for the past three years, will temporarily leave this post to take charge of the exploitation of "Douglas Fairbanks in KoDin flood" in connection with the road show presentation of this production. * * * Announcement was made yesterday that Gcldwyn will him "Vanity Fair," Thackeray's greatest story. * * * Myron Selzxick has left for a trip to San rrancisco on business matters. This is the producer's first visit to Northern California and will also be somewhat in the nature of a sightseeing tour. * * * _Pola_ Negri is due to arrive soon from New York to begin work in George Fitzmaurice's production, "Bella Donna" by Robert Hichens, author of "The Garden of Allah." * * * Irving Clmmings will take his entire organization to Chicago in filming some of the big scenes for "Chicago Sal," the first of a series of three productions which he is filming for the Principal Pictures Corporation. * * * Arriving in Los Angeles this week to assist E. S. Bostick, manager of Loew's State Theatre, with the multitudinous details connected with the grand reopening of this beautiful theatre next Sunday, Lionel H. Keene, western representative of Loew's. Inc., discussed future plans for the local theatre. * * * Carl J. Walker, Pantages' pepful promoter of prosperity and progress, wires from Spokane, Wash., that vacation is over, the trout all caught and eaten, and the old excursion ticket expires tomorrow p. m., with the arrival of the last train in Los Angeles. * * * Important changes took place this week at the studio of Charles Ray Productions, Inc., when Albert A. Kidder, jr., became general manager, succeeding Richard Willis, who had occupied the post for two and a half years. Mr. Willis relinquished the duties to become literary adviser and personal representative of the star and the company. Mr. Kidder has been treasurer and assistant general manager and legal adviser to the star. Charles T. Ray, father of the star, continues as president. Wesley G. Gilmore. studio manager, is advanced to production manager, and Monroe Lathrop fills the post of exploitation manager. EARLE WILLIAMS and Rcdolph Valentino in a scene from the VitagTaph production, "A Rogue's Romance."