Exhibitors Herald (Mar-Jun 1923)

62 EXHIBITORS HERALD May 12, 1923 With the Procession in Los Angeles By Harry Hammond Beall ORGANIZATION plans are under way by the Forrest Film Manufacturing Company, a new producing unit, backed by a coterie of Eastern film men, which will locate in Hollywood. The company plans to produce two-reel comedies of a high-class nature. It is understood that distribution will' be through Educational and that the initial output will consist of twelve two-reel comedies. Martin J. Heyl is now in the city organizing film talent. The famous Betzwood studios near Philadelphia have been leased and during the summer months production will be concentrated there. Beginning in November and for the remainder of the winter months, the company will locate in Hollywood. * * * Over a score of celebrities of the motion picture colony recently attended the Glendale theatre, Glendale, to see the first public preview of Jesse D. Hampton's production, "The Spoilers," the new film version of the Rex Beach classic. The picture was shown in eight reels. Among those present at the informal premiere were: Lambert Hillyer, the director of the picture, and his wife; Mr. and Mrs. Milton Sills ; Mr. and Mrs. Noah Beery ; Robert Edeson and wife; Mary Newcomb, and several members of the cast, including Rockliffe Fellows, Ford Sterling, Wallace MacDonald and John Elliott. A Los Angeles premiere is planned for the film, though it is not very likely that it will be released before September. * * * The baby stars of filmdom were recently entertained by Fremont Lincoln Gentz at his first birthday party. The young gentleman is the son of Will T. Gentz, publicity writer for Powers studio. Fifteen of the future screen luminaries attended the affair, which was one of the gala events of the "younger set" in Hollywood. Among those who relished the ice cream were Muriel Frances Dana, Frankie Lee, Billy Windsor, Billy Winn, Billy Osborne, Johnny Fox, Edwin Hubbell. Dorothy Coon, Dorothy Dean, Mickey McBan, Phillip De Lacy, Phyllis Daab, Josephine Adair and Leonore Keefe. * * * Hectic Hollywood is itself once again! With the Writer's Revue and the Wampas Frolic chapters of ancient history, the village is settling down to work once more and the music of busy typewriters and clicking cameras is fastly replacing the strident tones of jazz so prevalent in the city during the past two weeks. The net results of the two big affairs of the cinema social season may be summed up as follows : two fat bankrolls, heaps of choice publicity for both organizations ; a good time was had by all, and an assortment of Hollywood headaches. * * * Fit as a fiddle after several weeks' rest, William Duncan started work at Universal again April 30, on "The Steel Trail." Edith Johnson will co-star with him and Duncan is to direct his own pictures while under the big "U" banner. His right hand is almost recovered from injuries sustained in his closing picture for Vitagraph. * * * When the Canadian Pacific steamship "Makura" sails from Vancouver, B. C, next week, bound for Australia, there will appear on the passenger list the names of Edmund H. Benson, his wife and young son, Courtney. Benson, who at one time was manager of Grauman's Hollywood Egyptian theatre, is going to the Antipodes for a six months' stay as special representative for Douglas Fairbanks. His particular mission will be to stimulate business in connection with Doug's old United Artists films and also to assist in making "Robin Hood" the great success in Australia and New Zealand that it has been in America and Europe. * * » James Woods Morrison, popular leading man and featured player in a number of recent screen successes, narrowly averted serious injury recently while on his way to location for one of his forthcoming pictures. The car in which "Jimmie" was riding was speeding down a steep hill near Santa Monica beach when one of the rear wheels spun off. Quick work on the part of the driver of the machine who steered the motor into a bank was all that saved the party from a tragedy. Now Morrison is a firm believer in Fate — and good chauffeurs. * * * Wild animals are in vogue in Los Angeles this week. Both Loew's State and the California theatres are featuring pictures of the African jungles and, as a result, the dramatic columns of the local papers these days resemble pages from a book of natural history. Such adjectives as "greatest" and "biggest" and a wide range of superlatives have been coined by the press agents of the respective playhouses in their endeavor to convince the theatre-going public of this city that their film is far more thrilling than the other fellow's. * * * Arthur Trimble, six-year-old Kentucky boy star, has finished the first two of a series of two-reel comedy productions for his own company. Four additional stories have been purchased for his use. * * * Mary Astor, who recently signed to a five-year contract by Paramount, will arrive in Hollywood soon and will immediately start work in the Alfred Green production, "To the Ladies." in which she is to be cofeatured with Robert Agnew. Mary is one of the voungest of leading ladies, we are told. * * * Maurice Tourneur's "The Brass Bottle" is nearing completion at the United Studios. According to report it should be one of the really big productions of the year. We have Pete Smith's word for it. * * * Eulalie Jensen, popular featured player of the screen and former star of the speaking stage, has been given a featured part in Universal's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," which Wallace Worsley is directing. * * * Hazel Buckham, at one time leading woman for Charles Ray, is to return to the screen after an absence of long duration. The attractive little brunette has more recently been playing in stock at the Majestic theatre, where she was one of the real favorites with audiences. * * * Virginia Browne Faire, who first achieved success as "Shireen" in Richard Walton Tully's recent production, "Omar, the Tentmaker," has just contracted to appear in a series of productions for Associated First National Pictures, Inc. » * * Rapid progress is being made on Mary Pick ford's new picture, not yet definitely titled, according to reports from the Pickford-Fairbanks studios in Hollywood. Ia this new film Miss Pickford will be seen as a tempestuous little street singer. Holbrook Blinn, now playing in the title role of "The Bad Man," at a local stock theatre, is appearing in support of Mary. * * « Al Santel has been signed to direct F. B. O. features for a three-year period. Hi» first vehicle is "Lights Out," from the stage play by Paul Dickey and Mann Page. * * * Gerald Beaumont, noted author, whose magazine stories are to be filmed at Universal City, has returned after a motor trip to Oakland to bring back his family. » » * Two thousand people and a brass band bade adieu to Herman Heller, famous orchestra conductor, when he left San Francisco for this city to accept the leadership of Grauman's enlarged Metropolitan musical organization. The Grauman Metropolitan orchestra now boasts of 70 — count 'emseventy pieces and is the largest theatre musical organization in Los Angeles. * * * "Breezy" Reaves Eason, well known director, is resting at his Hollywood home after a strenuous six weeks' workout at the Thomas H. Ince studios. Eason, who was a director at Universal for a period of five years, is now free lancing, as are a number of other pioneer megaphone weilders. * * * Joseph Jackson, Goldwyn publicist, who has the distinction of being the first press agent who ever spent over twenty-four hours and $200 in a Los Angeles jail, wants to trade his motor car for a tricycle or what have you ? * * * Warner Baxter's latest diversion is song writing. Baxter has just finished a jazz number which proved such -a hit at the studio where he is appearing in the R-C production, "Blow Your Own Horn," that he has decided to publish it for general sale. At least that is what Warner's active little press lady tells us. Next ! * * * The Western Motion Picture Advertisers of Los Angeles hope to own a bungalow clubhouse in Hollywood as a result of their recent frolic and ball. The profits — if any — from this big affair, which cost a king's ransom to put on, will be employed as the initial payment on a little home for the press agents, it is announced. The "Wampus" is one of the few film organizations in this city that doesn't own a clubhouse and it has always been an ambition of the scribblers to possess a real home, hence the big frolic which, by the way, was the most successful affair ever "thrown" within the confines of the movie capital. Will Nigh Completes Weber & North Film (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, May 1.— "Marriage Morals" is the title of Will Nigh's new photoplay which has just been completed for Weber & North. Editing, cutting and titling has been in process for many weeks. Tom Moore and Ann Forrest have the leading roles with Harry T. Morey, Edmund Breese, Florence Billings and other prominent players rounding out a star cast.