Exhibitors Herald (Jun-Aug 1923)

52 EXHIBITORS HERALD July 21, 1923 i-.iiJAe FILM MART : : : : Production Progress : : : : : ; : : Distribution News Universal REGINALD DENNY, through his work in "The Leather Pushers" and "The Abysmal Brute," has been promotted to a Jewel star. There will be four Reginald Denny Productions made from stories of the red-blooded type in which he has been so successful. + + + DELEGATES TO the World Conference on Education and the annual meeting of the National Education Association at San Francisco and Oakland, Cal., who viewed excerpts from Universal's big Jewel, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," declared it to be a "screen wonder." Presentation of these scenes was a part of the Visual Instruction Exhibit. + + + "MERRY GO ROUND," a UniversalJewel, has had its world premiere at the Rivoli Theatre, New York. This is the first Universal attraction to play the Rivoli. New York papers were enthusiastic in their praise of the production which,, it is said, establishes a new face in the stellar firmament, that of Mary Philbin. The premiere was attended by a typical Broadway first night crowd, in the audience being many film folk. Cosmopolitan LYN HARDING, EMINENT English actor-manager, will come to this country to play one of the leading roles in support of Marion Davies in her next Cosmopolitan feature "Yolanda," from Charles Major's story which Robert G. Vignola will direct. * + + FINAL SCENES FOR "Under the Red Robe," directed by Alan Crosland from Bayard Feillcr's adaptation of Stanley W cyman's story have been made at Cosmopolitan studios. John Charles Thomas, Robert Mantell and Alma Rubens have the featured roles. Tiffany-Truart ELAINE HAMMERSTEIN'S SECOND production for Truart will be a picturization of Harold McGrath's novel "The Drums of Jeopardy". This picture, as was "Broadway Gold" her first film, will be made by Edward Dillon. + + + RICHARD TALMADGE HAS been added to the list of stars whose productions are being franchised on the independent market by Truart. He has been signed by Carlos Productions for a series of feature pictures. + + + "THE UNKNOWN PURPLE" has been completed on the Wist Coast and according to advices from Truart it will be one of the big pictures of 1923-24. The film is from Roland West's stage play which mystified audiences for two season's in New York. Associated Exhibitors ARTHUR F. BECK, PRODUCER of Leah Baird features has signed a contract with Associated Exhibitors for the distribution of four more features of this star. The deal was closed by Roy Craw ford, vice-president and general manager, and is the third contract between Associated and Mr. Beck. + + + FIRST PRINT OF "GOING UP" Douglas MacLean's new production for Associated Exhibitors has been received in New York. Associated officials are strong in their praise of its entertaining qualities after looking it over. The picture is from the musical comedy hit of the same name. Selznick A BOOKING OF UNUSUAL importance was consummated between Selznick Distributing Corporation and West Coast Theatres, Inc. when the latter firm contracted for "Rupert of ■ Hentzau" and "The Common Law" for its entire west coast chain of theatres. The deal was closed by Dave Bershon for the theatre firm and Claude Ezell representing Selznick. + + ♦ ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE that Charles Giblyn, Major Maurice Campbell and J. Searle Dawley have been signed to make a series of productions for Selznick distribution. . . . Jesse Weil and Will Kraft have been added to the publicity staff of Selznick by L. F. Guimond, director of advertising and publicity. + + + "RUPERT OF HENTZAU" will have its world premiere at the New York Strand theatre July 8. This big Myron Selznick production is from Sir Anthony Hope's story with Elaine Hammerstein, Bert Lytell, Lew Cody, Bryant Washburn, Bobart Bosworth, Claire Windsor. Elmo Lincoln and others in the cast. United Artists DENNIS F. O'BRIEN, counsel for Douglas Fairbanks, announces that the star's suit, brought in Switzerland, to prevent the use of his name and picture on cigarette boxes and on the cigarettes themselves, without his permission , has been won. The suit was brought against Max Worod, cigarette maker of Zurich. It is believed that the courts in other countries will follow this precedent. + + + MARY PICKFORD wiU distribute her new picture under the title of "Rosita," instead of "The Street Singer," as previously announced. The change was made necessary by the fact that "The Street Singer" had been used in the early days by Katem. Tri-Stone Pictures HARRY WIMATT, general manager of All Theatres Pictures, Inc., Pttsburgh, distributing Tri-Stone's new edition Keystone comedies and Triangle features, has closed with Rowland & Clark, whereby six of this company's theatres will play a complete program of the re-issues. The theatres are the Blackstone, Belmar, Arsenal, Strand, Manor and Plaza. + + + FIRST RUN HOUSES in the following cities have closed for the re-issued Keystone comedies: Brookton, Mass., Camden, X. J., Haverhill, Mass., New Bedford. Mass., Newport News, Va., Omaha, Neb., Portsmouth, Va., Sioux City, la., and Washington, I). C. Fox "IF WINTER COMES" and "Monna Vanna," two of the specials on the 1923-24 Fox program, will open for indefinite runs on Broadway on September 1. The A. S. M. Hutchinson story will play at the Times Square theatre, and "Monna Vanna," a Maeterlinck drama, will go into the Central. "If Winter Comes" was produced for the most part in England with the author supervising and Harry Millarde directing. Percy Marmont, Ann Forrest, Margaret Fielding, Sidney Herbert and others are in the cast. + + + PRELIMINARY WORK on production of the Gouverneur Morris story, "You Can't Get Away With It," has been started by Rowland V. Lee, director who has returned to the Fox fold. Percy Marmont and George Hackathorne are among the better known of the cast + + + "CAMEO KIRBY," another of the new year Fox product, is now in production under the direction of John Ford. John Gilbert has the title role in this Booth Tarkington-Harry Leon Wilson play.... Leslie Austin has been added to the cast of the David Belasco play, "The Governor's Lady". . . .William Conklin will play in support of Tom Mix in "The Lone Star Ranger . . Phyllis Haver, who has discarded bathing girl roles, heads the cast of "The Temple of Venus." Educational SUMMER SPORTING events arc giving excellent exploitation to "Golf, as Flayed by Gene Saracen," an Educational short subject. The Alamo theatre of Louisville, Ky., was able to appeal to all the local sportsmen through a story, written from the angle of the golfer and published in the sporting pages of the Louisville Courier Journal. The New York Rialto took adi-antage of the National Open Golf Tournament at Inwood, L. I., and booked the picture for the week of the golf classic. Preferred Pictures RECENT BOOKINGS on "Daughters of the Rich", a Gasnier production for Preferred include the following: Shea's Hippidrome, Buffalo, N. Y.; Howard, Atlanta, Ga.; Empire, Syracuse, N. Y.; Rialto, Providence, R. I.; Strand, Worcester, Mass.; Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.; Madison, Madison, Wise; Lincoln, Kenosha, Wise. ; Hippodrome, Youngstown, Ohio; Gem, Barberton, Ohio; Orpheum, Atkinson, Kansas; Eldorado, Eldorado, Kansas; Pastime, Iowa City, la.; Majestic, Fort Dodge, la.; Gem, Olewein, la.; Crown, Mobile, Ala.; Lyric, Asbury Park, N. J.; Playhouse, Dover, N. J.; Jackson, Lebanon, Pa.; Apollo, Martinsburg, W. Va. + + + NETTA WESTCOTT, famous English stage beauty, who arrived in New York on July 2, has signed a contract with I. G. Bachmann of Preferred Pictures. She is now en route to Preferred studios at Los Angeles, where she will make her film debut in "Maytime", a Gasnier production.