Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1923 - Mar 1924)

42 EXHIBITORS HERALD February 23, 1924 Favors Producing in New York **Hero Worship'' Wouldn't Exist In East: Rowland Other Companies Planning No Immediate Change in Activities By JOHN S. SPARGO (New York Editor, Exhibitors Hrrald) NEW YORK, Feb. 12.— Upon returning from the Coast, where he made another complete survey of production activities and possibilities, Richard A. Rowland, general manager of First National, more firmly than ever believes that the East is the proper place for the big companies to make their pictures. Mr. Rowland also stated that within a very short time First National anticipates having several of its production units making pictures in and about New York. In discussing production centers Mr. Rowland said: "It is quite all right for individual producers like Ince and Joe Schenck, who make a few pictures a year, to live and work on the Coast. But for theproducer who has headquarters in New York, it is all wrong. You cannot make your product 3,500 miles away from the home office with that degree of efficiency and economy necessary to success, as when you have your organization close at hand. Will Move Units East "The hero worship, the mutual admiration society which exists in a small place like Hollywood could not exist here. "We of First National anticipate having several of our units working in the East in a few months, not more than six months at the most; probably earher." Principal Pictures, which has heretofore made all pictures on the Coast, is testing out Eastern production by making one picture here. This is being made by Eastern Productions, a new corporation which is in charge of William O'Hagen Hurst, and work is being done at the Biograph studio. In discussing the possibility of making other pictures in the East, Irving Lesser said: "We are not considering at this time of making any decided change in our production plans and our pictures will generally be made on the Coast. However, in individual cases, we may find it possible to make some pictures here and we are trying this out in the case of 'The Masked Dancer' which is being made for us by Eastern Productions." Plays Are Purchased Knowing the value that a stage success imparts to the motion picture which is made from it, William Fox has chosen three outstanding plays for screen presentation; all of them now being in course of production at the Fox New York studio. When Channing Pollock's "The Fool" was presented on Broadway. Mr. Fox stepped in and bought the rights to this play. The price he paid is among the Ijiggest ever recorded. Harry Millarde, a director who has twice turned out pictures which were named among the ten best of their respective seasons — "If Winter Comes" and "Over the Hill" — is at (Continued on page 56) Heralds Studio Directory East Coast BIOGRAPH STUDIO, 807 East 175th street. PRINCIPAL PICTURES: Burton King directing Hclene Chadwick and Lowell Sherman in "The Masked Dancer." COSMOPOLITAN STUDIO, 127th street and Second avenue. COSMOPOLITAN PRODUCTIONS: E. Mason Hopper directing Marion Pavies in "Janice Meredith." FOX STUDIO, 55th street and 10th avenue. FOX FILM CORPORATION: Harry Millarde directing Edmund Lowe in "The Fool." J. Gordon Edwards directing special cast in "It Is the Law." Elmer Qifton is cutting and titling "The Warrens of Virginia," featuring Martha Mansfield. FISCHER STUDIO, New Rochelle, N. Y. CRITERION PICTURES, INC.: Carl L. Gregory directing Jimmy Brewer and Gladys Quartara in a series of 26 two-reel comedy dramas. "The Fountain of Youth" is the first of the series already completed. GRIFFITH STUDIO, Mamaronech, N. Y. D. W. GRIFFITH PRODUCTIONS: D. W. Griffith is completing "America." featuring Carol Dempster and Neil Hamilton. INSPIRATION STUDIO, Fort Lee, N. J. INSPIRATION PICTURES: John S. Robertson is completing the production "The Enchanted Cottage." with Richard Barthelmess in the leading role. PARAMOUNT STUDIO, Long Island City. FAMOUS PLAYERS-LASKY CORPORATION: Sidney Olcott directing Rodolph Valentino and all star cast in "Mo:isieur Beaucaire." William de Mille directing Lois Wilson and Richard Dix in "Icebound." Victor Heerman directing Thomas Meighan and Virginia Valli in "The Confidence Man." Allan Dwan drecting Gloria Swanson in "Manhandled." TALMADGE STUDIO, 318 East 48th street. ASSOCIATED EXHIBITORS: Murray Garsson production— William Christy Cabanne directing Betty BIythe. Robert Warwick, Elliott Dexter, Lowell Sherman and Pauline Garon in "Plaster Saints," TILFORD STUDIO, 344 West 44th street. ASSOCIATED EXHIBITORS: S. E. V. Pictures. Inc.— S. E. V. Taylor is completing "The Lone Wolf." starring Dorothy Dalton and Jack Holt. VITAGRAPH STUDIO, Brooklyn, N. Y. YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS: Kenneth Webb completing "WoU and Montclam." Kenneth Webb directing "The Declaration of Independence." Webster Campbell directing "Yorktown." Webster Campbell directing "The Gateway to the West." WHITMAN BENNETT STUDIO, Yonkers, N. Y. WHITMAN BENNETT PRODUCTIONS: Whitman Bennett directing all star cast. Dagmar Godowsky, Naomi Childers, David Powell, Hedda Lind in "Virtuous Liars." Leon U'Dsseau co-directing with Whitman Bennett. NIGHSMITH PICTURES, INC: Will Nigh is producing a series of miniatures. "Her Memory" is the second of the series which Will Nigh is now working on. West Coast BEN WILSON STUDIOS, 5821 Santa Monica Boulevard. EDDIE LYONS PRODUCTIONS: Eddie Lyons directing Eddie Lyons in two comedies. Gene De Rue directing Bobbie Dunn in two-reel comedies. BEN WILSON PRODUCTIONS: Ben Wilson directing himself in "The First Notch." Dix Hatton directing iiiniself iit "Shooting Mad." BRONX STUDIO, 1745 Glendale Boulevard. WILLEY PRODUCTIONS: Fred Reel directing BUI Patton in "The Gasoline Cowboy." BUSTER KEATON STUDIO, 1025 Lillian Way. BUSTER KEATON PRODUCTION: Buster Keaton directing Buster Keaton in "Sherlock. Jr." CENTURY FILM CORPORATION, 6100 Sunset Boulevard. Al Herman directing Buddie Messinger in "The Jazz Kid." Noel Smith directing Harry McCoy in "Stranded." Noel Smith directing an all-star productoin "The Movie Queen." CHARLIE CHAPLIN STUDIO, 1416 La Brea. Charles Cliaplin directing Oiarles ChapHn in an untitled comedy. CHRISTIE STUDIO, 6101 Sunset Boulevard. Al Qirislie directing Ncal Bums Harold Beaudine directing Jimmie Scott Sidney directing Dorothy De CHARLES RAY STUDIO, 3700 Beverley Boulevard. BUTTERFLY COMEDIES: Sherwood MacDonold to direct two-reel comedies. F. B. O., 780 Gower Street. Jess Robhiiis directing Douglas McLean in "Never Say Die." Mai St. Qair directing Alberta Vau^n in "King Leary." Emory Johnson directing Mary Carr and Johnnie Walker in "Swords and Plowshares." FAMOUS ARTISTS STUDIOS, 6046 Sunset Boulevard. INDEPENDENT PICTURES CORPORATION: Jack Nelson directing Franklyn Famuni in "The Man Who Forgot." J. P. McGowau to direct Franklyn Famum in "The Fight With Fate." two-reel comedy. Adams in a tworeel comedy. Vore in a feature comedy.