Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

42 EXHIBrrORS HERALD January 3, 1925 Marshall Neilan to Direct New Mary Pickford Production Rumors Fly Thick and Fast Concerning Future Activities of Prominent Directors on Coast — Mildred Davis to Return By HARRY HAMMOND BEALL Hollywood, December 23. — Rumor Week has just been celebrated in Hollywood. First report has it that Cecil B. DeMille will sever all connection with Lasky and make pictures on his own, all of which Lou Goodstadt, DeMille’s manager, denies. Then comes the rumor that Ernst Lubitsch will make pictures for Warner Brothers to be released through United Artists, which Jack Warner and “Doctor” Locke, Lubitsch’s manager, have yet to confirm. On top of that springs divers and sundry predictions concerning the future of the Ince Studios at Culver City, with Hunt Stromberg’s press agent advancing the thought that either Joe Schenck or Stromberg will* assume control and others crediting the Producers Distributing Corporation with planning to take it over. noted screen comedian, intends to wed Doris Deane, film actress, he announced in San Francisco when leaving for Pebble Beach for a week-end outing with his fiancee and Mr. and Mrs. Gouveneur Morris. The marriage is slated to take place soon after New Year’s and Arbuckle says he may go on the speaking stage or return to pictures. 4' ❖ Film actors and executives “cut up” Monday night for the entertainment of Los Angeles County Council of the Veterans of Fpreign Wars. Norman Sprowl, business manager at Universal City and commander of the veterans’ post there, led the hi-jinks, with William Desmond, Georgie Grandee, Jack Cook, Morgan Brown and Oral D. Cloakley assisting. ^ * A. H. Sebastian, general manager of Belasco Productions, Inc., has selected George Melford, director of 67 Paramount pictures, to handle the megaphone for Weber and Fields in their forthcoming production of “Friendly Enemies.” * * .1= IX/TARSHALL NEILAN will direct Mary Pickford’s next picture instead of Joe von Sternberg. The latter will go ahead with his Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract. It seems that Mary considers her next production will need a lighter touch than the director of “The Salvation Hunters” might give it. Early in 1923 Mildred Davis will return to the screen and the new Harold Lloyd Studio in Westwood will be known as the Lloyd-Davis Studio, where both Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd will make their pictures. When it comes to staging parties, Jesse L. Lasky deserves the royal palm for the affair he planned for the press as a farewell compliment to Betty Bronson of “Peter Pan” fame. It was an entertainment triumph. Hollywood journeyed en masse to Oakland, Thursday night, to be present as guests of honor at the jungle movie ball staged under the auspices of the municipal authorities on Friday night. Hedda Nova, Russian tragedienne, has reversed her decision to retire from the screen as the result of an auto accident several months ago. Having been starred by Goldwyn, Universal and Vitagraph, she plans to join Nazimova, Pauline Frederick. Alice Joyce and Louise Glaum in a 1925 “comeback.” What promises to be an outstanding production in the list of Universal super-features will be “The Siege,” adapted from the novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams and directed by Svend Gade. Virginia Valli and Eugene O’Brien are to be the co-stars and Mary Alden is to be in the cast. ^ ^ ^ Percival Thomas Hayes, born Jan. 26, 1879, in Auckland, New Zealand, will become a full-fledged citizen of the United States next March. Hayes is none other than Rupert Julian, noted director now supervising the destinies of some of Universal’s highest paid stars and staresses, most of whom now call him “Perce.” t. t Hollywood’s belles no longer need fear the rivalry of South Sea maidens with limpid eyes and languorous grace. Huntly Gordon, featured with Anita Stewart and Bert Lytell in “Never the Twain Shall Meet,” is back from Tahiti with the following dictum : “The South Sea belles are too fat, too lazy, eat too much fish and have terrible table manners.” Gordon says there are more pretty girls in Hollywood than under the Southern Cross, where the native daughters “won’t stand close-ups.” .-!= * * Roscoe C. (Fatty) Arbuckle, former Motion Picture Directors Association honor Henry King, director of the MetroGoldwyn production “Romola” at M. P. D. A. club house, Hollywood. (Left to right) Standing — Wally Van, J. Stuart Blackton, George Irving, Roy Clements; (seated) Reginald Barker, Henry King, Sid Grauman, Asa Keyes. After six years spent in learning professional dancing and screen technique. Carmen DeRue, a kiddie star ten years ago for Cecil B. DeAfille and D. W. Griffith, has returned to the screen as an ingenue beauty. She is a daughter of Eugene DeRue, comedy director. * :|; Elinor Glyn, famous sex fictionist, is looking for a tragic-eyed blonde to play in “A Man and A Maid” at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio. She says Hollywood is filled with brunettes who have tragic orbs, but nary a one with blue eyes. ❖ * 4? “Happy” Ward is $9000 richer for Christmas. Cameo, his canine movie star, is mothering nine puppies, born last week, that “Hap” values at $1000 each. * * “The Sheik,” directed by George Melford, gave Diana Miller her first chance in filmdom. Now Hollywood is accepting the report that Miss Miller is soon to become Mrs. George Henry Knauff, as Melford is known in real life. She is under contract with Fox, while Melford is directing for Belasco Productions under an agreement with Lasky. ^ Alma Rubens and Eleanor Boardman, stellar film lights, have put their “o. k.” on the new fad for flappers — wearing monocles to adorn bobbed-haired girls. Boulevardiers are looking for monocled actresses to be on parade for Hollywood’s Christmas. * * * Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Fraser, grandmother of Harold Lloyd, film comedian, and mother of William R. Fraser, his general manager, passed away Monday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Lloyd, in Benedict Canyon. She was 91 years old and was a pioneer of covered wagon days. Mrs. Fraser, who was born in Steubenville, O., and was a relative of James G. Blaine, is survived by three daughters and a son. * * * Pat O’Malley and Robert Fraser have been engaged for the leading masculine role of the Basil King picture Mae Marsh is to make for Vitagraph under direction of Com. J. Stuart Blackton. * * * Al Christie has bought the film rights for Fred Jackson’s musical comedy, “Stop Flirting,” which had a two-year run in London. It will be the next feature pro duction at the Christie Studio.