Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

20 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 31, 1925 Schulberg Film on Death Penalty Shown to Press (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20. — Representatives of New York newspapers, trade press and fan magazines to the number of thirty attended a special screening of B. P. Schulberg’s “Capital Punishment,’’ at Sinp Sing Prison Tuesday evening. The party left here by automobile late in the afternoon, arriving at the prison in time for 6 o’clock supper as guests of Warden Lawes. The supper was a regular prison fare, which was enjoyed more or less — mostly less — by the visitors. At 7 :15 the prison audience assembled, among them twenty men who were once sentenced to capital punishment but later had their sentences commuted. Before the screening began, J. F. Bachmann, vicepresident of Schulberg Productions, told how the idea of presenting “Capital Punishment” in pictures had first been conceived and developed. George Hackathorne, leading player in the film, who was the guest of honor at the party, recounted some humorous incidents that had taken place at the studio during the making of the production. Hackathorne was given a great ovation by the prisoners. Among the guests were Sumner Smith, T. E. Leahy, Charles Gatchell, Herbert Cruikshank, Dorothy Herzog, Harold L, Flavin, Irene Thirer, George Mitchell, Rose Pelswick, Hal Howe, Ethel Rosemon. Charles Edholm, Mr. and Mrs. F. Mordaunt Hall, Helen Klumph, E. S. Colling, Florence Osborn, Susan Brady, Adolphe Roberts, Larry Moen, Richard Watts, Victor Talley, Alma Talley, H. W. Perlman. Ben Amsterdam and J. Bellman. Offer of Independents Is Declined by Walker (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20. — Senator James J. Walker has advised the Independent Motion Picture Producers & Distributors Association that it would be impossible for him to accept leadership of the organization until after April 1. In view of this situation, the following committee has been named tQ interview men of national importance with a view of finding a leader ; Dr. W. E. Shallenberger, chairman; Oscar Price, Whitman Bennett, W. Ray Johnston, Joe Brandt and Sam Sax. Tiffany Heads Expect Film Deals in Europe (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20.— Leading film distributors in an effort to obtain the Tiffany productions in Great Britain, France, Italy and other countries will confer with H. E. Cronenweth and M. H. Hoffman, vice-president and treasurer, respectively, of the Tiffany Productions, Inc., when the latter two reach Europe. They will sail January 24. They expect to be gone six weeks. Pro-Dis-Co Man Climbs (Special to Exhibitors Herald) MILWAUKEE, WIS., Jan. 20.— C. R. Lundgren, formerly manager of a small branch for Producers Distributers Corporation, has been advanced by the company to the new exchange which was opened here January 5. Richard Talmadge appears in many dramatic situations in "Youth and Adventure," an F. B. O. release. Stern Enterprises to Build Two Big Houses (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20.— The Joseph Stern Theatrical Enterprises has begun work on the building of two new theatres in New Jersey at an estimated combined cost of close to $1,000,000. One of these will be in Newark and the other in Bloomfield, and in each case ground has already been broken for the erection of the buildings. The Newark theatre will be located at 409 Springfield avenue and will have a seating capacity of 2,500, with a lobby 25x100 on Springfield avenue. The theatre will be used for combined pictures and vaudeville and will be equipped with the most modern equipment. The estimated cost of this house is $500,000. The Bloomfield theatre will have a seating capacity of 2,000, and the estimated cost is $425,000. Bill Hart Given Good Record by Former Wife (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20.— On the witness stand last week the former wife of William S. Hart, western star, told of the untruth of statements published some time ago in connection with his divorce proceedings in which his character was impeached. Each time she was asked concerning the credibility of certain slanderous charges brought against him at the time she arose to vindicate her former husband. The courtroom was thrown into a sensational commotion by the sudden “whitewash nature of the court proceedings. Judge Albert Stephens presided at the hearing in which there is an attempt by Mrs. Hart to gain the right to enter the motion pictures under her married name. Authors Honor Universal Man LOS ANGELES. — Grant Carpenter of the Scenario department of the Universal Pictures Corporation, at Universal City, has been elected one of the honorary vice-presidents of the Authors League of America. T. O. C. C. Ball a Success? It Was More Than That ( special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20.— The fifth annual ball of the Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce, held at the Astor hotel last Saturday night, was the same big success as the preceding affairs given by the same bunch of live wires — only probably more so. The only “more so” angle includes a lesser crowd in attendance. The lesser crowd feature was brought about by the design of Billy Brandt and his co-workers, "rhe crush was so great at previous affairs as to effect the enjoyment early. This season it was decided to limit the number of tickets to 2,500, and when this supply was exhausted, those who hadn’t secured theirs early were out of luck. The result of this was that the attendance Saturday night was representative of the industry with the pleasing absence of hundreds of drug store cowboys and their sweeties who tried to crash the gate but couldn't. The only successful gate crasher present so far as known was Tammany Young, who brushed by before the doors were fully opened and then started work on Billy Brandt for his dinner check. During the course of the evening, the usual introduction of stars took place and Tommy Meighan and Bebe Daniels were duly crowned king and queen of the Movies. Senator Jimmy Walker officiated at the coronation ceremonies. Motion pictures of the dancing and the coronation ceremonies were taken, the film rushed to the Consolidated Laboratories and the finished print shown at the second show, which was put on at 4 o’clock in the morning. Special Publicity Aid Rendered Semon Film (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20. — A special department has been created by the Chadwick Pictures Corporation for the exploitation of “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Larry Semon, which will be given road showing in a short time. * It is recalled that Fred Stone, in the combination of Alontgomery and Stone, covered himself with fame when the same story was given a stage debut some years ago. Semon takes the role at that time filled by .Stone. **Peter Pan” on Screen Proves Value of Films ( special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, Jan. 20.— The acclaim just given to the screening of “Peter Pan” completes an illustration of the relative possibilities of the screen as compared with the legitimate stage. Figures show that for the first week’s run of the play twenty years ago on the stage 12,000 people saw the play. While the first week’s run of the picture drew 5,825,260 people. The answer to the question “What is the value of the pictures?” is obvious. Edwin Hill Signed by Fox LOS ANGELES. — Edwin C. Hill, former New York newspaper man, whose novelized version of "The Iron Horse” has attracted comment, is the latest addition to the production staff of the Fox Film Corporation West Coast Studios.