Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

January 31, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 55 changes. Hope Hampton appears in the films which are titled “McCall Fashion News.” In them the Eastman Color Process will have its opportunity to please or displease exhibitors. . . . A1 St. John’s latest picture, the two-reel Educational-Tuxedo comedy, “Lovemania,” is having a Broadway run at the Rivoli in New York. XXX BETWEEN PICTURES Lloyd Hamilton is taking a short rest, spending his vacation at Baldwin Lake shooting ducks. . . . Arvid Gillstrom, who has been directing Mermaid Comedies for release through Educational, has been transferred to the Juvenile Comedies and is busy directing Jack McHugh and others of the Juvenile company in “Wildcat Willie.” XXX THREE GIRLS now appearing in comedies through Educational were elected by the Wampas as Baby stars of 1925. Natalie Joyce, Duane Thompson and Anne Cornwall were among the thirteen. Columbia PURCHASE OF MO'TION picture rights to a Cosmopolitan Magazine story, “Everything Money Can Buy,” is announced by the Columbia Pictures Corporation. Harry Cohn has signed William Haines to play opposite Dorothy Devore in their forthcoming production, “Fighting the Flames.” This will be the third picture in six months that Haines will have played in for the same company. . . . “The Price She Paid,” featuring Alma Rubens, will have a first run at the B. S. Moss Broadway theatre this week. XXX THERE WILL BE a release this week of “A Fool and His Money,” the film version of George Barr McCutcheon’s novel of the same name. Leading in the cast is found the names of Alma Bennett, Madge Bellamy, William Haines and Stuart Holmes. The picture was directed by Erie C. Kenton. Paramount WILLIAM DE MILLE, it is ^ said, is staking a lot that he has a “find” in Claire Adams. She made her debut in “The Fast Set,” with considerable success. She will play opposite Richard Dix in “Men and Women.” . . . Para mount has sent out a call for twelve beautiful girls for the production of “The Dressmaker from Paris,” in which Leatrice Joy will be featured after an absence of a year from the screen. Ernest Torrence will have an important role. XXX TWENTY TONS of coal was delivered to the back door of the Paramount studios. Long Island, and sent through chutes to the lower stage for the making of coal mine scenes in Thomas Meighan’s forthcoming picture, “Coming Through.” . . . Because Abilene, Kan., is the town to which the cattle herd is driven in “North of 36,” when the Paramount picture played there, Harry Litts, mayor, declared officially that the week would be the town’s movie week. XXX THE FIRST COMPLETE reports of the exploitation campaigns which preceded the initial simultaneous showing of “Peter Pan” at 258 theatres indicate that newspaper publicity were the chief medium of heralding the picture. Orphan parties with deserving comment from the papers brought out public interest. In Peoria, 111., a children’s parade developed enthusiasm. A contest, in Omaha, Neb., for the best drawing of “Peter Pan” made by a child was equally successful. Jans THE SEXIOND of a series of six new Jans productions was completed last week with “The Mad Dancer,” which is now in the process of cutting and editing. One of the features is the introduction of Vincent Lopez into films with his noted jazz band. It is believed that his name will be an asset to the box office. General release is dated February 15. XXX WHILE A GUEST of Herman F. Jans at the studio last week Mayor Breidenbach, of Newark, N. J., watched the making of the last scenes for “The Mad Dancer,” featuring Ann Pennington and Johnnie Walker. . . . Domingo F. M. 'Periconi, the poster artist, has been commissioned to prepare the paper for the production. There will be a “^4” sheet, a “6” sheet, two “3” sheets and two “1” sheets. Producers Distributing Corp. THE THIRD FEATURE of Priscilla Dean’s for Producers Distributing Corporation will be released as “The Crimson Runner” and final scenes of this production are now being shot under Tom Forman’s direction at the West Coast studio. . . . London is witnessing the thirty-third holiday season of “Charley’s Aunt” on the legitimate stage. James E. Page, in the part of Spettigue, has returned to play again the part he has had for the past twelve years. XXX JOHN T. MURRAY, star of “May Time” on the stage, who recently made his motion picture debut in “Madonna of the Streets,” has been engaged for the chief comedian role in A1 Christie’s next production, “Stop Flirting.” . . Reports come in that Weber and Fields have lost none of their old time cunning and are bringing many tricks to Hollywood in their attraction, “Friendly Enemies,” which will be released March 16. XXX THE PUBLIC WANTS action, said Hunt Stromberg in a recent interview, “I should rather be crowned king of melodrama than be hailed the producer of the screen’s most artistic triumphs.” . . . According to advices from London the British film trade is looking eagerly to “Charley’s Aunt” and “Peter Pan” as the films in which English exhibitors will be chiefly interested this year. B. P. Schulberg THIRTY MEMBERS of the New York press were recently guests at the special screening of “Capital Punishment” at Sing Sing prison which was provided by B. P. Schulberg for the benefit of prisioners. ... A direct-to-the-public advertising campaign was begun last week by the producer of the prison photoplay. . . . John Goodrich, who has done many good screen adaptations during the past few months, is author of the film version of David Belasco’s play, “The Boomerang,” now being directed by Gasnier. XXX DUE TO ERROR in the transmitting of a telegram the word that Katherine MacDonald will return to the screen in “The Mansion of Aching Hearts,” gave rise to a widespread fallacy. It should have been written that Ethel Clayton will make her reappearance in the play. XXX ATTENTION is called to the fact that Schulberg has recently supplied the independent market with big stories of the calibre of “The Boomerang” and has secured for the first time players whose names have, never before appeared in independent releases, according to a report just received. The names of Bert Lytell, Anita Stewart, and Ethel Clayton are cited as examples of this. Universal HARRY POLLARD has just signed a long term contract with Universal, it is reported. He has been with “U” several years and it is now evident he will be there two more. During that time there will be three Harry Pollard numbers each year. He is at present directing “California Straight Ahead.” . . . Several new “brand” names for certain classes of releases will be instituted this Spring. The pictures featuring William Desmond will be known as “Blue Streak Westerns.” Another brand will be the “Mustang Pictures.” Beginning with “Papa’s Pet,” the one reel comedy to be released March 2, this series will be termed Bull’s Comedies." XXX AFTER A LONG absence Lois Weber will return to Universal to handle scenarios at Universal City. She was signed by Carl Laemmle last week. . . . Word has just come from the Century Film Corporation that Charles Lamont has just completed work on “A Rough Party,” a new two reeler featuring Al Alt. XXX A SEARCH is being made by Burl Armstrong, chief of the scenario department, for suitable plays, stories and books for use in the last half of 1925. . . . A novelty is provided in the Inter national Newsreel, No. 7, which attempts to show just how the total eclipse of the sun will look January 24. It is not a reproduction of former pictures, but is