Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

February 7, 1925 EXHIBITORS HERALD 37 A group of First National stars who journeyed to Philadelphia in a special train to broadcast answers to motion picture fans from Station WIP. Those who spoke over the radio were: Earl Hudson, Mrs. Strauss, Milton Sills, Lambert Hillyer, Hobart Bosworth, Myrtle Stedman, Dorothy Mackaill, Jacqueline Logan, Viola Dana, Marguerite de la Motte, Doris Kenyon, Gladys Brockwell, Ben Lyon, John Bowers and Bennie Alexander. Stars Use Radio to Answer Questions by Screen Fans First National Players Broadcast from Station WIP, Located in Philadelphia — ^Earl Hudson Sponsors Stunt — Cooperates with Stanley Company (Special to Exhibitors Herald) NEW YORK, January 27.— “If radio is a menace to the industry, it is evidently here to stay so let’s get rid of the menace part and make use of it,” said Earl Hudson, production manager of First National, to his studio publicity man, Fred Stanley. And as a result of this a great radio-screen party was given last Saturday night at WIP, the magnificent broadcasting station of Gimbels store in Philadelphia. Newspapers Enlisted to Tell Public of Party Working in conjunction with the general office publicity staff of the Stanley Company, Director Mark Kellogg, Lynde Denig and Walter Eberhardt started work. Newspapers all over the eastern section of the country were enlisted to tell their readers of the motion picture stars and other celebrities who would assemble at the Gimbel broadcasting station and personally answer all questions which were sent in by telegraph. Bill Which Would Even Forbid Sunday Motors to Go to Legislature (Special to Exhdbtiors Herald) ALBANY, N. Y., Jan. 26.— Not satisfied with their efforts in bringing about motion picture censorship in New York state, back in 1921, certain reform organizations in that state are now planning to introduce a bill in the present legislature that will call for a Puritanic observance of the Sabbath. The bill now being drafted, it is understood, will prohibit Sunday motion picture shows, Sunday baseball, even going so far as to prohibit the sale of gasoline to motorists. Representatives of the reform organizations were at the state capital conferring with Burton D. Esmond, chairman of the Assembly Codes committee. If the bill is introduced it would naturally be referred to the Codes committee, members of which are open and frank in saying that it will never be reported out. That the organizations will have a hard time finding someone to introduce such a bill is certain. There is not a member in either house who cares to father such a measure and take the bombardment that would come from all sections of the state and which would spell certain defeat at the next election, it is said. With Arms Mended Live Wire Exhib Back on Job (Special to Exhibitors Herald) EASLEY, S. C., Jan. 27.— E. A. Armstead, owner of the Lyric theatre here, has returned to his post to direct management after a long absence which was occasioned by a fall from a ladder in the theatre. In the accident the plucky exhibitor was unfortunate enough to break both arms. After his “rest,” as he calls it, he feels ready to grapple with bigger problems than heretofore. Visits U. S. to Study Methods LOS ANGELES. — M. Cohen, noted publisher of Filmland Batavia and Motion Picture Operator of Semarang, Java, is in Los Angeles on his way to New York. His visit to this country is for the purpose of studying methods in photoplay exploitation. First National officials and stars were rounded up and the party, numbering 35, left New York in two special chair cars and a diner attached to the 6 o’clock train. At North Philadelphia the party was met by Benedict Gimbel, Jr., and E. M. Orowitz (EMO, the famous announcer of WIP). On arriving at Broad street station, where autos were waiting to carry the party to the WIP studio on top of the big Gimbel store, such a dense crowd was assembled that it was necessary to enlist the aid of a squad of police to force a passage. Everyone knew motion picture stars were coming and everyone wanted to see them at close range. Receive Hundreds of Telegrams Arriving at the studio the party found a large number of invited guests waiting to greet it. It also found hundreds of telegrams which had also arrived before the party and this number was increased to more than 3,000 before the evening’s festivities were over. Each telegram indicated that some radio fan was also sufficiently a screen fan to have some question to be answered by a favorite star. The screen celebrities who participated in the party were Director Lambert Hillyer and Mrs. Hillyer, Milton Sills, Hobart Bosworth, Myrtle Stedman and her son, Lincoln, Dorothy Mackaill, Jacqueline Logan, Viola Dana, Marguerite de la Motte, Doris Kenyon, Gladys Brockwell, Ben Lyon, John Bowers and Ben Alexander. Accompanying the party were Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hudson, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Eschmann, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stanley, Mrs. Florence Strauss, Mark Kellogg, Lynde Denig, Walter Eberhardt and representatives of the trade papers. Hudson Tells About Production The broadcasting started shortly after the arrival of the party when “EMO” introduced Mr. Hudson, who made a short but interesting address on the actual making of a motion picture. Mr. Hudson was (Continued on page 42)