Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1924-Mar 1925)

64 EXHIBITORS HERALD l'e]>riiary 14, 1925 vited into the Strand theatre at Birmingham, Ala., to view “Janice Meridith’’ ten days before the regular showing. It proved its worth. XXX LOU MARANGELLA declared that 10,000 sketches of costumes in water color were prepared by a marked Italian artist for the representation of different nationalities in the making of “Ben Hur.’’ The company has returned from Rome where it has been located six months, now having finished the screening of exteriors. Jans IN THE INTEREST of th e si.x new productions that Herman F. Jans is preparing for the independent market he left for a trip to visit all the key cities this week. He expects to close up what territory still remains open, it is reported, and arrange for showings of the first two features in the series, “Playthings of Desire,” featuring Estelle Taylor and Mahlon Hamilton; and “The Mad Dancer,” with Ann Pennington, Johnny Walker and Vincent Lopez, both of which have been completed and are ready for presentation. The third production of the series will be “Ermine and Rhinestones.” Century THREE COMEDIES will be released by the Century company during the month of February starring Wanda Wiley, Edna, Marion and A1 Alt. There will also be a Buddy Messinger comedy released. Wanda Wiley will be seen in “Nobody’s Sweetheart,” which is directed by William Watson. The male role is filled by Harry McCoy. The second release will be “My Baby Doll,” a novelty with Edna Marian. She is supported by Arthur Lake, Larry RicharT son and Jane Shirley. XXX RUMOR HAS IT that there has been a find in the Century ranks with the evidence of the work done by Eddie Gordon, vaudeville comedian, recently engaged to make two-reel comedies. He has been signed now as one of the four Century stars under the 1925 Star Series policy. He is seen in “The Polo Kid,” which will be released early in April. An earlier production in which he heads the cast is “Itching for Revenge.” He supports the leading woman in the Marian comedy, “Her Daily Dozen,” which has just been released. Chadwick THE NEWEST STAR of Chadwick Pictures Corporation, George Walsh, left New York for Los Angeles last week to start work on “American Pluck,” the first of a series of six romantic comedy dramas that he will make for the company. Accompanying Walsh on his trip was Edmund Lawrence who will direct the star. . . . Production will be started at the West Coast studios at once upon the arrival of the star. XXX THE REASON for the departure of I. E. Chadwick, head of the corporation, for the Coast is said to be the supervision of several new productions that are in process there. They are “The Midnight Girl,” starring Lila Lee, “Sunshine of Paradise Alley,” and “The Romance of an Actress.” . . . He also plans to make preparations for the first productions on the company’s 1925-26 schedule. The first of these will be a screen version of Louis K. Anspacher’s great American drama, "The Unchast ened Woman,” which will provide the vehicle for the return of Theda Bara. First National MARY ASTOR’S autographed photograph will appear in each of the copies of “Enticement” to be sold on the bookstands soon. The book is published by the Bobbs-Merrill company which peculiarly bought the press rights of the story from Olive Arden simultaneously with the sale of the film rights to Thomas H. Ince. Which explains the situation that prompted these two companies to join in a great exploitation movement for the picture and for the book. First National will release the picture at the peak of the book’s publicity campaign. XXX COLLEEN MOORE will encounter new opportunities in the making of “The Desert Flower,” it is said, for in the story is a host of experiences ranging from comedy and pathos to tense melodrama. After a test showing of “Abraham Lincoln” at Dallas, Texas, the Capitol theatre in the heart of that southern territory, has booked the production for an early showing. . . . Active production was begun this week on “The Talkers,” from Marion Fairfax’s play, and “The National Anthem,” starring Corinne Griffith. XXX “THE LADY,” the new picture in which appears Norma Talrnadge, is having its first showing at the Colony theatre. New York. It is expected that the play will run there for several weeks. . . . Seventy-five prominent first run houses in New York booked “A Thief of Paradise,” for simultaneous showing which began last week. Paramount A TEAM OF TWO well known film people was signed as a unit this week by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. Howard Higgin is to carry out the directing part of the program while his teammate, Sada Cowan, will write scenarios for him. . . Wallace Beery, Tom Moore and Pauline Starke will appear in “Adventure,” the South Sea Island story for which they have been on location in the heart of the Pacific. . . . “Eve’s Secret,” Betty Compson’s first vehicle in 1925, will go into production at the West Coast studio this week. It is an adaptation of “Sunflower,” which scored a marked success in the cast with Elsie Ferguson. XXX DIRECTED BY Frank Urson, who also made “Changing Husbands,” “The Night Club,” went into production yesterday. It is an adaptation of William De Mille’s play, “After Five.” . . . Now that Beatrice Joy’s retirement from screen activity is at an end she is doing her utmost to restore her past laurels in “The Dressmaker from Paris.” Starting out as a poor errand girl she winds up the picture in the role of the most luxuriantly gowned woman in Paris. It should please the feminine spectators. XXX ALLAN DWAN has resumed preparations for the filming of “The Coast of Folly,” upon his return from Europe. It will be Gloria Swanson’s next picture to be made upon completion of “Madame Sans-Gene.” . , . Malcolm MacGregor has been engaged to appear opposite Corinne Griffith in “The National Anthem.” He has been engaged by Eph Asher. . . . Little known until recently on the legitimate stage, Orville Caldwell has become popular there to be taken from it and engaged for “Sackcloth and .Scarlet” Schulberg THE INTENTION to become a director is instilled deeply in the mind of Anita Stewart according to a statement made this week after she had completed “The Boomerang,” for B. P. Schulberg. She looks forward to it at the time when she retires from work before the camera. . . . Clara Bow declared that she pre fers in the future to portray boyish characters rather than flapper types. . . . The terms of a contract, recently signed b}’’ Francis Feeney for five years, state that his name will be Donald Keith from now on, XXX CORINNE GRIFFITH completed her work in “Declasse,” this week, the picture whose name has been changed to “The Social Exile.” Active preparations have begun for her next, “The National Anthem.” . . Lloyd Hughes will play the leading male role opposite Colleen Moore in her next production, “The Desert Flower.” She has completed her work in “Sally.” . . . Anna Q. Nillson will be featured with Ben Lyon in “The Winds of Chance,” from Rex Beach’s Alaskan story of that name. . . The character comedian William Ricciardi, will be seen in "Hail and Farewell.” Lumas PRINTS OF “The Silent Ship,” of the Gotham productions series, will be shipped at once to franchise holders. The name of Mary Carr appears in the cast. . . Plans have been completed by Samuel Sax. president of the Lumas Film Corporation, for the production of two series of special Gotham Productions, each to consist of six super features, adapted from well known books and plays and presented with well knowm casts of proven box office value. . . . He has already chosen a policy of enlarging his advertising departments with a view utilizing the mediums of fan magazine and trade papers. Cranfield & Clarke A DETECTIVE STORY that is said to near perfection in that it is impossible to point out the villian until the end of the last reel has been produced for Cranfield and Clarke, Inc. It is called “The Crimson Circle,” a society drama directed by George Ridgwell, formerly with Vitagraph. ... It was made by actors of the Kinema Club, London. . . . Two comedies of two reels each have been purchased, “The Speaker Sex,” and “Fools Rush Out,” both written by H. C. Witwer, . . . The first of a series of twelve of the Peacock comedies has been sold for New Zealand. “Meet My Lawyer” is the title. Warner Brothers RIN TIN TIN is not dead as_ was reported currently. An accident is said to have occurred to a dog on location with the Warner Brothers company but it was not the star performer. At present the company is near Truckee making “Tracked in the Snow Country.” . . . Casting for “Eve’s Lover” resulted iu the selection of Irene Rich, Bert Lytell, Willard Louis, Clara Bow, John Steppling, Arthur Hoyt and Lou Harvey. . . . Leading in “Eleventh Virgin” are Helene Chadwick, Clive Brook, Helen Dunbar and Dale Fuller. XXX FEBRUARY RELEASES will include “On Thin Ice,” an adaptation of “The Dear Pretender,” in which appear Tom Moore and Edith Roberts ; “The Bridge of Sighs,” starring Creighton Hale and Dorothy Mackail ; and “The Man Without a Conscience,” with Hope Loring and